Plea for Pauls Presbytery in Scotland, Chapter 20
CHAP. XX.
Q. 20. Whether or no the government of the Church of Scotland can be proved by Gods Word to be lawfull?
1. ARTICLE.
Of the Doctrine and worship of the Church of Scotland.
WE acknowledge the Scriptures of God contained in the Old and New Testament to containe the whole doctrine of faith and good manners, our Covenant rejecteth all traditions contrary, without and beside the word of God, and so it rejecteth all religious observances, all humane Ceremonies, all religious symbolicall signes, all new meanes of worshipping God, all Images, positive Rites which have any influence in Gods worship as will-worship, and impious additions to Gods word, Jer. 7. 7. 2 Sam. 7. 7. Deut. 12. 32. Deut. 4. 2. Lev. 10. 2. Heb. 1. 13. Heb. 7. 14. 1 Chron. 15. 13. 1 King. 12. 32. Mat. 15. 14. Rev. 22. 18. whereas they want warrant from Gods word. All actions of divine worship, all religious meanes of worship, all actions of morall conversation must be warranted by (foreign) according as it is written, for the which cause our Church condemneth kneeling in the act of receiving the Lords Supper, all Holy-dayes dedicated to God or Saints, except the Lords-day, confirmation, bed-communion, surplice, corner-cap, &c. because they are acts of worship and religious meanes of worship, not according to the word, as is clearly shewne to the Reader by the following Categoricke Tables, where all right worship, morall acts of discipline and conversation that are lawfull will bide the tryall of this (according as it is written) even to the last specificke and individuall humane act, and where the last individuall act is proved, all the rest in that same Categorie is proved: As when I prove Peter to be a man, I prove him to be a sensitive creature, a living creature, a bodily substance, &c. which no man seeth in the Categorie of humane Ceremonies and unlawfull offices. Hence our first Categorie.
as it is written, Mat. 26. 26.
1. The worship of God.
2. Sacramentall worship.
3. Partaking of the supper of the Lord
4. Partaking of the Lords Supper in this time and place by Peter, Iames, Anna.
So in the officers of the New Testament.
as it is written, Col. 4. 17. Phil. 2. 25
1. A lawfull Minister of the New Testament,
2. A lawfull Pastor,
3. Archippus Epaphroditus,
So
as it is written, 1 Cor. 5. 4, 5.
1. an act of discipline,
2. An act of Church-censure,
3. An act of the Eldership of Corinth excommunicating the incestuous man.
The like may be said of an act of charity to the poore, 1 Cor. 16. 1.
But come to the Categorie of Formalists, and you shall see a great defect, and this (as it is written) shallbe wanting foure times, as the diagram following doth show plainly.
not written.
1. Order and decency, as it is written, 1 Cor. 14.
2 Orderly Ceremonies of humane institution
3. Sacred symbolicall signes of Religions institution devised by men
4. Surplice, crossing,
5. A Surplice upon William, Thomas, the crossing of this Infant John, made by this Pastor Thomas, this day and place
So the reason is cleare why we will have nothing undetermined by Scripture in either acts of the first, or of the second Table, except meere circumstances of persons, time, and place▪ which adde no new morality to the actions, is because we hold the word of God to be perfect in doctrine of faith, and manners, and all points of discipline, which the Patrons of Ceremonies, and humane Prelates are forced with Papists to deny.
2. ARTICLE.
Officers of the Church.
THe ordinary officers of our Church are Pastors, to whom belongeth the word of exhortation, 1 Tim. 3. 1, 2, 3. 2 Tim. 1. 7, 8 Doctors, who in schooles expound the word of God, and convince gainsayers, Rom. 12. 7, 8. Eph. 4. 11. 1 Cor. 12. 28. Governours, or governing Elders who rule well, Rom. 12. 8. 1 Cor. 12. 28. 1 Tim. 5. 17. Acts 15. 23. and Deacons who care for the poore, Acts 6. 2, 3, 4. 1 Tim. 3. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. As for the Prelate who is pretended to be the Pastor of Pastors, and an Ecclesiasticall creature, having majority of power, both of order and jurisdiction above the Pastor and Doctor, the Church of Scotland did ever repute such an one the fifth element, and the sixt finger in the hand, as having no warrant in the word, and therefore unlawfull, Exod. 25. 9. Heb. 8. 5. 1 Chron. 8. 19. 11, 12, 13. 1 King. 6. 38. as also expresly condemned, Luke 22. 24, 25, 26. 1 Pet. 5. 3, 4. Mat. 18. 18. 1 Cor. 5. 4, 5, 6. Acts 1. 23. Acts 15. 24.
