Sabbath m Col. 2.16 17. but the Lord's Day are 1. Then Christ finished Redemption and Rose from the Dead n Mat. 28.1 Luke 24.1 2. Then he appeared after his Resurrection to his Disciples assembled o Joh. 20.19 3. On this Day the Churches held their Solemn Assemblies for Preaching and administring the Lords Supper and Contributions p Acts 20.7 1 Cor. 16.12 4. On this Day John was in the Spirit and it 's called the Lord's Day q Re. 1.10 because more peculiarly appropriated to his Service as the Lord's Supper § 10. It is not in the Power of Churches to set apart any stated times Yearly or Monthly to be observed for that would be Superstition and Will-Worship a Gal. 4.10 Col. 16.17 But Days of Fasting and Humiliation may be appointed by any Church of Christ according as weighty Reasons lead it thereunto b Acts 14.23 CHAP. XI Of Ordinances of Special Communion Kinds of Ordinances of Special Communion A Seal what it doth and signifies New Testament Seals but Two What Baptism is What the Lord's Supper is What is to be observed in its Administration § 1. HAVING shewed what are Christ's Ordinances in a Visible Church of General or more common Communion we come in the next place to speak of Ordinances of Special Communion peculiar only to such as are Church-Members and these are such Appointments of Christ as concern the Administration of the Seals or such as concern the Administration of the Keys § 2. A Seal of the Covenant under the New Testament is a visible and sensible Ratification thereof wherein Christ our High Priest doth eminently shew forth unto us the glory of his Priestly Office in makeing himself a Sacrifice for Sin bearing the Charge and Curse of Sin satisfying God's Justice reconciling us to God and procuring Eternal Salvation to us a 1 Pet. 2.9 Heb. 9.26 Col. 1.21 22. Heb. 9.12 who as such is the great Condition of the Covenant of Grace b Isa 42.6 i. e. of Abraham's Covenant c Ro. 4.13 Gal. 3.17 whereby we have upon Profession right to claim all Church-Priviledges Mystical and Visible in the State of Grace and that of Glory hereafter d Gal. 3.9.28 29. In all the Old Testament Seals and in the New especially Christ in the Covenant of Grace is in a most lively manner represented and shewed forth in the Church e 1 Cor. 11 24 25 26. Col. 2.11 12. as to Condition and Promises he being not only the great Condition but the Yea and Amen of all the Promises f 2 Cor. 1.20 which are therein Applied and Sealed at least Ministerially g Gen. 17.7 10. Rom. 4.11 12. Gal. 3.27 § 3. The Seals of the New Testament are Two and no more Baptism and the Lord's Supper which are the only Instituted Rites or Ceremonies in a Church that are ordained by Christ to continue till he come a Matt. 28.19 20. 1 Cor. 11.23 c. All Jewish Ceremonies are vanisht as Shadows and abolished b Heb. 8.5.13 2 Cor. 3.14 as all Ceremonies attending the bestowing Miraculous Gifts are also ceased c 1 Cor. 13.8 such as Imposition of Hands on well or sick Vnction washing of Feet this being but a didactical Ceremony used by Christ to teach the Apostles Humility and not to Lord it over his Churches and was never intended for a standing Ordinance And as none of these which many are fond of and even Idolize some one and some another and upon as good Grounds all as any for each one had any Sanction for continuance so their significancy ceasing the Sign also comes to nought § 4. Baptism is a Sign and Seal of the Righteousness of Faith wherein Washing with Water into the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost a Mat. 28.19 doth represent and shew forth at least Ministerially a Sinners washing from his Sins in the Bloud of Christ b Rev. 1.6 Act 2.38 his New Birth and Renovation by the Spirit of Christ c Titus 3.5 and his Covenant Obligation to be the Lords d Gal. 3.27 28. eib 3.9.26 The Subjects of this Seal are all those who by Profession of Faith in Christ e ib. 3.9.26 which is Abraham's Faith are become Covenant-Members accordingly of a Visible Church and their immediate Infant-Seed f Act. 2.39 they being blessed with faithful Abraham g Gal. 3.7 8 14. and having all essential Church-Blessings come upon them And therefore the Blessing of Membership to the professing Body of Christ h Rom. 15.8 9. ch 4.11 12 and Gospel