and not after the Traditions he received from us This is not a delivering up to Satan Excommunicating of dismembring the Person for this sort are still to be owned as Members tho disorderly ones the Church must note him so as not to have Communion or Company with him in that sense yet court him not as an Enemy but exhort him as a Brother if any Man obey not our Word note that Man It appears that such who refuse to adhere to what the Pastor commands and exhorts to in the Name of Christ are to be deemed disorderly Persons as such are who meet â—ot with the Church when assembled together to worship God or â—hat neglect private or family Prayer or neglect their attendance on the Lord's-Supper or to contribute to the necessary Charges of the Church or suffer any Evils unreproved in their Children all such may be lookt upon disorderly Walkers and ought to be proceeded against according to this Rule or divulge the private Resolves of the Church as well as in many like cases Of private Offences of one Brother against another 1. AS touching private Offences the Rule Mat. 18. is to be observed only this by the way must be premised viz. if but one Brother or two have the knowledg of some Members Crime yet if it be publickly known to the World and the Name of God be reproached it being an immoral Act 〈◊〉 private Brother is not to proceed with such an Offender according to Mat. 18. but forthwith to brinâ— it to the Church that the publicâ— Scandal may be taken off 2. But if it be a private Offencâ— or Injury done to a Brother 〈◊〉 Sister in particular and not beiâ—â— a notorious scandalous Sin thaâ— Brother must not mention it to one Soul either within or without the Church until he hath proceeded according to the Rule 1. He must tell his Brother his Fault Moreover if thy Brother shall trespass against thee go and tell him his fault betwixt thee and him alone if he shall hear thee thou hast gained thy Brother Thou must labour in Love and all Affections to convince him oâ— his Fault but if he will not heaâ— thee 2. Thou must take one or two more but be sure see they are discreet Persons and such that arâ— most likely to gain upon him and they with thee are to labour with all Wisdom to bring him to the sense of his Fault 't is not iust to speak to him as if that were enough no no but to take all due Pains and to strive to convince him that so the matter may be issued and the Church not troubled with it But if he will not hear thee take one or two more that in the mouth of two or three Witnesses every word may be established 3. But if he will not hear them after all due Means and Admonitions used then it must be brought to the Church and if he will not hear the Church he must be cast out The Elder is to put the Question whether the offending Brother be in their Judgments incorrigible and refuseth to hear the Church which passing in the Affirmative by the Vote of the Congregation or the Majority of the Brethren by the lifting up of their Hands or by their Silence the Pastor after calling upon God and opening the nature of the Offence and the Justness of their Proceedings in the Name and by the Authority of Christ pronounces the Sentence of Eâ— communication to this effect That A. B. being guilty of great Iniquity and not manifesting â—â—feigned Repentance but refusing to hear the Church I do in the Name and by the Authority of Christ committed unto me as Pastor of this his Church pronounce and declare that he is to be and is hereby excommunicated excluded or cast out of the Congregation and no longer to be owned a Brother or a Member of this Church and this for the destruction of the Flesh that his Spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus And this we believe is the substance of that which the Apostle calls a delivering up to Satan he being cast into the World which is called the Kingdom of Satan where he rules and reigns The delivery unto Satan saith Dr. Chauncy signifies only the solemn Exclusion of a Person from the Communion of the Church the visible Kingdom of Christ and disinfranchizing him or divesting him of all visible Right to Church Privileges casting him into the Kingdom of the World where the Prince of Darkness rules in the Children of disobedience And this being done he is to be esteemed to be no better than an Heathen Man or Publican or as an evil Person and not to have so much as intimate civil Communion withal Of Scandalous Persons guilty of gross Acts of Immorality IF any Member fall into any gross Acts of Sin as Swearing Lying Drunkenness Fornication Covetousness Extortion or the like and it is known and publickly spread abroad to the great scandal and reproach of Religion and of the Holy Name of God his Church and People the said Offender so charged the Church must send one or two Brethren to him to come before the Congregation if he will not come but doth slight and contemn the Authority of the Church that will bring farther Guilt upon him for which Offence he incurs the Censure before mentioned But if he doth appear his Charge is to be laid before him and the Witnesses called and after he haâ— made his Defence and said all he hath to say and the Congregation finds him Guilty then the same Censure is to pass upon him to the end he may be brought to unfeigned Repentance and the Name of God cleared and some time must be taken to make it appear that he hath true Repentance by the Reformation of his Life and holy walking afterwards before he be received again and the Censure of the Church in a solemn manner be taken off Dr. Chauncy puts this Question Quest. How is a Church to proceed in case of open and notorious Scandals The Answer is ' the matter of Fact as such being beyond all question the Church is to proceed immediately to censure to vindicate the Honour of Christ and his Church and to manifest to the World their just Indignation against such Notorious Offenders and wait for a well-grounded and tryed Evidence of his true Repentance under that Ordinance of Christ which is appointed to that end Observe It is the opinion of the Doctor that tho the Person be penitent yet because his Sin is open and scandalous he ought to be cast out to vindicate the Honour of Christ and the Church as part of his just Punishment that being one reason of the Ordinance of Excommunication as well as to bring the Person to thorow Repentance and we are of his Mind Paul takes no notice in the case of the Incestuous Person of his immediate
him to his place but if they cannot then to report the matter charged with the Proofs to the Church that sent them and if that Congregation shall after a full Information c. be perswaded the Person was not orderly dealt with they may receive him into their Communion Of such that cause Divisions or Vnduely separate themselves from the Church THis I find is generally asserted by all Congregational Divines or worthy men i. e. That no person hath power to dismember himself i. e. He cannot without great Sin translate himself from one Church to another but ought to have a Dismission from that Church where he is a Member provided that Church is orderly constituted nothing being wanting as to any Essential of Salvation or of Church-Communion But if not yet he ought to indeavour to get his orderly Diâ—mission Nor is every small Differencâ— in some points of Religion oâ— Notions of little moment anâ— grounds for him to desire his Dismission That he cannot nor ought noâ— to Translate himself see what 〈◊〉 Reverend Writer saith He cannot saith he for many Reasons 1. It is not Decent much leâ— an Orderly going away but very unmannerly and a kind oâ— running away 2. Such a Departure is not approved of in Families or Civiâ— Societies 3. It destroys the Relation oâ— Pastor and People For whaâ— may be done by one individuaâ— Person may be done by all 4. What Liberty in this kinâ— belongs to the Sheep belongs tâ— the Shepherd much more he maâ— then also leave his Flock at hâ— Pleasure without giving notice oâ— reason thereof to the Church 5. It is breaking Covenant witâ— Christ and with the Congregation and therefore a great