vain is to set things to rights between God and the soule in secret which being the greater work the Apostle urges that only not intending to exclude Examination by the Church as needlesse and is it not for this purpose the Apostle Peter laies down that Apostolicall injunction 1. Pet. 3.15 Be ready alwaies to give answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meeknesse and fear First saith he Sanctifie the Lord God in your hearts that is be sure the heart be upright with God and then be ready alwaies to render account c. If a man must be alwayes ready and to all men to give account surely especially to the Church of God And although Christians ought not to be ashamed to confesse Jesus Christ and to make profession of their faith even to heathens or persecutors if called to it yet it s mainly intended that none should refuse to render a reason of their faith to the Church of God yea and that Scripture holds forth that they must be both knowing and faithfull that render account as well as men ignorant or scandalous Now that Examination by the Eldership is very requisite will appear by these and such like ensuing Arguments it being already sufficiently proved that Pastors Teachers Elders their Offices titles and imployments are of Divine institution and also that their titles are sutable to their imployments they are in scripture called Rulers Governours Overseers Stewards Watchmen c. and their Office as hath been largely proved is to order out the administrations of the Church decently to admit or suspend from the Sacrament according to mens severall capacities c. and therefore Examination must inevitably follow For Argum. 1 They that are bound to give account to God concerning the Church and the particular members thereof ought to be acquainted with their spiritual condition But Pastors Teachers and Elders of particular Congregations are bound to give account to God of the particular members of their Churches Therefore ought to be well acquainted with their spirituall condition Argum. 2 Those to whom we are bound to submit and obey in the Church to them we ought to render account of our faith if called to it Examination being an Ordinance of the Church But we are bound to submit to and to obey the Pastors and Elders of the Church in all Church ordinances Therefore we ought to obey them in this ordinance of Examination Argum. 3 If none but men sit to participate the Sacrament are to bee admitted and that the unfit are to be kept back by the Eldership it s of necessitie they should know who are fit and who are not which cannot be done without Examination But the worthy are to be admitted and the unworthy to be suspended by the Eldership neither can they know mens severall capacities or conditions without Examination Therefore Examination by the Eldership is of necessity without which they cannot separate between the precious and the vile as their duty is Jer. 15..19 Many Arguments might more be offered but the matter is so plain that to any reasonable man there can remain no seruple neither do I quotescriptures to those Arguments by reason they are grounded upon the former scriptures alledged for the proof of the Eldership to be of Divine right I shall only propound this one text which will answer all Obey them that have the rule over you and submit your selves for they watch for your soules as they that must give account that they may doe it with joy and not with grief for that is not profitable for you Heb. 13.17 In which scripture all may clearly see that the foregoing Arguments and many more is strongly held forth there beeing contained in the words these following Truths 1. That subjection and obedience is to be given to those that rule and governe in the Church 2. That the reason why men must obey those that rule in the Church is for that they are set over their soules as watchmen and must give account to God concerning those committed to their Charge 3. That its an occasion of Joy to Governours in the Church when people are obedient to the ordinances thereof and of grief when they disobey 4. That the hurt that follows upon the peoples non obedience and the good that attends their obedience redounds to themselves 5. That its the sinne of particular members of the Church not to obey them that in the Lord are set over them in the Church Certainly the consideration of their office and the ends of their appointments to them is Argument enough doubtlesse he is not fit to be a Steward nor can possibly give account that knows not the state of his Charge neither is he fit to be a Shepherd that knows not the state of his flock And if Elders must reprove rebuke exhort admonish and encourage as occasion is How shall they do this without Examining those with whom they have to do 2 Tim. 4.2 Notwithstanding by reason of that generall aversenesse to this necessary duty I add these ensuing considerations being willing to satisfie all 1. Consider if publique profession and confession were requisite in men grown to maturitie before they could be baptized much more requisite is it before admittance to this ordinance The Eunuch although a man of great authoritie and well instructed by Philip and although coming to Jerusalem to worship yet could not be baptized till he made profession of his faith and was first well Catechised concerning Christ Act. 8.37 If thou beleevest