heed as unto a light that shineth in a darke place untill the day dawne and the day starre arise in your hearts and from hence it is evident that the Scripture is the very word of God which proceedeth out of God by inspiration by instrumentall publishing and writing the same and the written Word being the same proceeding word of God even God declared in writing The Scriptures therefore are the Fountaines of living water and the ground of truth for preaching teaching and instruction exhortation and correction And therefore the Scriptures are to be had in Divine estimation for they containe the divine Word it selfe and the Pastors and teachers thereof being thereunto called of God by a full measure of inspiration are to be esteemed the Messengers and Embassadours of God And this is alwayes to be understood that no man can attaine to the interpretation of the written Word by naturall ingenuitie or humane learning or art or industrie though all be needfull instruments and meanes of knowledge but onely by inspiration of the proceeding Word as ver. 21. 20. 21. so that first ye know this that no prophecie of the Scripturis of any private interpretation For as the prophecie came not in old time by the will of men but holy men of God spake â—â— they were moved by the holy Ghost so must holy then of God speake and interpret the Scriptures as they are moved by the holy Ghost And that we may know the interpretation to be of the holy Ghost being the proceeding Word and hee that indicted the same Word from the Father and the Sonne by inspiration cannot give any other sence or understanding to the written Word then is agreeable to the nature of the Word in the person of the Sonne and of the Father and the Word in the person of the Sonne is the revealed will of God the Father made manifest in the flesh Therefore we may discerne whether the interpretation be of the Spirit of God or no by this Iohn 4. 2. 3. Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God and every spirit that confesseth not that Iesus is come in the flesh is not of God For the confession is not an out ward confession of the lips nor an historicall confession of the mind nor a voluntary supposition and opinion of carnall reason but it is the confession of the Spirit of God which declares and manifests to the heart that the Word that is come in the flesh is the very true God as Christ said to know thee and him whom thou hast sent Christ to be the very true God as Peter confessed thou art that Christ that Sonne of God and Christ told him that flesh and blood did not teach him this but his Father revealed it unto him This word of God not having beene after this order knowne and considered hath beene the cause and occasion of much mistake and errours in the Church of God but understanding the Word in the true nature and property of Gods order and manner of working leadeth us by the hand from one gradation to another and stoppeth the mouth of all men that speake against the Scriptures and the holy Spirit For considering the word of God in these gradations we shall evidently perceive and understand that the power and authoritie giuen and committed to the Church is no other thing but the proceeding word of God ministring the begotten Word from the Father manifested in the flesh which ministration is two fold internall by inspiration through hearing of the Word because man is an intellectuall Spirit and therefore a proper Tabernacle for the divine Word to dwell in Also externall ministration because man dwells in an elementary earthly and naturall tabernacle therefore the holy Ghost applyeth himselfe to mans infirmity and doth use in his externall ministration elementary earthy and naturall instruments by which as a meanes and ordinance the proceeding Word and the power thereof is daily communicated unto man both to ingraft him into the Word and to nourish him in the Word unto everlasting life For this manner of externall ministration is necessary for man so long as hee dwelleth in this body or earthly house The instruments which the holy Ghost doth use in the dispensation of the ministeriall Word are either proper as some members of the Church set apart for the worke of the ministery or lesse proper as the signes of the Sacraments I may call those the externall gifts which God gives to his Church for it is said that unto every one of us is given grace or the gifts of the Spirit according to the measure of the gift in Christ For wee may discerne the Church is a compact body knit to the head Christ and consisteth of many members yet in unity of the spirit they are one body and although there be but one Spirit yet are there diversities of gifts diversities of administrations diversities of operations yet all one and the same spirit and these diversities of gifts make diversities of functions So there are many functions in the Church but God worketh all in all But the manifestation of the spirit is given to every man to profit withall but peculiar gifts without the which the Church cannot at any time be and therefore most proper of which it is said that Christ ascended on high and lead captivity captive and received gifts to give unto men as some to bee Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers Here is to bee observed that the divine power by internall dispensation is given in common to all and every member of the Church so that all have common interest in the word of God and peculiar power thereby to admonish comfort and instruct one another and pray for one another and beare one anothers burdens especially they are all Kings Priests and Prophets in their Families For every Father ought to use the office of an Elder in his house Deut 6. 