The Divine Institution of Congregational Churches, Chapter 12
CHAP. XII. Of Admitting Church Members.
The Ends of the uſe of the Keys: What they are: How diſtinguiſhed: The Key of Knowledge: Of Government: How given to Peter: Elders for the due Management; but primarily given to the Church: Women not to exert Ruling Power: The Church with Elders uſeth the Keys Miniſterially: Admittances ought to be with Exactneſs; with the giving a reaſon of their Hope, and an account of their Knowledge: Their Converſation to be enquired into: The Manner of Receiving in: The Perſon received gives up his Children: He may not Deſert: He ought to bring his Children: Of Occaſional Communion, and of receiving recommended or diſmiſt Members.
§. 1. HAVING ſpoken to the Seals of the New Covenant, we come to ſpeak to the other Ordinances of Special Communion, which concern the uſe of the Keys in all matters of Church Government a1 Cor. 12, 28., they being Chriſt's, and committed by him to every Viſible Congregation, to be uſed according to his Rules and Directions in his Name b1 Cor. 5.4., and to his Glory, The great ends of which Diſpenſation of his Headſhip in this kind, are the due increaſe of his Churches cIſa. 9.7. Acts 2. ult., and their Peace dPſa. 122.7. Heb. 7.2. Zach. 6.13. Joh. 20.21, 26. 1 Pet. 1.2. & 5.14.and Purity eRev. 2.1, 18. Ezek. 43.10, 11. Iſa. 5.2..
§. 2. The Keys are the Power of Chriſt aIſa. 22.22 Rev. 3.7.which he hath given to every particular Congregation to open and ſhut it ſelf by bMat. 16.19., and to do all things that belong thereunto in order unto the ſaid ends, it being Chriſt's Houſe cHeb. 3.6., holy Temple dEph. 2.21, Garden eCant. 4.12., Vineyard fIſa. 5.1., Walled in, Hedged and Encloſed.
§. 3. The Keys of Chriſt are to be diſtinguiſhed; they are his Keys of Hell and Death; or his Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, i. e. of the Church: His Keys of Hell and Death are the Power by Conqueſt which he hath obtained over Sin, Curſe, Natural Death, and Satan himſelf aRev. 1.18. 1 Cor. 15.54, 55. Mat. 28.20. Heb. 2.14.. The Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven bMat. 16.19.are they that he manageth his Viſible Churches by, and gives a power of opening and ſhutting a Viſible Church by. Theſe Keys are that of Knowledge cLuke 11.52., and that of Diſcipline dRev. 3.7..
§. 4. The Key of Knowledge, is the Goſpel Preached aLu. 11.52. Mat. 10.7. 2 Cor. 2 12 1 Cor. 16.9, the Spirit of Chriſt working inwardly, to open the heart to receive it bActs 16.14.; in this reſpect this ſeems to be one of the Keys which our Lord gave to Peter, in that he had the Honour of turning the firſt Key of Converſion after our Lord's Aſcention, both to Jews cAct. 2.41and Gentiles dAct. 10.34. & 11.8. Eph. 3, 4, 5, 6..
§. 5. The other Key given unto Peter is of Government and Diſcipline aIſa. 9.6., neither of which Keys were given unto him as to a ſingle Perſon, or ruling Head of the Viſible Churches, neither that of Knowledge nor Government; but unto the Church in him, tho unto him with the other Apoſtles, as the firſt Managers thereof, their Names being put down in Chriſt's Charter granted to the Churches bMatt. 28 19., (as is uſual in the Charters granted by Earthly Kings) yea a priority of time ſeems to be given to Peter (as appears by the event) on both accounts, as to the firſt Management; being the firſt Apoſtle that preſided in Government cAct. 1.15, in taking in and excluding Church-Members dAct. 2.41. & ch. 5.1., as we ſee he was the firſt that opened (by his Doctrine) the Door unto Jews and Gentiles, but in all this it appears, that he was but a Steward to Chriſt and his Church; and that although the preſent management of them was in Peter and the Apoſtles, yet it was the Church that was the ſubject of them eMat. 18.17..
