Apostle requires in the conversation of a Minister 1 Tim. 3. 2 3 4 5 6 7. and 6. 11. Tit. 1. 6 7 8. In which Scriptures under the name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or an Overseer he comprehends all these Officers who have the Oversight and Charge of Souls and sets down what manner of persons he would have them to be in regard of their conversation and carriage I shall speak of these things with Application to the Ruling Elder That the Ruling Elder ought to be of a blameless and Christian Conversation is above question but that it may be more distinctly known what the Holy Ghost requires of such in regard of their conversation I shall from these Scriptures show First what the Apostle would have them not to be Secondly what he would have them to be The things of the first sort are these 1. A Ruling Elder must not be given to Wine they must not be lovers nor followers of strong drink nor debord in riot and excess nor tipple away time in Ale-houses and Taverns 2. He must not be a striker nor a brawler nor given to quarrelling and contentions 3. He must not be covetous nor greedy of filthy lucre for the love of money is the root of all evil which while some covet after they erre from the faith and pierce themselves through with many sorrows 4. He must not be a novice or one newly come to the faith lest he bepuffed up with pride and fall into the condemnation of the Devil the spirits of Novices are not yet well ballasted nor brought low enough by frequent exercises of the Cross and so come to be more easily puffed up therefore there is need that he be an exercised Souldier of Iesus Christ and one who by Experience is taught to know the wiles of the Devil and is able to endure hardness 5. He must not be self-willed adhering pertinaciously and without reason to his own judgment and refusing to hearken to the judgment of his Brethren though sound and wholesome 6. He must not be soon angry whether upon real or conceived causes of provocation The things of the second sort be these 1 He must be blameless h. e. One who walks without offence towards God and men 2. If married he must be the husband of one Wife such a one who shuns all unlawful lusts satisfying himself with and keeping himself within the bounds of the Remedy provided of God 3. He must be vigilant watchfull over his own soul that no temptation prevail upon him watchful unto every good duty and to take hold of every opportunity of wel-doing 4. He must be sober temperat of a sound and humble minde moderating his own appetite and affections and satisfying himself with a moderat use of the Creatures and of the things of this world 5. He must be of a good behaviour or modest of a grave and staid yet of an effable and courteous carriage neither light and vain to the loosing of his Authority and rendring himself contemptible nor sullen and self-pleasing to the discouraging and scaring away of the flock by his needless distance austerity 6. Given to hospitality ready to receive strangers to his House especially the poor and those who are of the houshold of Faith 7 Apt to teach h. e. A man of knowledge and able to instruct others one who hath a ready and willing minde to teach others which is not so meant as if it were requisite for the Ruling Elder to be endued with the Gifts of Exhortation and instruction competent to the Pastor and Teacher or that he may and ought to imploy himself therein but of that fitness and ability to Teach that is competent to his Calling which he must be ready and willing to exercise so far as belongs thereto 8. Moderate in the first Language 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—endered patient 1 Tim. 3. Not rigorous nor exacting the hight of the Law in his dealing but in his own particular of a condescending nature and remitting something of strict justice 9. Patient one who without wearying waits on his duty notwithstanding of difficulties and doth bear the delayes untractableness and injuries of others 10. One who rules well his own house having his Children in subjection with all gravity to which the Apostle adds this reason if a man know not how to rule his own house how shall he take a care of the Church of God 1 Tim. 3. 5. The Church of God is of larger extent than one Family and the duties to be performed in it be of greater eminency and difficulty and require more skill wisdom and courage then these that are to be performed in a Family The ruling well of his own house doth import not only ability for doing of it but also that he make conscience of and actually perform these duties that are required for the right and well ordering of a Christian Family to teach and instruct his Children and Servants in the knowledge of God to take care of their sanctifying the Lord's day of their profiâ—ing in Godliness of their seeking of God and of their ordering their conversation aright to read the Scriptures sing Psalms pray in the Family and to exhort admonish rebuke and comfort all that are of his houshold as their condition doth require for if these duties ly upon all Masters of Families who profess the Gospel then in a special way upon Elders who are appointed to stir up and go before others in the performance thereof 11. A lover of good men one whose soul cleaves to those who fear God having such in estimation above all others cherishing them and conversing ordinarily and familiarly with them 12. He must be just one who is straight and upright in all his dealings among men deceiving no man defrauding no man withholding nothing from any man that is due to him but giving to every man his own 13. Holy careful to express the life of Religion and power of Godliness in aâ— his conversation 14. He must bâ— one who holds fast the faithful Worâ— that he hath been taught one whâ— is stable in the â—aith holding faâ— the truth of God without waveâ—ing or turning aside to error Lastly he must be one who hath good report of these who are without lest he fall into reproach and snare of the devil 〈◊〉 he must be such a one whose blameless conversation and sober and Christian walking doth extort a testimony even from these who know not God and who doth by well-doing put to silence the ignorance of foolish men that if any speak evil of him as of an evil-doer they may be ashamed who speak falsly against his good conversation in Christ. The Apostle comprehends all these summarly in two sentences 1 Tim. 4. 12. Be thou an example of the believers in word in conversation in charity in spirit in faith in purity 1 Tim. 6. 11. But thou O man of God flee these things and follow after righteousness godliness faith
in to swarthy a temper If we might find grace in the Lords sight to be throughly convinced of this great Church-evil whence many Church evils flow and be brought with some measure of sincerity to endeavour the remedy thereof what a branch of hope might it be that our reproach should be taken away and we become a People instructed in the way of the Lord and walking to the Praise and Commendation of the Gospel which is now evil spoken of because of the ignorance and loose conversation of many among us Therefore am I bold as pressed in spirit albeit one of the weakest and most unworthy to offer this little Treatise with an eye upon this end And let me without offence beseech all the Ministers Elders Deacons Congregations Presbyteries and Assemblies of this Church in the bowels of the Lord Iesus Christ yea let me obâ—est them by the blood of the everlasting Covenant by their Zeal of the Lord's honour by the credite of the Gospel by their love to souls and by the sury of the Lord which he hath caused to rest upon us because he purged us and we would not be purged and as they desire the Lord should bring us again and cause us stand before him and leave us a remnant and give us a nail in his holy place that they would each of them in their stations endeavour to take forth the precious from the vile and purge the Lord's house in this Land from corrupt Officers and corrupt members Oh will we not be made clean When will it once be To the CHRISTIAN READER THe inducements that perswaded me first to write and then to publish this little Treatise of Ruling Elders and Deacons were chiefly these 1. The sensible Impression that the Lord hath made upon my Spirit as also I know upon the spirits of the godly of the Land of the great prejudice that comes to this poor Church by a multitude of men in these offices who neither know their duty nor make conscience to perform it 2. The vindicating the Doctrine of our Church concerning these Church-Offiâ—ers that the mouths of such who speak evil may be stopped and others who stumble may be satisfied 3. The pressing desire of Brethren Ministers and Elders in the Presbytery and Congregation where the Lord hath set me all which did receive some spirit and life when I found my Name among those to whom the Gen. Assembly of this Church did commit and recommend this work long ago I have endeavoured to handle it with as much plainness and evidence of Truth and as shortly without wronging of the matter as I could It is not unlike that some may think that I have done no great business because I have brought no new thing I acknowledge that it is so what I have said is for the matter I trust and in many things for the words too the Doctrine of the Scriptures and of Protestant Divines and of our Church in the Act s and Policy thereof I have but put together in one and digested into some Method what was lying scattered of before that these who either could not or would not be at the pains to search for such things may now have them at their hand Others may look upon this Treatise as not plain enough or as not so exact full and perfect as it ought to be with these I shall not contend I have done what I could at least what I conceived best in order to the ends I propounded to my self If others shall find favour of the Lord to do better I shall blesse his Name on their behalf and