6 7. Deut. 4. 9. But for the externall dispensation of the Word the power and efficacy thereof is committed unto peculiar men wherof Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors teachers are in the first ranke and functions and the power and efficacy which is given them is onely the ministration of the Word they have not that absolute power which Christ hath to know who are his from the beginning and to have compassion on whom he would have compassion and to shew mercy on whom hee would show mercy For Christ had not this absolute power as he was the Son of man but as he was the person of God For as he was Man he came not to do his owne will but the will of his Father So likewise when he sent his Apostles and Disciples to teach all Nations he sent them as he was sent of his Father So send I you saith he which was not to doe their owne will nor to teach their owne doctrine but to do his will
Governours in the Church as neither the Synagogue nor the Christian Church could bee well governed without called Elders in both Churches As Ambrose speaking in his Homilies upon the fifth of Timothie and the first verse saith to this effect Both the Synagogue and afterward the Church had Elders without whose counsell nothing was done in the Church though in his times they were almost lost as he saith in the same place which saith he by what negligence it is growne out of use I know not unlesse peradventure by their negligence or rather the pride of the teachers whilest they alone would be all and doe all It these governours were so decayed in his time how much more are they now worne out of memorie in these our dayes But who list to peruse the history of the primitive times may observe that so long as this government stood in equall dependancie with their Pastors there could no heresie ever get footing in the Church of God But after it was lost and neglected the Arrian heresie crept into the Church and filled the universall Church and all Kingdomes with ambition contention heresies and warre as in the Revelation The name of Elders is now become an uncouth and abhorred name though it hath beene alwayes used from the beginning both in Church and Common-wealth to signifie both politique and Ecclesiasticall Governours For if we consider the derivation of the word Priest it is no other but Elder as in the Greeke it is called {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} which in Latine is Senex {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} being rendred Presbiter and in English Elder being the comparative of {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} And in this sence the Apostles called themselves Elders as John in his second Epistle 1. verse The denominations of Pastors Teachers Bishops and Elders in the Church were promiscuously used becaūse though they were distinguished by particular duties and administrations yet all was of one and the same spirit and power As Paul 2 Tin 1. 11. accounted himselfe a Preacher and teacher of the Gentiles aswell as an Apostle But there is no name that belongs to the functions of the Church of God that doth so much trouble the Church and the whole world as the name Episcopus Which though I find it but once or twice named in the New Testament as though the holy Ghost thought it not convenient often to use that name foreknowing and foreseeing how much mischiefe it would bring forth to the Christian Church yet I finde it a name much and frequontly used by the Antient Fathers and Historians insomuch as for the reverend and high esteeme it got among them it is advanced to signifie preheminence and a spirituall office and dignitie and honour above temporall Monarchs or rather at least in some of their owne conceits and expressions higher then a Monarch a Pope of universall supremacie above all that is called God Notwithstanding that the name derived from the Greeke {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} signifieth no more but to survey to consider of the deportment of the flocke by God committed unto his charge as of which he is to render an account so that the etymologie of the word will not imply that lording power which they doe arrogate unto themselves But {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} which signifies busie-bodyes or medlers in other mens matters derived of {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} in Latine alvis and the word {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} which is in the language of this age usually rendred Bishop seemes to me a very opposite word to decipher the lording Bishops of our times which like the Angels that left their primitive station omitting the proper worke of their ministeriall functions doe moue in an improper orbe of secular affaires and so may well be called {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Busie-bodies or busie Bishops If any desire to know the office and dutie of a Bishop as the holy Scripture setteth it forth let them reade the third Chapter of Paul to Timothie and also the first of Peter the fifth Chapter the second and third verses where the office of a Bishop is described under the name of an Elder Of antient and primitive government of the Church of God The antient Apostolike and Primitive Government was under Pastors Deacons and Elders in every Congregation The manner of their government was twofold the first part whereof was particular to every man in his function The second part was joyntly and publickly together and none without another The Pastor Teacher or Bishop his particular function or office was as a President overseer and director not only as a Teacher but also as an Elder watching over the health of their soules and outward manners and conversation caring for the spirituall good and salvation of every one whose office is set forth in the first of Timothie the 3. chap. 2. 