In the first constitution and infancy of our Church there were some visitors, and superintendents for planting of Churches, because breasts and haire of our Churches were not growne, after the example of the Apostles, who sent such to plant, and visit Churches, and appoint Elders in Congregations, Acts 8. 14, 15, 16. Acts 13. 14. 15, 16. Acts 14. 23. Tit. 1. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. Acts 21. 17, 18. but after the Church was planted there was no need of such.
Titular Doctors who were Pastors onelyonly, and taught not in the Schooles, but were onelyonly previous dispositions to Episcopacy, as blew colour prepareth a cloth for purple, our Church never allowed, upon the grounds allowing lawfull Doctors, as the Scripture doth, Rom. 12. 7, 8. 1 Cor. 12. 28. Eph. 4. 11.
3. ARTICLE.
Calling of Officers, and especially Pastors.
IVnius maketh according to Gods word three parts of the Pastors calling.
1. Election, some call it Nomination.
2. Presentation, or offering of the man.
3. Confirmation. When a place vacketh in the ministery, with us a Pastor maketh a Sermon of the necessity of a Pastor, shewing what a person the Pastor should be, after the example of Peter, Acts 1. 22. The looking out of a man is sometimes given to the multitude of beleevers, with us, according to that, Acts 6. 3. The Apostles say, Wherefore, brethren, looke ye out seven men. But ordinarily this beginneth at the Presbytery, or Colledge of Pastors, from whence things take their beginning, Acts 1. 15. And in those dayes (when the Church wanted an Apostle) Peter stood up, and said, Acts. 6. 2. then the twelve called the multitude. When they wanted Deacons, Acts 21. 18. the matter is brought first to the Eldership, Acts 11. 30. the Disciples charity is sent to the Eldership. Paul sent Timothy, Titus, Sylvanus, whom after the multitude did approve, Acts 14. 22. 2 Cor. 8. 16. and so doe we.
2. The person is tryed, 1. by Timothy and Titus, and so by the Presbytery. 1. his ability, that he be able to teach others, 2 Tim. 2. 3. that he be apt to teach, 1 Tim. 3. 2. Tit. 1. 9. else the Timothies of the Church lay hands suddenly on him, contrary to 1 Tim. 5. 22. So the Presbytery tryeth according to these Canons with us, his skill in the Tongues, Latine, Hebrew, and Greeke; his ability of preaching popular Sermons, and interpreting Scripture, in controversies, in Chronology, and the history of the Church, and he must be proved and tryed by the people, by preaching sundry Sermons to them, 1 Tim. 3. 10. And let these first be proved, and let them use the office, what ever officers they shall be, Pastors, Doctors, Elders or Deacons. Also his grace and godlinesse is tryed by both people and Presbytery, 1 Tim. 3. 2, 3. his ability to governe, v. 4, 5. Acts 6. 3. Titus 1. 7, 8, 9. his fidelity, 2 Tim. 2. 2. and he must bring a Testimoniall or Christian Letters of recommendation, from those amongst whom he lived as 1 Tim. 3. 7.
