out themselves According to your divine suffrages conspirators and wicked men should of their owne accord drive themselves out of the Church he here cals the suffrage of the people divine not because infallible but because it is according to Scripture that they should have their vote Againe They alone beare the punishment of their conspiracy who formerly according to your suffrages now according to the judgements of God have deserved to undergo the sentence of their conspiracy and Perversenesse To the same People about the businesse of the lapsed in generall for receiving or still refusing them Cyprian declaring his hope shortly to be restored together with his fellow ministers Whom being present saith he according to your iudgement either way arbitrium likewise and the Common Counsell of us all we may order and exactly handle the things that are to be done as once it seemed good Epist 40. A further Testimony we have formerly set down at the end of the ninth Argument for the matter of the Church shewing at once how the People of the Church were qualified and what power they had for keeping out the unworthy Epist 55. More Testimonies of like nature might be alledged out of the same father but these shall suffice I shall not need here to observe how he ascribes to the People in point of censure as their right counsell consent vote or suffrage judgement either way or arbitrium nor how generall his Testimonies are as including the rest of the ministry the ministry of Rome likewise giving the like Testimony We come now to some few Testimonies out of some of the choycest Divines of the Reformed Churches Calvin Let us observe that this temper is to be held in excommunication that this discipline be exercised by the Common Councell of the Elders and with the consent of the People and this is the remedy whereby Tyranny is prevented in 1 Cor. 5.4 That is the warrantable proceeding in excommunication which Paul shews if not only the Elders do it apart but with the knowledge and approbation of the Church viz. in that manner that the multitude of the People do not rule the action but observe it as a witnesse and keeper that nothing be done by a few at their pleasure Institut lib. 4. cap. 12. sect 7. Bucer This power of the keyes is in the whole Church but the authority of the ministry is in the Elders and Bishops as of old at Rome the Power was in the People the authority in the Senate in Mat. 16.18 19. The same Author expounding Matth. 18.15 c. If the offending brother heare not the second admonition let his stubbornnesse be declared to the Church that he may be the third time admonished by the whole Congregation of those amongst whom he is or whereof he is a part and if he heare not the Church being admonished by her let him be accounted as an heathen and Publicane Againe of the Power of binding and loosing that is of shutting out or receiving into the Church whether at the beginning or after wickednesse committed I have spoken before Mat. 16. but here it is clearly set forth that this power that is the keyes of the kingdome of heaven is in the hands of all those who meet together in the name of Christ that is in faith because theirs is the spirit of the Lord and his word for such only meet in the name of Christ that is trusting upon Christ and grow together many members into one body c. Then interpreting the 19. v. when two of you shal agre together to ask any thing c. he thus speaks of private admonition and absolution in the hands of the brethren the Lord speaks here especially of praying for pardon on their behalfe who had offended Hence therefore we may learne the fruit of private admonition and absolution for if two shall agree together to beg the pardon of a sin that sin must be known to them both and acknowledged as a sin here therefore the private admonition or confession of that sin must have had place Now forasmuch as true prayer shuts out doubting of obtaining it must needs be that a brother may confirme a brother that pardon is granted and by applying it to him may render him secure in the Lord hence the brethren in private according to Christs institution exercise in part the power of the keyes and thence their right of publick exercise of them it being of the same kind wil evidently follow as he there speaks It is true saith he the Lord hath uttered this Promise concerning a few that he might teach how he approves and embraceth us agreeing and consenting together in himselfe though we be never so small a number but we shall please him more if many amongst our selves shall agree together in him and we shall be able to doe things innumerable in his name The same Author The Apostle blames the Corinthians that the whole Church had not appointed mourning that is fasting and publick deprecation of the wrath of God for this wickednesse and that she had not cast out the incestuous Person out of her Communion He did no losse solemnely exhort the Corinthians that after his repentance they would receive him into the