A Christian Plea, Treatise 3 · Chapter 18
CHAPTER XVIII. Of dealing with ſinners, for their reclayming, or cenſuring. Where alſo is treated of Suspenſion, and excommunication, &c.
VVHether the ordinance of God, for the reclayming and gayning of brethren that fall into ſinne, should not ſtil be obſerved carefully & religiouſly, among the members of the church. And that as there is occaſion, they be brought to the aſſembly of the Governours, or the Congregation, in publike (having all things caried in order, and according to the rules of governement, preſcribed by the Lord:) that ſo the cauſe being heard, a due examination of the parties and vvitneſſes being made, and the fault certainly found out and convinced, the parties offending may (according to the nature of the ſinne) be admonished; ſecluded, ſuſpended, or debarred for a time from the Lords ſupper, & other meetings of the church, or uſe of the holy things of God therein; yea euen cut off from the church, and delivered to Sathan, if the caſe ſo require. Such of the brethren (I ſay) as doe ſinne and offend, whether it be that they reproach abuſe or injurie others by word or deed, and deſpiſe the private admonitions of their brethren and of the vvitneſſes, that deale with them; or that they offend publikely; or doe otherwiſe tranſgreſſe in their converſation; or that in religion they fall into hereſy, idolatry, or other impietie and iniquitie; and ſo perſiſt, after all good meanes religiouſly uſed for their reclayming. This being ſtill carefully regarded, as is aforeſaid, that the order appointed by God in his word, be obſerved; that the Elders and Governours performe all ſuch things, as perteyne to their office & duetie of their calling; & that the other members of the church doe keepe themſelues every one in their place, vvith all modeſtie, reverence, peace, and godlynes, beſeeming the church and people of God. Lev. 19, 17. Prov. 25, 8, 9, 10. Luke 17, 3, 4. and Matth. 18.15.16.17.18. compared with Mat. 5.22. 1 Sam. 2.25. 1 Cor. 6.1 — 5. Deut. 1.16.17. Exod. 18, 13 — 20. and 20.12. Pſal. 82.1. Dan. 4.17.24. Ezech 44.15.24. And by due reference and proportion, out of Lev. 13. and 14 ch. and 24.10— 23. Num. 12.14. and 15.32 — 36. & 19.11.12.13. &c. and 35.12.24.25. with Deut. 19.12.15.16.17.18. and 21.18 — 21. and 22.15 — 21. and 24.8.9. and 25.1 — 10. with Ruth. 4, 1 — 11. 2 Chro. 19, 5 — 11. and 23.19. vvith 1 Theſ. 5.12.13.14. Jer. 36.5. Mat. 10.17. Luke 6.22. and 12.42. and 22.66. John 16.2. Act. 6.11.12.13.15. and 7.1.2. and 22.30. and 23.1 — 6. and 24.20. Rom. 12.8. 1 Cor. 4.21. and 5 ch. vvith 2 Cor. 2.6, and 13.1.2. & Exo. 23.2.7. 1 Tim. 5.17.19.20. Tit. 3.10. Heb. 13.7.8.17. 1 Pet. 5.1 — 5. vvith 1 Cor. 14.33.40.
1. Becauſe this is a morall and perpetual ordinance & direction, giuen by the Lord, in his vvord, both to the church of Iſraell heretofore, and to the Chriſtian churches and people of God for ever. As may be ſeene in the Scriptures here noted before. Neyther doeth it hinder, that in Iſraell, there vvere ſome judiciall and ceremoniall things, which vvere temporarie, in ſome caſes alſo mixed and preſcribed vvithall. For the ſame alſo may be ſaid and obſerved, about other the precepts of the Law & of the Ten Commandements: vvhichwhich all acknowledge to be morall and perpetual. Beſides that the ſpirituall application, and perpetuall equity of the ceremonies and ordinances that are abolished, doth ſtill remaine and continevv, for the inſtruction, uſe, comfort, and direction of the church, for ever. And this in matters of all ſorts, whether perteyning to the faith, vvorship, miniſterie, order or government of the church, &c. As may be ſeen in theſe and the like Scriptures: Gen. 17, 11, 12, 13. compared vvith Col. 2.11.12. and Rom. 4, 11. Exo. 12.3 — 17. with Luke 22, 1 — 20. and with 1 Cor. 5, 2 — 6.7 8.11. and 10.16.17.18. and 11.23 — 26. & Mat. 16, 6 — 12. and Luk. 12.1. Exod. 28. and 29. and 30 ch. with Pſal. 132.9.16. and 141, 2. Rom. 13.14. and 15.16. Heb. 9. and 10. and 13.8 — 16. Lev. 13.47 — 59. vvith Iude ver. 22, 23. Lev. 15 chap. and 26, 11, 12. Numb. 19.11 — 22. and 1 King. 6, & 8 ch. and Eſa 52.11. and Ezec. 37, 26, 27. and 39.11 — 17. vvith 2 Cor. 6, 16, 17. Num. 18. and Deu. 18, 1 — 5. vvith 1 Cor. 9, 13, 14. and 1 Tim. 5, 17, 18. Deu. 17, 1 — 12. and 2 Chron. 19, 8. vvith Ezec. 44, 15 — 24. and vvith Rom. 12, 1 — 8. and 1 Cor. 4, 21. and 5 ch. 1 Theſ. 5, 12, 13, 14. 1 Tim. 5, 17, 19, 20, 21. Heb. 13, 17. Deu. 33, 8 — 11. and 1 Chro. 15.2, 12, 13. vvith Eſa. 66, 19, 20, 22. and Epheſ. 4, 11, 12.
