Twenty-Nine Lectures, Lecture 16
The ſixteenth Lecture of the Church.
HAuing propounded fiue principall heads to bee treated vponupon touching Church-gouernment, as namely, Firſt, the harmes and euils that this matter hath occaſioned in Gods Church. Secondly, what is meant by theſe words Church and Gouernment. Thirdly, how neceſſary it is in Gods Church. Fourthly, whether there be any preſcript Rule in Gods Word for it. And laſtly, if there bee not, then what is to bee done in that caſe? I hauehave proceeded in the foure former, as God hath enabled mee:The fifth thing conſiderable in Church-gouernment. Now I come to ſpeake of the fifth, namely; That if God hath not ordayned any preſcript forme in his Word for euerie particular in gouernment, then what is to bee done in this caſe? The Reſolution whereof it is to bee fetcht from that which hath been formerly ſpoken. For whereas eueryevery particular Church muſt hauehave her particular gouernment, and the Word hath not preſcribed any one ſet forme for all Churches to obſerue in euerie particular, as I hauehave ſhewed in the ſecond Obſeruation of the former Lecture: Therefore eueryevery particular Church, out of their owne power and wiſedome, and being guided by the generall forme ſet downe in the Scriptures, as oft as neceſſity requires, muſt make the beſt ſupply and prouiſion for themſelues herein that they can: howbeit, becauſe the whole ſubſtance of Church-gouernment is ſet downe in the Word, &c. as I ſhewed in the firſt Obſeruation of the former Lecture; Therefore the Church muſt not be preſumptuous and licentious, as if it were arbitrary, and as if they might ordaine and do what they liſt: But they muſt carefully ſee that whatſoeuer prouiſion they make in this kinde, bee ſuch as may well ſtand with thoſe generall rules and directions which the word affords: I take not vponupon mee here to define what is preſcribed in Gods word; what not; this is a hard taske, too curious for mee, and too tedious for you; That is left to the enquirie of the particular Churches, eueryevery one for it ſelfe; and the promiſe of the Spirit to leade the Church into all Truth of ſpeciall vſe for this purpoſe, both to inſtruct the Church what is preſcribed, and what is not; as alſo to helpe and direct them what to take, and what to leaue, and how to behaue themſelues in ſuch caſes of Gouernment, wherein they are deſtitute of particular warrant for each particular caſe from the word: yet becauſe I would faine informe you throughly of the whole buſineſſe, ſo farre as is needfull to know, I will (God willing) inlarge my diſcourſe farther than I thought to hauehave done, and labour to rip it vp from the very bottome.
The whole forme of Church-gouernment conſiſteth of three principals.The whole forme of Church-gouernment (as I conceiue) conſiſts of three principalls or Pillars (as I may call them;) Firſt, of ſome Actions and duties to bee performed in the Church; Secondly, of ſome Perſons or Officers that are to performe theſe duties in the Church; And thirdly, of ſome Lawes and rules that theſe perſons are to be directed by, in the execution of theſe actions and duties which are to bee done in the Church. And if once you can tell theſe things; firſt, what is to be done in Church-Gouernment; ſecondly, by whom it muſt bee done; and thirdly, how and after what manner, and vponupon what ground, and with what Conditions they are to bee done; you may ſit downe well ſatisfied and reſolued in this point. In the handling of all theſe points I ſhall bee in danger, either to be too intricate, or too tedious; too intricate, if I ſhould handle them ioyntly, all together; or too tedious, if I ſhould frame a ſeuerall diſcourſe for each particular by it ſelf: To preuent both, I wil firſt propound them all in a generall view by themſelues; and then I will inſtance in two or three particular duties, fitting them with their Officers and Lawes; that ſo any man of vnderſtanding may learne thereby to doe the like in all the reſt.
Firſt,Firſt, the dutie: or actions to be done in Church-gouernment, and they are ſixe principall. wee will beginne with the Duties or Actions to be done in Church-Gouernment; haply I ſhal not touch them all, but I will labour to touch the chiefe and principall, and thoſe to which all the reſt may bee referred. The principall Duties are theſe: Firſt, Order muſt be taken that the Word and Sacraments, and Prayers bee had in the Church. Secondly, there muſt be election of Officers from time to time, as occaſion ſhall require. Thirdly, Duties of Charitie muſt bee carefully and religiouſly practiſed. Fourthly, cenſures and proceedings againſt Offendors muſt be executed. Fifthly, order muſt be takē for calling publike Aſſemblies. Laſtly, order muſt bee taken for the ouerſight of all theſe things.