favour of the Lord and his Church lib. de regno Christi c. 9. p. 43. There is much more in the same grave Author to the same purpose up and down in his works I shall adde only one short testimony more out of Peter Martyr We conclude saith he without the consent of the Church that is the People of the Congregation no man can be excommunicated loc com de excommunicat sent 9. This right belongs to the Church neither ought it to be taken from her sent 10. We shall forbeare further quotations it being generally the doctrine of the Reformers as is well known to such as are acquainted with their Writings CHAP. VI. THis Chapter shall be taken up with certaine Conclusions depending upon the former about discipline 1. As the Prelates stripping both the People and the Elders of the power of discipline violate the Gospe-order in two maine degrees we may adde a third in that they take it into their owne hands who have nothing to do with it so they that will have the Presbyterian Government so exercised as all power shall be confined to the Elders excluding the People violate the Gospell-order in one maine degree at the least 2. Forasmuch as the People of the Church have a power of Church-order for the exercise of discipline both privately and publickly hence we may now clearly see of what necessity it is that the matter of the Church be only visible Saints according to the doctrine and explication of the matter of the Church formerly laid downe Many there are who loosing this Peg in the Tabernacle of the Peoples power for discipline they then loose another concerning their qualification for the due matter of the Church and thence a third their right of
majesty which awes even the wicked whether they will or not but we are at this day strangers to it nay by our prophane libertie of living wickedly we render our selves together with the Gospel contemptible Thus much for the fifth Argument 6. From expresse Command of the Churches separation from the openly wicked 2 Cor. 6.17 with the former verses Object The wicked here are heathen and profest Infidels Answ 1. The Apostle urgeth in his expostulation v. 14 15 16. such a repugnancy in the Churches Communion with those wicked ones as betwixt light and darknesse righteousnesse and unrighteousnesse Christ and Belial that the Church then may answer that part of the comparison which belongs to her be those wicked ones who they will she must consist of a righteous people 2. If the Church must separate from them because darknesse unrighteousnesse c. then from those who are such in life whatsoever in word they professe being as evill in Scripture account as such heathen and termed infidels or unbeleeving Tit. 1.15 16. worse then profest Infidels 1 Tim. 5.8 and those who have a forme of Godlines and therefore in word professe the true God at the least but deny the power of it guilty of open wickednesse are to be turned from 2 Tim. 3.5 3. Otherwise manifest Prophanation of the name of God with a palpable lye 1 John 1.6 7. should entitle to the great honour of Church-Communion the great Priviledges thereto belonging and the visible Church should be no Temple refusing the unclean but a common Inne for all Commers a Cage of unclean birds a Sty for swine 4. Many most abominable hereticks may in word professe the true God to whom yet it is granted generally that Church-Communion is to be denied Adde Ishmael Esau c. profest the true God yet they were not of the Church 7. From the doctrine of discipline Mat. 18.15 c 1. The visible Church is a brotherhood If thy brother sinne c. and this brotherhood founded in Christ John 20.17 but doth Christ owne as brethren God as children any but such as are in some degree sanctified apparantly so that they may be apparantly owned 2. The duties by our Saviour required in the exercise of discipline from any Church member indefinitely cannot be expected from any other both here admonishing in the three degrees with aime at gaining a brother c. 1 Cor. 5.2 It is required of the Church that they be mourners when any proves scandalous among them to the Church of which the people are a maine part is the power of Christ committed for casting out and delivering up to Satan v. 4 5. in case of neglect hereof the whole lump is leavened viz. the whole Congregation is under guilt neglect here is a sin tending to the dischurching of Churches Rev. 2.14.20 c. with all scandalous of the Church familiar society is to be refused by every Church-member v. 9.10 〈◊〉 such severity herein is required as cannot be exercised towards all scandalous with whom we must needs have commerce in this world v. 11. the scandalous within the Church when any prove such are by the Church to be judged v. 12. and put away v. 13. the end of all is to humble shame and recover the fallen sinner Now how can these things be expected from the Church if wicked Persons shall be allowed the matter of the Church Can they deliver to Satan that are themselves delivered to him c. have they share in the power of Christ who are themselves under the power of Satan what is there in a company of wicked Persons to humble and shame a wicked Person how shall they act in any of their duties depending upon discipline who have no Principles for it 2 Thes 3.6 If he that walks inordinately having been formerly received must be withdrawne from then such a one not yet received is not to be received and generally forasmuch as scandalous when in are to be cast out not in they are to be left out They who confine all Church-power to the officers alone will here take offence that in following this Argument we allow a share of that power to the people to that we shall speak more fully and purposely hereafter in due place 8. From the Testimonies given to the Churches in most of the Epistles especially about the beginning as Rom. 1.8 c. 15. v. 14. 1 Cor. 1.4 to 10. Phil. 1.3 to 9. 1 Thes 1.2 to the end 2 Thes 1.3 to 8. read the places so of those seven Asian Churches some very pure as Smyrna and Philadelphia so as no fault found with them others as Ephesus Pergamus and Thyatira a very faire Testimony of them both what they had beene and what in part they were though not a little lapsed but both against them and the other two most corrupt Sardis and Laodicea their dischurching is severely threatned except they shall returne to a purer state Object The Apostle gives a faire Testimony to the Church of Corinth yet were there many great enormities among them Answ 1. His Testimony is to the Church generally but with exception of such as walke disorderly in the Church as appears in that 2. He requires the Church to proceed in way of discipline against such so as in case they persevere in their evill Course to cut them off from the Communion of Saints whence 3. it appears that in their admission they were not discovered such whence that which may hence be gathered is that a Church rightly constitute is not presently upon her degenerating in many of her members to be forsaken but they so degenerating to be cut off 4. The retaining of such in the Church involved the whole Church in guilt and threatned wrath 1 Cor. 5.6 and c. 11.30 so Rev. 2.14 15 16 20. c. whence we may lay down this Conclusion such persons are not the true matter of the Church the retaining of whom in the Church makes evidently for her destruction but such are the openly wicked foul hereticks 5. However the Church of Corinth was by her false Teachers first staggered out of the way in something of doctrine and thence grew remisse in discipline for a time yet it appears by their speedy and sound repentance 2 Cor. 7. that they were generally and habitually a very holy people 9. From the practise of the primitive Churches after the Apostles times in two things it appears how choice the matter of the Church then was 1. The 〈◊〉 all of their Catechumens when any formerly heathen wrought upon by the preaching of the Gospel professed their embracing of the Christian Religion renouncing their former folse worship and desired the Church to take them into her care for their spirituall state the Church accordingly took them into her care for instruction and edifying but did not receive them into her fellowship any further then to heare the word till they gave a good account both of their Christian knowledge and Christian
those that are presented to the services of the Church not only is this to be required who are made fit for those ministeries by God but likewise that they may be acknowledged received and accounted such by the Churches their tryall is so to be ordered and carryed thorough that it may be knowne and throughly beheld by the whole Church to which any one is to serve who are to be received by them as given and sent of the Lord unto them who are to be refused by them as not given and sent by the Lord unto them And then he brings in that of Cyprian formerly mentioned Epist 68. Let these suffice for instance Object But the people are ignorant irreligious and many wayes unfit Answ 1. For their abilities in learning for their judgement in the highest and mysterious most points and the like who are to be chosen they are by learned Ministers where it may be to be tryed 2. There is a great use of the guidance and direction of able and approved Ministers for ordering the proceeding in the choice that it be done with due care and peaceablenesse 3. The People of the Church are not to be supposed ignorant irreligious c. they that are so are no true matter of the Church nor to be owned as formerly this hath been proved 〈◊〉 this very right and duty of the People addes a further proof because it belongs to them to chuse their officers therefore they must not be such a People and in all these testimonies we find them supposed of another stampe 4. Suppose that assistance of ministers cannot be had as in case God should enlighten with his truth a company of people in the midst of Rome might not they by divine charter settle among themselves a ministery In other cases when the helpe of ministers cannot be had