3. 4. 6. verses Hee must be a man blamelesse continent vigilant sober of good behaviour given to hospitality apt to teach not given to wine no striker nor greedy of filthy lucre no brawler not covetous one that ruleth well his owne house having his Children in subjection with all gravity hee must not be a novice lest through pride he fall into condemnation and he ought to be of good report among the adversaries that the word of God be not evill spoken of Also Peter exhorts Bishops under the name of Elders acknowledging himselfe also to be an Elder saying Feed the flocke of God which dependeth upon you caring for it not by constraint but willingly not for filthy lucre but of a ready mind not as though yee were Lords over Gods heritage but that ye may be ensamples to the flocke And as Paul advised Timothy to preach the word of God Bee instant in season and out of season reprove rebuke exhort with all long suffering and doctrine And after the same manner and in the same sence Christ excited Peter that the more he loved him the more he should labour to feed his lambes his sheepe his flocke But Lordly preheminence Christ did not onely forbid saying The Lords of the Gentiles have power over them but it shall not be so among you but also saith Hee that would bee the greatest among you let him doe most service to the rest But that fearefull admonition of Christ me thinkes should shake the hearts of our Bishops with feare that use predominance over their fellowes and Church of God Mat 24. Who is a faithfull and wise servant whom God hath made ruler over his household to give them meat in due season Blessed is that servant whom the Lord shall find doing so he shall make him ruler over all his goods But if that evill servant shall say in his heart My Master doth deferre his comming and begin to smite his fellowes and to eat and
the glory This kingdome is one entire kingdome of distinct gradations yet individuall like the wheeles in the vision of Exechiel one within another as the kingdome of Providence the Church of Christ militant with the Soules triumphant and the dominions powers and principalities of Angels ministring before him The dominion given unto Christ as he is the Sonne of man * Christ God and Man is the personall power of the Fathers eternall begotten Word by individuall union of Divine nature with the humanity communicated to Gods elect whereby hee is the ingraven forme of the Fathers owne person unto the world holding up all things by his mighty Word This Word by the ministeriall proceeding of the holy Ghost is that Scepter of righteousnesse whereby he guideth and ruleth his kingdomes as David saith thy Throne O God is for ever the Scepter of thy kingdome is a Scepter of righteousnesse This is that Scepter of righteousnesse by the precepts and power whereof Kings raign and Princes decree Justice For this cause Christ is called the King of Kings and Lord of Lords the onely ruler of Princes Of the first gradation For the first gradation of Gods great kingdome God by Divine ordination in nature in the Creation gave a blessing and dominion unto Adam to fill the earth with his seed and to subdue it under his obedience For this cause it is said the heaven of heavens is the Lords the earth he hath given to the Children of men from hence God claimes the first borne to be his substitutes on earth which honour in the beginning was due to them as the dignity of their birth-right by Gods ordination which continued in the Family of Adam till Cain lost it by killing his brother Abell Cham lost it by scoffing his father Noah Esau sold it for a messe of Pottage and Reuben lost it by defiling of his fathers bed Then by the law of that ordinance the dignitie of Birth-right was of divine right conferred upon the Tribe of Judah and reserved in the line of Iudah for the Lyon of Judah who is the image of the invisible God the first begotten of every creature and for that all things were created by him and for him and that he is before all things and in him all things consist And also being the ordained Lambe of God before the foundation of the world he is therefore made the head of the body of the Church King of Israel that in all things bee might have dominion and preheminence both of things in earth and things in heaven For it was the Fathers pleasure that in him all fulnesse should dwell from this fountaine all soveraigntie is derived How Christ doth constitute his Vice-royes on earth Kings Princes and Potentates c. The first ordination of Soveraignty being thus as I have shewed of Divine right conferred upon the naturall Sonne of God sitting upon his highest Throne of glory farre above all powers and principalities he doth by his divine and all foreseeing providence constitute whom it pleaseth him to sit upon his earthly Thrones over any Nation people or language induing them with proper gifts of his owne spirit for rule and government Thus doth God constitute Kings and Princes and Rulers after what manner soever it bee done on earth whether by lineall descent or Nationall choise or by the sword howsoever the hand of Providence doth direct appoint and establish 1 Sam. 2. 