been already said Obs 8. Mr Stilling fleet is not well pleased with such as lay any weight upon the former ground mentioned viz Christ's being obliged there unto by his office as mediator King Lord of his house would have them rather proving that Christ hath determined a forme of Governement then that he ought so to have done Therefore we shall shew that Christ hath so done indeed And what the Apostles did at his command or by vertue of the commission he gave unto them will easily be granted to be equivalent But to passe this Christ himself hath laid down the maine ground foundation of a species of governement in Math. 18 ver 15 16 17. For there he is setting down a course for the removing of scandalls that will fall out among his Disciples followers ordering the matter so that when privat meanes will not gaine the offending brother more publick meanes must be used he must be brought unto the Church judicature that Church judicature hath power to excommunicat him if so be he heare them not as to the removing of the scandall It is true many parties endeavour to presse these words for their own use but it will not hence follow that therefore these words are incompetent to determine any one forme for if this ground be relevant much of the scripture should become incompetent to determine matters of faith doctine because severall parties labour to wrest the same to their own judgment It would be tedious here to examine the clames of all parties unto this place the present work is only to deal with Mr Stillingsleet therefore only his notions concerning this place must be examined Concerning this place then he giveth his judgment 2. part cap. 5. § 8. first he taketh the trespasses mentioned to be matters of private offence injury not matters of Scandall his grounds are these 1. The parallel place Luk. 17 ver 3. is to be understood of privat injuries because it is in the power of each privat person to forgive them Ans. So said Erastus before him but after narrow search it will be found that the forgiving mentioned in the Text Math. 18. is a desisting from any further prosecution of the bussinesse a forgiving which must not be granted untill the brother be gained But whether the offending brother be gained or not all private injuris must be forgiven him none must keep up a Spirit of revenge against him And therefore these trespasses must be matters of Scandall which unlesse the offending brother be gained must be prosecuted untill the yondmost step be used 2. He sayeth It appears from the next words of Peter ver 20. This is another of Erastus's shifts But for answere It will not appear till Mr Stillingfleet first cleare that there is such a connexion betwixt these verses as will undoubtedly demonstrat that one purpose is to be understood in Both. But commentators shewe the matter to be otherwise indeed there is nothing that can so much as ground a probability of such a connexion here unlesse it be these words Then came Peter to him but whosoever shall look on Luk. 8 v. 19. shall have the like thus Then came to him his mother c. And yet this was not immediatly after what was said before as will appear when compared with other Evangelists And so since it is not certaine that this was immediatly after the former purpose no reason can be given to evince the identity of these purposes 3. He sayeth If it were meant of any scandalous sin it might so fall out that matters of scandal should be brought before the Church when only one person knowes it Ans. It is not said that every such scandall or trespasse whereof only one is conscious should be brought in publick but that more noture scandalls ought to be brought before Church judicatures when more privat admonitions will not gaine the offender But 2. This inconvenience will recurre upon himself in the case of privat offences But next as to the word Church he sayes It is a select company called together to hear the whole cause this was agreable to the jewish practice pudefacere coram multis delictum publicare to this the Apostle alludeth 2 Cor. 2 v. 6. this is the reproof before all 1 Tim. 5 v. 20. Ans. 1. The word Church is not usually so taken in the New Testament the Hebrew words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Old Test. do alwayes import a company imbodied in a stated way as a fixed congregation either for governement or Worship Mr Leigh in his Critica sacra sayeth that among the Grecians chiefly the Athenians from whom it came it was used for a multitude called together by the command of a Magistrat 2. Christ sayeth tell the Church 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so directeth them to a fixed standing company 3. That pudefacere coram multie being the same with 2 Cor. 2 6 the censure of many confirmeth this For that censure was by a Church judicature conveened in the name of the Lord Iesus to take course with a scandalous person 1 Cor. 5. Againe 