be freely and generally voted that no members may complain of being dispriviledged and good reason for it because they are to be as Fathers to educate and feed them and to provide their souls food in order to their spirituall interest and everlasting good Fourthly 'T is doubtless the Brethrens Priviledge to have the knowledge of recieving or excluding any member or members into or out of communion with them especially in doubtfull or difficult Cases because they are to be or not to be members of the same body 1 Cor. 5.4 5. and to have fellowship with them in the same holy mystery and if there be any sin contracted either in denying recieving detaining or excluding any person the evil may reflect upon the whole Congregation Fifthly Another Priviledge is If any Brother hath any injury offered him or wrong done him he ought to bring it legally to the Church and there claim his Priviledge to be heard and relieved and to call for justice to be executed Then 't is the Churches duty to proceed and do them equity consonant to that good ancient Rule of doing as a man would be done by Mat. 8.7 and that without delay and partiallity that while we are complaining for want of justice from others we may not neglect to do justice in the Churches Sixthly Such among the Lords People as are justly poor being of the body have a right to be relieved in their outward necessity for as there is a right of propriety Heb. 13.3 so there is a right of charity 't is the Lords Rent-charge the Poors due and the Churches duty There are some unjustly poor who are either idle persons or led through their lusts into poverty others by mans oppression are brought into penury there are some impotent poor so naturally and there are the Lords poor who become so through the consequences of Christianity Seventhly There is another Priviledge that belongs to Christians That if any Person or Party in a Congregation should verily judge and absolutely believe they were oppressed and over-ruled by the rest of the Congregation in any case or controversie that it amounts to high contention and disputation Deut. 17.8 9 10. after all christian and serious means used he or they may make their humble appeal to some other Church in the same Faith and if the case be very weighty then to have recourse to some generall Assembly Acts 15.2 that by all means schisme may be prevented and peace and concord preserved To conclude these things There are other Rights Immunities and Priviledges that of right appertain to Church-Members that if any have a gift in Prayer 1 Pet. 4.10 or by way of Exhortation to have his seasonable time of liberty for the exercise of his gift and to have encouragement in so good a work Moreover if any are under temptation as wounding of spirit sickness of body or any other afflictions he may and ought to have recourse to the Ministers and to ask counsell and assistance of the Elders Jam. 5.14 or to call for them to be their visitants and the Elders ought to attend them in waiting upon their duties by Prayers Instruction or any other services wherein Christs Ministers are obliged and become concerned as they are spirituall guides and Gospel-Physitians Thus we may both learn and discern the great Priviledges that pertain to such as belong to Gospel-Churches to have interest in such provisions and advantages and all within themselves under Christs government and dominion and within their own limits and jurisdiction where all rights and proprieties are equally to be distributed their souls duely nourished their temptations considered burdens removed their bodies healed their poverty supplied their injuries redressed and their priviledges maintained and their causes heard and contentions determined Thus ought Christians to have things common in the spirituall Commonwealth and holy Nation and to maintain a free fellowship and communion both in priviledges and sufferings The truth is the charge of these things chiefly respects Officers to whom the Church hath committed her power and upon whom they have cast the burden of their care who ought as instruments in the name of Christ with the Churches consent to exercise the severall parts and offices of Government and as they are intrusted by God so they ought to act faithfull according to his Word and as they ought not to exercise lordship to usurp authority so they ought not to deface and diminish ought of Christs or his Churches power and dignity For if our Lord died to enter the government and our liberties and priviledges were purchased at so dear a rate and now committed to the care of the Churches there is a great obligation lyes upon the Congregation to see that these things be carefully maintained and constantly preserved and especially such as are in publick trust to improve their places and discharge good consciences to be a just defence to all persons in their spirituall rights and immunities that there may be no just cause of complaints in all our streets or borders Fifthly What Disorders are to be prevented corrected and removed AS when duties are put into the best form they appear with the most beauty so when the branches of impiety are set in order they appear in their ugly shape of deformity I will set some before you which I believe are sometimes found amongst you which are a dishonour to Christians and are great disturbances to the peace of the Churches and these evils are both of omission and commission First 'T is found too much neglected by teachers and leaders that the People are not taught but are very ignorant in the orders and principles of true discipline and right government Secondly When a man doth not prize and tender the unity and Peace of the Church as he ought but shall inconsiderately and indiscreetly publish and possibly endeavour to enforce a Principle upon the People or a Practice upon a Person before they themselves have sufficiently tried and proved it or the People or Person