To beginne with the firſt, Order muſt bee taken for the Word and Sacraments, and Prayers; I ioyne and couch all theſe together, becauſe there is a moſt neere and neceſſary league, and affinitie betwixt them.Vid. ſeparat. ſ…biſ…. 137. For as the Word is to beget faith; ſo the Sacraments, as ſeales and pledges, accompany it, for the more palpable Aſſurance of ou… increaſing in it: and Prayer is to bee ioyned with them both, that they may bee effectuall and powerfull for edification. Firſt, for the Word, order muſt bee taken that it may bee had in the Church: firſt, the Canonicall bookes of the old and new Teſtament muſt bee extant. And how muſt they bee extant? Surely in their owne originall languages, becauſe if there bee any corruption in the Tranſlation, wee may runne to the Originall, ſo that it muſt be had in the originall languages. And in what Copies? Surely the beſt that be to be had. But what then, eueryevery one cannot vnderſtand theſe languages, they may bee in a Nation whoſe language is not the Mother-Tongue; What muſt bee done then? Surely wee muſt get the moſt faithfull and beſt Tranſlations that are; and when they are got, what muſt the Church ſee to bee done with them? Firſt, ſome of theſe Copies muſt bee laid vp in a ſafe and ſecret place, that if Deſolation ſhould come, yet the written Word may bee preſerued: ſo the booke of the Law, 2 Chron. 34.14. which was thought to bee written by Moſes owne hand, was found in a ſecret place, where no doubt it had been laid vp by Gods ſpeciall prouidence to bee preſerued from that common hauock which was in the Land; ſo that ſome Copies muſt bee laid vp in ſafe and ſecret places. Yea, but that is not enough, but there muſt bee ſome extant in places of publike and religious Aſſemblies, as it may ſeeme to bee in our Sauiours time, Luk. 4.16, 17. where our Sauiour comming into the Temple, there was a book of the Prophecy of Iſaiah deliuered to him: So that they muſt bee extant in the publike Aſſemblies. And how muſt they bee extant there? Not as dumbe ſhewes, but as the liuely voyce of God to bee read openly; ſo was the caſe, Act. 13.27. The word of the Prophets were read eueryevery Sabbath Day. And not onelyonly ſo, but it muſt bee preacht too; that is, conſcionably expounded and applied: So you may read, Act. 13.15. that there were Lectures of the Law and of the Prophets. And that the Ruler of the Synagogue ſent to Paul and Barnabas, ſaying, That if they had any word of exhortation, they ſhould ſay on. And this is our Sauiours charge, Mark. 16.15. Goe preach the Goſpell to eueryevery Creature. And ſo it is the Apoſtles charge to Timothy, 2 Tim. 4.2. Preach the Word, bee inſtant, &c. And this is ſo neceſſary, as that it is the power of God to ſaluation, Rom. 1.16. we cannot bee ſaued without it. And it is impoſſible wee ſhould beleeue without the preaching of the Word: How ſhall they beleeue in him of whom they hauehave not heard? and how ſhall they heare without a Preacher? Rom. 10.14. And this was the practice both of Chriſt, and of his Apoſtles; they preacht the Word. And as the Word muſt bee taught, ſo it muſt bee heard, vnderſtood, and obeyed; therefore our Sauiour ſaith, Luk. 11.28. Bleſſed are they that heare the Word of God and keepe it. And therefore the Apoſtle, Coloſ. 3.16. ſaith, Let the Word of God dwell in you plenteouſly: hee vſeth a very elegant Speech, as if hee ſhould ſay; Let it not come as a Stranger, to tarry with you for a little while, but let it dwell with you, &c. And as it muſt bee heard and obeyed, ſo it muſt bee diligently conferred vponupon; that is it which is commended in the men of Berea, Act. 17.11. that they ſearched the Scriptures, to try whether the things were ſo that Paul taught them. So there muſt bee care had for the Word wee ſee. Secondly, there muſt be care had for the Sacraments: firſt, that they be vſed, and none other, which Chriſt inſtituted; and ſecondly, that they bee adminiſtred in the ſame manner that our Sauiour did adminiſter them; ſo it is commanded, Matth. 