outward supplies and according to the justness of their necessity and equallness of their poverty to relieve them and prepare portions for them sutable to their conditions even to feed the hungry cloath the naked visit the sick house the harbourless This hath the repute of pure Religion even to visit the fatherless and widdows in their affliction Let all be done according to those good laws of piety equity and charity and of doing as a man would be done by And as the burden of the Office is cast upon you see that you discharge your trust faithfully And in all this the Deacons are to be assisted and enabled by the Churches collections distributions and communications Now what power and order there ought to be among Officers themselves what power the Messengers have over the Elders what power the Elders have over the Deacons what power the Deacons have over the Members which doubtless there is some order and that among such as have power even among Governours as well as in Governments But I shall refer this difficult point to some abler head and more skilfull hand to determine it But thus I will conclude to wish That as God hath called you to places of order and honour here so you may be rewarded and crowned with dignities and honour hereafter To end this point I desire that both Officers and Members may learn a lecture for government and orders from the Firmaments and by the Sun Moon and Stars They be like the Sun for light and heat like the Moon for declaring seasons and constancy in circuit and like the Stars for holding on their course and keeping order and place Now if you think these few lines especially spoken to Officers be worthy of acceptation and may deserve the place of counsell and direction consider of them and the Lord encrease all your wisdome and understanding 4. Concerning the duties of Church-members to their Officers MEmbers of Churches as they stand in relation to their Officers it concerns them to acquaint themselves with Scripture-obligations what is required of them in submission to Officers laws and orders that they may clearly know and chearfully do what respect them on their part to preserve true order and support right government First 'T is the mind and also command of God that Christians should obey such overseers as are set over them in the Lord and whosoever refuses to be obedient resist Gods appointment alwayes provided they exercise rule according to the direction of his Word not to their persons as they are men but as they are the Embassadors and Stewards of Christ for they act by vertue of the Lords Commissions and 't is written the holy Ghost appoints overseers and 't is the Lords message they are upon Heb. 13.17 and the Lords work they labour in and God is a God of order and not of confusion who hath ordained government and required your subjection Officers rule for him therefore members ought to submit to them for the Lords sake for conscience sake for the Gospels sake and your own souls sake That they which watch for your souls may give an account with joy 1 Pet. 5 5. and not with grief for that will be unprofitable for you for indeed your obedience is not to man but to God My dearly beloved Brethren I beseech you beware in this weighty matter for there is no fin in the world which the Lord hath punished with greater severity than he hath disobedience to Authority neither was it ever heard that the earth opened her mouth wide to swallow up man as it did Corah Dathan and Abiram for their resistance and contempt to Moses and Aaron The Apostle Peter and St. Jude do both aggravate this crime as a grand transgression for To speak evil of dignities and to despise dominion St. Peter one of our ancient Fathers in his Epistle to the scattered Christians he is a very full Author and that to this very matter who pleads for submission to Authority both in Nation Church and Family first to honour God and to obey such as are appointed by him to submit to supreme Governours and such as are sent by them wives are to be in subjection to their own husbands servants are to be subject to their masters not only to the courteous and good but also to the discourteous and froward and this obedience must be for the Lords sake alwayes to make true distinctions betwixt spirituall and temporall services to give to man their dues and duties and to God his honour and praises 5. And as the Lord hath required submission to his Ministers so he hath enjoyned his people to honour them that rule over them 1 Thes 5.12 13. and to know such as labour among them and admonish them and to count such worthy of high respect for their works sake Phil. 2.29 because God himself hath dignified them and hath commanded the Saints highly to esteem them St. Paul gives this high commendations of the faithfull and painfull Elder that he deserves the priviledge of double honour and because their work is labourious and dangerous the people ought to countenance them by being courteous The meanest instrument imployed by the Lord in his service the Saints ought to receive and accept with readiness and chearfulness Doubtless he that loves God his truth order and ordinances will naturally respect such as act in them as instruments I speak not of needless customes or idolizing persons but to honour God in them and to honour God by them and to reverence them because the image of God is upon them for God was angry with the Jews because they despised his messengers and it mounted their sins untill there was no more remedies And to some the Lord saith in the Lamentations He would divide them and no more regard them because they respected not their Teachers nor reverenced the face of the Elders For what kindnesses or injuries are done to them the Lord takes it as done to him and Christians are to hold such in repute and to endeavour as much as they may to preserve their credit for Gospel-reputation is the life of spirituall trading Therefore none are to receive an accusation against an Elder under two or three witnesses because in defaming an Elder the truth suffers treble damages but the same and eminency of Christs Ministers is a glory to Christ and an honour to his Churches 6. 'T is a duty incumbent and a matter of high concernment to present humble and fervent prayers for such as are called to be Gospel-governours that they may rule for God agreeable to his counsell contained in his Word with all justice and righteousness towards all degrees of persons and to pray being earnest that God would send more faithfull labourers into his harvest Mat. 9.38 that the ignorant world may be converted and that there might be daily added unto the Church of God such as should be saved And as for those instruments the Lord