are prepared to bear it Ioh. 16.12 or made fit and capale to receive it and so oft-times a disturbance attends it Thirdly Another Disorder which doth mostly respect the Elders That is when disorderly walkers who are known to live and continue in sin and the Church neglects her Duty in Discipline not remembring all the time this sin is unpunished 1 Cor. 5.2 God is dishonoured their Duty neglected the Truth reproached the most religious grieved and scorners at Religion rejoyced Gods appointed Ordinance to destroy the flesh omitted and the proper means neglected by which the sinner should be restored Fourthly Another Disorder is when the members of one Congregation shall receive a member or members from another Congregation without their knowledge or consent or a letter of Recommendation from them to whom he or they did belong except in any case extraordinary by which disorders follow bad consequences Rom. 16.1 2.
be leavened and that for such publick and scandalous sins by which God is so highly dishonored and the Church so greatly reproached The Church cannot be purged untill the guilty person be punished Christian Reader As touching this matter I will presume to take the place of a Moderator for I have heard the question debated among able men who in the main agree and design the self same thing there 's only a form of words betwixt them both agree the sinner shall be called into question The one admonishes him for his evill in the Name of the Lord The other passeth a sentence against him by the power of the same Lord both rebuke the person for the wickednesse done both bear their testimony against the crime in order to clear the Church of his Transgression both dis-priviledge the Transgressor of Communion untill he appears a truly humbled person and gives the Congregation full satisfaction so that in truth upon the whole matter there is no material substance that 's worthy to bear the name of a difference so that for my own part for peace sake I could consent either wayes provided the best care be taken by all that are concerned That Gods Honour be preserved all scandall be removed the Truths Innocency delivered and the Churches Reputation vindicated 3. What is to be understood and observed in the prrosecution of Discipline FIrst There is steps and Circumstances to be observed in reproving 1. Timely 2. Affectionately 3. A private fault privately 4. To design the restoring the sinner from iniquity Concerning Excommunication let this order be observed 1. Let it be done in Christs Name and Authority 2. See that sinner be convicted legally 3. Let the Counsell and Blessing of God be sought fervently 4. To the end the flesh may be destroyed and the spirit saved in the day of the Lord. Repentance consists of four parts 1. Contrition of the heart 2. Confession of the mouth 3. Reformation of the life 4. Restitution for the wrong done An order in forgiveness 1. It must be groundedly 2. Freely 3. Fully 4. Perpetually There is a method to be observed in Prayer as our Lord hath taught us saying when we pray pray after this manner When Duties want their Order and Circumstance they are oft-times rejected instead of being accepted for 't is evident God requires equal submission to order as he doth to the duty it self The Wise man Solomon saith He would put his Proverbs in order Eccles 12.9 In all Gods former services about the Ark Alter and Sanctuary the Lord precisely required all persons to attend respectively their Offices and places and that all things should exactly be set in order and appointed to their several uses and for the breach in Order 1 Chr. 19.13 the Lord in his anger caused some deeply to suffer The Apostle Paul speaking of Churchassembling and about Prophesying and touching the Lords Supper he sums up all with this charge Let all things be done decently and in order 1 Cor. 14.40 The same Apostle beholds rejoyceth commends and praises the order of the Colossians Doubtless there ought to be some method in Preaching 'T is great pitty that divine and pure matter should want its beauty and ornament of form and order St. Paul commands Timothy to study to shew himself a workman rightly dividing the Word of truth There is a Rule to be observed in hearing 1. Preparation to hear 2. Attention in hearing 3. Meditation after hearing 4. Supplication before and after a blessing There are steps and degrees in believing 1. The faith of credence 2. The faith of adherence 3. The faith of endurance 4. Of stedfast reliance A Rule to be observed in suffering 1. To have a good cause 2. A right call 3. A good conscience 4. A pure end To be short there ought to be an order in all obedience in respect of matter manner end and circumstance for the righteous God as truely-punishes for the breach of order as he doth for neglect of services As order is the ornament of profession so I may call it the master-piece of Religion for both Gods precepts for it and punishments upon the neglect of it witness the same There ought to be a strict order in the commemoration of the Lords Supper even to hold and keep it with such observation 1 Cor. 11.28 as may answer to the first institution and in presuming to come to such holy Mysteries there ought to be great heart-preparations and self examinations 1. In unity of heart judgement and affection 2. In purity of life and conversation 3. Reverently as being at the Table and in the presence of the God of Heaven Psal 86.11 4 Having an eye to the end which is the victory Christ hath obtained for every Christian 5. To act in charity and freely because love was the first cause of our felicity 6. Rejoycingly as men having interest in the spirituall conquest over our souls adversary and as men purchased from everlasting misery 7. Thankfully humbly accepting reverently and chearfully embracing and with thankfulness partaking of those soul-benefits conveyed and received in that Administration SABBATH SOme brief Rules