Selected quad for the lemma: church_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
church_n	bishop_n	hand_n	ordination_n	2,718	5	10.1610	5	false

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

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

to thē the right hand of fellowship both in their gathering into a church in the ordination of their officers CHAP XVI Of Synods SYnods orderly assembled rightly proceeding according to the pattern Acts. 15. wee acknowledg as the ordinance of Christ though not absolutely necessary to the being yet many times through the iniquity of men perversness of times necessary to the wel-being of churches for the establishment of truth peace therin 2 Synods being spirituall ecclesiasticall assemblyes are therfore made up of spirituall ecclesiasticall causes The next efficient cause of them under Christ is the powr of the churches sending forth their Elders other messengers who being mett together in the name of Christ are the matter of the Synod they in argueing debating determining matters of religion according to the word publishing the same to the churches whom it concerneth doe put forth the proper formall acts of a Synod to the convictiō of errours heresyes the establishment of truth peace in the Churches which is the end of a Synod 3 Magistrates have powr to call a Synod by calling to the Churches to send f●…rth their Elders other messengers to counsel assist them in matters of rel●… 〈◊〉 ●…t ye●…t the constituting of a Synod is a church act may be t●…d by the churches even when civil magistrates may be enemyes to churches to churchassemblyes 4 It bel●…ngeth unto Synod counsel●… to debate determine controversies of faith ca●… of cons●… to cleare from the word holy directions for the ●…ly worsh●…p of God good government of the church to beare wit●… against ●…al administration Corruption in doctrine or man̄ers in any particular Church to give directions for the reformation therof Not to exercise Church-censures in way of discipline nor any other act of church-authority or jurisdiction which that presidentiall Synod did forbeare 5 The Synod●… directions determinations so farr as consonant to the word of God are to be received with reverence submission not only for their agreement therwith which is the ●…ncipall ground therof without which they bind not at all ●…t also second●…ly for the powr wherby they are made as being an ordinance of God appointed therunto in his word 6 B●… is d●…ficult if not impossible for many churches to c●… altogether in one place ●…n all their●…●…rs universally therfore they may assemble by their delegates o●… messengers as the church of Antioch went not all to Ierusalem but some select men for that purpose Because none are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be more fitt to know the state of the churches not to advise of wayes for the good thereof then Elders therfore it is fitt that in the choice of the messengers for such assemblies they have special respect ūto such Yet in as much as not only Paul Barnabas but certayn others also were sent to Ierusalem from Antioch Acts 15. when they were come to Ierusalem not only the Apostles Elders but other brethren also doe assemble meet about the matter therfore Synods are to consist both of Elders other church-members endued with gifts sent by the churches not excluding the presence of any brethren in the churches CHAP XVII Of the Civil Magistrates powr in matters E●…c●…es●…l IT is lawfull profitable necessary for christians to gather themselves into Church estate therin to exercise all the ord●… of chr●…st according unto the word although the consent of Magistrate could not be had therunto because the Apostles christ●…ans in their time did frequently thus practise when the Magistrates being all of them Jewish or pagan mostly persecuting enemies would give no countenance or consent to such matters 2 Church-government stands in no opposition to civil gove●…ment of cōmon-welths nor any intrencheth upon the authority of Civil Magistrates in their jurisdictions nor any whit weakneth their hand●… in governing but rather strengthneth them farthereth the people in yielding more hearty consc●…onable obedience ūt●… the●… whatsoever some ill affected persons to the wayes of Christ have suggested to alienate the affections of Kings Princes from the ordinance of Christ as if the kingdome of Christ in his church could not rise stand without the falling weakning of their government which is al●…o of Christ wheras the contrary is most true that they may both stand together flourish the one being helpfull unto the other in their distinct d●… administrations 3 The powr authority of Magistrates is not for the restra●…ing of churches or any other good workes but for helping in furthering therof therfore the consent countenance of Magistrates when it may be had is not to be ●…ghted or lightly esteemed but on the contrary it is part of that hon●…ur due to christian Magistrates to desire crave their consent