4. Psal. 123. Hee raiseth the poore out of the dust and lifteth the beggar out of the dung to set them among Princes and to make them inherit the seat of glory Also hee pulleth downe and setteth up at his pleasure It is profitable for us to observe that Adam by his transgression lost neither the natural faculties of his soule nor the honour and dignity of his birth-right and dominion though at the first by losing that breath of life which was the light and life of his soule and that made him the perfect Image of God they were weakened and blemished in capacitie For if he had lost his naturall faculties hee had lost the forme of his being and if his birth-right and dignity of dominion had beene abolished before it had beene conferred upon another then should nature have been deprived of the ministration of judgement Justice and equity which would have brought forth an utter dissolution of the whole generation of man But after the sonnes of Adam as it were forfeited their dignity and birth-right of dominion by multiplying transgression then God the Father conferred the preheminence thereof upon the Sonne of Man even Christ that he might consecrate and appoint whom it seemed good unto him to sit upon his temporall Throne so that birth-right and preheminence might be his in whom all fulnesse dwelt And that by him Judgement Justice and equity might reigne with men Thus the Regall power of Princes is derived from Christ by the rule of divine ordination in nature for he that is the Author of nature is the observerr and preserver of all the ordinances in nature so that this royall office is restored to man by ordination in Christ But the priestly and propheticall office man hath from God by union and communion with Christ and by inspiration and supernaturall donation through the holy Ghost For this cause a Tyrant may bee a lawfull King by ordination of God yet no Christian member of Christ Difference betwixt Regall ordination and Divine power From hence we may extract an evident difference betwixt the power of royall ordination in nature and the supernaturall power of God which is given to his Church on earth That is a ministeriall power to distribute Judgement Justice and equity amongst men with absolute power of coaction to punish actuall offences with corporall or pecuniary punishment upon body lands and goods This other is a supernaturall power and divine efficacy properly given to the elect of God by inspiration whereby they have union and communion with Christ and one with another for every ones owne particular prerogative of son ship and for the edification one of another and to some men it is given in a peculiar manner and a greater measure of divine power and gifts for the ministration writing teaching and preaching of the Word and Sacraments of God which is that which was revealed by God to the antient Prophets and that which was taught by Christ and after written by the Spirit of God from the pen and mouth of the Apostles And this power is a ministeriall power mighty in operation to bind and loose the conscience to open and shut heaven and hell by declaring the judgement of God against unpentient sinners and his mercy in Christ to the penitent man as he hath taught and revealed for this power doth not follow the judgement and will of man nor succession of profession but is tyed and limited to the power of the Word and will of God Therefore what they bind
he led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men As Ephes 4 11. he gave some to be Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists and some Pastours and Teachers In this place of Scripture he onely setteth forth the principall functions in the Church whereof the first paire as namely Apostles and Evangelists were of immediate calling and appropriated to the time ordained by Christ onely for the propagation and first progression of the Gospell the gifts of prophecie and working of miracles attending the confirmation of their doctrine As the necessitie of those times required and as Christ had promised Marke 16. 17 18. And these signes shall follow them that beleeve in my Name they shall cast out devils they shall speake with new tongues they shall take up Serpents and if they drink any deadly poyson it shall not hurt them they shall lay their hands on the sicke and they shall recover The second paire are Pastors and Teachers distinguished by their ordination for these were ordained internally by the outward dispensation of hearing the Word preached by the Apostles then externally chosen by the Church as Acts the sixth after consecrated by the Apostles by prayer and laying on of hands of the Apostles and Elders Acts 14. 23. This order of ministers is ordinarie and to continue in the Church unto the comming of our Lord to Judgement Both these paires are but one and the same function and office and have but one and the same Commission which was given by the immediate ordination of Christ to his Apostles For as God the Father sent his beloved Sonne to bee a light unto the Gentiles and the glory of his people Israel in declaring unto them the glad tydings of salvation in his death unto the remission of sinnes So Christ sayd to his Disciples As my Father sent me so send I you John 20. 21 22. The power and authority committed unto them by this commission is the breath of life out of the mouth of Christ proceeding from the Father and the Sonne as it is said Man lives not by bread onely but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God Therefore he breathed on them and said Receive ye the holy Ghost For the word which Christ spake or breathed out of his mouth hee affirmed to be spirit and life saying John 6. The flesh profiteth nothing but the word that I speake is spirit and life The substance of this Commission is mandatory Matt. 28. 