26.16 19. these are sufficient intimations of what care and diligence we ought to use in attending unto what God hath appointed in his worship and although now under the new Testament he doth not ordinarily proceed to the inflicting of temporal judgements in thâ— like cases of neglect yâ—â— he hath not wholly left us without instances of his putting forth tokens of his displeasure in temporal visitations on such miscarriages in his Church 1 Cor. 11.30 For this cause saith the Apostle many are weak and sickly among you and many sleep From all which it appeares of what concernment it is unto the glory of God and the salvation of our own souls to attend diligently unto our duty in the strict and sincere observation of the worship of the Gospel for he lets us know that now a more severe punishment is substituted against such transgressions in the room of that which he so visibly inflicted under the old Testament Heb. 10.25 26 27 28 29. Qu. 16. Is there yet any other consideration that may stir up Beleivers to an holy and religious care about the due observation of the institutions of the Gospel Answ. Yea namely that the great apostacy of the Church in the last dayes foretold in the Scripture and which God threatneth to punish and revenge consists principally in false worship and a departure from the institutions of Christ. Rev. 14.4 5. Chap. 17.1 2 3 5. Explication That there is an Apostacy of the Church foretold in the book of the Revelations is acknowledged by all who with sincerity have inquired into the minde of God therein The state of things at this day and for many ages past in the World sufficiently confirm that perswasion And herein sundry things in general are obvious unto every sober consideration thereof First the horrible evils troubles and confusions that are to be brought into and upon the World thereby Secondly the high guilt and provocation of God that is contained in it and doth accompany it Thirdly the dreadful vengeance that God in his appointed time will take upon all the promoters and obstinate maintainers of it These things are at large all of them foretold in the Revelation and therein also the Apostacy it self is set forth as the cause of all the plagues and destructions that by the righteous judgement of God are to be brought upon the World in these latter dayes Now as God doth earnestly call upon all that fear him not to intermeddle nor partake in the sins of the Apostates lest they should also partake in their judgements Chap. 18.4 I heard a voice from Heaven saying come out of her my people that ye be not partakers of her sins and that ye receive not of her plagues So he doth plainly declare wherein the apostacy and sin it self should principally consist and that is in the corrupting and contaminating of the Ordinances of his worship or the introduction of false worship joyned with the persecution of them who refused to submit thereunto For this cause is the sin it self set out under the name of fornication and whoredome and the Church that maintains it is called the Mother of Harlots Chap. 17.5 That by fornication and whoredome in the Church the adulterating of the worship of God and the admission of false self-invented worship in the room thereof whereof God is jealous is intended the Scripture every where declares It is easie then to gather of how great concernment unto us it is especially in these latter dayes wherein this so hainous and provoking sin is prevalent in the World carefully to attend unto the safe unerring rule of Worship and diligently to perform the duties that are required therein Quest. 17. Which are the principal institutions of the Gospel to be observed in the worship of God Answ. 1. The calling gathering and setling of Churches with their Officers as the seat and subject of all other solemn instituted worship 2. Prayer with thanksgiving 3. Singing of Psalms 4. Preaching the word 5. Administration of the Sacraments of Baptism and the Supper of the Lord. 6. Discipline and rule of the Church collected and setled most of which have also sundry particular duties relating unto them and subservient unto their due observation 1. Matth. 28.19 20. Acts 2.41 42. 1 Cor. 12.28 Ephes. 4.11 12. Matth. 18.17 18 19. 1 Cor. 4.17 1 Cor. 7.17 Acts 14.23 Titus 1.5 1 Tim. 3.15 2. 1 Tim. 2.1 Acts 6.4 Acts 13.2 3. 3. Ephes. 5.19 Colos. 3.16 4. 2 Tim. 4.2 Acts 2.42 1 Cor. 14.3 Acts 6.2 Heb. 13.7 5. Matth. 28.19 Matth. 26.26 27. 1 Cor. 11.23 6. Matth. 18.17 18 19. Rom. 12.6 7 8. Rev. 2.3 Explication These things being all of them afterwards to be spoken unto severally and apart need not here any particular Explication They are the principal heads wherein Gospel-worship consisteth and whereunto the particular duties of it may be reduced Qu. 18. Whereas sundry of these things are founded in the light and law of nature as requisite unto all solemn worship and are moreover commanded in the moral Law and explications of it in the Old Testament how do you look upon them as Evangelical institutions to be observed principally on the authority of Jesus Christ Answ. Neither their general suitableness unto the principles of right reason and the dictates of the light and law of nature nor the practice of them in the worship of God under the Old Testament do at all hinder them from depending on the meer institution of Iesus Christ as to those especial ends of the â—â—â—ry of God in and by himself and the edification of his Church in the faith which is in him whereunto he hath appointed them Nor as unto that especial manner of their performance which he requireth in which respects they are to be observed on â—he account of his authority and command only Matth. 