fear of the Lord teaching his Laws and Oracles unto them Deut. 6.7 begetting in them an affection and Reverence to his Will and Word acquainting them with the blessings promised upon the believing and obeying Gods Requirements and the dangers threatned against neglectors and the dreadfull Judgements that fall upon despisers of Gods worship and orders Let the Heads and Governours of this little Church or Kingdome as I may call it exercise the Office in an humble sence of Prophet Priest and King to teach them to offer Sacrifice for them and to govern them Let believing Parents give their children Gospel-breeding and spiritual Education that they may know how to behave themselves in the Houshold of God as becomes the Family of so Princely a Posterity and to learn the carriage of holy manners and precisely to prove all things like the Baereans who by so doing may be reputed truly Noble and well bred Christians I would respectively impose upon superiors to take the place of Tutors and their houses to be as Nurceries of Learning there to be instructed and prepared even to fit them to Degrees of Piety and Religion Prov. 22.6 and for this take the Counsell of Solomon who saith Train up a Child in the way he should go and he will not depart from it when he is old Mark he saith he will not depart Mind what Saint Paul saith Eph. 6.4 Bring up your Children in the Lords nurture and admonition and so to endeavour by good Counsel and good example to incline their hearts and conform their minds to sound Doctrine Gospel-order and a holy conversation and so come to be made capable of spiritual Priviledges and Church-Communion 3. By Correction By discountenancing Correcting Preventing and Restraining of sin to prevent and reform them from vanity and vice by the reproof of a severe countenance and angry face Prov. 23.13 Prov. 13.14 and to stop their growing into folly and the bringing forth evill action by rectifying all disorders in their conversation and this to be done timely and in due season agreeable to the best Rules of discretion have a respect to their disposition some to gain by fear and some by favour Let the Circumstances observed in Correction give evidence for a mans self his end is good in Correcting I have heard at the common place of Execution some complaining of Fathers and others of Masters because they did not restrain them from vain Courses saying if they had it might have been a prevention of their ever coming to that shamefull Execution And indeed God hath set Fathers and Masters as Rulers and to have dominion within the borders of their Family Jurisdiction and doubtlesse of their places they must give an account Therefore they have great reason to discharge their trust to their Inferiours and to make use of their power and advantages which are many they having so much opportunity to discern into their actions and to discover their lives and to know their designs and having so near a relation to them and so great a command over them might be much instrumental by Gods blessing to do much for God and for their souls benefit and eternal good 4. By Protection By Countenancing and Cherishing the budding of grace nourishing every appearance of God in the soul 1 Cor. 11.2 giving timely incouragement and a seasonable assistance to the matters of Faith and Conscience and to be a guarding presence to the small beginning not to quench the smoaking Flax and bruised Reed to mind them of spiritual Traffick and to bring them up in the knowledge of spiritual Husbandry protecting in them the heads of Grace and plants of Piety using much diligence waiting with tendernesse their growth and increase 1 Thes 2.7 For as the School-men say The greatest Matters have the smallest Beginnings The Seeds and Roots of Grace and Piety are like the tender Herbs and Plants that have need to be tenderly preserved to be often watered and weeded and well fenced and secured For a man is a Prince in his own Family to protect Order and Piety and to banish Sin and Iniquity and having cast out the things that offend and well prepared the ground the next thing is to put things into some Method Form and Order And here the Christian professor may learn a Lesson of the Gardener who in his Plantation and Garden having gotten the choisest Hearbs and Plants he devises his form and sets them according to rule and order both for profit and also to delight the owner So Christians when they have prepared Matter they are to place them in the Lords Vineyard and that in a Gospel manner that they may be fruitfull for their Lord and Master and also to invite and delight the beholder to take them with Orders beauty for it was the Order of Solomons Family that astonisht the Queen of Sheba 5. By Supplication For Family and Children always remembering the Lord is the Donor and Bestower of all Gifts and Graces and that we are but poor begging Instruments at the Throne of Grace and Door of Mercy for our selves and Families praying humbly and heartily that the Lord would please to Sanctifie all means and Crown all endeavours with his own benedictions Joh. 15.5 without which all other labours are nothing for without him we can do nothing fervently petitioning the Lord that our Families might be his Family that he would direct and bless us in our Election Direction Correction Protection Exclusion And that our Children might be his Children and our Servants his Servants that the Lord would please to season their hearts with his Grace enlighten their understanding by his Spirit to ingage their