for the better order and observation of the Lords Day or First Day Sabbath Or if I may not call it a Sabbath I know no reason Deut. 5.15 Col. 1.12 13. But if the Jews were obliged to keep a Sabbath in remembrance of a temporall deliverance from temporall bondage Christians should be much more bound to observe a day as strict as a Sabbath in memoriall and remembrance of their spirituall and eternall deliverance from spirituall and eternall bondage For doubtless Christians are at great losses because of so much remisness and want of strictness in the First Dayes service First Then let the Lords People be stirring betimes upon the Lords Day called so by way of Eminency having a greater work to do than on other days a work attended either with greater blessings if religiously performed or with greater damages if neglected or misimproved Secondly Let them make serious preparation remembring whose service it is and into whose presence they come considering well what they go about and how nearly it respects their eternall Estate Eccles 5.1 Thirdly When they come into the Church Assembly let them attend diligently and behave themselves reverently and that before the Lord with due and humble respect to the administration and Majesty of the Word Fourthly Let them with all watchfulness and holy indignation strive to avoid those unseemly and uncomely behaviours tempers and gestures of lukewarmness coldness drowsie heavy and dull and sleepy carriages in Gods Divine services which is dishonourable to their persons and also unprofitable to their souls Fifthly Let them Meditate upon what they have heard For although the Lords People of the Congregationall way are necessitated to take the most pains to hear the Word in respect of distance of place yet they have one priviledge being improved may yeeld
true owner especially when his necessity calls for it speedily Beware then of detaining any dues from the Lord when he calls for it even that which he hath reserved and excepted for the poor Saints and his ministring servants which belongs to them as given from the Lord and proved to be their right by his Word My dearly beloved brethren let not me be thought the worse although I present you with this discourse I hope you will excuse and pardon my boldness and plainness because 't is a publick good and an universall cause even a design to advance the honour of God and for poor souls spiritual and eternall good Let every man help as he hath received and as he stands obliged whether it be in respect of spiritualls or temporalls The wise man with his wisdome the gifted man by exhortation the rich man with his treasures all help together by their hearty and fervent prayers He that giveth let him do it with singleness he that ruleth with diligence and he that sheweth mercy with chearfullness for the Lord loves a chearfull giver Rom. 12.8 Take one reason more When many shoulders are set to bear a heavy weight it causes each mans burden to become very light and as Gospell Preachers ought to be tender in being chargeable to the Churches so ought Churches not to make the Gospell burdensome to the Preachers Let Christians comply and agree together as Joab and Abishai did to maintain a temporall warre Joab said to his brother If the enemy be too strong for me thou shalt help me if he be too strong for thee I will help thee So ought brethren to do who are engaged in the cause of Christ to assist each other in all spirituall combats and to help to bear one anothers burdens Gal. 6.2 for this is to fulfill the royall Law of Christ But to be short and plain my brethren I am not without my fear lest we should provoke the Lords displeasure even to blast our blessings and dispossess us of our freedomes because he hath done so much for us and we have done so little for others being subject to forget we ought to be lights to the world Mat. 5.13 14. and salt to the earth and because we have not such sympathizing dispositions and compassionate hearts to pitty the dark condition of the world and ignorant estate of poor sinners even while we hear them calling upon us in severall places as it were complaining for want and calling out for help and asking relief for their poor souls Let Churches therefore set out their lights and every one add their helps some as actuall instruments others as instrumentall assistants that the Gospell may be published unregenerate persons converted and hungry and thirsty souls may be supplyed and refreshed I will take leave to adde one thing more which I have observed That our Christian relations come short of some other perswasions who when they depart this world possest of temporall wealth bequeath part to some pious and publick services and this part of their charity as it were perfumes their memory and like Abels faith and sacrifice will speak and in a sence preach after a man dyes If ye believe this concerns you consider what I say and the Lord give you understanding in all things Object But we are unable and cannot give because of our families and many other expences payments and charges Answ The husbandman that laboureth must first be partaker and receive of the fruits Ought not Christians first to advance the kingdome of God 2 Tim. 2.6 and pay their first fruits to their supreme Lord. Let the Objection be thus resolved that the interest of Christ and the cause of souls shall be first preferred If you cannot give talents yet cast in your mites into the common treasury for it will be accepted according to what a man hath if it be done chearfully Take heed my brethren of distrusting or murmuring at free disbursing to Gospell-Preaching he that thus expends his treasure lends to the Lord Heb. 6.10 and the Lord will not forget but requite them an hundred fold Who knows but the Lord intends to tempt you to prove him as in the Prophet Malachies time when he said If you will bring meat into my store-house see