A Gospel Church, Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII.
Where are ſeveral Queſtions Anſwered and Reſolved.
Queſt. WHether a Church-member may withdraw or abſent himſelf from the Lord's Supper, upon any Sin, or Offence given him, by one or more of his Fellow-members in the Church?
Anſw. The offended Member may not withdraw, nor by any means abſent himſelf on that Account. Too many indeed are apt to think, (and they Act accordingly) that they have a Diſpenſation to neglect their Duty, and practically to ſlight their Priviledge, becauſe others are not ſo good as they ſhould be, and have given them Offence. But that which gives them ſuch a Diſpenſation, is their own Pride, Ignorance, Prejudice and wilfulneſs, not Jeſus Chriſt their Head. But I ſay, you may not abſent your ſelves, or neglect that great Ordinance upon ſuch Accounts. (1) Becauſe it is your Duty to receive it, and wait on Chriſt in it, (as hath been ſhewed) and it is not anothers Sin, that can diſcharge you of your Duty. (2) If thy Brother hath ſinned, and thereby incapacitated himſelf for a worthy receiving and celebrating of this holy Ordinance; thou haſt the greater Reaſon offered thee, to come and receive it worthily to the honour of Chriſt. For it is moſt unreaſonable, that he ſhould be deprived of the Glory of his Grace, and thy Duty, becauſe thy Brother hath ſinned againſt him, and diſhonoured him already. (3) Haſt thou rebuked thy ſinning Brother, and laboured to bring him to Repentance? and art thou mourning, and praying for him, and waiting on God for his Recovery, as thou art bound to do? 1 Cor. 5.2. Why! then his Sin ſhall not be laid to thy Charge; neither may it impede or hinder thy Reception of this Ordinance. (4) It is thy Prejudice and Wrath againſt, if not thy Loathing and Hating of the offending Perſon, that cauſes thy Neglect, or the Guilt thou haſt contracted to thy own Soul and Conſcience, that makes thee forbear coming to the Lord's Table, and not a dutiful and conſcientious Forbearance, becauſe God would have it ſo. For it is contrary to his holy Will. (5) Allow of this, and you will never want occaſions, but the Devil and your own Luſts will ſtill ſupply you with enough, to provoke and perſwade you to a total neglect of this Duty.
Queſt. Suppoſe I find my ſelf unfit and indiſpoſed to receive the Lord's Supper, may not I neglect it?
Anſw. No: for thy waiting on Chriſt at his Table is thy Duty, as hath been proved. And therefore thou maiſt not think of neglecting it; but the more unfit and indiſpoſed thou findeſt thy ſelf to be, the more ſeriouſly, diligently and vigorouſly thou ſhouldſt labour to prepare thy ſelf, and get the removal of thy Indiſpoſitions: To obtain and put on the Wedding-Garment, that thou maiſt worthily partake of this Ordinance. If the Iron be blunt; the harder you muſt ſtrike, Eccl. 10 10. The more unprepared you are, the more and greater diligence you muſt uſe to prepare. I know that Church-members are ſubject to this Temptation, which if yielded to, will bring on many Miſchiefs upon their Souls, as ſome have ſadly experienced. But what hinders, that you endeavour not the removal of theſe Evils preſently? you may not alwayes live ſo, but one time or other you muſt get rid of them, unleſs you will periſh. And when will you find a fitter time for the doing of it, than now? Therefore know, that you have two great and indiſpenſible Duties lying before you. 1. To uſe all means for the removing all Obſtructions, and to get your Hearts in a ready meet poſture for God and your Duties, Amos, 4.12. (2) To wait on Chriſt at his Table on the next opportunity, 1 Cor. 1….28. and not to add Sin to Sin by neglecting either of them.
Queſt. What do you think of thoſe Members, who do wilfully neglect to come to the Lord's Table very often, and for a long time together? or of ſuch as will ride out of Town ſuch dayes, as they are called to partake of it?