with all thy heart thou maiest and he answered and said I beleeve c. and although the Jewes were circumcised and were of the Nationall Church of God yet were none of them received into the particular Congregations and Churches of Jesus Christ without profession of their faith and confession of sins out of which we may gather that our baptisme gives us no right at all to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper unlesse we be sutably quallified we may eat and drink our own damnation 2. Consider there is in every Christian required not onely a believing heart but a verball profession of Faith in Christ Rom. 10.10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousnesse and with the mouth confession is made to salvation 3. Although every man ought to examine himself that comes to the Table of the Lord yet the Officers of the Church must also examine else how shall they know who is able to examine himself And I fear they that plead most against examination by the Eldership are both least capable and most carelesse of that especiall duty of self examination besides self examination is all that is required of any man after first admittance Those the Apostle speaks to 1. Cor. 11.28 were members of the Church who had before admittance made profession of their faith in Christ 4. Methinks particular men should not stumble at examination seeing those that are in place of
would either have been found unfit upon tryall or if not hearty to the worke would have hindred the successe thereof 3. If but one third part of those chosen hold and who are upon tryall found fit being confirmed by them their authoritie is as binding as if five times their number had imbraced it and the fewer there are the more commendable is their resolution against difficulty and the lesse fear of dissention who also if they find the work too hard as opportunitie is offered may admit of additional assistance 4. The numerousnesse of the Presbytery is one of the blocks cast in the way of reformation therefore there is lesse need to stumble at their paucity if able to carry on the work Ob. 22. But is it meet all men should come before the Eldership to be examined before admittance me thinks they should go to the houses of some men of best rank and converse with them there Answ Vnlesse in case of sicknesse or the like it is very unfit For 1. It s exemplary giving occasion to others to expect the like and sets open a doore of chargeing the Eldership with partiallity and un-even dealing in distribution of Divine Ordinances 2. It must needs draw contempt both upon Governours and Government and Ordinances 3. It were an endlesse work and let men be never so high in the world yet if they ow not so much respect for the work sake to those whom God hath set over them in the Church as to come before them such men will never receive benefit by the Ordinance And if such a spirit predominate I am sure it s against the rule laid down by the Apostle 1 Tim. 5.17 Yea and derogates very much from the disposition of every one that are either fit for Church Communion or Heavenly intertainment Mark 10.15 Verily verily I say unto you whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child he shall not enter therein So also Matth. 18.4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child the same is greatest in the Kingdome of God David a King yet thought it his honour to be humble Psal 131.2 professing himself to be as a weaned child 4. Where the soul truly thirsts after Jesus Christ in the Ordinances it will easily step over this block hunger will break stone walls And although the Devil and wicked men indeavour to hedge up thy way to the Ordinances yet if thou spiritually hunger and thirst all these will be laid low every one that hath the knowledge of Jesus Christ hath learned to deny himself 5. Although the Eldership would willingly use all good means to win men by love and ready to deny themselves as it s their dutie for the avoyding of offence and the enlargement of the Church yet herein they should but please some and displease many more and bring such an endlesse task upon themselves as would take up much time and abundantly retard the work 6. It s not a work either commanded or commended to any particular Eldership by the Classical assembly how ever in some extraordinary cases something of this nature may be done left to the discretion of the particular Presbytery and who I doubt not but will condescend to any thing that may promote the work of God Ob. 23. But if men and women must both be examined it may fall out a man may be found unfit and his wife may be received sometime the man received and his wife unfit what a kind of confusion will this be doth not the Apostle Paul say The unbelieving woman is sanctified by the believing man and the unbelieving man by the believing woman 1 Cor. 7.14 A. The Apostle speaks there concerning the reason why unbelievers and believers might cohabit and continue in a conjugal estate of matrimony And is not so to be understood as that the wife can be saved by the husbands faith or the husband by the wives this were to crosse the doctrine of Scripture and the analogie of faith for every man must know and believe for himself The just shall live by his faith neither Abraham Noah Iob or Daniel could deliver any mans soul by their faith though never so nearly