suffered therein 5. To prevent the infection of others 6. That by the zeale e and holynes of the church they without may be gained to the Gospell 7. To glorifie Gods great name which is much impeached by the unholy walking of those which professe his truth 8. That others may feare for if this course be omitted it may be a meanes to embolden many to doe the like 52. The repentance of the partie must be proportionable to the offence viz. If the offence be publique publique If private private Humbled submissive sorrowfull unfained giving glorie to the Lord. Lev. 19 17 18. Pro. 10. 12. Rom. 12. 19 and 13 10 and 14. 1. 53. There must great care bee had of admonitions that they be not captious or curious finding fault where none is neither yet in bitternes or reproach For that were to destroy and not to save our brother But they must be carefully done with prayer going before they must bee seasoned with truth gravitie love and peace Mat. 18 15. and 26 8. Gal. 6 1 2. 2 Tim 2 24. Mark 9 50. Ephes 4 29 Iam. 5 15 19 20. 54. More over the Scripture shewes us that discreet faithfull and men able to speake unto edification exhortation and comfort though not yet in office of ministery may open apply the Scriptures in the church for 1. In the Iewish Church men out of office had liberty either in the Temple or Synagogue publiquely to use their gifts 2. In the time of the Apostles and primitiue churches men so preached and the Lord himselfe approved it and that without any exception or prohibition to the contrarie 3. Christ commanded this thing and so did his Apostles afterward 4. The prohibiting of woemen not extraordinarie inspired to speak in the Church clearely imports a liberty therein giuen unto men their husbands and others 5. Otherwise it would follow either that the people should be untaught Or that now after the generall apostasy of Anti-christ there might be lawfull Pastors and ministers had before there were a church to chuse them or a flock for thē to watch over or that unlawfull ministeries might be reteynd executed for bringing men to the knowledge obedience of the Gospell all which are against the word of God Lastly much good comes by this meanes as 1. the glory of God in the manifestation of his manifould graces 2. That the gifts in men be not quenched 3. For the fitting and trying of men for the ministery 4. For the preserving pure of the Doctrine of the Church which is more in danger if some one or two alone only be heard and speake 5. For debating and satisfying of doubts if any arise 6. For the edifying of the Church and conversion of others 55. As Christ our Heavenlie Prophet hath set forth unto us in the New Testament the manner and forme of the gathering and Constitution of the visible Church So hee requires everie faithfull Christian to make himselfe a member of some particular Congregation and there to present their bodies and soules and to bring the gifts which God hath given them Our reasons are these 1. Otherwise they are not to be admitted unto the Holy Sacraments the seales of Gods Covenant For these ought not to be administred unto any except they be added unto some visible Church unto which the publick ordinances and ministery doth appertaine 2. Because of the presence of God Christ If we will come to God we must come to that place where his presence is in a speciall manner and where he is to be found of all such as seeke him with their whole heart 3. How else have we respect to all the Commaundements 4. That the Saints may mutually edifie each other and this followes upon their joyning together in the fellowship of the Gospell 5. To consider or observe our Brethren as wee ought watch over them and seeke to reduce them unto a streight walking when they goe astray 6. Because of Gods Covenant and promise For those which are in the Church are directly as it were joyned to his blessings and graces the which are powred forth there abundantly 56. Such as joyne themselves unto true visible Churches ought first to goe unto the Elders that by them their cause may be propounded to the whole Congreg afterward they are to come into the publick assemblie and there make confession of their faith openly and promise to walke in the obedience of Christ and thus beeing found worthy by the consent of the whole Church they are joyfully to be received into the holy communion of Saints 57. As every established Church hath power and liberty to chuse their owne spirituall and Ecclesiasticall Officers So be it observed that these Officers are tyed unto that only Congregation of which they are members and by which they were elected into office and ought not to beare any Ecclesiasticall Office in another neither can they administer the holy things of God as Officers and by vertue of a ministeriall calling any where but in their owne Congregation No. More then a Major or Bayliefe can execute civill justice out of the limitts and bounds of their owne priviledged Corporation 58. It is sure that Christ Jesus hath not subjected any Church or congregation of his to any other superior Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction then unto that which is within it selfe so that if a whole Church or congregation shall erre in any matter of faith or religion noe other Church or Church-officers have by any warrant from the word of God power to censure punish or controile the same but are only to advise them and so to leave their soules to the immediate judgement of Christ. 