Anſw. Firſt, either they are dead rotten Members, ſuch as are mentioned in Matth. 13.20, 21. Joh. 15.2, 6. Heb. 6. and Heb. 10. or elſe they have fouly back ſliden from God, and contracted much guilt and hardneſs of Heart. You may be ſure that matters go very ill with them at home, and that they are in a withering and dying condition: that they have wickedly forſaken God, and God hath forſaken them, 2 Chron. 15.2. They have moſt horribly ſinned againſt Knowledge and Conſcience, grieved the holy Spirit, and alienated their Hearts from God. They have loſt the ſavour of Chriſt, that was on their Hearts, the Conſcience of, and love to their Duties, all care of, and reſpect to their own and their Brethren's Souls; and have with Ephraim, caſt off the thing that is good; and therefore Evil purſues them, Hoſea. 8.3. and they are under the Temptations of the Devil. For were it not thus with them, they could not, durſt not do as they do in this great and weighty matter. The ſight of their Duty, the ſenſe of their own wants, and their love to Chriſt, their Brethren and their own Souls, would in no wiſe permit, or diſpenſe with ſuch wilful neglects of ſo great a Duty and Priviledge, and to keep at a diſtance from their God. And if you mind them, and have cloſe diſcourſe with them about ſpiritual things, you may find them neglecters and ſlighters of other Duties; of Carnal, Vain, Sottiſh and Stupid Spirits; and that their Hearts and Souls are in a ſad and miſerable condition. They deſire not, care not for your Company, nor to hear you talk with them about their Soul's concernments. And if they pretend any excuſe, or offer to defend their …glects; be ſure they will caſt all, or moſt of the blame or cauſe off from themſelves on others; which argues a vile wicked Spirit. They neglect the Lord's Table, not becauſe their own Hearts & Wayes are very evil and abominable, (if any will believe them) no; but becauſe their Miniſtry, the Church, or ſome particular Members of it are not good enough for their Communion. And herein they blaſpheme or ſcandalize them, and offer violence to their own Conſciences, for the clearing of themſelves, and in belying their Teacher or Brethren.
Queſt. Is not Excommunication an Ordinance of Chriſt in his Church?
Anſw. Yea, it is a great and uſeful Ordinance, which may not be neglected, when need requires, on any pretence whatſoever; becauſe the Lord Jeſus, the King and Head of his Churches hath inſtituted and commanded it to be done; and hath thereby made it their indiſpenſible Duty, Matth. 18.15, 16, 17. 1 Cor. 5.4, 5, 11, 12, 13. 2 Theſ. 3.6, 14.
Queſt. For what ends muſt the Church uſe this Ordinance? and why hath Chriſt appointed it, and commanded the Adminiſtration of it?
Anſw. For theſe Six ends, 1. To remove Offence from the Church. For a ſcandalous Member continuing in his Impenitency is a Stumbling-block to them. 2. The healing of the Offender, by bringing him to deep Conviction of his Sin, and Repentance for it: to humble him, to cauſe him to own and acknowledge his Sin, and amend his Wayes, 2 Cor. 2.5, 6, 7. 3. To clear the Church of the guilt of his Sin. For if they neglect their Duty, and ſo practically wink at his Sin, they involve themſelves in the guilt of it, 1 Tim. 5.22. 4. To caution others, and cauſe them to hear and fear, and do not ſo wickedly, Deut. 21.21. Deut. 17.12, 13. 5. To free the Church from Reproach and Scandal from without; for their Enemies will undoubtedly defame them, if they hear that they ſuffer viſible Tranſgreſſors among them. 6. To purge out the Leaven, that the Church may be a pure Lump; 1 Cor. 5.7, 8. and a holy Habitation of God, Eph. 2.
Queſt. When muſt this Ordinance be uſed in the Church?
Anſw. Only in caſe of neceſſity, when other means will not convince and bring Offenders to ſerious and hearty Repentance, prevent or remove the other Evils, or obtain the Ends before mentioned, Matth. 18.15, 16, 17.
Queſt. What is Excommunication?