approbation therin which being obtayned the churches may then proceed in their way with much more encouragement comfort 4 It is not in the powr of Magistrates to compell their s●…bjects to become church-members to partake at the Lords table for the priests are reproved that brought ●…worthy ones into the ●…tuarie then as it was unlawfull for the preists so it is as unlawfull to be done by civil Magistrates Those whom the church is to cast out if they were in the Magistrate ought not thrust into the church nor to hold them therin 5 As it is unlawfull for church-officers to meddle with the sword of the Magistrate s●… 〈◊〉 it ●…wfull for the Magistrate to meddle with the work p●…per to c●…ch officers the Acts of Mo●… Dav●…d who were not only P●… but P●… were ex●… therfore not ●…ble Ag●…●…n 〈◊〉 the L●…d wit●… by 〈◊〉 Uzz●…h w●… 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 to offer 〈◊〉 6 It is the duty of the Ma●… to take ●…e of matters of rel●…gion to ●…nprove his ●…l autho●…ty for the oble●…ing of the duties commanded in the first is well as for observing of the duties commanded in the second table They are called Gods The end of the Magistrate●… office is not only the q●… p●…ble l●…fe of the subj●…t in 〈◊〉 of rig●… ho●…ty but also in matter of ●…ss yea of all 〈◊〉 M●… j●… D●… S●… Asa Jehoshaphat Hezekiah Josiah are much commended by the Holy Ghost for the putting forth their authority in matters of religion on the contrary such Kings as have been fayling this way are frequently taxed reproved by the Lord not only the Kings of Judah but also Job Nehe●…h the king of Nin●…veh Darius Artaxerxes Nebucad●…ezar whom none looked at as types of Christ thouh were it soe there were no place for any just objection are cōmēded in the book of God for exercising their authority this way 7 The object of the powr of the Magistrate

Testament which gave no being unto the church the church being before it in the wilderne without it seals presuppose a covenant already in being one person is a compleat subiect of Baptism but one person is uncapable of being a church 6 All believers ought as God giveth them opportunity there unto to endeavour to joyn themselves unto a particular church that in respect of the honour of Jesus Christ in his example Institution by the professed acknowledgment of subiection unto the order ordinances of the Gospel as also in respect of their good of communion founded upon their visible union containd in the promises of Christs special presence in the thurch whence they have fellowship with him in him one with another also for the keeping of them in the way of Gods commandm●…nts recovering of them in case of wandring which all Christs sheep are subiect to in this life being unable to returne of themselves together with the benefit of their mutual edification and of their posterity th●…t they may not be ●…ut of from t●…e priviledges of the covenan●… otherwis if a believer offends he remaines destitute of the remedy provi●…ed in that behalf should all believers neglect this duty of ●…yning to all particular congregations it might follow therupon that 〈◊〉 should h●…ve no visible political c●…rches upon earth CHAP V. Of the first subject of church powr or to whom church powr doth first 〈◊〉 THe first subject of church powr is eyther Supream or Subordinat Ministerial the Supream by way of gift from the father is the Lord Iesus Christ the Ministerial is either extraordinary as the Apostles Prophets Evangilists or Ordinary as every particular Congregational church 2 Ordinary church powr is either the power of office that is such as is proper to the eldership or power of priviledge such as be longs unto the brotherhood the latter is in the brethren formally immediately from Christ that is so as it may according to order be acted or excercised immediately by themselves the former is not in them form●…lly or immediately therfore cannot be acted or excercised immediately by them but is said to be in them in that they design the persons unto office who only are to act or to excercise this power CHAP VI Of the Officers of the Church especially of Pastors Teachers A Church being a company of people combined together by covenant for the worship of God it appeareth therby that there may be the 〈◊〉 being of a church without any officers seeing there is bot●… 〈◊〉 and matter of a church which is implyed when it i●… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ordained elders in 〈◊〉 ●…urch 2 〈◊〉 though 〈◊〉 be not 〈◊〉 necess●…ry to the simple being of churches when th●…y be 〈◊〉 yet ordinarily to their calling they are and to their well being and therfore the Lord Iesus out of his tender compassion hath appointed and ordained officers which he would not have done if they had not been usefull need full for the church yea being Ascended into heaven he received gifts for men and gave gifts to men whereof officers for the church are Justly accounted no small parts they being to continue to the end of the world and for the perfecting