17.5 Matth. 28. â—0 John 16.23 24. Heb. 3.4 5 6. Ephes. 1.22 Chap. 2.20 21 22. Heb. 12.25 Explication The principal thing we are to aim at in the whole worship of God is the discharge of that duty which we owe to Jesus Christ the King and head of the Church Heb. 3.6 Christ as a Son over his own house whose house are we 1 Tim. 3.15 That thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thy self in the house of God which is the Church of the living God This we cannot do unless we consider his authority as the formal reason and cause of our observance of all that we do therein If we perform any thing in the worship of God on any other account it is no part of our obedience unto him and so we can neither expect his grace to assist us nor have we his promise to accept us therein for that he hath annexed unto our doing and observing whatever he hath commanded and that because he hath commanded us Matth. 28 20. teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and loe I am with you alwayes even
unto him that would be accounted to have taken that office upon him according to the mind of Christ and they are plainly expressed in the Scripture The First is that they be furnished with the gifts of the Holy-Ghost for the discharge of the Ministry The communication of the gifts of the Holy-Ghost is the foundation of the Ministry as the Apostle declares Ephes. 4.7 8 11 12 13. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ wherefore he saith when he ascended up on high he led captivity captive and gave gifts unto Men and he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man And if this were not continued if the Lord Christ did not continue to give gifts unto men for that end the ministry must and would cease in the Church and all Church order and administrations thereon The exercise also of the gifts is required in all them that are called unto sacred office 1 Tim. 4.14 Neglect nor the gift that is in thee Hence persons destitute of these gifts of the spirit as they cannot in a due manner discharge any one duty of the Ministry so wanting an interest in that which is the foundation of the Office are not esteemed of God as Ministers at all whatever their outward call may be Hosea 4.6 Because thou hast rejected knowledge I will also reject thee that thou shalt be no Priest to Me. Secondly Their unblameableness and holiness of conversation is previously required in them that are to be set apart unto the Ministry This the Apostle expresly declares and layes down many particular instances whereby it is to be tryed Tit. 1.7 8 9. For a Bishop must be blameless as the steward of God not self-willed not soon angry not given to Wine no striker not given to filthy lucre but a lover of hospitality a lover of good men sober just holy temperate holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and convince the gainsayers 1 Tim. 3 2 3 4 5 6 7. A Bishop must be blameless the husband of one Wife vigilant sober of good behaviour given to hospitality apt to teach not given to wine no striker not greedy of filthy lucre but patient not a brawler nor covetous one that ruleth well his own house having his Children in subjection with all gravity for if a man know not how to rule his own house how shall he take care of the Church of God not a Novice lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the Devil moreover he must have a good report of them which are without least he fall into reproach and the snare of the Devil Not that the particulars here mentioned by the Apostle are only to be considered in the conversation of the person to be called to the Ministry but that in an universal holy conversation these things he requires that he should be eminent in amongst Believers as those which have an especial respect to his work and office And a failure in any of them is a just cause or reason to debar any person from obtaining a part and lot in this matter For whereas the especial end of the Ministry is to promote and farther faith and holiness in the Church by the edification of it how unreasonable a thing would it be if men should be admitted unto the work of it who in their own Persons were strangers both unto faith and holiness And herein are the Elders of the Churches seriously to exercise themselves unto God that they may be an example unto the flock in an universal labouring after conformity in their lives unto the great Bishop and Pastour of the Church our Lord Jesus Christ. Thirdly It is required that such a Person have a willing mind to give up himself unto God in this work 1 Pet. 5.2 3. The Elders which are among you I exhort feed the flock of God which is among you taking the oversight thereof not by constraint but willingly not for filthy lucre but of a ready mind neither as being Lords over Gods heritage but being Ensamples to the flock Willingness