58. It is the dutie of every Christian congregation to be carefull that no infant be admitted unto Baptisme a whose parenn one at least are not members of some perticular Church For. 1. If they doe by this meanes Gods name is taken in vaine 2. The holy Sacrament prophaned d 3. The Church of God de filed d. 4. The minister a covenant breaker 5. There is no precept nor example in the Scripture for it 6. Such a practice hindereth many parents from embraceing the way and order of the Gospel and causeth them to live and die libertines 7. It induceth ignorant people to conceive such an absolute necessity of Baptisme as that men cannot be saved without it 58. All Christians are bound to practice Gods ordinances for his visible Church under the Gospell although the Magistrate allow not thereof yea forbid them upon pean of death For as the opprobation of men and Angels makes not the wayes of God and workes of religion never a whitt the more lawfull but onely the more free from bodily danger so neither can their disallowance make unlawfull such duties of religion as the word of God approveth not can they give
curche being joyned togither in the profession practise of the Gospell of Christ have his 〈◊〉 power and presence with them and is convene or come togither in one for the worship of God performance of publick duties 29. Whatsoever promise or blessing of God is bestowed on the church on earth generally considered the same may be apprehended and injoyed by every particular Church though not in like measure by all as the promises generall and examples particular of the Church in Corinth and others mentioned in the Scripture do confirme 30. The Testament of Christ sheweth us no Provinciall Nationall Emperial or other like Church having several meetings or assemblies and speciall Pastors over the same neyther synce th' Apostles Prophets and Evangelists were takeÌ„ from this world are there any other lawfull Bishops or church-governours then Bishops or Overseers of the particular churches neyther ever was ther other lawfull Head Lord or Lords spiritual of the church then Iesus Christ alone 31. Vnto the Church are to be admitted all unto whom the covenant and promise of God doth apperteyn and they are so maâ—y as the Lord our God shall call and all those are called in the judgements of man which having heard the word of God do professe repentance from dead works and faith in God by Iesus Christ the alone Saviour of the world and promise obedience to the word through the holy Gost the sanctifier of the elect Such of all sorts and estates of people in the world are with their leed to be received into and nourished in the church their ignorance being holpen by instruction their weaknes born by lenity their faults corrected with love and meeknes and their feeble consciences comforted with the promise of God 32. Out of the Church are all such to bâ— kept as are profane wordly and wicked uâ—till they be called of God unto repentance and faith in his promise for every Churcâ— rightlie constituted must consist of faithfulâ— and holy persons Our reasons are these 1. The Scriptures every where so teacâ— 2. All wicked men are forbidden expresâ—â— by tthe word of God from medling witâ— his covenant or ordinances 3. they have noâ— Christ for their head and therefore cannot be of his bodie 4 The godly and wicked are contraries guided and let by different causes now two contraries are not capable of one and the same forme 5. Only faithfull men worship God aright please him are accepted of him and have right to the covenant of grace and seales thereof The ordinarie officers perpetuallie be longing to all true Churches Are Pastors Teachers Elders Deacons and Helpers The election and ordination of them must be made by the free chose of the congregation of which they are members and wherein they are to administer And this is cleare 1. Because the Apostles who only taught Christs commandements so established the primitive churches 2. The people amongst whome they have been conversant can best judge of their fitnes both in â—espect of their persons and families 3. It â—â—rtheretn much the diligence and faithfulness of the minister that they whose minister â—s have freely chosen him as unto whome under Christ they commit the most pretious treasure of their soule as also it bindes the people to greater love and conscience of obedience of him and his ministry whome themselves have made choice of 4. The Church beeing a most