2. And that this order vvas obſerved in Iſraell and in the primitiue churches, in caſes of ſinne, controverſie, complaint, cenſure & excommunication, (beſides the extraordinarie occaſions that fell out or vvere caried after any extraordinarie manner:) may appeare by the Scriptures before mentioned: vvith vvhichwhich, theſe alſo here follovving may be compared. Numb. 12.4 — 15. and 27.1 — 4. and 36, 1 — 5. Deu. 1, 16, 17, 18. and 17, 2-13. and 23, 1, 2, 3, 8. Pſal. 82, 1. Joſh. 20, 4, 5, 6. and 21, 1, 2, 3. 1 King. 3, 16 — 28. vvith 21, 8 — 13. Pro. 26.26. Alſo Deu. 24, 8, 9. vvith Num. 5 ch. and Lev. 13 ch. 2 Chron. 26, 16 — 21. Ezra 9, and 10 ch. vvith 7, 25, 26. Neh. 5, 1 — 13. and 13, 11. Eſa. 66, 5. Ier. 36, 5. Luke 6, 22. Ioh. 9, 22. and 12, 42. & 16, 2. Act. 4, 5, 15. & 5, 21 — 27 — 34.35 — 40.41. and 15, 2 — 6 — 23 — 30. and 16, 4. and 20, 17 — 28. and 21, 18 — 25. 1 Cor. 6, 1 — 5. and 12, 28. 2 Theſ. 3, 6, 14, 15. 1 Tim. 1, 3, 18, 19, 20. and 3, 1.15. and 3, 1.15. and 5, 21. and 6.3.4.5. 2 Tim. 2, 15, 16. and 4.14.15. Iude ver. 17 — 23. Rev. 2. and 3 chap.
Where, both for private dealing and publike proceeding vvith ſinners, ſee the Scriptures here cited before, and the like. And more particularly, for ſecluding, ſuſpending and debarring from the Lords Table, or other holy things & meetings alſo of the church,Of ſuspenſion. ſee both the Scriptures aforeſaid that concerne this matter, namely, Gen. 3, 22, 23, 24. Lev. 13 ch. Numb. 9, 5, 10, 11. & 12, 14. & 19, 11, 12, 13, &c. Deut. 24, 8, 9. 2 Chron, 23, 19. Ezra 10, 8. Ier. 36, 5. Luke 6, 22. 2 Theſ. 3, 6, 14, 15. Iude ver. 22, 23. & theſe reaſons following.
1. The Lords debarring and keeping our firſt parents by the†Angels. Cherubims from the ſacrament of life eternall, that is, from the tree of life in the garden of God. Thereby teaching the Governours of his church, to debarre and ſeclude ſuch from the Sacraments, to whom in their eſtate they doe not apperteyne. Gen. 3, 22, 23, 24. compared vvith the Scriptures before cited, and vvith Sal. Song. 4, 12 — 16. and 5, 1. &c.
2. So likewiſe Porters vvere ſet by the high Prieſt, at the gates of the Lords houſe, that none who vvere uncleane in any thing, should enter in.Lev. 15 ch. 2 Chro. 23, 19. compared vvith Num. 19, 11, 12, 13. &c. and 9, 5, 10, 11. vvith 1 Cor. 10, 16, 17, 18. & 2 Theſ 3, 14, 15. Whereby alſo may appeare, that the duetie, vvhichwhich men should be carefull off themſelues, if they neglect it the Governors should look unto it, and ſee it be done. For which note moreover, 2 Chro. 26, 16 — 21. Mat. 5, 23 — 26. Act. 20, 28. Heb. 13, 17. Rev. 2, 14, 15, 20. &c.