3. When all this is done he is not yet a Pastor. Then a day is appointed, wherein an Edict is read and affixed on the Church-doore, and another day set for his ordination, at which day the Edict is called, all who have any thing to object against his life and doctrine are thrise publikely at the Church-dore invited to come and object: And this we thinke is foreign And 1 Tim. 3. 10. foreign, Acts 6. 3. to finde out, and to try the man. The day of ordination is a day of fasting and praying for Gods blessing to the ministery, as Acts 13. 23. And they ordained them Elders in every Church, and prayed with fasting, Acts 13. 3. and when they had fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on them. The Presbytery and people meeting, some Pastor, as Acts 1. 15. preacheth for the purpose in hand, as Peter doth there, v. 17. 18, 19. After Sermon the Pastor calleth him up before the Congregation, and demandeth if he be willing to accept the charge, and he must testifie his consent as Isaiah, Isa. 6. 8. Jer. 6. v. 7, 8. Acts 9. 20. Then the Pastor asketh the peoples consent, which they testifie by their foreign, the lifting up of their hands, as Acts 14. 23. and the man must please the whole multitude, as Acts 6. v. 5. Acts 1. 26. This being done, the Pastor commeth downe out of the Pulpit, and he with the Presbytery layeth their hands on his head, and prayeth that God would blesse him, as the Apostles did, Acts 6. 6. The Apostles prayed and laid their hands on them, Acts 13. 3. They prayed and laid their hands on them, 1 Tim. 4. 14. 1 Tim. 5. 22. all being done, the Eldership of the Congregation give him the right hand of fellowship, as Gal. 2. 9. The action is closed with thanksgiving, as all grave actions should be, 1 Thes. 5. 18.
And this order in substance is kept in ordaining Doctors, Elders, and Deacons. Here are no popish toyes, which Papists use in ordination, no man is obtruded upon the flocke against their consent, and no man appointed a Pastor but of a certaine flocke, as Acts 20. 28. 1 Pet. 5. 2.
of the Church, which receiveth the childe in her fellowship, as Rom▪ 6. 3, 4, 5. 1 Pet. 4. 20, 21. The presenter of the childe is the father, or some friend if he be dead or absent, because the childe is received in the Covenant because the fathers are within the Covenant, and so sealed with the same seale of the Covenant, Acts 2. 37, 38 Rom. 11. 14. Gen. 17. 7, 8. 9, 10. and the action is closed with thanksgiving, as all grave, but especially actions of Gods worship should be ended, 1 Chron. 16. 7, 8, 9. and as the other Sacrament is closed, Mat. 26. 30.
6. ARTICLE.
The Lords Supper.
THese onelyonly are admitted to the Lords Supper, who in the judgement of charity have tryed and examined themselvess 1 Cor. 11. 28. The prophane and scandalus are debarred from this Table, as Mat. 7 6. Psal. 50. v. 16, 17. This Sacrament requiring a self-examination going before, 1 Cor. 11. 28. Therefore a Sermon of preparation is preached the day before, even as Christ prepared and dieted his guests with heavenly Sermons preceding the action, as is cleare, Luke 22. 14, 15. Marke 14. 18, 19, 20. Mat. 26. 21, 22, 23. Iohn 13. v. 13, 14, 15, 16. A Table is covered, not an Altar erected, as is Luke 22. 21. Iohn 13. 28. A Sermon for the pupose in hand is preached before, as Christ doth, Joh. 13. 18, 19 20. Mat. 26. 22, 23. as a Sermon goeth before Baptisme, Acts 8. 35, 39. Acts 19. 4, 5, 6. The banqueters sit downe at Table, even as Iesus sate downe with the twelve Disciples, as is Mat. 26. v. 20. and v. 28. Marke 14. v. 18. and 22. the Lord honouring them with Table-honour with himselfe, as is cleare, Luke 22. 21. Iohn 13. 24, 28. The Pastor taketh the bread, and before he breake it, he giveth thanks, and prayeth for the blessing of the Elements, to the end and use appointed by Christ, even as Christ did, Mat. 26. 26 and thereafter taketh the bread, rehearseth the words of the institution, and breaketh the bread, and giveth to the banqueters, and they divide it amongst them, at Christs commandement, as also he taketh the cup, and saith, drinke ye all of this, this is the New Testament; &c. as Christ did, Mat. 26. 26, 27. Marke 14. 22, 23. Luke 22. 19, 20. v. 17. In the meane time while the people are eating and drinking, the Pastor is speaking of Christs love in dying for man, of the Lords death, of faith required in annuntiating the Lords death till he come againe, even as Christ all the while entertained his guests with heavenly Sermons, as is cleare, Mat. 26. 28, 29. Marke 14. 25. Luke 22. 21, 2…. Iohn 13. and having done, they sing a Psalme, as Christ and his Disciples did, Mat. 6. 28. Mar. 14 26 all the while Elders in reverend and decent manner attend the service of the Table as the banquet requireth; for that some serve at that Supper is gathered from Mat. 26. 19. Marke 14. 15. where mention is made of a large upper roome furnished and prepared, which is a cleare warrant for a large Table, a cleane and faire Table-cloth, Basons, Cups, and vessels decent and comely for that service, and from Christ his guirding himselfe with a towell, and washing their feet, and standing as a servant, Iohn 13. 4, 5, 6. Luke 22. 27. The nature of the Sacrament requires thanksgiving, and therefore afternoone a Sermon of thanksgiving is preached, which is also warranted from Mat. 26. 30.
