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. â— 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
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 B.D. and Teacher of the Church at Boston in New-England The Third Edition More exactly corrected the Marginall proofes in the former Edition misplaced being herein placed more directly and many other faults both in the Line and Margent are here Corrected Ezek. 43.10 11. Thou Sonne of man shew the house to the house of Israel that they may be ashamed of their iniquities and let them measure the patterne And if they hee ashamed of all that they have done shew them the forme of the house and the fashion therof and the goings out thereof and the commings in thereof and all the formes thereof and all the ordinances thereof and all the formes thereof and all the lawes thereof and write it in their sight that they may learn the whole forme thereof and all the ordinances thereof and doe them Ier 6.16 Thus saith the Lord Stand ye in the waies and see and aske for the old paths c. Jer. 50.5 They shall aske the way to Zion with their faces thitherward saying Come let us joyne our selves to the Lord in a perpetuall Covenant that shall not be forgotten London Printed for Ben Allen and are to be sold in Popes-head Alley 1644. THE DOCTRINE OF THE CHVRCH And its GOVERNMENT 1 Question WHat is the Church of the New Testament Answer The Church is a mysticall body a Ephes 5.30 31 32. 1 Cor. 12.27 Rom. 12.4 5. whereof Christ is the Head b Ephes 1.22 5.23 the Members be Saints c 1 Cor. 1.2 9. 14.23 33. Col. 1.2 12. 2.5 1 Thes 1.1 3 7. 2.14 Act. 17.1 4. called out of the world d 1 Cor. 1.2 9. 5.10 11 12. 2 Cor. 6.16 17. Joh. 15.19 1 Kin. 8.53 Levit. 20.25 26. Act. 19.1 8 9. and united together into one Congregation e 1 Cor. 11.18 20. 14.23 33 34. 16.1 16. by an holy Covenant f Exod. 19 5 6. 24.3 7 Deut. 5.2 27. with Act. 7.38 Deut. 29.1 9. to 25. Jer. 50.5 Amos 3.3 Isa 62.5 with Mal. 2.14 to worship the Lord and to edifie one another in all his holy Ordinances g Act. 2.42 1 Cor. 9.2 Mat. 28.19 20. Joh. 25.14 2 Qu. What sort of members * Rom. 12.4 5. 1 Cor. 12 14. to 27. hath God set in his Church Ans Some that are Ministers a 1 Cor. 4.1 Ephes 4.12 Col. 4.17 Rom. 12 7. or Officers b 1 Tim. 3.1 10 13. Rom. 11.13 in the Church others commonly called by the generall name which belongeth to all the Members Brethren c Act 15.22 23. Col. 1.2 Rom. 16.17 23. and Saints d Col. 1.2 1 Cor. 14.33 3 Qu. What sorts of Ministers or Officers hath God set in his Church Ans Some extraordinary as Apostles Prophets and Evangelists a Ephes 4.11 1. Cor 12.28 Some ordinary and perpetuall as Bishops and Deacons b Phil. 1.1 1 Tim 3.1 2 8. 4 Qu. What manner of men are to be called to the Office of a Bishop or Elder of the Church Ans A Bishop or Elder of the Church must be in himselfe a blamelesse man for holinesse and righteousnesse and for freedome from passions and lusts Also a vigilant man and of good behaviour Moreover hee must be in his family a man of good government and of good hospitality In his name a man of good report even of those that are without In his profession not a young plant but holding fast the faithfull word apt to teach it and able to maintaine it a 1 Tim. 2.2 to 7. Tit. 1.6 to 9. 5 Qu. What sorts of Bishops or Elders hath God ordained in his Church Ans Of Bishops who were also called Elders God hath ordained two sorts Ruling Elders and such as labour in the word and doctrine a 1 Tim. 5.17 1 Cor 12 28. Rom. 12.7 8. Act. 20.28 Tit. 1.5 7. commonly called Pastors b Ephes 4.11 and Teachers c Act. 14.23 20.17 28. Phil. 1.1 Tit. 1.5.7 all of them are to watch over one certaine Flocke the Church of a particular Congregationd. 6 Qu. What is the office or worke of the Pastors and Teachers Answ The Pastors speciall worke * Speciall work is to attend upon Exhortation and therein to dispense a word of Wisdome The Teacher is to attend upon Doctrine and therein to dispense a word of Knowledge a Rom. 12.7 8. 