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A96941	A modell of the government of the church under the gospel, by presbyters, proved out of the holy scriptures, to be that one, onely uniform government of the universall visible church, and of all nationall, provinciall, classicall and congregationall churches: which is according to the will and appointment of Jesus Christ. Which may serve to stay such as are doubting, with hope of full satisfaction, and clear demonstration of this truth, shortly to be made by the reverend Assembly of Divines. / Composed by a Presbyterian minister of the city of London, and approved by divers of his learned brethren, and at their request published.	Walker, George, 1581?-1651.	1646 (1646)	Wing W362; Thomason E342_3; ESTC R200927	24,926	36

Provinciall or Classicall is generally of more authority and more to be respected in all Churches then the same sentence and determination proceeding from the Eldership of a lesser or particular Congregation as we see Act. 15. Where the decree of the Apostles and Elders in a Nationall or rather Oecumenicall Synod at Ierusalem was of more authority in all Christian Churches then if it had proceeded from the Eldership of Antioch in which were Paul and Barnabas the two great Apostles of the Gentiles who were able to decree infallibly the same things and appealed to Ierusalem not to learn but to make their doctrine of more authority as appears Gal. 2. 2. 6. Proved Sect. 5. 6. 5. All Elderships consisting of preaching Presbyters and other Elders who do rule well and all the members of such Elderships are Jure Divino and by the will and appointment of Jesus Christ 1 Tim. 5. 17. and the acts of Government done by assisting Elders together with preaching Presbyters who by their office and calling have authority and ability to expound the word and law the infallible rule of Government are certainly according to the will and appointment of Christ and being conformed to the rule are ratified in heaven Math. 18. 18. 6. All superiour Elderships and greater Assemblies whether Nationall Provinciall or Classicall consisting of preaching Presbyters successours of the Apostles and Evangelists and of other assisting Church Elders who are chosen members of the universall Church unto the common Pastours whereof the Apostles Christ immediatly committed the Government of the whole Church and by them to the Presbyters who do succeed them in severall Nations Provinces Cities and circuits are by the superiour Assemblies and Synods held by the Apostles and Elders gathered together at Jerusalem about matter of greater concernment Act. 6. 2. and 15. 6. and 21. 18. warranted and declared to be Jure Divino and by the will and appointment of Jesus Christ Proved Sect. 8. 7. The Appeals from Congregationall Elderships to Classicall and from Classicall to Provinciall and Nationall are by the Appeal of the Church Presbyters and the two great Apostles Paul and Barnabas at Antioch to the high Synod at Ierusalem warranted and demonstrated to be Iure Divino and by the will and appointment of Jesus Christ and their powers also 8. Occumenicall or universall Assemblies consisting of Pastours and Elders chosen out of all true Orthodox Christian Churches and sent as delegates from every Nationall Church are warranted by that Synod at Ierusalem Act. 15. In which the Apostles there residing together with the two great Pastours of all the Churches of the Gentiles Paul and Barnabas and the Elders in Ierusalem and delegates from Antiochia Syria and Cilicia were assembled to decide a Controversie which concerned the universall Church of Christ And cannot with any good reason be denyed to be Iure Divino and by the will and appointment of Jesus Christ 9. Though notorious scandalous offences for which persons thereof guilty are to be kept from the Sacrament of the Lords supper untill they professe repentance and promise amendment are easie to be discerned and noted by the generall multitude who may privatly judge them to be such Yet the Lord Christ in his word gives power and authority to none by vertue of their office and calling to judge and declare by publike sentence what scandalous offences are worthy of such a censure and to keepe persons guilty of them from the holy Communion But onely Elderships Congregationall Classicall or others meerely Ecclesiasticall in which there are preaching Presbyters who are able and have a publike calling from Christ to expound the word of God which is the law and rule by which scandalous sinnes must be judged and censures given and executed For on their persons and consciences the scandall and guilt will lye heavy if they profane the holy Sacrament by giving it wittingly to such as will eat and drinke unworthily and be guilty of the body and blood of Christ 1 Cor. 11. 17. Proved sect. 3. and 5. 