receive and make use of their pains with thankfulness And some may happily think that there is here too much laid upon Ruling-Elders more nor they shall be able or willing to undertake yea more than the Lord doth require of them most of the things that are mentioned by us being incumbent to Ministers rather than to Elders It is true what is said of the Elders duty is also the duty of Ministers for what soever the Elder ought to do by vertue of his Calling that also ought the Minister to do and somewhat more but so far as we know nothing is spoken here of the Elder that doth not belong to him if through ignorance or want of abilitie or neglect or custome Elders have not done these things it is that which ought to be helped it is now high time for them to awake and to know and owne and follow their duty and for the Church of God in Scotland to know how much she hath smarted under the hands of ignorant and slothful yea and scandalous men we would not alwayes satisfie our selves with disguised and histrionical men puffed up with Titles or with Idols dead in sins to be Elders but would seek after holy men who being endued with faith in God and walking in his obedience God authorizing them and the Church his Spouse choosing them and calling them undertake the Government thereof that they may labour to the conservation and Edification of the same in Christ Neither needs the qualification or multitude or difficulties of the particulars here spoken of discourage or scarr any It is not so much the measure as the truth of the thing that is to be looked at We have set down what a Ruling Elder ought to be in regard of the whole extent of his Charge sundry particulars whereof the most part of Ruling Elders are seldom called to exercise and if they be in some measure fitted for these parts of the charge which God calls them to exercise and follow the same with singleness of heart they may believe that they shall be assisted and accepted of God in Iesus Christ the Imployment is not theirs but the Lords from whom they may expect both their furniture and also their reward let them arise and be doing and the Lord shall be with them A Short TREATISE OF Ruling Elders CHAP. I. Of their Names WHat is necessary to be understood concerning Ruling Elders may be taken up in the explication of these four 1. Their name 2. Their institution 3. Their Calling 4. Their Qualification and Duty The word Elder in the Scripture doth signifie divers things 1. It signifieth old men or men come to age 1 Tim. 5. 1. Rebuke not an-Elder but intreat him as a father and the younger men as brethren 2. It signifies those who have lived in the times of old Mat. 15. 2. Why do thy Disciples transgress the tradition of the Elders 3. It is taken for honourable and worthy men Isa. 3. 2. The Lord of Hosts doth take away from Jerusalem and Judah the Prudent and the Ancient 4. It is the name of a Spiritual Officer in the house of God Acts 14. 23. And when they had ordained them Elders in every city In this last signification it is taken in this place for these who bear Rule in the House of God who are called Elders because
of the Knowledge Gifts Experience Prudence and Gravity wherewith they ought to be indued The Officers in the House of God who in the Scriptures are called by the name of Elders are of severall soits Preaching Elders or Ministers Teaching Elders or Doctors and Ruling or Governing Elders all these three are often times in the N. T. comprized under the general name of Elder Act. 15 6 22. 20. 17. 1. Pet. 5 It is the Ruling Elder whom we have now to do with who is so called not because the power of ruling and governing the Church belongs to him alone for it also belongs to the Preaching â—nd Teaching Elders or to the Ministers and Doctors But because to rule and govern is the principal and chief part of his Charge and Imployment it is the highest Act of his Office It is not competent for him to Preach that belongs to the Pastor or Minister nor to teach that belongs to the Doctor but his Office is comprized within the compasse of Ruling and Governing the Church and therefore he is called the Governing or Ruling Elder The Apostle in the Epistle to the Rom ch 1â— 8. calleth him him that ruleth and 1 Cor. 12. 28 he calls them Governments putting the abstract for the concret Governments for Governours Thus then we have the proper or right name of these Church Officers which serves to correct a twofold mistake The 1. is of these who either out of ignorance or disdain do call them Lay-Elders as if they were a part of the People only and not to be reckoned amongst the Officers of the Lords House whom the Popish Church in their pride and others following them calls the Clergy that is the Lords Inheritance in opposition to the Laity or People whom they look upon as base and much inferior to the other in worth and Excellency whereas all the Lords People are his portion and the lot of his in heritance Deut. 32. 9. 1. Pet. 5. 