26.16 19. these are sufficient intimations of what care and diligence we ought to use in attending unto what God hath appointed in his worship and although now under the new Testament he doth not ordinarily proceed to the inflicting of temporal judgements in thâ— like cases of neglect yâ—â— he hath not wholly left us without instances of his putting forth tokens of his displeasure in temporal visitations on such miscarriages in his Church 1 Cor. 11.30 For this cause saith the Apostle many are weak and sickly among you and many sleep From all which it appeares of what concernment it is unto the glory of God and the salvation of our own souls to attend diligently unto our duty in the strict and sincere observation of the worship of the Gospel for he lets us know that now a more severe punishment is substituted against such transgressions in the room of that which he so visibly inflicted under the old Testament Heb. 10.25 26 27 28 29. Qu. 16. Is there yet any other consideration that may stir up Beleivers to an holy and religious care about the due observation of the institutions of the Gospel Answ. Yea namely that the great apostacy of the Church in the last dayes foretold in the Scripture and which God threatneth to punish and revenge consists principally in false worship and a departure from the institutions of Christ. Rev. 14.4 5. Chap. 17.1 2 3 5. Explication That there is an Apostacy of the Church foretold in the book of the Revelations is acknowledged by all who with sincerity have inquired into the minde of God therein The state of things at this day and for many ages past in the World sufficiently confirm that perswasion And herein sundry things in general are obvious unto every sober consideration thereof First the horrible evils troubles and confusions that are to be brought into and upon the World thereby Secondly the high guilt and provocation of God that is contained in it and doth accompany it Thirdly the dreadful vengeance that God in his appointed time will take upon all the promoters and obstinate maintainers of it These things are at large all of them foretold in the Revelation and therein also the Apostacy it self is set forth as the cause of all the plagues and destructions that by the righteous judgement of God are to be brought upon the World in these latter dayes Now as God doth earnestly call upon all that fear him not to intermeddle nor partake in the sins of the Apostates lest they should also partake in their judgements Chap. 18.4 I heard a voice from Heaven saying come out of her my people that ye be not partakers of her sins and that ye receive not of her plagues So he doth plainly declare wherein the apostacy and sin it self should principally consist and that is in the corrupting and contaminating of the Ordinances of his worship or the introduction of false worship joyned with the persecution of them who refused to submit thereunto For this cause is the sin it self set out under the name of fornication and whoredome and the Church that maintains it is called the Mother of Harlots Chap. 17.5 That by fornication and whoredome in the Church the adulterating of the worship of God and the admission of false self-invented worship in the room thereof whereof God is jealous is intended the Scripture every where declares It is easie then to gather of how great concernment unto us it is especially in these latter dayes wherein this so hainous and provoking sin is prevalent in the World carefully to attend unto the safe unerring rule of Worship and diligently to perform the duties that are required therein Quest. 17. Which are the principal institutions of the Gospel to be observed in the worship of God Answ. 1. The calling gathering and setling of Churches with their Officers as the seat and subject of all other solemn instituted worship 2. Prayer with thanksgiving 3. Singing of Psalms 4. Preaching the word 5. Administration of the Sacraments of Baptism and the Supper of the Lord. 6. Discipline and rule of the Church collected and setled most of which have also sundry particular duties relating unto them and subservient unto their due observation 1. Matth. 28.19 20. Acts 2.41 42. 1 Cor. 12.28 Ephes. 4.11 12. Matth. 18.17 18 19. 1 Cor. 4.17 1 Cor. 7.17 Acts 14.23 Titus 1.5 1 Tim. 3.15 2. 1 Tim. 2.1 Acts 6.4 Acts 13.2 3. 3. Ephes. 5.19 Colos. 3.16 4. 2 Tim. 4.2 Acts 2.42 1 Cor. 14.3 Acts 6.2 Heb. 13.7 5. Matth. 28.19 Matth. 26.26 27. 1 Cor. 11.23 6. Matth. 