Selected quad for the lemma: church_n
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A38628
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An Essay of the form and constitution of a particular Christian church according to the model of the apostolick age, and as it is describ'd in the writings of the New Testament.
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1700
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Wing E3286A; ESTC R36575
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11,722
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3 10. Acts 6.3 Approbation must be after Election lest without Cause the Infirmities of the Brethren be discovered For there are Faults disabling Men to Offices which do not disable them to be Members of the Church Ezek. 44.9 15. Acts 15.37 38. Mat. 18.21 22. compared with Prov. 10.12 1 Pet. 4.8 It the things objected bear Weight against the Officer-elect the Election is void and they may proceed to the Choice of another 1 Tim. 3.4.5 and 5.11 Acts 15.37 38. Ezek. 44.10 2 King 22.9 Defects or Faults that cast Men out of Office are sufficient to hinder Men from entring into Office By Proportion If the things objected be Frivelous the Election is approved 1 Tim. 3.10 and they that dissented are to consent to the rest that so the whole Church may agree in one Person 1 Cor. 1.10 Eph. 4.3 compared with Acts 1.26 If the Parties objecting still dissent without an approved Reason they are to be reformed by Censure 1 Cor. 11.17 18. Mat. 18.15 17. Ordination is the Dedication of the Officer thus approved to his Office Exod. 29.44 and 40.12 16. Numb 8.6 15. Heb. 5.4 5. Mat. 3.15 17. Acts 13.3 4. 1 Tim. 4.14 Heb. 6.2 Ordination hath three parts The first is the Power which the Church committeth to the Officer approved To administer according to his Office John 20.21 23. Mat. 18.15 20. compared with Exod. 29.1 38. Numb 8.10 11. Acts 6.3 5. and 14.23 and 20.28 1 Tim. 4.14 2 Tim. 1.6 14. The second is Prayer made by the whole Church for the Officer invested with this Power that he may faithfully administer Acts 6.6 and 13.3 and 14.23 1 Cor. 4.2 The third is a Charge given to the Officer thus admitted to look unto his Office in all the parts thereof Mat. 28.18 19. 1 Tim. 5.21 1 Pet. 5.1 2. 1 Tim. 6.13 14. compared with Deut. 1.16 The Ceremony used by the Apostles in Ordination is Imposition of Hands Which Ceremony first of all was used in the Old Testament Num. 8.10 then in the New By Christ in praying for Children Mark 10.16 by God the Father in ordaining Christ to his Office of Mediator Luke 3.21 22. by Christ in ordaining the Apostles Acts 2.3 4. and 1.4 8. by the Apostles in giving the Holy Ghost Acts 8.15 17. in ordaining Evangelists 2 Tim. 1.6 and in ordaining ordinary Ministers Acts 6.6 and 14.23 by the Eldership or Church in ordaining Officers Acts 13.3 1 Tim. 4.4 by the Evangelists in ordaining Officers 1 Tim. 5.22 Tit. 1.5 and so may lawfully be retained and used in the Church still Heb. 6.2 The Use of Imposition of Hands is twofold First To point out the Officer in time of Prayer made for him as if it should be said This is the Man by Proportion from 1 Sam. 10.24 Mat. 3.17 Secondly To signifie and to assure the Officer to be ordained that the Lord by the Church giveth him Power to administer Acts 13.3 4. and 20.28 John 20.21 Ordination and so Imposition of Hands appertaineth to the whole Church as doth Election and Approbation Acts 13.3 Num. 8.9 10. yet for order sake the fittest Members lay on Hands and perform all other Particulars of Ordination for and in the Name of whole Church 1 Cor. 14.40 compared with Numb 8.9 10. and Acts 13.3 and 1 Tim. 4.14 and by proportion from Lev. 4.15 The fittest Persons are Elders when the Church hath them 1 Tim. 4.14 when the Church wanteth Elders Men of best Gifts appointed by the Church Numb 8.9 10. Thus after the Apostacy of Antichrist ariseth a true Ministry in the Church Rev. 18.4 The Officers of a true Visible Church thus admitted are then to administer faithfully 1 Tim. 3.10 1 Cor. 4.2 The Officers of the true Visible Church are all absolutely described in the Word of God Heb. 3.2 5. and 8.5 Rom. 12.7 8 Mark 13.34 These Officers are of two sorts 1st Bishops 2dly Deacons Phil. 1.1 The Bishops are also called Elders or Presbyters Acts 20.17 28. 