19. Goe teach all Nations baptizing them in the name of the Father of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost The doctrinall part of their commission is teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and Marke 26. 15. hath it in these words Preach the Gospell to every creature Now the summe of the doctrine which Christ taught is set downe more plainly by St. Luke 24. 44. These are the words that I spake unto you whilst I was yet with you that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law and the Prophets and in the Psalmes concerning mee And he who was spirit life and light opened their understandings that they might understand the Scriptures and said Thus it is written and thus it behoved Christ to suffer and rise from the dead the third day And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his Name among all Nations beginning at Ierusalem And after this manner doe the Pastors and Ministers blesse teach and sanctifie the people Thus Christ by preaching and teaching unto them the word of God out of his mouth he opened their understandings in the Scriptures and thereby they received the holy Ghost for this is Christs manner of breathing upon them Iohn 20. when hee said receive yee the holy Ghost But in Luke he saith Behold I send the promise of my Father upon you Which is to say I will send a visible token of the Spirit upon you or the efficacie of the Spirit upon you Therefore he sayd Tarry yee in the Citie of Ierusalem untill you bee endued with power from on high Not but that they had received the holy Ghost before but not the manifestation and evident power thereof as afterwards it did fall upon them in the similitude of fiery cloven tongues Acts 2. The fruites and operative effects of ministration of the Spirit is set forth Iohn 2. 23. Whose soever sinnes ye remit they are remitted unto them and whose soever sinnes ye retaine they are retained For this is the power and efficacie of the ministeriall Word as hath beene formerly showne which floweth from the absolute power of Christ which was given unto him of the Father as he affirmed to his Disciples Matt. 28. 18. All power is given me in heaven and in Earth And this ministration of the Gospell is that key of David committed unto Christ by which he should open and no man shut and should shut and no man should open And in the 16. of Matthew 16 17. 18. ver. it is evident that this power of the keyes is onely the power of the Gospell of Christ or rather as Peter confessed the Lord Jesus to bee that Christ that Sonne of the living God which he received not by the intelligence of flesh and blood but by Revelation from God the Father this power changeth the whole corrupt nature of man and gives him another denomination or qualitie making him a strong and immoveable rock turning Peter to Petra Thus after this manner is the revelation and power of the Word given in generall to every one that receiveth the knowledge of Christ to beleeve that he is that Christ that Sonne of the living God God himselfe against this rocke the gates of hell the powers and principalities of darknesse and worldly Governours cannot prevaile But the particular and publicke ministration thereof is committed to the Pastors and teachers of the Church of God by whose ministration and publicke dispensation of the Word the hearts and consciences of men are opened and shut bound and loosed every day as Lydia and others in the Acts in which the Word becomes the savour of life unto some and the savour of death unto others And this ministeriall power is also given unto them for divine censure and publicke correction to roote out abominable and unsufferable vices in the Church and Congregations as shall be shewed in his proper place Of the nominations under the Law and under the Gospell Under the Law it is undeniable that the Ministers and Governours of the Church were called Priests Levites and Elders Also in the Christian Church leaving out the extraordinary functions of Apostles and Evangelists they are called Pastors Teachers Helpers and Governours As these rankes are expressed in the 1 Cor. 12. 28. Of helpers wee reade they were added to the Christian Church in the sixth of the Acts whose office seemes to be in the place of the Levites as they are called Deacons And
theoricke is also a part of Discipline in the practicke therefore though I have shewed that election and ordination are necessary relatives in the Church that as proper to the Congregation this other to the Pastours and how they were practised by the Apostles yet it is needfull to reforme the Judgements and opinions of men to shew how it is most proper for Congregations to choose their Pastours and Elders and Deacons and also their consent and counsell in their ordination To satisfie any indifferent judgement it is best to make it a perpetuall rule and patterne to follow the example of the Apostles but it is an enforcing reason that is necessary that the people whose summum bonum doth instrumentally consist in their Pastor should be well acquainted and sufficiently experimented in his life and conversation as also in his doctrine which they ought to taste by their care for the earth tasteth words as the palate doth meat before they make choyce of him though it may bee they cannot nor is it required at their hands to trie his schollarship but their capacities if it be a Congregation