7. ARTICLE.
Publike Fasting.
THe Fast is indicted eight dayes before, and the causes laid open for preparing of the people for humiliation, as Ioel 2. 1, 2, 3. Isa. 22. 12, 13. We have no anniversarie, and set Fasts or Feasts either, because God himselfe by his judgement imminent, or already inflicted, or by permitting his people to follow their owne duplicate page duplicate page wayes, calleth to fasting and mourning, Isa. 22. 13, Joel 2. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, &c. and so by his mercies and wonderfull deliverances calleth to extraordinary joy of thanksgiving, Psal. 118. 24. The doctrine of the Law is preached, as Ioel 2. and Isa 58. and the Fast observed with abstinence from meat and drinke, and carnall and ordinary pleasures. Ioel 2. 16. We thinke to deny the lawfulnesse of publike fasting on the Lords day, as if the Christian Sabbath were a day onelyonly of spirituall feasting and rejoycing, because that day Christ ended the worke of redemption and second Creation, is a wronging of the Christian Sabbath, which is ordained for the whole publike worship of God, joying, sorrowing for sinne, learning Gods will in all and every point, as the Jewish Sabbath was not ordained onelyonly for Meditation on the worke of Creation, but for worships of all kinde: The worship of this day, Acts 20. 7. is as large as preaching, and being in the Spirit, on the Lords day, and seeing the visions of God, Rev. 1. 10, 11, 12. and the whole ordinary worship publike. It is then too narrow to restrict all our Sabbath-worship to one single act of festivall rejoycing.
8. ARTICLE.
Marriage.
MArriage is no Sacrament, but because it is not a contract meerly humane, and God is said to joyne the parties together, Mat 19. 6. and God first married Adam and Eve. We thinke it fit that the Pastor, who is the Embassador of Christ, 2 Cor. 5. 20. should joyne them together, and instruct them in the doctrine of Marriage, as it is, Gen. 2. 18, 19. Mat. 19. 3, 4. Heb. 13. 4. 1 Cor. 7. expressed by God.
For eschewing of scandals, harlotry, forbidden Marriages, for obtaining consent of Parents and vice-parents, and hearing of parties contracted to the parties to be married, proclamation of purposed marriage is needfull, that we give no offence, 1 Cor. 10. 32, 33. 1 Cor. 7. 29.
9. ARTICLE.
Buriall.
AS comming in the world, so neither interring and buriall is performed in the Word of God with preaching, reading service over the dead, singing Scriptures (as Papists) which tend to superstition, therfore we use only with a company of Christians in decent manner to convey the corps to the Earth with moderate mourning, conference of our mortality, as Sarah, Gen. 23. 2, 19. Abraham, Gen. 49. 31. and Joshua, Josh. 24. 30. and Samuell, 1 Sam. 25. 1, 2, 3. Josiah were buried.