1 Pet. 5.1 The Bishops or Elders jointly together are called the Eldership or Presbytery 1 Tim. 4.14 and 5.17 compared The Eldership consisteth of three sorts of Persons or Officers Viz. the Pastor Teacher and Governor 1 Tim. 4.14 and 5.17 All the Elders or Bishops must be apt to teach 1 Tim. 3.2 Tit. 1.9 The Pastor is a Bishop excelling in the Word of Wisdom or Exhortation Rom. 12.8 1 Cor. 12.8 he is called the Angel of the Church Rev. 2. and 3. The Teacher is a Bishop excelling in the Word of Knowledge or Doctrine Rom. 12.7 1 Cor. 12.8 The Governor is a Bishop excelling in the quality of Wise Government 1 Tim. 5.17 Rom. 12.8 The Pastor and Teacher have also Power to administer the Sacraments Mat. 28.19 Ephes 4.12 1 Cor. 11.23 All the Bishops deal by Office in the Government of the Church 1 Tim. 5.17 and are conversant about the Soul and Spiritual Part Joh. 18.36 2 Cor. 10.3 The Deacons are Officers employ'd about the Works of Mercy respecting the Body or outward Man Acts 6.2 The Deacons are 1st Men. Or 2. Women Deacons or Widows Acts 6.2 Rom. 16.1 Men Deacons ought to Collect and Distribute with Integrity the Churches Treasure according to the Churches Necessities and the Saints Occasions Rom. 12.8 2 Cor. 8.2 8. 1 Cor. 16.2 3. The Churches Treasure is Silver Gold or Money worth freely given by the Members of the Visible Church for the Common Good Lev. 27. toto 2 Kings 12 14-16 Luke 21.4 Acts 4.34 35. 2 Cor. 8 2-8 and 9.7 The Churches Treasure is holy Mat. 27.6 Luke 12.4 Query Whether those that are without may cast of their Goods into the Treasury lest the Treasury be polluted 2 Cor. 8.4 Josh 6 17-19 Nothing that is gotten by Fraud Violence or any wicked Means may be cast into the Churches Treasury Deut. 23.18 Micah 1.7 Esa 67.3 Query Whether the use of the Churches Treasure is peculiar to the Saints and consists in provision for holy Things or holy Persons Deut. 14.2 3 21. Exod. 30.12 16. Holy Things such as Bread and Wine for the Lord's Supper with Places and Instruments serviceable to holy Uses Exod. 25.2 8. Mat. 27.7 per contrarium Holy Persons as the Maintenance of Church Officers and the poor Brethren either of that Particular Visible Church or of any other True Church 1 Cor. 16.2 3. 2 Cor. 8.7 1 Cor. 9.6 14. 1 Tim. 5.17 18. In the Necessity of the Church if they that are without bestow any thing upon the Saints they may receive and use it with Thanksgiving 1 Cor. 10.25 26. If it be manifested by Evidence that the Goods of them that are without offered to the Saints be the Treasures of Wickedness the Saints are not to receive nor use them to avoid offence 1 Cor. 10.28 29. Women-Deacons or Widows are of Sixty Years of Age qualified according to the Apostle's Rule 1 Tim. 5.9 relieving the Bodily Infirmities of the Saints with Cheerfulness Rom. 12.8 and 16.1 Hitherto of the
Churches Power of receiving in now followeth the Churches Power of preserving and keeping within The Power of preserving within is manifested by the heedful use of all the holy things of God by the whole Church jointly and by every Member particularly Mark 13 33-37 Heb. 10.24 1 Thes 5.14 Mal. 18.15 17. Acts 6.1 The Pastors chief Endeavour must be to make the Church Zealous Holy and Obedient Rom. 12.8 1 Cor. 12.8 Apoc. 3.19 by proportion The Teachers chief Care must be to preserve the Church from Ignorance and Error 1 Cor. 12.8 Rom. 12.7 1 Cor. 3.10 12. compared with Tit. 1.9 The chief Office of the Governours consisteth in preserving Peace and Order in the Church 1 Cor. 14.40 Rom. 12.8 1 Tim. 5.17 The Dâ—acons chief Care must be that none of the Saints want Bodily Necessaries and that due Provision be made for holy Things and Persons Rom. 12.8 John 13.29 and that with Simplicity of heart John 12.6 The Widows chief Office is to Visit and Relieve the Widow Fatherless Sick Lame Blind Impotent Women with Child and Diseased Members of the Church 1 Tim. 5.9 Rom. 12.8 Mat. 15 35-40 The Care of the Eldership must be to order direct and moderate the publick Actions of the Church 1 Cor. 14.40 1 Tim. 5.17 The Prophets chief Care must be to resolve Doubts Difficulties and Dark Places and to give true Fxpositions Translations and Reconciliations of Scripture 1 Cor. 14.29 30. Luke 2.46 47. The Office of the Pastor and Teacher in the Exercise of Prophecy is to moderate and determine all Matters out of the Word 1 Cor. 14.32 1 Sam. 19.20 The Care of the whole Church jointly must be to keep her Power given her by Christ and not to suffer any open known Sin or any Tyranny or Usurpation over them Mat. 18 15-17 Mark 13.37 Col. 4.17 3 John 9 10. Rev. 2.2 Gal. 1.8 9. The chief Care of every Member as a Member must be to watch over his Brother Mark 13.37 Heb. 10.24 in bearing one another's Burthen Gal. 6.2 1 Cor. 10.24 28 29. admonishing the Unruly comforting the Feeble-minded 1 Thes 5.14 admonishing the Excommunicate 2 Thes 3.15 restoring them