Immorality he being under Obligation to abide stedfastly with the Church i. e. till the Church judge he hath a lawful Call to go to another Congregation 6. It 's a Schism For if there be any such thing in the World it 's of particular Societies 7. It is a despising the Government of the Church 8. It is a particular Member's assuming to himself the use of the Keys or rather stealing of them 9. There is as much reason Persons should come into a Church when they please without asking Consent as depart when they please 10. It is very evil and unkind in another Church to receive such an one as not doing as they would or should be dealt with 11. Such Practices can issue in nothing else than the breach and confusion of all particular Churches and make them like Parishes 12. Such Departures cannot be pleaded for in the least but upon the notion of a Catholick visible Church wherein all Members and Officers are run into one Organized Church which will and must introduce a Co-ordinate if not a Subordinate Pastoral Government by combination of Elders over all the Churches and therefore by Synods and Classes 13. It is like a Leak in a Ship which if not speedily stopped will Sink at last 14. It tends to Anarchy putting an Arbitrary Power in ev'ry Member 15. It breaks all Bonds of Love and raiseth the greatest Animosities between Bretheren and Churches 16. It is a great Argument of some Guilt lying-on the Party Thus the Dr. Again he saith It is no more in the just Power of a particular Member to dissolve his Church-Relation than in a Man to kill himself but by his said withdrawment he doth Schismatically rend himself from his Communion and so Separate himself Sinfully Quest. What is the just Act of the Church that cloathes this irregular Separation with the Formality as it were of an Excomcommunication He Answers Calling this a mixt Excommunication i. e. Originally proceeding from and consists in the act of the Brother himself and is the Formality of his Offence upon which proceeds the just and unviolable act of the Church The Judgment of the Church publickly declared by the Elder of the Congregation as the Dr. words it viz. That A. B. having so and so irregularly and sinfully withdrawn himself from the Communion of the Congregation we do now adjudge him a Non-member and one that is not to Communicate with the Church in the special Ordinances of Communion till due Satisfaction is given by him Yet we believe as the Dr's Opinion is that a Church may if they find the Case to be warranted by the Word of God or as it may be circumstanced give a dismission to a Member when insisted on to another regular Church tho not in every case of small Offence or dissent in some small points of different Notions or from Prejudice for that may tend soon to dissolve any Church For what Church is it where every Member is of one mind in every particular case and thing about Notions of Religion And such that make Divisions and cause Schisms or Discord among Brethren to disturb the Peace of the Church if they cannot be reclaimed must be marked and dealt with as great Offenders It being one of those things that God hates and is an abomination to him Quest. What is a full and lawful Dismission of a Member to another Church upon his removing his Habitation or on other warranted Cases Answ. VVe answer a Letter Testimonial or Recommendation of the Person and if he intends to abide there wholly to give him up to that Communion and Fellowship to be watched over in the Lord. Of Disorders or causes of Discords and how to be prevented corrected and removed I. ONE cause of Discord is through the Ignorance in some Members of the Rules of Discipline and right Government particularly when that Rule in Matth. 