18.17 18 19. Rom. 12.6 7 8. Rev. 2.3 Explication These things being all of them afterwards to be spoken unto severally and apart need not here any particular Explication They are the principal heads wherein Gospel-worship consisteth and whereunto the particular duties of it may be reduced Qu. 18. Whereas sundry of these things are founded in the light and law of nature as requisite unto all solemn worship and are moreover commanded in the moral Law and explications of it in the Old Testament how do you look upon them as Evangelical institutions to be observed principally on the authority of Jesus Christ Answ. Neither their general suitableness unto the principles of right reason and the dictates of the light and law of nature nor the practice of them in the worship of God under the Old Testament do at all hinder them from depending on the meer institution of Iesus Christ as to those especial ends of the â—â—â—ry of God in and by himself and the edification of his Church in the faith which is in him whereunto he hath appointed them Nor as unto that especial manner of their performance which he requireth in which respects they are to be observed on â—he account of his authority and command only Matth. 17.5 Matth. 28. â—0 John 16.23 24. Heb. 3.4 5 6. Ephes. 1.22 Chap. 2.20 21 22. Heb. 12.25 Explication The principal thing we are to aim at in the whole worship of God is the discharge of that duty which we owe to Jesus Christ the King and head of the Church Heb. 3.6 Christ as a Son over his own house whose house are we 1 Tim. 3.15 That thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thy self in the house of God which is the Church of the living God This we cannot do unless we consider his authority as the formal reason and cause of our observance of all that we do therein If we perform any thing in the worship of God on any other account it is no part of our obedience unto him and so we can neither expect his grace to assist us nor have we his promise to accept us therein for that he hath annexed unto our doing and observing whatever he hath commanded and that because he hath commanded us Matth. 28 20. teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and loe I am with you alwayes even
he made them known to whom he pleased Psalm 147.19 20. And although some of the wayes which he doth appoint may seem to have a great compliance in them unto the light of nature yet in his worship he accepts them not on that account but meerly on that of his own institution and this as he hath declared his will about in the second Commandment so he hath severely forbidden the addition of our own inventions unto what he hath appointed sending us for instruction unto him alone whom he hath endowed with Soveraign Authority to reveal his will and ordain his worship John 1.18 Matth. 17.5 1 Chron. 16.13 Qu. 3. How then are these wayes and means of the worship of God made known unto us Answ. In and by the written word only which contains a full and perfect Revelation of the will of God as to his whole worship and all the concernments of it John 5.39 Isa. 8.20 Luke 16.19 2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. 1 Pet. 1.19 Deut. 4.2 chap. 12.32 Joshua 1.7 Prov. 30.6 Rev. 22.20 Isaiah 29.13 Explication The End wherefore God granted his word unto the Church was that thereby it might be instructed in his mind and will as to what concerns the worship and obedience that he requireth of us and which is accepted with him This the whole Scripture it self every where declares and speaks out unto all that do receive it as 2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. with the residue of the testimonies above recited do declare It supposeth it declareth that of our selves we are ignorant how God is how he ought to be worshipped Isa. 8.20 Moreover it manifests him to be a jealous God exercising that holy property of his nature in an especial manner about his worship rejecting and despising every thing that is not according to his will that is not of his Institution Exod. 20.4 5. That we may know what is so he hath made a Revelation of his mind and will in his written word that is the Scripture and to the end that we might expect instruction from thence alone in his worship and act therein accordingly First he sends us and directs us thereunto expresly for that purpose Isa. 8.28 Luke 16.19 John 5.39 and not once intimates in the least any other way or means of instruction unto the end Secondly He frequently affirms that it is sufficient able and perfect to guide us therein 2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. 