if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour you out blessings without measure that there shall not be room enough to receive it Who knows but that for a little expended there may be much received But I leave it to the wise for them to apply and Gospellize Heb. 13.16 To do good and communicate forget not for with such sacrifices God is well pleased and the sacrificer shall be well rewarded And if in this small Tract any thing that pertains to this present Subject hath either slipt my memory or hath been above my capacity that hath or may arise as a question in Christs Congregation I not knowing what particular thing I will give this generall resolution That when two things or two wayes shall arise in debate and one of them is doubtfull and the other is safe then in such a case to chuse the way that is safe alwayes designing and pursuing after the things that make for peace Rom. 14.19 Thus I have briefly declared and freely tendered my judgement and opinion in my own plain stile and according to my own understanding It hath also been my care to avoid occasions of offences and grounds of disputations and withall I have endeavoured to free my self from detraction and derogation of any mans person office or perswasion it being much contrary to my disposition yet this I know what of truth I have written bears its opposition to all that oppose it whether they speak evill of it or come short of it or act contrary to it or depart from it it stands in its own defence If yet notwithstanding my respect to dissenting and differing brethren and tenderness to others any man shall carp and be contentious 1 Cor. 11.16 their end will be the better discovered let them know we have no such custome nor the Churches of God To conclude all I give this Admonition Caution and Encouragement touching the exercise of right discipline and righteous government that ye call to memory the danger of the curse chreatned against such as do the work of the Lord negligently or deceitfully and sloathfully witness old Ely for reproving too lightly and Saul for executing judgement deceitfully and that wicked sloathfull person who neglected to improve his talent faithfully for his negligence and remisness is sencenced to be bound hand and foot and cast into utter darkness Mat. 25.26 30. Moreover Judas for deceit and treachery and Demas for turning from the truth to idolatry Besides in the time of the Prophet Malachy the Lord blames the people for dealing deceitfully detaining from his servants their right of propriety by which his service should be performed his servants
all doubtless to provoke to duty and that we might have a childs part in the present mercy to escape the present severity to avoid the future misery and to preserve and conduct us to the haven of Eternity The Lords princely favours and acts of indempuity and compassion have been marvelously commended to us in his great patience long-suffering and forbearance of us yet preserving our priviledges enlarging our liberties augmenting our graces and that while others have fallen by calamities Nay have not many cause the whole term of their lives to remember how eminently they have been preserved from the sword pestilence and as brands pulled out of the fire It becomes us as obedient Children and concerns us as loyall Subjects to give ear and humbly submit to the Lords voice whether by mercies or threatnings warning or corrections Christian Reader we are admonished by this dispensation to hear the rod of correction Amos 3.6 and to consider who appoints it Is there any evil in a City and the Lord hath not done it 't is more than prophesied for many have already both known and felt what it is for a jealous God to come down out of his place and to shew his angry face in his hot displeasure For proof let the Citizens especially remember who live in the Metropolitan City whom I might call to witness if need did require to tell their experience of Gods late Method in the pestilence and fire and if we needed any further testimony to ask the Sea-men concerning the sword devouring in the Sea It doth therefore properly and more than ordinarily concern every Christian to be strict in attention and speedy in observation and study to learn what the Lord speaks to us in this present dispensation before the Lord pour out the remainder of his wrath upon the children of men For among whom is there such a reformation that might give us just ground to believe the righteous God will stay his hand of destroying only he is long-suffering surely to see what use will be made of the last Visitation Let us therefore study the point and state the question what sutable sacrifice we should prepare for and present to the God of Heaven that might be as fruit in its season from us and acceptably received and resented by him for certainly our trespasses are aggravated by not improving our mercies we have enjoyed Doubtless the abuse of mercies is the door that lets in all our miseries There is therefore nothing more incumbent upon us than thankfully to improve our blessings and remove far from us that which procures Gods displeasures and to prize our unexpected and undeserved favours and freedomes and sensibly to acknowledge our precious immunities and benefits in the use of them that we may never know their price and loss in the want of them for sins commited against benefits received and that in the midst of calamities which for season and circumstance are no less than miracles and wonders which being not prized thankfully we may expect severity to take place in the room of mercy For truly such have been the eminent appearances of God the nature number and measure of our priviledges who hath by his most admirable and remarkable acts of power and his more invisible and secret way of providence defended and secured his poor heritage not only when the multitude have stood for us but since they have turned their force against us So that he