Anſw. It is the cutting off a Church-member from his Memberſhip with the Church, putting him out of their Communion and Society, and ſhutting him out from the enjoyment of all Church-Priviledges, & putting him into the Devils Kingdom: or to deliver him to Satan, in the name of Chriſt, for the deſtruction of the fleſh, that his Spirit may be ſaved in the day of the Lord, 1 Cor. 5.4, 5. It is variouſly expreſſed in Scripture in the fore-quoted Texts, Matth. 18. 2 Theſ. 3.1 Cor. 5.
Queſt. But is not Excommunication an high Act of Cruelty, and too great Severity for a Church to uſe towards their Follow-members?
Anſw. No. For it is one of Chriſt's healing Medicines, wherewith he cures Souls, and one of his ſoveraign Means whereby he ſets broken bones in joynt. The loving, kind and compaſſionate Head and Father of his People hath not ſuch a heart towards them, neither hath he ſhewed any Cruelty or undue Severity towards them in his appointing this Ordinance for his Churches, and requiring the Execution of it on obſtinate Tranſgreſſors for their Health & Cure. 2. The executing of this healing Ordinance on ſuch, is ſo far from being an Act of Cruelty, as that it is one of the higheſt Acts of our Love, Favour and Kindneſs to their Souls; and the wilful neglect of it, is one of the higheſt Acts of Cruelty, that we can ſhew them. For to let a Brother alone in his Sin and known Wickedneſs, ſee him in the Ditch and leave him there: knowing him dropping into Hell, and not uſe the means the Lord hath given us, for the helping of him out, and preventing of his eternal Ruine, is ſuch a piece of Cruelty and horrible Injuſtice, as that there can hardly be greater found among men. If it be Cruelty in me to uſe the Lords means for ſaving of my Brother's Soul, then let it be ſo called and accounted, not elſe. And great is their ſimple Ignorance, or wilful Blindneſs, who think and talk after this rate; and too many of them, are found in the Churches of Chriſt.
Queſt. But for what ſins ſhould this Ordinance be adminiſtred to, or executed on Church-members?
A. For any ſins that are not unavoydable Infirmities, if perſiſted in, & the Offenders reject or neglect to hear, receive, and improve Reproofs, to their Conviction, Sorrow, and Amendment; to their deep Humiliation, Confeſſion and voluntary Acknowledgment. The Lord Jeſus hath not told us in particular, for what ſins Offenders ſhould be Excommunicated out of the Church; but tells us in Ma…th 18.15. that if thy Brother ſin againſt thee: He names not the particular ſin or ſins; but that expreſſion implys any ſin, that is not an unavoydable infirmity in him: And mark it, It is not the matter of the ſin that is ſo much to be minded, as the manner of ſinning, and the Circumſtances wherewith it is attended. As 1. If a ſin that is generally known among Profeſſors of the Goſpel, and owned to be a ſin, and which the Sinner cannot be ignorant of, eſpecially when it is laid before him, and opened to him by the Reprover. (2.) VVilfully or careleſly committed. (3.) If it be a ſcandalous ſin, and pernitious to God or Men. (4.) If committed upon deliberation. (5.) VVith heat and fervour of ſpirit. (6.) If committed after Conviction of the Evil of it, and Repentance for it. (7.) If it be perſiſted in after Admonition, or the Offender ſhall ſlight or neglect Brotherly Reproof under it, and ſhall contemn the firſt and ſecond Admonition turning a deaf ear to it; or ſhall not repent and give ſatisfaction for the wrong he hath done by his ſin; I ſay, let the matter of the ſin be what it will, if attended with ſome, or all theſe Circumſtances and Aggravations; the Church may by Chriſt's Authority proceed againſt him, and cut him off. To name ſome few of the many ſins, which if not repented of, but perſiſted in, which they may be judged to do, until they manifeſt open Repentance. (1) Strong & violent Paſſions. (2.) Apparent Wrath, Envy, Bitterneſs, and Anger ſhewed without great provocation. (3.) Apparent Frowardneſs, Peeviſhneſs, Clamour, & Strife. (4.) Jangling, Diſputing, & Peace-breakings, & all things that directly tend to hinder the Edification and Peace of the Church. (5.) Back-bitings, and ſpeaking evil againſt, or of one another. (6.) Conſtant or frequent neglects of Family and