1 Pet. 1.19 Psalm 19.7 8 9. and whereas he hath expresly given it unto us for that end if there be any want or defect therein it must arise from hence that either God would not or could not give unto us a perfect Revelation of his will neither of which can be imagined Thirdly He hath commanded us to observe all whatsoever he hath appointed therein and not to make any addition thereunto Joshua 1.7 Deut. 4.2 chap. 12.32 Prov. 30.6 Revel 22.20 And Fourthly Peculiarly interdicted us the use of any such things as are of the institution or appointment of Men Isa. 29.13 14. So that from the Scriptures alone are we to learn what is accepted with God in his worship Qu. 4. Have these wayes and means been alwayes the same from the beginning Answ. No! But God hath altered and changed them at sundry reasons according to the counsell of his own will so as he saw necessary for his own Glory and the Edification of his Church See Gen. 2.16 17. Gen. 17.10 11. Exod. 12.3 4 5. Exod. 20. Chap. 25.9 Heb. 1.1 Heb. 9.10 11 12. Explication The externall worship whereof we speak being as was shewed before not naturall or moral arising necessarily from the dependance of the rationall creature on God as its first Cause chiefest Good last End and Soveraign Lord but proceeding from the meer will and pleasure of God determining how he will be honoured and glorified in the world was alwayes alterable by him by whom it was appointed And whereas ever since the entrance of sin into the World God had alwayes respect unto the promise of the Lord Christ and his mediation in whom alone he will be glorified and faith in whom he aimed to begin and increase in all his worship he hath suited his Institutions of the means thereof to that dispensation of Light and knowledge of him which he was pleased at any time to grant Thus immediately after the giving of the promise he appointed sacrifices for the great means of his worship as to glorifie himself expresly by Mens off ring unto him of the principal good things which he had given them so to instruct them in the faith and confirm them in the expectation of the great sacrifice for sin that was to be offered by the promised seed Gen. 4.3 4. Heb. 11.4 These were the first instituted worship of God in the World after the entrance of sin Hereunto he nextly added Circumcision as an express sign of the Covenant with the grace of it which he called Abraham and his seed unto by Jesus Christ Gen. 17.10 11. And to the same general end and purpose he afterwards superadded the Passeover with its attendant institutions Exod. 12.23 24. And then the whole Law of institutions contained in Ordinances by the Ministery of Angels on Mount Sinai Exod 20. So by sundry degrees he built up that fabrick of his outward worship which was suited in his infinite wisdom unto his own glory and the edification of his Church untill the exhibition of the promised seed or the coming of Christ in the flesh and the accomplishment of the work of his mediation Heb. 1.1 for unto that season were those Ordinances to serve and no longer Heb. 9.10 11 12. And then were they removed by the same authority whereby they were instituted and appointed Col. 2.14 18 19 20. So that though God would never allow that Men upon what pretence soever should make any alteration in the worship appointed by him by adding unto it any thing of their own or omitting ought that he had commanded either in matter or manner notwithstanding that he knew that it was to abide but for a season but commanded all men straitly to attend to the observation of it whilest it was by him continued in force Mal. 4.4 yet he alwayes reserved unto himself the Soveraign power of altering changing or utterly abolishing it at his own pleasure which authority he exerted in the Gospel as to all the meer Institutions of the Old Testament Whilest they continued he inforced them with morall reasons as his own holiness and Authority but those reasons prove not any of those institutions to be morall unless they ensue upon those reasons alone and are no where else commanded for being once instituted and commanded they are to be inforced with morall considerations taken from the nature of God and our Duty in reference unto his Authority So saith he Thou shalt reverence my Sanctuary I am the Lord which no more proves that a morall Duty then that enjoyned upon the same foundation Levit.
11.44 I am the Lord your God ye shall therefore sanctifie your selves and ye shall be holy for I am holy neither shall ye defile your selves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth Not defiling our selves with the touching or eating of creeping things is now no morall Duty since the institution is ceased although it be inforced by many morall considerations Qu. 5. Is there any farther alteration to be expected in or of those institutions and ordinances of worship which are revealed and appointed in the Gospel Answ. No! The last compleat Revelation of the will of God being made by the Son who is Lord of all his Commands and Institutions are to be observed inviolably unto the end of the World without alteration diminution or addition Heb. 1.1 chap. 10.25 26 27. Matth. 