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A34678 The doctrine of the church to which is committed the keys of the kingdome of heaven wherein is demonstrated by way of question and answer what a visible church is, according to the order of the Gospel, and what officers, members, worship, and government Christ hath ordained in the New Testament / by that Reverend and learned Divine Mr. Jo. Cotton ... Cotton, John, 1584-1652. 1644 (1644) Wing C6430; ESTC R9380 11,622 18

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kingdome and the saving of soules b 1 Cor. 5.5 It is not in the power of men to ordain or provide means or helps to such ends but onely for him that can worke upon the soule and conscience c Eph. 4.11 12 1 Cor 1.24 3.5 6 7 and therefore it is not in the hand of the Church to make Lawes or Ordinances to choose Officers or Members to administer Sacraments or Censures or any part of Worship or Government of their owne heads but to receive all as from the hand of Christ and to dispense all according to the will of Christ revealed in his word d Heb. 8.5 1 Kin. 13.33 12.33 Ier. 7.31 Num. 15.39 Deut. 12.1 4 31.32 29. Qu. How is the Government of the Church spirituall and heavenly Ans The Government of the Church though it bee not altogether inward but partly outward a Luk. 17.20 21. Isa 2.2 as being administred by open and known Officers b Isa 30.20 with an audible and lively voyce c Rev. 1.16 in the open face of the Brethren of the Congregation d Mat. 18.15 16 17. 1 Tim. 5.20 yet it is in it selfe not of this world but spirituall and heavenly e Joh. 18.36 as being ordained not by the wisdome of this world but of Christ f 1 Cor. ● 6 7 8. Mat. 28.20 and administred not according to the precepts of men but his commandements g Mat. 15.6 9 not by earthly weapons but by the Word and seals of the Covenant and other spirituall Ordinances h 2 Cor. 10.4 Isa 11.4 not working upon the bodies or outward estates of men by fines or imprisonments losse of limbs or of life but upon their soules and consciences by the evidence of the Spirit i Heb. 13.17 2 Cor. 10 5. 1 Cor. 2.4 Finally not ayming at worldly peace wealth and honour but at the righteousnesse of faith peace of conscience and joy in the holy Ghost k Joh. 16 33 Rom. 14 17 30 Qu. To whom hath Christ committed the Government of his Church Ans Partly to the body of the Church in respect of the state or frame of it a Mat. 16.19 18.17 Psal 45.16 149 8 9. but principally to the Presbytery * Or Eldership in respect of the order or administration of it b 1 Tim. 5.17 4.14 1 Thes 5.12 Heb. 13.17 1 Cor. 12.28 31 Qu. What power of Government is committed to the body of the Church Ans The body of the Church hath power from Christ to choose and call her owne Officers and Members a Act. 1.23 26 14.23 6.3 5. 9.26 27. to send forth any of them for his service b 2 Cor 8.10 23. Phil. 2.25 and to inquire hear assist in the judgment of all publike scandals c Act. 11.2 3 18. Mat. 18.17 1 Cor. 5.4 5 12. Act. 5.23 Col. 4.17 32 Qu. What power of Government is committed to the * Or Eldership of the same Church 1 Tim. 4.14 Old Translation Presbytery Ans To call the Church together a Act. 6.2 14.27 Joel 1 13 14. and to deliver the counsell of God to them with all authority b Tit. 2.15 to prepare matters for the Churches hearing c Act. 21.18 19 and to propound and order the assembly d Act. 13.15 and to administer Ordinations e 1 Tim. 4.14 and Censures f 1 Tim. 1.20 and to dismisse the people with a blessing in the name of the Lord g Num. 6.23 33. Qu. But hath not Christ committed some power of Government to every private Member of the Church Ans Yes verily there is a power of edification a 1 Cor. 10.23 24. Mat. 16.18 19 17.15 16. which the Lord hath given to every Member of the Chuch to exercise mutually one over another b Iude 20. 1 Thes 5 5.11 1 Cor. 12 7. to save some with compassion others with feare c Iude 21 22 23. by a word of instruction Admonition Exhortation and Comfort d Acts 18.26 Mat. 18.15 Col. 3 16. 1 Thes 5.14 11. 34. Qu. How is Ordination to be administred Ans When the Church hath chosen and called on Officer they present him to the Elders a Acts 1.23 6.5 6. who doe ordaine him if he be a Deacon with Prayer and Impositian of hands b Acts. 6.6 and with Fasting also if he bee an Elder c Acts 14.23 35. Qu. How are the Censures of the Church to be administred Ans The Censures of the Church are ordained by Christ for the removing of scandalls out of the Church a Mat. 18.16 to 15. Luk. 17.1 2 3. which if they be private one Brother offending another the offender is to goe and acknowledge his repentance of it unto his Brother b Mat. 5.23 24 who is then to forgive him c Luk. 17.14 but if the offender neglect to doe it the Brother offended is to goe and admonish him and convince him of it betweene themselves privately If thereupon the offender bee brought to repent of his offence the Admonisher hath wonne his Brother but if the offender heare not his brother the brother offended is to take with him one or two more that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established whether the word of admonition if the offender receive it or the word of complaint to the Church if he refuse it for if he refuse it the offended brother is to tell the Church and if he refuse to heare the Church then he is to bee counted as an Heathen and Publican d Luke 17.3 Mat. 18.15 16 17. 