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body_n	church_n	head_n	visible_a	10,670	5	9.6541	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A55001	A Platform of church discipline gathered out of the Word of God, and agreed upon by the elders, and messengers of the Churches, assembled in the Synod at Cambridge in New England, to be presented to the churches and Generall Court for their consideration and acceptance in the Lord, the eighth moneth, anno 1649.	Mather, Richard, 1596-1669.	1649 (1649)	Wing P2396; ESTC W2574	37,140	44

Ecclesiasticall Polity or Church Government or discipline is nothing els but that Forme order that is to be observed in the Church of Christ vpon earth both for the Constitution of it all the Administrations that therein are to bee performed 2 Church-Government is Considered in a double respect either in regard of the parts of Government themselves or necessary Circumstances thereof The parts of Government are prescribed in the word because the Lord Iesus Christ the King and Law-giver of his Church is no less faithfull in the house of God then was Moses who from the Lord delivered a form pattern of Government to the Children of Israel in the old Testament And the holy Scriptures are now also soe perfect as they are able to make the man of God perfect throughly furnished vnto euery good work therefore doubtless ●…o the well ordering of the house of God 3 The partes of Church-Government are all of them exactly described in the word of God being parts or means of Instituted worship according to the second Commandement therefore to continue one the same vnto the apearing of our Lord Iesus Christ as a kingdom that cannot be shaken untill hee shall deliver it up unto God euen the Father Soe that it is not left in the power of men officers Churches or any state in the world to add or diminish or alter any thing in the least measure ther●…in 4 The necessary circumstances as time place c belonging unto order and decency are not soe left unto men as that under pretence of them they may thrust their own Inventions upon the Churches Being Circumscribed in the word with many Generall ●…imitations where they are determined in respect of the matter to be neither worship it self nor Circumstances seperable from worship in respect of their end they must be done vnto edification in respect of the manner decently and in order according to the nature of the things them selves Civill Church Custom doth not euen nature it selfe teach you ye●… they are in some sort determined particularly namely that they be done in such a manner as all Circumstances considered is most expedient for edification so as if there bee no errour of man concerning their determination the determining of them is to be accounted as if it were divine CHAP II. Of the nature of the Catholick Church in Generall in speciall of a particular visible Church THe Catholick Church is the whole company of those that are elected redeemed in time effectually called from the state of sin death vnto a state of Grace salvation in Iesus Christ 2 This church is either Triumphant or Militant Triumphant the number of them who are Gloryfied in heaven Militant the number of them who are conflicting with their enemies vpon earth 3. This Militant Church is to bee considered as Invisible Visible Invisible in respect of their relation wherin they stand to Christ as a body unto the head being united unto him by the spirit of God faith in their hearts Visible in respect of the profession of their faith in their persons in particuler Churches so there may be acknowledged an universall visible Church 4 The members of the Militant visible Church considered either as not yet in church-order or as walking according to the church-order of the Gospel In order so besides the spiritual union communion common to all belivers they injoy more over an union communion ecclesiasticall-Politicall so wee deny an universall visible church 5 The state of the members of the Militant visible church walking in order was either before the law Oeconomical that is in families or under the law National or since the comming of Christ only congregational The term Independent wee approve not Therfore neither national provincial not classical 6 A congregational-Congregational-church is by the inst●…titution of Christ a part of the militant-visible-Militant-visible-church consistin●… of a company o●… Saints by calling un●…ed into one body by 〈◊〉 holy covenant for the publick worship of God th●… mutuall edification one of another in the Fellowship o●… the Lord Iesus CHAP III. Of the matter of the visible Church Both inr●…spect of Quality and Quantity THe matter of a visible church are Saints by calling 2 By Saints wee understand 1 Such as haue not only attained the knowledge of the principles of Religion are free from gr●…s open scand●…ls but also do together with the profession of their faith Repentance walk i●… blameles obedience to the word so as that in charitable discretion they may be accounted Saints by calling though perhaps some or more of them