4. No commentator taketh the words so only Grotius other Erastians put such a glosse upon them 5. Christ's scope is to have the offending brother gained not to have matters of fact which are questionable cleared 6. If this be the meaning of the word Church what shall be the sense meaning of these words Let him be unto thee as a heathen man a Publican He answereth Tho meaning is look upon him as an obstinat refractary creature meddle no more with him then with a heathen a publican And is this all the punishment which the offender must meet with Who gave privat men this power to passe such a sentence But 2. This must be a Church sentence because it is added Whatsoever you shall binde on earth shall be bound in Heaven c. To this he replyeth That the meaning is it is an evidence that his sin is bound upon him that he is lyable to punishment But how is his sin bound upon him or how is he made lyable to punishment There must be something done on earth which God must ratify in Heaven on earth there is none to do any thing but either the pursuer himself or the select company It cannot be the pursuer for that were a dreadful intolerable slavery to subjecte every man to the lust of his enemy pursuer If it be the select company how or whence have they this power If they be cloathed with authority then are they a judicature this is the thing pleaded for And thus it appeareth that scandals are here understood that this Church is a Church judicature notwithstanding of all which Mr Still hath said to the contrary which is but the very same which others had said
before him which was sufficiently answered by worthy learned Mr Gillespy in his Aarons rod blossoming though he will not so much as once take notice of his replyes The ancients did so understand the place particularly Orig. Tract 6. in Mat. But that it may be cleared how there is a foundation here laid down for a way of removing of scandals by Church officers in communi associated together in a judicature so how there is a way laid down for presbyterian Government let those particulars be considered 1. From the beginning of the chapt the Lord is speaking of scandals first of scandals given as is clear v. 6 8 9. after he hath used some arguments to presse his followers to beware of that evill he cometh v. 15. with an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which may be rendered but if thy brother to another case about the same purpose or head viz. to cleare this question what shall be a christians carriage when his neighbour stumbleth or offendeth him by his unchristian carriage in his ordinary walk So Galvin Aretius others so he is speaking of reall scandals for 1. They are Brethren or Church members with whom this course must be taken 2. The offending brother is to be rebuked or convinced of his fault 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 importeth such a convinceing as ' is for sin Ioh. 8 9 46. so the LXX use it Lev. 19 17. where sinnes scandals are spoken of 3. He sayes if he hear thee not if he repay thee the wrong he hath done or if he be reconciled 4. Then he is gained now 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Stillingfleet himself confesseth is used for conversion turning others from sin 1. Cor. 9 19. 1. Pet. 3 1. compared with Iam 5 20. Hence 2. It would be considered that the Christian's scope in this bussinesse should be to gaine the man's soull for this cause he is to assay all calme peaceable gaineing private meanes to bring the offending brother to conviction acknowledgment of his fault so first speak to him alone then take some others with him to be witnes both of his Christian carriage towards him in desireing to have him gained of his unwillingnesse to be gained that so they may bear witnesse of both unto the Church judicature 3. When privat means do not worke he is to be delated unto the Church judicature for the person offended must tell the Church What Church He must tell that Church unto which the witnesses will be usefull that is a judicature for to that witnesses have a relation That Church which is able to convince if any do it That Church whose sentence is the last remedy Thâ—… Church which hath power to binde loose That Church which hath power to binde loose with a promise of the ratification of what they do in heaven That Church which hath the keyes Mat. 16. power authoritatively to pardon retaine sinnes Ioh. 20 23. That Church which hath power to pronunce that sentence after which the man is to be looked upon as a heathen a publican 4. And when this Church judicature can not get him convinced they must passe a sentence upon him this sentence is the sentence of excommunication as learned Mr Gillespy hath abundantly shewed Aaron's rod. book 3. c. 2. 