The Glory of a True Church and its Discipline Displayed, Part 5 – Part 7
Motives to this.
1. Ministers Work is great: Who is sufficient for these things?2 Cor. 2.16.
1 Cor. 16.9.2. The Opposition is not small which is made against them.
1 Tim. 4.3, 4, 5.3. God's loud Call is (as well as Ministers themselves) for the Saints continual Prayers and Supplication for them.
4. Their Weakness and Temptations are many.
5. The Increase and Edification of the Church depends upon the Success of their Ministry.
6. If they fall or miscarry, God is greatly dishonoured, and his Ways and People reproached.
2dly. They ought to shew a reverential Estimation of them,2 Cor. 3.19, 20. being Christ's Ambassadors, also called Rulers, Angels, &c. they that honour them, and receive them, honour and receive Jesus Christ.1 Thess. 3.13. Esteem them very highly in Love for their Work sake. Again, he saith, Let the Elders that rule well, 1 Tim. 5.17.be accounted worthy of double Honour, especially they who labour in Word and Doctrine: that is, as I conceive, such that are most laborious.
3dly. 'Tis their Duty to submit themselves unto them, that is, in all their Exhortations, good Counsels and Reproofs; and when they call to any extraordinary Duty, as Prayer, Fasting, or days of Thanksgiving, if they see no just cause why such days should not be kept, they ought to obey their Pastor or Elder, as in other cases also.Heb. 13.5, 17. Obey them that have the Rule over you, and submit your selves.
4thly. It is their Duty to take care to vindicate them from the unjust Charges of evil Men, or Tongue of Infamy,Jer. 20.10. Zeph. 2.8. and not to take up a Reproach against them by report, nor to grieve their Spirits,2 Cor. 11.21, 23. or weaken their Hands.
5thly. 'Tis the Duty of Members to go to them when under Trouble or Temptations.
6thly. It is their Duty to provide a comfortable Maintenance for them and their Families, sutable to their State and Condition. Let him that is taught in the Word, Gal. 6.6.communicate to him that teacheth, in all good things. Who goeth a Warfare at his own Charge? 1 Cor. 9.7, 8.who planteth a Vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? &c. Even so hath the Lord ordained, ver. 14.that they that preach the Gospel, should live of the Gospel. ver. 11.If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? They should minister to them chearfully with all readiness of Mind.Mat. 10.9, 10. Ministers are not to ask for their Bread, but to receive it honourably. The Ministers Maintenance, tho it is not by Tythes, &c. as under the Law, yet they have now as just a right to a comfortable Maintenance as they had then, the equity of the Duty is the same: Our Saviour,See Dr. Owen's Eshod, p. 21, 22. saith Dr. Owen, and the Apostles plead it from grounds of Equity and Justice; and all kind of Laws and Rules of Righteousness among Men of all sorts calls for it.
7thly. It is their Duty to adhere to them, and abide by them in all their Trials and Persecutions for the Word.2 Tim. 4.16, 17, 18. Ye were not ashamed of me in my Bonds, &c.
8thly. Dr.Eshod, pag. 27. Owen adds another Duty of the Members to their Pastor, viz. to agree to come together upon his Appointment: When they were come, Act. 14.27.and had gathered the Church together, &c.
Query, Are there no ruling Elders besides the Pastor?
Answ. There might be such in the Primitive Apostolical Church, but we see no ground to believe it an abiding Office to continue in the Church, but was only temporary.
1. Because we have none of the Qualifications of such Elders mention'd, or how to be chosen.
2. Because we read not particularly what their Work and Business is, or how distinct from preaching Elders; tho we see not but the Church may (if she sees meet) choose some able and discreet Brethren to be Helps in Government: Rom. 12.8.We have the Qualifications of Bishops and Deacons directly laid down,1 Tim. 3. and how to be chosen, and their Work declared,Tit. 1.5, 6, 7. but of no other Office or Officers in the Church, but these only.
Quest. May an Elder of one Church if called, warrantably administer all Ordinances to another?Act. 20.17, 27, 28.
Answ. No surely; for we find no warrant for any such Practice, he being only ordained Pastor or Elder of that particular Church that chose him,Tit. 1.5. 1 Cor. 14.40. 1 Tim. 3. &c. and hath no Right or Authority to administer as an Elder in any other where he is not so much as a Member.
Quest. May a Church call out a Teacher that is no ordained Elder to administer all Ordinances to them?