Church-duties, and the Ordinances of God in them. (7.) Needleſs Aſſociating and holding Communion with profane and ſcandalous perſons. (8.) Defrauding any perſons of their juſt dues any way, on any account whatſoever, when it might have been prevented. (9.) Diſobedience to the Lawful Commands and Rules of Parents, Maſters, Magiſtrates, Elders, or any other that have Authority over them. (10.) Publiſhing falſe Doctrines againſt the Fundamentals of the Goſpel, Faith, and Worſhip. (11.) Falſe Accuſing any Perſons, eſpecially any of the Church. (12.) Railing at, or reviling others to their face, or behind their backs. (13.) Idleneſs, Tatling, and being Buſie-bodies in other mens matters that concern them not. Theſe, and many more of like import, are ſuch apparent ſins, as that Church-members cannot be ſuppoſed to be ignorant of them, and they are very offenſive Evils to God and men▪ So likewiſe is wilful deſerting and cauſeleſs leaving of a Church at their own will and pleaſure, and thereby have broken the Covenant of God. I have not room to enlarge on theſe brief hints of this matter; but I could otherwiſe ſay much more for the clearing and confirming of it.
Queſt. May Churches keep out ſuch perſons as offer themſelves to joyn with them, at their own will and pleaſure, without apparent cauſe?
Anſ. No, they may not; for 1. We have no diſpenſation to do ſo, but are bid to receive them, Rom. 14.1. Rom. 15.7. (2.) The Primitive Churches did receive perſons, as ſoon as they proffered to joyn with them, unleſs they had any juſt cauſe to deny them; and what they did therein, was by Apoſtolical direction. (3.) By refuſing to accept them into Communion ſpeedily (without juſt cauſe) they do greatly wrong and injure them, and grieve ſuch as the Lord would not have grieved. (1.) They keep them out of their Right, and detain from them their juſt dues; they deprive them of their Priviledges which Chriſt hath bought for them. And (2,) Lay them under many and great Temptations to ſin and deſpond. (4.) They rob God of his Honour and Glory, which he might receive from them in their Church-duties. (5.) They diſcourage perſons from coming to, and joyning with them, and ſo expoſe themſelves to ruine. For the Churches cannot long ſubſiſt without continual additions of new Members, becauſe death is ſtill fetching away, and pulling out of the old. (6.) They do expoſe themſelves to reproach and juſt cenſure by ſuch wilful neglects towards them. (7.) Ordinarily, they may be either received or rejected in one week, as well as in three months, did all mind and attend to their duty in their place in the Churches. Take heed that this evil be not found in or among you; for aſſuredly it is a foul Iniquity to rob God, wrong Souls, and injure the Church; to grieve the hearts of the Godly, and tempt them to ſin; which Iniquity you are guilty of, who by your negligence or prejudice do keep them from Church. Ordinances, who deſire to partake of them with you, longer than of neceſſity.
Queſt. May not Paſtors leave their Churches upon any account whatſoever?
Anſ. Doubtleſs God may, and ſomtimes he doth providentially call them off, and they ought to follow it. For (1.) There is not any Precept of Chriſt enjoyning them to ſtay with them all their days. (2.) Chriſt tells them, that if they be perſecuted in one City, they may fly to another, Matth. 10.23. But they may not leave them, no, not with the Churches conſent and approbation, but upon ſome extraordinary Providences and Calls of God. For as Chriſt their Maſter ſent them there, and they were ſetled there by him, as the great Agent and Doer of it, to do his work, and miniſter in his Name, and by his Authority, with his Gifts & Bleſſing; ſo the Churches have nothing to do to diſmiſs and give them liberty to depart without the good leave and conſent of Chriſt himſelf, who ſent and ſet them in and among them. And therefore their leaving of the Churches, and the Churche; diſmiſſing of them, is not their own act, but in and by the order and commiſſion of Chriſt. What they do therein, muſt be only in, from, and by the Will and Pleaſure of their Head and King, and not from their own. For without Warrant from him, the Churches have no power to leave their Paſtors, nor their Paſtors them.