28.20 1 Cor. 11.26 1 Tim. 6 14. Explication It was shewed before that all the Institutions of the Old Testament had respect unto the coming of Christ in the flesh who was the end of the Law Rom. 10.4 and thereupon they were subject to alteration or abolition upon a twofold account First Because that which they were appointed principally to instruct the Church in and to direct it unto the expectation of was upon his coming accomplished and fulfilled so that their end was absolutely taken away and they could no more truly teach the mind and will of God for they would still direct unto that which was to come after it was past and accomplished And this is that which the Apostle Paul so variously proves and fully confirms in his Epistle to the Hebrews especially in the 7 8 9. and 10. Chapters Secondly The Lord Christ during their continuance was to come as the Lord over his whole house with more full and ample authority then any of those whom God had employed in the institution of his Ordinances of old were intrusted withall Heb. 1.1 2 3. He spake in former dayes by the Prophets but now by the Son whom he hath appointed heir of all Chap. 3.5 6. Christ as a Son over his own house whose house are we And therefore they are all to be at his disposall to confirm or remove as he saw reason and occasion And this he did virtually in the sacrifice of himself or the blood of his Cross fulfilling and finishing of them all John 19.30 Breaking down the middle wall of partition abolishing in his flesh the enmity even the Law of Commandments contained in Ordinances blotting out the hand-writing of Ordinances he took it out of the way nayling it to his Cross Eph. 2.15 Colos 2.14 Secondly Authoritatively by his Spirit in the Apostles and the doctrine of the Gospel preached by them Acts 15.10 11. Now therefore why tempt ye God to put a yoak upon the neck of the Disciples which neither our Fathers nor we were able to bear but we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved even as they Gal. 3.24 25. Wherefore the Law was our Schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ that we might be justified by faith but after that faith is come we are no longer render a Schoolmaster Chap. 5.2 3 4. and eventually or providentially when he caused sacrifice and offering to cease by the Prince of the people that came with an Army making desolate to destroy both City and Sanctuary Dan. 9.26 27. according to his prediction Mat. 24.2 But now under the New Testament the worship that is appointed in the Gospel is founded in and built upon what is already past and accomplished namely the death and life of Jesus Christ with the sacrifice and atonement for sin made thereby 1 Cor. 11.23 24 25 26. which can never be again performed neither is there any thing else to the same purpose either needfull or possible Heb. 10.26 So that there is not any ground left for any new institution of worship or any alteration in those that are already instituted Nor Secondly Can any one be expected to come from God with a greater and more full authority for the Revelation of his mind than that wherewith his only Son was accompanied which yet must be if any alterations were to be made in the appointments of worship that he hath instituted in the Gospel For no Inferior nor an equall authority can abolish or alter that which is already appointed so as to give satisfaction unto the consciences of men in obedience unto such alterations And therefore because there arose not a Prophet like unto Moses under the Old Testament there could be no alteration made in his institutions but the Church was bound severely to observe them all untill the coming of Christ Mal. 4.4 Remember ye the Law of Moses my servant which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel with his Statutes and Judgements and that because there arose not a Prophet afterwards in Israel like unto Moses whom the Lord knew face to face Deut. 34.10 And our Apostle to prove the right of Christ to alter the Ordinances of the Law layes his foundation in manifesting that he was above the Angels Heb. 1.4 being made so much better than the Angels as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they and that because the Law was given by the Ministery of Angels chap. 2.2 and so also that he was greater than Moses chap. 3.3 For this man was accounted worthy of more glory than Moses in as much as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house Moses verily was faithfull in all his house as a servant but Christ as a Son over his own house Because Moses was the Law-giver and the Mediator between God and Man in the giving of the Law Now if this be the sole foundation and warrant