3. Gods ordinance touching Leproſie, that the Prieſt in caſe of doubt, should shut up the party for a time, and not yet put them out of the hoſt: And then after a certaine time, as they should be found, eyther put them out of the hoſt, or pronounce them to be cleane. The aequity vvhereof ſtill remayneth. Lev. 13, & 14 ch. vvith 2 Cor. 6, 14 — 17. Jude, ver. 22, 23. Num. 5, 1 — 4. with Deu. 24, 8, 9. Whereabout withal note the Lords owne dealing vvith Miriam: ſet before us for inſtructton and example. Num. 12, 14. compared with Deu. 24, 8, 9. and Rom. 15, 4. 2 Tim. 3, 16, 17.
4. Suſpenſion alſo may be conſidered to be like that keeping of perſons in ward, whereof we read Lev. 24.12. Num. 15, 24. til it manifeſtly appeare that the parties ſuſpended are to be cutte off and caſt out of the Congregation: Like as thoſe words, Take avvay the evill from among you, being ſpoken by Moyſes of putting to death in Iſraell, Deu. 17, 7, 12. & 19.19. and 21, 21. & 22, 21, 22, 24. are by the Apoſtle applied to the putting out of the church by excommunication. 1 Cor. 5, 13. where Paul uſeth the very ſame vvords, that are in the Septuagint, Deu. 17, 7. &c.
5. Thus as ſinnes and ſinners differ among themſelues,Jude, ver. 22, 23. ſo shal alſo the cenſures & punishments thereof be different one from another. A thing that was obſerved in the church and common wealth of Iſraell: and is euen by the light of reaſon regarded in all kingdomes and good governments: and may be ſeen at this day in kings Courts and houſes every vvhere. How much more should regard hereof be had in the church & houſe of the great king of Kings: vvho hath giuen moſt juſt and equall lavves to his church and people: & where all things should moſt orderly and carefully be obſerved? To giuegive particular inſtance in kings houſes; vvhere when men offend, it is knowen that ſome are ſecluded from the Table, Preſence chamber; or Porches entry; ſome are bound or deteined in the Porters lodge, or other priſon houſe; and ſome are altogether caſt out and put from the court. So hath the Lord and great king divers cenſures and punishments in his church, debarring ſome from his table, aſſemblies, or entrance thereof; reſtreyning others in darknes, & bynding them up as with bands of excommunication, till by ſuch meanes they learne to repent and amend; and appointing others (according to their eſtate and deſert) to utter darknes for ever. Of which more hereafter.
6. Thus alſo shal we not need, for ſome, to withhold the miniſtration of the holy things of God from all the reſt of the church, neyther to interrupt the publike worship, or trouble the whole church by preſent dealing with ſuch perſons, nor be driuen to take any diſorderly courſes at al but uſing this meanes of debarring and ſuſpenſion of ſome (vvhere there is cauſe) for a time, vve may with the reſt ſtil continevv on our ſervice & worship of God in peace and holynes.
7. And for ſuch perſons themſelues, thus there may alſo be triall whether by this meanes they can be brought to repentance and amendement, and ſo be kept from the greater & heavier cenſure of excommunication. Othervviſe they may aftervvard be further proceeded withall, if that yet they repent not, but doe ſtill continevv in their ſinnes, or increaſe therein, adding ſtubbernes more and more thereunto.
Iuſtif. of Separ. pag. 185, 186. &c.By all vvhichwhich may appeare, hovv greatly they erre, vvho hold Suſpenſion to be a corruption and deviſe of men, and doe neither practiſe nor allow thereof. Whoſe error will yet more appear by that vvhichwhich follovveth to be ſpoken touching Excommunication. Where firſt ſee the Scriptures before alledged, which concerne this point: Namely, Gen. 4, 14, 16. and 21, 9,Of Excommunication 10, 12. Lev. 13 ch. Num. 9, 13. Deut. 17, 7. and 19, 19. with 1 Cor. 5, 13. 2 Chron. 26, 21. Ezra 10, 8. Eſa. 66, 5. John 9, 22. and 12, 42. and 16, 2. 1 Cor 5, 3, 4, 5, 11. and 16, 22. Gal. 1, 8, 9. and 5, 12. 1 Tim. 1, 20. Jude ver. 14, 22, 23. Revel. 2, 14, 15, 20, &c. and theſe reaſons withall.