28.19. Go teach all nations, baptizing them, &c. there is the Sacrament of Baptiſme inioyned; and in the 1 Cor. 11.23. there is the Lords Supper; and the practice of them appeares in both the Epiſtles to the Corinthians, and by name for the Lords Supper in that firſt Epiſtle cha. 11. v. 25. where the Apoſtle deliuers not onelyonly the ſubſtance of it, but in ſome meaſure the circumſtances of it alſo. Laſtly, the Duty of Prayer, that muſt bee had in the Church, that prayers muſt bee publikely made in the Church: we hauehave the exhortation of the Apoſtle to it, 1 Tim. 3.1. I exhort, that firſt of all Prayers bee made for all men &c. where hee intends it of publike Prayer, and exhorts to it as to a chiefe duty, I exhort, that firſt of all prayers bee made, &c. and ſo in the 1 Cor. 14.16. And the practice of the Apoſtles is anſwerable to this Act. 1.14. after Chriſts aſſenſion, they continued with one accord in prayer, &c. So you ſee how that in well-gouerned Churches, the Word, and Sacraments, and Prayer are to bee had and vſed. Wee hauehave an example for all theſe together, Act. 2 41, 42. where it is ſaid, That they which gladly receiued the Word were baptized, and they continued in the Apoſtles Doctrine, and fellowſhip, and breaking of Bread and Prayer. So there was the Word, and the Sacraments, and Prayer. Here many good and profitable obſeruations might bee had, but they are here onelyonly handled as by the way, and wee hauehave handled ſome of them before in the markes and notes of a true viſible Church; and the maine thing in them reſts to bee handled in the inſtances when wee come to them. So much for the firſt point, that the Word and the Sacraments, and Prayer muſt bee had in the Church.
The ſecond duties to be done. Vid. Zegred. 120.The ſecond point is election of Officers from time to time as occaſion requires, this muſt bee had too: for a duty to bee performed neceſſarily requires an Officer to performe it. And the Duties being of ſundrie kindes, ſo muſt the Officers bee too that manage them, elſe there would bee diſorder and confuſion; and none muſt intrude or thruſt themſelues into ſuch places of their owne heads, for that were intolerable preſumption, Heb. 5.4. No man taketh this honour to himſelfe vnleſſe he be choſen of God as Aaron was: there is no warrant of Conſcience, either in them that thus intrude to execute ſuch offices, nor in others to obey, nor no hope of bleſſing by either: Therefore there muſt be election of Officers in the Church, that is, there muſt bee a lawfull Aſſignment of ſuch men to ſuch Offices. When a Church is firſt planted, it is one of their firſt Duties, to proceed to the election of Officers, as Act. 14.23. They ordained them Elders in eueryevery Church by election. And ſo in Titus 1.5. Titus was left in Crete, when the Church was firſt planted, to ordaine Elders in eueryevery City. Againe, as there muſt bee election of Officers when the Church is firſt planted; ſo there muſt be election for the ſupply of Officers, when any are diſplaced, either by death, or for their miſdemeanor, others muſt bee placed in their roomes by election. And thus did the Apoſtles when Iudas was fallen away, they fell to election by lot, for another to ſupply his roome, Act. 1.21. Againe, when the Church of God is increaſt, and when by multitude of buſineſſe, thoſe that are Officers hauehave as much already to doe, as they can turne their hands to, other Officers are to bee added by election. And this was the caſe, Act. 6.2, 3. When the multitude of Diſciples grew, there was a murmuring becauſe the widowes of the Grecians were neglected in the dayly miniſtration. Now the Apoſtles had greater matters in hand, and therefore it was vnmeet for them to tend to it; therefore ſaid they, Chuſe you out ſeuen men from among you, &c. And ſo when the people of Iſrael were increaſed, and that Moſes knew not what to do, Exod. 18.21, 22. Iethro his Father in Law gaue him counſell to chuſe other Officers to aſſiſt him, and ſo he did. So that election of Officers is a needfull duty in the Church. Now as this muſt bee done in regard of all Officers, ſo eſpecially there muſt bee election of Miniſters, ſuch as labour in the Word and Doctrine, as they hauing the chiefe buſineſſe to deale in: and their election conſiſts chiefly in two things; Ordination and Aſſignation to ſome particular place.