3. The second mistake is of these who do call these only Ruling-Elders who sit in Presbyteries Synods and General Assemblies allowing to others the name of Elders but not of Ruling-Elders But every Elder in the Lords House is a Ruling-Elder because the power and exercise of rule and Government belongs to every Elder though some of them upon speciall occasions be called to a more eminent Exercise of it than others CHAP. II. Of the Institution of Ruling-Elders THE Institution of the Office of Ruling Elder is divine it is not an ordinance of man but of God The Lord Jesus upon whose shoulder the Government is and who is faithfull in all his House hath in his Eternal Wisdom thought fit to appoint such an Officer in his House for the right and orderly Governing thereof It is true that by the sloth or rather by the pride of Teachers whilest they alone would seem to be somewhat and by the policy of Satan and inadvertance of the Church these Officers were for many Ages together out of use in the Christian Church But certain it is that both the Jewish Synagogue and after the Christian Church had Seniores or Elders without whose counsel nothing was done in the Church That the Jewish Church had such appears from 2 Chro. 19. 8. Jer. 29. 1. Mat. 16 21 22 23 26 57 59. Act. 4. 5. And that the Christian Church also had them in the primitive purest times thereof appears from the testimony of ancient Writers as may be found by these who will take pains to search into these things But we have a more sure word for the Divine Institution of Elders in the Christian Church then any testimony of man to wit the Testimony of God in the Scriptures of the New Testament The first place of Scripture is Rom. 12. 6 7 8. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given us whether prophesie let us prophesie according to the proportion of faith or Ministery let us wait on our Ministring or he that teacheth on teaching or he that exhorteth on exhortation he that gives let him do it wih simplicity he that ruleth with diligence he that sheweth mercy with cheerfulnesse In which Text the Apostle doth first comprehend all the severall kindes of ordinary standing Officers in the Church of God under two general Heads to wit Prophecie whereby is meaned the ordinary facultie of right understanding and expounding the Scriptures and Ministery under which is comprehended all other Church-Officers and Imployments To each of these the Apostle addeth their generall duties to wit that he who prophesieth should do it according to the proportion of faith h. e. according to the measure of the measure of knowledge of the word of faith that he hath received of God And he that ministers let him wait on his ministring h. e. let him not do it negligently or slothfully but faithfully and diligently Then he sub-divides these two Generalls into the speciall Offices contained under them He divides him that prophesieth into him that teacheth and him that exhorteth or into the Doctor to whom the word of teaching or Instruction belongs and the Pastor to whom the Word of Exhortation is competent Under him that ministereth he comprehends first him that giveth by whom is meant the Deacon who is appointed for the supply of the poor Secondly him that ruleth by whom can be meant no other then the Ruling Elder seeing an ordinary ruling Officer in the Church who is different from the Pastor and Teacher is here spoken of by the Apostle The second place of Scripture that proves the Office of Ruling Elders is 1 Cor. 12. 28. And God hath set some in the Church first Apostles secondly Prophets thirdly Teachers afterward miracles then gifts of healing helps governments kinds of tongues Some of the Bibles of the late English Translation read helps in governments but cross to the Text in the first Language that bears helps governments as two distinct things and therefore in other Editions of that Translation this is helped In this Text the Apostle reckons several Officers of the Church some extraordinary which were to continue but for a season such as Apostles Prophets Powers or Miracles gifts of healing kinds of tongues Some Ordinary which were to continue in the Church to the end of the World and these are Teachers or the ordinary Church Officers who are exercised in the Word Helps h. e. the Deacons who are appointed for the help and relief of the poor and governments h. e. the Governing and Ruling Elders for it is clear from the words that the Apostle by Governments doth mean a Church-Officer whom God hath set in his Church for Ruling and Governing thereof now this cannot be any other of the Church-Officers for these he hath named besides and therefore it remains that it is the Ruling Elder The third place of Scripture is 1Tim 5. 17. Let the Elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour specially they that