that hath lived and been nourished under a wholsome and structifying ministery may well judge and taste the sweetnesse of the divine gift of Preaching by the care and so trie his doctrine as the men of Berea did the doctrine of Paul and it may so happen in some Congregations that are well edified in the Word of God that they may have among themselves some of their Deacons able and sufficient to succeed their deceased Pastor and withall I doe not thinke it fit to exclude the choyce and presentation of the Universities nor to debarre their Letters of commendation nor for one Congregation to supply the want of another for all Congregations are members one of another and every Christian University is a Congregation and they all make but one Church to God But what shall I say of Patrons presentations I know not unlesse I should say they are too frequently the seed of Simony For except the Nobles and Peeres of this Kingdome doe freely bestow their presentations I feare there are not many that doe the like and to speake truly of their first donation it was not done purely For the Donors in reserving a presentation to them and their heires they kept backe a part of the possession they had dedicated to God as did Ananias and Saphira And so if they bee righty considered they are are as unnecessary evills in the Church as Deanes and Prebends which no man can tell to what use they serve in the Church But if Patrons cannot be admitted by our law let them present three or foure at the least that the Church may have her choyce and as much as may be avoyd that horrid crime of Simony And as for ordination though the power thereof rest in the Pastors and * Bishops yet it is great arrogancie and presumption to forsake the Apostolike and Primitive practise and usurpe a singularity and predominancie to themselves as if they would disdaine the humility of the Apostles and condemne the wisedome of the holy Ghost But that which doth foster and nourish men in a good opinion of this errour to attribute such absolute power to the Bishops and Clergie is that mysticall doctrine of Antichrist which in that smoakie darknesse thrust upon the world for an undeniable truth that the Church in her essence is to bee conceived to bee the Bishops and Clergie and that they onely have the unerrable Spirit of God and that thereby they have power to doe all things as much and as absolutely as Christ himselfe when he was on earth as once a Romish Priest averred to me that the Priests or Clergie were the soule of the Church The nourishing and maintaining of this opinion is the cause why the world hath so long and so madly doated after Episcopacie But if we thinke it fit to cast away the pride and ambition of man abhorre this opinion and let the worke bee of God and not of man Of Excommunication Now touching Excommunication which is that supreme Discipline and divine power which purgeth and segregateth the drosse from the pure gold in the temple of God This part of Discipline is of so high and holy a nature and qualitie as that of a Christian it ought to bee had in a most reverend estimation above all the powers of earth for it is thunderbolt and lightning of God that upon whom it falleth and pierceth it doth consume with a terrible flame and grind him to powder with a direfull fall This power is committed unto the Church not to Bishops alone nor to the Pastors or Clergie onely neither have the Elders this power appropriate unto them but the Church As Mat. 18 17. If he will not heare then tell it unto the Church Now the Church is not properly to bee conceived to consist in any one person who is but a member of the whole nor can she be said to be any one proper function in the Church but the whole Church consisting of one head Christ and many members indued with divers and many administrations and gifts of one and the same spirit and in this sence every particular publicke Congregation is an entire Church and a member of the universall Church throughout the world because a Congregation containes in it selfe the whole Church of God as she hath one and the same head Christ one and the same Spirit and one and the same ministration of the same Word and Sacrament and one and the same God and Father of all above all in all and through all and one And thus having the same Word and Doctrine the same functions of Pastors Teachers Deacons and Elders the same Sacraments Administration Discipline and Government so that hereby they are united one into another and one in all and all in all The private exercise of this part of Discipline I have spoken of which by degrees in private admonition if it bring not forth the fruits of repentance and amendment proceeds to the first degree of publicke correction Tell the Church This information is made by the Elders who have used the private discipline of exhortation with much wisedome and patience upon some particular persons who with hardnesse of heart have resisted the power of God through ungodlinesse They declare the offence to the Pastor and the Pastor in the publicke assembly acquainteth the people with the offence and if the delinquent be present hee is caused to stand upbefore the Pastor who reproves him with the sharpe Judgements of God against his sinne by the Word seeking to enlighten his mind and mollifie his heart Which if it prevaile with him hee falleth upon his knees and desireth the Congregation to pray for him which done the Pastor pronounceth unto him the remission of sinnes if the Church judge him penitent if they find him still obstinate and of an unrelenting heart then they pronounce