Firſt, Ordination, that is an Action whereby men are ſeparated to the worke of the Miniſtery, and whereby they are enabled to doe ſome things, which they could not doe before, as in the power and vſe of the Keyes to binde and looſe; and ſome other things they may doe lawfully now, which they were able to doe before, but not lawfully, as to preach and to adminiſter the Sacraments, &c. theſe depending vponupon lawfull Ordination; ſuch an Ordination we find, Act. 13.2, 3. where Paul and Barnabas were ſeparated to the work of the Miniſtery, but not aſſigned to any one particular place. And in the 1 Tim. 4.4. where the Apoſtle ſaith to Timothy, Deſpiſe not the gift that is in thee, which was giuen thee by Prophecy, and the laying on of the hands of the Company of the Presbytery: where the Apoſtle ſpeakes of his Ordination, before he came to be aſſigned to a particular place: for as yet he had no certaine Charge till he came to Epheſus, and the Apoſtle ſpeakes as of a thing done before: that is for Ordination.
In the ſecond place we come to the appointment of them to ſome particular place, where they may exerciſe their gifts, and to performe the worke of their Miniſtery, whereby there is a mutuall reference betwixt the Miniſter, and thoſe whom hee is ſet ouer, hee being their Paſtor, and they being his Flocke. And ſo the Apoſtle left Titus in Crete, that he might ordaine Elders in eueryevery City, Tit. 1.5. that is, that he might ordaine them, and appoint them in eueryevery Citie; for both theſe vſually doe, and ſhould goe together, that is Ordination and appointment to ſome particular place, ſpecially amongſt vsus, though in the Apoſtles times, there were Miniſters at large: but this is not good amongſt vsus, we hauehave no ſuch large Commiſſion as the Apoſtles had, but wee muſt hauehave reference to a certaine people, and to a certaine place. And ſo Act. 14.23. They ordained Elders by election in eueryevery Church: there they did ordaine Miniſters, and appoint them to a certaine place. And ſurely, whatſoeuer is rightly done in this kind, the Lord himſelfe acknowledgeth for his owne handy worke, Act. 20.28. Take heed to the Flock ouer which the holy Ghoſt hath made you ouerſeers, &c. I ſpeake all this while of the outward calling onelyonly, for that is in the power of the Church; the inward is meerely, and immediatly from God. The Church is to try and examine the inward too by the proofe of their gifts, and by charging them in the ſight of God to ſpeake the truth herein, whether they find that Gods Spirit hath made them willing and able for the Miniſtery, but to conferre it on them they cannot. So much for the ſecond point, election of Officers.
The third ſort of duties to be done.The third point is the duties of charitie and mercy, they are to be done in the Church, next to the duties of pietie to God; the duties of mercy and charitie are moſt carefully to be performed, and to bee prouided for in the Churches of Chriſt. I ſpeake not ſo much of ſpirituall duties of charity, concerning ſpirituall diſtreſſes, as to comfort the wounded conſcience, to beare with the weake, to hauehave compaſſion on our Brethrens infirmities; but chiefly of outward bodily charity, which concernes the outward ſtate of our Brethren; as firſt, the ſicke muſt be viſited; ſecondly, the dead muſt be bu…ied; thirdly, the needy muſt be releeued; fourthly, the Miniſters muſt be maintained. In theſe foure conſiſt all the duties of mercy and charity to be done in the Church. Firſt, the ſicke are to be viſited, the Text is cleare for this in Iam. 5.14. If any man bee ſicke, let them call for the Elders of the Church, &c. And this muſt not be done for faſhion ſake after a ciuill manner, but for conſcience ſake, after a religious and Chriſtian manner wee muſt pray with them and for them for their recouery, and for a ſpeedy and comfortable end; we muſt offer our ſeruice to them for any good office in that neceſſity; we muſt comfort and incourage them againſt the terrours and pangs of death; we muſt ſtirre them vp to put their houſe, eſpecially their ſoules in order. Thus we muſt labour eueryevery way to fit them for the time of their diſſolution: thus wee muſt viſit the ſicke. Secondly, the dead are to be buried; this is commended for a good work of mercy by Chriſts owne words, Mark. 14.6, 8. when the Woman powred the boxe of Oyntment on his head, ſome murmured at it, but our Sauiour ſaith, She hath wrought a good worke on me, for ſhee is come afore-hand to annoint my Body to the Buriall: ſo hee approues Buriall for a good worke.