labour in the word and doctrine Which Text doth hold forth and distinguish two sorts of Elders in the Church to whom the Lord Jesus hath committed the power of Ruling One sort who do also labour in the Word and Doctrine to wit Pastors and Teachers Another sort who do only Rule and doing it well are accounted worthy of double honour and these are the Ruling Elders of whom we speak From this that the Office of the Ruling Elder is of Divine Institution we gather these conclusions First that it is not a thing arbitrary and indifferent for such to wait upon their charge yea or not as they please or as their attendance may contribute for their own or their friends particular which is the custom of too too many Elders but that they are bound in conscience diligently to attend and follow the duties thereof whether they be such as they ought to the several Members of the Congregation or the keeping of Session or Presbytery and other Assemblies of the Church when they are called and desired thereto Secondly that Elders ought to do their Office not formally and hypocritically for the fashion only but sincerely and honestly as in the sight of God by whom they are called unto this holy Calling and to whom they must render an accompt of their discharge of this great trust Thirdly they ought not to domineer over their fellow Brethren and Elders but carry themselves humbly and serviceably as these who are appointed of the Lord Jesus for ministring unto and edifying of his Body the Church Fourthly that they ought to carry themselves with that authority holiness gravity and prudence that becomes these who are called of God to bear Rule in his House Fifthly that Elders once lawfully called to the Office and having gifts from God meet to exexcise the same unless they be removed therefrom because of miscarriages are still Elders thogh happily in Congregations where many qualified men may be found some may be permitted for a time to surcease from the exercise of the charge and others be put in their room as was among the Levites under the Law in serving in the Temple by courses Sixthly that people ought to obey such as these who have the rule over them and to submit themselves because they wait for their souls as they that must give account that they may do it with joy and not with grief Heb. 13. 17. Yea they would know them as these who are over them in the Lord and do admonish them and esteem them very highly in love for their works sake 1 Thes. 5. 12 13. CHAP. III. Of the Vocation or Calling of Ruling Elders AS no man is to intrude in any imployment without a lawful Calling so much less ought any man to intrude himself without a Calling into any sacred Function in the House of God Heb. 5. 4. Therefore before any take upon him to exercise the Office of Ruling Elder he ought to be lawfully called thereunto This Calling is inward or outward the inward Calling is the Testimony of a good Conscience concerning some measure of ability and gifts for the Charge and a sincere and honest inclination and purpose to imploy these gifts for the honour of God the advancement of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ and the good of souls The outward Calling is to be after the same manner with that of other Church-officers and it stands in their Election and in the tryal of their carriage gifts and admission to the Charge The Election is to be made by the Congregation wherein they are to bear charge Acts 6. 3. 5 and 14. 23. That it may be gone about in the more orderly way it is fit that a nomination be made by the Minister and Eldership of the Congregation of the persons fittest and best qualified for the imployment and that the names of the persons nominated by them be publickly intimated to the Congregation and they desired in case of their not being satisfied as having exception or knowing others better qualified to represent the same to the Minister and Eldership If there be no Eldership in the Congregation a nomination may be made either by the Presbytery or by the most judicious and godly Members of the Congregation particularly Masters of Families together with the Minister or one or more Ministers of the Presbytery in case of the Congregations want of a Minister The trial is to be by the Minister and Eldership of the Congregation or in case of the want of these by the Presbytery And they are to be tryed both in regard of their conversation that it be blameless and holy and also in regard of their knowledge and experience in the things of God and of the Affairs of his House and of their ability and prudence for Government It is true that the trial of Elders in their knowledge and gifts required for their Charge hath not been much in use in this Church It being taken for granted that conscience would be made of making choise of such as had knowledge and were able and fit or that if any ignorant or not able and sitted were nominat that some of the Congregation upon the intimation of their names would except against them but by this means it hath come to pass that many ignorant and unqualified men have been admitted Elders in many Congregations to the great detriment of Religion and no small reproach of our Church The Apostle 1 Tim. 3. 