the reasons formerly given especially the first second third and fifth will conclude the Peoples right without them Otherwise this would further ensue after a generall Apostacy as that of the Papacy though God should enlighten never so many People except withall he should enlighten some of their Priests there must be an impossibility of Church-Reformation 5. Though such a concurrence of ministers where it may be had is for the help of the Church as in the respects above named yet may they not devest her of this native right to put upon her any but whom she shall chuse and approve It is true to a wicked People no true matter of the Church a minister may be sent to preach the Gospel though they hate him so farre from chusing him but it is one thing to be a Preacher to a People another to be their Pastor and ruling elder in way of discipline Only the Saints visible combined are capable of Pastorall and disciplinary interest Quest How is this right of the people preserved to be judged by officers of their own chusing in the ordinary way of the Classis when the sentence shall be carried against an whole Congregation by officers of other Congregations never chosen by them how was it not fairlier preserved in the way of primitive Episcopacy All the people chusing the Bishop and all the Ministers Cyprian Epist 68. supr So Clemens for the Ministers Supr CHAP. V. The fourth Instruction Christ hath committed the power of Discipline not to the Officers alone but to the Church that is to the Officers and the brotherhood THere is in the Church of Christ a twofold power of Order Office The power of order ariseth from Church-fellowship and belongs to the brethren so joyned together The power of office ariseth from Commission for rule and belongeth to officers set over the brethren The power of Order is To be exercised by the brotherhood whilest yet without Officers and it is the power of chusing their Officers formerly spoken to To be exercised by the brotherhood together with the officers and it is the power of Discipline in * Or binding by Excommunication for which Admonition makes way withdrawing partly makes way for it partly followes upon it Binding by Admonition Withdrawing Excommunication Loosing or Absolution The power of Order is here taken in a sense very different from that School use where it is distingushed from jurisdiction or rather against it Admonition in case a Brother sinne scandalously Withdrawing in case he hear not the Admonition Excommunication in case of stubborne persisting in his sinne against the Admonition of the Church Excommunication exprest by Judging 1 Cor. 5. Putting away 1 Cor. 5. Taking away 1 Cor. 5. Purging out 1 Cor. 5. Delivering to Satan 1 Cor. 5. Stating among the Heathen Matth. 18.17 Loosing or Absolution in the Churches Forgiving Upon Repentance 2 Cor. 2.7 8. Comforting Upon Repentance 2 Cor. 2.7 8. Confirming her love Upon Repentance 2 Cor. 2.7 8. This power of Discipline is one of the Keyes of the Kingdome of Heaven The Key is twofold of Doctrine Discipline Luk. 11.52 and here the opening and shutting of the Key is the same with binding and loosing formerly Matth. 16.19 with Matth. 18.15 16 17 18. The power of discipline thus briefly declared we now come to confirme the instruction that not to the officers alone but to the Church it is committed that is the brotherhood with the officers 1. It belongs to the Church Matth. 18.17 but the Church never signifies the officers alone throughout the new Testament frequently the officers and brethren together as in the inscriptions of the Epistles to the Church at Corinth c. sometimes the people distinct from their officers when they were possessed of officers Acts 15.4 the Church there distinct from the Officers whether Apostles or Elders and this Church the brethren v. 22 23. so Rev. 1.20 the starres are the ministers and the candlesticks are the Churches before they were possessed of officers Acts 14.23 there is the Church as the candlestick before the candle be put into it If any man shall say that in Matth. 18.17 the Church signifies the officers alone in stead of proving he begs the question 2. The Apostle enjoyning the exercise of this power for Binding 1 Cor. 5. Loosing 2 Cor. 2. ascribes it to the brotherhood together with the officers First for Binding 1 Cor. 5. he writes to the whole Church 1. To the same here to whom he inscribes the Epistle but he inscribes it to all the Saints in Corinth with all in every place as comprehended in his salutation and concerned in the institutions of this Epistle though particularly sent to the Church at Corinth 2. The same who were puffed up when they should have mourned v. 2. are to be gathered together in the name and with the power of Christ Pauls spirit joyning with them though he was absent in body v. 4. to deliver such an one to Satan v. 5.3 The same whose glorying is rebuked the whole lump leavened v. 6. are to purge out that leaven v. 7. whence the Apostle digresseth from publick leaven the