Church Priviledges as they belong to one or other respectively are Ministerially to be applied of which Baptism is none of the least being the Ordinance of Christ in which only a Believer can bring his Infant-Seed to Christ and he cannot bring it to Christ out of an Ordinance therefore it being his Duty to bring it to Christ it must be in this Ordinance to be blessed with Abraham's Blessing spiritually as he and his Seed are Ecclesiastically the reason that Christ gives for his Command of bringing Infants to him i Matt. 19.14 15. Mark 10.14 16. Luk. 18.16 is That they are Church Members of such is the Kingdom of Heaven and it 's known that Christ means his visible Church in the days of the Gospel by the Kingdom of Heaven and he took them in his Arms received them visibly laid his Hands upon them which is more than for any Ministers to Baptize them and blessed them And doth Christ Bless with any Blessing besides the Blessing of Abraham that comes on the Gentiles § 5. The Lord's Supper is a special Ordinance of Church Communion a 1 Cor. 10.16 instituted and continued by Jesus Christ b 1 Cor. 11 26. wherein by the Giving and Receiving the outward Elements of Bread and Wine c Mat. 26.26 Mar. 14.23 Luke 22.19 1 Cor. 11.23 the Death Satisfaction and Merits of Christ are in a lively manner shewed forth and he who through Christ is a worthy Receiver doth spiritually and really by Faith partake of his Body and Bloud with all the high Benefits thereof and not Ministerially only as he doth who is only an outside professed Member It is called the Lord's Supper d 1 Cor. 11 20. because it is of the Lord's Institution and for this end to shew forth his Death e 1 Cor. 11 26. and because he first Celebrated it the Evening before his Death f ib. v. 23. § 6. This being instituted for so spiritual and solemn Ends and Purposes a 1 Cor. 11 24 25 26 27. Luk. 22.19 cannot be administred or attended upon for any other Purposes such as to qualifie Men upon a secular account without great Prophanation thereof b Mal. 1.11 12. John 6.26 27. Ex. 20.4 7 Rev. 13.16 17. § 7. In the Administration of this Ordinance these things according to the Primitive
Institution seem necessary to be observed 1. That it be administred to the whole Church met together a 1 Cor. 11 20. in one place and not to particular Persons or to the Church in distinct parts it being an Ordinance of Communion of a Body of Christ b ib. 10.16 2. That it be not dispensed to Members that are not capable to discern the Lord's Body or to Examine themselves c 1 Cor. 11 28 29. 3. That each Element be distinctly blessed and apart by it self by calling upon God in Christ for a Blessing d 1 Cor. 11 24 25. 4. That after Consecration the Bread broken is to be delivered with the Words of Distribution directed to the whole Church e Mat. 26.26 27. at once and by them divided among themselves and not carried up and down from Party to Party or from Seat to seat After the pouring out the Wine and blessing it it ought to be dispensed with the words of distribution in like manner to the whole Church f Ibid. and not carried up and down as aforesaid which practises came from the Church of Rome and not from Christ or his Apostles 5. The Posture of Receiving is sitting g Mat. 26.20 as Christ and his Disciples not kneeling or standing because its a Feast and signifies our eating and drinking Spiritually with joy and gladness and though Prayer accompany it wherein may be Praying Gestures as in other Ordinances yet Giving and Receiving here is a distinct Ordinance from Prayer 6. The Pastor of the congregation h Mat. 26.26 is to administer and not the Pastor of another who hath no administring Power out of his own Congregation neither hath Christ ordained any Administrators General to his Churches For the Pastor also to take in a Partner in Administration is Will-Worship and Humane 7. When the Elements are blessed by the Church the People ought not to betake themselves to their secret Prayers as if the Table had not bin blessed already none doth so at their ordinary Festivals § 8. Christ hath not in either of these Seals precisely determined the quantity of either Element to be made use of neither what quantity of Bread and Wine each should take or how much Water should