§. 6. Tho Chriſt hath wiſely provided for his Honour, and the well-being of his Churches, in that he hath ſet Elders in his Churches to manage the Keys in an orderly and honourary manner a1 Cor. 12 28.; yet he hath committed the propriety of 'em (next to himſelf, and in his own Name) unto the Church, whether Organized or Eſſential only, as to a ſpiritual Body corporate, which he hath endowed with this Priviledge among others, of having and keeping the Keys bRom. 3.2 Acts 7.37, 38. Rev. 3.7.; and it appears that the Church, as ſuch, is the firſt ſubject of the Keys under Chriſt, becauſe 1. The End of them is to preſerve the being of a Church, as well as for its well-being, and therefore they muſt belong to it as ſoon as the Church becomes eſſential c1 Cor. 5.7. & 12.28..
2. As ſoon as the Church becomes a Body Corporate in Chriſt, the whole Charter for Priviledges belongs to it, and therefore all that appertain to its preſervation, which cannot be without the power of the Keys d1 Cor. 7.17. & 12.26, 27..
3. Without the uſe of the Keys they cannot Organize themſelves with Elders and Deacons; for to let in any Perſon into Office muſt be by the uſe of them eActs 14.23..
4. A Church before it hath Miniſterial Officers, may admit Members, or reject a Scandalous Member for its preſervation, therefore hath the uſe of the Keys; for embodying into a Church doth not ſo ſhut them up that none can either come in to them, or be caſt out, before they have choſen a Paſtor fGal. 5.1. 2 Cor. 6.14, 15..
5. A Church that hath Elders may be by Providence deprived of them; how can they be re-ſupplied without the uſe of the Keys; eſpecially if they call ſuch as are not of their Body? None can be an Officer in a Corporation, but he that is incorporated firſt as a Member gActs 6.3. Rom. 12.4..
6. In proceeding with an offending Member, the firſt degrees thereof are by Members not in Miniſterial Office hMat. 18.15..
7. Elders are but Stewards to Chriſt and his Church, for the due management of the Keys they are entruſted with, and are accountable to Chriſt and his Church, and are to uſe them with its conſent in all Caſes, not to make advantage by them to Lord it over God's Heritage, by aſſuming an Arbitrary and Deſpotick Power to themſelves, exerciſing Dominion over the Church-Members Faith, inſtead of being helpers of their Joy i1 Pet. 5.3 2 Cor. 1.24 1 Cor. 4.1.
8. Suppoſe an Elder (there being but one, Paſtor or other) come to fall under juſt cauſe of Cenſure, Who muſt uſe the Keys in depoſing and cenſuring this offending and incorrigible Elder, but the Body of the Church kCol. 4.17 3 John 9.?
§. 7. By what hath bin ſaid, it clearly appears, the Keys of Government primarily are placed in a Church as a Body Corporate; becauſe the diſpoſal of the orderly Management of them to Officers, belongs to the Church under Chriſt, and the uſe of them for their preſervation, belongs to them before ſuch Miniſterial Officers are Ordained by them; in that mean time, the power of the Keys is exerted by the Church, by the hands of the Brethren; for tho each Siſter is a true Member of this Corporation, and accordingly, upon that ground ſhould Vote, yet Chriſt having made a particular Exception upon that account, that Women may not ſpeak or exerciſe Authority in the Church a1 Tim. 2.12. 1 Cor. 14.35., therefore whatever paſſeth in the Church by the Majority of the Brethren is a Church act, ſo that it be done in a Congregation, the Siſters preſent, otherwiſe its no Church-Meeting b1 Cor. 14.23..
§. 8. A Church Organized with Elders, uſeth the Keys Miniſterially, exerting the power of Chriſt committed to it in and by the Elders, going along with them in an… explicite conſent to all things agreeable to the Order of the Goſpel a1 Pet. 5.3, which power is exerciſed in the admitting Perſons into Church-Fellowſhip, or in debarring of Members from the Communion of the Church b3 Joh. 10, and in all matters that tend to the one or other.