The place of buriall with us is not under the Altar, or the place of assembling, the Church, for the word or Sacraments, as Papists doe, but in some publick place either neare the Church or some inclosed field, because the Jewes buried sometimes in a cave, Genes. 25. 9. sometimes in a valley, Deut. 34. 6. sometimes in a garden, 2 Kin. 21. 18. Joh. 19. 41.
ART. 10.
Schooles and Doctors.
THere are with us Doctors of Divinity who teach in Schooles and Vniversities, men tryed to be holy and learned, and then put in office, as 1 Tim. 3. 10. under whose instruction are students ayming at the holy mynistery called exspectantes, as in the Jewish Church in their Colledges, were young Prophets, or sonnes of the Prophets, as 1 Sam. 10. 5. 2 Kin. 2. 7. 2 Kin. 4. 1. 1 Kin. 20. 35. These Doctors and also the teachers of humane literature, who traine up children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, Pro. 22. 6. Ephes. 6. 4. if they ayme at the Ministery, prophecie in our presbyteriall meetings, 1 Cor. 14. 29.
ART. 11.
Elders and Deacons.
ELders helpe the Pastors in governing, but labour not in the Word and Doctrine, 1 Tim 5. 17. and yet visit the sick, over-see the wayes and manners of the people, and so rule with diligen…e, Rom 12. 8. 1 Cor. 12. 28. and judge with Pastors and Doctors, Matth. 18. 18, 19, 20. Deacons are officer; who judge not authoritatively, neither preach the Word nor administer the Sacraments, but attend Tables, or taketh care of the Churches rents, and sheweth mercy with chearfullnesse, Act. 6. 3, 4. Rom. 12. 8. being tryed to be grave, sober, faithfull, are put in office, 1 Tim. 3 10.
VponUpon the first day of the weeke, every one layeth by in store, as God prospereth him, giving it in to abroad at the Church-doore, for the reliefe of the poore, as 1 Cor. 16. 2. It is provided that Ministers have competent stipends, as 1 Cor 9. 13. and that Hospitals be upholden, Mat. 25. 35, 36. Eccl. 11. 1, 2. and that the fabrick of the Church be upholden by the Patron and free-holders, as Mal. 1. 10. Hag. 1. 4. Hag. 2. 16.
ART. 12.
Church-Assemblies and the power of censures.
THere are Assemblies in our Church, as were in the Apostolick Church, Act. 1. 15, 16. Act 6. 2, 3, 4. Act. 11. 1, 2, 3. Act. 15. 6, 7, 8. &c. They handle only matters meerly ecclesiasticall, what is scandalous, and what may edifie, Mat. 18. 18, 19, 20. 1 Cor. 5. 5, 6. but no things civill which belong to the civill Magistrate, Luk. 22. 25, 26, 27. Luk. 12, 13, 14, 15. Rom. 13. 4, 5, 6. compared with Rom. 12. 6, 7, 8.
Assemblies in our Church are of foure sorts. 1. Sessions of every particular Congregation who hath power of discipline in things belonging to themselves, such as is to rebuke publickly these who sinne publickly, as 1 Tim. 5. 20. to admit or not admit to the Sacrament, to order decently the publick worship, 1 Cor. 11. 20, 21. 1 Cor. 14. 33, 40. Tit. 1. 5. Hence there was an Eldership ordained in every Church, Act. 4. 23. Also seeing every particular Congregation is a visible ministeriall Church, having power of the Keyes in preaching the Word, though they be but a small number, as two or three assembled in Christs name, Mat. 18. yet have they a promise of Christ, of his presence for binding and loosing, Mat. 18. 18, 19, 20. in things which belong to themselves.