that turned aside as Moses may see a great sight to be admired to see as it were the Bush to burn and yet not consumed ingratitude for such experiences without doubt will return in great severities Let us therefore consult our knowledge and recollect our memories cast up accounts render unto the Lord his due in returning praises and chearfully acknowledge our debts and speedily pay our vows that we may be counted worthy to be the Lords Tenants that we may still hold our benefits and possess our priviledges For if in these things Christians are found in neglects and security they may expect to find the Lord in wrath and fury For the Lord hath made our famous City the beauty and glory of our Nation to be as a Beacon to alarm the Countrey and to give them warning He might have made us presidents of warning to others but 't is our priviledge to make others examples of warning to us Let not us he like some who cry out of certain persons sad accidents and complain of bad times and yet put the cause of all these things from themselves not pondering nor reflecting upon the matter that 't is our deserts we deserve no better There is no sort or sect of men the righteous God hath spared in this sad Visitation then which is the people that are to be exempted in the reformation Now that our mercy may not be turned into miseries and our chastisements into judgements Reader let it be the next question what the Lord requires in duty to be done the resolution may be taken out of that short Breviate of Micah the Prophet Mic. 6.9 the summe of which duty consists in justice mercy and humility for this is to bear the rod to do justly to love mercy and to walk humbly with God For indeed this is the work of our day and these are the weightier matters of Gods Law and as Ecclesiasticall Government and true discipline is a prime part of Religion so 't is a proper work to purge Christs Congregation and because our holy God hath a quick and strict eye upon his own people and his jealousie is hottest about the Altar Ark and Sanctuary witness the severity of his justice upon Nadah and Abihu Lev. 10.2 Corah Uzzah and Ely Also remember the state of the Church of the Corinthians which may be a Mapp and glass for Christians in these late times Numb 16.32 wherein we may discover our misdemeanours the nature of our calamities and a method for our remedies who suffered because the Church was not purged and because they presumed to be Communicants at the Lords Table and did not discern the Lords Body but came unworthily and kept their Communions irreverently and disorderly insomuch for this cause the Lord in flicts upon them weakness sickness 1 Cor. 11.30 and mortality So that it first and most concerns the Church of God to set afoot this materiall duty even the exercise of justice mercy and humility and impartially to judge our selves that we may not be judged of the Lord nor condemned with the world but hasten to put judgement into execution to cleanse our Camps purge our Tabernacles and Churches both from our own and other mens sins both Nationall Congregationall Family and Personall crimes for true Government hath this commendation by its execution it orders purges and establishes Christs Congregation Thus runs the duty of a Christian fervently to serve the Lord applying themselves to the time and occasion And further Christian Reader
satisfied and Mercy towards man admirably advanced He that thought it no Robbery to be equal with God hath freely humbled himself to death to drink of a bitter Cup and to bear the Creatures burdens Even he shall have the Government upon his shoulders The Glory that attends him further appears by those Excellent Appellations attributed to him His Name shall be called the wonderfull Counsellor the Mighty God the everlasting Father the Prince of Peace by whom Princes Reign and Judges decree fustice who upholds all things by the word of his Power and is able to destroy all things in his wrath and anger He is the great Judge of quick and dead both of this New and the Old World and shall pronounce the last and eternal Sentence of the everlasting Absolution and eternal Condemnation and that Consonant to every mans known and secret action who hath overcome the World and the power of the Devill having the victory keeps the Keys of Death and Hell who is all-sufficient to protect and secure such as worship him and to restrain and destroy such as fight against him from Sea to Sea is his Dominion the utmost parts of the Earth is his possession The absolute Soveraign of all Nations the Universal Governour over all Persons and Countries he is the Alpha and Omega all people are commanded and bound to honour him every knee shall bow and every tongue confesse him his Laws are Spiritual Righteous and Mercifull all his requirements are perfect and pure and all his promises are security certain and sure This is the Immortal King of Saints who in his times will shew who is the blessed and only Potentate King of Kings and Lord of Lords I say he is the chiefest among Ten Thousands First In respect of Personal Beauty for he is altogether lovely Secondly In respect of Purity without either blemish or spot of Iniquity Thirdly In respect of Charity casting his love upon a lost World found in Impurity Fourthly In respect of Policy who knows the most secret Conspiracy and catcheth the wise in their own subtilty Fifthly In respect of Propriety who makes many Poor Rich out of his full Treasury Sixthly In respect of Soveraignty who in the most eminent dangers can hide and keep securely Seventhly In respect of Perpetuity who can bestow Rewards of never ending Glory The same is head over all things to his Church and Lord over all to the Conscience We must all appear before him be judged by him and every one must give an account of himself to him he only can prescribe Rules for the Soul and Conscience who gives life and grace and none but he can take it away