of the alteration made of Mosaical Ordinances by Christ namely that he was greater and exalted above all those whose Ministry was used in the dispensation of the Law unless some can be thought to be greater and exalted in authority above the Son of God there can be no alteration expected in the Institutions of the Gospel Qu. 6. May not such an Estate of faith and perfection in obedience be attained in this life as wherein Believers may be freed from all obligation unto the observation of Gospel Institutions Answ. No! For the Ordinances and Institutions of the Gospel being inseparably annexed unto the Evangelical administration of the Covenant of Grace they may not be left unobserved disused or omitted whilest we are to walk before God in that Covenant without contempt of the Covenant it self as also of the Wisdom and Authority of Jesus Christ. Heb. 3.3 4 5 6. Rom. 6.3 4 5 6. Luke 22.19 20. 1 Cor. 11.24 25 26. Heb. 10.25 Rev. 2.5 chap. 3.3 Explication All our faith all our obedience in this life what ever may be obtained or attained unto therein it all belongs unto our walking with God in the Covenant of Grace wherein God dwells with Men and they
power consists in a relation unto the Church that they are set over so they are commanded to attend unto the service of the Churches wherein and whereunto they are so ordained Act. 20.28 1 Peter 1.2 And that with all diligence care and watchfulness as those that must give an account Heb. 13.17 which no man is able to do towards more Churches than one the same duty being at all times to be performed towards all And because the whole authority of the Elders Pastors or Bâ—shops of Churches is ministerial â— Cor. 4.1 consisting in a power of acting upon the command of Christ they are bound in their own persons to the discharge of their duty and Office without the least pretence of authority to delegate another or others to act their part or to do their duty which would be an effect of autocratorical authority and not of obedience or Ministry The latter way also of relation unto many Churches is unwarrantable For 1 It hath no warrant in the Scripture no Law nor constitution of Christ or his Apostles can be produced to give it countenance but Elders were ordained to their own Churches and commanded to attend unto them 2 No rule is given unto any Elders how they should behave themselves in reference unto more Churches than one in the exercise of their ministerial power as there are rules given unto every one for the discharge of that duty in the Church whereunto he is related 3 There is no example to give it countenance recorded in the Scripture 4 The authority to be put forth hath no foundation 1 Not in the gifts they have received for the ministerial power is not an absolute ability or faculty of doing what a man is able but a right whereby a man hath power to do that rightly and lawfully which before he could not do This gifts will not give to any for if they did they would do it to all that have received them 2 Not in their election for they are chosen in and by that Church whereunto they stand in especial relation whose choice cannot give ministerial power over any but themselves 3 Not in their setting apart by fasting prayer and imposition of hands for this is only unto that office work and power whereunto they are chosen They are not chosen for one end and set apart for another 4 Not from the Communion of Churches for that gives no new power but only a due exercise of that which was before received Qu. 27. What are the principal duties of the Pastors or Teachers of the Church An. 1 To be examples unto the flock in faith love knowledge méekness patience readiness to suffer for the name and Gospel of Christ with constancy therein 2 To watch for the souls and take care of all the spiritual concernments of the whole flock committed to them 3 To preach the word diligently dividing it aright 4 To preserve and contend for the truth 5 To administer all the Ordinances of the Gospel duly and orderly 6 To stir up and exercise the gifts they have received in the discharge of their whole work and administration of all Ordinances 7 To instruct admonish cherish and comfort all the Members of the Church as their conditions occasions and necessities do require 8 To attend with diligence skill and wisdome unto the discharge of that authority which in the rule of the Church is committed unto them 1 1 Tim. 3.10 11 13. Chap. 4.12 2 Tim. 2.3 Coloss. 1.24 Phil. 2.17 Chap. 3.17 2 Heb. 13.17 Acts 20.28 3 2 Tim. 2.15 2 Tim. 4.2 Rom. 12.6 7 8. 4 1 Tim. 6.20 Acts 20.28 Jude 3. 5 1 Cor. 4.1 2. 1 Tim. 3.15 6 1 Tim. 4.14 15 16. 7 Acts 20.18 19 20 25 26. 1 Thes. 3.5 2 Tim. 2.24 25. 