18. is not followed But one Person â—â—kes up an Offence against another and speaks of it to this or that Person before he hath told the Brother offending of it which is a paspable Sin and a direct violation of Christ's holy Precept and such must as Offenders themselves be in a Gospel way dealt with To prevent this the Discipline of the Church should be taught and the Members informed of their Duties II Another thing that causes Trouble and Disorder in a Church is want of Love and tender Affections to one another as also not having a full sight and sense of the great evil of breaking the Bonds of Peace and Vnity O that all would lay this abominable Evil to Heart how base a thing it is to break the Peace of a private Family or Neighbourhood but much more sinful to disturb the Peace of the Church of the living God and break the bonds of the Vnity thereof Behold how good and how pleasant it is for Brethren to dwell together in Vnity But O how ugly and hateful is the contrary III. Another disorderly Practice is this When one Member or another knows of some sinful act or evils done by one or more Members and they conceal it or do not act according to the
Spirits we do solemnly join our selves together in a Holy Vnion and Fellowship humbly submitting to the Discipline of the Gospel and all Holy Duties required of â— People in such a spiritual Relation 1. We do promise and ingage to walk in all Holiness Godliness Humility and Brotherly Love as much as in us lieth to render our Communion delightful to God comfortable to our selves and lovely to the resâ— of the Lord's People 2. We do promise to watch over each others Conversations and not to suffer Sin upon one another so far â— God shall discover it to us or any â— us and to stir up one another to Lâ—â—â— and good Works to warn rebuke aâ—â— admonish one another with Meekness according to the Rules left to us of Christ in that Behalf 3. We do promise in an especial manner to pray for one another and for the Glory and Increase of this Church and for the Presence of God in it and the pouring forth of his Spirit on it and his Protection over it to his Glory 4. We do promise to bear one anothers Burdens to cleave to one another and to have a Fellow-feeling with one another in all Conditions both outward and inward as God in his Providence shall cast any of us into 5. We do promise to bear with one anothers Weakeness Failings and Infirmities with much Tenderness not discovering to any without the Church nor any within unless according to Christ's Rule and the Order of the Gospel provided in that case 6. We do promise to strive together for the Truths of the Gospel and Purity of God's Ways and Ordinances to avoid Causes and Causers of Division endeavouring to keep the Vnity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace Ephes. 4 3. 7 We do promise to meet together on Lord's Days and â—â—â—ther times as the Lord shall giâ—◠〈◊〉 Opportunities to serve and glorify God in the 〈◊〉 his Worship to edify one 〈…〉 and to contrive the gâ—â—◠〈…〉 Church 8. We do promise according to our Ability or as God shall bless us with the good things of this World to Communicate to our Pastor of Minister God having ordained that they that Preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel And now can any thing lay a greater obligation upon the Conscience than this Covenant what then is the Sin of such who violate it These and all other Gospel-Duties we humbly submit unto promising and purposing to perform not in our own Strength being consciouâ— of our own Weakness but in thâ— Power and Strength of the Blessed God whose we are and whom we desire to serve To whom be Glory now and for evermore Amen FINIS Act. 2.41 42 43 44. Act. 8.14 Act. 19.4 5 6. Eph. â— 1 2. and â— 12 13 19. Col. 1.2 4 12. 1 Pet. 2.5 Act. 5.13 14. Rom. 6.17 Heb. 6.1 2. Rom. 6.3 4 5. 1 Pet. 2.4 5 6. Eph. 2.20 21. Col. 2.19 Psa. 66.16 Act. 11.4 5 6 c. 23 24. 1 Pet. 3.15 2 Cor. 8.5 Jer. 50.5 Heb. 13.17 1 Pet. 5.1 2. Of an Organical Church 1 Tim. 3.2 3 4 5 6 7. Tit. 1.5 6 7 8 9 10. Tit. 1.7 Act. 6.6 2 Tim. 5.22 1 Cor. 9.16 17. Act. 20.31 35. 2 Tim. 2.15 2 Cor. 4.1 2. 1 Tim. 3. Jer. 3.15 2 Tim. 4.2 2 Cor. 5.19 Act. 20.20 27. Pro. 27.23 1 Thess. 5.15 1 Tim. 4.12 Jam. 2.4 1 Tim. 5.21 1 Pet. 5.3 and 5.6 The Deacons Work Act. 6.1 2 3 5 7 8 9 10. Acts 5.7 8 9 10. 