The Tabernacle of God with Men, Chapter 3
CHAP. III. The ſecond Inſtruction. Diſcipline is an Ordinance of Chriſt, for ordering the viſible Church in her ſeverall Congregations.
MAt. 18.15. &c. 1 Cor. 5. 2 Theſ. 3.6. Rev. 2.2, 14, 20. 1 Tim. 5.20. Theſe Scriptures peruſed, ſhew us both that there is a diſcipline, and what it is.
For the nature and uſe of diſcipline, together with the obligation, lying upon Chriſtians in their places for indeavouring it, I ſhall gather ſomething out of Dr. Ames that excellent Divine. Medull. l. 1. c. 37.
1. Holy diſcipline is the Perſonall application of the Will of God by cenſures, either for preventing ſcandals, or for removing them out of the Church of God.
2. In the preaching of the Word, the Will of God is propounded and really applyed for begetting and increaſing of faith and obedience. In the adminiſtration of the Sacraments the Will of God is perſonally applyed by Seals, for confirming faith and obedience. In the exerciſe of diſcipline the Will of God is perſonally applyed by cenſures, for removing of ſins which fight againſt true faith and obedience.
3. This diſcipline is inſtituted by Chriſt, Mat. 16.19. and Mat. 18.15, 16, 17. and is therefore plainely of divine right; neither may it by men at pleaſure be taken away, diminiſhed or changed.
4. Nay he ſins againſt Chriſt the Author and Ordainer, whoſoever doth not what in him lies to ſettle and promote this diſcipline in the Churches of God.
5. The perſons about whom it ought to be exerciſed, are the members of the viſible inſtitute Churches, without any exception, Matth. 18.15. 1 Cor. 5.11. and no others, verſe 12. To all and onelyonly thoſe it belongs, to whom it belongs to receive the Sacraments. An inſtitute Church is a particular Congregation of viſible beleevers, joyned together by ſpecial bond, expreſſe or implicite for exerciſing the communion of Saints conſtantly among themſelves, cap. 32.
6. In thoſe perſons it hath reſpect to ſinnes and ſcandals; for it is an healing medicine for the wounds and diſeaſes to which the ſheep of Chriſt are ſubject, 1 Cor. 5.5.
7. Becauſe it doth effectually urge obedience to Chriſt, therefore not without ſingular reaſon, a great part of the Kingdome of Chriſt, as he doth viſibly rule his Church, is by the beſt Divines placed in this Diſcipline. Hence likewiſe the Keyes, (and one of them is the Key of Diſcipline) are called the Keyes of the Kingdome; and the operations of this Key, binding, looſing, opening and ſhutting the Kingdome of heaven, have upon them the ſtamp of Chriſts kingly authority.
8. And this is the true reaſon why in ſo few Churches, the Diſcipline of Chriſt, together with the Doctrine, is throughly ſetled and exerciſed, becauſe very many of thoſe who will ſeeme to know Chriſt, and to hope in him, do yet refuſe to receive the whole Kingdome of Chriſt, and to give up themſelves altogether unto him.
9. And as it is part of the Kingdome of Chriſt, ſo by the ſame reaſon, it is part of the Goſpel; for it is an holy manner of promoting the Goſpel, appointed in the Goſpel it ſelfe; therefore they do neither receive the whole kingdome of Chriſt, nor the whole Goſpel, who reject Diſcipline.
10. But becauſe every part of the kingdome of Chriſt is in its place neceſſary, and that part eſpecially which doth effectually repreſſe ſinne; therefore we may not ſafely enough reſt in thoſe Churches which want Diſcipline, except that publique want be made up by private care and mutuall watching.
11. The parts of this Diſcipline, are two
Brotherly admonition.
Excommunication.
Which in caſe of repentance approved to the Church, is ſucceeded by Abſolution.
12. Brotherly admonition is to be exerciſed in caſe of any ſin, for which Diſcipline is appointed as a medicine, but after a diverſe manner, according to the difference of ſecret and open ſins. In ſecret ſins, thoſe three degrees are to be obſerved which Chriſt preſcribed in order, Matth. 18.15, 16, 17, but in publike ſins thoſe degrees are not neceſſary, 1 Tim. 5.20.
13. Full Excommunication is not to be exerciſed, except ſtubbornneſſe be added to the ſin, Matth. 18.17. for the ſinner duly admoniſhed, muſt needs either appeare penitent or ſtubborne; the penitent is not to be excommunicate, therefore onelyonly the ſtubborn.
14. When the matter may ſufferdelay, it is agreeable to Scripture and reaſon, that Excommunication be begun by ſuſpending from the Lords Supper, and ſuch like priviledges of the Church, which is commonly called the leſſe Excommunication.
15. But in this degree we muſt not reſt, but repentance is by this meanes, and in this ſpace to be urged, of which if there be no hopes, we muſt then go on to a compleat ſeparation from the communion of the faithful, which is commonly called the greater Excommunication.
16. But becauſe the ſtubborne ſinner cannot be ſeparated from the faithful, except the faithful alſo be ſeparated from him, and this makes for the wholſome ſhaming of the ſinner, 2 Theſſ. 3.14. therefore they who are juſtly excommunicate, are to be ſhunned by all Communicants; not as to duties ſimply morall or otherwiſe neceſſary, but as to thoſe parts of converſation, which are wont to accompany approbation and inward familiarity.
17. From the bond of Excommunication no impenitent perſon is to be looſed, neither ought Abſolution to be denied to any penitent; but it is not ſufficient repentance for a man to ſay, I repent me, I will do no more; except he otherwiſe make proof of true repentance; but ſuch tokens of true repentance ought to appeare, that the Church may be bound to reſt in them; otherwiſe hypocriſie is nouriſhed, and both the Church and Chriſt himſelfe are mocked.
From this diſcourſe of Diſcipline, beſides the nature of it, appears
1. The weight of it, binding to wrath, or looſing from it, retaining, or remitting ſins, opening the kingdome of heaven to the penitent, or ſhutting it againſt the impenitent, caſting out of the commonion of the faithfull, cutting off from the body of Chriſt, delivering over to Satan or readmiſſion into the communion of the faithfull, reimplanting into the body of Chriſt, reſcue from their ſubjection to Satan; and ſo as all this done here upon earth, where rightly adminiſtred, is confirmed in heaven.
2. The neceſſity of it; 1. Standing upon ſo cleare a precept and inſtitution of Chriſt; therefore being a Goſpel ordinance, unchangeable: 2. Being ſo maine a part of the viſible kingdome of Chriſt as Mediator. 3. From the ends of it; for reclaiming and gaining of offending brethren; from deterring others from the like offences, for purging out that old leaven which might infect the whole lump, for vindicating the honour of Chriſt, and the holy profeſſion of the Goſpel; and for preventing the wrath of God which might juſtly fall upon the Church, if they ſhould ſuffer his Covenant and the Seale thereof to be prophaned by notorious and obſtinate offenders.