of all the Saints 3 These officers were either extraordinary or ordinary extraordinary as Apostles Prphets Evangilists ordinary as Elders 〈◊〉 The Apostles Prophets Evangelists as they were called extraordinarily by Christ so their office ended with themselves whence it is that Paul directing Timothy how to carry along Church-Administrations Giveth no direction about the choice or course of Apostles Prophe●… or Evange●…sts but only of Elders Deacons when Paul was to take his last leave of the church of Ephe●…s he commited the care of feeding the church to ●…o ther but unto the Elders of that church The like c●…rge doth 〈◊〉 commit to the Elders 4 Of 〈◊〉 who are also in Scripture called ●…shops Some attend chiefly to the ministry of the word A●… the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Teachers Others attend especially unto R●…le who are therfore called Rul●…ng Elders 5 The office of Pastor Teacher appears to be distinct The Pastors special work is to attend to exh●…tation therein to Administer a word of Wisdom the Teacher is to attend to D●…mo therein to Administer a word of Knowledg either of them to administer the Seales of that Covenant unto the dispensation wherof the are alike called as also to execute the Censu●…e being but a kind of application of the word the preaching of which together with the application therof they are alike charged withall 6 And for as much as both Pastors Teachers are given by Christ for the perfecting of the Saints edifying of his body which Saints body of Christ is his church Therfore wee account Pastors Teacher to be both of them church-officers not the Pastor for the church the Teacher only for the Schools Though this wee gladly acknowledg that Schoole are both lawfull profitable necessary for the trayning up of such in good Litrature or learning as may afterwards be called forth unto office of Pastor or Teacher in the church CHAP VII Of Ruling Elders Deacons THe Ruling Elders office is distinct from the office of Pastor Teacher The Ruling Elders are not so called to exclude the Pastors Teachers from Ruling because Ruling Govern●…ng is common to these with the other wheras attending to teach and preach the word is peculiar unto the former 2 The Ruling E●…er work is to joyn with the Pastor Teacher in those acts of spiritual Rubc which are distinct from the ministry of the word Sacraments committed to them of which sort these be as followeth 1 to open shut●… the dores of Gods house by the Admission of members approved by the church by Ordination of officers chosen by the church by excommunication of notorious obstinate offenders renounced by the church by restoring of poenitents forgivē by the church II To call the church together when there is occasion seasonably to dismiss them agayn III To prepare matters in private that in publick they may be carried an end with less trouble more speedy dispatch IV To moderate the carriage of all matter in the church assembled as to propound matters to the church to Order the season of speech silence to pronounce sentence according to the minde of Christ with the consent of the church V To be Guides leaders to the church in all matters what-soever pertaining to church administrations actions VI To see that none in the church live inordinately out of rank place without a calling or Idlely in their calling VII To prevent heal such offences in life or in doctrin as might corrupt the

place that the unworthy may be duely proceeded against by the Church to whom this matter doth appertaine CHAP XV Of the cōmunion of Churches one with another ALthough Churches be distinct therfore may not be confoūded one with another equall therfore have not dominion one over another yet all the churches ought to preserve Church-communion one with another because they are all united unto Christ not only as a mysticall but as a politicall head whence is derived a communion suitable therunto 2 The communion of Churches is exercised sundry wayes I By way of mutuall care in taking thought for one anothers wellfare II By way of Consultation one with another when wee have occasion to require the judgment counsell of other churches touching any person or cause wherwith they may be better acquainted then our selves As the church of Antioch consulted with the Apostles Elders of the church at Ierusalem about the question of circumcision of the gentiles about the false teachers that broached that doctrine In which case when any Church wanteth light or peace amongst themselves it is a way of communion of churches according to the word to meet t●…ether by their Elders other messengers in a synod to consider argue the points in doubt or d●…fference haveing found out the way of truth peace to commend the same by their letters messengers to the churches whom the same may concern But if a Church be rent with divisions amongst themselves or ly under any open scandal yet refuse to consult with other churches for healing or removing of the same it is a matter of just offence