and readiness of mind are the things here required as a previous qualification unto any mans susception of this Office and two things doth the Apostle declare to be contrary hereunto First The undertaking of it by constraint which compriseth every antecedent external impression upon the mind of the undertaker such are personal outward necessities compulsions of Friends and relations want of other wayes of subsistance in the World all which and the like are condemned by the Apostle as bring some constraint on the mind which on other accounts oughty to be free and willing as also all tergiversation and backwardness in persons duly qualified and called on the consideration of difficulties temptations streights persecutions is here condemned Secondly an eye and regard unto filthy lucre or profit in the World is proposed as opposite unto the readiness of mind which is required in them that are called to this work An aim in this employment for men by it to advantage themselves in the outward things of this world without which it is evident that the whole work and Office would lye neglected by the most of them who now would be accounted partakers of it is openly here condemned by the Apostle Fourthly Election by the suffrage and consent of the Church is required unto the calling of a Pastor or Teacher so that without it formally or virtually given or obtained the call however otherwise carryed on or solemnized is irregular and defective There are but two places in the New Testament where there is mention of the manner whereby any are called in an ordinary way unto any ministery in the Church and in both of them there is mention of their election by the community of the Church and in both of them the Apostles themselves presided with a fulness of Church power and yet would not deprive the Churches of that which was their liberty and priviledge The first of these is Acts the 6. where all the Apostles together to give a rule unto the future proceeding of all Churches in the constitution of Officers amongst them do appoint the multitude of the Disciples or community of the Church to look out from among themselves or to choose the persons that were to be set apart thereon unto their office which they did accordingly Verses 2 3 and 5. Then the twelve called the multitude of the Disciples unto them and said it is not reason that we should leave the word of God and serve Tables wherefore Brethren look ye out among you seven men of honest report
of the Church expressed which they are not to exceed in any thing Herein are bounds and limits fixed to the actings of the whole Church and of every part and member of it Thirdly This power or authority thus granted and conveyed by Jesus Christ is to be exercised as to the manner of the administration of discipline with skill and diligence Rom. 12.6 1 Cor. 12. and the skill required hereunto is a gift or an ability of mind bestowed by the Holy-Ghost upon men to put in execution the Laws of Christ for the government of the Church in the way and order by him appointed or a spiritual wisdom whereby men know how to behave themselves in the house of God in their several places for its due edification in faith and love 1 Tim. 3.15 And this ability of mind to make a due application of the Laws of the Gospel unto persons times and actions with their circumstances is such a gift of the Holy-Ghost as whereof there are several degrees answering to the distinct duties that are incumbent on the Rulers of the Church on the one hand and Members on the other And where this skill and wisdome is wanting there it is impossible that the Discipline of the Church should be preserved or carryed on Hereunto also diligence and watchfulness are to be added without which ability and power will never obtain their proper end in a due manner Rom. 12.6 7 8. Fourthly The end of this discipline is continuance increase and preservation of the Church according to the rule of its first institution 1 Cor. 5.7 This power hath Christ given his Church for its conservation without which it must necessarily decay and come to nothing Nor is it to be imagined that where any Church is called and gathered according to the mind of Christ that he hath left it destitute of power and authority to preserve it self in that state and order which he hath appointed unto it And that which was one principal cause of the decayes of the Asian Churches was the neglect of this Dicipline the power and priviledge whereof the Lord had left unto them and intrusted them withall for their own preservation in order purity and holiness And therefore for the neglect thereof they were greatly blamed by him Rev. 2.14 15 20. Chap. 3.2 as is also the Church of Corinth by the Apostle 1 Cor. 5.2 as they are commended who attended unto the diligent exercise of it Revel 2.2 Chap. 3.9 The disuse also of it hath been the occasion of all the defilements abominations and confusions that have spread themselves over many Churches in the World Quest. 42. Vnto whom is the power and administration of this Discipline committed by Jesus Christ Answ. As to the authority to be exerted in it in the things wherein the whole Church is concerned unto the Elders as unto tryall judgement and consent in and unto its exercise unto the whole Brotherhood as unto love care and watchfuless in private and particular cases to every member of the Church Matth. 