1. The knovven and auncient cenſures had among the Iewes, and differing one from another, to wit, Niddui, Cherem, and Schammatha or Anathema Maranatha. Niddui, that is, ſeparation, ſecluſion, ſuſpenſion, or the leſſe excommunication: Cherem, that; is cutting off, or the greater excommunication: Schammatha, or Anathema Maranatha, vvhichwhich is an utter devoting to deſtruction and to the judgment of the Lord at his comming. Anſvverable whereunto among Chriſtians alſo are, Suspenſion, Excommunication, and the great Anathema: Or (ſo to call them) the leſſe Excommunication, the greater Excommunication, and the greateſt of all. Whereunto the Scriptures aforeſaid may be referred and applied. So as therefore they erre greatly and are miſtaken, vvho hold, that if there were amongſt the Jewes in Chriſts time any diſtinct ordinance of excommunication eccleſiaſticall, Iuſt. of Sep. pag. 187. &c.it was a Iewiſh deviſe, & without ground of the Scriptures.
2. To vvhichwhich end may alſo be obſerved, the Lords divers dealing with Adam, and vvith Cain. Adam he debarred of acceſſe to the tree of life and uſe thereof, driving and keeping him out of the garden by the Cherubims, as is aforeſaid. But Cain he accurſed, and caſt him out from his preſence, and made him a fugitiue & a vagabond in the earth. Gen. 3, 22, 23, 34. with 4, 11 — 16. The one fitly noting out Suſpenſion, and the other Excommunication.
3. Likevviſe the Lords ordinance of putting the Leapers & uncleane out of the hoſt: the trueth & equitie vvhereof, as of the other shadowes of the Law, ſtill abideth. Lev. 13 chap. Numb. 5, 1 — 4. with Deu. 24, 8, 9. 2 Chro. 26, 16 — 21. 2 Cor. 6, 14 — 17. Iude, ver. 22, 23.
4. The practiſe of Noah, curſing Cham: Gen. 9, 24, 25. of Abraham, caſting Hagar and Iſmael out of his houſe, Gen. 21, 10, 12. of the Prieſts thruſting Vzziah out of the Temple, and cutting him off from the houſe of the Lord. 2 Chron. 26, 16 — 21. of the Princes and Elders, devoting the ſubſtance of the diſobedient, and ſeparating them from the congregation of Iſraell that vvas caried away captiue. Ezra 10, 8. Which, vvhether it be applied to Suſpenſion or Excommunication, and underſtood of civill or eccleſiaſticall proceeding, or both, it giueth good proof and evidence for the point in hand.
5. Yea the very abuſe of the cenſures, vvhichwhich vvas ſometimes among the Ievves, doth plainly shevv how they vvere the ordinances of God, though perverted & abuſed among them, as vvere ſometimes alſo other of the Lavves of God. Eſa. 66, 5. Luke 6, 22. Iohn. 9, 22. and 12, 42. and 16, 2.
6. The Apoſtles doctrine and practiſe concerning excommunication of the wicked, and delivering of them unto Sathan. 1 Cor. 5 ch. 1 Tim. 1.20. Where moreover is to be noted, that†Take away the wicked frō amōg you. the words vvhichwhich are ſpoken by Moſes of putting to death in Iſrael, are by Paul applied to excommunication and putting out of the church: as I noted here before, out of 1 Cor. 5, 13. compared with Deu. 17, 7. &c. So as this alſo may both shew us a ground for excommunication out of Moſes, and direct us hovv to vvalk aright in uſing of it, for the proceeding thereabout: vvhen as all perſons, both the Elders and people, be carefull to doe their duetie, and keep their places anſwerably to the Elders and people of Iſraell: that ſo (notwithſtanding any differences of eſtate incident to them and us) yet ſtill a perpetuall equitie and due proportion between us and Iſraell may be obſerved. Of which ſee more in the Treatiſe, vvhichwhich I vvrote ſome vvhile ſince concerning the expoſition of Mat. 18.17. pag. 18. &c. And note vvithall, hovv the words aforeſaid (Take away the evill from among you:) are generall and ſuch as may vvell comprehend the taking avvay of the vvicked from among the people of God, whether by death, or by excommunication, and the like: as Iſrael according to the diverſitie of their eſtate and occaſions uſed ſundry waies, ſometimes the one, ſometime the other, &c.