The second Assembly is a Classis of many Pastors and Elders from sundry congregations who have power of excommunication, in respect that the person excommunicated doth keep company with many consociated Churches, and so as a leaven may infect many, 1 Cor. 5. 4. Mat. 26, 59. Joh. 11. 47. Act. 20. 17, 18. and for this cause one Pastor of a single Congregation not being able to ordaine a Pastor (because it wanteth example in the Word of God) therefore a Colledge of Presbyters, or a Presbytery of Pastors and Elders, who have power larger then a Session, even to excommunicate and ordaine Pastors is necessary in the Church, which ordaineth Timothy to be a Pastor, and so may deprive and excommunicate him, 1 Tim. 4. 14. Act. 20. 17, 18, 28, 29. These are to assemble together, and to prophecy two or three by course, and others sitting by are to judge, that every mans gifts may be tryed by the Presbytery and the Church edified, 1 Cor. 14. 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32. and howbeit these Prophets were extraordinarily gifted, yet their preaching by courses and the authoritative trying and judging of the gifts of the Prophets and Pastors cannot be extraordinary, for if that were extraordinary and temporary, there should be now in the Church no Colledge of Pastors who are to try the Pastors, that they lay not hands on them suddenly, 1 Tim 5. 22. and are to take care to commit the Gospell to faithfull men who are able to teach others, 2 Tim. 2. …. Tit. 1. 5, …. therfore is this Presbytery in our Church, 1 Tim. 4. 14.
The third Assembly is the meeting of many Pastors of a Province, or a greater number of Congregations, who handle matters of discipline which concerne the whole Province, and many moe Congregations, which differeth not from the Presbytery, but that it is a greater Presbytery containing moe Pastors and Elders: so we thinke, because there were many Pastors and Elders at Jerusalem then at Corinth, therfore the meeting of Pastors and Elders of Jerusalem and the Churches about, Act. 21. 18, 19. was a Provinciall Assembly, so the meeting of the Elders of Ephesus, being more then an ordinary Presbytery, because of the multitude of that Church, Act. 19. was of the nature of a Provinciall Assembly, or a greater Presbytery, Act. 20. 17, 18.
The fourth Assembly is a generall Assembly of many Provincef, and is a cleare warrant of our Nationall Assembly, as Act. 1. 15. where the eleven Apostles were, Act. 6. 2. where the twelve Apostles were, and Act. 15. where Jerusalem, Antioch, Syria, and Sylicia are met in their principall guides, Apostles, Brethren, Elders: with us the King or his Commissioner is present, as in the Nationall Assembly of the Jews, was King David, 1 Chron. 13. 1, 2. Asa, 2 Chron. 15. 9. Hezekiah, 2 Chron. 29. 4 Josiah 2 Chron. 34 29 for the King beareth the Sword, and is there as a politick President, and nursing Father, Esa. 49. 23. Rom. 13. 4. The members of the Councell are Pastors, Doctors, Elders, as Act. 15. 23. sent by the Churches for that effect, Act. 15. 2, 3. All the Churches have place to speake, propound and reason in an orderly way, as there the multitude spake, v. 12, 13. but none have decisive voices save only Commissioners, as Apostles and Elders, Act. 15. v. 2, 6. Ch. 16. 4. Ch. 21. 25. The acts of the Assembly oblige all the absents, not present in all their members, as v. 23 24, 28. Act. 16. 4. ch. 21. 25. not because of the authority of the Church, but because of the matter which is necessary and agreeable to Gods word, as Act. 15. 14, 15, 16, 17, 18. In this Assembly a Moderator is chosen, who ordereth, propoundeth, and gathereth the voices, as Acts 15. either James or Peter. Silence is kept that one onelyonly speake at once, as v. 7. first Peter, after him Barnabas and Paul, v. 12. after them James, v. 13. and these who speake are to speake to the Assembly or Moderator, not to parties, as v. 13. Men and brethren. Also a Clerke is chosen who writeth the acts of the Assembly, as v. 23. they wrote letters after this manner. The Commissioners carry home from the Scribe of the Assembly, the decrees of the Pastors and Elders to be observed by them, as Act. 16. 4. Christian prudency and natures light teacheth the time and place for the next Assembly to be appointed most conveniently, for the …ase of all the Churches.
Where matters are difficile to inferiour Assemblies, and parties wronged, and there is no small dissension, then references and appeales are made to the greater Assemblies, and they determine that Paul and Barnabas, or A. B. and S. …. goe to Jerusalem, or the place of the next Assembly to the Pastors and Elders about this question, as 1, 2.