24.45 Ephes. 4.13 14. Acts 20.28 1 Tim. 3.5 Chap. 5.17 Heb. 13.17 1 Pet. 2.3 1 Thes. 5.12 Gal. 6.1 2. 1 Cor. 4.14 1 Cor. 5.2 4 5. 2 Cor. 2.6 7 8. 2 Tim. 4.2 Explication It hath been shewed that this power is granted unto the Church by virtue of the Law and constitution of Christ. Now this Law assigns the means and way whereby any persons do obtain an interest therein and makes the just allotments to all concerned in it What this Law Constitution or Word of Christ assigns unto any as such that they are the first seat and subject of by what way or means soever they come to be intrusted therein Thus that power or authority which is given unto the Elders of the Church doth not first formally reside in the body of the Church unorganized or distinct from them though they are called unto their Office by their suffrage and choice but they are themselves as such the first subject of Office power For so is the Will of the Lord Christ. Nor is the interest of the whole Church in this power of discipline whatever it be given unto it by the Elders but is immediately granted unto it by the will and Law of the Lord Jesus First In this way and manner the Authority above described is given in the first place as such unto the Elders of the Church This Authority was before explained in answer unto the 28th question as also was the way whereby they receive it And it is that power of office whereby they are enabled for the discharge of their whole duty in the teaching and ruling of the Church called the power of the keyes from Mat. 16.19 Which expression being Metaphorical and in general lyable unto many interpretations is to be understood according to the declaration made of it in those particular instances wherein it is expressed Nor is it a two-fold power or Authority that the Elders of the Church have committed unto them one to teach and another to rule commonly called the power of order and of jurisdiction but it is one power of Office the duties whereof are of several kinds referred unto the two general heads first of teaching by preaching the word and celebration of the Sacraments and 2 Of rule or government By virtue hereof are they made Rulers over the house of God Matth. 24.45 Stewards in his house 1 Cor. 4.1 Overseers of the Church Act. 20.28 1 Peter 5.2 Guides unto the Church Heb. 13.7 17. Not that they have a supream or autocratorical power committed unto them to enable them to do what seems right and good in their own eyes seeing they are expresly bound up unto the terms of their Commission Matth. 28.19 20. To teach men to do and observe all and only what Christ hath commanded nor have they by virtue of it any dominion in or over the Church that is the laws rules or priviledges of it or the consciences of the Disciples of Christ to alter change add diminish or bind by their own authority 1 Pet. 5.3 Mark 10.42 43 44. But it is a power meerly ministerial in whose exercise they are unto the Lord Christ accountable servants Heb. 13.17 Matth. 24.45 And Servants of the Church for Jesus sake 2 Cor. 4.5 This authority in the Discipline of the Church they exert and put forth by virtue of their Office and not either as declaring of the power of the Church it self or acting what is delegated unto them thereby but as ministerially exercising the authority of Christ committed unto themselves Secondly The body of the Church or the multitude of the Brethren women being excepted by especial prohibition 1 Cor. 14.34 35. 1 Tim. 2.11 12. Is by the Law and constitution of Christ in the Gospel interested in the administration of this power of discipline in the Church so far as First To consider try and make a judgement in and about all persons things and causes in reference whereunto
case there be not the success aimed at obtained in these several degrees of private admonition it is then the will of our Lord Jesus Christ that the matter be reported unto the Church that the offender may be publickly admonished thereby and brought to repentance wherein is to be observed First That the persons who have endeavoured in vain to reclaim their offending Brother by private admonition are to acquaint the Elders of the Church with the case and crime as also what they have done according to rule for the rectifying of it who upon that information are obliged to communicate the knowledge of the whole matter to the Church This is to be done by the Elders as to whom the preservation of order in the Church and the rule of its proceeding do belong as we have shewed before Secondly The report made to the Church by the Elders is to be 1. Of the crime guilt or offence 2. Of the Testimony given unto the truth of it 3. Of the means used to bring the offender to acknowledgement and repentance 4. Of his deportment under the private previous admonitions either as to his rejecting of them or as to any satisfaction tendred all in order love meekness and tenderness Thirdly Things being proposed unto the Church and the offender heard upon the whole of the offence and former proceeding the whole Church or multitude of the Brethren are with the Elders to consider the nature of the offence with the condition and temptations of the offenders with such a spirit of meekness as our Lord Jesus Christ in his own person set them an example of in his dealing with sinners and which is required in them as his Disciples Gal. 6.1 2. 