3. Hence it is clear 5. That here is set downe the way of taking away Church scandalls by inflicting Church censures And this by Christ's appoyntment is not to be done by any one person but by the Church officers in communi collegiatly for it was never heard of to this day either in sacred or prophane writtings that one man was called a Church or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And this is a good basis for Government yea for presbyterian Government or the Government of the Church communi consilio presbyterorum here there is not only a foundation for graduall appeals as himself confesseth here though part 2. cap. ult § 8. he would say that presbyterians found their subordination of courts Upon the principles of humane prudence for Church censures for the lawfull use of excommunication as he confesseth also But also for the species or modell of Government Or for the manner of the constitution of the judicatures which should excommunicat take notice of Church scandalls for it is called the Church so cannot be meaned of a prelat who is no where so called and yet arrogateth to himself all the power of jurisdiction But Mr Stilling fleet hath two arguments whereby he endeavoureth to prove that Christ did never intend to institute any one forme of Government in the Church part 2. c. 4. § 4. 5 6. c. This is a great undertaking and his arguments must needs be very strong but whether so or not the reader may judge The summe of the first is this If there be any such institution of Christs as a standing law it must either be expressed in direct termes which cannot here be showne Or deduced by a necessary consequence and no consequences can make new institutions but only apply one to particular cases And then the obligation of what is drawne by a necessary consequence must be expressed in scripture Ans. It hath been showne that the practice of the Apostles was for a forme of Government and from their practice a law may by necessary consequence be drawne considering their place office how they were sent forth to plant Churches to set up officers to appoynt unto each of them their proper work c. And for this cause were endued with extraordinary qualifications assistence confirming their commission by many signes wonders And this carryeth an obligation in its bosome There hath been showne also a standing law of Christ's from which a forme of Governement may be deduced a standing law about the removing of scandals which will found a species of Governement by Church officers in common as well as appeals Church censures excommunication from thence there is an obligation for the one as well as for the rest 2. But if all this will not satisfie let Mr Stilling fleet satisfie himself with the standing obligation of the moralitie of the first day Sabbath he shall with all satisfie himself as to the standing obligation of the moralitie of a species of Church Governement He can produce no law for the first day Sabbath but a law deduced by necessary consequence without any obligation expressed in scripture concerning that which is so drawn by consequence if this be enough in the case of the first day Sabbath why not also in the case of Governement If he say in the bussinesse of the Lord's day there was only an application of an institution to a particular case It is Ans. So is it in the matter of Church Governement for there was a law for a Governement in genere this law drawn by consequence from the
solide peace agreement for the time to come offered to K. Iames. 5. Then unmarried his doughter to make him King of great Britane after his dâ—…ath in the mean time to give him the stile of the Duk of yorke King Iames pleasing these proffers assenteth câ—…descendeth on a day on which he should meet with the King of England accord upon all matters But at the instigation of the popish-Church men other courtiers who were driveing on their own dâ—…signe he breakeh his promise with the King of England And when Anno 1540. Ambassadours were sent againe from England to desire that the King would goe to York there treat with the King of England conforme to the last agreement The priests stood in the way here also with which the King of England was offended resolved to raise warrs against Scotland The result of which war was that at length the scottish forces were all scattered broken at the report of which defeate the King was so grieved vexed that within few dayes he died Againe when King Iames 5. Dieth the King of England communeth with the Scottish prisoners whom he had taken at the last battell concerning the marrying of his sone with the young Queen King Iames his doughter when they promised to do what they could without wronging either the publick good or their own credite he sent them home appoynting them to leave some pledges in their room at New castle This was in the end of the year 1542. when the Parl. conveened in March next the businesse was concluded thereafter the contract was signed by both Kingdoms solemnely subscribed in the abbay of Halirood house the sacrament was broken as the forme was