§. 9. They that are ſaid to be coming into the Church, are either ſuch as are not actual Members to this Church, but Members of other Churches aRom. 16.1. Or elſe they are Non-Members to any Church b1 Cor. 5.12.. And there are ſome Rules of Order to be obſerved before admitting, and ſome in Admittance of ſuch of each ſort.
§. 10. The Word of God requiring all exactneſs in Admitting Church-Members, leaſt the Childrens Bread be caſt to Dogs aMat. 7.6. & 15.26., and that the Houſe of God be not made a Den of Thieves bMat. 21.13., and in order to the future Peace and Purity of the Church: The Elders, as Stewards who ought to be found faithful c1 Cor. 4.1, 2., when any one propounds him or her ſelf to join in Fellowſhip, ought to make impartial Enquiry into three things: 1. To ask the Reaſon of his Hope d1 Pet. 3.15.. 2. What competency of knowledge in the Principal Doctrines of Faith and Order e1 Tim. 2 4, 5.he hath arrived at, ſo far at leaſt, as to be fundamentally grounded therein, to be able to diſcern the Lord's Body f1 Cor. 11 29.. 3. Enquiry ought to be made whether his Converſation anſwer this Profeſſion, and adorn the Goſpel gTit. 2.11 12, 13, 14..
§. 11. A Perſon's giving a reaſon of his Faith and Hope, is his Declaring what he hath Experienced of the Grace of God upon his heart a1 Pet. 3.15. Pſal. 66.16., through the Means of Grace that he hath ſate under b2 Cor. 2.15, 16. Acts 2.41. & 26.17, 18., and the Operation of the Spirit cJohn 16.8, 9.; in the production of his Repentance unto Life, and Faith in our Lord Jeſus Chriſt dHeb. 6.1.. which a true Believer is ready to give an account of e1 Pet. 3.15.to any one that enquires of him ſeriouſly, eſpecially to a Church of Chriſt, which he applieth himſelf unto, that is ſo highly concerned therein; for they that are added to a Viſible Church, ought to be ſuch as are judged by their Profeſſion to be ſuch as ſhall be ſaved fAct 2. ult Rom. 12.1 2, 3, 4. 1 Pet. 2.5. the judgment of infallibility being peculiar to God gJoh. 6.64. Deu. 29.29..
§. 12. Without a Competency of Knowledge (for all have not the ſame degree) the heart cannot be good aPro. 19.2: therefore without ſome knowledge of God in his glorious Attributes; of the Doctrine of the Trinity; the Perſon and Natures of Chriſt; the Nature of the Law; of the Fall by Sin, and the Curſe; Man's State by Nature in the Guilt and Pollution of Sin, Original and Actual; and his miſerable undone Eſtate thereby, a Child of Wrath; The Nature of the Redemption wrought by Chriſt, in Satisfaction to God's Juſtice; Reconciliation of Sinners to God, and Purchaſe of Eternal Life for them; that our Sins were Imputed to Chriſt; and his Righteouſneſs alone to us unto Juſtification, received by Faith alone, &c. Likewiſe, to know how theſe Myſteries of Life and Salvation are held forth to a Believer in the Seals of the Covenant a1 Cor. 11.29.. And the knowledge of theſe things is the more particularly to be enquired after by the Elders of Churches, becauſe many Profeſſors build their Converſion upon meer common Convictions, and only ſome general Notions of God and Chriſt, when indeed they are very ſtrangers unto, and ignorant of the Great Myſteries of the Goſpel b& 15.34. Yet ſuch as theſe ought not to be diſcouraged, nor the ſmoking flax quenched cIſa. 42.3. Mat. 12.20, but to be led on with gentle Inſtructions to a further knowledge of Divine Truth dEph. 4.2., which if there be any beginnings of True Grace in the heart, they will with a great and ſincere ſpiritual Appetite receive, as new-born Babes e1 Pet. 2.2; and the Church ought to be careful not to reject any that they judge have the leaſt degree of ſaving Grace wrought in them fRom. 14.1.
