some things in those Psalms are not so suteable to our present Case so it is in what we read yet those Psalms are very suteable for us to meditate upon and contain in them much Instruction and Incouragement and because they were indicted by the Spirit of God are more proper to affect our hearts and excite the workings of Grace then such as are of a private Composure A third part of Worship is the Preaching and Teaching of the Word the Preaching of the Word is to be attended to the End of the World Matth. 28.19.20 It is the Duty of Ministers to Preach the Word 2 Tim. 4.2 A Minister is called a Preacher Rom. 12.14 This is a special means to advance the Conversion of Sinners and Edification of Saints Altho it be the special Office and Duty of Teaching Elders and ordained Ministers of the Gospel yet Preaching being a Moral Duty it is lawful for those who are not ordained Ministers to Preach the Gospel Yea in some cases it is Lawful for such Men who are not devoted to the Ministry provided they have suteable abilities The reading of large Portions of Scripture upon the Sabbath Day which was constantly Practised by the Jewish Church is not so particularly now required by God there was great need of it in those Ages when the World had not the benefit of Preaching but there is no institution requiring any such service of us any further then the Rule of Edification calls for it Ministers are not bound to observe any particular method in their Preaching they may Preach either by expounding some Portion of Scripture or by raising a Doctrine from a particular Text and applying of it or by explaining of a Catechism or in any other profitable way Ministers have Power to Catechise their hearers not only that they may know their fitness to participate at the Lords Table but also in order to their growth in knowledge tho it may be presumed that many Persons are inquisitive and studious yet there are many others who are not to be confided in and the Minister hath Power by Virtue of his Pastoral charge to see that they Learn reason dictates this to be a most suteable method as in the Learning of Arts and Languages so in the Learning of the way of salvation the most proper and profitable ways of teaching are to be used by Ministers A fourth part of Worship is Baptism this is an ordinance appointed by Christ himself to be a perpetual Ordinance in the Christian Church It was published by John before by Virtue of an Institution but afterwards declared by Christ to be a standing ordinance in the Church It is very likely that the form afterwards used by John and his Disciples was that they did Baptize in the Name of the Lord Jesus Act. 19.5 But seeing Christ did expresly command his Apostles before his assention to Baptize in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost we have no reason to think that the first Teachers of the Gospel did use any other form and when we read that the Samaritans were Baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Act. 8.18 And that Peter ordered that Cornelius and his Company should be Baptized in the Name of the Lord Act. 10.48 No more seems to be intended by it then their being Baptized according to the institution of the Lord Jesus The Persons that are sent to Administer Baptism are the same that are sent to Preach the Word Matth. 28.19,20 Tho the Apostles did sometimes decline it yet we have reason to conclude that they committed it to Inferiour Ministers After the Example of Christ who did not commit it to the People but to his Disciples John 4.2 Therefore such Preachers as are not ordained Ministers are not to Baptize Baptism may be Administred either in the Publick Assembly or in private there is no appointment that necessitates the publick performance of it there is nothing in the Nature of the ordinance that doth necessitate it and we find that the Apostles and Apostolical Men did it as there was occasion both publickly and privately Act. 8.38 and 9.18 and 16.33 There is no necessity that Persons be Members of any particular Congregation before they be Baptized Persons before they be Members of any particular Congregation may have that qualification that gives them a right to Baptism viz. Visible Saintship many that were Baptized in the first times did not belong to any particular Congregation of Christians and tho many of them did belong to particular Jewish Congregations or Synagogues yet some did not Act. 16.33 Such adult Persons as make such a profession of the Christian Faith as is Morally sincere are to be Baptized as doth appear by the Example of John Christ himself Phillip and others who were directed by the Spirit of God and none were refused that did seriously tender themselves to be Baptized Such Infants as are descended from the Covenant People of God by either Parent are to be Baptized 1 Cor. 7.14 Such Infants as do descend from Parents that are under Church consures for immoralities are not to be denied Baptism because Excommunication doth not cut Men off from the Covenant of God such Infants as