be used in Baptism for our eating and drinking in the Lord's Supper is not to satisfie our natural Hunger and Thirst a 1 Cor. 11 21 22. nor is the Washing with Water in Baptism to put away the outward filth of the flesh b 1 Pet. 3.21 But our Saviour having told us what is spiritually intended and signified it is sufficiently manifest that so much of each Element in both Seals as doth hold forth to us the thing signified is enough tho never so little for Christ hath not brought his Churches in the New Testament under a Mosaick Tutorship so as to bind them up to such quantities and qualities of externals in manner as he did the Church of Old § 9. The Administration of the Seals belongs not to any but Teaching Elders being most appropriate to the Pastoral Office to feed the Flock in this peculiar manner for Christ when a Pastor on Earth administred it and therefore other Pastors whom he substitutes when ascended ought to do it Hence no private Member may be occasionally called thereto by the Church if so it renders Christ's Office needless and precarious Nor no Pastor of another Church may for the Pastor to one Church is no Pastor to another nay he hath no power to Vote and therefore not so much as a private Brother to Administer CHAP. XII Of Admitting Church Members The Ends of the use of the Keys What they are How distinguished The Key of Knowledge Of Government How given to Peter Elders for the due Management but primarily given to the Church Women not to exert Ruling Power The Church with Elders useth the Keys Ministerially Admittances ought to be with Exactness with the giving a reason of their Hope and an account of their Knowledge Their Conversation to be enquired into The Manner of Receiving in The Person received gives up his Children He may not Desert He ought to bring his Children Of Occasional Communion and of receiving recommended or dismist Members § 1. HAVING spoken to the Seals of the New Covenant we come to speak to the other Ordinances of Special Communion which concern the use of the Keys in all matters of Church Government a 1 Cor. 12 28. they being Christ's and committed by him to every Visible Congregation to be used according to his Rules and Directions in his Name b 1 Cor. 5.4 and to his Glory The great ends of which Dispensation of his Headship in this kind are the due increase of his Churches c Isa 9.7 Acts 2. ult and their Peace d Psa 122.7 Heb. 7.2 Zach. 6.13 Joh. 20.21 26. 1 Pet. 1.2 5.14 and Purity e Rev. 2.1 18. Ezek. 43.10 11. Isa 5.2 § 2. The Keys are the Power of Christ a Isa 22.22 Rev. 3.7 which he hath given to every particular Congregation to open and shut it self by b Mat. 16.19 and to do all things that belong thereunto in order unto the said ends it being Christ's House c Heb. 3.6 holy Temple d Eph. 2.21 Garden e Cant. 4.12 Vineyard f Isa 5.1 Walled in Hedged and Enclosed § 3. The Keys of Christ are to be distinguished they are his Keys of Hell and Death or his Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven i. e. of the Church His Keys of Hell and Death are the Power by Conquest which he hath obtained over Sin Curse Natural Death and Satan himself a Rev. 1.18 1 Cor. 15.54 55. Mat. 28.20 Heb. 2.14 The Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven b Mat. 16.19 are they that he manageth his Visible Churches by and gives a power of opening and shutting a Visible Church by These Keys are that of Knowledge c Luke 11.52 and that of Discipline d Rev. 3.7 § 4. The Key of Knowledge is the Gospel Preached a Lu. 11.52 Mat. 10.7 2 Cor. 2 12 1 Cor. 16.9 the Spirit of Christ working inwardly to open the heart to receive it b Acts 16.14 in this respect this seems to be one of the Keys which our Lord gave to Peter in that he had the Honour of turning the first Key of Conversion after our Lord's Ascention both to Jews c Act. 2.41 and Gentiles d Act. 10.34 11.8 Eph. 3 4 5 6. § 5. The other Key given unto Peter is of Government and Discipline a Isa 9.6 neither of which Keys were given unto him as to a single Person or ruling Head of the Visible Churches neither that of Knowledge nor Government but unto the Church in him tho unto him with the other Apostles as the first Managers thereof their Names being put down in Christ's Charter granted to the Churches b Matt. 28
