worship the Lord Jesus according to all the Ordinances of his house PROPOS 4. We conceive it cannot seeme unreasonable that in the same way by which particular godly persons doe enter into the fellowship of the Libertie of those holy Ordinances which Christ hath appropriated to his Church in the same way it were meet that an whole company of Christians should enter into Church estate for in entring of them into Church estate the Lord calleth as well whole companies as particular persons to enjoy the like liberty of all his holy Ordinances the enjoyment of like libertie requireth preparation thereunto by the like dutie In the times of John the Baptist such as were received into Baptisme they did first make confession of their sinnes and therewith of their repentance and of their faith also in him who was to come after him Matth. 3.6 Act. 19.4 5. And in the times of the Apostles Philip received the Eunuch unto Baptisme not untill he had made profession of his Faith in Christ Jesus Acts. 8.37 But now for as much as wee all who are borne in Christian Churches are baptized in our infancy and such as are baptized infants are not admitted to the Lords Table in well ordered Churches till they have approved and in their own persons publickly confirmed that profession of repentance and faith which their parents or others in their stead professed and promised for them at their Baptisme it cannot be thought unreasonable that such a company of godly Christians having been baptized infants should now make the like profession of their repentance before they are admitted into Church estate which others made in the Primitive times before Baptisme and all growne up to ripe yeares are wont publickly to make or at least ought to make before their admittance to the Lords Supper Besides when upon Peters confession of his faith in Christ Jesus Christ said that upon that rock or foundation he would build his Church Mat. 16.16.18 doth he not plainly hold forth that every Christian Church is founded as on Christ so on Christ in this way to wit on Christ believed on by faith and that faith publickly confessed before God and men PROPOS 5. To the erecting of a Church as the presence of Christ is necessary for the acceptance of it so the presence of neighbouring Churches and Brethren is requisite to cry Grace Grace unto it For if Davids advertisement be as it is necessary and of important weight Except the Lord build the house they labour in vaine that build it Psal 127.1 how much more important is it that the Lord who alone buildeth his own Jerusalem Psal 147.2 be sought unto with unfeigned humiliation and fervent prayer for his presence with his people and acceptance of them in such a worke and if the Apostle Paul thought it requisite to communicate with the Apostles at Jerusalem about his Apostolicall doctrine and proceedings partly to prevent suspition of dissent between him and them lest by any meanes he should run in vaine partly to hold forth mutuall communion with them in giving and taking the right hand of fellowship Gal. 2.2.9 How much more requisite will it be for such as goe about to gather together scattered Christians into a Church estate to communicate with the Elders and Brethren of other Churches craving their presence and counsell and communion in so great a work And seeing Christian Magistrates being also Brethren and members of Churches are called of God to be Nursing Fathers unto the Church Isa 49.23 it cannot but encourage them to take the more speciall notice and care of every Church and to provide and assigne convenient allotments of land for the maintenance of each of them when in times of peace they are made acquainted with the persons and proceedings of such as gather into Church-fellowship under the wing of their Government And yet seeing the kingdome of Christ is not of this world nor regulated by the wisdome of this world wee doe not doubt but that a Church may be clearly gathered and rightly ordered though they want opportunitie or omit to acquaint the Magistrates with their proceedings especially when Magistrates are not acquainted with the Lawes of Christs kingdome SECT II. NOw then to apply all these Propositions to our present order and practice in the gathering of a Church thus it is when many Christians are come over into these parts they desire to joyne themselves unto some Church or other according to the second Proposition professing that it was the principall end of their comming to enjoy the presence of the Lord in the libertie and puritie of his Ordinances And if the company of such as come together be so well knowne one to another that they are loath to part company and yet so great that they cannot well joyne in any one Church already established without too much impeachment of their outward estate and livelihood the chiefest part of the lands belonging to each Church being prepossessed by others before them they then take that course which other companies took before them they consider of entring into a Church estate and fellowship amongst themselves And for that end first commending themselves to the Lord they enquire out some one or other of Eminent gifts usually such as have been Preachers of good esteeme in England who may guide and goe along with them in so great an Action and if God see good may afterwards be called to place and Office amongst them And then such whose hearts God