are the Children of Heathens belonging to the Families of the People of God are Incorporated into the Covenant and are to be Baptized when the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 7.14 Else were your Children unclean he speaks of them as they come into the World yet it follows not but when they are taken into the Families of Christians they do become Holy such were to be Circumcised under the Law A fifth part of Worship is the Lords Supper which was instituted by Christ a little before his Death to be a standing Ordinance in the Christian Church all such Professoâ—…â—f the Christian Faith as are of blameless Conversation and have knowledge to exaâ—… themselves and discern the Lords Body are to be admitted to the Lords Supper Three things are requisite in order to admission to the Lords Supper First Visible Saintship and that is found in such Persons all professors walking blamelesly are Visible Saints the Members of the Jewish Church are often called Saints in the Scripture who did give no further evidence of their Saintship a Profession of the faith joyned with a good Conversation is a sufficient ground for Charity these are marks that we are directed in the Scripture to Judge of Mens Saintship by The Apostle did accept of such Persons for Visible Saints Men that have these Characters are not visibly wicked therefore they are Visible Saints these properties are the proper Fruits of Saintship and therefore constitute Men Visible Saints such a profession as being sincere makes a Man a real Saint being Morally sincere makes a Man a Visible Saint That whereby Godly Men do make their Saintship Visible does make Men Visible Saints viz. A profession of the truth and a good Conversation A second requisite is that they be not scandalous a
intend that the People should intrude into that work but that the Ruler do it 3. Whereas it is said that the Punishment was inflicted by many it may be read before many Deacons were chosen at first to have an over-sight of the Poor Act. 6. And there is nothing plainly declared to be their work besides that It is intimated Rom. 12.8 That it is their work to shew mercy and to give It is Generally put upon them to take care about the Ministers dues and about the Provision for the Lords Table which is gathered from that phrase Act. 6.2 It is not meet that we should leave the Word of God and serve Tables but there seems to be no necessity that there must be a Church Officer to do all that work which the Church is to see done some things may be done by Servants CHAP. VI. Of the Ordination of Church Officers THere are none to be ordained Officers in the Church of God but those that have a regular call to those Offices Ordination is the Admission of Persons into their Office or the consummation of their call needful to the regular Execution of their Office it includes in it first a solemn imploring of the presence of God with them in their Office Two things are requisite unto a call One is the approbation or invitation of those whom God hath entrusted with that care the other is the consent of the Person invited the former may be a call to the latter and bind the Person to accept but there must be both before he is called of God to enter immediately upon the work of the Office before he be accepted of God as an Officer The work of the Deacon being confined to one Congregation the invitation of that Church is sufficient without any further approbation Act. 6.7 God having appointed all his Holy Ordinances to be Administred in a particular Church in case of necessity the choice of a Church is sufficient without any further approbation unto the calling of Elders as when Luther and others broke off from Popery Yet Elders having not only Power over their particular Churches but also over others and God having committed to National and Provincial Churches the care of particular Congregations it is requisite when it may be obtained that there be an approbation of Men chosen to be Elders by some deputed by the National or Provincial Church Furthermore some Persons being to be entrusted with the Office of being Ministers of Christ who have no call to any particular Congregation there is need that they have the approbation of some deputed by the Church in that Country or at least by a particular Congregation The Persons that are to perform this Act of Ordination ought to be such as are most suitable to the Ends of Ordination viz. The signifying approbation and the obtaining the presence of God with him sometimes we find that extraordinary Persons have ordained a Person to extraordinary Office 2 Tim. 1.6 Sometimes we find that extraordinary Persons have ordained ordinary Officers Act. 14.23 And there is command given to extraordinary Officers to ordain ordinary 1 Tim. 5.22 1 Tit. 5. Sometimes we find that extraordinary Officers and ordinary have joyned in the ordaining of extraordinary Act. 13.1,5 Sometimes we find that ordinary Officers have ordained an extraordinary Officer 1 Tim. 4.14 In a Provincial Church that is in