be unsound hypocrites inwardly●… bec●…se the members of such particular churches are commonly by the holy ghost called Saints faithfull brethren in Christ and sundry c●…ch es haue been reproued for receiving suffering such persons to c●…ntinu in fellowship amongst them as have been offensive scandalous the name of God also by this means is Blasphemed the holy things of God defiled Prophaned the hearts of godly gri●…ved the wicked themselves hardned holpen forward to ●…nation the example of such doeth endanger the sanctity of others A litle Leaven Leaveneth the whole lump 2 The children of such who are also holy 3 The members of churches though orderly constituted may in time degenerate grow corrupt scandalous which though they ought not to be ●…olerated in the church yet their continu●…ce ●…erein through the defect of the execution of discipline Ju●… 〈◊〉 doth not immediately d●…ssolv the being of the church as appeares in the church of Israell the churches of G●…latia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yet wee conceive the substance of it is kept where there is 〈◊〉 real Agreement consent of a company of faithful persons to meet constantly together in one Congregation for the publick worship of God their mutuall edification which real agreement consent they doe express by their constant practise in comming together for the publick worship of God by their religious subjection unto the ordinances of God the●…e the rather if wee doe consider how Scripture covenants have been entred into not only expressly by word of mouth but by s●…crifice by hand writing seal also somtimes by silent co●…sent without any writing or expression of words at all 5 This forme then being by mutuall covenant it followeth it is not faith in the heart nor the profession of that faith nor cohabitation nor Baptisme 1 Not faith in the heart becaus that is invisible 2 not a bare profession because that declareth them no more to be members of one church then of another 3 not Cohabitation Athiests or Infidels may dwell together with beleivers 4 not Baptism because it presupposseth a church estate as circumcision in the old

church IIX To feed the flock of God with a word of admonition IX And as they shall be sent for to visit to pray over their sick brethren X at other times as opportunity shall serve therunto 3 The office of a Deacon is Instituted in the church by the Lord Jesus somtime they are called Helps The Scripture telleth us how they should be qualified Grave not double tougued not given to much wine not given to filthy lucre they must first be proved then use the office of a Deacon being found Blameless The office and work of the Deacons is to receive the offrings of the church gifts given to the church to keep the treasury of the church therewith to serve the Tables which the church is to provide for as the Lords Table the table of the ministers of such as are in necessitie to whom they are to distribute in simplicity 4 The office therefore being limited unto the care of the temporall good things of the church it extends not unto the attendance upon administration of the spirituall things thereof as the word and Sacraments or the like 5 The ordinance of the Apostle practice of the church commends the Lords day as a fit time for the contributions of the Saints 6 The Instituting of all these officers in the Church is the work of God himselfe of the Lord Iesus Christ of the holy Ghost therefore such officers 〈◊〉 he hath not appointed are altogether unlawfull either to be placed in the church or to be retained therin are to be looked at as humane creatures meer Inventions appointments of man to the great dishonour of Christ Jesus the Lord of his house the King of his church whether Popes Patriarkes Cardinals Arch-bishops Lord 〈◊〉 Arch-●…eacons Officials Commissaries the like These the rest of that Hierarchy Retinue not being plants of the Lords planting shall all be certeinly be rooted out cast forth 7 The Lord hath appointed ancient widdows where they may be had to minister in the church in giving attendance to the sick to give succour unto them others in the like necessities CHAP IIX Of the Electon of Church-Officers NO man may take the honour of a Church-Officer unto himself but he that was called of God as was Aaron 2 Calling unto office is either Immediate by Christ himself such was the call of the Apostles Prophets this manner of calling ended with them as hath been said or Mediate by the church 3 It is meet that before any be ordained or chosen officers they should first be 〈◊〉 prove●… because hands are n●…t suddenly to be laid upon any both Elders Deacons must be of honest good repo●…t 4 The things in respect of which they are to be Tryed are those gif●…s virtues which the Scripture requireth in men that are to be elected into such places viz that Elders must be blameles●… sober apt to teach endued with such other qualifications as are layd downe 1 Tim: 3 2. T●…t 1. 6 to 9. Deacons to be fitted as is directed Acts. 6 3. 1 Tim: 3. 8 to 11. 