toucheth to goe along with them in this worke they often meet together about the things of God and performe some duties of Prayer and spirituall conference together till a sufficient company of them be well satisfied in the spirituall good estate of one another and so have approved themselves to one anothers consciences in the sight of God as living stones fit to be laid in the Lords spirituall Temple which is his Church according to the first Proposition Now because through the grace of Christ our Christian Magistrates are nursing Fathers to the Church and the Churches already established are carried not onely with a pious desire to enlarge the kingdome of Christ but also with brotherly love to such as intend so good a worke those Christians therefore that desire to enter into Church-fellowship together doe acquaint the Governour and some of the neerest Magistrates and those Churches which are next adjoyning to them with their intentions to enter into Church-fellowship and crave the presence of some from amongst them at the day appointed some few weeks after to helpe them with their prayers and with their counsell if need should be in so weightie a businesse as being themselves for the most part lesse experienced in the wayes of Christs Kingdome then those who have gone before them in such a worke as also desiring to approve themselves and their course to the consciences of the Brethren of other Churches that they may more freely give them the right hand
difference of those actions doe not argue a diversitie of functions but both teaching and exhorting are co-incident to one and the same Office as being severall actions of severall gifts not of severall Officers Answ The contrary is evident from the Text as may appeare by three severall reasons from the words of the Text. Reas 1. From the words which the Apostle useth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which doe not distribute severall gifts onely but severall persons to whom those severall gifts are severally committed according as the same Apostle distributeth the same divers sorts of gifts to the same divers sorts of persons 1 Cor. 12.8 To one saith he is given a word of wisdome to wit for direction of practice whereto the Pastor attendeth to another the word of knowledge to wit for direction of the judgement whereto the teacher attendeth and both by the same Spirit who distributeth to every man severally ver 11. Reas 2. Though Office be one thing and gift to discharge an office another and the actions or exercise of every severall gift doth not alwayes argue a severall office yet in this place it is the scope of the Apostle to expresse the different offices or functions of Pastors and Teachers by their different and proper acts for here he speaketh of the divers members of the Church as of divers members of the naturall body who having divers offices or functions in the body are to performe different proper actions according to their different functions as wee having many members saith he in one body ver 4 5. and all the members have not one office as the translator turneth it when the Originall saith have not one action or practise but both expressing the same meaning so wee being many are one body in Christ and every one members one of another having then saith he ver 6. different gifts gifts comprehending both offices and grace whether Prophecy let us prophecy according to the proportion of faith or ministery let us waite on our ministery whether he that teacheth on teaching or he that exhorteth on exhortation And looke then as in the naturall body it being the action of the tongue to speake it is his function and office to speak and not to see and it being the action of the eye to see it is his function to see and not to heare So it is in the members of the body of Christ it being the action of the teacher to teach he is to attend unto teaching not unto exhortation and it being the action of the Pastor or Exhortor to exhort he is to attend on exhortation not on teaching Reas 3. If the Apostle speake here onely of severall actions or exercises of severall gifts but both co-incident to the same person and officer in the Church why then doth he command the Teacher to waite on teaching and the Exhorter to waite on exhortation for he that performeth an action according to this gift which is not peculiar to his office but common to him with men of other offices is never commanded nor is it his dutie to attend or waite on such an action As if a man have a gift of love or mercy or liberalitie and according to that gift be fit to performe an action of giving Almes yet he is not commanded to attend or waite upon Almesgiving unlesse it be his office as well as his gift Object Attending or waiting is not expressed in the Originall but in the translation onely Answ Though it be not expressed in the Originall it is necessarily intended for either such a word as expresseth waiting or at least the verbe substantive 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 must needs be understood which holdeth forth the same sense He that teacheth let him be teaching he that exhorteth let him be in exhortation which is all one as let him attend to it let him make it his proper and constant worke So a like example in 1 Tim. 4.15 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is the same phrase and which is fitly translated Give thy selfe wholly