§. 13. Such a Converſation is to be looked after as becomes the Goſpel aPhil. 1.27., which ſhews the Profeſſors Faith by his works bJames 2 18., and blameleſs demeanour in the World, as the Grace of God that bringeth Salvation teacheth cTitus 2.11, 12.. The afore-mentioned Courſe is not often taken, and therefore there are ſo many corrupt Members in Churches. Tho the exacteſt may be deceived a2 Tim. 3.5., yet the careleſneſs bEze. 34.7, 8, 10.and carnal Minds of Churches, and their Elders ambition to encreaſe their Churches into great Numbers, for the external Pomp thereof, and for Wordly Advantage, are the great prevailing cauſes of the Corruption and Apoſtacy of Churches c1 Tim. 6, 5. 1 Pet. 5.2..
§. 14. The Paſtor or Elders thus receiving ſatisfaction, that the Perſon offering himſelf, is a fit Stone for Chriſt's Building a1 Pet. 2.5, he is in a Church-Meeting to be Propounded to the Church b1 Cor. 14 23., and a competent time alotted to the Church for converſe with the ſaid Perſon cActs 9.26, 27., and enquiry after his Chriſtian Deportment, that all the Members of the Congregation may be ſatisfied in a Perſon whom they admit to ſo holy a Communion with them; which time being expired, and nothing objected againſt the ſaid Perſon, the Elders bring him before the Church to give the Reaſons of his Hope, either by Word of Mouth or by Writing (if baſhfulneſs hinder him or her from ſpeaking dRom. 14.16, 19, 20. & 15.1, 2.) which the Elder or Paſtor reads; and if any Brother deſire any further Queſtion ſhould be asked, it ought not to be denied. The Perſon owning the Declaration read, and no Objection made, the Elder puts the Queſtion, Whether the Church are ſatisfied in the Party propounded, and do conſent to his Admiſſion ePhil. 2.2.? deſiring them to anſwer in the Affirmative by their Suffrage in lifting up their Hands; and then if any be otherwiſe minded, to ſpeak or ſhew their diſagreement by the ſame Sign: Which agreed, the Paſtor or Elder doth ask the Party thus approved, Whether he doth in the ſtrength of Christ, yield profeſſed ſubjection to the Goſpel f2 Cor. 9.14. Act 11.23., and promiſe to walk with that Church in the Communion of the Faith, and Order thereof gCol. 2.5., giving up himſelf and his Seed to the Lord and the Congregation hRo. 12.1. 2 Cor. 8.5., according to the Tenor of Abraham's Covenant iRom. 15.7, 8, 9., or words of a foederal obligation to Christ and the Church, to the ſame purpoſe? Which he promiſeth ſolemnly to do by the Help of God: Whereupon the Elder doth in the Name of Chriſt, receive him into Church-Fellowſhip, promiſing on the behalf of the Church and himſelf, To watch over him in the Lord kHeb. 13.17., and diſcharge towards him thoſe incumbent Duties which may promote his edification in the ways of God l2 Cor. 1.24, & ch. 10.8 8.. Or Words to that purpoſe.