affections by his Love and so to prepare them and conform them to his Will and Word That with Joshua We and our Houses may serve the Lord Jos 24.15 That as they grow in years and strength so they may increase in Knowledge and Goodnesse that they might be Plants in his House and placed in his Family and so be fruitfull Instruments of his Glory and humbly to offer Sacrifice for them and to intercede the Lord that they might orderly obey his Doctrine and cheerfully submit to his Discipline and to intreat his favour to guide them by his Counsell here and receive them into his Kingdome hereafter 6. By Exclusion Yet here I do not intend in the least to meddle with Wife and Children no more than to purge sin out of them Deut. 19.16 but in this case I mind only Servants Busie-bodies and Tale-bearers which are oft-times Instruments of Disorder and Disturbance in many Families And as the Wise man saith Prov. 26.20 Where there is no wood the Fire goeth out So where there is no Tale-bearer Strife ceaseth And for Servants that are vain disorderly may in time infect and corrupt the rest in a Family Now 't is better to remove and exclude such persons than that they should defile and
pollute many others that ye may keep Discipline within your Familie Dominion there is for this a good example of David Psal 101.6 7. who saith Men of Faithfulnesse and Integrity shall dwell with me and serve me But he would not keep a Lyar about him nor he that worketh deceit should neither dwell in his House nor tarry in his sight Thus every man within his own Jurisdiction may exercise Family Discipline both to teach intercede and govern and by diligence and prudence may be an Instrument to bring his House in order in Gods Service 7. Let all these things be put into due execution without which the knowledge of them comes to nothing Every man to exercise himself in his place faithfully to instruct and govern his Family consonant to to the Rules of Piety and Principles of Charity and to act by the Law of Equity to all under them as men in some sence obliged to give an account of them These things considered and calling to remembrance my place of trust in Gods House and our special Obligations each to other as we are Chistians I can do no lesse than advise warn exhort and intreat you according to the relation I stand with you and inteterest I have in you to put your duties into practices and remove out of your Families all offences and disorders Deut. 13.8 1 Tim. 5.21 for ye know we ought not to bear with sin to regard Causes or respect Persons although they be our near relations but to do Justice with Equity and that without delay or partiality for we may not harbour evils nor suffer disorder in our Families and that we have no just complaining in our streets 'T is true we cannot expect members of Families should be free from all Infirmities where then would be the use of bearings and forbearings Beware of Upbraiding and Retorting Languages which oft-times creates discontents and raises disturbances in Families There ought rather to be found among Christians a condescention to each others dispositions concerning their deformities bearing one anothers weaknesses and if it may be to determine Family-failings within the compasse of Family Jurisdictions and to endeavour to bear one anothers burdens and so fulfill the Law of Christ To sympathize with each other in temptations and afflictions that ye may not make your lives a burden to your selves and a trouble and grief to others for consider that miscarriages among Christians are attended with high aggravations First a dishonour to God a discredit to the truth a disparagement to Professors a grief to Relations a sorrow to well-wishers a bondage to themselves and a rejoycing to their Enemies My advise is therefore for the time past wherein any of you have offended each other to repent it and wherein others have trespassed against you upon their submission pardon it let all former things be laid dead and buried in the grave of Oblivion no more to be remembred or have any more Resurrection to disquiet your peace here or to evidence against you hereafter And for the time to come my Counsel Exhortation is to set the fear of the Lord before you observe one anothers tempers consider each others frailties and when ye have any thing to say remember to take suitable seasons endeavouring to remove Jelousies avoid all occasions that may tend to provocations and if possible let all be swallowed up in dear affections which best becomes such near Relations and most adorns professing Christians But yet a few words more particularly that respects every House and Family to divide their Duties to each other and that severally 1. HUsbands ought to love their Wives as Christ loved the Church and as they love themselves and to rule over them with much Tendernesse Eph. 5.25.28 and to govern with discretion and commend their submission by the power of a free and constant affection to imitate the Lords Pattern who loved his Spouse better than himself covering deformities bearing Infirmities taking part with them in their Distresses attending them with necessary Accommodations and suitable conveniences at all times and in all conditions remembring both are but one flesh and that a mans wife is half himself considering she is a Building of the greater Admiration and being brought to man holds forth the Order Honour and Perfection of Gods Creation Likewise Husbands are to dwell with their Wives according to Knowledge having respect to their weaknesses and to honour them as the weaker Vessels For the Woman is the glory of the Man and yet under his Authority to teach her subjection and to shew him he is her protection 2. Wives ought to submit themselves to their own Husbands as unto the Lord Ephes 5.25 Remembring 't is Gods own Institution That man should Rule and have the Dominion and Woman should obey and be in Subjection and God hath Ordained and Honored men to be Heads and Superiours Gen. 3.16 and as the Church is subject to Christ so ought Wives to be to their own Husbands and that Gods own Order and Ordinance might be