And ſeeing that Sepulchers and Burials are monuments of our Reſurrection (for that was the firſt and true vſe of them amongſt the faithfull) where ſhould this bee practiſed more than in the Churches of God, where the Reſurrection is moſt and beſt taught and beleeued. Thirdly, the needy are to bee releeued, the naked muſt be clothed, the hungry muſt be fed, &c. and this dutie conſiſts of two branches, collection and diſtribution. Firſt, there muſt bee collection; ſo the Apoſtle inioynes, 1 Cor. 16.1, 2. That eueryevery firſt day of the weeke euerie man muſt put aſide ſomething for the reliefe of the Saints: then it muſt bee collected and gathered, and ſo much put into the Treaſury, and that was the vſe of the Treaſury in Mark. 12.45 to put in that which was collected. Secondly, there muſt be diſtribution, as Rom. 12.8. Hee that diſtributeth, let him doe it with ſimplicitie; and verſ. 13. diſtributing to the neceſſitie of the Saints. Heb. 13.16. to doe good, and to diſtribute forget not, &c. and this may be done either by their owne hands, or others; and that not to their owne Churches alone, but to others too; if they want and theſe abound, Rom. 12.26. ſo that that which is collected, muſt not be kept, but after collection, there muſt bee diſtribution, and in theſe two offices conſiſts the relieuing of the needy. The fourth duty of mercy is this, the Miniſters muſt be manifeſted; this is the Apoſtle meanes in the 1 Tim. 5.17. where he ſaith, that hee that rules well is worthy of double honour, ſpecially he that labours in the Word and Doctrine: where at leaſt double honour is taken for the honour of maintenance; and the Text is cleare for it by that which followes, where he ſaith, Thou ſhalt not muſſell the mouth of the Oxe that treadeth forth the Corne: and this muſt not bee done with a ſparing hand, but as the Apoſtle commands it in Galat. 6.6. Let him that is taught in the Word, make him that hath taught him partaker of all his goods. Let him thinke nothing too deare for him. And this is not grounded on the law of louelove onelyonly but euen vponupon the law of reaſon too: for ſo the Apoſtle in the 1 Cor. 9.11. ſheweth, that in reaſon if they miniſter to vsus ſpirituall things, it is no great matter if they reape our carnall things. It is true, that rather than the Miniſter ſhould be burthenſome to the Church, he is to labour with his owne hands to ſatisfie his neceſſitie: but yet when there is a competent ſtate in the people, they are to eaſe him of that labor, and of their eſtates to releeue his wants, as the Philippians did by the Apoſtle Paul, Phil. 4.10, 11. where the Apoſtle reioyceth for the care which they had in miniſtring to him. And ſurely the people loſe nothing by this; for when the Miniſters are thus prouided for, they giuegive themſelues wholly to their callings without let, to ſtudy for the good of the people, whereas elſe they bee driuen to prouide for themſelues, it will be with them as it was with the Iſraelites vnderunder the hands of the cruell Taskmaſters in Egypt, they muſt be ſeeking ſtraw while they ſhould bee making brick to build withall; they muſt be ſeeking after the pelfe of this world, while they ſhould be building Gods houſe. And they that neglect this duty, are empty of all Religion, both for piety to God whoſe Miniſters they are, and for charitie to themſelues and their brethren, becauſe they do not ſtraine themſelues to relieue the wants of ſuch as by Gods Ordinance they are moſt bound vntounto, and which doe ſpend themſelues and their time for others good and ſaluation. So much of the third point, for duties and workes of mercy and charity.