10. There are certain particular rules as the Scriptures cited in this foregoing discourse and divers others do shew some openly expressed in the word of God others by necessary consequence from thence diducted which sufficiently direct all Elderships and all persons who are Elders in them in the exercise of the power Ecclesiasticall before mentioned and in performing all necessary acts of Church Government as receiving accusations publike admonition reproofe rebuke refusing to communicate with or to admit to the holy Communion sinners convicted of scandalous sins and persisting therein without repentance Excommunication and casting out of the Church them who refuse to be ashamed and reclaimed by the former meanes used and continue in contumacie disobedience scorne and contempt of the Churches iudgement and proceeding with them in the Name and by the Power of the Lord Jesus Christ Proved Sect. 9. 11. Although the Scriptures give great power to Christian Kings and Supreme Magistrates over the Church of God in their dominions and the civill Government thereof is in their hands And all Christians and Ecclesiasticall persons of all orders and degrees are bound in Civill matters to be subject to them and to obey and honour them Rom. 13. 1. Tit. 3. 1. and Pet. 2. 13. And as nursing fathers to the Church Isai. 49. 23. they have the power which David Solomon Asa Iehoshaphat Hezekiah and Iosiah exercised in purging and reforming the Church in commanding Ministers of the word and Church officers to execute their offices faithfully in punishing with Civill censures and deposing such as are scandalous and incorrigible in providing maintenance and setting up able Ministers to teach and instruct their subjects and allotting Gods portion to maintain his worship and service in his Church in granting liberty to all to professe true Christian religion and to make lawes for the punishing and restraining of wicked profane persons from disturbing their people in the holy service of God Yet seeing the exercise of Government meerly Ecclesiasticall and the administration of holy ordinances is by Christ committed to the Apostles and their successours Pastours Teachers and Church officers with promise to be with them to the end of the world And the office and authority of expounding the word which is the law and rule of Ecclesiasticall Government is left in their hands without mention of Civill magistracie which neither then was Christian nor for many ages after and yet the Church was well Governed encreased mightily and flourished in all piety religion and godlinesse Therefore the supreme Magistracie is not allowed nor warranted by Scripture but excluded from intruding into the administration of holy Church ordinances and must leave the power of judging and determining of all things which concerne the publike worship and service of God to the infallible word of Christ the holy Scriptures and to those who are by God set apart and furnished with gifts and abilities and ordained according to

A MODELL OF THE Government of the Church under the Gospel by Presbyters Proved out of the holy Scriptures to be that one onely uniform Government of the universall visible Church and of all Nationall Provinciall Classicall and Congregationall Churches which is according to the will and appointment of Jesus Christ Which may serve to stay such as are doubting with hope of full satisfaction and clear demonstration of this truth shortly to be made by the Reverend Assembly of Divines Composed by a Presbyterian Minister of the City of London and approved by divers of his learned Brethren and at their request Published LONDON Printed for Tho. Vnderhill and are to be sold at his shop at the signe of the Bible in Woodstreet 1646. To the Honourable City of London and all the Inhabitants thereof who sincerely seek and desire a true reformation of the Church according to the Word of God GIve me leave most famous and renowned City and ye the Right Honourable Lord Major the Right Worshipfull Aldermen and religious Common-Councell and Commoners to congratulate and rejoice with you for that honour which the Lord hath laid on you in these daies of great confusion You under God have been the guard of this present Parliament by which so great things have been done for the safety and defence of three Kingdoms Your free contributions of your wealth and substance have been the sinews of this warre undertaken for the defence of our Religion Laws and Liberties Few Counties in this Kingdom have been able to defend themselves much lesse to help others except those whom you have encouraged and set on work by your example and to whom you have been a bulwark against the enemies who by you have been terrified from invading them All the associated Counties have cause to blesse God for the vicinity and neighbour-hood of London And all the rest of the Kingdom may say If the Lord had not helped us by the Forces Arms and supplies of men and money from London we had been utterly destroied and laid waste But the chief glory bestowed on you by God is your courage for the truth and true Christian Religion your earnest study and constant endeavour for promoting an happy Reformation of the Church in Religion Dostrine Worship and Discipline according to the Word of God your zeal against Sectaries Schismaticks Hereticks and Blasphemers who labour cunningly to corrupt your servants to steal away the hearts of your wives and children to pull many fair feathers out of your wings and to draw Disciples after them and your standing steadfast in the old paths and walking in that good way Ier. 6. 