1 Cor. 12.8 7 Qu. What is the office or work of the Ruling Elders An. Seeing the Kingdom of Christ is not of this world but heavenly and Spirituall a Iohn 18.36 and the Government of his Kingdome is not Lordly but Stewardly and Ministeriall b Mat 20.25 26. Luk. 12.42 1 Cor. 4 1. and to labour in the Ministery of Exhortation and Doctrine is the proper worke of the Pastor and Teacher c 1 Tim. 5.17 Rom. 12.7 8 it remaineth therefore to bee the part and Office of the Ruling Elders to assist * or joyne with the Pastor and Teacher in diligent attendance unto all other acts of rule besides as becometh good Stewards of the houshold of God d 1 Tim. 3.5 5.17 Rom. 12.8 1 Thes 5.12 As First to open and shut the Doores of Gods House e Mat. 16.19 2 Chron. 23.19 by admission of Members f Acts 17.28 29 Ezek. 22.26 by Ordination of Officers g 1 Tim. 4 14. Acts 6.2.3 5. Excommunication of notorious obstinate offenders h Mat. 16.19 18.17 18. Secondly to see that none in the Church live either inordinately without a calling or idlely in their calling i 2 Thes 3.6.10 11 12. Thirdly to prevent and heale such offences in life and doctrine as might corrupt either their owne Church a Revel 2.4 14 15.20 or other Churches if their counsell be required b Acts 15.2 6. Fourthly to prepare matters before-hand for the Churches consideration c Acts 21.18 19. Pro. 24.27 And fiftly to moderate the carriage of all matters in the Church assembled d Acts 6.2 3. Heb. 13.7.17 as to propound matters to the Church and to order the season of speech and silence in the Church e Act. 13.15 Sixtly to feede the Flock of God with a word of admonition f 1 Thes 5.12 Acts 20.28.31 Admonition is an act of rule if set on with authority Gen. 19.7 8. and as they shall be called for to visit and pray over their sick Brethren g Jam. 5.14 8. Qu. What manner of men hath God appointed to be called to the Deacons office An. Men of gravity and of good report
sense and applying the use b Nehem. 8.8 Acts 15.22 Luke 14.21 23 to 28. In dispensing whereof they were wont to stand above all the people in a pulpit of wood the Elders on both sides c Nehem. 8.4 whilst the people hearkned to them with reverence attention d Neh 8.5 6 7. Luke 4 16 17 20. Where there be more Prophets besides the Elders they may prophecy two or three e Nehem. 8.7 1 Cor. 14.29 31. 1 Thes 5.20 if the time permit the Elders calling to them whether of the same Church or others if they have any word of exhortation for the people to say on f Acts 13.15 1 Cor. 14.31 and for the better edifying of a mans selfe or others it may bee lawfull for any young or old save * 1 Cor. 14.34 35. onely for women to aske Questions at the mouth of the Prophets g Mal. 2.7 Lu. 2.46 21. Qu. After the Ministery of the Word what part of Gods publique worship is next to be administred Ans After the Word which is the Covenant of God the seales of the Covenant are next to be administred Baptisme and the Lords Supper a Acts 16.14 15. And as for Baptisme it is to be dispenced by a Minister of the Word b Acts 16.14 15 31 32 33. unto a beleever professing his repentance and his Faith c Mat. 28.19 Mat. 3 6. being a member of the same Church body d Lu. 3.5.12 8 as also unto his seede e Act. 8.36.37 Gen. 17.23 Acts 16.15.33 1 Cor. 7.14 presented by the Parents to the Lord and his Church f Luk. 2.21.22 at which time the Minister calleth upon the Parents to renew his Covenant with God for himselfe and his seed g Gen. 17.27.18.19 and calls upon God as the nature of the Ordinance requireth for the pardon of originall sinne and of the sinne of the Parents and for a blessing upon the Ordinance and Infant h Mat 3.11 1 Tim 4.5 and then the Child being called by the name which the Parent hath given it for the his owne edification and the childs i Luk. 1.59 to 63. 