Animadversion to Cliftons Advertisement, Part 2
*Discourse of troub. at Frankford. p. 11…. &c.The Discipline reformed and confirmed by the authoritie of the church and magistrate.
Art. 38. The ministers and seniors severally and jointly, shal have no authority to make any maner of decrees, or ordinances to bind the congregation or any member therof: but shal execute such ordinances and decrees as shalbe made by the congregation and to them delivered.
44. The ministers and seniors elect, have authoritie as the principal members of the congregation, to govern the sayd congregation according to Gods word, and the discipline of the church: and also to cal togither and assemble the sayd congregation for causes and at times, as shal to them seem expedient. Provided alwayes, that if any dissention shal happen between the ministers and seniors, or the more part of them, and the body of the congregation, or the more part of it: and that the sayd ministers and seniors in such controversie, being desired therto, wil not assemble the congregation; that then the congregation may of it self come togither, and consult and determine as concerning the sayd controversie or controversies, and the sayd assembly to be a lawful congregation, and that which they, or the more part of them so assembling, shal judge or decree, the same to be a lawful decree and ordinance, of sufficient force to bind the whole congregation, and every member of the same.
46. Item in case some doo depart [out of the sayd congregation] that yet not withstanding, those which stil remayn, (if they be the greater part) to be a lawful congregation: and that which they or the more part of them shal decree, to be a lawful decree, of force to bind the whole body, ministers, seniors, deacons, and every other member or members therof without exception.
53. If any of the congregation be offensive &c. to any of the brethren, so that the offense be private, he is first brotherly to admonish him alone. If that doo not prevayl, to cal one or 2. witnesses. If that also doo not prevayl, then to declare it to the ministers and Elders, to whome the Congregation hath given authoritie to take order in such cases, according to the discipline of the Church.
54. Ther be 3. degrees of ecclesiastical discipline: first, that the offender acknowlege his fault, and shew himself penitent before the ministers and seniors. The 2. that if he wil not so doo, as wel his original crime, as also his contempt of the ministers &c. be openly declared by one of the ministers, before the whole congregation &c. The 3. that if he remayn stil obstinate before the whole congregation, after a time to him by the whole congregation limitted to repent in, he then shalbe openly denounced excommunicate: which excommunicatiō, seing it is the uttermost penaltie of ecclesiastical power, shal not therfore be executed until the matter be heard by the whole Church, or such as it shal specially appoint ther unto.
62. If al the ministers and seniors [which have authority to hear and determine &c.] be suspected, or found parties, or if any appeal be made from them: that then such appeal be made to the body of the congregation, the ministers, seniors, and parties excepted: and that the body of the congregation may appoint so many of the congregation to hear & determine the sayd matter or matters, as it shal seem good to the Congregation.
65. That the Ministers and Seniors, and every of them, be subiect to ecclesiastical discipline, and correction, as other private members of the Church be.
67. If any controversie be upon the doubtful meaning of any word or words in the discipline; that first it be referred to the ministers & seniors. And if they cannot agree therupon, then the thing to be brought and referred to the whole congregation.
These and the like things were agreed of by that church, to suppress the exorbitant power which the ministers then chalenged: wherby the reader may see, 1. what the learned and most conscionable of the church of England held heretofore: which if they had continued in, would have freed them of al antichristian prelacie, the bane of so many churches. 2. That this opinion of the churches power above the Elders, is not new, or first professed by us, as some doo reproch us. 3. And that these Advertisers, which now oppose against us, if they had looked upon the examples which themselves alledge, might have seen their errours resisted by others, against which the Lord hath now caled us also to witness. He vouchsafe to be with us in this busynes; and guide my hart and hand, to defend his truth.