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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
earth_n	church_n	head_n	visible_a	4,516	5	9.9185	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A55001	A Platform of church discipline gathered out of the Word of God, and agreed upon by the elders, and messengers of the Churches, assembled in the Synod at Cambridge in New England, to be presented to the churches and Generall Court for their consideration and acceptance in the Lord, the eighth moneth, anno 1649.	Mather, Richard, 1596-1669.	1649 (1649)	Wing P2396; ESTC W2574	37,140	44

Ecclesiasticall Polity or Church Government or discipline is nothing els but that Forme order that is to be observed in the Church of Christ vpon earth both for the Constitution of it all the Administrations that therein are to bee performed 2 Church-Government is Considered in a double respect either in regard of the parts of Government themselves or necessary Circumstances thereof The parts of Government are prescribed in the word because the Lord Iesus Christ the King and Law-giver of his Church is no less faithfull in the house of God then was Moses who from the Lord delivered a form pattern of Government to the Children of Israel in the old Testament And the holy Scriptures are now also soe perfect as they are able to make the man of God perfect throughly furnished vnto euery good work therefore doubtless ●…o the well ordering of the house of God 3 The partes of Church-Government are all of them exactly described in the word of God being parts or means of Instituted worship according to the second Commandement therefore to continue one the same vnto the apearing of our Lord Iesus Christ as a kingdom that cannot be shaken untill hee shall deliver it up unto God euen the Father Soe that it is not left in the power of men officers Churches or any state in the world to add or diminish or alter any thing in the least measure ther●…in 4 The necessary circumstances as time place c belonging unto order and decency are not soe left unto men as that under pretence of them they may thrust their own Inventions upon the Churches Being Circumscribed in the word with many Generall ●…imitations where they are determined in respect of the matter to be neither worship it self nor Circumstances seperable from worship in respect of their end they must be done vnto edification in respect of the manner decently and in order according to the nature of the things them selves Civill Church Custom doth not euen nature it selfe teach you ye●… they are in some sort determined particularly namely that they be done in such a manner as all Circumstances considered is most expedient for edification so as if there bee no errour of man concerning their determination the determining of them is to be accounted as if it were divine CHAP II. Of the nature of the Catholick Church in Generall in speciall of a particular visible Church THe Catholick Church is the whole company of those that are elected redeemed in time effectually called from the state of sin death vnto a state of Grace salvation in Iesus Christ 2 This church is either Triumphant or Militant Triumphant the number of them who are Gloryfied in heaven Militant the number of them who are conflicting with their enemies vpon earth 3. This Militant Church is to bee considered as Invisible Visible Invisible in respect of their relation wherin they stand to Christ as a body unto the head being united unto him by the spirit of God faith in their hearts Visible in respect of the profession of their faith in their persons in particuler Churches so there may be acknowledged an universall visible Church 4 The members of the Militant visible Church considered either as not yet in church-order or as walking according to the church-order of the Gospel In order so besides the spiritual union communion common to all belivers they injoy more over an union communion ecclesiasticall-Politicall so wee deny an universall visible church 5 The state of the members of the Militant visible church walking in order was either before the law Oeconomical that is in families or under the law National or since the comming of Christ only congregational The term Independent wee approve not Therfore neither national provincial not classical 6 A Congregational-church is by the inst●…titution of Christ a part of the Militant-visible-church consistin●… of a company o●… Saints by calling un●…ed into one body by 〈◊〉 holy covenant for the publick worship of God th●… mutuall edification one of another in the Fellowship o●… the Lord Iesus CHAP III. Of the matter of the visible Church Both inr●…spect of Quality and Quantity THe matter of a visible church are Saints by calling 2 By Saints wee understand 1 Such as haue not only attained the knowledge of the principles of Religion are free from gr●…s open scand●…ls but also do together with the profession of their faith Repentance walk i●… blameles obedience to the word so as that in charitable discretion they may be accounted Saints by calling though perhaps some or more of them be unsound hypocrites inwardly●… bec●…se the members of such particular churches are commonly by the holy ghost called Saints faithfull brethren in Christ and sundry c●…ch es haue been reproued for receiving suffering such persons to c●…ntinu in fellowship amongst them as have been offensive scandalous the name of God also by this means is Blasphemed the holy things of God defiled Prophaned the hearts of godly gri●…ved the wicked themselves hardned holpen forward to ●…nation the example of such doeth endanger the sanctity of others A litle Leaven Leaveneth the whole lump 2 The children of such who are also holy 3 The members of churches though orderly constituted may in time degenerate grow corrupt scandalous which though they ought not to be ●…olerated in the church yet their continu●…ce ●…erein through the defect of the execution of discipline Ju●… 〈◊〉 doth not immediately d●…ssolv the being of the church as appeares in the church of Israell the churches of G●…latia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yet wee conceive the substance of it is kept where there is 〈◊〉 real Agreement consent of a company of faithful persons to meet constantly together in one Congregation for the publick worship of God their mutuall edification which real agreement consent they doe express by their constant practise in comming together for the publick worship of God by their religious subjection unto the ordinances of God the●…e the rather if wee doe consider how Scripture covenants have been entred into not only expressly by word of mouth but by s●…crifice by hand writing seal also somtimes by silent co●…sent without any writing or expression of words at all 5 This forme then being by mutuall covenant it followeth it is not faith in the heart nor the profession of that faith nor cohabitation nor Baptisme 1 Not faith in the heart becaus that is invisible 2 not a bare profession because that declareth them no more to be members of one church then of another 3 not Cohabitation Athiests or Infidels may dwell together with beleivers 4 not Baptism because it presupposseth a church estate as circumcision in the old