10. speaking of Deacons which is the lowest rank of the Officers of the Church requires that these also first be proved then let them use the Office of a Deacon being found blameless And the same reasons and grounds that plead for the tryal of a Minister pleads also for the tryal of Elders in a way suitable to the qualifications required in them Their Admission is to be by the Minister of the Congregation or one appointed by the Presbytery in the presence of the whole Congregation with the Preaching of the Word concerning their duty and with Prayer and Humiliation concerning the spirit of their Calling to be poured out upon them and that the pleasure of the Lord may prosper in their hands At which time they are solemnly to engage themselves before the Lord to be faithful and diligent and watchful over the flock committed to their charge and in all the duties of that holy and honourable imployment and the People are also to engage themselves to obey them and to submit themselves to them in the Lord and to honour them and highly to esteem them in love for their works sake CHAP. IV. Of the Duties of a Ruling Elder THe Duties of a Ruling Elder be of two sorts some that are personal and relate to his conversation as a Christian others that are Official and relate to his Ruling as an Office-bearer in the House of God His personal qualifications or the duties of his conversation are the same with these which the
love patience meekness CHAP. V. Of the duties of their Calling which are more private THe duties of their Calling are these that belong to their watching over and ruling of the flock and they be of two sorts some that they are to perform by themselves alone and so may be called More private duties others that they are to perform jointly with the rest of the Over seers of the House of God and may be called more publick The duties of their Calling that be more private are all these that private Christians are bound to perform each of them unto another by the Law of charity and love and these are first to instruct one another Joh. 4. 29. Acts 18. 26. Secondly to exhort and stir up one another to provoke unto love and good works Heb. 10. 24 25. Thirdly to admonish and rebuke one another Levit. 19. 17. First privately and if they will not hearken then before Witnesses if yet they will not hearken then to tell the Church and if they will not hear the Church then to tell the Church and if they will not hear the Church then let them be unto us as Heathens and Publicans Math. 18. 15 16 17. Fourthly to comfort the afflicted and to support the weak 1 Thess. 5. 11. Fifthly to restore those who are fallen Gal. 6. 1. Sixthly To reconcile these who are at variance Math. 5. 9. Seventhly To pray one for another Jude 20. Eighthly To visit the sick and those who are in bonds and distress Math 25. 36. All these duties Elders are to perform to the several Members of the Congregation by vertue of their Calling The Scriptures do expresly mention some of them as incumbent unto them to wit admonishing these over whom God hath set them 1 Thess. 5. 12. visiting and praying over the sick Jam. 5. 14. feeding the flock by Instruction Exhortation Rebuke and Comfort in such a way as is competent to their station Act 20. 28. The rest we may warrantably gather by analogie and proportion from these If privat Christians be obliged thereto much more are Christian Elders who have the charge of Souls in a special way obliged thereto These things are well expressed in the sixth Chap. of the second Book of Discipline As the Pastors and Doctors say they should be diligent in teaching and sowing the â—eed of the Word so the Elders should be careful in seeking of the fruit of the same of the People It appertains to them to assist the Pastor in Examination of them that come to the Lords Table Item in visiting the sick they should cause the Acts of the Assemblies aswell particular as general to be put in execution carefully they should be diligent to admonish all men of their duty according to the rule of the Evangel things that they cannot correct by privat admonition they should bring to the Eldership From what hath been said concerning these duties of Ruling Elders these three things follow First that they ought to be men of such ability as are in some measure able to instruct exhort admonish rebuke comfort pray and do these duties now mentioned Secondly That it is needful for them not only to have some measure of ability for these things but also to have some measure of dexterity wisdom experience tenderness in following the same Thirdly That they be well acquainted with the condition of the Congregation and the Members thereof and therefore be careful to observe their carriage and frequently to visit and take inspection of Families that they may instruct the ignorant exhort the negligent admonish the sloathful and rebuke those who walk disorderly comfort the afflicted