owned and adorned Let them imitate Sarah who obeyed Abraham and called him Lord. Thus in old time the holy Women put on the Ornament of a meek and quiet spirit which well becomes every Christian and is much set by in the sight of God and man Let Wives then give that Reverence and freely yield that due submission to their Husbands which God hath required of them alwayes endeavouring to approve themselves suitable assistants and meet helps according as they were first created and appointed to be a comfortable Nurse and Yoak-fellow to rejoyce them and to be a constant succour and comfort to them 3. Parents ought to educate and bring up their Children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord and by good Counsel and sound instruction to discharge their duties to them in matters of Faith and Religion Eph. 9.4 and as God hath blessed you with Children so perswade your Children to be Instruments of Glory to him and to make known to them their natural affection according to the neernesse of their Relation avoyding temptations and occasions of their provocations Let every man exercise his fatherly care with Providence and Moderation to make a comfortable provision for them endeavouring to match and prefer them to such as truly fear the Lord and act and walk consonant to the Rule and Circumstance of his Word 4. Children ought to obey their Parents in the Lord and to honour Father and Mother Eph. 6.1 this is Gods Precept for so saith the Word acknowledging them duty and obedience and rendring them their due in Reverence confessing their propriety in them and their authority over them to command them and dispose of them freely to observe their instructions patiently submit to their corrections knowing that children which are Inferiours being disobedient to Parents their Superiours in so neer a Relation is an offence with a high aggravation First 't is a
be leavened and that for such publick and scandalous sins by which God is so highly dishonored and the Church so greatly reproached The Church cannot be purged untill the guilty person be punished Christian Reader As touching this matter I will presume to take the place of a Moderator for I have heard the question debated among able men who in the main agree and design the self same thing there 's only a form of words betwixt them both agree the sinner shall be called into question The one admonishes him for his evill in the Name of the Lord The other passeth a sentence against him by the power of the same Lord both rebuke the person for the wickednesse done both bear their testimony against the crime in order to clear the Church of his Transgression both dis-priviledge the Transgressor of Communion untill he appears a truly humbled person and gives the Congregation full satisfaction so that in truth upon the whole matter there is no material substance that 's worthy to bear the name of a difference so that for my own part for peace sake I could consent either wayes provided the best care be taken by all that are concerned That Gods Honour be preserved all scandall be removed the Truths Innocency delivered and the Churches Reputation vindicated 3. What is to be understood and observed in the prrosecution of Discipline FIrst There is steps and Circumstances to be observed in reproving 1. Timely 2. Affectionately 3. A private fault privately 4. To design the restoring the sinner from iniquity Concerning Excommunication let this order be observed 1. Let it be done in Christs Name and Authority 2. See that sinner be convicted legally 3. Let the Counsell and Blessing of God be sought fervently 4. To the end the flesh may be destroyed and the spirit saved in the day of the Lord. Repentance consists of four parts 1. Contrition of the heart 2. Confession of the mouth 3. Reformation of the life 4. Restitution for the wrong done An order in forgiveness 1. It must be groundedly 2. Freely 3. Fully 4. Perpetually There is a method to be observed in Prayer as our Lord hath taught us saying when we pray pray after this manner When Duties want their Order and Circumstance they are oft-times rejected instead of being accepted for 't is evident God requires equal submission to order as he doth to the duty it self The Wise man Solomon saith He would put his Proverbs in order Eccles 12.9 In all Gods former services about the Ark Alter and Sanctuary the Lord precisely required all persons to attend respectively their Offices and places and that all things should exactly be set in order and appointed to their several uses and for the breach in Order 1 Chr. 19.13 the Lord in his anger caused some deeply to suffer The Apostle Paul speaking of Churchassembling and about Prophesying and touching the Lords Supper he sums up all with this charge Let all things be done decently and in order 1 Cor. 14.40 The same Apostle beholds rejoyceth commends and praises the order of the Colossians Doubtless there ought to be some method in Preaching 'T is great pitty that divine and pure matter should want its beauty and ornament of form and order St. Paul commands Timothy to study to shew himself a workman rightly dividing the Word of truth There is a Rule to be observed in hearing 1. Preparation to hear 2. Attention in hearing 3. Meditation after hearing 4. Supplication before and after a blessing There are steps and degrees in believing 1. The faith of credence 2. The faith of adherence 3. The faith of endurance 4. Of stedfast reliance A Rule to be observed in suffering 1. To have a good cause 2. A right call 3. A good conscience 4. A pure end To be short there ought to be an order in all obedience in respect of matter manner end and circumstance for the righteous God as truely-punishes for the breach of order as he doth for neglect of services As order is the ornament of profession so I may call it the master-piece of Religion for both Gods precepts for it and punishments upon the neglect of it witness the same There ought to be a strict order in the commemoration of the Lords Supper even to hold and keep it with such observation 1 Cor. 11.28 as may answer to the first institution and in