16. which the Lord Christ by his Apostles hath praescribed to the Vniversall Church In which all the pure primitive Churches of old and all the best reformed Churches have walked from the daies of your Fathers untill this day God hath inabled you wonderfully by his grace to resist the subtle temptations of the world and the Devil I know when you were courted with offers of greatest honours and priviledges to withdraw you from your purpose and resolution of standing for the common weal of State and Church and of supporting and upholding of the props and pillars of this Land when it trembled and was ready to be dissolved I cannot forget that sad time full of fears and dangers when the chief command of your City being in the hand and power of Malignants who had also a strong faction by which they attempted to overthrow you it was the opinion and profession of some of the most faithfull Patriots and wise members of Parliament that unlesse God did put into your hearts a resolution to stand up for them they had small hope of saving either the Church and Kingdom from ruine or our Religion Laws Liberties and their own lives from destruction and in that juncture of time the Lord did put such a spirit of courage fortitude and holy zeal into you who were the main body of the City that you stood up and appeared openly for the worthy Patrons of your Religion Laws and Liberties whereby they were animated to proceed vigorously in their wonted course of justice to the terrour and astonishment of all the enemies and disturbers of our peace After this you have been strongly assaulted by spirituall wickednesses divers waies First by cunning seducers who usurping the name and outward shew of rare Saints have stollen away the hearts of many and with feigned sanctity and large promises of a pure platform and modell of Church-Discipline and perfect Reformation according to Christs own institution have drawn them into Schisme and separation from their own Congregations But you by your wisdom have quickly smelled out their fraud and vain boasting of great things which they can never perform and bring to passe Secondly you have been tried when Scriptures failed them and favoured not their modell with bold pretences of new lights which you have scorned as wise men are wont to scorn and not vouchsafe to look after those ignes fatuos wandring lights and night fires by which fools who follow them in the dark are lead into dangerous pits boggs ditches and downfalls Thirdly they have represented unto you Presbyterian Government as a Bugbear and cruell monster worse then Popery and Prelacy unto which if you submit you and your children are made slaves for ever to the lust of proud peevish tyrannicall Priests And allthough many credulous fools and unstable souls are hereby terrified and skared out of their wits and run wilde after severall dangerous sects and know not where to rest Yet you are no such strangers to the Gospel nor so little acquainted with the Scriptures of the New Testament as to be moved with such skarecrowes but rather by such rabid railing against Government of the Church by Classicall Presbyteries you have been moved and stirred up after serious consideration and consultation had with your godly Pastours and Teachers diligent searching of the Scriptures and good assurance of understanding of divine truth gained to your selves to be more earnest and importunate in promoting that Presbyterian Government besides which there is no mention of any other in all the writing of the Apostles nor any other acknowledged or received in any well reformed Churches in all the Christian world The Apostolicall Church at Jerusalem consisting of many thousands and ten thousands of beleevers and so many particular Congregations was altogether governed by the Apostles and Presbyters Assemblies Synods and Presbyteries as appears Act. 11. 30. and 15. 6. and 21. 18. The Christian Church of the Gentiles gathered unto Christ in severall Nations Countries and Cities by Paul and Barnabas had every one their Presbyters ordained to have rule over them in the Lord Acts 14. 23. The Church of Ephesus that great City of Asia had also divers Presbyters whom the Holy Ghost had made overseers to watch in common over it Acts 20. 17 28. And of them S. Paul speaks 1 Tim. 5. 17. saying