related The Apostle only signifies three that it was unlawfull to depart matrimonial society because both were not believers for that if the one did believe it gave their children right to external Christian Church priviledges and such Ordinances as they were capable of as Circumcision under the Law Baptisme in time of the Gospel not that the Parents can either adde or infuse Grace into their children for the dearest of Gods Saints may have children destitute of Grace and uncapable either of Church-fellowship or the least share in Jesus Christ neither is there the least hint of any thing in this Text of Sacramental Communion or of things pertaining to life and salvation for in such cases every man and woman must plead their own interest and either have particular and peculiar saving Grace or the nearest relation they have to the most Holy can do them no good He that believes shall be saved he that believeth on the Sonne hath everlasting life and he that believeth not the Sonne shall not see life but the wrath of God abides on him Iohn 3.16 And hence is it that in the great and general judgement men and women of nearest relations are separated Two shall be in the field the one taken and the other left two women grinding at the mill the one taken and the other left March 24.40 41. 2. As in the Kingdome of Heaven there is neither marrying Mark 12.16 nor giving in marriage but all are as the Angels so the Church of God on earth take no cognizance whether men be married or single wives or Virgins but he or she that 's capable of Church Communion ought to be admitted and must be visible Saints And although never so nearly related if not so ought to be shut out 3. Suppose a man upâ—â— examination be admitted and his wife respited for her incapacity a while till God shall enable her or suppose the wife be admitted and her husband for like reason suspended is it not better for that party found fit to be admitted and the party unfit to be debarred then either both to be admitted or both kept back or that either of them should deny themselves the benefit of the Ordinance For 1. It s agreeable to the Word of God and Ordinances of the Church and tends much to the comfort of the Communicant to be admitted if worthy and to admit the unworthy is contrary to all 2. What comfort can it be to thee while thou art participating the body and bloud of Jesus Christ if thy wife unworthily admitted not discerning the Lords Body be eating and drinking damnation to her self or contrariwise if thy wife be a worthy Communicant it will be the terror of her soul to see her husband hailing destruction upon himself by
preposterous and unwarrantable thrusting himself upon such Divine displeasure Why shouldst thou endeavour to draw the guilt of thy bloud upon the Eldership or why shouldst thou pull ruine upon thy self And although thou beest not capable blesse God for a believing wife or if thy wife uncapable and thou admitted endeavour her instruction that she may in due time be also received in to Sacramental Communion here and both spiritually united to Jesus Christ 3. It s the want of knowledge of Jesus Christ ignorance of the Doctrine of regeneration and reformation that makes men scruple hereat for any such reason none being more ready to rush upon Divine Ordinances to their ruine then men and women most uncapable to receive them rightly Ob. 24. What are the principal points that will be enquired of by the Eldership what time men come before them A. They are very plain and easie to be understood and every man and woman may reade them in the Ordinance of Parliament wherein are set down certain rules and directions concerning Admission and suspension in point of ignorance and scandal but for that all have not that Ordinance I shall hint out the Heads briefly as followeth All admitted ought to know 1. That there is a God That there is but one True and everliving God maker of Heaven and Earth and Governour of all things That this onely true God is the God whom we worship That this God is but one yet three distinct Persons the Father Sonne and Holy Ghost all equally God 2. That God created man in his own Image in Knowledge righteousnesse and true holinesse That by one man sinne entred the world and death by sinne That thereby also all men are dead in trespasses and sinnes and are by Nature children of wrath and so liable to eternal death the wages of every sinne 3. That there is but one Mediator between God and man the man Christ Jesus who is also over all God blessed for ever neither is their salvation in any other That he was conceived by the Holy Ghost and born of the Virgin Mary That he died upon the Crosse to save his People from their sinnes That he rose the third day from the Dead ascended into Heaven sitteth at the right hand of God and maketh continual Intercession for us of whose fulnesse we receive all Grace necessary to salvation 4. That Christ and his benefits are applied onely by Faith that Faith is the gift of God and that we have it not of our selves but is wrought in us by the Word and Spirit of God 5. That Faith is that Grace whereby we believe and trust in Christ for remission of sinnes and life everlasting according to the promise of the Gospel That whosoever believes not on the Sonne of God shall not see life but the wrath of God abides on him to Eternity 6. That they who truely