free corporation spirituall under Christ the Lord is in all reason and equity to chuse her ministers and servants under him unto whome also she is to giue wages for their service and labour 34. The Pastor must be apt to teach no young scholer able to divide the word a right he must be a man that loveth goodnes he must be wise righteous holy temperate he must be of life unreproveable as God steward he must be generally wel reported of and one that ruleth his owne house hould under obedience with all honestie he must be modest humble meeke gentle loving he must be a man of great patience compassion labour and diligence feed the sheep of Christ in green and wholesome pastures of the word pray for them seale up to them the promises of God by the Sacraments He must alwayes be carefull and watchfull over the Flock of Christ defend it from ravenous beasts and the wolfe and take the little Foxes discerne mens deseases and apply the word according to every disease and every time and occurrant And these things he must doe with all willingnes and chearfulnes not holding his office in respect of persons but doing his duty to every soule as he will answer before the chiefe Shepheard c. 35. The Doctor or Teacher must be a man apt to teach mighty in the Scriptures able to convince the gainsayers He must be of life unreproveable one that can governe his owne househould he must be of manners sober temperate modest gentle and loving Hee must take diligent heed to keepe the Church from errours preserve knowledge build upon the rock which is Iesus Christ gould silver and pretious stones that his worke may endure the triall of the fire and by the light of the same fire reveale the timber hay and stubble of false Teachers And further hee must deliver his doctrine pure sound plaine not with curiosity or affectation but so that it may edifie the most simple approving it to every mans conscience that the Church may increase with the increasing of God and grow up unto him which is the head Christ Iesus 36. That this is an Office different from that of the Pastor is manifest by these reasons 1. The Apostle doth so distinguish them one from another Rom. 12 7 8. Ephes. 4 11. 2. Their gifts appeare to be divers 1 Cor. 12 8. 3. The Pastor is commaunded to take one course in Teaching the Doctor another Rom. 12 7 8. 4. This distinguishing of them makes more for the building of the Church then to unite and make them one 37. The third Officers are Governours or Ruling Elders These men must be of life likewise unreproveable sober gentle loving temperate Governing their owne Families orderly they must bee men of wisedome knowledge and sound judgement able to discerne betweene cause and cruse betweene plea and plea and accordingly to prevent and redresse evils Their especiall care must be to see the Ordinances of God truly taught and practised as well by the officers in doing their duties uprightly as to see the people obey willingly readily It is their dutie to see the congregation holily and quietly ordered and no way disturbed by the contentious and disobedient froward and obstinate Not taking away the liberty of the least but uphoulding the right of all wisely judging of times and circumstances They must be readie assistants to the Pastor and Teacher helping to beare
their burden but not intruding into their office 38. Jt is necessarie that these Officers bee perpetuallie resident upon their charge For 1. a Minister is a Shepheard and his charge a Flock now a shepheard hath a flock to feed it continually 2. Wheresoever God placeth a man there is daylie need of his labour and care 3. The people are in daunger of harme if they be not watched over day and night 4. The Church requireth an Officers residencie with her as a dutie of him 5. If they doe otherwise they cannot give their people a good example neither will there belove familiarity between them 39. Deacons must be men of honest report indued with the Holy Ghost they must be grave temperate not given to excesse nor to filthy lucre Faithfully ought they to gather and collect by the Ordinance of the Church the goods and benevolence of the faithfull and by the same direction diligently and trustily to distribute them according to the necessitie of the Saints Further they must inquire and consider of the portion and the wantes both of the Officers and other poore and accordingly relate to the Church that provision may be made 40. That the Deacons Office is not to meddle with the Word and Sacraments but onely to collect the benevolence of the faithfull and faithfully to distribute the same is cleare by these reasons 1. It is an Apostolicall institution that these should attend upon the provision for the poore Act. 6 4. 2. The Scripture maketh it an ordinarie and distinct Office from others in the Church and not to be mingled with any other Rom. 12 8. 3. No man can in any tollerable measure discharge the Office of a Minister and a Deacon also Act. 6 2. 