that are Fallen Gal. 6.1 Here special Care must be had of Admonishing Mat. 18 15-17 Admonition must be administred with Prayer and in Love 1 Tim. 4.5 Gal. 6.1 Lev. 19.17 1 Tim. 1.5 Rom. 13.8 Prayer is needful that it may please God to give his Blessing to the Admonition administred Mat. 7.7 8. Jam. 1.5 and 4.2 3. Love must be manifested to the Offender that he may be the better won Eph. 4.2 Col. 3.14 Lev. 19.17 1 Pet. 4.8 Admonition is either private or publick Mat. 18.15 17. Private Admonition is either Solitary or before Witness ibid. Private Admonition that is solitary is performed by one particular Brother offended to another Brother offending and that in secret Mat. 18.15 The Admonisher must not tell the Fault of the Offender to another but himself must admonish the Offender Psal 15.3 1 Pet. 4.8 Prov. 25.9 If the Offender repent upon Admonition the Fault must be covered Prov. 10.12 if not the Admonisher must proceed to the second degree of Admonition viz. to admonish the Offender before Witness Mat. 18.6 The fittest Witnesses must be chosen 1 Kings 21.10 13. Mat. 26 59-61 and 28 12-15 The sittest Witnesses for the most part are the Elders who for their Wisdom and Authority can best sway with the Delinquent If the Offender repent upon Admonition before Witness the Fault must yet be covered also Prov. 10.12 1 Pet. 4.8 Jam. 5.20 If the Offender admonished before Witness deny the Fact then Protestation or an Oath of God must end the Matter Exod. 22.11 Though the Admonisher know the Fact to be so and the Offender deny the Fact before Witness yet the Admonisher is not to forsake the Offender's Communion John 5.31 and 13.26 notwithstanding he must still seek to bring him to Repentance Levit. 19.17 If the Offender acknowledge the Fact and repent not the Admonisher and Witnesses must bring the Matter to the Church Mat. 18.17 In bringing the Matter to the Church if the Elders be not already Interessed in the Cause it is meet to use the advice and help of the Eldership who are fittest to deal in all publick Businesses 1 Cor. 14.33 40. 1 Tim. 5.17 The Matter being before the Church the Offender is to be dealt with by all possible Means that he may come to Repentance as by Admonition by Threat by Intreaty by Prayer for him c. Gal. 6.1 2 Cor. 2.6 If the Offender repent upon the Churches Admonition he is still to be continued and accounted a Brother 2 Cor. 2.6 Mat. 18.17 Thus the Church and all the Members thereof shall be preserved and kept pure within and their Communion shall be holy Lev. 19.17 1 Tim. 5.22 1 Cor. 5.20 and 5.6 and so shall increase with the encreasing of God 1 Cor. 11.17 2 Pet. 3.18 All the degrees of Admonition must be administred upon the Offender before the Church have any Communion with him Mat. 18 15-17 1 Cor. 11.17 1 Tim. 5.22 Levit. 19.18 Mat. 22.29 If a Man see his Bâ—other sin and admonish him not but suffer his Sin unreproved he is defiled therewith Lev. 19.17 Mat. 18.15 and 22.33 1 Tim. 5.22 In solitary Admonition if the Admonisher stay in the first degree of Admonition the Offender not repenting he is defiled with the Sin In Admonition before Witness if the Admonishers cease and stay in the second degree of Admonition the Offender not repenting they are defiled with the Sin In Admonition before the Church if the Church bear with the Party offending and bring him not to repent but leave him in Sin and Impenitency and yet hold him still in Communion then the whole Church is defiled and so that is verified a little Leaven leaveneth the whole lump 1 Cor. 5.6 and 11.17 Mat. 13.33 If a Sin be publickly known in a Church or if more Sins be openly known and suffered the whole Church is defiled and leavened Ibid. No Communion can be had with nor no joining can be to a Church thus leavened without manifest consenting to Sin ibid. Therefore if the Church will not Reform open known Corruptions after due proceeding Separation must be made from her till Reformation come Therefore Separation may be made from true Churches for Incorrigible Corruptions and to separate from a Defiled Church that is Incorrigible is not to forsake the Communion of Holy Things but the Pollution and Prophanation of Holy Things Thus much for the second part of the Churches Power of preserving and keeping within The Churches Power of casting out followeth which is twofold First of Officers out of Office Acts 14.23 compared with Col. 5.17 Rev. 2.2 Gal. 1.8 9. Second of Members out of Communion Mat. 18.17 1 Cor. 5.4 5. 2 Thes 3.6 14. 1 Tim. 1.20 The Cause of casting Officers out of Office are Apostacy or Disability Ezek. 44.10 Numb 8 23-26