repent of their sinnes do see them sorrow for them and turn from them to the Lord and that except men repent they shall surely perish 7. That a godly life is conscionably ordered according to the Word of God in holynesse and righteousnesse without which no man shall see the Lord. 8. That the Sacraments are Seals of the Covenant of grace in the bloud of Christ That the Sacraments of the New Testament are Baptisme and the Lords Supper That the outward Elements in the Lords Supper are Bread and Wine and do signifie the Body and Bloud of Christ crucified which the worthy receiver by Faith doth partake of in this Sacrament which Christ hath likewise ordained for a remembrance of his death That whosoever eateth and drinketh unworthily is guilty of the Body and Bloud of the Lord and therefore that every one is to examine himself lest he eat and drink judgement to himself not discerning the Lords Body 9. That the souls of the Faithfull after death do immediately live with Christ in blessednesse And that the souls of the wicked do immediately go into Hell torments That there shall be a Resurrection of the bodies both of just and unjust at the last day at which time all shall appear before the judgement seat of Christ to receive according to what they have done in the body whether it be good or evil and that the righteous shal go into Life eternal and the wicked into everlasting punishment Ob. 25. What are the crimes that make men uncapable of admittance in point of scandal A. 1. All persons that shall blasphemously speak or write any thing of God his holy Word or Sacraments 2. An Incestuous person 3. An Adulterer 4. A Fornicator 5. A Drunkard 6. A profane Swearer or Curser 7. One that hath taken away the life of any Person maliciously 8. All worshippers of Images Crosses Crucifixes or Reliques All that shall make any Image of the Trinitie or any person thereof all Religious worshippers of Saints Angels or any meer Creatures 9. Any person that professeth himself not to be in charitie with his Neighbour 10. Any person that shall challenge any other person by word message or writing to fight or that shall accept such challenge and agree thereunto any person that shall knowingly carry any such challenge by word message or writing 11. Any person that on the Lords-Day shall use any Dancing Playing at Dice or Cards or any other Game Masquing Wake Shooting Bowling playing at Foot-ball or Stool-ball Wrestling or that shall make or resort to any Playes Interluds Fencing Bull-baiting or Bear-baiting or shall use Hawking Hunting or Coursing Fishing or Fowling or that shall publikely expose any Wares to sale otherwaise then is provided by an Ordinance of Parliament of the 6. of April 1644. Any person that shall travel upon the Lords-Day without reasonable cause 12. Any person that keepeth a known Stewes or Brothel-house or that shall solicit the Chastitie of any person for himself or any other 13. Any person Father or Mother that shall consent to the marriage of their Child to a Papist or any person that shall marry a Papist 14. Any person that shall repair for any advice to any Witch Wizard or Fortune-teller 15. Any person that shall assault his Parents or any Magistrate Minister or Elder in the Execution of his Office 16. Any person that shall be Legally attainted of Barretrie Forgerie Extortion or Briberie And the severall Elderships shall have power likewise to suspend from the Sacrament of the LORDS-Supper all Ministers that shall be duely proved to be guiltie of any of the Crimes aforesaid from giving or receiving the Sacrament of the LORDS-Supper FINIS Imprimatur James Cranford John Bellamie Errata Pag 4. line 6. For the journey reade their journey l. 9. for no way r. in a way p. 4. Ob. 4. r. appear p. 4. l. 24 for tresbytery r. Presbytery p. 10. l. 34. for desolute r. destitute p. 11. l. 8. for gelding r. gould ring p. 12. l. 5. for which r. when p. 15. l. 17. for Aposiles r. appeals p. 16. l. 10. for hardly r. Lordly p. 16. l. 11. for dominum r. dominion p. 16. l. 31. for record r. retard p. 22. l. 9. for injustifiably r. inevitably p. 24. l. 34. for their Idols r. the Iewes p. 30. l. 3. for preaches Preachers
to God that their Offices are also distinct the Scriptures are so plaine they need no interpretation some rule some labour in the word and doctrine 5. Object But what Elders are those spoken of in those Scriptures are they lay Elders or Ecclesiasticall A. The word of God makes no such distinction I do not read in any place of Scripture of either Lay or Ecclesiastique but Elders they were endowed extraoadinarily with severall gifts some to labour in the word and doctrine although in that fence we take Lay viz. for Tradesmen I beleeve such for the most part if not all were the Elders in the Church of Christ in those times And therefore it is that the separate Churches rather question our Ecclesiastique Elders then the Lay to be of Divine Right On the otherside by reason our Churches have been governed by men devoted and set apart to the Ministery many think there ought to be no other but Ecclesiasticall I shall adhere with neither of them but say with all Reformed Churches that let men be gifted by God whether by ordinary or extraordinary means let them have a lawfull call to the function whether Lay or Ecclesiastique they are of Divine institution only we must not expect