who keeps the keys of these privities and opens and no man shuts and shuts and no man opens He only knows the inward affections the omissions and submissions of the heart to his Requirements Heart-Iniquity is out of mans view to take notice and out of the reach of mortal man to punish The Lord only can reward with everlasting Preferment and none but he can inflict eternal punishment This is the Saints great Prophet High Priest and Eternal King who hath of his own free will and donation bequeathed a subordinate power to his People and Congregation committing to them a great trust and conferring upon them a great honour saying Whatsoever ye bind on Earth shall be bound in Heaven and whatsoever ye loose on Earth shall be loosed in Heaven Whose sins ye remit shall be remitted and whose sins ye retain shall be retained and as a further Demonstration of dignifying them he hath been pleased to impart some of his Communicable Titles to them and that they of his Eldership in his absence should serve under him and act for him in the Offices of Prophet Priest and King in a far inferiour and subordinate sence and low degree acting by his Authority and yet with an humble respect and great humility in his service who ought to be honourably attended with all holy obedience in all humbleness and with all due Reverence and Thankfulnesse Representing his Person Acting all in his Name by vertue of the Power and Commission committed to them Thus he lends them his Names sets them in his Room gives them the keys of the Kingdome puts his Image upon them and hath committed the charge of his People the care of his Laws and the exercise of Government to them and when the last day Judgement shall be called the Saints shall be returned as Jurors upon Life and Death to judge the World And as Prayer and Preaching holds forth his Prophetical and Priestly Office so right Government holds forth his Princely Office and Dignity of his Place 2. True Church Government defined and the several Parts and particular Acts distinguished NOw right Church Government under the Power of Christ according to the Rules of the New Testament inflicts no bodily punishment but is a just exercising and due executing of all his Righteous and Spirituall Laws in being consonant to his Council and direction given without knowing Interest delay of Justice respect to persons wresting Causes either for favor or prejudice to any degree of persons for we have but one Law for the same Offence which knows no face nor regards no Circumstance 2. Church Government consists of these several parts viz. Governours Inferiours Laws and Execution Or thus A People truly called and rightly gathered Officers fitly qualifi'd and orderly Ordained Christ's Laws exactly minded and carefully preserved every man's Cause timely heard and Justice duly executed The true constitution and right governing of Christ's Congregation may be further inlarged and demonstrated thus 1. Where the People are really converted 2. Where they are legally and wholly separated 3. Who for Truths sake suffer if persecuted 4. Where the Word is truly preached 5. Where the People are truly formed and Duties orderly observed 6. Where the Ordinances and Sacraments are purely administred 7. And true Discipline duly ordered 3. The more particular Acts of Ecclesiastical Government according to the Primitive pattern and Christ's appointment is That the Minister or Governour is ingaged and stands obliged to watch over each Member in love duely instructing them going before them praying for them to be an example to them in Word in Conversation in Charity in Spirit in Faith Purity To teach the Ignorant to strengthen the Weak to comfort the Feeble minded succour the Tempted incourage the Faint-hearted restore the Fallen admonish the Negligent visit the Sick defend them from Deceivers seek up the Wanderers and Strayers reprove idle and busie bodies warn the Unruly correct Tale-bearers and Back-biters sharply reprove Disturbers and Division-makers openly rebuke publick Offenders imbrace penitent Persons reject Hereticks exclude Contemners and obstinate Persons absolve the truly humbled Trespassors hear the Causes of Complainers examine Witnesses hear the defence of the Defendants respecting the Poor mans Cause as well as the Rich admonishing with compassion re-admonishing and reproving with Long-suffering
Government to order establish and govern the Lords own People and Congregation and to be found in the Faithfull discharge of their great duty of exercising Justice Mercy and Humility and to adorn the Churches with Just and Righteous Proceedings That the Lords Name may be honoured the Church rightly governed the Truth renowned that the fame of true Order may be more Proclaimed and further spread that Strangers to it may be invited Well-wishers may be engaged Enemies may be prevented and the Lords Faithfull Servants may ever be encouraged and resolved 7. By Exclusion according to the Rule of Purging putting out cutting off or Excommunication Not always bearing for bearing such as are common and impenitent Trespassers 1 Cor. 5.13 Gal. 5.12 after prayers made and other Christian means Religiously and indifferently used and improved and a considerable time and space hath been waited and delayed and yet all Counsells and Reproofs are refused and rejected Then to proceed gradually according to the Rule in that case provided and to see that Discipline be rightly performed and Justice duly executed without knowing of Faces or regarding Causes For sin is infectious and a disease very dangerous and contagious If humane Wisedome teacheth us to separate our selves from infected bodies places and garments for the safety of the outward man much more doth spiritual discretion admonish us and bespeak us to separate our selves from spirituall corruptions and to exclude from us corrupted professors defiled polluted impenitent Persons which so nearly relate