8 Rom. 12.8 1 Tim. 5.17 The answer is full and plain Qu. 28. Wherein principally doth the authority of the Elders of the Church consist An. 1 In that the Rule of the Church and the guidance thereof in things appertaining unto the worship of God is committed unto them And therefore 2 Whatever they do as Elders in the Church according unto rule they do it not in the name or authority of the Church by which their power is derived unto them nor as Members only of the Church by their own consent or covenant but in the name and authority of Iesus Christ from whom by virtue of his Law and Ordinance their ministerial office and power is received so that 3 In the exercise of any act of Church power by and with the consent of the Church there is an obligation thence procéeding which ariseth immediately from that authority which they have received of Iesus Christ which is the spring of all rule and authority in the Church 1 Acts 20.28 Heb. 13.7 17. 1 Pet. 5.2 1 Cor. 12.28 2 1 Tim. 3.5 Coloss. 4.17 2 Cor. 10.4 8. 3 1 Tim. 4.11 Titus 2.15 1 Peter 1.2 3 4 5. Explication The answer unto this Question explains the power or authority of the Elders of the Church from whom they do receive it and how it is exercised by them the right stating whereof is of great importance in the whole discipline of the Church and must therefore here be farther explained to this end we may consider First that all Church power is originally vested in Jesus Christ the sole head and Monarch thereof God the Father hath committed it unto him and intrusted him with it for the accomplishment of his work of mediation Matth. 28.18 Secondly that he doth communicate of this authority by way of trust to be exercised by them in his name unto persons by him appointed so much as is needful for the ordering and disposing of all things in his Churches unto the blessed ends for which he hath instituted and appointed them For no man can have any power in his Church for any end whatever but by delegation from him What is not received from him is meer usurpation And whoever takes upon himself the exercise of any Rule or Authority or power in the Church not granted unto them by him or not rightly derived from him is an oppressor a thief and a Robber this necessarily follows upon the absolute investiture of all power in him alone 1 Cor. 12.28 Ephe. 4.11 12. Thirdly the means whereby the Lord Christ communicates this power unto men is by his Law and constitution whereby he hath granted ordained and appointed that such and such powers shall be exercised in his Church and that by such and such persons to be derived unto them in such a way and manner so that the word of the Gospel or the Laws and constitutions of the Lord Christ therein are the first recipient seat and subject morally of all Church power whatever Matth. 16.19 Matth. 18.18 19 20. Fourthly the way and means whereby any persons come to a participation of this power regularly according to the mind of Christ is by the obedience unto and due observation of his laws and commands
of them all they have all the same rule of obedience all the same Head the same end all carry it on by the observation of the same Ordinances in kind Now besides these things which belong unto the nature of a Church in general and wherein they all equally participate they must also have each one its proper difference that which doth distinguish it from all other Churches and this gives it its speciall form as such Now this cannot consist in any thing that is accidental occasional or extrinsical unto it such as is cohabitation which yet the Church may have respect unto for conveniency and farthering of its edification nor in any civil or political disposal of its members into civil societies for civil ends which is extrinsecal to all its concernments as a Church nor doth it consist in the relation of the Church to its present Officers which may be removed or taken away without the dissolution of the form or being of the Church but it consisteth as was said in the agreement or covenant before mentioned For First This is that which constitutes 〈◊〉 a distinct body different from others for thereby and no otherwise do they coalesce into a society according to the law of their constitution and appointment Secondly this gives them their especial relation unto their own Elders Rulers or Guides who watch over them as so associated by their own consent according unto the command of Christ. And Thirdly From hence they have their mutual especial relation unto one another which is the ground of the especial exercise of all Church duties whatsoever Quest. 