36. Qu. What if the scandalls or offences be publike how are they to be removed Ans By publique reproofe a 1 Tim. 5.20 Gal. 2.14 and if the offences be not onely publique but haynous then the Church is to remove the offence by Excommunicating the offender out of the Church b 1 Cor. 5.1.5 1 Tim. 1.20 37. Qu. How is Excommunication to be administred Ans When the offence of any Brother is publique and haynous or being private is by the obstinacie of the offender become publiquely scandalous the Church beeing met together is in the name and power of the Lord Jesus and with his Spirit to deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh and the salvation of his soule in the day of the Lord Jesus a 1 Cor. 5.1.4 5. Mat. 18.17 1 Tim. 1.20 2 Tim. 3.2 5. Tit. 3.10 11. 38. Qu. Is there no use of Suspension in the Church Ans There may to Members lying under the apparent guilt of sinne after the admonition of the Church a 1 Cor. 5.11 2 Thess 3.14 discerning the uncleane from the cleane untill they bee cleansed b Dev. 10.10 Eze. 22 26. Ier. 15.19 39. Qu. What is Anathema Maranatha Ans It is the utmost
Censure of the Church whereby a Brother falling from the love of Christ into hatred against him is cut off from fellowship with Christ for ever even to the comming of the Lord a 1 Cor. 16.22 40. Qu. Having seene what power of Governement the Church hath received and exercised within it selfe tell mee now whether any Church hath power of governement over another Ans No Church hath power of Governement over another but each of them hath chiefe power within it selfe and all of them equall power one with another every Church hath received alike the power of binding and loosing opening and shutting the Kingdome of heaven a 1 Mat. 18.17 18. But one to another all of them are Sisters b Cant. 8 8. Gal. 4.26.31 all of them Concubines c Cant. 6.8 but by their owne corruption or usurpation of others d Revel 18.2 finally all of them are Candlesticks of the same precious metall and in the midst of them all Christ equally walketh e Revel 1.12 13. 2.1 41. Qu. But if one Church have no power of Governement over another what course then is there left to reform such corruptions as may arise in any Church whether in Doctrine or practise Ans The corruptions that are found in any Church do either infect part of the Church or the whole body if part onely then the part remaining sound may either convince and reforme their Brethren themselves if they be able or if they be not able they may at least prevaile so farre with them as to send for light from some other Church as they of Antioch did to the Church of Hierusalem a Acts 15.2 But if the corruptions found in a Church doe infect the whole body Ezra 10.2 yet still there is hope in Israel concerning this For though one Church hath not power of Governement over another as subordinate to them yet every Church hath equall power one with another as coordinate with them And therefore look what power one Brother hath over another in the same Church the same power hath one Church over another in Brotherly communion As if one Church shall heare of any offence in another they may enquire the certainty of it b Deut. 13.14 and thereupon send letters and messengers to convince and admonish them of it If the Church offending doe heare the Church admonishing they have gained their Brethren and their desire if the Church heare them not then that other Church may take one or two Churches moe to assist them in the conviction of that sinne If yet the Church heare them not then upon due notice thereof given all the Churches thereabout may so meet together and after judicious enquiry into the cause may by the word of God confute and condemne such errours in doctrine or practice as are found offensive to prevent the spreading either of the gangrene of heresie c 2 Tim. 2.17 18. or of the leprosie of sinne d 1 Cor. 5.6 7 And if the Church offending shall not yet hearken to their Brethren though the rest of the Churches have not power to deliver them to Satan yet they have power to withdraw from them the right hand of fellowship and no longer to hold them in communion of Saints till they approve their repentance e By proportion from Mat. 18.15 16 17. 2 Thes 3.6 Isa 33.22 The Lord is our Judge the Lord is our Law-giver the Lord is our King he will save us A Conclusion J. C. THe Kingdom of Christ whether in the hearts of his servants or in Church State and all the Administrations thereof See Mr. Taylor on Tit. 1.5 dispensed according to the Rule of the Gospel doth not disturb the State or Peace of earthly Kingdoms or Common-wealths And therefore the gathering of Saints or Churches according to the order of Christ and the guidance and walking of both according to his will is no just offence to the Civill Magistrate Gal. 6.16 As many as walk according to this Rule peace be on them and mercy and upon the Israel of God FINIS