A Plain and Familiar Christian Conference, Chapter 8 – Publishers advertisement
Chap. VIII. Of Letters of Commendation and Diſcommendation.
Phil.
BEfore we break up this conference, I pray inform me of the manner of tranſlating of a Church Member from one Church to another. I have heard ſome ſay there is no difference between Letters of recommendation and of diſmiſſion.
Chriſt.
I have told you a Letter of recommendation is but a Certificate under an Elders Hand, that ſuch an one is a Church Member, and orderly walker, in order to his free admiſſion, to occaſional Communion with other Churches; it need not be a Church Act. 2. It's not in order to the parting with a Member. 3. It need not be directed to any particular Congregation. 4. When Members of each Congregation are well known to one another, they are needleſs, as the Apoſtle ſaith of himſelf, 2 Cor. 3.1, 2. we need not [foreign] Letters of Commendation to you?
Phil.
I pray in what form doth a Letter of Commendation run?
Chriſt.
It may be in theſe or ſuch like words.
To the Churches of Chriſt and their reſpective Elders, to whom theſe preſents ſhall come, Grace, Mercy and Peace, &c.
SEeing God by his Providence hath called this our Brother. A. B. to be converſant in places remote from us for a time, and that he may reap the comfort of Chriſtian Communion in Goſpel Ordinances, in any places whither he is lawfully called, and where any Church of Chriſt is planted, by vertue of Communion of Churches; Theſe are to certifie that this our Brother, A. B. is under no cenſure, but in actual Communion with us, hath walked in all Chriſtian and Holy Converſation, as becomes the Faith and Order of the Goſpel, to the great honour of Chriſt, and our rejoycing. Wherefore you need not doubt to give him the Right Hand of Fellowſhip in occaſional Communion, whenſoever he ſhall deſire the ſame. We greet you well in the Lord.
C. D. Paſtor.
Phil.
Is not this ſufficient for to tranſlate a Member to another Church, and make him an actual Member there?
Chriſt.
No, this makes him not a Member of any one Church more than another. 2. Here the Church to which he belongs, gives up no right in him. Neither doth any Church act paſs to that purpoſe, or is deſired by him. The end of this, is but to be a Teſtimonial to other Churches, that they may know him to be a Church Member, and one under no cenſure but approved, and therefore that no other Churches may ſcruple to admit him to their Communion as occaſion ſhall require.
Phil.
I pray then how do you write a diſmiſſion, ſome diſmiſs Members but to no Church.
Chriſt.
It may be wrote with theſe or ſuch like expreſſions, as the matter requires, for in ſome caſes variation is required.
Phil.
What are thoſe caſes?
Chriſt.
I will tell you. Some diſmiſſions cannot be wrote with ſo great commendation, as others may, ſome departing Members giving conſiderable cauſe of offence in their carriages, toward the Church and Miniſtry before, and in their asking diſmiſſion.
Phil.
How do you write a diſmiſſion wit… commendation?
Chriſt.
A diſmiſſion with commendation may be after this manner, and it muſt be directed to a particular Church.
To the Church of Chriſt [in ſuch a place] to which the Reverend Mr. L. P. is Paſtor, Grace, Mercy, &c.
Dearly beloved in the Lord,
WHereas F. D. a Brother in fellowſhip with us, hath walked in all good Conſcience and Holy Converſation, as becometh the Goſpel and his profeſſion, continuing ſtedfaſtly in attendance on all the Ordinances of Christ in this Congregation; And now having conſulted us, and given us reaſons why he apprehends it his duty to ask his diſmiſſion: Which reaſons being duely conſidered by us, and approved as ſatisfactory: we think it no leſs our duty to grant his ſaid requeſt, and do hereby diſmiſs him unto you, diſcharging him from his nearer relation, and obligation unto us, and commit him to your particular watch and care, deſiring you to receive him in the Lord, and that you will be every way helpful to him, to promote his edification and comfort. For which Spiritual ends, we commend you, and him with you, to the word of his Grace who is able to build you up, and give you an inheritance among them that are ſanctified.
Subſcribed by the conſent and in the name of the Church of Chriſt, at K. by A. N. Paſtor.
Phil.
But what kind of diſmiſſion can you give without commendation?
Chriſt.
There muſt be ſome in every one, and charity allows us to give ſome commendation to a Member that ſtands under very diſſatisfactory circumſtances, which we hope proceed from his infirmity only, and therefore can ſay thus much, That we hope he partakes of the free Grace of God in Chriſt, though at preſent labours under theſe or thoſe infirmities. And though his reaſons for his departure do no way ſatisfie us, yet ſeeing he cannot be otherwiſe perſwaded, we have granted his diſmiſſion in order to his contentment and our peace. But indeed ſmall or no commendation does in theſe caſes, for there is ſeldom any ſuch departer but the Paſtor of ſome other Church, is prepared for the receiving him right or wrong, with commendation or without, yea with diſmiſſion or without, for all is Fiſh that comes to Net with ſome men.