52. Wherein consists the duty of any Church of Christ towards other Churches Answ. 1 In walking circumspectly so as to give them no offence 2 In prayer for their peace and prosperity 3 In communicating supplyes to their wants according to ability 4 In receiving with love and readiness the members of them into fellowship in the celebration of the Ordinances of the Gospel as occasion shall be 5 In desiring and making use of their counsel and advice in such cases of doubt and difficulty as may arise among them 6 In joyning with them to express their communion in the same doctrine of faith 1 1 Cor. 10.32 2 Psalm 122.6 Ephes. 6.18 1 Tim. 2.1 3 2 Cor. 8.4 6. Acts 11.29 30. Rom. 15.26 27. 4 Rom. 16.1 2.3 Ep. Joh. 8 9. 5 Acts 15.2 6 1 Tim. 3.15 Explication Churches being gathered and setled according to the mind of Christ ought to preserve a mutual holy communion among themselves and to exercise it in the discharge of those duties whereby their mutuall good and edification may be promoted For whereas they are all united under one Head the Lord Christ Ephes. 1.22 23. in the same faith and order Ephes. 4.5 And do walk by the same rule they stand in such a relation one to another as is the ground of the communion spoken of Now the principal wayes whereby they exercise this communion are the acts and duties enumerated in the answer unto this Question as First Carefull walking so as to give no offence unto one another which although it be a moral duty in reference unto all yet therein especial regard is to be had unto other Churches of Christ that they be not in any thing grieved or tempted 1 Cor. 10.32 Give none offence neither to the Jews nor to the Gentiles nor to the Church of God Secondly In constant prayer for the peace welfare edification and prosperity one of another Rom. 1.9 Colos. 1.9 Ephes. 6.18 And this because of the special concernment of the name and glory of our Lord Jesus Christ in their welfare Thirdly In communicating of supplyes for their relief according unto their ability in case of the outward wants straits dangers or necessities of any of them Acts 11.29 30. Rom. 15.26 27. 2 Cor. 8.1 2 3 4 6 14. Fourthly The receiving of the members of other Churches to communion in the celebration of Church Ordinances is another way whereby this communion of Churches is exercised Rom. 16.1 2.3 Ep. Joh. 8.9 For whereas the personal right of such persons unto the Ordinances of the Church and their orderly walking in the observation of the commands of Christ are known by the testimony of the Church whereof they are members they may without farther enquiry or satisfaction given be looked on pro tempore as members of the Church wherein they desire fellowship and participation of the Ordinances of Christ. Fifthly In desiring or making use of the counsel and advice of one another in such cases of doubt and difficulty whether doctrinal or practical as may arise in any of them Act. 15.2 6. And from hence it follows that in case any Church either by errour in doctrine or precipitation or mistake in other administrations do give offence unto other Churches those other Churches may require an account from them admonish them of their faults and withhold communion from them in case they persist in the errour of their way and that because in their difficulties and before their miscarriages they were bound to have desired the advice counsel and assistance of those other Churches which being neglected by them the other are to recover the end of it unto their utmost ability Gal. 2.6.11 And hence also it follows that those that are rightly and justly censured in any Church ought to be rejected by all Churches whatever both because of their mutuall communion and because it is and ought to be presumed untill the contrary be made to appear that in case there had been any difficulty or doubt in the proceedure of the Church they would have taken the advice of those Churches with whom they were obliged to consult Lastly Whereas the Churches have all of them one common faith and are all obliged to hold forth and declare it to all men as they have opportunity 1 Tim. 3.15 to testifie this their mutual communion their interest in the same faith and hope for the more open declaration and proposition of the truths of the Gospel which they profess and for the vindication both of the truth and themselves from false charges and imputations they may and if God give opportunity ought to joyn together in declaring and testifying their joynt consent and fellowship in the same doctrine of faith expressed in a form of sound words Quest. 53. What are the ends of all this dispensation and order of things in the Church Answ. The glory of God the honour of Iesus Christ the Mediator the fartherance of the Gospel the edification and consolation of Believers here with their eternal salvation hereafter Rev. 4.9 10 11. Chap. 5.12 13. 1 Cor. 3 22.23 Ephes. 4.11 12 13. Finis