Queſt. When, or upon what accounts may Paſtors leave their Churches?
A ſ. Firſt, when they are ſeverely perſecuted, and their Enemies level their fiery Darts, and ſhoot their Arrows of malice againſt their Perſons and Families, and perſiſt in their ſo doing, ſo as that there is no probable way to eſcape them, but in all probability they ſhall be devoured by them. In this caſe, the Lord Jeſus, the Apoſtles, and the Elders at Jeruſalem fled and went their way; and hereby the Lord doth often call off Paſtors now. (2.) In caſe the Churches leave them, and will not ſtand by them. (3.) In caſe their Churches fall into Rents & Schiſms, and they grow ſo head-ſtrong and unruly, as that they can do no good upon them, as ſomtimes it falls out. (4.) In caſe they cannot live and ſubſiſt with and by them, but in a miſerable and diſtreſſed condition. For if the Churches provide not for them, and they have not otherwiſe a ſubſiſtance, they are not bound to provide for their Churches. For God hath ordained, that they, that preach the Goſpel, ſhould live of the Goſpel, 1 Cor. 9.14. and they muſt live by Bread, and provide for their Families, or they deny the Faith, and are worſe than Infidels, 1 Tim. 5.8. (5.) In caſe the Lord doth open a door for their Miniſtry elſe-where, which is always to be obſerved in this matter. If Providence invite them elſe-where to miniſter to a People that they knew not of, and ſought not after, but the hand of Providence preſented it to them (as it were) accidentally, and are by that ſtrange people (as to them) deſired to preach to, and take the care of them; and ſo they lay not down their work, but follow it in thoſe other places, where in all probability they may do Chriſt and Souls greater Service, and not expoſe themſelves thereby to thoſe Straits and Temptations to ſin, they were in before: I ſay, take in this caſe with any of the other, & I am ſatisfied their Call is clear to leave their Churches.
Queſt. May Church-members leave their Churches at their own will and pleaſure, and go elſe-where when they pleaſe?
Anſ. No, they may not: They muſt not leave them, unleſs by ſome extraordinary hand of Providence the Lord calls them off, to walk with another people. If by Perſecution or by Poverty, or by the command of their Parents, Husbands, or Maſters, or other Superiours, they are called off, they may go with the Churches conſent, as likewiſe in other weighty caſes. But they may not go from them at their own will and pleaſure, to gratifie their Pride, Prejudice, and to pleaſe their own fickle minds and itching ears, or upon any ordinary account whatſoever; and that for theſe reaſons, (1.) The Lord charges them not to forſake their Churches, nor holding Communion and Fellowſhip with them in the Ordinances and Worſhip of God, Heb. 10.24, 25. (2.) He brands them, and ſets a black mark of Ignonimy on all wilful and cauſeleſs Deſerters of Churches, 1 Joh. 2.19. Heb. 10.25, 26. as the manner of ſome is, which is a contemptuous expreſſion of them, who forſake their Church-memberſhip, and their places, work and duty there. (3.) Deſerters of their Church-memberſhip at their own will and pleaſure do make the Churches thereby to be like Inns or Ale-houſes, where perſons go in and out at their own will and pleaſure. Such as do ſo in Families and civil Societies, are accounted vile, lawleſs and extravagant perſons, becauſe they live not under good Laws, nor walk by the good Rules and Orders of the Society. How much more vile and lawleſs are Church-members, who have given up themſelves in a profeſſed ſubjection to Chriſt, 2 Cor. 9.13. and engaged to walk as Church-members, and yet ſhall walk, act, and go in and out, as lawleſs perſons, who owe no ſubjection to Chriſt, nor to his Laws and Authority in the Church? (4.) Wilful Deſerters of Churches, are notorious Covenant-breakers alſo. When they gave the right hand of Fellowſhip, and were received into the Church, they ſolemnly promiſed to walk with God in