all to be alike qualified some gifted for the Ministery others for Discipline Order Government and others Church Administrations 6. Object What is the Office of a ruling Elder A. According to their severall titles in Scripture so is their Office and imployment they are called Governours Rulers Overseers Stewards Watchmen c. and their Office is 1. To govern and direct persons and things in the Church and therefore the Apostle reproves those that despise Government in that 2 Pet. 2.10 but chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleannesse and dispise Government and indeed who are there dispise Government more then dissolute vain persons 1 Cor. 12.28 They are called Helps in Government viz. such as together with the Pastor govern the Church therefore 1 Tim. 5.17 Elders that rule well are worthy of double honour 2. As Stewards and Overseers they are to see the Lawes of their Masters house observed Luk. 1â— 41 1 Pet. 4.10 to whom they must give account and give each his portion 1 Cor. 4.1 Let a man so account of as as Stewards c. or dispensors vers 2. Moreover it s required of a Steward that he be found just and faithfull so also Heb 13.17 Obey them that have the oversight of you and submit your selves for they watch for your soules as they that must give account that they may do it with joy and not with griefe for that is unprofitable for you 3. Their duty or office is to edifie the body of Christ viz. the Church and this is the end why the Lord gave severall gifts to those that had the Charge of the Church committed to them Ephes 4.12 So also 1 Cor. 14.12 4. They ought to keep the Doctrine Discipline and Ordinances of the Church from corruption the Church as much as in them lies from scandall 1 Cor. 11.2 Now I pray you brethren that you remember me in all things and keep the Ordinances as I deliver them to you The Apostle speaks here to those that had power in the Church and commends them for keeping the Ordinances and dispensations of the Church pure Again 1 Cor. 5.7 Purge out therefore the old leven that ye may be a new lump as ye are unleavened 5. Their Office is to redresse abules in the Church ordering the affairs thereof decently as in the 1 Cor. 14.33 for God is not the Author of confusion but of peace as in all the Churches of the Saints implying all the Churches of the Saints are kept in good order vers 40. Let all things be done decently and in order 6. They are to end controversies and to make peace to help the weake to restore the penitent and to encorage every one in the wayes of peace and righteousnesse As in the 1 Cor. 6.5 I speak it to your shame is it so that there is not a wise man among you no not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren but a brother goeth to Law with a brother c. 1 Cor. 10.32 Give no offence neither to the Jew nor to the Gentile nor to the Church of God Philip. 2.3 Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory but in lowlinesse of minde Let each esteem others better then himselfe It was the sin of the shepheards of Israel to neglect their duty Ezek. 34.4 the diseased have ye not strengthned neither have ye healed that which was sick neither have ye bound up that which was broken neither have ye brought again that which was driven away neither have ye sought that which was lost but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them And indeed this was the greatsin of our Episcopal Hyrarchy and of too too many of our idle shepherds under them the Lord reform it in succeding times 7. Their duty is to visite the sick especially when sent for and to pray for them and give comfort to them James 5.14 If any be sick among you let him call for the Elders of the Church and let them pray over him anointing him with oyle in the Name of the Lord and although this unction be now out of use yet with subjection I may say the Apostle intends that Prayer ought not to goe alone without applying lawfull means which indeed ought to be sanctifyed by the Word and Prayer 8. Their office is to admit such as are sit and to suspend the unworthy from the Sacrament of the Lords supper 1 Cor. 5.5 To deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh that the Spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus vers 11. If any that is called a brother be a fornicator or covetuous or a drunkard or an Extortioner with such a one eat not vers 13. Therefore put away from you that wicked person 9. They ought to admit or dismisse Officers in the Church as occasion is offered and these joyntly Act. 6.6 And when they had prayed they laid their hands upon them c. verse 2. Look ye out seven men of honest report full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom whom we may appoint over this businesse So that by all that hath been said it sufficiently appears that Pastors Teachers and Elders their Titles Offices and Imployment in and about Church Administrations are of Divine Institution and that they had need to be Godly and discreet 7. Object But where I pray you will men be found fit for such weighty Imployments A. Indeed there are none sufficient for these things the best of men in all ages have been short of what they ought to be we cannot expect perfection in this life the most precious subject to manifold infirmities all may say with the Apostle 2 Cor. 2.16 Who is sufficient for these things Yet