Ans. You may as well ask, May a Church act disorderly? Why were Ministers to be ordained, if others unordained might warrantably do all their Work? if therefore they have no Person fitly qualified for that Office, they must look out from abroad for one that is. Yet (as we say) Necessity has no Law; provided therefore they can't do either, it is better their Teacher be called to do it, than that the Church should be without their Food, and Church-Ordinances neglected; yet let all Churches take care to organize themselves, and not through Covetousness, or neglect of Duty, rest incompleat Churches, and so under Sin. God is the God of Order, and not of Confusion, 1 Cor. 14.33, 38.in all the Churches of the Saints. And how severely did God deal of old with such that meddled with the Priests Work and Office, who were not of the Priesthood, nor called by him to administer in holy things!
Of the reception of Members.
Quest. WHat is the Order of receiving Members into the Church, Of the reception of Members into the Church.that were no Members any where before?
Answ. 1. The Person must give an account of his Faith;Psal. 66.16. and of the Work of Grace upon his Soul before the Church;Acts 9.26, 27. and also a strict Enquiry must be made about his Life and Conversation:3 Joh. 9, 10. Rom. 14.17, 19. but if through Bashfulness the Party cannot speak before the Congregation,1 Pet. 3.15. 1 Cor. 14.40. the Elder and two or three more Persons may receive an account of his or her Faith, and report it to the Church.Rom. 15.1, 2. But if full Satisfaction by the Testimony of good and credible Persons is not given of the Party's Life and Conversation,Acts 11.2, 3, 4, 5, 6. he must be put by until Satisfaction is obtained in that respect. Moreover, when the Majority are satisfied, and yet one or two Persons are not, the Church and Elder will do well to wait a little time, and endeavour to satisfy such Persons, especially if the Reasons of their dissent seem weighty.
Quest. What is to be done when a Person offers himself for Communion from a Church that is corrupt, or erroneous in Principles?
Answ. 1. The Church ought to take an account of his Faith in all Fundamental Points, and of the Work of Grace upon his Heart.
2. And if satisfied, then to send also to that corrupt People, to know whether they have any thing or not against his Life and Conversation: If satisfied in both these respects, the Church may receive him.
Quest. To whom is it Members …oin themselves? is it to the Elder, To whom Members join themselves.or to the Church?
Answ. They are joined to the whole Community of the Church,Act. 2.47. & 5.11, 15. being incorporated as Members thereof, and thereto abide, tho the Pastor be removed by Death.
The Power of the Keys, with Church — Discipline, and Members Duties one to another.
A monthly day to be appointed for Discipline.1. WE judg it necessary that a Day monthly be appointed particularly for Discipline, and not to manage such Affairs on the Lord's-day, which should be spent …n the publick Worship of God, of … different nature: besides, such …hings may (on the account of Discipline) come before the Church which may not be expedient to be …eard on the Lord's-day, lest it …isturb the Spirits of any Members, and hinder their Meditation …n the Word which they have …ewly heard: tho in small Congregations perhaps a day in two or three Months may be sufficient.
The Power of the Keys committed to the Church.2. The Power of the Keys, or to receive in and shut out of the Congregation, is committed unto the Church: The Political Power of Christ,Acts 16.5. saith Dr. Chauncy, is in the Church,2 Thess. 1.3, 6. whereby it is exercised in the Name of Christ, having all lawful Rule and Government within it self, which he thus proves, viz.
1. The Church essential is the first Subject of the Keys.
2. They must of necessity to their Preservation, purge themselves from all pernicious Members.
3. They have Power to organize themselves with Officers. Yet I humbly conceive I may add, that the Concurrence of the Presbytery is needful hereunto.
4. If need be that they call an Officer from without, or one of another Church, they must first admit him a Member, that they may ordain their Officer from among themselves.
5. They have Power to reject a scandalous Pastor from Office and Membership.
'This Power of Christ is exerted as committed to them by the Hands of the Elder appointed by Christ,Dr. Chauncy on the Power of the Keys, p. 335. the due management whereof is in and with the Church to be his Care and Trust, as a Steward, whereof he is accountable to Christ and the Church, not lording it over God's Heritage. And that the Power of the Keys is in the Church, appears to me from Mat. 18. If he will not hear the Church; it is not said, if he will not hear the Elder,1 Cor. 5.4, 5. or Elders. As also that of the Apostle, in directing the Church to cast out the Incestuous Person, he doth not give this Counsel to the Elder or Elders of the Church,2 Thess. 3.6, 14. but to the Church; so he commands the Church to withdraw from every Brother that walks disorderly.1 Cor. 5.7. Purge out the old Leaven, that you may be a new Lump.