2.21 Mat. 3.6 16. Iohn 3.23 Acts 8.38 39 Rom. 6.4 he Baptizeth it into Name of the Father of the Son of the holy Ghost k 1 Cor. 10.2 Heb. 10.22 Mat. 28.19 22. Qu. How is the Lords Supper to be administred Ans The Supper of the Lord is to be dispenced by the Minister of the Word a 2 Cor. 30.17 and 35.5 6. unto the faithful of the same Body b 1 Cor. 10.17 12 13 14. or commended to them by a like Body c Rom. 16.1 2. having examined and judged themselves d 1 Cor. 11.28 to 31. and sitting downe with him at the Lords Table e before whom the Minister taketh the Bread and blesseth it breaketh it and giveth it to the Brethren with this commandment once for all To take and eat it as the body of Christ broken for them and this to do in remembrance of him In like manner also he taketh the Cup and having given thanks he powreth it forth and giveth it to them with a commandment to them all To take and drinke it as the blood of Christ shed for them and this also to doe in remembrance of Him f Mat. 26.26.27 28. Luke 22.19 20. 1 Cor. 11.23 24 25. Mat. 26.30 Mar. 1426. Greeke as He. 2.12 from Psal 22.22 After all have partaken thanksgiving is ended with singing a Psalme* 23. Q. After the Ministery of the Word and the seales thereof how is the Collection for the Saints to be administred Ans The collection for the Saints was by the Apostles ordinance to bee made for the time every Lords day a 1 Cor. 16.1 2. Deut. 16.10.16 for the measure as God hath prospered every man b 1 Cor. 16.2 2 Cor. 8.3 for the manner not of constraint but freely and willingly c 2 Cor. 9.5.7 brought by the givers as an Offering to the Lord and laid downe d Acts 434.35 Mat. 1◠42 2 Chro. 29.17 as at first before the Apostles so afterwards by their appointment before the Deacons of the Church as into a common Treasury e Acts 4 35. with ch ◠2. to 8. 1 Cor. 16.2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 put into the common stocke Gal. 6.6 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Tim. 5.17 18. Gal 6.6 Acts 4.35 6.1 2 3. Rom. 15.25 26. Acts 1.28 29 30. by them to be distributed to the supply of the Ministery and of the poore Saints according to their need and of outward service of the Churchf. 24 Qu. What duty of Gods worship is to bee performed in dismissing the Assembly Ans After all other parts of Gods publique worship have beene performed the Minister a Num. 6.23 or any of the Prophets is to dismisse the Assembly with a word of blessing b 1 Sam. 6.18 1 King 8.14 and 8.55 10.61 offering up blessing unto the Lord and putting a blessing upon the People c Num. 6.25 to 27. 2 Thes 3.17 18. 2 Cor. 13.14 25. Qu. In what manner are all the duties of Gods worship to be administred Ans In spirituall simplicity without affectation of legal shadowes a Iohn 4.24 of worldly pompe or carnall excellencie b 2 Cor. 2.17 1.12 1 Cor. 2.1 2 6 13. decently c 1 Cor. 14.40 and in order d Idem and to edification e 1 Cor. 14.26 26. Qu. What forme of Governement is the Government of the Church Ans The Government of the Church is in Christ our head kingly or royall a Psal 2.6 Isa 33.22 9.6 but in the Church Stewardly and Ministeriall b Mat. 16.19 1 Cor. 4.1 4. 1 Pet. 4.10 5.1 2 3. and in both of them spirituall and heavenly c John 18 36. 27. Qu. How doth Christ exercise his Kingly government or power in the Church Ans By calling the Church into holy fellowship with himselfe and one with another a Psal 74.2 76.1 2 by ordaining Officers and Governours in his Church with their callings and gifts b Eph. 4.8 11 1 Cor. 12.28 by giving Lawes and Ordinances to his Church for the whole Government of it c Isa 33.22 Jam. 4.12 by putting life and power even the power of his Spirit into all his Ordinances for the edifying of his body unto perfection d 2 Tim. 3.16 17. Mat. 18.18 20. 28 20. Iohn 16 7 to 11 13 14. and finally by subduing our enemies and perfecting our selves in his peace to his heavenly kingdom e Rom. 16.20 Iohn 14.27 2 Tim. 4.18 28 Qu. How is the Government of the Church in the hand of the Church Stewardly or Ministeriall Ans Because the end of the Government of the Church is spirituall and heavenly a Iohn 18.36 Mat. 16.19 as is the building up of Christs