5 Officers are to be called by such Churches whereunto they are to min●…ster of such moment is the preservation of this power that the churches excercised it in the presence of the Apostles 6 A Church being free cannot become subject to any but by a free election Yet when such a people do chuse any to be over them in the Lord then do they becom●… subject most willingly submit to their ministry in the Lord whom they have so chosen 7 And if the church have powr to chuse their officers ministers then in case of manifest unworthyness delinquency they have powr also to depose them For to open shut to chuse refuse to constitute in office remove from office are acts belonging unto the same powr 8 Wee judge it much conducing to the wel-being communion of churches that where it may conveniently be done neighbour-churches be adv●…sed withall their help made use of in the triall of church-officers in order to their choyce 9 The choyce of such Church-officers belongeth not to the civil-magistrates as such or diocesan-bishops or patrones for of these or any such like the Scripture is wholly silent as having any power therin CHAP IX Of Ordination Imposition of hands CHurch-officers are not only to be chosen by the Church but also to be ordeyned by Imposition of hands prayer with which at the ordination of Elders fasting also is to be joyned 2 This ordination wee account nothing else but the solemn putting of a man into his place office in the Church wher-unto he had right before by election being like the installing of a magistrat in the common wealth Ordination therefore is not to go before but to follow election the essence substance of the outward calling of an ordinary officer in the Church doth not consist in his ordination but in his voluntary free election by the Church in his accepting of that election wher-upon is founded the relation between Pastor flock between such a minister such a people Ordination doth not constitute an officer nor give him the essentials of his office The Apostles were elders without Imposition of hands by men Paul Barnabas were officers before that Imposition of hands Acts. 13. 3. The posterity of Levi were Priests the Church that had powr to receive him into their fellowship hath also the same powr to cast him out that they have concerning any other member 7 Church-government or Rule is placed by Christ in the officers of the church who are therefore called Rulers while they rule with God yet in case of mal-administration they are subject to the power of the church according as hath been said before the Holy Ghost frequently yea alwayes where it mentioneth Church-Rule church-government ascribeth it to Elders wheras the work duty of the people is expressed in the phrase of obeying their Elders submiting themselves unto them in the Lord so as it is manifest that an organick or compleat church is a body politick consisting of some that are Governors some that are governed in the Lord 8 The powr which Christ hath committed to the Elders is to feed rule the church of God accordingly to call the church together upon any weighty occasion when the members so called without just cause may not refuse to come nor when they are come depart before they are dismissed nor speak in the church before they have leave from the elders nor continue so doing when they require silence nor may they oppose nor contradict the judgment or sentence of the Elders without sufficient weighty cause becaus such practices are manifestly contrary unto

wheras persons are of better abilityes there it is most expedient that they make their relations confessions personally with their own mouth as David professeth of himselfe 5 A personall publick confession declaring of Gods manner of working upon the soul is both lawfull expedient usefull in sundry respects upon sundry grounds Those three thousands Acts. 2. 37. 41. Before they were admitted by the Apostles did manifest that they were pricked in their hearts at Peters sermon together with earnest desire to be delivered from their sinns which now wounded their consciences their ready receiving of the word of promise and exhortation Wee are to be ready to ●…der a reason of the hope that is in us to every one that asketh us th●…fore wee must be able and ready upon any occasion to declare shew our repentance for sinn faith unfamed effectuall calling because these are the reason of a well grounded hope I have not hidden thy righteousness from the great congregation Psal 40. 10. 