and Kingdoms But as they are Christians and members of the Church Christs mysticall body so they are to be governed by the law of Christ which bindes them to the obedience of him in all things which concern their spirituall estate heavenly life and blessednes and to holy communion among themselves in spirituall things These two States and Governments are so distinct and different that either of them may stand alone without the other There are and have been divers earthly Kingdoms well ordered and wisely governed in all outward temporall things in which Christ hath had no Church neither was Christianity known or professed And again Christ hath had a Church well governed and flourishing in Religion grace and godlines when there was no civill Government King or Civill Magistrate to help or uphold it but all set against it to persecute vex and make havock of it as it was in the daies of Christ and of his Apostles and in divers ages after And yet Christ was the King and the Church was his Kingdom in which he ruled and is called the Kingdom of God Matth. 12. 28. and that Kingdom of heaven Matth. 3. 2. 4. 14. Now a Kingdom is not an Anarchy that is a confused multitude without Government but a Monarchy in which there is one King who is supream Governour And in the Church which is Gods holy hill and spirituall Zion Christ alone is the King Psal. 2. 6. Zech. 9. 9. Joh. 12. 15. and the head and sole ruler Mat. 2. 6. Ephes. 1. 22. and the Government is on his shoulder Isa. 9. 6. He also alone is the Lord and Law-giver Isa. 33. 22. Iam. 4. 12. and his Word is the law and rule of Government Isa. 2. 3. yea the law and rule by which the spirit ruleth Rom. 8. 2. and to which he is limited in moving and working Ioh. 16. 13. 3. But that Church-Government may be more clearly and distinctly understood we are further to distinguish between the supreme power of Government which is onely in the hand of Christ and the delegated power which he hath given to his Ministers to exercise under him a subordinate and minesteriall Government The supreme Government which is in the hand of Christ is Monarchicall For to him alone all power is given in heaven and in earth Math. 28. 18. and he is set at Gods right hand far above all principalitie and power and might and dominion and every name that is named both in this world and in that which is to come And God hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be head over all things to the Church which is his body Ephes. 1. 21. 22. And this power of Government is proper to him and he reserves it to himself But the subordinate and Ministeriall power of Government he gave to his Apostles and to their Successours Mark 16. 15. Joh. 20. 21. where he said As my father hath sent me so send I you Go into all the world and preach the Gospell to every Creature And promised to be with them alwayes to the end of the world Math. 28. 20. And lest any should thinke that this rule and Government of the Church was limited to the Apostles and was to dye and and to expire with them The Scriptures do fully prove and plainly demonstrate that it was also by Gods appointment imparted to others in the Apostles dayes as 1 Cor. 12. 28. where the Apostle writes that God hath set in his Church not onely Apostles Prophets and others of extraordinary gifts but also teachers helps and Governments And Rom. 12. 8. The Church is compared to a naturall body and the severall members thereof having gifts differing according to the grace that is given them are commanded to exercise their gifts and to wait on their severall offices as Prophets on prophesying Ministers on ministering Teachers on teaching and he that ruleth on ruling with diligence And 1 Thess. 5. 12. the brethren are intreated to know them that labour among them and are over them in the Lord and admonish them and to esteem them very highly in love for their works sake and 1 Tim. 5. 17. Let the Elders that rule well saith the Apostle be counted worthy of double honour especially they that labour in the word and doctrine and Heb. 13. 7. He inioynes the brethren to remember them that have the rule over them and vers. 17. to obey them and submit themselves because they watch for their soules as they that must give account and vers. 24. he saith Salute them that have the rule over you All which Scriptures and many others wherein severall acts of Government are commanded to be done by Pastours and overseers of the Church other acts of discipline commended when they were done and the neglect of them blamed do prove a Ministeriall Government in the hand of Church rulers Jure divino and by the appointment of Christ 4. The subordinate and Ministeriall Government which Christ hath set up in his Church is not Monarchical as that supreme Government is which he reserves to himself Neither is it Civil left to Civil Magistrates who judge and rule over men in Civil states and societies and about temporal and worldly affaires of this life such judging and dividing our Saviour disclaymed Luke 12. 14. saying Who made me a judge or a divider over you when a man requested him to speak to his brother to divide the inheritance with him And he told Pilat that his kingdom was not of this world John 18. 36. They who rule under him in his Church must meddle onely with spiritual things which concerne mens spiritual estates and eternal life and the salvation of their soules And they are all equal in title honour and office even Elders stewards and dispensers of holy things There is no one cheif Lord above the rest in the whole Church on earth or in any part thereof whether National Provinciall or Classical Church But of the Apostles who were the chief Pastours and rulers in his Church he said Whosoever will be great among you let him be your minister Math. 20. 26. and Luk. 22. 26 And as Peter received this lesson from his Lord so he gave charge to all Presbyters of the Church fellows in the Presbytery with himself that they must take the oversight of the flock and not be as Lords over Gods inheritance but as ensamples to the flock 1 Pet. 5. 3. The authority and title of Lords our Saviour will have left to the Kings and Rulers of states and Kingdoms on earth Luk. 22. 25. 5. The Government of the Church which is Ecclesiasticall our Saviour gave in common to all his Apostles who were the Pastours of the Church universall and the first teachers of all Nations who had a charge and Commission from Christ to gather and build up Churches in all the world and to teach and instruct all people to observe all things whatsoever he had commanded them as we see