the Church, hold Communion with it, ſubject unto, and live under the Government and according to the Laws thereof, until God ſhould by ſome extraordinary Providence call them off: Yet notwithſtanding they call off themſelves, and they do thereby practically contemn and trample on their ſolemn Engagement, as well as on the Laws, Orders and Government of Chriſt. (5) Their cauſeleſs and wilful departure from and leaving of a Church, to which they were joyned, is very reproachful and ſcandalous to the Church. For by their ſo forſaking of it, they declare that they are too good, and the Church is too bad for their Communion. They caſt dirt on the Church and the Miniſtry of Chriſt therein with a witneſs and manifeſt that either themſelves, or the Church and the Miniſtry there, are very vile and wicked: Or elſe why did they leave and forſake them? It was either for their Goodneſs or Wickedneſs. Not for their Goodneſs in their account, for ſhould they pretend to leave them for their Goodneſs, they will thereby lay open their own Hypocryſie and Profaneſs to all men, and be ſure that they will not do in words at leaſt. Why then, what follows, but that the cauſe of their departure is the Churches and their Miniſters Wickedneſs or Unworthineſs? Thus they will do, and care not what miſchief they do unto the Church, ſo they may but ſave ſtakes and gratifie their own Luſts. (6) Such Deſerters of Churches are Church-deſtroyers: they fight againſt God, and pull down that which he builds up. God puts in and faſtens ſtones, and they pull them out. He ſets up and forms holy Temples for himſelf to dwell in, 2 Cor. 6.16. Eph. 2. ult. and they break them down, or deface and marr them at leaſt. What Churches can ſtand in order, from and beauty, if the Members of them may do what they pleaſe, and go in and out when they will? (7) By ſuch departures from their Churches they cut off and caſt out themſelves from the People of God, his Worſhip and Ordinances, and put themſelves into the Devils Kingdom again. For they may not, ought not to be accepted or received into any of the Churches of Chriſt elſewhere, becauſe they are diſorderly walkers, and are under the blot of ſcanda ous perſons, of lawleſs and diſobedient Members. (8) They may not depart, becauſe of the juſt occaſion of Offence, Grief and Trouble, that they will give the Church thereby; excepting in extraordinary caſes, or are neceſſitated by ſtaying and holding Communion with the Church to partake with them in Sin. And it is remarkable, how God hath declared his abhorrence of ſuch departures by the Judgments, that have followed ſuch as have been guilty of it.
Finally my Brethren; let us all mind and follow the things that make for peace, and things wherewith one may edifie another, Rom. 14.19. Let us in all our doings and procedures, conſult and endeavour to know the will of God, walk by his Laws, conform to, be ruled by, and practiſe the holy and perfect will of our glorious Head, & ſoveraign Lord and King, Joh. 14.15. Joh. 15.10. Rom. 12.1, 2. Eph. 6.6. Joh. 14.21, 23. 1 Joh. 5.2, 3. Let us never adventure on any actions or things, until we have a Divine Warrant for it, and when we have that in our eye, let us proceed with all our might, doing that which is the Will of God, and that becauſe it is his Will. For then we may, and ſhall be able to do our works comfortably. Then we ſhall do them as the holy Will of God in obedience to his Command and Authority. Then ſhall we pleaſe and honour our Head and King, and by Faith and Hope look for, and expect his free and gracious Acceptance, and his promiſed Aſſiſtance; as alſo a great Reward in this life and that which is to come. Then you may confidently expect, and chearfully look for Fellowſhip and Communion with God in all your ways and Duties, when in your places and ſtations, you are really obſerving and doing the holy and perfect Will of God, and not your own.
FINIS.
End of the text · Stephen Ford, A Gospel Church (1675)