Discipline Which Christ Hath Prescribed for the Government of His Church, Chapter 16 – Chapter 17
CHAP. 16.
THe placing and displacing of Church-officers, appertaineth vntounto the Eldership. This is prooued in the 7. chap. and their obiections are there aunswered for the first part, which is the placing: but the latter part is to be cleared by some mo reasons, because the BB. do displace the best ministers at their plesure, which is proued to be a most wicked action, by these resons.
1 Those that are called vntounto the ministery by the Lord from heauen, and outwardly by the meanes of men, so long as they are blameles in doctrine and conuersation, 1. Tim. 3. 10. cannot be displaced, without hainous wikednes against the manifest will of God: But suche are the ministers that the BB. do daily displace, as they cō fesse themselues, when (euen) in their sermons they iustifie their doctrine, in saying that they differ onelyonly in outward rites; and as their greatest enemies will saye, when they are asked of such mens liues: Therefore they cannot be displaced without great wickednes.
2 Those that are carefull to discharge the dutie of Gods ministers, both in teaching, and giuing example to their flockes, cannot be displaced without great impietie: Such are these ministers, that are daily displaced, as appeareth by this, that they preache more diligently then any other, and that they followe not the course of the worlde, in adding liuing vntounto liuing, but many of them (being as worthy for their giftes, as the worthiest) liue poorely, rather then they will want the comfort of a good conscience: Therefore they cannot be put to silence without great sinne.
3 To depriue Gods people of their spirituall comfort, is a grieuous and horrible wickednes: To put such to silence as are before mentioned is to depriue Gods people of their spirituall cō fort: which if any man will denie, all the godly where such a one dwelleth, shall tell him hee lyeth: Therefore to displace such ministers, is a haynous and horrible wickednes.
4 That which giueth occasion to the weake to stumble and fall away from the Gospell, is a haynous and horrible sinne: But such is the displacing of those ministers, as appeareth by this, that many doubt whether that which he hath taught be true, whom the professors of the gospell do displace, and by this, that many who had made good beginnings, by the discontinuance of their teachers, doe fall away: Therefore to displace those ministers, is a haynous and horrible sinne.
5 Those whose labours God doth blesse, can not be displaced without fighting against God, and consequently great impietie: But such are these ministers that the BB. doe dayly displace, as all that louelove the Gospell in eueryevery countrye can witnes: Therfore to displace them is great impiety.
6 That action which giueth the common enemy iust cause to reioyce, and hope to get the victory, is a haynous and horrible offence: But such is the displacing of those ministers, as appeareth in eueryevery country, where such ministers are displaced, and such enemies do dwell: Therfore to displace such, is a haynous and horrible offence.
7 That action that causeth the doers therof to be esteemed enemies to the gospell, must needes be a haynous sinne: But such is the putting of those ministers to silence, for it maketh the people that hauehave any louelove to religion, think that they are not of God in so doing, for say they he that loueth Christ cannot crosse the course of the Gospel as these men doe: Therefore the displacing of them is a haynous sinne.
8 That which letteth in more wickednes at once, then the diligent preaching of the worde could driue out in diuers yeeres, must needs be a haynous sinne: but suche is the displacing of these ministers: for, prophaning of the Saboth, and all disorder, commeth into a congregation the same day that such a minister, that hath long labored against it is displaced, as experience in suche places prooueth: Therefore to displace such ministers is a haynous sinne.
9 That which interrupteth the course of the Gospell, without warraunt eyther from Gods word, or the lawes of the land, is a haynous and horrible sinne: Such is the displacing of those ministers, as is proued in al the writings on our side; & lastly, in the answere to D. Bridges: therfore to displace such ministers, is a haynous & horrible sinne.
Therefore if the ministers that bee vsually displaced,The Conclusion be called of God; if they discharge the dutie of good ministers, both in doctrine and life; if the displacing of them, bee to depriue Gods people of their spiritual comfort; if it giuegive occasion to some to doubt of the Gospel, and to fall away; if God giuegive a blessing vntounto their labours; if the displacing of them giuegive the enemy matter to reioyce, and hope to ouercome; if it cause the displacers to be esteemed enemies to the Gospell; if it let in more wickednesse in one day, then preaching can throwe out in many yeeres; if it interrupt the course of the gospell, without warrant eyther from the word of God, or lawes of the land; then must it needs follow, that the displacing of those ministers is a most haynous, and horrible sinne against the Lord.
CHAP. 17.
THe Eldership is to admonishe eueryevery one, by whome offence appeareth vntounto them to grow in the Church: There is no question between vsus, about admonition it selfe; but this they deny, that the execution of any discipline (and therefore of this poynt) belongeth vntounto the Eldership; which point is prooued in the seuerall chapters going before: so that I need not saye any thing of this, sauing with (a reason or twayne) to shewe the necessitie and benefit of it in the Church of God.
1 That whiche priuate men offended, are commaunded to seeke vntounto for the redresse of the offender, is a necessarie, & an ordinary way for the amendment of them that doe offend in the Church of God: But such is the admonition of those that are in authoritie, and cary the name of the Church, Matth. 18. 15. see chap. 14. and the 1. proposition of the same: Therefore admonition in such cases by the Eldership, is a necessary and ordinary way, for their amendment that do offend.
2 That which is more auaylable to bring the offender to repentance, then priuate admonition, eyther by one, or moe, that same is verye profitable & necessarie in the Church of God: But such is the publike admonition by the gouernours of the Church, as appeareth by this, that Christe maketh it a remedy, when the other two will not preuaile, Mat. 18. 15. Therfore it is very profitable and necessary in the church of God.
3 That which maketh men more afraide to offend, then any admonition that priuate men can giuegive, is profitable & necessary in the church of God: But such is the Eldership, before whom men know they shalbe brought if they doe not amend: Therefore it is very profitable and necessary in the Church of God.
4 That which hath a greater promise to do good, then priuate admonition, is very necessary in the Church of God: But such is the admonition that is giuen by the Eldership, because it preuayleth when the former doth not: Therefore it is profitable in the Church of God.
5 That without which, all duties of charity cannot be exercised towards sinners, is needful to be in the Church of God: But without admonition by the Eldershipp, all duties of charitie cannot be exercised towards sinners: Therfore it is needfull to be in the Church of God.
6 That which woulde bridle the outragious sinnes of some, and keepe in the derision and mockery, that priuate admonitions do receiue, is needful to be in the Church of God: But this would admonition by the Eldershipp doe; for if men knewe that they should answere vntounto the Churche for their ill demeanour, to them that rebuke them for sinning; they woulde refraine (at least for feare) from such kinde of outrage: Therefore it is needful to be in the Churche of God.
Therefore seeing publike admonition before the Eldership is to be sought,The Conclusion by those that are offended, and cannot be satisfied; seeing it is more auayleable then priuate admonition; seeing it maketh men more afraid to offend; seing it hath a greater promise; seeing without it all duties of charity, cannot be exercized towards the sinner; lastly seeing it would bridle the outragious sinnes of many; Therfore it must needs followe, that it is very profitable, and necessary to be in the Church of God.