in the Scriptures before named Math. 28. 19. 20. Mark 16. 15. John 20. 23. and in other places where the exercise of the power of the Keyes of the kingdome of heaven which was given to Peter as the mouth of the rest Math. 16. 19. is also given in common to them all as they were the Church representative and stood in the place of all Pastours and Teachers to the end of the world In so much as if any two or three of them were gathered together in his Name he promised to be in the midst of them Mat. 18. 17. 18. 20. and Joh. 20. 23. And as the Lord Christ gave this power to the Apostles so they exercised it sometimes in common all together in the generall Assembly of the Disciples Brethren and Elders as Act. 1. 15. in the election of an Apostle in the place of Iudas and Act. 6. 2. about the election and Ordination of the seven Deacons and Act. 15 6. about the deciding of a great controversie concerning Circumcision and other legall rites not to be imposed on the believing Gentiles And sometimes two or three of them as Peter and Iohn when they were sent to Samaria to confirme the Church there Act. 8 14. And Barnabas and others who were sent to confirme the first Church called Christian at Antioch Act. 11. 22. 23. And Paul and Barnabas and Silas in ordaining Elders in every Church by them converted to Christ Act. 14. 23. But yet they altogether and everie one or two by themselves exercised and commended to the Evangelists and Presbyters by them ordained the same uniforme government and the same way in Christ both for Doctrine and Discipline So the great Apostle of the Gentiles plainly testifieth 1 Cor. 4 17. writing thus for this cause have I sent to you Timotheus who is my beloved sonne and faithfull in the Lord who shall bring you into remembrance of my waies which be in Christ as I teach every where in every Church and 1 Cor. 7. 17. So ordain I in all Churches And he who had the care of all the Churches as he saith 2 Cor. 11. 28. keeps them to the same custome as is implied 2 Cor. 11. 16. where speaking of new fashions for which some are ready to contend he saith If any man seem to be contentious we have no such custome nor the Churches of God 6. Now this ministeriall uniforme government setled by Christ and his Apostles in all Churches Nationall and Provinciall and Classicall in every Circuit as it was in the hands of the Pastours Presbyters and overseers so it was Aristocraticall But as the whole Church and multitude of believers had liberty in elections to nominate such as they found most fit to be overseers and officers and orderly to give their approbation of the Acts of the Elderships so it is in some part Democraticall As we see in the election of the seven Deacons Act. 6. The twelve Apostles appointed that seven men of honest report and full of the holy Ghost should be ordained The multitude chose them and set them before the Apostles who ordained them with prayer and imposition of hands So also Act. 15. The Apostles and Elders came together to consider of a matter and to decide a Controversie brought unto them from the Church of Antioch vers. 6. Peter and Iames debated the businesse and gave the sentence together with the Elders and all the brethren even the whole Church approved the sentence given by Iames and thereupon a decree was framed in the name of them all vers. 23. And in the ordaining of Presbyters in everie Church Act 14. 23. As the Apostles Paul and Barnabas with Silas prayed and layd on their hands so the people holding up their hands approved the election and ordination These examples and these practices of Church government in Synods and greater Presbyteries performed by men who had received instructions from Christs owne mouth and were inspired and moved there unto by the holy Ghost and the reason of them still standing in force they do shew that such Synods and acts of Church-Government are according to the will and appointment of Christ and are usefull and necessary to the end of the world And all Churches ought to conforme unto this speciall Government Ob. But some do object that the Apostles were men of extraordinary gifts and calling and had an infallible assistance of the holy Ghost which did lead them into all truth and could do in their Synods and Assemblies things which ordinarie Pastours and teachers cannot do they could say It seemed good to the holy Ghost and to us and could take upon them the care and oversight of all Churches But now it is well if one or two of the wisest Ministers can teach or rule one particular