order Ministers ought to be ordained by such Elders as are appointed by the Publick Ecclesiastical Authority of the Land In such Countrys where the Church is not in order it is meet that the Ministers be ordained by some suiteable Persons deputed by the Neighbouring Elders but in case of necessity Ministers may be ordained by some of the Brethren appointed by the Church to that service The Ordination of Deacons ought to be performed by Elders of the same Church in case there be any or by the Brethren in case there be none A Minister removing from one Church to another may be ordained a second time as Paul was and probably Timothy It is the manner in some places to give to Churches at their Constitution and to Ministers at their Ordination the right hand of fellowship from the Example of the Apostles but it may be doubted whether that was any more then a civil Act if it be an Institution we are to seek whether it be to be done to all those Persons that we have fellowship with and when it ought to be performed CHAP. VII Of the Worship that is to be attended in Congregational Churches THE End of this Constitution of Congregational Churches is the joynt Celebration of the Worship of God herein they differ from civil Societies that meet together for the management of civil affairs The first part of Worship that is to be attended in the Church of God is Prayer Prayer which includes in it besides Petitions confessions and thanksgivings is a principal part of Gods Worship Prayer is a part of Gods Worship Psal 107.32 Psal 149.1 This is to be attended in the Church Act. 1.14 Act. 4.24 Act. 6.4 These publick Prayers are to be ordinarily performed by the Teaching Elders in case there be a Vacancy it may be performed by the Ruling Elders or some of the Brethren but ordinarily the Minister is to be the mouth of the People to God Act. 6.4 These publick Prayers ought not to be made by the reading of prescribed forms of Prayer out of a Book he that hath not the gift of Prayer is not fit to be a Minister there may be some exempt Cases wherein it is Lawful for a Man to Pray in a form which they have Learned out of a Book but the imposing of such a thing on Men is an addition to Divine Institutions and the ordinary practising of it is of very bad Consequence it quenches and stifles the Spirit of Prayer indulges Men in Idleness and is very unprofitable to others The second part of Worship to be performed in the Church is Singing of Psalms this is a Moral Duty not belonging peculiarly to the time of the Old Testament as Christ with his Disciples did practise it So afterwards Paul and Silas Act. 16. And we have positive commands for it Eph. 5.16 Col. 3.16 Jam. 5.13 In the primitive times when God gave to all extraordinary Gifts of his Spirit It was the manner sometimes for one Man to sing a Psalm and the Congregation to say Amen 1 Cor. 14.15,16 But now it is most proper for us to joyn together in Singing of Psalms as Christ and his Disciples did and as Moses and the Children of Israel did Exod. 15.1 As the Church of Israel were wont to Sing the Psalms of David so tho we are not forbidden to Sing Psalms of a private composure it is Lawful for us to Sing the Psalms of David and other Scripture Psalms the Apostle when he directs us to Sing Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Eph. Col. 3. Hath a manifest respect to the division of Davids Psalms
as no Man may neglect Prayer or hearing the Word because he cannot do it in Faith so he may not neglect the Lords Supper The Lords Supper is Instituted to be a means of Regeneration it is not appointed for the Converting of Men to the Christian Religion for only such as are Converted may partake of it but it is not only for the strengthening of Saints but a means also to work saving Regeneration There be many according to the Ordinance of Christ to be admitted to the Lords Supper who are not Regenerate Matth. 25.1,2 The Kingdom of Heaven is like ten Virgins five of them were Wise and five Foolish and it can have no other immediate end respecting these but their Conversion the end of all Ordinances is salvation and therefore to these Men it must be Regeneration for without it they cannot be saved This Ordinance hath a proper tendency to draw sinners to Christ in this Ordinance there is a particular Invitation to sinners to come to Christ for Pardon here is an affecting Representation of the Virtue of Christs sufferings here is a Seal whereby the Truth of the Gospel is confirmed all which are very proper to draw sinners to Christ If the Lords Supper be only for the strengthening of Saints then they who are not Saints do profane the Ordinance when they do partake and it is not Lawful for them to partake and then they that do not know themselves to be Saints don't know that it is Lawful for them to partake and so far as any Man hath scruples about his Saintship he must proportionably have scruples about the Lawfulness of his Participation and so Sacrament Days which should be Days of Comfort will become Days of Torment