7. Whereabout further may be conſidered the terme of judging, often uſed by Moſes and the other Prophets and Apoſtles: And how in judiciarie proceeding, the Scripture uſeth this word, and attributeth it ſometimes to the Lord himſelf, or to his Miniſters and Officers in church or common vvealth, for hearing, examining, deciding, giving ſentence, & executing judgment, concerning perſons and cauſes, civill or eccleſiaſticall: Gen. 18, 25. Exo. 18, 13, 16, 21, 22. Deu. 1.16, 17. and 16, 18. and 17, 9. & 19, 12, 17, 18. with Num. 35, 12 — 24. Deu. 25, 1, 2. 2 Sam. 8, 15. 2 Chron. 19, 5, 6. Pſa. 82, 1, 2, 8. and 122, 5. Eſa. 1, 23, 26. Ier. 21, 11, 12. and 22, 1, 2, 3. Eze. 44, 15, 23, 24. Micah 3, 1, 11. and 4, 3. Act. 16, 4. and 18, 15. 1 Cor. 5, 12, 13. and 6, 1. &c. and ſometimes to the people, for conſenting, approving, executing, & reſting in that vvhichwhich is judged & done according to the ſentence giuen by the Lord, or the Miniſters and Governours under him. 1 Cor. 6, 2, 3. with 5, 12, 13. Act. 26, 10. with 22, 20. and Act. 21, 25. with 15, 6, 22. and with 16, 4. &c.
8. Laſtly, Chriſts reproving of the Angels & Miniſters of his churches, for ſuffering evill perſons and corruptions among them. Revel. 2, 14, 15, 20. &c. Which neceſſarily implyeth, that the Lord hath giuen an ordinance to his church, for the reſtreyning, repreſſing and abandoning of ſuch. Els why should they be blamed for that which perteyned not unto them, or vvere not in their povver to redreſſe and amend? The like alſo may be obſerved by Chriſts ſpeach & commiſſion giuen to his Apoſtles, and by their execution thereof. Mat. 16, 19. Joh. 20, 22, 23 with 1 Cor. 4, 1, 2, 21. and 5, 3, 4, 5. and 2 Cor. 10, 4, 5, 6, 8. and 13, 2, 3, 10. 1 Tim. 1, 20. And by the exhortations and inſtructions, that are giuen to Timothee and Titus, in Pauls Epiſtles unto them: and to the Elders of Iſraell, and the Primitiue churches, recorded in the Scriptures both of the old & new Teſtament.
3. And for the maner of proceeding, if the courſe aforeſaid be rightly obſerved, thus shall matters and perſons be orderly and peaceably heard, diſcuſſed, and judged: the governours and government according to the ordinance of God regarded; and al good meanes uſed for the churches good and peaceable eſtate; for the preventing and ſuppreſſing of manifold evils; and for the benefit and reclayming of ſinners: & ſuch as are found to be obſtinate in iniquity, shal by publik authority be cenſured and excommunicated: and that alſo with knowledge and aſſent of the church, the exceptions of al, if any be brought, being heard, as is meet and in ſuch caſes to be done. And ſo shall the church be purged from evill; the holy things of God kept from the pollution and profanation of ſuch wicked perſons; the ſinners themſelues made more ashamed, being made knowen unto all, and avoyded by them till they repent; and the reſt that remayne, shall all heare, and learne, and feare, and commit no more any ſuch evill among them. For vvhichwhich alſo ſee the Scriptures before alledged: and Deu. 4, 1, 2. and 13 chap. and 16, 18. and 19, 19, 20. 2 Theſ. 3, 6, 14, 15. 1 Tim. 5, 17, 19, 20. and 6.13, 14. 2 Tim. 3, 1 — 5. Rev. 2, 14, 20. &c.
4. Furthermore, as in all other affaires of the church, ſo in theſe alſo (according to the ſeverall nature of them) may the benefit of Gods ordinance thus be enjoyed; and all things done in order; ſo as none be prejudiced, but that every one may performe their duety, & enjoy their right and liberty: and that both the corruptions of the Popish prelacy, and the defects of the Proteſtant reformed churches, and al popular confuſion, diſorder, and anarchie may be shunned, redreſſed, & taken away. Col. 2, 5. 1 Cor. 4, 17. and 11, 2, 16. and 14, 33, 40. compared vvith 1 Chron. 13 ch. and 15, 2, 13. and the other Scriptures here cited before.
And becauſe in this matter there hath ben, and ſtill is, great queſtion and controverſie among Chriſtians, both Papiſts, Anabaptiſts, and Proteſtants of all ſorts, about the underſtanding of the words of Chriſt, Tell … unto the church, and if he neglect to heare the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man, and a Publicane, Mat. 18, 17. it shall not be amiſſe here alſo to inquire further into the meaning hereof. Which therefore I wil novv ſpeak off more particularly in the chapter following.