Congregation It is too much for them to meddle with the common Government of many particular Churches And therefore the examples of the Apostolicall Churches do not binde the Churches of these times Ans. To this I answer First that it was necessary that the Apostles and Evangelists should be extraordinarily called inspired and assisted by the holy Ghost that he might lead them into all truth and call to their remembrance all things whatsoever Christ had taught them and commanded them to be observed in all Churches to the end of the world otherwise they could not have been the infallible penmen of the Scriptures which are the certain rule both of Doctrine and Discipline Neither could their example and practice have been an heavenly paterne of Divine Authority to all succeding ages But after the publishing of the Gospell by them to all the world and their writing of the holy Scriptures and leaving them recorded for a sure rule of teaching and ruling to all Christian Churches there is no more need of any such extraordinary calling and gifts in their Successours but ordinary Pastours and Teachers by the ordinary light and direction of the holy Ghost who hath made them Overseers over the Church may be as able to exercise Discipline and censures as to preach and propound sound and saving Doctrine in the Church out of the holy Scriptures of the Apostles which are as plain a rule and as certain a direction for ruling as they are for preaching And to confirm us in this assurance we have the promise of Christ that he will be with his Ministers in all ages to the end of the world as he was with his Apostles not only in teaching and Baptizing people but also making them observers of all things whatsoever he had commanded Matth. 28. 20. Secondly This objection is of no more force against the imitation of the Apostles in their practice and acts of Church Government in Synods and greater-Presbyteries then it is against preaching their doctrine contained in their writings For they were men of extraordinary calling and gifts in teaching as well as in ruling And if that be a good reason against ruling after their example It is so also against

of Antioch Act. 13. 1. the Church of Corinth 1 Cor. 1. 2. and of Thessalonica 1 Thess. 1. 1. and the Churches of Galatia Gal. 1. 2. yea and the particular Congregation in the house of Aquila and Priscilla Rom. 16 15. and 1 Cor. 16. 19. and in the house of Nymphas Coloss. 4. 15. and of Philemon vers. 2. are every one called the Church as well as the universall body is called the Church Math. 16. 18. Ephes. 1. 22. Coloss. 1. 24. and 1 Tim. 3. 15. 9. The principall parts of this Government of Christ which allwayes ought to go together and are inseparable in every well ordered and constituted Church are two First Doctrine which the Apostle calls {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Secondly Discipline which he calls {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} 2 Tim. 3. 16. which our Saviour in allusion to other Scriptures calls the keyes of the Kingdome of heaven Math. 16. 19. For as keyes do open and shut the doore of an house so do both Doctrine and Discipline open and shut the Kingdome of heaven Christ his true Church They open it to believers and to humble and paenitent persons and shut it against unbelievers and scandalous obstinat sinners who continue in their impenitency after conviction And for this cause our Saviour calls Doctrine and Teaching by expounding that word and law aright the key of knowledge Math. 23. 13. and Discipline he calls the key of David Revel. 3. 7. alluding to the words of the prophet Isa. 22. 22. where the Lord saith that he will lay the key of the house of David upon the shoulder of Eliakim so he shall open and none shall shut and he shall shut and none shall open that is I will commit the Government into his hands as the words before shew to rule the house of Juda as a Father The preachers of the word by convincing Doctrine do wound the wicked and are said to root out to pull and throw down and to destroy Jer. 1. 10. Yea and to torment the world to smite the earth with plagues and to shut heaven Revel. 11. 6 10. And by the converting word of the Gospel and the ministery of reconciliation to heal the broken in heart to open the prisons and to set captives at liberty Isa. 61. 1. And to build and to plant Jer. 1. 10. And to open the right way into the sheepfold Joh. 10. 16. The key of discipline also doth by censures which are according to the infallible Word of God shut out ignorant and scandalous persons from Communion with the children of the Kingdom purgeth out the old leaven and so bindeth the obstinate that they are bound in heaven Matth. 18. 18 1 Cor. 5. 7 13. But by declaring in the name and word of Christ absolution and remission of sins to persons penitent it opens the door of the Kingdom and receives into Christs sheepfold such as are brought back from going astray and loseth such as are bound 2 Cor. 2. 10. The exercise of the power of these two keys consists in divers publike acts done with authority by commission from Christ First the main act of doctrine is preaching the Word as the mouth of God to the people and applying it fitly to all sorts of persons instructing the ignorant discovering to them the corruption of their nature by which they are Children of wrath Eph. 2. 