to them the same with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ver 16. Continue or dwell in them And indeed experience sheweth that teaching and exhorting are so far different one from another and flow from such different gifts that they are seldome found at least in any eminency both of them in one and the same person and therefore require severall officers for the dispensing of them you have many men of eminent dexterity for cleare opening of a Text for judicious gathering and handling sound Doctrine from it and also acute and strong for conviction of a contrary error and heresie who yet are very cold in exhortation and on the other side you have some very fervent in exhortation who are very confused and generall and common in teaching But besides this the need of the Church and the weight of both the works of teaching and exhorting calleth for severall officers to attend to both the explication of Scripture and of the Principles and Doctrine of Religion solidly and distinctly with the discussion of controversies which are included in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Doctrine and Reproof 2 Tim. 3.16 well attended too will take up the whole time and talents of a most judicious Divine and on the other side the direction and instruction of the people in matters of practice the reformation of their manners both in their private carriage and in their families as also in the Church and Commonwealth and the stirring up of men thereto with the reproof of all disorders and abuses in life and conversation which are included in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 instruction and correction 2 Tim. 3.16 these well attended to will take up the vigour and strength of the most prudent and vigilant Pastor of any Congregation All which things considered we have thought it needfull to make use of the bounty of the Lord Jesus to finish our Churches as wee blesse his Name most of them be with both these sorts of preaching Elders Pastors and Teachers neverthelesse hee that is gifted for both these in any good measure let him use both yet attend principally on that to which he is most eminently gifted and called SECT II. AS for ruling Elders the same Text of Scirpture Rom. 12.8 speaketh as expresly for their distinct office also for there speaking of the severall members of the body of Christ which is his Church he directing them to attend to their proper work as the Teacher to teaching the Pastor to exhortation the Deacon to give with simplicity he directeth also the Ruler to rule with diligence and who is that Ruler in the Church but the ruling Elder of whom the Apostle saith to Timothy The Elders that rule well are worthy of double honour 1 Tim. 5.17 But as the wisdome of man is enmity to God so the wisdome and wit of man hath found out many inventions and exceptions against every Scripture that holdeth forth this Ordinance Object 1. The Elders the Apostle here
the direction of the Word Elders according to 1 Tim. 3.2 to 7. Tit. 1.6 to 9. Deacons according to Acts 6.3 1 Tim. 3.8 to 12. For the Church hath not absolute power to choose whom they list but ministeriall power onely to choose whom Christ hath chosen hath gifted and fitted for them If the Church can finde out none such in their own body they send to any other Church for fit supply and each Church looketh at it as their dutie to be mutually helpfull one to another in yeelding what supply they may without too much prejudice to themselves according to Cant. 8.8 9. Such being recommended to them for such a work they take some time of tryall of them partly by their owne observation and communion with them partly by consultation with the Elders of other Churches continuing there in so great a work to fulfill the command of the Apostle Lay hands suddenly on no man 1 Tim. 3.22 For every man of good gifts is not alwayes endowed with an honest and good heart and every good heart is not fitted to close so fully as were meet with every good people Every key is not fit to open every Lock nor every good mans gift fit to edifie every people But when upon tryall the Church doth finde every mans spirit among them desirous of the fellowship of the man and his gifts then they agree amongst themselves upon a certain day wherein in a solemne manner they intend to Elect him to office amongst themselves Of this they give notice to all the neare adjoyning Churches whom and when and to what office they intend to choose such a man whom they nominate to them intreating their presence and brotherly counsell and assistance at the day appointed They give notice also thereof unto the Governour and such other of the Magistrates as are near to them that the person to be chosen meeting with no just exception from any may finde the greater incouragement and acceptance from all When the day is come it is kept as a day of humiliation with fasting praying and preaching the Word according to the patterne Act. 14.23 13.1 2 3. Towards the end of the day one of the Elders of the Church if they have any if not one of the graver Brethren of the Church appointed by themselves to order the worke of the day standeth up and inquireth of the Church If now after this solemne seeking of God for his counsell and direction in this weightie work they still continue in their purpose to elect such a one for their own Pastor or Teacher or Ruling Elder whom before they agreed