6 This profession of faith repentance as it must be made by such at their admission that were never in Church-society before so nothing hindreth but the same way also be performed by such as have formerly been members of some other church the church to which they now joyn themselves as members may lawfully require the same Those three thousand Acts. 2. which made their confession were mēbers of the church of the Jewes before so were they that were baptised by John Churches may err in their admission persons regularly admitted may fall into offence Otherwise if Churches might obtrude their members or if church-members might obtrude themselves upon other churches without due tryall the matter so requiring both the liberty of churches would hereby be infringed in that they might not examine those concerning whose fitness for communion they were unsatisfied besides the infringing of their liberty the churches themselves would ūavoidably be corrupted the ordinances defiled whilst they might not refuse but must receive the unworthy which is contrary unto the Scripture teaching that all churches are sisters therfore equall 7 The like tryall is to be required from such members of the church as were born in the same or received their membership were baptized in their infancy or minority by vertue of the covenāt of their parents when being grown up unto yeares of discretion they shall desire to be made partakers of the Lords supper unto which because holy things must not be given unto the unworthy therfore it is requisit that these as well as others should come to their tryall examīation manifest their faith repentance by an open profession therof before they are received to the Lords supper otherwise not to be be admitted there unto Yet these Church-members that were so born or received in their childhood before they are capable of being made partakes of fall cōmunion have many priviledges which others not church-mēbers ha●…not they are in covenant with God have the seale therof upon th●… 〈◊〉 Baptisme so if not regenerated yet are in a more hopefull way of attayning regenerating grace all the spiritual blessings both of the covenāt seal they are also under C●…rch-watch consequently subject to the reprehensions ad non●…tions censures therof for their healing and amendment as need sh●…ll require CHAP XIII Of Church-members their removall from one Church to another of letters of recōmendation dismission CHurch-members may not remove or depart from the Church so one from another as they please nor without just weighty cause but ought to live dwell together for as much as they are cōmanded not to forsake the assembling of themselves together Such departure tends to the dissolution ruine of the body as the pulling of stones pe●…ces of timber from the building of members from the naturall body tend to the destruction of the whole 2 It is thērfore the duty of Church-members in such times places when counsell may be had to consult with the Church wherof they are mēmbers about their removall that accordingly they having their approbation may be incouraged or otherwise desist They who are joyned with consent should not depart without consent except forced therunto 3 If a members departure be manifestly unsafe and sinfull the church may not consent therunto for in so doing they should not act in saith should pertake with him in his sinn If the case be doubtfull the person not to be perswaded it seemeth best to leave the matter unto God not forcibly to detayn him 4 Just reasōs for a mēbers removall of himselfe from the church are I If a man cānot continue without partakig in sinn II In case of personall persecution so Paul departed from the desciples at Damascus Also in case of generall persecution when all are scattered III In case of real not only pretended want of competent subsistence a door being opened for better supply in another place together with the meanes of spirituall edification In these or like cases a member may lawfully remove the church cannot lawfully detayne him 5 To seperate from a Church eyther out of contempt of their holy fellowship or out of 〈◊〉 or for greater inlargements with just greife to the church or out of 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 out of a spirit of 〈◊〉 in respect of some unkindness or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 only concei●…ed or indeed in the Church which might should be tolèrated heared with a spirit of meekness of which evill the church is not yet cōvinced though perhaps himselfe bee nor admonished for these or like reasons to withdraw from publick cōmunion in word or seales or censures is unlawfull sinfull 6 Such members as have orderly removed their habitation ought to joyn themselves unto the church in order where they doe inhabit if it may bee otherwise they can neyther perform the dutyes nor receive the priviledges of members such an example tolerated in some is apt to corrupt others which if many should follow would threaten the dissolution confusion of churches contrary to the Scripture 7 Order requires that a member thus removing have letters testimonia●… of 〈◊〉 from the church wherof he yet is unto the church wherunto he desireth to be joyned lest the church sh●…uld be deluded that the church may receive him in faith not be corrupted by receiving deceivers false brethren Untill the person dismissed be received into another church he ceaseth ●…ot by his letters of dismission to be a member of the church wherof he was The church can̄ot make a member no member but by excōmunication 8 If a member be called to remove only for a time where a Church is letters of Recommendation are requisite sufficient for cōmunion with that church in the