presuming to come to such holy Mysteries there ought to be great heart-preparations and self examinations 1. In unity of heart judgement and affection 2. In purity of life and conversation 3. Reverently as being at the Table and in the presence of the God of Heaven Psal 86.11 4 Having an eye to the end which is the victory Christ hath obtained for every Christian 5. To act in charity and freely because love was the first cause of our felicity 6. Rejoycingly as men having interest in the spirituall conquest over our souls adversary and as men purchased from everlasting misery 7. Thankfully humbly accepting reverently and chearfully embracing and with thankfulness partaking of those soul-benefits conveyed and received in that Administration SABBATH SOme brief Rules for the better order and observation of the Lords Day or First Day Sabbath Or if I may not call it a Sabbath I know no reason Deut. 5.15 Col. 1.12 13. But if the Jews were obliged to keep a Sabbath in remembrance of a temporall deliverance from temporall bondage Christians should be much more bound to observe a day as strict as a Sabbath in memoriall and remembrance of their spirituall and eternall deliverance from spirituall and eternall bondage For doubtless Christians are at great losses because of so much remisness and want of strictness in the First Dayes service First Then let the Lords People be stirring betimes upon the Lords Day called so by way of Eminency having a greater work to do than on other days a work attended either with greater blessings if religiously performed or with greater damages if neglected or misimproved Secondly Let them make serious preparation remembring whose service it is and into whose presence they come considering well what they go about and how nearly it respects their eternall Estate Eccles 5.1 Thirdly When they come into the Church Assembly let them attend diligently and behave themselves reverently and that before the Lord with due and humble respect to the administration and Majesty of the Word Fourthly Let them with all watchfulness and holy indignation strive to avoid those unseemly and uncomely behaviours tempers and gestures of lukewarmness coldness drowsie heavy and dull and sleepy carriages in Gods Divine services which is dishonourable to their persons and also unprofitable to their souls Fifthly Let them Meditate upon what they have heard For although the Lords People of the Congregationall way are necessitated to take the most pains to hear the Word in respect of distance of place yet they have one priviledge being improved may yeeld
be freely and generally voted that no members may complain of being dispriviledged and good reason for it because they are to be as Fathers to educate and feed them and to provide their souls food in order to their spirituall interest and everlasting good Fourthly 'T is doubtless the Brethrens Priviledge to have the knowledge of recieving or excluding any member or members into or out of communion with them especially in doubtfull or difficult Cases because they are to be or not to be members of the same body 1 Cor. 5.4 5. and to have fellowship with them in the same holy mystery and if there be any sin contracted either in denying recieving detaining or excluding any person the evil may reflect upon the whole Congregation Fifthly Another Priviledge is If any Brother hath any injury offered him or wrong done him he ought to bring it legally to the Church and there claim his Priviledge to be heard and relieved and to call for justice to be executed Then 't is the Churches duty to proceed and do them equity consonant to that good ancient Rule of doing as a man would be done by Mat. 8.7 and that without delay and partiallity that while we are complaining for want of justice from others we may not neglect to do justice in the Churches Sixthly Such among the Lords People as are justly poor being of the body have a right to be relieved in their outward necessity for as there is a right of propriety Heb. 13.3 so there is a right of charity 't is the Lords Rent-charge the Poors due and the Churches duty There are some unjustly poor who are either idle persons or led through their lusts into poverty others by mans oppression are brought into penury there are some impotent poor so naturally and there are the Lords poor who become so through the consequences of Christianity Seventhly There is another Priviledge that belongs to Christians That if any Person or Party in a Congregation should verily judge and absolutely believe they were oppressed and over-ruled by the rest of the Congregation in any case or controversie that it amounts to high contention and disputation Deut. 17.8 9 10. after all christian and serious means used he or they may make their humble appeal to some other Church in the same Faith and if the case be very weighty then to have recourse to some generall Assembly Acts 15.2 that by all means schisme may be prevented and peace and concord preserved To conclude these things There are other Rights Immunities and Priviledges that of right appertain to Church-Members that if any have a gift in Prayer 1 Pet. 4.10 or by way of Exhortation to have his seasonable time of liberty for the exercise of his gift and to have encouragement in so good a work Moreover if any are under temptation as wounding of spirit sickness of body or any other afflictions he may and ought to have recourse to the Ministers and to ask counsell and assistance of the Elders Jam. 5.14 or to call for them to be their visitants and the Elders ought to attend them in waiting upon their duties by Prayers Instruction or any other services wherein Christs Ministers are obliged and become concerned as they are spirituall guides and Gospel-Physitians Thus we may both learn and discern the great Priviledges that pertain to such as belong to Gospel-Churches to have interest in such provisions and advantages and all within themselves under Christs government and dominion and within their own limits and jurisdiction where all rights and proprieties are equally to be distributed their souls duely nourished their