Discipline Which Christ Hath Prescribed for the Government of His Church, Chapter 18
CHAP. 18.
THose that be not reclaimed from their faultes by admonition, are by the Eldership to be suspended frō the Lords supper, or being officers of the church, from the execution of their office, vntil they do eyther giuegive good testimony of their amendment, or iust cause to be further proceeded against. Neyther is there any controuersie betwixt them and vsus, about this poynt; sauing that (as in the former) they will denie it to appertaine to the Eldership, which is prooued before. I will therefore (for their vnderstanding that desire direction in the trueth) firste, shewe that it is a course that hath warrant in the scriptures; secondly, that it is of very profitable vse in the Church of God: the first is thus proued.
1 Whatsoeuer is enioyned,Suspention warranted by the word, being vponupon such grounds as the worde setteth downe. as a duetie to be done by eueryevery christian, if he leaue it vndone, he is to be compelled by the gouernours of the Church to doe it, Luke. 14. 17. 23. But if a mans brother hauehave any thing against him, & he make no conscience to leaue his gifte there, & be first reconciled, Matth. 5. 24. he is to be compelled to do it: Therefore separation from the Lordes supper, is warranted by the word.
2 If that commandement of Christe, Matth. 7. 6. giuegive not that which is holy vntounto doggs, can neyther be properly vnderstood of them, that were neuer of the Churche, nor them that be excommunicated; then is it a warraunt for such separation of the vnworthy, and consequently, that separation is warranted in the word: But the former is true, as appeareth by this, that the meanest of the Iewes did knowe, that holy things belonged to neyther of them, and so the commandement had beene needlesse: Therefore suspention is warranted by the word.
3 If there be sinners that are not to be excō municated, and yet it were offensiue to giuegive thē the Lords supper, then is this course warranted by the word, for els should Christ hauehave left his Church destitute of direction, in common and vsuall difficulties, which is prooued in the first chap. to be otherwise: But such sinners there are as the notorious sinner repenting; men mainly suspected of notorious transgressions, &c. Therfore suspention hath his warrant in the worde.
4 The course that God prescribed in the shadow, for corporal purifyings, must in the body (in respect of the substaunce) be obserued in the spirituall clensing of eueryevery member of the Church: But many were separated from the publike sacrifices for a season, by reason of their corporall vncleanes, who, yet were not worthy to be excommunicated: Therefore must also some be kept from the Lordes supper for a season, who yet appeare not so haynously to hauehave sinned, as to deserue excommunication.
5 The church cannot without great offence, suffer one that hath fallen into some open sin, or that is vehemently suspected, to hauehave haynously offended, continue in the administration of any publike function: But the Churche cannot iustly displace suche a man at the first, making shew of repentaunce, or standing vponupon his purgation: Therefore he must be separated for a time.
6 That which was commaunded vnderunder the law to be done to the priest, that was vncleane in body, or suspected to be a leaper; that same must much more vnderunder the Gospell, be done vntounto the minister, or other Church officer, that hath sinned, or is suspected to hauehave committed a great sinne: But such a priest was to be separated from offring of sacrifices for a certaine time: Therefore much more must the like be done to a Church officer in the like case.
Therefore,The Conclusion if the Churche bee to compell a priuate man to doe his duetie; if, giuegive not holy things to doggs, be vnderstood of them within the church; if there be sinners that cannot with out offence be admitted to the Lords supper, & yet deserue not excommunication; if for corporall vncleannes vnderunder the law, they were to abstaine a certaine time; and if the Church can not without great offence, suffer him that hath committed an open sinne (though he repent) or that is vehemently suspected of a notorious sinne, continue in the execution of his office, vntil the congregation be satisfied; Lastly, if the priest that was vncleane, or suspected of leprosie, might not offer sacrifices: then is it plaine, that both the separation of some men from the Lords supper, and other from the execution of their publik function for a time; is a thing warranted by the word of God.
The latter part,The vse o… suspention profitable in the Church. which is that this kind of suspention hath a profitable vse in the church of God, is thus prooued.
1 That whiche keepeth the godly in more carefull obedience, and keepeth in the hypocrites, that they breake not out, is very profitable for the Church of God: But such is the vse of the separation from the Lordes supper, and from executing publike function in the church: Therefore it is profitable in the church of God.
2 That which remooueth (euen) the appearance of offence, from the Churche of God, is very profitable for the same: But such is the separation: Therefore it is profitable for the Church of God.
3 That which declareth vntounto the world, that the Church of God is carefull to practize that which it professeth, is very profitable: But such is this separation, for it sheweth that they cannot away with vngodly life; no, not among thē selues: Therefore it is profitable for the church of God.
4 That which giueth occasion to the church, to be exercised in the actions of religion, with more sound comfort, is profitable for the same: …ut such is this separation, for eueryevery one shall see thereby, the vnworthy (for whose sakes, God might be angrie with them all, Iosh. 7. 11.) weeded from among them: Therefore it is profitable for the Church of God.
5 That whiche is a speciall meanes to procure the Lord (in merciemercy) to continue his word vntounto his Church, is profitable for the same: such is this seperation; for it is a notable meanes to keepe men in obedience to that which they professe: Therfore it is profitable for the churh of God.
Therefore,The Conclusion if separation of the knowne, or suspected sinner, from the Lords supper, & such a church officer from the execution of his publike function, doe keepe men in obedience that be godly, and restrayneth hypocrites from outrage; if it remooue the very appearance of euil; if it let the world see, that the Churche laboureth to practize that which it doth professe; if it make euerye member of the Churche to be exercized in the actions of religion, with greater comfort; lastly, if it be a special mean to procure the Lord in merciemercy, to continue his word; then must it needs follow, that it is of very profitable vse vntounto the Church of God.