Phil.
Yea they ſay there are ſome Paſtors will receive Members that run away from other Churches, although they be actually certified that they be under cenſure. Do you … to ſend Letters of diſcommendation to Churches concerning offending Members?
Chriſt.
Yes, there is as much or more reaſon for it, than for a letter of commendation. For as it concerns a Church to know who it admits to Communion, or rejects, ſo it's requiſite that a due Character be given by the Church, to which the Member belongs. And there is no particular Congregation, will offer to receive a perſon into ſtated Communion, at leaſt, without conſulting the Church to which he belongs, unleſs it be ſuch a Church as ſavours too much of an Algerine Spirit in Eccleſiaſtick affairs.
Phil.
Have you ſeen ever any Letters Diſcommendatory ſent from one Church to another? Shew me if you have.
Chriſt.
Yes I can ſhew you one. And ſuch a Letter need not be a Church act no more than a bare Letter of Commendation. It may be done by an Elder only, and he is bound by his Office to certifie unto other Churches, what capacity a Member is in, whether under cenſure or no. For when an offending Member is brought under the cenſure of a Church, other Churches ought to be acquainted with it, that they may not be impoſed upon, and that he may be aſhamed, being rejected by the unanimous concurrence of all Churches.
A Letter of Diſcommendation, may be to this purpoſe:
To all the Churches of Chriſt, in particular to that whereto S. T. is Paſtor.
WHereas E. F. hath been a Member of this our Congregation, and having fallen by a ſcandalous Sin, — or an offence for which he hath been duely proceeded with according to the rules of the Goſpel, but remaining impenitent is to our great grief and humiliation, juſtly brought under the dreadful Sentence of Excommunication. — Or, Whereas F. B. hath for ſo long time withdrawn himſelf from the Commumunion of the Church of Chriſt in E. whereof he was a Member, to the long diſtraction, and great grief thereof, and doth perſiſt in his withdrawment, notwithſtanding all due means, which hath been uſed with all tenderneſs, patience and condeſcention for the reclaiming of him from the ſaid diſorderly walking: And that you may not be impoſed upon by ſuch an one, offering himſelf to partake with you at the Lords Table, and that the Violation of the Communion of Churches …ay be prevented, as well as the further harden… of an offender in ſin; Theſe are to ſignifie to … that the ſaid perſon above-named, is fallen … cenſure of this Congregation, afore… …fore according to the known and avowed rules of the Goſpel, he can be no longer allowed a juſt claim to Communion with other Churches, by vertue of any relation to, or right by and under the ſaid Church, or of any other pretences whatſoever, whilſt he ſtands thus divided from it as hath been declared. But that the God of all Grace will encline his Heart to return to his Duty is the unfeigned deſire and prayer of the Congregation, and of him eſpecially, who is your unworthy Brother and Servant in Chriſt Jeſus,
A. B. Paſtor.
Phil.
I thank you for your readineſs to ſatisfie me in theſe points, wherein I am now made ſenſible through Grace, the honour of God and a Chriſtians fixed comfort, is moſt exceedingly concerned. I ſhall exerciſe your Patience at this time no longer, but wait another opportunity, when we may further diſcourſe ſome points of this nature.
Chriſt.
Sir, you ſhall always find me (God aſſiſting) moſt ready and chearful in any ſervice of this nature. And though theſe things ſeem moſt ſtrange to moſt men, and of an abſtruſe nature, yet the time is coming when all the great truths of the Goſpel ſhall b… cleared up before the World. For when … Lord ſhall build up Zion, he will appear … Glory. Expect we muſt, yet that, th… retick and Doctrinal part of theſe … Goſpel order, will be ridiculed by many, and the practice thereof brow-beaten and ſcorned, not only by the World, but by carnal and ignorant Church Members, that are biaſſed and led away by their own luſts, and ſeductions of others, but through Grace none of theſe things ſhall move me. Vale.
There is to be ſold by Will. Marſhal.
THE intereſt of Churches, by J. C.
The true nature of a Goſpel Church, by J. O. D. D.
A Treatiſe of the Dominion of Sin and Grace, by J. O. D. D.
And any other works of the ſaid Author.
FINIS.
End of the text · Isaac Chauncy, A Plain and Familiar Christian Conference (1690)