The Dying Mans Testament to the Church of Scotland, Part 2 · Chapter 4
CHAP. IV. Holding forth the frame wherewith Church-Officers should proceed in Censure, and helps towards the same.
IN the last place, the manner of proceeding in all this, is especially to be looked to, without which all the rest will be weightlesse. Therefore in all the procedure, the Church-officers especially would have a zealous, serious, grave and authoritative manner of carriage, having weight and authority in their least looks and words, with all gravity: For, can that admonition have weight with others, that appeareth not to have weight with those that give it? Or, can the scandalous be serious in hearing, when there is no conviction on them, that they are serious and affected that speak? Ministers therefore especially, as also Elders in their place, would endeavour seriously and zealously with all tendernesse to the person, to expresse their indignation at, and abhorrency of such deeds; as it is commended in Ephesus, ver. 6. that they hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans. And certainly, a Court of Christs ought to look like Him, and like that businesse intrusted to them, and to have a different stamp from other Courts. And there is nothing that weakneth the authority of a Sentence more than the want of this. For helping therefore to it, we propose, 1. That the conversations of such as take notice of Scandals in others, should be shining themselves, There can be no weightinesse without this; because the weight and authority that is to be studied here, is that which may be convincing to consciences, rather than compulsive to the outward man: and upon this ground, it is not the most honourable and rich that give Church-judicatories most authority, But those who are most shining and convincing in their carriage, particularly in reference to this trust: For, though outward place may gain more outward respect, yet this cannot but have more weight upon the conscience, which is especially to be affected by this Church-authority. 2. We would beware of founding this authority upon carnal grounds, or to lay the weight of it there, such as the power and authority of men; yea, or upon our own place, parts, or weight: and upon that account (as it were) to boast, rather than to perswade or convince. This sometimes may have weight as to some outward conformity, but doth ever lose more of its native weightinesse: Therefore Ministers and Elders in the prosecuting of this, would lay the weight here, that it is Christ's Ordinance, and that they act in His Name. 3. They would even in that procedure aim especially to deal with consciences to convince them, rather than to wrangle with corruptions, or to throw the outward man. 4. The Masters honour would ever be respected, yea, reverently and frequently mentioned, that all of them may be put and kept in minde that it is His Ordinance, and appointed for such an end: and the more room He get in the meeting, the more weight will their procedure have. 5. Ministers, and Elders particularly, would pray for the blessing to Discipline, as well as to the Word; and for the persons offending, even those that appear to be most stuborn, this becometh their ministerial authority well to acknowledge Him, and is the way to have His presence in the midst of them, without which they can expect no weight; and the more He be seen that is the Master, the more authority will they have who are the Servants. 6. It helps this also to have the matter and proofs convincing. Therefore particulars that look self-like, or siding with interests, or such as are involved in civil debates and contests, are to be shunned, or at least, not to be insisted upon: for, readily a convincing weighty matter, will have some impression of it self upon consciences. Hence, we will find in Scripture that generally (if not alwayes) publick processes are tabled upon scandals that flow from commissions, and that of such nature, as is said. It is true, where an omission is owned, as suppose one should refuse to pray, or where palpably defended, and is not of infirmity, as idlenesse was in Thessalonica, 1 Epist. chap. 3. such are by their circumstances rather indeed commissions, and so to be accounted after admonition, and upon just ground are convincing. 7. There would be weight, gravity, impartiality, self-deniednesse, and affection kything in every circumstance, that they may look like the servants of Jesus Christ, who are seeking thee good of His people; and so foolish sporting and laughing, idle and triviall questions, passionate words, heat, or particular and personall reflections, and the like, are most derogatory to the authority of a Church-judicatory, and do mar the weight of any Sentence upon a conscience, as is evident in daily experience, where sometimes Censures in their giving and receiving, are, upon the matter, an irreverent taking of the name of the Lord in vain. 8. There would be in all this, an holy boldnesse▪ and an undauntoned fearlesnesse in respect of men. When it cometh to any difficulty, minding the authority of Him whom we represent; yet so, as in this boldnesse, conscience of duty and zeal may both in our own consciences, and to the conviction of others, be the ground, end and motive thereof, and not any carnall flash of passion or pride, or fit of naturall courage, which may make Church-officers look like men, but not like their master; for, as His Kingdom is not of this world in these respects, so ought His Officers to administrate the same otherwayes than a wor…ly authority useth to be; our weapons are not carnall, but spirituall, and mighty through God, and therefore as such should be used.
The last general direction concerning this, is, thatChurch-processes would be carriedon with expedition. when Scandals are thus to be taken notice of, this proceeding ought to be with expedition: my meaning is not, that we should precipitate contrary to the former directions; But, 1. That after notice of an offence, with all conveniency, the first steps of this procedure would be essayed. 2. That there would not be long intervals betwixt these steps, although they may be frequently repeated. 3. That persons would not be kept long under processe, especially they would not have their appearances multiplied, except when it may be for good use. The reasons of all these, are▪ 1. Because when offences are fresh, then often the parties offending, and offended, as also others, are most affected therewith; whereas, if a long time interveen, that edge weareth away, and whatever the close be, it proveth not so edifying to any. 2. Men weary, and so fall from that zealous, serious manner of carriage in it that becometh, for our spirits are soon out of bensall, and that deroga…eth from the weight of the thing. 3. It proveth irritating and burthensom to the parties offending, rather than convincing, and so the end is missed. 4. It hath also influence upon the confusing and burthening of Officers when processes are multiplied and lengthened, and it cometh some way to look like mens civil Courts, and that in such things as they use to be grievous unto these who are necessitate to wait on them.
To close this, we conceive it were fit for the authority of Church-judicatories, the weight of admonition, and the edification of persons, that there were some specially set apart for government, although they were fewer: And, O that this might be attained! for, ordinary conversing of Elders in common and ordinary Callings, doth not a little obscure the weight of that Ordinance to many, except the conversation of the Elder in such things be singularly convincing: And untill this be attained, there is the greater need for Church-officers to be as little in common businesse and discourses with those over whom they are set, as conveniently may be, that there may be the more accesse to converse with them as becometh Officers; and when necessity calleth to it, there is need of gravity and circumspectnesse, that it mar not their weight in the duties of their office at any other time. And also Church-officers in their meetings amongst themselves, would be alwayes grave and serious, as being about an Ordinance of Jesus Christ.