Wisely 11 Wisely Iraeneus worthily reproved Victor Bishop of Rome becaus hee resolved to excommunicate sundry Churches of Asia for no other caus but that they consented not with the Church of Rome in celebraing EASTER If none but those who were wise-hearted had to do in the rearing God's Tabernacle Exod. 31.6 certainly none but wise men should have to do in the framing or guiding of the Church Isa 11.2 3. 12. Zealously 12 Zealously Let your indignation bee shewed against the Offence not the Offender This will make you commend your enemie and reprove your friend Let your exclamation bee not O this Man but O this Sin 3ly III. Deacons Deacons they must bee sound in Faith unblameable in Conversation 1 Tim. 3.10 Their Office is 1. To collect and preserv the Alms belonging to the Poor 2. To distribute the same faithfully according to necessity so judged by plurality of Votes 3. To visit and comfort the needy and to see the Alms bee not mis-applied Acts 6. 4. To give an account hereof once a month If any do conceive this Government by Elders to have been but lately put in practice by reformed Churches let him suspend his judgment till hee have read what Ambrose Tertullian Cyprian have written in asserting its Antiquity a tast whereof hee may finde in the Epistle There is one thing common in the whispers of men that this Government is or will bee tyrannical O say som it will sting it will pare to the quick Behold a vain and sensual opprobrium I shall endeavor to stop the clamor before the Government bee setled which the Government it self when setled will confute to the full This Government doth not kill but cure it cut 's off not sound but rotten members Are you angry with your Barbar for cutting of hairs when super-numerary or with the Physitian for purging malignant humors or with the Scissars for pareing your nails This Government cut 's not off Parts but putrefaction not members but excrements not the Man but the Crime Was it not an impudent fellow that said hee knew Christ to bee a hard Master when alas there was not any that ever knew less of Christ and his nature then himself But I will evert this fancie not so much by Rhetorick as by Reason First then it is little less then blasphemie to traduce or defame a Government of Christ If this were of men it might bear Censure But if of God bee not fighters against God They that cannot endure the refineing fire of Christ willingly hee can make them endure his consumeing fire whether they will or no. 2. Hee that so harshly judgeth it is either an Atheist or a Libertine or a Scandalous person or at best hee is ignorant of the Government 3. Tyrannie is a Government beyond or against the Laws established But this submit's in all things to the minde of Christ 4. There is no more power placed in the hands of Ministers and Elders then what was formerly placed in the hands of the meanest Curate as the Rubrick before the Communion in the late Service-book doth fully demonstrate 5. If it bee Tyrannical it is so either over 1. Mens Estates but it hath no Mulcts Fines Forfeitures Confiscations 2. Bodie but it hath no Banishment Imprisonment Branding Striking Dismembring Killing 3. Soul but it desire 's to gain that not to destroy it and it is so far from enforcing sin upon it that it correct's it 1 Cor. 5.5 6ly It cannot bee Tyrannie becaus those who are the Officers and Censurers of others are and yeeld themselvs subject to the same Spiritual Censures as well as the meanest 1 Tim. 5. v. 1. ver 19. and all the favor the Eldership hath from Scripture is not to bee Saucily Censured or Malitiously Traduced or rashly Condemned by a fingle witness If any person elected to Office shall finde in himself such a haughty spirit as hee can neither rule himself nor bee ruled by his Brethren I wish him with Ammonius rather to cut off his Ear and flie then to usurp such an Office to himself which may caus not onely himself but the work of Reformation to miscarrie FINIS Imprimatur JA. CRANFORD
not censure but by the law of God But is not the Church holy and hath it not in it many times rare gifted Brethren as well as officers Is not this objection a kin to that of Core Yee take too much upon you you sons of Levi seeing that the congregation is holy There is a three-fold Holiness 1. A Regenerative holiness of sanctification 2. A Federall holiness of covenant and Church-membership 3. A Separative holiness by way of Office Jer. 1.5 Though the Church may bee granted to bee holy in the first and second sens yet never in the third Remembar Vzzah Corah Dathan Abiram and King Vzziah 2 King 15.5 But to the point 1. Som are gifted as Christians 2. Others are gifted as Officers and in this sens the Brethren are ungifted Brethren Rom. 10.15 Hebr. 5.4 But here a great question is moved at this day Whether the Magistrate have not the power of Church-Government in him and so the Keyes fall not onely out of the hands of the people but of officers themselvs The Reverend Divines of London tell us that the Magâ—strate hath a power circa not in Ecclesiam 1. They have a defensive patronizing power Isa 49.23 2. A Diatactick or Regulating Ordering Power 3. A Compulsive Punitive Power as Custodes utriusque Tabulae the Keepers of both Tables But as for a Supreme power they desire to bee excused as bound not onely to give to Caesar what is Caesars but to God what is Gods To these I add what Sleidan relate's of Luther Sleid. Com. 1 14. That hee would not have Caesar stirred up as head of the Church or as Protector and Defender of the Faith for this saith hee is a wrong to Christ and these are fals and emptie Titles Ambrose tell 's us in his Epistle to Valentinian A good Emperor is within the Church not above it Eusebius bring 's in