order government in-lets of disturbance tend to confusion 9 It belongs also unto the Elders to examine any officers or members before they be received of the church to receive the accusations brought to the Church to prepare them for the churches hearing In handling of offences other matters before the Church they have powr to declare publish the Counsell will of God touching the same to pronounce sentence with consent of the Church Lastly they have powr when they dismiss the people to bless them in the name of the Lord 10 This powr of Government in the Elders doth not any wise prejudice the powr of priviledg in the brotherhood as neither the powr of priviledg in the brethren doth prejudice the power of government in the Elders but they may sweetly agree together as wee may see in the example of the Apostles furnished with the greatest church-powr who took in the concurrence consent of the brethren in church-administrations Also that Scripture 2 Cor 2. 9. chap 10 6. doe declare that what the churches were to act doe in these matters they were to doe in a way of obedience that not only to the direction of the Apostles but also of their ordinary Elders 11 From the premisses namely that the ordinary powr of Government belonging only to the elders powr of priviledg remaineth with the brotherhood as powr of judgment in masters of censure powr of liberty in matters of liberty It followeth that in an organick Church right administration all church acts proceed after the manner of a mixt administration so as no church act can be consummated or perfected without the consent of both CHAP XI Of the maintenance of Church Officers THe Apostle concludes that necessary sufficient maintenance is due unto the ministers of the word from the law of nature nations from the law of Moses the equity thereof as also the rule of common reason moreover the scripture doth not only call Elders labourers workmen but also speaking o●… them doth say that the labourer is worthy of his hire requires that he which is taught in the word should communicate to him in all good things mentions it as an ordinance of the Lord that they which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel forbideth the muzl●…ng of the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn 2 The Scriptures alledged requiring this maintenance as a bounden duty du●…●…eci not as a matter of almes free gift therefore people are not at liberty to doe or not to doe what when they pleas in this matter no more then in any other commanded duty ordinance of the Lord but ought of duty to minister of their ca●…ail ●…ngs to them that labour amongst them in the word doctrine as well as they ought to pay any other work men their wages or to discharge satisfie their other debts or to submit themselves to observe any other ordinance of the Lord 3 The Apostle Gal 6 6. injoyning that he which is taught communicate to him that teacheth ●…ad good things doth not leave it arbitrary what or how much a man shall give or in what prop●…on but even the later as well as the former is prescribed appointed by the Lord 4 Not only members of Churches but all that are taught in in the word are to contribute unto him that teacheth in all good things In case that Congregations are defective in their contributions the Deacons are to call upon them to doe their duty if their call sufficeth not the church by her powr is to require it of their members where church-powr through the corruption of men doth not or can̄ot attaine the end the Magistrate is to see ministry be duely provided for as appeares from the commended example of Nehemiah The Magistrates are nursing fathers nursing mothers stand charged with the custody of both Tables because it is better to prevent a scandal that it may not come easier also then to remove it when it is given It s most suitable to Rule that by the churches care each man should know his proportion according to rule what he should doe before he doe it that so his iudgment heart may be satisfied in what he doeth just offence prevented in what is done CHAP XII Of Admission of members into the Church THe doors of the Churches of Christ upon earth doe not by Gods appointment stand so wide open that all sorts of people good or bad may freely enter therein at their pleasure but such as are admitted therto as members ought to be examined tryed first whether they be fit meet to be received into church-society or not The Evnuch of Aethiopia before his admission was examined by Philip whether he did beleive on Jesus Christ with all his heart the Auged of the church at Ephesus is commended for trying such as said they were Apostles were not There is like reason for trying of them that profess themselves to be beleivers The officers are charged with the keeping of the doors of the Church therfore are in a special man̄er to make try all of the fitnes of such who enter Twelve Angels are set at the gates of the Tem ple lest such as were Ceremonially unclean should enter therinto 2 The things which are requisite to be found in all church members are Repentance from sin saith in Jesus Christ And therfore these are the things wherof men are to be examined at their admission into the church which then they must profess hold forth in such sort as may satisfie rationall charity that the things are there indeed Iohn Baptist admitted men to Baptism confessing bewayling their sinns of other it is said that they came confessed shewed their deeds 3 The weakest measure of faith is to be accepted in t●…ose that desire to be admitted into the church becaus weak christians if sincere have the substance of that faith repentance holiness which is required in church members such have most need of the ordinances for their confirmation growth in grace The Lord Jesus would not quench the smoaking flax nor breake the bruised reed but gather the tender lambes in his arms carry them gently in his bosome Such charity tenderness is to be used as the weakest christian if sincere may not be excluded nor discouraged Severity of examination is to be avoyded 4 In case any through excessive fear or other infirmity be unable to make their personal relation of their spirituall estate in publick it is sufficient that the Elders having received private satisfaction make relation therof in publick before the church they testifying their assents therunto this being the way that tendeth most to edification But