temptations considered burdens removed their bodies healed their poverty supplied their injuries redressed and their priviledges maintained and their causes heard and contentions determined Thus ought Christians to have things common in the spirituall Commonwealth and holy Nation and to maintain a free fellowship and communion both in priviledges and sufferings The truth is the charge of these things chiefly respects Officers to whom the Church hath committed her power and upon whom they have cast the burden of their care who ought as instruments in the name of Christ with the Churches consent to exercise the severall parts and offices of Government and as they are intrusted by God so they ought to act faithfull according to his Word and as they ought not to exercise lordship to usurp authority so they ought not to deface and diminish ought of Christs or his Churches power and dignity For if our Lord died to enter the government and our liberties and priviledges were purchased at so dear a rate and now committed to the care of the Churches there is a great obligation lyes upon the Congregation to see that these things be carefully maintained and constantly preserved and especially such as are in publick trust to improve their places and discharge good consciences to be a just defence to all persons in their spirituall rights and immunities that there may be no just cause of complaints in all our streets or borders Fifthly What Disorders are to be prevented corrected and removed AS when duties are put into the best form they appear with the most beauty so when the branches of impiety are set in order they appear in their ugly shape of deformity I will set some before you which I believe are sometimes found amongst you which are a dishonour to Christians and are great disturbances to the peace of the Churches and these evils are both of omission and commission First 'T is found too much neglected by teachers and leaders that the People are not taught but are very ignorant in the orders and principles of true discipline and right government Secondly When a man doth not prize and tender the unity and Peace of the Church as he ought but shall inconsiderately and indiscreetly publish and possibly endeavour to enforce a Principle upon the People or a Practice upon a Person before they themselves have sufficiently tried and proved it or the People or Person are prepared to bear it Ioh. 16.12 or made fit and capale to receive it and so oft-times a disturbance attends it Thirdly Another Disorder which doth mostly respect the Elders That is when disorderly walkers who are known to live and continue in sin and the Church neglects her Duty in Discipline not remembring all the time this sin is unpunished 1 Cor. 5.2 God is dishonoured their Duty neglected the Truth reproached the most religious grieved and scorners at Religion rejoyced Gods appointed Ordinance to destroy the flesh omitted and the proper means neglected by which the sinner should be restored Fourthly Another Disorder is when the members of one Congregation shall receive a member or members from another Congregation without their knowledge or consent or a letter of Recommendation from them to whom he or they did belong except in any case extraordinary by which disorders follow bad consequences Rom. 16.1 2.
evills are both of Omission and Commission In the execution of Discipline we are to endeavour the destruction of all sin and for our better knowledge and prosecution of this design we may enquire how many wayes a man may sin A man may sin severall ways in the Commission of sin and several wayes touching the punishment of sin 1. In the commission of sin a man may actually sin in his own person 2. A man may sin by counselling and abetting with another in sin 3. A man may sin by countenancing and incouraging one that hath sinned 4. A man may sin by not restoring his brother that 's overtaken in sin 5. A man may hate his brother and have fellowship with sin by not reproving his sin 6. In a compact body all are guilty of another mans sin that refuse to joyn in the punishment of a sinner 7. And the Church may contract iniquity in doing Justice and not doing it throughly 2. How may a man be guilty and sin in punishing of sin Answ In the branches of in justice and Oppression 1. To punish a man as an offender without the breach of some Law is Injustice and Oppression 2. To neglect to punish an Offender that transgresses the Law is a branch of Injustice 3. To wrest Judgement out of it's true Channell and to turn Justice out of it's legall course is another branch of Injustice 4. To respect Persons and regard Causes so as to condemn the innocent and clear the guilty 't is Oppession In juffice and an abomination 5. To impose a lesse penalty upon an offender then his offence deserves is another branch of Injustice 6. To inffict a greater punishment upon a Trespasser than the Law requires is another branch of Injustice and Oppession 7. Not timely to relieve the Oppressed and duly to acquit and discharge the Innocent man is another high branch of Injustice and Oppression To conclude this point in question this shews us what Justice is by the rule of a contrary observation To execute Justice timely impartially and thoroughly is true Justice according to Gods Law having thus sorted our materials and made our division I proceed to Justice it self in it's Execution 7. Tho true Order of the Execution of Justice and Discipline EXecution is the life of Governing when Laws and Rules lye unexecuted 't is like Ingagements unperformed Right Discipline in it's execution carrieth a good Reputation It beats down evill designs it gives Countenance to the best things it disturbs the Nocent and rejoyceth the innocent It displeaseth the Righteous God when such as are placed and be trusted Prov. 17.15 with the weighty imployment of Church-Government and shall either not judge at all or else in judgement are unjust and partial To punish the Innocent that ought to be cleared or to clear the Guilty that ought to be punished A man had need be just in discharging Conscience in punishing sins