1 2 3. and so humbling them in their own eyes driving them out of themselves drawing them to Christ by the promises of the Gospel wooing them and as Ambassadours for Christ praying them in Christs stead to be reconciled unto God 2 Cor. 5. 20. and espousing them to Christ 2 Cor. 11. 2. And on the other side reproving rebuking and admonishing with authority as messengers of God all sinners and transgressours 2 Tim. 4. 2. Tit. 1. 13. Threatning and denouncing judgements hell and damnation against all that are hard hearted and impenitent as the Apostles did Act. 8. 23. and 13. 10. Rom. 2. 1 2 5. 1 Cor. 6 9. Heb. 20. 26 29. Iam. 5. 1. 2 Pet. 2. 13. Iude vers. 4. 11 14 15. These acts of doctrine private Christians may perform mutually among themselves and according to the measure of grace which God hath destributed to every one they are in brotherly duty and in Christian zeal and charity bound to perform them privately But publike Ministers only called of God and sent to preach can do them with power and authority as Gods mouth and Christs Ambassadours and their word is to be received as the Word of God 1 Thes. 2. 13. and as a message from heaven with fear reverence and trembling Isa. 66. 5. The acts of discipline which are to be performed by Gods Ministers also not as preachers in the pulpit before all the Congregation but as Presbyters in the Consistory are divers First receiving accusations before witnesses 1 Tim. 5. 19. Secondly publike admonition and personall reproof and rebuke of such as are convicted of offence and scandall by two or three witnesses 1 Tim. 5. 20. Tit. 3. 10. Thirdly after admonition condemned and scorned and the authority of the Eldership despised and sleighted these scorners are to be refused and rejected Tit. 3. 10. which cannot be if they be admitted to the holy Communion The Apostle injoins every faithfull Minister to withdraw himself from perverse persons of corrupt mindes 1 Tim. 6. 5. And he commands the brethren in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ that they withdraw themselves from every brother that walketh disorderly 2 Thes. 3. 6. Certainly he is blinde and hath the eye of his reason put out who doth not in these forenamed places see and understand that all scandalous perverse and stubborn persons are by the Commandement of Christ which is Jus divinum to be refused and not admitted into holy Communion which is Excommunicatio minor that is lesser excommunication The fourth act of discipline is the censure of the greater Excommunication which is the utmost censure of a Church member even casting him out of Church communion for his obstinacy in his scandalous sins and refusing to hear and obey the Church After this sentence given against any person he is in our Saviours phrase to be esteemed as an heathen man who is no member of the Church for the present but shut out of Gods Kingdom and in the Apostles phrase he is delivered to Satan and taken captive by the Devil and held in his snare 2 Tim. 2. 26. This censure is according to the will and by the appointment of Jesus Christ Matth. 18. 17. Where he saith of him who will not hear nor obey the Church Let him be to thee as an heathen and as a Publican The Apostle in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ commanded the Elders of the Church of Corinth by this censure and with the power of the Lord Jesus Christ to proceed against the incestuous person to put him away from among them

and to diliver him unto Satan 1 Cor. 5 5 13. And he himself delivered unto Satan Hymenaeus and Alexander 1 Tim. 1. 20. And these acts of discipline are not punishments of revenge not execution of justice in a rigid sense but Medicinall corrections of mercy and fatherly chastisements laid on the person censured not in hatred to hurt him nor in rigour to satisfie the law But in love hope desire and godly zeal for a three-fold end and use First For the mortification humiliation and repentance of the obstinate sinner that he may be made sensible of his danger and ashamed of his sin and heartily sorrowfull for it and full of contrition this is intimated by the Apostle where he saith that delivering unto Satan is for the destruction of the flesh that is fleshly corruption by mortification that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus 1 Cor. 5. 5. 1 Tim. 1. 20. he saith that he delivered unto Satan Hymeneus and Alexander that they might learn not to blaspheme and 2 Thes. 3. 14. Secondly For the preserving of the body and the rest of the members from infection for obstinate scandalous sinners will infect others this the Apostle sheweth 1 Cor. 5. 6 7. Saying Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump purge out therefore the old leaven Thirdly For vindicating the Church and Christian Religion from reproach and scandall and all shew and appearance of countenancing and cherishing vile sin and wickednes which will raise an ill report commonly that Christian Religion is worse then Gentilisme and tolerats sins the names of which are loathed among civill heathen This the Apostle implies 1 Cor. 5. 