to Soul matters and so muchrespects Immortal things For a little Leaven Jos 7.11 leaveneth the whole lump The whole Camp of Israel stand charged for one Achan and the Church of Corinth for one Incestuous person Cor. 5.2 Though Justice be shoulder-work and a hard duty yet 't is better cut off a member then destroy the body Let all such proceeding be attended with the face of Authority the garments of Humility and with arms of Mercy with Patience and Compassion designing to save the sinner by endeavouring to destroy his transgression So let the Church purge themselves of their own and other mens sins by calling offendors into question and putting Christ's laws into execution Thus I have tendred my judgement in order to obtain Right Government Concerning Christians as they stand related to civil Magistrates NOw no man can be a good Governour unlesse he first knows the place and service of an Inferiour 'T is therefore needfull for us to know our standing and relation and what 's required of us in respect of subjection as we are men and members of a Nation and to be truly informed how we become concerned in duty as we are placed in a politick body We are taught by the holy Scriptures to know that there is no power but of God Rom. 13.12.3 4 5. and whosoever resists the power resists the Ordinance of God From thence we are instructed what the Magistrates Office is even to punish evill doers and to be a praise to them that do well So also by the authority of the same Scriptures and holy writings we are commanded and injoyned to be subject to civill powers in civill things and that under the penalty of condign punishments not only for wrath but for conscience sake and we ought to obey not for fear of vengeance but because of a good conscience 'T is also matter of conscience to obey good and profitable laws wherein our submission may tend to the civill peace of our Country and Nation Mat. 22.21 and to give to Caesar that which is Caesars and to God that which is Gods 'T is therefore our burthen to hear our selves misreported as if we were no well wishers to National Government when as we look upon good Governours and good Government to be as great an external Priviledge and Blessing as any other in the World and whereas the Lord knows we look upon our selves directed by the holy Scriptures and obliged by Gospel Rules to be in subjection to the higher Powers 1 Pet. 2.13 to obey Magistrates and to submit our selves to every Ordinance of man for the Lords sake in the sence aforesaid and not to revile them or speak evill of them or to imagine evill in our hearts against them For there is a tongue heart-murderer as well as an eye and heart-Adulterer but to study to know our Places Duties as we are Inferiours 1 Tim. 2.11 and therein to discharge our consciences as we are Christians even to yield submission to them and to pray for them that we may lead a peaceable and godly life under them believing there ought to be Civil Magistrates in all Nations and always rendring unto our Governours their due in tribute and alwayes reserving and rendring unto God his due in worship Concerning some Rules that respect and relate to Christian Families THe Rules which I have already tendered and freely offered to Christ's Congregation may be usefull in every Family and to every Christian which method is by Election Direction Correction Protection Supplication Exclusion and Execution And because I will take in that which may be a good Second and a special Assistant to this prime part of Religion even Ecclesiasticall Government I will humbly tender the aforesaid Rules to believing Families but especially to the Heads and Overseers to look upon their several Obligations Gen. 3.16 that respect their several duties and respective places For when the Lord had created Man and Woman he was pleased to appoint Order and Government betwixt them I would therefore urge the Argument of the Prophet Isaiah Set thy House in order because of Mortality Isa 38.1 that ye may be prepared when ye are called to dye 1. By Election In making choise and placing your affections upon Vertuous and Religious Yoak-fellows in the Conjugall bond of Wives and Husbands That may be suitable and meet helps not only in respect of the concerns of the World but more especially in the matters of God for such are the best helps that are helps in the best things Num. 36.6 1 Cor. 7.39 Let them therefore that are or may be in that capacity first look for Piety Gravity and Fidelity for such bring good portions and great blessings with them into a Family I could be severe against some Professors who offend in this case and give such great offences to others who for Worldly Interest run into such unequal and unmeet Marriages and others that rather covet to be equal or above in respect of Temporal portion than to be united in one in matters of Faith and Religion Let Masters make choise of such Servants as truly fear the Lord Ps 101.6 for how should a man expect Gods Service should be promoted and good order observed when a man shall take such persons into his Family as are strangers to the Rule of Truth and Verity 2. By Direction By instructing and directing them in the knowledge of the way and