Constantine thus speaking to the Ministers Euseb l. 4. de vit â Constant You are Overseers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of those things don in the Church I of those things which are don out of it Ridley in his conference with Mr Latimer Fox Martyrol saith Fox Martyrol pag. 1564. Here cometh to my remembrance that notable saying of Valentinian the Emperor for choosing the Bishop of Millain Set him saith hee in the Bishops seat to whom if wee as men do offend at any time wee may submit our selvs Rivet in his Commentary on the fifth Commandement tell 's us that the Magistrate may bee considered either as an officer of the Common-wealth or els as a member of the Church as an Officer of the Common-wealth so hee hath authority over each particular person as a member of the Church so hee is subjected to Ecclesiastical discipline this hee illustrate's by a Simile The The King doth command and obey his Physitian and confirm's also by a proof from Heb. 19.17 Master Calvin could not brook this Title of Supreme Head and Governor Calv. nos Anglos blasphemos dixit quòd Regem summum caput sub Christo vocarent Cal. Gom. in Amos 7. ver 12. and therefore accounted our English Courtship of styling our King next to Christ Supreme Head and Governor to bee no less then blaspemie and hee tell 's us further that somtimes the Magistrate is negligent nay somtimes the Magistrate may stand in need of correction himself as hapned to Theodosius Caesar who was excommunicated by Ambrose for his great slaughter at Thessalonica Pareus tell 's us that the Magistrate punisheth one way the Church another the Magistrate imprisoneth the Church excommunicateth the Magistrate proceed's immediately the Church by leasure first admonishing then censureing the Magistrate his eye is upon the Law the Churches on Repentance The promise of bindeing by excommunication Ista promissio an unius anni dicenda vel paucorum Cal. in Instit lib. 4. cap. 11. of loosing by receiving into Communion was not a promise made to the Church for one yeer onely till the Christian Magistrate were grown up it was not a Leas but a Legacie And indeed were it otherwise the Church would bee in a wors condition under Christian Magistrates then under Heathen For Paul's command prevailed over the Corinthians to purge out their old Leaven 1 Cor. 5.7 Now it is neither Paul nor Apollos that sine nutu Caesaris can prevail for Reformation and bring his Congregation to an effectual purge If a Physitian should bee prohibited to purge the body of his Patient till hee were back't with a command from higher Powers as the Officer is to purge the body of his Church hee would esteem it a thing extreme injurious to him and his Patient III. By Presbyterial Government every particular Church shall have a Consistory consisting of Pastor and Elders of the same Church who ought to meet once a week to dispatch incident business Acts 21.18 It hath authority to assemble and inquire into the conversation of men of all sorts and degrees to judg upon Lewdness Prophaneness Negligences and thereupon to admonish 1. Privately 2. Solemnly 3. Publickly And to withdraw Communion that they may bee ashamed to suspend from Sacrament upon contumacie 2 Thes 3.14 And to conclude inferior differences ariseing within the Body IV. In the last place I com to set down the variety of Officers which are thus disposed 1. Pastors are thus disposed 2. Elders are thus disposed 3. Deacons 1. Pastors are Officers instituted by Christ Rom. 10.15 Heb. 5.4 1. Pastors Tit. 1.5 1 Tim. 3.2 to ver 8. Naynot onely by Christ but by all the persons of the Trinity 1. God the Father 1 Cor. 12.28 2. God the Son Ephes 4. ver 11.8 3. God the holy Ghost Acts 20.28 Consider good Reader the desperate malignity that such bear to the Trinity to the Church to the Scripture that denie the office of the Ministerie to bee instituted by Christ what doth the great Wolf Satan desire more then the delivery up of the Shepherds that so hee may tear in pieces the Flock of Christ while there is none to deliver see Matth. 28.19.20 Go saith Christ and teach all Nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father the Son and the holy-Ghost teaching them to observ all things that I have commanded you and Io I am with you to the end of the World with you Hee mean's not their Persons for they died but their Office which is perpetual This place will not admit of so frivolous a Descant as som have made of it Mr. M. of H. * That Christ promiseth his Saints to bee with them to the World's end which though true yet it hath no ground nor is deducible from this proof for there are two different and distinct Particles in the last vers them and you By them is understood the Flock by you the Pastors To conclude that which God hath promised in all ages that calling which hath its Seal from heaven in
and Elders which vindicate's and cleare's up the fourth branch of the Definition which I demonstrate by ten Arguments The Officers alone are styled Governors and the people said to bee Governed in Scripture and thereupon disinteressed from Government See the names given to Pastors They are called not onely Over-seers Builders Workmen Reconcilers Pastors Salt of the Earth but Lights Stewards Fathers Ambassadors Rulers Lights Matth. 5.14 Stewards 1 Cor. 4.1 Embassadors 2 Cor. 5.20 Fathers 1 Cor. 4.15 Rulers Heb. 13.17 God hath given the Keyes of Government onely to them whom hee intended should govern But that was onely to Officers the Disciples being at that season absent Matth. 16.19 Joh. 20.21 To whom the Acts of Government do belong they are the eyes ears hands and principal members of the body but the parts of Christ's body are not all alike Rom. 12.6 7. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given us whether Prophecying Let us prophecie according to the proportion of faith or Ministrie Let us wait on our ministrie or hee that Teacheth on teaching 1 Cor. 12.19 And if they were all one member where were the body Experience evidenceth that all the whole multitude are not all endued with gifts requisite for unto Government is required a new large spiritual and a discerning Heart 1 Cor. 14.32 That it is not to bee committed to the people which bring 's in confusion God being the God of Order for then the weak as well as the strong the ignorant as well as the intelligent Children as well as Parents women as well as men must have the Keyes hung at their girdles They have not power of Ordination which belong's to Government as is evident Act. 6.6 When they had set before the Apostles and when they had prayed they laid their hands on him and 13.1 2 3. 1 Tim. 4.14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee which was given thee by prophecie with the laying on of the hands of the Presbyterie 1 Tim. 5.22 Lay hands suddenly on no man neither bee pertaker of other mens sins keep thy self pure 2 Tim. 1.6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God which is given thee by laying on of hands Tit. 1.5 For this caus left I thee in Creet that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting and ordain Elders in every Citie as I have appointed thee This power in the people would tend not to edification but disprofit every way for either the daies of Church-censuring must bee on the Sabbath-day and then it hinder's the soule 's health or els on the Week-daies and then it hinder's their occupations besides all this such censure would bee most tedious for every one being Judg must look to pronounce according to truth judgment and righteousness and look to bee acquainted with every circumstance of all actions They who have the power of Government have the power of Preaching and administration of the Sacraments saving one exception in the word concerning ruleing Elders 1 Tim. 5. The reason is becaus the Scripture conjoin's both together Matth. 16.19 Job 20.22 The nature of the Church in the Old Tsstament was otherwise the government whereof was committed to Priests who judged of Leprosies and pronounced excommunication Ezek. 44.23 24. They shall teach my people the difference between the holy and prophane and cause men to discern between the clean and unclean and in controversie they shall stand in judgment and judg it according to my judgments and they shall keep my Statutes and my Lawes in all my Assemblies and they shall hallow my Sabbaths The charge laid upon the Officers demonstrate's it Rev. 2.6 1. Tim. 5.17 Let the Elders that rule well bee accounted worthy of double honor especially they that labor in the word and doctrine Tit. 3.10 A man that is an Heretick after the first and second admonition reject 1 Thes 5.12 And wee beseech you brethren to know them which labor among you and are over you in the Lord Heb. 13.17 Obey them that have the rule over you and submit your selvs for they watch for your souls as they that must give account that they may do it with joy and not with grief for that is unprofitable for you There bee three places of Scripture which may stumble us if they bee not at present unfolded I. * Matth. 18.17 If thy Brother neglect to hear thee tell it the Church and if hee neglect c. The next words explain the sens There is a two fold Church 1 Parochial of all the multitude 2 Ministerial or representative Christ speak's of the later not of the former Deodat Calvin Beza Tremel according to the judgment of many judicious Divines for this is the Church that hath the Keyes of bindeing and loosing which power was not given to the whole multitude but to the Apostles ver 18. 2. This doth conclude little in their Caus for the place doth establish a Chuch of lesser Assemblies then the whole body 3. I should willingly grant them a share were there no danger in it for wee finde that publick Votes do not bring forth many happy pious peaceable or seasonable conclusions the major part being seldom the better 1 Cor. 5.4 5 When yee are gathered together and my spirit deliver such an one to Satan See for its explication 2 Cor. 2.2.6 Sufficient to such an one is the censure inflicted by many not by all Besides the Church of Corinth was not Congregational for it was a City of so great strength that it durst bid defiance to the Roman Ambassadors and wee finde it consisted of divers particular congregations see Acts 8.19 20. God hath much people in it Act. 18.15 Paul continued there a yeer and six months 1 Cor. 1.14 Paul baptized but a few yet the Corinthians were baptized 1 Cor. 12.13 1 Cor. 5.12 III. Qui facit per alium facit per se Do not yee judg them that are within The answer is that what is don by the Consistory of Ministers and Elders in the name of Christ and according to the rule of the Word may bee said to bee don by the Congregation nay by Christ himself as what is don by the Parliament may be said to bee don by the people the act of Publick persons is the act of the * Quod in Vrbe est Senatus id in Ecclesia est Presbyterium Cal. Instit l. 4. Praesident probatiquique Seniores Tertul. Plebs à cognitione non excluditur Cal. l. 4. c. 11. Publick 2. Paul judged primarily and authoritatively by way of power 1 Cor. 5.3 4 5. The people concomitantly and approbatively by way of consent 3. If a godly and understanding congregation do desire to take knowledg of our Church-Censures and to bee present at them I think there is none will exclude them though there is little cause of suspition saith Mr Calvin that they can err or dissent from the judgment of God who do