1. saying It is commonly reported that there is fornication among you such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles And certainly the Jews who were according to their law so strict in keeping from the Passeover all such as had any uncleannes on them might justly reproach Christians if they should admit scandalous sinners spiritually leprous and unclean to the Lords Supper and into holy communion with them and not cast them out There is besides those censures before named another most dreadfull censure mentioned in Scripture and called by the name of Anathema Maranatha that is the cursed untill the Lord cometh 1 Cor. 16. 22. This is a curse which the Church denounceth against desperate back-sliders and Apostates who after illumination profession of love to Christ and a taste of the good Word of God and of the power of the world do come do sin against the holy Ghost and fall away into hatred and despight against the truth of which the spirit hath convinced their consciences into malignant persecution of all true godlines and into an impossibility of being renewed by repentance Heb 6. 4. This censure to speak no more of it is a sentence and judgement of the Church declaring and pronouncing that such persons are reprobates and desperate enemies of God finally accursed past hope of recovery given up to the judgement of the last day when the Lord shall come to render vengeance in flaming fire to all them that hate him and that they are to be shunned and abhorred as fire brands of hell Of this curse we have divers examples in Scripture as that which God laid upon Cain Gen. 4. That which Enoch denounced against the old world of which Jude in his Epistle makes mention vers. 14. That of David against Doeg and other enemies and against the traitour Judas Psal. 109. and that wherewith the Lord cursed the reprobate Jews when he forbad the Prophet Jeremy to pray for them Jer. 7. 16. 11. 14. 14. 11. For there is a sin unto death namely the sin of Apostasy and rebellion against the light not to be prayed for as S. Iohn saith 1 Ioh. 5. 16. Besides these acts of Government before named we read of three others The first is Ordination of Ministers which properly belongs to the preaching Presbyters who are to examine them try their gifts and inquire into their lives first and after proof made of their abilities and godly conversation to ordain them with praier and imposition of hands of this we read Act. 13. 2 3. 1 Tim. 3. 2 3 4 c. 1 Tim. 4. 14. 5. 22. Tit. 1. 5. The second is Choosing and appointing of Church Officers this is the common act of the whole Eldership together with the people as appears Act. 6. 3 5. Act. 14. 23. The third is Setting of things in good order and appointing that all things be done decently and in order in the Church this Paul injoined the Elders of Corinth to do 1 Cor. 14 40. and he promised to assist them therein 1 Cor. 11. 34. and laid this charge on Titus Tit. 1. 5. From this discourse framed out of the infallible Word of God and expresse testimonies of holy Scriptures divers Corollaries and necessary conclusions do issue which remove the doubts and answer the questions which doubting scrupulous persons shall propound concerning Church-Government whether it be in whole or part Jure divino and by the will and appointment of Jesus Christ 1. Conclus That there is one uniform Government in the whole universall Church and in every part thereof Jure divino and by the will and appointment of Jesus Christ which ought to be observed in all National Provinciall Classicall and Congregationall Churches as they are parts and members of the Church universall which is the mysticall body of Christ Proved Section 3. and 5. and 6. and 8. 2. As there is but one law to all Christians even the Word of God which is the perfect rule of Government in all Orthodox and well constituted Churches So ought the Government to be one and the same in them all among themselves and in every particular Congregation Proved Sect. 8. 3. The supream Magistracy in every Nation Countrey and State being Christians is in duty bound to be as a nursing father to the Church of Christ to set up and maintain Preachers who may by preaching the Gospel gather their people and subjects into Congregations and set up Elders in every one according to the Word of God And parochiall or particular Congregations so gathered and Elderships set up in them by the dictate and direction of Christ are Iure divino The appointment of the Civill Magistrate is onely a civill sanction it doth not make them to be Iure divino Proved Sect. 3. and 4. 4. Though all Nationall Churches rightly constituted and formed according to the Scriptures are of equall authority not any one superiour to another and likewise all Provinciall Classicall and Parochiall Churches alike well formed are equall No Provinciall superiour to another Provinciall Nor any Classicall Eldership to another Classicall Yet the deciding of a controversy in point of Doctrine or any sentence or censure issuing out and published from a greater Assembly or Eldership as from a Nationall