upon Then having taken their silence for a consent to their purpose He proceedeth to inquire into the approbation of the rest of the Assembly not onely the Messengers and Brethren of other Churches present but of all that stand by because and Elder is to be a man of good report of them that are without 1 Tim. 3.7 how much more well approved of the Churches of Christ He demandeth therefore of the Churches first and then of the rest whether any of them have knowne of any evill in the man presented before them either in judgement or practice which might give them just cause to forbeare his election If all keepe silence as usually they doe for if any have any just exception against the man he is wont to acquaint some or other of the Church with it before the day he turneth himselfe to the Church againe Now seeing all is clear for their free election of him to such an office he desireth all the Brethren of that Church to declare their Election of him with one accord by lifting up their hands which being done he desireth to know of the partie chosen whether he doth accept of that calling which the Church hath given him in the name of Christ unto that office He having expressed his acceptance upon such grounds as wherein he hath chiefly seene the hand of God leading him thereunto the Elder doth then admonish the Church what duties the Lord requireth of them all in his Word towards him whom they have thus chosen And afterwards advertiseth him what duties the Lord requireth of him in that place towards the Church And having taken the acknowledgements of them both of their mutuall dutie towards one another He then with the Presbytery of that Church if they have any if not two or three others of the gravest Christians amongst the Brethren of that Church being deputed by the body doe in the name of the Lord Jesus ordaine him unto that Office with imposition of hands calling upon the Lord who hath furnished him with spirituall gifts and bowed the hearts of the Church to call him to that office to accept and owne him therein to enlarge his heart and spirit according to all the duties thereof to breath in all his administrations and to guide and blesse all his going out and coming in before them And so turning his speech upon the person on whom their hands are imposed He as the mouth of the Presbytery expresseth their ordination of him to that office in the name of the Lord Jesus and puts a solemne charge upon him to looke well to himselfe and to the whole flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made him an overseer as one that must give account of all their soules unto the great Shepheard of the sheep at the day of his appearing After this the Elders of their Churches present observing the presence of God both in the duties of that day performed by the Officer then chosen and ordained and in the orderly proceeding of the Church to his Election and Ordination one of them in the name of all the rest doth give unto him the right hand of fellowship in the sight of all the Assembly testifying their Brotherly acceptance of him and their thankfulnesse to God for his gracious gift bestowed on him and doth exhort him in the Lord to fulfill the ministery which he hath received of the Lord. And so after publick praise given to God by him in the name of the Church he dissolveth the Assembly with a Blessing SECT V. FOr our calling of Deacons we hold it not necessary to ordaine them with like solemnitie of fasting and prayers as is used in the Ordination of Elders because wee doe not reade the Apostles gave any president thereof in the Ordination of the first Deacons at Jerusalem Act. 6. But the Brethren of the Church having looked out among themselves men fitly qualified for that calling according to the Scriptures formerly mentioned and having made some proofes of them according to the Rule 1 Tim. 3.10 the Elders with the consent of the Church upon some Lords day or other publick holy meeting doe ordaine them to the Office and appoint them over that businesse with prayer and imposition of hands SECT VI. OBject Two things are here demanded First by what warrant the People choose their Officers Answ From the President
a precise quotient a number of hundreds and thousands be not limited to every Church yet such a number is limited as falleth not below seven nor riseth above the bulke of one Congregation and such a Congregation wherein all may meete and all may heare and all may partake and all may be edified together SECT II. THey that desire to be added joyned to such a body they first make known their desires to the Elders of the Church who take triall of their knowledge in the principles of religion of their experience in the wayes of grace and of their godly conversation amongst men that if any of them be found ignorant and gracelesse or scandalous he may not be presently presented to the Church till these evils were removed The stones that were to be laid in Solomons Temple were squared and made ready before they were laid in the building neither iron nor ax nor any iron toole was heard in the house while it was a building 1 King 6.7 And wherefore so if not to hold forth that no members were to be received into the Church of Christ but such as were rough-hewen and squared and fitted to lie close and levell to Christ and to his members But when such as offer themselves are approved of the Elders they are