The Tabernacle of God with Men, Chapter 10
CHAP. X. The ſeventh Inſtruction.
To a particular Congregation of viſible Saints, furniſhed with officers, it belongs to exerciſe all parts of diſcipline within it ſelfe. In it power of all diſcipline, whether all power of diſcipline, or not.
1. The Churches inſtanced in Scripture, of Corinth, Epheſus, &c. thus far they ſeem to have been each a particular Congregation.
1. All the ordinary officers were choſen by the People, as officers in command to the flock in common; this appears from the doctrine of the Peoples choyce formerly; of the Church of Corinth, their miniſters were choſen, foreign it ſeeming good to the whole Church, in the time of Clemens Romanus.
2. In the exerciſe of diſcipline, the People generally concurred with the officers jointly; this from the doctrine of diſcipline formerly; thoſe officers formerly by them in common choſen; and thus the Churches true liberty was preſerved.
As for that Objection, the number of Chriſtians and officers were ſo great, they could not ordinarily meet in one place for worſhip; the anſwer is, ſuppoſe that to be truth; yet might the officers interchangeably adminiſter to them, as officers in common to the flock in common, as wel for all publick adminiſtrations of worſhip, as for diſcipline joyntly.
As for the other maine objection, variety of languages; therefore their Congregations, muſt be many and fixt.
Anſw. There were interpreters of languages, that thoſe who in the Congregation underſtood not their language ſpoken in, might by interpretation underſtand it; this argues their Congregations were not fixt, according to the difference of languages.
3. Where there are all ſorts of power for diſcipline, there is an entire right for the exerciſe of it; for power is for exerciſe, but in every Congregation there are all ſorts of Power; there is power of order, and power of office; and for office-power, there are both ſorts of officers, Elders labouring in the word and doctrine, and others for rule with them; and in this they of the Presbyterian and Congregationall way agree.
4. Where our Saviours rule may be obſerved, Matth. 18.15, 16, 17. there is entire power of diſcipline; But in every Congregation ſo framed, that rule may be obſerved. Admonition, firſt ſingle, then before a witneſſe or two, and laſtly by the Church.
5. Where authoritative ſuſpenſion may be, there may be excommunication; but in every ſuch Congregation authoritative ſuſpenſion may be; this later is granted, the former is thus confirmed. Where there is power of Church-admonition, there is power of excommunication; Mat. 18.17. but where there is power of authoritative ſuſpenſion, there is power of Church-admonition. 1. Suſpenſion ſuppoſeth ſuch admonition. 2. Admonition is a leſſe act of power and juriſdiction then Suſpenſion is.
6. Where there is right to entire Church-fellowſhip, in the Ordinances of Publicke Worſhip, and private Communion, there is right for the exerciſe of diſcipline; this appears thus; A ſcandalous ſinner in ſuch a ſociety retained, is leaven, leavening the whole lump, involving the whole ſociety in guilt, 1 Cor. 5. therefore it is their duty, and in their power to caſt him out. But in every Congregation ſo framed, there is right for entire Church-fellowſhip, &c. This is not queſtioned.
Hence to the Church of Corinth power is aſcribed, and ſhe blamed for not caſting out the inceſtuous Perſon, not becauſe ſhe had thus and thus many officers, but becauſe ſhe was a Church entirely framed for diſcipline, having in her all kinde of power for that purpoſe.