The fourth point is the cenſures of the Church,The fourth ſort of workes to be done. Church cenſures. the proceeding againſt offendors. For ſeeing in all Churches there are ſtill ſome that walke inordinately, ſome courſe of neceſſity muſt bee taken againſt them, that the Church may bee disburdened, either of their perſons, or of their ſinnes. And hence it is, that our Sauiour himſelfe takes preciſe order for this matter, Matth. 18.15, &c. And the Apoſtle chargeth this Duty on the Theſſalonians with great authority, 2 Theſſ. 3.6. We warne you brethren in the Name of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, that you withdraw your ſelues from eueryevery Brother that walketh inordinately. And hee is grieuouſly offended with the Corinthians, that they did not proceed accordingly with all ſeuerity againſt the inceſtuous Perſon, 1 Cor. 55. And the Reaſons for ſuch proceedings are very weighty.Reaſons of this. Firſt, no Gouerment, I ſay, not onelyonly can bee good, but can ſtand, where malefactors are not puniſhed, much leſſe can the Gouernment of the Church, where ſinne is ſpecially to bee hated, preuented, and ſuppreſſed. Secondly, where knowne ſinne is not puniſhed, there the ſtate and Gouernment is reputed acceſſary to that ſinne, now what a ſcandall is it to Gods Religion and Church to bee accounted fauourers, or ſparers of any ſinne, which they muſt bee, if offendors bee not puniſhed. Thirdly, offendors muſt bee puniſhed, elſe there is danger of infecting the whole Congregation; ſo ſaith the Apoſtle, 1 Cor. 5.6. A little leauen leaueneth the whole l…mpe: therefore the old and ſowre leauen is to be purged forth. Fourthly, in regard of the offendor himſelfe; Cenſures muſt bee had in the Church, that ſo the fleſh may bee thereby deſtroyed, and his ſoule ſaued, and ſo Gods mercies glorified in the conuerting a penitent Sinner, by his ſauing Ordinances, 1 Cor. 5.5. But if hee continue obſtinate, his puniſhment here is but the beginning of his tormented State in hell, and the decreee of Gods Reprobation is begun to bee executed vponupon him, and ſo the Lord is glorified in iudgement in the middeſt of his Church, in the confuſion of his enemies.
Now theſe proceedings conſiſt in many particulars; for the Church is mercifull, euen as their heauenly Father is mercifull, they delight not in the death of ſinners, but rather that they ſhould bee conuerted, and liue; and therefore they attempt all meanes of cure firſt, before they proceed in cutting off.How to proceed … this. And yet they are iuſt too, as God their Father is iuſt, and therefore when gracious and mild meanes doe not preuaile, they proceede to rougher courſes; Firſt, therefore there muſt bee priuate admonition betwixt him and thee, or two or three more; ſo our Sauiour commands, Matth. 18.15, 16. Secondly, if hee will not heare, complaint muſt be made to the Church, as in verſ. 17. which (as I take it) is that noting out by Letter, which the Apoſtle ſpeakes of in 2 Theſ. 2.14. Thirdly, conſequently if hee will not heare the Church, ſeparate from him, hauehave no Company with him, as the Apoſtle ſpeakes in that 2 Theſ. 3.14. And this is it alſo which the Apoſtle ſaith, 1 Cor. 5.9. I wrote vntounto you that you ſhould not company with fornicators, this is a ſuſpending of them for a time from the Sacraments, and from Communion in holy things, till the Church had triall whether thereby they would bee brought to Repentance. Fourthly, if this will not preuaile, what muſt be done then? Why, if they cannot cure, they muſt cut off, hee muſt bee deliuered vp to Satan indeed: ſo the Apoſtle ſaith, 1 Cor. 5.5. and 1 Tim. 1.20. and that which the Church doth in this caſe; the Lord ratifies in heauen, Matth. 18.18. Whoſoeuer they bind on earth, is bound in heauen; yet ſo too, that vponupon his Repentance, they can, and muſt, and doe moſt willingly looſe them from thoſe bandes of Satan, wherein they wrapped him before. This is a moſt ſerious and weighty duty to bee performed in the Church of God: but how grieuouſly it is both neglected and abuſed, it is a ſhame to ſpeake of, that any that profeſſe themſelues to bee of the Church of God, and hauehave power in their hands to execute theſe cenſures, ſhould yet neglect them; (theſe being the onelyonly meanes to reclaime or caſt off the obſtinate, when impriſonment and all other waies will not ſerue). So alſo it is abuſed by thoſe vponupon whom it is inflicted, they deriding it, and making but a ieſt of it, as if they were neuer the further from heauen for all that: and ſurely it may be they are not, becauſe they were neuer neere it. Well, whoſoeuer they be that abuſe it, let them know that it is Gods owne pretious and holy