All our inferiour Assemblies have brotherly correspondence by mutuall advise and counsell one with another, but none have authoritative power over another, as 1 Cor. 16. 1, 2, 3, 4. 2 Cor. 8. 1, 2, 3. Col. 4. 17. By reason of our Assemblies, no man though most eminent in gifts, piety, or authority, may play the Diotrephes, 3 John v. 10. or hath power to cast out the brethren out of the Church.
2. By Assemblies order of gifts, and subordination of the part to the whole is maintained, as Antioch is inferiour to both Antioch, Jerusalem, Syria, and Cilicia convened in a Synod, Acts 15. v. 23. compared with 28. Acts 6. both the Church of the Hebrewes, and the Church of the Grecians are subject to a Synod of Apostles and Disciples, v. 2. and Peter a pillar of the Church, and Paul inferiour to none of the greatest Apostles, are subject to Synods, Acts 11. 1, 2, 3. Acts 21. 19, 20, 21, &c.
3. By Assemblies, schismes, dissentions, Acts 15. 2 and errors or heresies subverting the soules of these of particular Churches, Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia, ver. 23, 24. are removed out of the Church, and unity preserved. In keeping of the Decrees of Assemblies particular Churches doe well, v. 28. and so are the Churches established in the faith, and increase in number daily, Acts 16. 4, 5. and Religion is restored to it's purity, and the Land enters into Covenant to seeke the Lord God of their Father, and rejoyce at the oath, and seeke the Lord with their whole desire, and he is found of them, 2 Chron. 15. 12, 13, 14, 15. and this have we found, So long as we were as Judah, who ruled with God, and was faithfull with the Saints, Hos. 11. v. 12. and went not to Gilgal, nor up to Beth-aven, Hos 4. 15.
In Church-censures, we proceed thus: In private faults if a brother offend a brother, he is admonished alone by the offended; If that gaine him not, he is admonished before two or three; If that prevaile not, the matter is brought before the Church, which hath power of the keyes; If he obey not the Church, he is excommunicated, Mat. 18. 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20. in more hainous and publike faults the scandalous person is not so dealt with; but where the fault is grosse and hainous, the offender more quickly is delivered to Satan, as 1 Cor. 5. 4. 1 Tim. 1. 19, 20. Where obstin…cy and wilfull impenitencie is added to lesser scandals, the offender is excommunicated, as 1 Thes. 3. 14. yet with great meeknesse and longanimity; for he is three Lords dayes publikely admonished, and three Lords dayes publikely prayed for, as this gentlenesse is required in the Lords servants, 2 Tim. 24, 25 before they cut off any, 1 Cor 4. 21. The censures publike of the Churches are rebukes in publike as Paul requireth, 1 Tim. 5. 20. and that the rebuke may be publike, and the rebuked may make publike confession before the offended Congregation: He standeth in a publike place, which we call the stoole or pillar of repentance, which hath both a warrant by natures light, which requireth that he who speaketh to a multitude should stand in a place where all may commodious…y heare to whom he speaketh, as Judg. 9. 7. Deut 27. 12, 13. And also in Scripture, by Salomons example, who on a scaffold spake to the people, 1 Chron. 14. 30. and the practise of Ezra, who read to the people the booke of the Law in a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose, Nehem. 8. 4. which also is a warrant for a pulpit.
2. To this publike rebuking, there is a second censure adjoyned, which is a debarring of the offender from the Lords Supper, 1 Cor. 11. 28. which is our lesser excommunication.