his Laws and in his name to instruct them in the order and government of his house and learn them to know how to behave themselves in the Church of God that when they trespass they may not plead ignorance and so oft-times matters are disputed in the mean time duties lye unperformed but let Rulers require obediences according to Scripture directions with authority and yet in humility to act and govern for the Lord as men that are governed by the Lord and so to rule and judge in all the Saints affairs as them that must give an account to God themselves to counsell warn reprove cast out the impenitent and obstinate to restore the fallen to strengthen the weak to embrace the humble to absolve the truly penitent not to bear the spirituall sword in vain even to do justice and to shew mercy alwayes designing to save the sinners but to destroy their iniquity Let the exercise of discipline be well mixed with patience and compassion teach them to have a filiall fear and to stand in dread of him who threatens to slay such as will not have him raign over them I will also set your Titles before you and for my self I pray and wish all sutable blessing may attend you in the discharge of the great work ye have to do These are your Names Bishops Elders Pastors Rulers Shepherds Stewards and Ministers all which speak out the burden of your trust and charge ye have of souls If one soul be of more value than the whole world what an obligation hath he that hath the oversight and must give an account of many souls Look upon your Offices and feel the weight of your burdens Take good heed to your selves to your doctrine to your discipline and to your conversation and to all the flock over which the holy Ghost hath made you overseers to feed and rule the Church of God which he hath purchased dearly by his own bloud taking care of them not by constraint but willingly not for filthy lucre but of a ready mind not as though ye were lords over Gods heritage but ensamples to the flock As Elders to go before and direct them as Rulers to command and govern them as Pastors to feed and nourish them Ministers not as lords but to be servants to them as Stewards to make provision for them and give an account of them and as Shepherds to watch over them My dearly beloved relations in the Lord look upon that word of the Prophet Isaiah for your learning and take it for your pattern Chap. 40. Vers 11. To feed the flock like a shepherd to gather the lambs in the arms of tenderness and into the bosome of your affections and gently to entreat and guide such as are with young To lead them into green and sound pastures and to water them in the springs of pure and wholsome waters and faithfully to exercise all the parts of the office of a good shepherd and as the wise man saith To look well to the Flocks even to take the number of them the charge of them to feed them to assemble them to rule them to defend them from men-Wolves and seducers that design to deceive and destroy their souls To conclude to act in all godly simplicity fidelity and gravity towards them as men alwayes obliged to give an account for them 3. Concerning the Deacons in Christs Congregation DEacons are Ministers in Christs Churches and are to be men of wisdome full of faith and of a good report sound in the holy mysteries and men of pure consciences whose quallifications are to be sutable to the Elders 1 Tim. 3.8 even to be grave and sober not greedy of filthy lucre likewise must their wives be grave sober and faithfull in all things to have well-ordered children and well-governed families Phil. 1.1 they are the poor Saints overseers and are betrusted with the Churches treasures ye are Gods eminent servants and are to be appointed and ordained by election prayer and laying on of hands your place is of weighty concernment and doubtless ye ought to be helps and assistants in government and as instruments in offices to sulfill Gods gracious promises In a sence to be fathers to the fatherless and busbands to widdows and as it were to be eyes to the blind and feet to the lame and as advocates for the poor saints And as Elders are set over the Lords people more directly and properly in spirituall things and soul-matters so Deacons are to wait and serve at the Lords Tables and to make due provisions for the poors externall and bodily concernments in respect of their Deaconship and yet may be usefull to souls as they may be gifted disciples In this we may behold Gods wonderfull providence and goodness in appointing Offices and Officers to make sutable provisions for his peoples souls and bodies and that at all times and in all conditions And as this is an Office of eminency and necessity so 't is accompanied with great care and much difficulty to carry an even hand and a faithfull heart between the Churches poverty and the poors necessity And doubtless as Elders are to admonish and reprove in neglects touching duties of Religion and Piety which are more spirituall in like manner it doth concern Deacons to exhort and reprove in matters that respect the poors ou ward necessity temporall Let them remember they are instruments by the Lords order to take the care and over-sight of the Lords poor for where there is an Office without doubt there 's power to admonish that things may be done by equallity according to every mans state and abillity not one burthened and another eased And having so good a cause to plead in the behalf of the poor and needy it well becomes you to take boldness to blame such as detain from the poor their right of charity My well beloved Brethren I wish and pray ye may be blessed from heaven with sutable graces and spirituall accommodations in discharge of your duties and great obligations that as the Lord hath honoured you with a trust in your Offices so you may faithfully endeavour to honour God in your respective places acting in all fidelity confonant to the prime Rules of justice and equall dealings as men obliged to give an account to God and the Churches 1. Let them be to the poor as fathers in respect of compassion as men naturally sympathizing with them in their low condition 2. Give them good advice and counsell to be industrious in their callings and provident in their expences that they may not bring any unnecessary charges and unjust burdens upon the Congregations 3. If they be able and refuse to work then to admonish them The Apostle is sharp in this case and saith If any would not work in their common imployments neither should he cat of the Churches charges Lastly They are in the place of fathers to enquire into their conditions lest any lye under temptations for want of