§. 15. A Perſon thus joined to a Congregation, is joined to and become a Member of a ſpiritual Corporation a1 Cor. 12 27. Iſa. 56.3. Acts 5.36. Rom. 12.5., to the whole Body, not to the Paſtor or Elder only (as ſome ignorant People think, and therefore run away when the Paſtor or Elder diſguſts them, or dieth) but are by Covenant united to the Church, and are not Diſcharged while that laſts, without the Church's leave, tho all the Officers die. Moreover, he is now obliged by his Covenant Relation, to attend ordinarily upon the Miniſtry and Ordinances adminiſtred in that Church bAct 2.42 Heb. 10.25, and ſeek the Proſperity thereof; for if a joined Member to one Church ordinarily attend the Miniſtry of another, upon pretence of better Edification, or upon any other pretence. He 1. Hereby condemns his own Choice cGal. 2.18. 2. He cannot expect better Edification where God hath not placed him d1 Cor. 7.24. Pſal. 92.13. 3. If he cannot Edifie at Home, he ſhould ask his Diſmiſſion, and not feed abroad every day. 4. There is ordinarily ſome Corruption lies under that Plea. 5. It is a living in continual breach of a ſolemn Covenant. 6. It is quite contrary to the Primitive Practices. 7. It deſtroys the end of Churches, which is, that Brethren ſhould walk together in Ʋnity, Unanimity and Fellowſhip ePſ. 133.1. 8. It diſcourageth and breaketh the hearts of faithful Paſtors and Elders. 9. It is a Practice that Chriſt will not bleſs, becauſe it ſo directly ſtrikes at his Glory in his Churches. 10. The Apoſtle makes ſuch Deſerters to be in the High-way to Apoſtacy fHeb. 10.25, 26.. 11. God is moſt glorified in every ones keeping his own Vineyard, and not others.
§. 16. As a Church-Member hath covenanted to walk in Communion of all Ordinances with hat Congregation to which he is joined, and hath given up his Children with himſelf to the Lord; ſo he is obliged to perform his Promiſe aJoſ. 24.15., in bringing his Infant-Seed to Chriſt, in the Seal of the Righteouſneſs of Faith bRom. 4.11. Mark 10.13., and in after educating and bringing them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord cEph. 6.4. Joſh. 4.6.22., as to Domeſtick Inſtruction. And laſtly, to bring them to the Means of Grace in the Church where he had given up himſelf and them to the Lord at his Admiſſion dPſ. 147.13 & 115.13, 14. & 128.1, 3, 5, 6..
§. 17. As they that be non-Members are admitted Members of a Viſible Church; ſo they that are Members of one Congregation are ſometimes received to the Communion of another, either occaſionally and tranſiently, by vertue of Communion of Churches, for a time, by Recommendation; or they are received into full Communion, and become actual Members, which is by Diſmiſſion aRo. 16.1. 2 Cor. 3.1.. But the Paſtor may not admit a Member of another Church to occaſional Communion at the Lord's Supper, without acquainting the Church therewith, and having their conſent.
§. 18. A Church is not bound to admit all to their Communion that claim, by vertue of Memberſhip to another Church; for if any one of the Congregation excepts againſt ſuch an one that offers himſelf, they ought firſt to hear the Grounds of Exception againſt the Party himſelf, or againſt the Church from whence he came, notwithſtanding any Commendation that he brings a1 Cor. 10 31. 2 Cor. 6.3: And if any one brings a Diſmiſſion without a Commendation, the thing it ſelf carries in it grounds of ſuſpicion, that he is an offending Brother, and therefore not ſuddenly to be admitted, till further Enquiry be made.
§. 19. If the Church-Member offering himſelf, was of a late Church now ſcattered and diſſolved, ſuch an one well known, may be admitted to occaſional Communion, but cannot be diſmiſſed to them; therefore if he deſire to be admitted into full Communion, he muſt be admitted as a Non-Member.
§. 20. Sometimes it is ſo, that a Church denies to give a Diſmiſſion when asked; if ſo, the Church to which he deſires to be diſmiſſed (his complaint being made to it) ought to ſend Meſſengers to that Church, deſiring ſatisfactory reaſons for the ſaid Refuſal; and if it plainly appear that it be from a perverſe Spirit, and no juſt Reaſon given, but that the ſaid Brother be detained to his manifeſt wrong and injury, and Chriſt having not made Churches Priſons, ſuch an one may be received as a Non-Member a2 Cor. 1.24..
§. 21. A Church-Member diſmiſt with Commendation, againſt whom there's no particular exception, nor againſt the Church from whence he is ſent, hath his Diſmiſſion read before the Church, and is received by Suffrage, according to the tenor of the Covenant he made with the other Church from whence he came; and if any deſire that he ſhould declare the Reaſon of his Hope, he ſhould be ready to do it a1 Pet. 3.15..