establish those who waver visit the sick encourage these who do well and see piety and godliness promoted in Families and every one edifying another in love walking in the fear of the Lord and comfort of the Holy Ghost CHAP. VI. Of these duties which are more publick and which they are â—o perform joyntly with others THe duties of Elders which are more publick and which they are to perform joyntly with others are these which ly upon them in the Assemblies or Courts of the Church which are made up of Preaching Elders Teaching Elders and Ruling Elders These Assemblies are in our Church of four sorts either they are of the Elders of particular Congregations which is the Church Session or of the Elders of moe Congregations than one lying near together which is the Presbyterie or of the Elders of moe Presbyteries then one which is the Provincial Synod or of the Elders Commissioners from all the Presbyteries in the Land which is the General or National Assembly To these we may adde a fifth sort to wit that which is made up of Elders from all or diverse Nations professing the Faith of Jesus Christ. Whilst we speak of Elders of which the Assemblies of the Church are made up we mean all sorts of Elders Ministers Doctors and Ruling Elders It is true that in the Congregations of our Church because of the want of maintenance there be few or no Doctors or Teaching Elders distinct from Pastors or Ministers who perform the duties both of the Preaching Elder and of the Teaching Elder only in the Schools of Divinity are such In all Assemblies of the Church Ruling Elders being therto rightly called have power to sit write debate vote and conclude in all matters that are handled therein Acts 15. 2. and 6. 22 23. The things which be handled in the Assemblies of the Church be either matters of Faith matters of Order matters of Discipline or that which concerneth the sending of Church-officers according to which they have a fourfold power 1. That which is called Dogmatick whereby they judge of Truth and Error in points of Doctrine according to the Word of God only 2. That which is callee Diatactick by which they discern and judge of the circumstances of these things that belong to the worship of God as Times Places Persons and all such particulars in Ecclesiastick Affairs as are not determined in the Word according to the general Rules thereof concerning order and decency avoiding of scandal doing all to the glory of God and to the edifying of the Church 3. That which is Critick or Corrective by which Censures are exercised upon the scandalous and obstinate and such as are penitent again admitted to the Ordinances Fellowship Society of the Church 4. That which is called Exousiastick by vertue of which they send authorize and give power to Church officers to serve in the house of God All these Assemblies are not to exer cise all these powers but to keep themselves within their due bounds the Inferior leaving these things that are of more common concernment to the Superiour but in all these Powers Ruling Elders have a share and do put forth the same in exercise according to the measure that belongs to the Assembly whereof they are Members Acts 15. 6. 22 23. Howbeit the
Publick and open then is the offender without such previous admonition to be dilated to the Session that according to the Apostles Rule 1 Tim. 5 20. They that sin meaning openly may be rebuked before all that others may fear 6. In these dilations they are to take heed that they do not upon every rumor or jealousie or suspition bring men to be questioned Publickly as scandalous walkers but first to be carefull to make diligent and prudent enquiry about the truth of the matter and to see if it can be proven by Witnesses or that the scandall thereof be common and flagrant or attended with pregnant likely-hoods and presumptions of truth before they bring it in publick that so it may appear to the Congregation and to the party themselves that they are not questioned and challenged without cause 7. In the matter of dilation and censure they are in the fear of God and in the simplicity and sincerity of of their hearts to take heed that fear or favour or solistations or threatnings or gifts or bribes make them not passe by or wink at the fault of any and that passion or malice or privat quarrels and particulars make them not to dilate or rip up or censure the miscarriage of any and that they carry with all tendernesse and compassion and moderation towards the offender that they may aprove themselves to his conscience that nothing puts them one to dilate him and proceed against him but the conscience of duty and a desire to gain his soul and to purge the Church of scandals Gal. 6. 1 2 Cor. 4. 