Ordinance, and therefore not to bee dallied in, nor baſely eſteemed; yea, it is Gods owne worke and doing, where it is lawfully proceeded in, and it is ratified by him in heauen; and where it is abuſed, God will bee auenged on the abuſers to the full. It is true, that the Curſe cauſeleſſe, as Salomon ſpeakes, is like the flying of a Bird in the Aire, it leaues no impreſſion behind it; and in this caſe God derides it from heauen, and it is their fearefull ſinne that inflict it. But when it is iuſtly ſuffered, it is the heauieſt ſtroke that can light vponupon man in this life, either from God or man. The ſword of the Magiſtrate is nothing to this, that onelyonly depriuing vsus of temporall life, this of eternall life: a wounded Conſcience (which is an intolerable Burthen to them that hauehave …el… it) is nothing to this: For a man ſometimes in that caſe can pray for himſelfe, or if he cannot pray for himſelfe, yet he may and muſt, and is prayed for by the Congregation. Theſe are neither in caſe to pray for themſelues, nor muſt they bee prayed for by the Saints, 1 Ioh. 5.16. becauſe now, for ought wee can ſee, hee is quite cut off from God our Father: nothing can match this ſtate but hell, this being the Porch, that the Houſe; this the Mouth, that the Body; this the very brinke, that the eternall Pit of vtter deſolation. I herefore wee are to bewaile the miſery of our times, wherein ſo pretious an ordinance of God as this is, is ſo abuſed; and wee are to pray vntounto God that this Ordinance of his may take effect amongſt vsus, this being an excellent Ordinance of God to reclaime offendors, when neither the Sword of the Magiſtrate, nor any other meanes could reclaime them. And ſo much of the fourth Duty.
The fifth duty is calling of publike aſſemblies;The … duty… they muſt be called: For matters are not to bee carried in the Church by one mans direction alone, but by the Common conſent of the whole; and conſent is not to bee fetcht from houſe to houſe, of eueryevery man by himſelfe, for that courſe is ſubiect to fraud, but Aſſiſtants are to bee called, parties are to bee warned to bee there, and ſo publikely to teſtifie their owne conſent, and our Sauiour hath promiſed his preſence and aſſiſtance in ſuch caſes, Matth. 18.19, 20. Now theſe Aſſemblies are ſometimes greater, as of a Dioceſſe or Prouince, ſometimes ſmaller, as of a Pariſh. Againe, ſome are ordinary, vponupon ordinary occaſions; and, as extraordinary occaſions doe oft fall out, ſome are extraordinary. An aſſembling together for ordinary occaſions and duties, they are for the moſt part theſe; Firſt, the preaching of the Word, the adminiſtration of the Sacraments and Prayer. 1 Cor. 11.20. When ye come together into one place; this is not to eate the Lords Supper. And 1 Cor. 14.26. What is to bee done, Brethren, when yee come together, according as euerie one of you hath a Pſalme or a Doctrine, &c. So that there muſt be publike Aſſemblies for theſe duties. Secondly, there muſt bee a calling of publike Aſſemblies for the election of officers; for this cauſe the multitude were called together, Act. 6.2. Thirdly, there muſt bee a publike meeting for Almes, for the collecting and diſtributing to the Saints, ſo the Apoſtle commands 1 Cor. 16.3, 4. Laſtly, there muſt bee ordinary publike Aſſemblies, for the execution of Church cenſures, as 1 Cor. 5.4. When ye are gathered together, and my Spirit with you, &c. So there muſt bee publike meetings vponupon extraordinary occaſions; ſometimes God teſtifies extraordinary mercies, and giues extraordinary bleſſings to his Church, and then there muſt bee an extraordinary aſſembly of the Church to giuegive publike thanks to God, as it was in Heſter. 9.22. Secondly, ſome heauie iudgements are either felt or feared to come vponupon the Church, and then the Church muſt aſſemble together for faſting and prayer, as it is commanded, Ioel 2.15, 16. And wee ſee the practice of it in the Niniuites, Ionah 3.5. where they proclaimed a Faſt vponupon Ionas preaching of deſtruction to come vponupon them. Thirdly, Lawes and Decrees are to bee made or reuiued for the carriage of Gods worſhip, or ſuch like, and ſo in Act. 15. the Church came together for the decreeing of matters concerning ceremonies. And Act. 16.4. they deliuered thoſe decrees for the Churches to keepe, then there muſt be an aſſembling for the receiuing of them. Laſtly, doubts and controuerſies are to be decided; therefore there muſt bee publike Aſſemblies for the deciding of them. So Paul was ſent vp to Ieruſalem, Act. 15.1, 2, &c. about doubts that did ariſe; and what did they there, the Apoſtles and Elders came together to looke to this matter, verſ. 6. So much of the fifth Duty.