both to the Lord Jesus to other churches as bewraying too much want of mercy faithfulness not to seek to bind up the breaches wounds of the church brethren therfore the state of such a church calleth aloud upon other churches to excercise a fuller act of brotherly communion to witt by way of admonition III A third way then of cōmunion of churches is by way of admonition to witt in case any publick offēce be found in a church which they either discern not or are slow in proceeding to use the meāes for the removing healing of Paul had no authority over Peter yet when he saw Peter not walking with a right foot he publickly rebuked him before the church though churches have no more authority one over another then one Apostle had over another yet as one Apostle might admonish another so may one church admonish another yet without usurpation In which case if the church that lyeth under offence do not harken to the church which doth admonish her the church is to aquait other neighbour-churches with that offēce which the offending church still lyeth under together with their neglect of the brotherly admonition given unto them wherupon those other churches are to joyn in seconding the admonitiō formerly givē and if still the offēding church continue in obstinacy impenitency they may forbear communion with them are to proceed to make use of the help of a Synod or counsell of neighbour-churches walkig orderly if a greater can̄ot conveniētly be had for their conviction If they hear not the Synod the Synod having declared them to be obstinate particular churches approving accepting of the judgmēt of the Synod are to declare the sentence of non-cōmunion respectively concerning them therupon out of a religious care to keep their own communion pure they may justly withdraw themselves from participation with them at the Lords table from such other acts of holy cōm●…ion as the communion of churches doth otherwise allow require Nevertheless if any members of such a church as lyeth under publick offence do●… not consent to the offence of the church but doe in due sort beare witness against it they are still to be received to wonted communion for it is not equall that the in●…cent should suffer with the offensive Yea furthermore if such innocent members after due wayting in the use of all good meanes for the healing of the offence of their ●…wn church shall at last with the allowāce of the counsel of ne gh●…our-churches withdraw from the fellowship of their own ch●…ch 〈◊〉 offer themselves to the fellowship of another wee judge it lawll for the other church to receive them being otherwise fitt as if they had been orderly dismissed to them from their own churc●… IV A fourth way of communion of churches is by way of particip●…n the members of one church occasion●…lly comming unto another wee willingly admitt t●…em to 〈◊〉 with us at the Lords t●…le it being the seale of our communion not only with Christ nor o●…ly with the members of our own church but also with all the churches of the saints in which regard wee refuse not to baptize their children presented to us if either their own minister be absent or such a fruite of holy fellowsh●…p be desired with us In like case s●…ch churches as are furnished with more ministers then one doe willingly afford one of their own ministers to supply the place of an absent or s●…ck minister of another church for a needfull season V A fifth way of Church-communion is by way of ●…mendation when a member of one church hath occasion to reside in another church if but for a season wee cōmend him to their watchf●…ll ffellowsh●…p by letters of recommendation but if he be 〈◊〉 to settle his abode there wee commit him according to h●…s desire to the ffellowship of their covenant by letters of d●…smission VI A sixt way of Church-communion is in case of Ne●… to minister reliefe succour one unto another 〈◊〉 of able members to furnish them with officers or of outward ●…pport to the necessityes of poorer churches as did the 〈◊〉 of the Gentiles contribute liberally to the poor s●…ints at Ierusalem 3 When a compāy of beleivers purpose to gather into church fellowship it is requisite for their sa●…er proceeding the maintaining of the communion of churches that they sign●…fie their intent unto the neighbour-churches walking according unto the order of the Gospel desire their presence help right hand of fellowship which they ought readily to give unto them when their is no just cause of excepting against their proceedings 4 Besides these severall wayes of communion there is also a way of propagation of churches when a church shall grow too numerous it is a way fitt season to propagate one Church out of an other by sending forth such of their mēbers as are willing to remove to procure some officers to them as may enter with them into church-estate amongst themselves as Bees when the hive is too full issue forth by swarmes are gathered into other hives soe the Churches of Christ may doe the same upon like necessity therin hold forth