1 Cor. 3.9 Heb. 3.4.6 9.11 it 's his chosen purchased and peculiar inheritance in the World g Deut. 14.2 Ps 132.13 Tit. 2.14 Psa 135.4 1 Pet. 2.9 God dwells and appears therein in a special and gracious manner h 2 Cor. 6.16 Eph. 2.22 Psal 87.2 it is called by his Name i 2 Chro. 7.14 it is called the Church of the living God k 1 Tim. 3.15 God is therein glorified l Eph. 2.20 21. § 4. Churches therefore are not of humane fabrick or fashion nor to suit the carnal Minds and Interests of Men or States Mens Laws cannot establish Churches they must be built after the Pattern which God hath shewed a Exo. 26.30 Heb. 8.5 it 's not Gods Church which Man builds and is after his inventions b Psa 106.29.39 Matt. 15.6 God never gave Commission to the Pope Ecclesiastick or Civil Powers to institute Churches c Isa 1.12.13 14. 42.8 48.11 and as a Church is of God so the whole form and fashion is of Gods teaching only d Eze. 43.10.11 § 5. Hence it is that the Spirit of God in his Word hath witnessed against and renounced nothing more than false Churches such especially with all their appurtenances of Ordinances Officers and Worship which have apostatized from and forsaken his own Pattern and Institution a Eze. 43.8 and fashioned themselves by their Humane Inventions b Psa 106.29 to answer their own carnal Interests c Hab. 1.26 and corrupt Ends d Isa 1.12 13. Ecclesiastical e Hos 5.1.3 or Civil f 1 King 12.27 wherefore such always are charged with spiritual Whoredoms g Hos 5.3 and treated as Harlots h Hos 2.2 most especially the Catholick Visible that Mother of Harlots with all her spurious brood of Subordinations Hierarchical and Representative two especially are laid before us as the most notorious Harlots That of Jeroboam's i 2 Kings 17.21.22 and that of the Antichristian Apostacy k 2 Thes 4.7 by the latter the World is corrupted to this day she sitting under the Name of the Catholick visible Church with her Offspring ruling over the Kingdoms of the Western World as the Mother of Harlots l Rev. 17.5.18 not only breeding but nursing up all Idolatry Superstition Will-Worship and all departure from the Pattern of Christ which hath bin and is by Papists and un-illuminated or interested Protestants m Rev. 18.2.3 Fathering all her spiritual Cheats whereby both sorts are intoxicated on the Name of Christ whence the Seven Women n Esa 4.1 Churches in the Prophetick Language are said to lay hold on one Man i. e. the Lord Jesus Christ desiring to be called by his Name to take away the reproach of spurious and adulterine Churches but yet feed on their own Institutions and are cloathed with their own righteousness § 6. Pretended Churches of Christ may be discerned to be true or false 1. By the foundation whether on the Person Nature Offices and Word of Christ a 1 Pet. 2.4 Ephe. 2.20 2. By the visible matter whether living Stones b 1 Pet. 2.4 3. By the Form Fashion and Frame according to the order of the Gospel c Heb. 8.5.6 3.3 Mat. 28.20 Ezek. 43.11 Col. 2.5 Hence a Church is no Church of God either of these being altogether wanting or is but a faulty and deficient Church so far as its defective in these as to Faith or Order Wherefore the more the Mystery of iniquity comes to be discovered and the true Woman the Lambs Wife comes out of her Wilderness-State we may expect that the Churches will come to an higher degree of Purity and Order d Isa 1.25 Rev. 19.7 8. § 7. Wherefore to a true Church Christ is all and in all a Eph. 1.22 he being the Head in all respects and hath the Preheminence b Col. 1.18 19. being before all things and above all things the Head of Principalities in Dignity and Dominion worshipped by Angels c Heb. 1.6 Psa 89.27 higher than the Kings of the Earth It hath pleased the Father that there should be a special relation and mutual Fulness between Christ and the Church Christ being so the Head of his Church as he is to none else and as Christ filleth the Church so the Church is the fulness of Christ d 1 Cor. 12 12. Eph. 1.21 22. § 8. This Headship of Christ is divers ways illustrated to us in Scripture by a Natural Man's Head and Body a Col. 1.18 by a Family or Conjugal Head b Eph. 5.23 by a Root or Vegetable Head c John 15.1 Rom. 11.24 by an Head of an artificial