All other Ordinances are appointed for Regeneration Prayer hearing the Word Baptism so likewise the censures are that the Soul may be saved in the Day of the Lord Jesus they are to further Mens Regeneration in case they be not Converted already and it would be strange if the Lords Supper alone should not be appointed for that end whereas it hath a proper tendency thereunto and many that come to that Ordinance by the appointment of Christ stand in as much need of it as those that partake of other Ordinances A sixth part of the Worship is Ecclesiastical censures these were appointed in the time of the Old Testament and are to continue in use unto the end of the World it doth evidently appear both from the Writings of the Jews and likewise from the Scripture that the Jews did make use of Ecclesiastical censures John 4.34,35 John 3.22 and 12.42 And it is evident that these censures were according to Divine Institution from Matth. 16.17,18 Christ doth not here make a new Institution for the Gospel Church for that Church was not yet in Being but he urges them to the practise of an Old Institution if it be enquired where we find any such Institution in the Old Testament I Answer in that expression which we often find in the Old Testament that they should be cut off from Israel Gen. 17.14 Exod. 12.14 When one Brother is required to reprove another and in case of Incorrigibleness to complain to the Church that command doth not only bind the Brethren of the same Congregation but also the Brethren of any other Congregation for there lies the same Bond upon us according to opportunity not to suffer sin in others as well as in the Members of the same Congregation There is no need of a particular Institution who shall have the Power of Judgment to determine whether a Person be to be censured or not it is a part of Rule and where God appoints Rulers in his Church he appoints that they shall Judge these matters therefore when Christ appoints a Pastor to be a Ruler in the Church he expresses it by having Power of binding and loosing Matth. 16.19 A Person that is under Church censures is not thereby cut off from his Membership he stands in a Brotherly relation to other Members of the Church 2 Thess 3.15 Lying under offence and under censure for his offence doth not deprive him of his Visible Saintship therefore his Children are to be Baptized Such offences as are of a more Heinous Nature don't call for Church censures provided there be a suteable Spirit of Repentance if the end of censures be obtained there is no occasion for them Persons under the sentence of Excommunication are not only to be debarred from the Lords Supper but also to be exclued from the familiar Society of the People of God where there is no special Bond we are not to have that Society with them that we may have with Heathens 1 Cor. 5.9,12 To this Act of Worship appertains Absolution when the Person that hath offended doth manifest a Spirit of Repentance whether he has been censured or not he is to be acquited The seventh Act of Worship is the Blessing of the Congregation there is a Blessing of Men by way of supplication that may be performed by any Person and there is a Blessing by way of Confirmation this is pronounced in the Name of God this is either extraordinary by way of prediction so the Patriarchs did bless their Children and others endued with a Prophetical Spirit did bless the People as Moses or else ordinary pronounced in Gods Name by ordinary Ministers this may either be pronounced by way of assertion as when the Minister doth say Blessed are they that hear the Word of God and do it Or in way of supplication as when he saith The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you Yet this is more then a Prayer Viz. A Declaration in Gods Name what shall come to pass and therefore it must be understood in such a way as is according to Gods Covenant Deut. 20.34 God appointed the Priests of Old to Bless the People Numb 6.23 And this work seems to be a common work to the rest of the Levites who were teachers in Israel Deut. 10.8 There is no need of any new Institution in the Gospel impowring Ministers to bless in the Name of God it being a proper part of the work of a Minister Christ by appointing Ministers hath appointed Men to bless the People yet that seems to be Instituted Matth. 10.12,13 Deut. 21.5 Such Men as are Preachers of the Gospel yet not separated to that work by Ordination have no Power to bless the Congregation because this depends meerly upon Institution therefore is not to be done but according to Institution Ministers being appointed to bless Authoritatively in the Name of God it is utterly improper for them to speak in the first Person including themselves Numb 6.24 It is also improper for them to Bless the Church of God that are dispersed all over the World CHAP. VIII Of Churches consisting of Divers Congregations A Church consisting of Divers Congregations is a Society of Divers Congregational Churches joyning together according to Gods appointment for the