4. The Ministeries of the Word are perfect without it 41. This Office was instituted 1. That the faithfull might bee the more free from feare and follow their owne callings diligently 2. That the Church might be the more enriched with Heavenly and Spirituall blessings for the receives grace and gifts for the discharge of each calling 3. To stirre men up to helpe the poore the more willingly considering that the Lord hath appointed a speciall office for that purpose 4. That there should bee no complaints but that all the poore might be comforted against their povertie wants Lastlie to shew that as God hath created soule and body so hee takes care for both 42. The Widowes or Deaconesses must be Women of 60 yeares of age at the least For avoyding of inconveniences they must be well reported of for good workes such as have nourished their Children such as have beene harberous to strangers diligent and serviceable to the Saints compassionate and helpefull to them in adversitie given to every good worke continuing in supplications and prayer day and night They must minister to the sicke lame weary and defeated such helpefull comforts as they need by watching tending and helping them Further they must shew good example to the young women in sober modest and godly conversation avoyding idlenes vaine talke and light behaviour 43. These are the necessarie and onely ordinarie functions and offices which our Saviour hath ordained in his Church unto the due administration whereof he hath promised his blessing to the end of the world And these are perpetuall and to continue for ever and beside these it is unlawfull for men following the devises of their owne braine to institute or ordaine any in the Churches of God 44. These offices though they be divers severall yet are they not severed least there should be a division in the body but they are as members of the body having the same care one of another joyntly dooing their severall duties to the service of the saints neither can any of these offices bee wanting without grevious lamenes and apparent deformitie of the body yea violent iniury to the head Christ Iesus 45. As every Christian Congregation hath power and commandement to elect ordaine their owne Ministers according to the rule in Gods word prescribed So right and power to practice all other ordinances of the Lord namely to cut of any memfrom the body provided that holy order of proceeding bee keept which Christ in his will and Testament hath left us 46. The rule of Christ for excommunication is thus If the fault be private holy and loving admonition and reproof is to be vsed with an inward desire and earnest care to winne their brother But if hee will not heare yet to take two or three other brethrē with him whome he knoweth most meet for that purpose that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be confirmed And if he refuse to heare them then to declare the matter to the church which ought severally and sharpely to reprehend gravely to admonish and lovingly to perswade the partie offending shewing him the heynousnes of his offence and the danger of his obstinacie and the fearfull judgments of the Lord. Lev. 19. 17. 18. Mat. 18. 15. Devt 19. 15. Mat. 18. 16. 47. All this notwithstanding the Church is not to hold him as an enemie but to admonish him and pray for him as a Brother prooving if at any time the Lord will give him repentance For this power is not given them to the distruction of any but to the edification of all 2. Thes. 3. 15. 2. Cor. 10. 8. 13. 10. 48. If this preveale not to draw him to repentance then are they in the Name and power of the Lord IESVS with the whole Congregation reverently in prayer to proceed to excommunication that is unto the casting him out of their congregation and fellowship covenant and protection of the Lord for his disobedience obstinacie and committing him to Sathan for the destruction of the flesh that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Iesus if such be his good wil and pleasure Mat. 18. 17. 1 Cor. 5. 11. 49. If the offence be publike the partie is publiquely to be reproved and admonished if he then repent not to proceed to excommunication as aforesaid 1. Tim. 5 20. Gal. 2. 14. Ios. 7. 19. 2 Cor. 7. 9. 50. Further they are to warn the whole congregarion and all other beleevers to hold him as a Heathen and Publican and to withdraw themselves from him from all spirituall communion and civil familiaritie so farre as may be without the violation of any naturall or civil bond 51. That obstinate sinners after due conviction and patience must be censured appeareth 1. By the commandement of Christ practice of the Apostolicall churches 2. That the worship service of God may be kept preserved from pollution contempt and prophanation 3. That the sinner may se his fault be humbled for it and so saved in the day of the Lord. 4. That the honour and good name of the church may be preserved the which would be lost if vile persons were