Building the Head Corner-Stone d 1 Pet. 2.4.5 and hence it appears That Christ is such a Head as represents the whole Body and transacts all things for it e Isa 42.6 Heb. 10.9 10. That Christ is the vital Head of his Church the Spring and Fountain from whence all Life and Motion flows f John 1.14.16 Col. 2.3 He is the Head Corner-Stone the strength and support of all the Building g Psa 118.22 He is the Conjugal Head and Saviour of the Body h Eph. 5.15 of whom all the Family is named i Eph. 3.25 And lastly Christ is set forth by these similitudes and otherwise unto to us as a graciously ruling and governing Head unto his Church set on this holy Hill k Psalm 2. the Throne of David l Luke 1.32 he is the Political Head the Apostle and High-Priest of our Profession m Heb. 3.1 § 9. As Christ stands in relation to the Church as the Head so the Church is related to Christ as the Body a Col. 1.18.24 Eph. 1.23 being in that respect his fulness Christ and his Church making one Mystically b 1 Cor. 12.12 The Body of Christ in Scripture is variously taken 1. It is taken for the substance of the Mystery of Christ typified and shadowed forth by the Ceremonial Law c Col. 2.17 2. It is taken for the Humane Nature of Christ wherein he lived and suffered here d Rom. 7.4 Heb. 10.5.10 3. It 's used for the Sacramental or Symbolick Body of Christ e Luke 22.19 4. It 's taken for a Church or People embodied or incorporated in Christ Jesus and is his Political Body f Eph. 5.23 Col. 1.18 5. It 's used in a proper sense for the very Body of Christ separate and distinct from his Soul g Mat. 27.58 It is the fourth Acceptation that we are here concerned in § 10. A Church of God as to the most general consideration is the Body of Christ in a Spiritual and Political acceptation of a Body a Col. 1.24 in which respect it 's compared to a Family and City and Candlestick 1. It is a Company congregated not one or two in the Body are many Members
were to snatch the Sinner as a firebrand out of the fire waiting for a well-grounded and tried evidence of his unfeigned Repentance under the Censure the first and great End whereof is the Sinners Salvation not his Destruction c 2 Cor. 2.6 7 8. 2 Cor. 10.8 1 Cor. 5.5 § 12. In case of Sins not so notorious and more privately committed the Churches proceeding must be more gradual by all endeavours in the spirit of meekness to restore such an one to Repentance a Matt. 18 15 16 17 which being obtained there 's no occasion for further proceeding as to Censure § 13. And here Admonition is of great use which is an holy tender and wise Endeavour to convince the offending Party of matter of fact and of the sin of it with the aggravating circumstances attending as also to lead him to his Duty thereupon charging it upon his Conscience in the sight of God with due application of the Word of God which concerns his condition And this belongs not to the Elders in the first and second degrees of proceeding in this Case but to all private Members in their places as matters may concern them and are known unto them more or less a 1 Thes 5.12 Rom. 15.14 2 Thes 5.14 Gal. 6.1 2 Tim. 9.25 Heb. 12.15 § 14. There are three degrees of Admonition a Matt. 18 first by a single Brother or Sister that is first acquainted with the Sin committed The second is upon the non-Repentance of the offending Party whereupon the first Admonisher takes to him one or two more and admonisheth the offender the second time which Admonition taking no effect the Church is to be acquainted with the offence And the Church by the Elders gives a third Admonition which if the Sinner receives not but continues impenitent the Church proceeds to Censure b Ibid. v. 15 16 17. unless the Church see reason to wait longer And it follows from hence 1. That every Church Member tho of private capacity only has somewhat to do in his place as well as the Elders c Heb. 12.15 2. That in case of private offences it is preposterous to publish them or acquaint the Elders therewith before the two lower degrees of Admonition are duely proceeded in and not heard by the Offender 3. That when Matters come to the Elders Ears all private proceedings cease and all things are to be laid before the Church 4. When matters come before the Church the Offendor