2 Cor. 2.8 Fourthly The Elders and Brethren are to judge of the offence and the carriage of the offender according to rule and if the offence be evident and persisted in then Fifthly The offender is to be publickly admonished by the Elders with the consent and concurrence of the Church 1 Thes. 5.14 1 Tim. 5.20 Matth. 18.16 17. And this admonition consists of Five parts 1. A declaration of the crime or offence as it is evidenced unto the Church 2. A conviction of the evil of it from the rule or rules transgressed against 3. A declaration of the authority and duty of the Church in such cases 4. A rebuke of the offender in the name of Christ answering the nature and circumstances of the offence 5. An Exhortation unto humiliation and repentance and acknowledgement Eleventhly In case the offender despise this admonition of the Church and come not upon it unto repentance it is the will and appointment of our Lord Jesus Christ that he be cut off from all the priviledges of the Church and cast out from the society thereof or be excommunicated wherein consists the last act of the discipline of the Church for the correction of offenders and herein may be considered First The nature of it that it is an authoritative act and so principally belongs unto the Elders of the Church who therein exert the power that they have received from the Lord Christ by and with the consent of the Church according to his appointment Matth. 16.19 John 20.23 Matth. 18.18 1 Cor. 5.4 Titus 3.10 1 Tim. 1.20 2 Cor. 2.6 And both these the Authority of the Eldership and the consent of the Brethren are necessary to the validity of the sentence and that according to the appointment of Christ and the practice of the first Churches Secondly The effect of it which is the cutting off or casting out of the person offending from the communion of the Church in the priviledges of the Gospel as consequently from that of all the visible Churches of Christ in the earth by virtue of their communion one with another whereby he is left unto the visible kingdom of Satan in the World Matth. 18.17 1 Cor. 5.2 5 13. 1 Tim. 1.20 Titus 3.10 Gal. 5.12 Thirdly The ends of it which are 1. The gaining of the party offending by bringing him to repentance humiliation and acknowledgement of his offence 2 Cor. 2.6 7. 2 Cor. 13.10 2. The warning of others not to do so presumptuously 3. The preserving of the Church in its purity and order 1 Cor. 5.6 7. all to the glory of Jesus Christ. Fourthly The causes of it or the grounds and reasons on which the Church may proceed unto sentence against any offending persons Now these are no other but such as they judge according to the Gospel that the Lord Christ will proceed upon in his finall judgement at the last day For the Church judgeth in the name and authority of Christ and are to exclude none from its communion but those whom they find by the rule that he himself excludes from his Kingdom and so that which they bind on earth is bound by him in Heaven Matth. 18.18 And their sentence herein is to be declared as the declaration of the sentence which the Head of the Church and Judge of all will pronounce at the last day only with this difference that it is also made known that this sentence of theirs is not final or decretory but in order to the prevention of that which will be so unless the evil be repented of Now although the particular evils sins or offences that may render a person obnoxious unto this censure and sentence are not to be enumerated by reason of the variety of circumstances which change the nature of actions yet they may in general be referred unto these heads First Moral evils contrary to the light of nature and express commands or prohibitions of the moral law direct rules of the Gospel or of evil report in the world amongst men walking according to the rule and light of reason And in cases of this nature the Church may proceed unto the sentence whereof we speak without previous admonition in case the matter of fact be notorious publickly and unquestionably known to be true and no general rule which is not to be impeached by particular instances lye against their proceedure 1 Cor. 5.3 4. 2 Tim. 3.2 3 4 5. Secondly Offences against that mutual love which is the bond of perfection in the Church if pertinaciously persisted in Matth. 18.16 17. Thirdly false doctrines against the fundamentals in faith or worship especially if maintained with contention to the trouble and disturbance of the peace of the Church Gal. 5.12 Titus 3.9 10 11. 1 Tim. 6.3 4 5. Revel 2.14 15. Fourthly Blasphemy or evil speaking of the wayes and worship of God in the Church especially if joyned with an intention to hinder the prosperity of the Church or to expose it to persecution 1 Tim. 1.20 Fifthly Desertion or total causeless relinquishment of the society and communion of the Church for such are self-condemned having broken and renounced the covenant of God that they made at their entrance into the Church Heb. 10.25 26 27 28 29. Sixthly The time or season of the putting forth