lest he be found guilty of the bloud of perishing souls and when the Church of God shall assemble themselves upon this solemn occasion 1. Let the Word be sounded like a Trumpet that the people may be warned and informed into whose all-seeing presence they come and that God is present with them and judgeth among them to beget the people in an awfull fear and holy reverence of his sacred Majesty and Presence To remember the people by improving some words by way of charge and to produce Commissions from Gods holy writing and to let the people know they are properly concerned legally returned and solemnly ingaged to take their places and humbly to attend upon Gods services and to tell them the Lord hath betrusted us with Offices and Priviledges and furnished us with such authority that we should act like a holy Nation and spiritual Court in all Justice and Fidelity 2. Because all things are sanctified by the Word and Prayer let humble and fervent supplications be made to the God of Heaven to be counsell for you and to prepare sanctifie and direct you in that serious matter undertaken by you and that your part may be so done and performed on earth That whatsoever ye bind or loose may be done and confirmed in Heaven Mat. 18.18 and as in all other Religious services there ought to be good advice taken sufficient tryal made before the exercise of action much more in this case wherein we act for God and must give an account to God in this matter there had need to precede a Judgement of preparation before the judgement of Execution 1. To consider we must act in Christs Name and by vertue of his Authority and that this action ought as it were to type out the last judgement and to hold forth Christs Righteous Government 2. To examine whether the matter be brought orderly and the parties have proceeded legally 3. To consider the capacity of the person offending whether a member or a Officer for although the Lord respects not Persons yet he allows some priviledge to Offices 4. To enquire of the nature of the Offence whether more directly against God or man whether publick or private 5. To examine what provocations the offender had to it and what design he had in it whether ignorantly or wilfully Seventhly Having found out the nature of the sin then to have recourse to the law that makes it a transgression Let the Law and the Offence be equally compared and the penalty justly imposed 7. Let all proceedings be mixed with compassion that it may answer to the design of Heaven the end to destroy the flesh and to restore the offender out of transgression Having thus made preparation proceed to probation and to the act of Execution also remembring God is with you and Judges of the judgement passed by you Psal 83.1 and that in a subordinate humble sence ye ought to hold forth the glory of his Presence and that with all justnesse humblenesse and gravity representing his dignity mercy purity and severity and so to passe sentence according as in Justice ye shall see cause without delay or partiality purged of all favour prejudice and hypocrisie without regard to causes knowing faces or repecting persons as acting for God uprightly Deut. 1.17 that it may be received and approved in the Court of Eternity Secondly Some further circumstances to be observed in the prosecution of Church-Discipline let be done and executed speedily not to suffer sin to lye upon thy brother Lev. 19.17 or to infect the spiritual body A green sore is soonest healed a disease taken new is easiest cured in like manner trespasses or contentions amongst Church-members taken timely are best purged appeased and reconciled Thirdly Them that are Judges of others in the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction are to be Counsellors to the offenders especially if they be ignorant persons not to daunt or surprize them or take quick advantages against them but as we ought to act in the Lords Name so to act in the Lords fear towards
maintained and the poor relieved The Lord is pleased to define the sin and calls it robbery and injustice he repayes the evill with a curse of penury And as all Scripture is recorded for our learning and instruction so these presidents of miscarriages and punishments are become our premonitions and warnings that by preventing the sins we may clearly escape the punishments Thus much be spoken touching the Caution and Admonition Lastly A word of Encouragement and so I have done I am of St. Peters perswasion to put you in remembrance of these things although ye know them and be established in them but to observe the speciall notice the Lord takes and countenance he manifests to such as are just and righteous as Noah Lot and Phineas Caleb Joshua and many others who for their integrity fidelity and singularity are blest with speciall security that while others fall under judgement and misery as a demonstration the Lord records their names commends their actions secures their persons and comprehends in the blessing their posterities and families The Prophet Jeremiah speaking in commendations of Josiah King of Judah said thus of him Jer. 22.15 16. that he did execute judgement and justice and then it was well with him this is rightly to know God Was not this to know me saith the Lord. These that were men of justice and faithfulness the Lord counts it unto them for righteousness John the Baptist was a righteous man and faithfull and just in reproving sin and so obtained this commendation to be called a just and holy man Also the Lord was pleased greatly to honour Abraham in making him privy to his design of justice upon Sodom and admits him to parle touching their destruction the Lord gives this character of him that he will command his children and his houshold after him Gen. 18.19 and like a man of government to keep the way of the Lord to do justice and judgement The Lord doth so highly account and so much delight in truth and judgement that if there were but one man found in the City Jerusalem Jer. 5.1 to seek for it and in the execution of it notwithstanding a wicked City he would pardon it The Lord takes such pleasure in justice