1 Cor. 16.2 Acts 6.1 1 Thess. â— 25 Heb. 13.18 2 Cor. 2.16 1 Cor. 16.9 1 Tim. 4.3 4 5. 2 Cor. 3.19 20. 1 Thess. 3.13 1 Tim. 5.17 Heb. 13.5 17. Jer. 20.10 Zeph. 2.8 2 Cor. 11.21 23. Gal. 6.6 1 Cor. 9.7 8. ver 14. ver 11. Mat. 10.9 10. See Dr. Owen ' s Eshod p. 21 22. 2 Tim. 4.16 17 18. Eshod pag. 27. Act. 14.27 Rom. 12.8 1 Tim. 3. Tit. 1.5 6 7. Act. 20.17 27 28. Tit. 1.5 1 Cor. 14.40 1 Tim. 3. 1 Cor. 14.33 38. Of the reception of Members into the Church Psal. 66.16 Acts 9.26 27. 3 Joh. 9 10. Rom. 14.17 19. 1 Pet. 3.15 1 Cor. 14.40 Rom. 15.1 2. Acts 11.2 3 4 5 6. To whom Members join themselves Act. 2.47 5.11 15. A monthly day to be appointed for Discipline The Power of the Keys committed to the Church Acts 16.5 2 Thess. 1.3 6. Dr. Chauncy on the Power of the Keys p. 335. 1 Cor. 5.4 5. 2 Thess. 3.6 14. 1 Cor. 5.7 Of Church-Censures 2 Thess. 3.11 12. Psa. 15.1 3. 2 Thess. 3.12 2 Thess. 2.6 Disorderly Members only to be withdrawn from 2 Thess. 2.14 15. Heb. 12.25 Of private Offences between Brother and Brother Mat. 18.15 Mat. 18.16 Dr. Chauncy p. 345. The Sisters are not to vote in the Church The Act of Excommunication or Church-Censure 1 Cor. 5. Pag. 345. Mat. 18.17 Of Scandalous Crimes or Evils The Church Censure on notorious Offenders is the same with that in Mat. 18. Pag. 343. 1. Tim. 5.24 Act. 5.11 Jud. 23. 1. Cor. 5. 2 Cor. 7.11 Numb 12.14 Of dealing with Hereticks See Pool's Annot. on 1 Cor. 11.19 2 Pet. 2.1 Who is an Heretick Tit. 3.10 1 Tim. 1.19 20. What an admonition is The manner of the Reception of a communicate Person Mat. 13.18 2 Cor. 2.6 7. 1 Tim. 5. How to proceed against a Scandalous Pastor â— see not if they have none fitly qualified but the Church may cast him out Relief for a Member unjustly dealt with The cause of Disorders in the Church Rom 6 17. Heb 6 2 3 Dr. Chauncy pag. 337. Phil. 1.27 Tit. 2.10 The great Danger of making a Rent in a Church Rom. 1.31 Acts 2.42 1 Cor. 12.6 14.7.5.1.20 21 25. Heb. 10.25 Jude 19. ☞ ★ Jude 19. 1 Cor. 1.10 3.3 11.18 Heb. 10.22.23 25. Mixt Excommunication Rom. 19.17 18. 2 Thess. 3.6.14 15. Jude 12. Let none call the Church a Prison since all do voluntarily Covenant with it and 't is dangerous to break Christ's bonds 2 Timo. 2.23 2 Thess. 3.14 Prov. 6.16 Of a Letâ—er of Reâ—ommendaâ—ion Rom 16.1.2 Acts 18.27 Mat. 18.15 Disorders Corrected Removed Iohn 13.12 17 Eph. 4.3 Heb. 13.1 Eph. 4.31 32. cap. 5.2 Psal. 132.1 Jam. 3.16 Acts 5.3.8 Levit. 19.17 Acts 4.23 Pet. 2.2 Acts 9.27 Mat. 18.15 Psal. 63.1 Cant. 7.12 Mark 16.1 1 Cor. 1â— 25. Romans 16.17 2 Tim. 2.25 Jude 19. Jam. 3.14.16 Cant. 4.12 Rom. 1.29 1 Tim. 6.4 Zech. 7.10 1 Tim. 5.19 1 Timo. 5.19 1 Cor. 8.14 â— Cor. 16.2 Math. 18. Ier. 20.10 1 Tim. 5.19 Isa. 55. â— Acts 2 1 2. Acts 10 33. Ioel 2 1â— What tends to the Glory of a Church of Christ. 1 Cor. 3 4. Isa. 28.16 Isa. 28.16 1 Pet. 2 5 6. 1 Kings 6 7. Eph. 2.19 20 21. 1 Pet 1 16 Psalm 93.5 Cant. 1.9 Eph. 4.3 Exod. 20.24 Mat 18 20 1 Cor. 5.5 6.7 2 Cor. 8.14 Tit. 3.2 Eccl. 19.8 Apoc. 3 Iohn 9 1â— Gen. 9.22 Gal. 6.2 2 Gal. â— â— Rom. 3.10 Iude 11. Numb 22.7 21. 2 Pet. â— 10 Rev. 2.1 1 Tim. 3.5 Act. 23 5. Psal. 110.3 1 Pet. 1.25 Psal. 87.2 Neh. 1.2 How should Sinners else be Converted and the Church increased Psal. 132.13 Psal. 26.8 Psal. 29.9 Exod. 20.24 Mat. 18.20 Rev. 1.13 Psal. 27.4 Acts 2.47 Psal. 132.3 Psal. 130.15 Psal. 73.16 â—7 Psal. 87.5 Psal. 34.3 Psal. 84.1 2. Isaiah 35. Psal. 128.3 Isai. 51.3 Prov. 8.34 Psal. 26.14 Psal. 87.4 Mat. 6.6 Jer. 10.25 Eph. 6.4 Phil. 1.27 Eccl. 4.9.10.11.12.13 Ezek. 16.6 8. 2 Cor. 8.5 Hos. 2.23 2 Cor. 6.16 Church-Communion proved Exod. 26.3.4 6. Isa. 62.5 Psal. 122.3 Eph. 2.23 Eph. 4.16 1 Pet. 2.5 Psal. 93.5 Isa. 55.8 Luke 1.74.75 2 Cor. 7.1 1 Tim. 6.11 2 Pet. â— 6 7. Act. 20.19 Phil. 2.3 Ioh 13 34 and 15 12 1 Pet 1 22 Lev. 19 17 Heb 10 24 25 1 Thess 5 14 15 Rom 15 Eph. 6.18 Iam. 5.16 Col 4 12. Gal 6 2 Heb 12 12 Heb 13 31 Rom 12 15 2 Cor 11 29 1 Iohn 3.17 18 Gal 6 1 1 Thess 5 14 Rom 15 12 Eph 4 31 32 Iude v 3 Gal 5 1 Tit 3 9 10 2 Iohn v 10 Heb 3 10 and 10 25 Mal 3 16 Rom 14 18 and 15 16 〈…〉 26 â— Cor 9 7 â— 9 -12 13 Gal 6 6