rejecting the first and second Publick Admonition at most is to be judged incorrigible d Titus 3.10 11. § 15. This great Censure is to be proceeded to in this manner the Question is put by an Elder Whether the Church adjudge the person offending all due means having bin used according to the Rules of Christ to be guilty of matter of fact as charged and remain incorrigible Which being answered in the Affirmative the Judgment is fallen into the Pastor's or Elder 's hand as after the Verdict of a Jury into the hands of the Judge and accordingly he goes on to pass Sentence as the Duty of his place requires And first with much Solemnity after he hath laid open the Sin with several aggravations he shews likewise the Awful Nature of this great Censure and the main End thereof for the Salvation and not the Destruction of the Sinner and accordingly calls upon God for his gracious Presence and Blessing upon this Sacred Ordinance that the great end thereof may be obtained still expressing the deep sence the Church hath of the Fall of this Brother with great Humiliation of the Church with remorse for the Sin thus committed and persisted in Lastly In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ before the Congregation whether the offending Brother be present or withdrawn the Elder cuts off and secludes such an one by Name from the Union and Communion of the Church declaring the said Exclusion carries in it the sense of our Saviour See Mat. 18.17 c. 1 Cor. 5.4 5 6. 2 Thes 3.14 1 Tim. 1.10 in saying He shall be as an Heathen Man and a Publican and the full sense of the Apostle's Charge to the Corinthians to deliver up such an one to Satan c. Which is no more than the putting him out of Communion of the Church the Kingdom of Heaven into the World the Kingdom of Satan for the humbling and breaking of him in the sight and sense of his sins which is all that 's meant by the destruction of the flesh § 16 A Member thus judicially cast out may through the Grace of God blessing this Ordinance be brought to a great sight of his Sin and remorse for it with great longing desires to return to the Communion of the Church again In this Case Christ's Keys are to be used to open the Door and receive the excluded Party into the Church again For after a full proof of the truth of the Sinner's Repentance he is brought by the Elders to make his Publick and Solemn Manifestation of his deep Remorse c. Which acknowledgment being received by the Church with satisfaction and tender compassion towards him he is by an Elder absolved from the aforesaid Censure See Mat. 16.19 18.18 and re-admitted into full Communion with the great joy of the Congregation and Expressions of thankfulness unto God Thus he that was bound is now loosed § 17. Besides this direct way of proceeding against an offending Member there is another much of the like nature which we call indirect because the Church puts not the Party out of its Communion before the Party hath secluded himself and not by any regular way but indirectly and contrary to all Rules of Order For it is when a Church-Member by reason of some offence taken at the Church or some Member thereof not discharging his own Duty withdraws himself and separates from the Communion of the Church A Person having thus Excommunicated himself as it were the Church ought to consider what is their Duty and though a particular Member or more hath usurped to himself the power of the Keys See Rom. 16.17 2 Thes 3.6 the Church ought not to acquiesce therein but maintain that Power which Christ hath committed to it and tho it cannot hinder the inordinateness of a Brother's unruly Passions and ungovernable Temper when God leaves him to it but that he will run away from the Church rend himself off breaking all Order and Covenant Obligations in opposition to all fraternal endeavours to stay him in the place that Christ hath set him in the Church is bound to shew and assert the power of Christ which he hath entrusted it with and judicially shut the Door and turn the Key upon so sinful and disorderly a Departer from them declaring that he having sinfully departed from the Communion of that Congregation he is no longer under its Care and Watch and is not to return to the Communion of the Church as before