The ſixth Dutie is ouer-ſight,The ſixth duty. that all theſe things may be duely and rightly done; this Duty is as needfull as the reſt: For wee know that eueryevery thing growes out of frame in time, except they bee vpheld and renewed by continuall ouer-ſight and looking into; and therefore it is ſaid, Act. 15.6. that the Apoſtles and Elders came together to looke into the matter. This is one moſt neceſſary Duty; for it is the keeper and maintainer of all the reſt; if this bee neglected, all the reſt will faile; we know concerning our owne bodies, that if we looke not to our ſelues in our diet, all will bee ſoone out of frame, and much more in our ſoules, for who finds not by experience, that though hee labour to ſet himſelfe neuer ſo well in frame in the morning, yet before night for want of ouer-ſight, the Soule wil be much out of Order; and were it not for this carefull ouerſight our Soules would bee growne ouer with ſinnes, as the Fields are with weedes: ſo would it bee likewiſe with the Church. Now for this matter of ouerſight, firſt, it muſt bee ordered, that things once ordained bee eſtabliſhed by authority, and if it be poſſible by the authority of the Chriſtian Magiſtrate, at leaſt of the Church. Thus Ioſiah made a Couenant with God, and eſtabliſhed it by his authority, and made all the people ſtand to it, 1 Chron. 34.32. And ſo the Apoſtle, 1 Cor. 14.37. eſtabliſheth thoſe things which hee had ordained in the Church by the authority of his Apoſtleſhip; If any man (ſaith hee) bee ſpirituall, let him acknowledge, that the things which I write vntounto you are of the Lord. And if things be not thus eſtabliſhed, ciuill men will not regard them. Secondly, eueryevery man muſt bee quickned vp, and incouraged to the performance of this duty, and therefore there muſt bee ouer ſight in the Church. Thus Ioſiah incouraged the Prieſts to the ſeruice of the Lord, 2 Chron. 35.2. and ſo Paul quickned vp Timothy to the obſeruation of his duty, 1 Tim. 5.21. I charge thee in the ſight of God, and the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, and the elect Angels that thou obſerue theſe things. And ſo the Lord incourageth the Church of Smyrna, Reuel. 2.10. againſt her ſufferings; Feare none of thoſe things (ſaith hee) which thou ſhalt ſuffer, &c. but bee faithfull vntounto the death, and I will giuegive thee the Crowne of life. Thirdly, there muſt bee ouer-ſight, that well-doers may bee commended and approoued: ſo the Apoſtle Peter commends them to whom hee wrote 2 Pet 1.19. for doing well, in that they did take heede vntounto the words of the Prophets, &c. And in the ſecond and third Chapters of the Reuelation, there is neuer a Church that had any good thing in it, but our Sauiour commends them for it, and the want of this duty is a great diſmaying to religious proceedings amongſt vsus. Fourthly, things muſt bee redreſſed, therefore there muſt bee ouer-ſight in the Church, and ſo Paul left Titus in Creta to redreſſe thoſe things that were amiſſe, Titus 1 5. And ſo our Sauiour in Reuel. 2.5. labours to reforme the Church of Epheſus; Remember from whence thou art fallen, and repent, &c. And likewiſe the Church of Sardi, Reuel. 3.2.
The laſt duty in the matter of ouer-ſight is this; that if we cannot reforme and redreſſe thoſe things that are amiſſe, then we muſt make open proteſtation againſt their failings, …s the Apoſtle did, 1 Cor. 5.6. with ſharpe denuntiations and threatnings of Gods Iudgments againſt thē, if they reforme not: ſo our Sauiour threatens the Church of Epheſus, Reuel. 2 5. That if ſhe will not repent, he will come againſt her ſhortly and remoue her Candleſticke, &c. and the Church of Pergamus in the ſixteenth verſe, Repent thy ſelfe, or elſe I will come againſt thee ſhortly, and will fight againſt thee with the ſword of my mouth. So if I liue in a Church that will not reforme the things amiſſe, if my place afford it me, I will make open proteſtation againſt them; and if that will not preuaile, I will ſharpely denounce the iudgements of God againſt them, and ſo I ſhall hauehave peace in diſcharging my Conſcience. And ſo much for the laſt Duty to bee performed in the Church, namely, ouer-ſight.