propounded by one of the Ruling Elders to the Church with a motion to the brethren to make inquiry after them and if they shall heare of any just exceptions against them to give notice of it to one of the Elders But if no exception be heard of they are called forth before the Church after other holy duties are performed and each one maketh confession of his sinnes and profession of his faith In confession of his sinnes that it may appeare to be a penitent confession he declareth also the grace of God to his soule drawing him out of his sinfull estate into fellowship with Christ In the profession of his faith he declareth not onely his good knowledge of the principles of Religion but also his professed subjection to the Gospel of Christ with his desire of walking therein with the fellowship of that Church Now before or after such his profession or confession those of the brethren of the Church who are of his acquaintance doe give some good testimony if need be of his life and conversation either according to their owne knowledge of him or according to the credible reports or letters which they have received concerning him which done the Ruling Elder or one of the Preaching Elders propoundeth it to the Church whether from all that they have heard and seene they finde any just exception against him if so it is cleared and removed before any further proceedings if no just exception appeare the Ruling Elder then moveth the Church to expresse their acceptance of him into fellowship with them by lifting up their hands Which done and the like course taken with two or three more as the time will permit the Elder propoundeth to them the heads of the Covenant which the Lord hath made with his Church what promises of grace he hath made to them as also what duties of faith and obedience he doth require of them As to take the Lord Jesus for their onely Priest and Atonement their onely Prophet and guide their onely King and Law-giver and to walke in professed subjection unto all his holy Ordinances as also to walk in brotherly love with the brethren of this Church unto mutuall edification and succour according to the rule of the Gospel And the new received members acknowledging this to be their dutie and professing their consent unto it in the name of Christ the Elder doth further acquaint them with what duties of holy watchfulnesse over them they may expect from the Church and so shutteth up his worke with some short prayer unto the Lord who keepeth covenant and mercy with thousands of his people to make us all faithfull to him and one to another according to the rules of his holy Gospel in Christ Jesus the Mediator and suretie of his Covenant between the Lord and his people SECT III. NOw what offence is there in all this or what scruple may arise in a godly minde against these things Two or three things seeme herein offensive but are not First That wee require gracious qualifications in such as we receive to Church-fellowship whereas the visible Church is said to consist of all sorts good and bad and to be a garner containing chaffe and wheate as a field wherein wheate and tares grow up together Secondly That we receive such into the Church by a covenant Thirdly That we communicate too much power unto the people and doe not rather referre all power in this case into the hands of the Elders To give therefore some account of these as the Lord shall assist For the first though wee willingly admit all commers to the hearing of the Word with us as the Corinthians admitted Infidels 1 Cor. 14.24 25. yet wee receive none as members into the Church but such as according to the judgement of charitable Christians may be conceived to be received of God into fellowship with Christ the head of the Church Our Reasons be First From the neare relation between Christ Jesus and the Church as also between the Church and the other persons in the Trinitie the Lord Jesus is the head of the Church even of the visible Church and the visible Church is the body of Christ Jesus 1 Cor. 12.27 The visible Church is said to be the habitation of God by the Spirit Eph. 2.22 to be the Temple of the holy Ghost and the Spirit of God to dwell in them 1 Cor. 3.16 17. to be Espoused to Christ as a chaste Virgin 2 Cor. 11.2 The members of the visible Church are said to be the sonnes and daughters of the Lord God Almightie 2 Cor. 6.18 and are exhorted to be followers of him as deare children Eph. 4.1 Now how can the visible Church be the members of the body or the Spouse of Christ or the Temple of the Holy Ghost or the sonnes and daughters of the heavenly Father except the members in charitable discretion be as indeed the holy Ghost describeth them to be Saints by calling 1 Cor. 1.2 and faithfull brethren Gal. 1.2 and that not onely by externall profession for these are too high stiles for hypocrites but in some measure of sinceritie and truth Secondly We reade Act. 2.47 that the Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved and how then shall wee adde to the Church such as God addeth not such as have no shew of any saving worke upon them to any spirituall discerning ought not the Lords Stewards to be faithfull in Gods house and to doe nothing therein but as they see the Lord goe before them receiving whom he receiveth and refusing whom he refuseth casting out whom he casteth out Doth not the Apostle Paul upon this ground direct the Romanes to receive a