that he prefers it above other sacrifice for it is the habitation of his holiness Finally The benefits that attend such as give Christs servants their due encouragements If I may take leave once again to look back into the Old Testament Mapp recorded in the Prophesie of Malaechy I will shew you a three-fold blessing that attends this duty 1. The Lord invites and tempts them to do their duty 2. He is pleased to promise upon doing their duty he will pour out blessings and that abundantly for their sakes 3. He will remove the curse stop the destroyer reprove the consumer and rebuke the devourer 4. The Lord will so raise their fame and commendations that they shall be called a blessed people and that by all Nations In my making use of Old Testament Scriptures 't is not to make it our rule but to make use of their concurrences and assistances for they may in some measure help us as mapps and glasses to discover our duties and to see our dangers For as in the Gospell dayes duties are more richly and rarely blessed so new testaments neglects Heb. 10.28 29. and contempts are more sorely and dreadfully punisht Thus I have as it were set some Land-marks to guide you in the way to felicity and also discovered some Sea-marks to avoid the rocks of misery and having thus born my testimony I commend you all to God and wish you eternall mansions of glory FINIS POSTSCRIPT NOw if any Brother or Well-wisher shall conscientiously doubt or be dis-satisfied touching any particular Point contained in this Treatise because of my speaking to many things in a little room And if he or they shall be serious in so doing and will be-friend me so far and do me that courtesie to send to me before they condemn me and let me know their scruples in a few words of writing I shall look upon my self obliged both in affection and reason to endeavour to give them full satisfaction FINIS A Table of the principall Matters contained in this Book CHAP. I. THe Causes of peace and prosperity in the Churches of Jesus Christ page 1 2. The antiquity and dignity of Church-Government p. 3. The personall and princely Excellencies in Christ as the head of his Church p. 6. Chap. 2. Shewing the definition of Church-Government in New Testament dayes viz. in not inflicting bodily punishment upon offenders but spiritually executing Laws without knowing faces respecting persons wresting causes either for favour or prejudice to any persons p. 9. A true Ministers most speciall work and duty to the flock under all circumstances laid down p. 11 12. Chap. 3. Shewing the necessity of and reasons for Church-Governours and Governments p. 12 13. Chap. 4. Shewing the good use and great benefit that comes by right Government p. 19. Right Government is destructive to iniquity and a protection to piety p. 22 23. Chap. 5. Rules tendred to accomplish a right Government and the manner how to choose their Officers p. 26. 27. The work of the Officers when chosen p. 28 29 30. Chap. 6. Shewing the duty of Christians as they stand related to civill Magistrates requiring civill subjection not only for wrath but for conscience sake p. 38. Chap. 7. Treating of Family duties Superiours to Inferiours and Inferiours to Superiours with Directions to a religious choice in Yoke-fellows p. 40 41 c. Chap. 8. Treating particularly of Family duties p. 51. Chap. 9. Treating of private and personall Government p. 56. Cautions not to grieve Gods Spirit nor offend Conscience p. 61. Rules for the heart mouth eyes and ears p. 65 c. Chap. 10. Shewing the true order and right manner of executing Church-Government in seven Rules p. 73 74. Chap. 11. Treating of restitution to be made by an offender p. 76. Concerning dealing with Hereticks and other offenders p. 77 78. Chap. 12. Rules of Discipline how to treat an offender in orderlyest wayes how to restore him p. 80. Rules of better observation of the Lords Day or First Day Sabbath p. 83. Rules for Admonition of penitent persons after Excommunication p. 87. Chap. 13. Shewing what Priviledges are to be maintained to Officers and Members in Christs Congregation p. 88 c. Chap. 14. Shewing what Disorders ought to be prevented corrected or removed p. 95. Rules how the offended ought to treat the offending Brother p. 97 c. Seven Descriptions of the nature of the Devil the Churches adversary by his names p. 102. Chap. 15. Shewing what Branches of injustice and oppression are to be avoided in the punishment of sin p. 103. Chap. 16. Shewing the true order and the execution of Discipline and Justice p. 105. Rules to set out the ugly nature of sin in its aggravations to the thorow humbling the offender p. 109. Usefull Directions for the promoting and preserving unity and peace in the Churches of Christ p. 112 113 c. Chap. 17. Giving Directions how to uphold and preserve Church-Government p. 115 c. Chap. 18. Shewing the duty of particular Elders over particular Churches p. 119. to 124. Chap. 19. Shewing the Office and Duty of Deacons in Christs Congregations p. 124. to 129. Chap. 20. Shewing the Duty of Church-members to their Officers p. 129 130 c. A Duty incumbent and of high concern for Churches to present humble frequent and fervent prayers for such as are called to be Gospell-Governours that they may rule for God in justice and righteousness and for the encrease of faithfull Labourers in his harvest p. 132 to 135. Chap. 21. Shewing what God hath ordained respecting his Ministers Maintenance p. 135 136 c. The Necessity of making carefull and sutable provision for the Ministry with the sad effects that accompany the contrary p. 139 140 c. Encouragements to this work shewing the advantages that attend the due performance of it p. 143 144 c. Counsell to forwardness in assisting the Ministry with our worldly possessions Also a Caution against Covetonsness describing what it is p. 145 146. Objections against this needfull work answered p. 148. A generall resolution in all difficult and doubtfull Cases p. 149. The dreadfull consequences in Minister and People to do the work of the Lord negligently with comfortable Encouragements to constant diligence p. 150 151 152 c.