betwixt the Governour of Scotland Mr Sadler Ambassadour from England But the old Queen the Cardinall being against the match stirre up all to a breach perswade those who had been prisoners in England not to return thither to relieve their pledges only the Earle of Cassiles from whose constancy faithfulnesse the Earle who now is is not degenerated but as his predecessour was sole in keeping Covenant so is he singular went according to his promise relieved his owne pledges being approven by Henry for his constancie faithfulnesse was freely set at liberty sent home But what followed upon this breach of Covenant Many sad intestine broiles and commotions tending to the weakening breaking of the Kingdom at length King Henry took occasion to avenge this breach of Covenant sent his Navy towards Scotland landing ten thousand men at Leth who did burne Edinb many places thereabout againe his army did enter the borders waste burne all about Kelso jedburgh thereafter they spoile waste all the Mers Teviotdale Lauderdale some yeers thereafter viz. Anno 1547. He sendeth a great army againe into Scotland when it lay about Pinckie there was a letter sent unto the scottish forces shewing the ground of the war not to be avarice hatred or envy but a desire of a firme â—…asting peace which could not otherwise be had then by the marriage which was proposed assented unto by the Estates an agreement thereupon sworne subscribed But the scottish army would not hear of this but resolve on battell at length were overcome suffered great lose For almost all the young nobleman of Scotland with their friends followers were killed This 10. of Septemb. 1547. may yet preach unto Scotland how God will avenge perfidy all the nobles and others of Scotland who have now broken Covenant may remember pinckie field The french History sheweth us what way the Lord avenged the bloody perfidiousnesse of Charles 9. who had broken five or six severall pacifications conclusions of peace solemnely made ratified betwixt him the protestants For he was smitten with a vehement desease causeing him to wallow in his own blood which he vomited out in great abundance by all the conduits of his body for divers houres till he died And how Henry the 3. Who had been perfidious in breaking the articles of peace concluded with the protestants first about the year 1576. where among other things he avowed by solemne declaration that the Massacre committed Anno 1572. was against all right law of armes then againe An. 1580. Was stabbed in the belly with a knife by Iames Clement a Iacobin Friar in the very chamber where the former King contrived that Barbarous massacre on S. Bartholomew's day Anno 1572. Any who is well versed in History may fill up many pages with such sad lamentable Histories concerning Gods avengeing Covenant breaking these which have been mentioned may suffice for a taste SECTION XXII The solemne league Covenant vindicated And the author of the seasonable case caet Answered THe last thing which remaineth is to shew the vanity of their pretensions who plead the nullity or non obligation of those Covenants It is matter both of admiration of grief sorrow that there should be any found within the Church of Scotland who had so far forgotten themselves as now to turn not only enemies to piety Christianity but enemies also to very humanity not only break Covenant-tyes themselves but also teach others to do the fame that without any fear of punishment either from God or man But God who is Jealous will not be mocked let men dream of exemption as they please by sophisticall chifts think to blinde their owne eyes the eyes of others God who will not hold them guilt lesse that take his name in vaine will no doubt by sad answers from heaven discover the impiety folly of these patrons of prophanity inhumanity Severall in the Kingdom of Engl. have vented their skill in that blake art of looseing the bonds of sacred Covenants But their principles tending to all prophanity have been sufficiently discovered answered by Ms Crofton Timorcus there is one in Scotland who in a late pamphlet intituled The seasonable case of submission to the Church Government c. tryeth how far his skill will reach in this art O how fitly may that of Plautus be applyed to this generation Nostra â—…t as non mulâ—…um fidei gâ—…rst Tabulaeotaniâ—…r adsunt 〈◊〉 dâ—…odecim Tempus â—…cumque sâ—…bit actuarius Tamen invenâ—…r Rhâ—…r qui factum negat But who the author is who can tell For though the pamphlet be published by orderâ—… so countenanced by authority Yet he putteth not to his name being as would appear ashamed to patronize such a bad cause least of all can he be known by the description he giveth of himself in the frontispiece 〈◊〉 lover of the peace of this Church Kingdom unlesse he meane such a peace as is the plague of God upon the heart filling it with senslesnesse stupidity lulling it asleep in his iust judgment