2. It s a high provocation before the Lord for a Chuâ—ch-Officer to abuse the power given him of God for edifying his Body the Church unto the satisfying his own passions and corrupt affections 8. They are to take heed that they do not use the Censures of the Church as a bodily punishment or penance to satisfie for sin but a spiritual medicine for humbling and gaining of the soul all Church censures even Excommunication it self which is the most terrible and destroying-like censure being ordained of God for this end 1 Cor. 5. The Apostle commands to deliver the incestuous person to Satan not that he may satisfie for his sin but that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus Christ. The word Satisfaction may admit of a tolerable construction in Church-censures in order to the removing of the scandal before men but this being so much abused in the Popish Church and the hearts of men being so prone to true Gospel repentance to a meer legal penance and to conceive that by meer outward submission and obedience to the censures of the Church that the guilt of their sin is done away before God Therefore Elders would carefully shun every thing that may give occasion to the fostering this pernicious opinion and take pains to instruct offenders in the true nature and ends of the censures of the Kirk 9. A great part of Elders work is to travel and take pains with scandalous persons who are now convict to bring them to repentance by seasonable and frequent conference instructing exhorting and admonishing them untill they they perceive some measure of true and earnest humiliation wrought in them for their sin and them fitted to evidence and declare the same in publick before the Congregation that so the scandal may be removed 10. They are not to desire or appoint any to professe repentance before the Congregation untill the signes of repentance appear in them The Incestuous Corinthian sorrowed exceedingly before the Apostle did any thing concerning the receiving of him And the Discipline of our Church appoints Ministers and Elders sharply to examine these who offer themselves to repentance what fear and terrour they have of Gods judgements what hatred of sin and sorrow for the same and what sense and feeling they have of Gods mercies In which if they be ignorant they ought diligently to be instructed for it is say they but a mocking to put such to publick repentance who neither understand what sin is what repentance is what grace is nor by whom Gods mercies and favors are purchased And that after he is instructed in these things and brought to have some taste of Gods judgements especially of his mercies in Jesus Christ he may be presented before the publick Church These things are set down in the form and order of Publick Repentance appointed by the Assembly 1567. Lastly when the signs and evidences of true and unfeigned Repentance do appear in these who have offended Elders would shew themselves ready and willing to receive them with all tendernesse and compassion and to forgive and comfort them and confirm their love towards them 2. Cor. 2. 7 8. The number of Elders in every Congregation cannot be well limited or determined but it is to be more or less according to the quantity of the Congregation and necessities and condition of the people and as men qualified and fit for the Charge can be found It hath been an evil custom in some Congregations that rather than they would want any of their wonted number they would choose unqualified men and that in several Congregations the office of Elder hath been given to those of the richer and higher sort as due to such though haply of no experience in the things of Jesus Christ and in many things of an untender and blame-worthy conversation because of their condition in the world or conceiving that their secular power and credit was the best means to promote the Kingdom of Jesus Christ and men qualified with knowledge and experience in the things pertaining to souls and of a Christian and godly carriage have been passed by because of a mean condition in the World Better it is that the number be few before we choose the ignorant and scandalous and that they be of a low degree if godly than of a high degree if otherwise That Elders may the more conveniently discharge their duty It is convenient that the Congregation be divided into so many parts and that some competent part be assigned to the more peculiar care and inspection of every Elder yet so as he neglect not to take heed to all the flock of God over which the Holy Ghost hath made him an over-seer CHAP. I. Of Deacons Of their Names THat we may also understand what doth belong unto Deacons we shall speak of them shortly after the same order 1. Of their Name 2. Of their Institution 3. Of their Calling 4. Of their duty and qualificacion The word Deacon largely taken signifies any servant or Minister Matth. 23. 11. Therefore in the New Testament it doth sometimes comprehend all Church-Officers even the Apostles themselves 1 Cor. 3. 5. Because every Church-officer is appointed of God for perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministery 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and edifying the Body of Christ. When we speak of Deacons in the Kirk