3. Our third censure is the greater excommunication, which is done by the whole Congregation, as all other censures, but divers wayes by the Presbytery or Eldership judicially and authoritatively, by Paul his pastorall spirit, 1 Cor. 5. 4. the Minister in the Churches name pronouncing the sentence, 1 Tim. 1. 20. and and by the people, 1. consenting and approving, 1 Cor. 5. 4, 5, 6. 2. Mourning and being humbled at the sinne, 1 Cor. 5. 2. 3. Abstaining from all brotherly fellowship and familiarity with him, 1 Cor. 10. 11, 12. except where the law of nature require duties of us, as the sonne to the excommunicated father owes love and honour, and conversing with him, Exod. 20. 12. For a commandement naturall and simply morall obligeth more, and in the roome before the positive and lesser commandement, as Hos. 6. 6. Mat. 12. 3, 4, 5, 6. yet is the excommunicated excluded onelyonly from the publike prayers and seales of the Covenant, not from private prayers and hearing of the word, 1 Thes. 3. 15. For the Church intendeth in that censure the saving of his spirit in the day of the Lord, 1 Cor. 5. 5. and the hearing of the word is that necessary meane of salvation, Rom. 1. 16. 1 Cor. 1. 18, 21. Rom. 10. 17. 1 Pet. 1. 23. The contrary order not unlike to this is kept in confirming authoritatively the Churches love to the excommunicated person being penitent, and in pardoning and forgiving him when he heartily sorroweth for his sin, 2 Cor. 2. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. From this censure no member of our Church is exempted; yea a scandalous Pastor is by the Presbytery deprived and excommunicated, as he was ordained by them, 1 Tim 4. 14. 2 Tim. 2. 14. and he who hath committed c…ying and hainous sins is scarce ever to be readmitted in the ministery, as being hardly found such an one as is described, 1 Tim. 3. Tit. 1▪ 5, 6, 7. except it be seen to all that he hath obtained mercy in a conspicuous and large measure, as 1 Tim. 1. 13, 14, 15, 16.
13. ARTICLE.
Private Worship.
NOne may preach the word with us but Pastors and the sons of the Prophets, and such of their sort who aime at the holy ministery, and that authority Ecclesiasticall must warrant them is cleare by our Law and practise,Assembly at Glask as it was in the Jewish Church, 1 Sam. 10. 5. 2 King. 2. 7. 2 King. 4▪ 1. 1 King. 20. 35.Assembly at Edinburg. The worship of God is commanded by our Assemblies to be in private families, as chatechizing by the Master of the Family, or some other better gifted in every Family, Deut. 6. 6. 7, 8. Gen. 18. 19. Ephes. 6. 1, 2, 3. 2 Tim. 3. 15. praying, Zach. 12. 10. None by any act of our Church, whether Pastor or any other, in office, or out of office, is obliged to a stinted or read prayer, as the word of God alloweth, Rom. 8. 26, 27. yea here it is free to all, having the spirit of adoption to expresse their particular necessities, which cannot well be booked, to God according to the present case of the Church, and person praying, as the Saints have done, Psal. 88▪ 9. Psal. 5. 7. Psal. 28. 2. Psal. 1▪ 21. 1. Psal. 123. 1. Ioh. 17. 1. Luk. 18. 13. and Psal. 3. Psal. 5. Psal. 25. Psal. 30. Psal. 34. Psal. 54. Psal. 57. Psal. 63. &c. yet did our Church never condemne, but constantly practise the praying of that divine and Canonicall prayer of our Saviour, called the Lords prayer, as being commanded, Mat 6. 9 Luk. 11. 2. in matter and manner, though affirmative precepts oblige not ad semper. Also singing of Psalmes is commanded by our Church in Families, as Exod. 29. 39. Psal. 55. 17. Eph. 5. 18, 19, 20. and house-discipline, as Job 1▪ 3. Deut. 21. 18. Psal. 101. 7. and private fasting in Families, Nehem 1. 4. Esth. 4. 16. Zach. 12. 11.
Our Assembly also commandeth godly conference at all occasionall meetings,Act at Edinburg Assembly, an. 641 or as Gods providence shall dispose, as the word of God commandeth, Heb. 3. 13. 1 Thes. 5. 11, 12. Levit. 19▪ 17. Zach. 8▪ 21. Mal. 3. 16. Col. 3. 16. providing none invade the Pastors office to preach the word who are not called thereunto by God and his Church, Heb. 5. 4, 5. Rom. 10. 14. 15. 1 Cor. 12. 28, 29. and by that same warrant the grieved in conscience is to confesse his sins, which troubleth and presseth downe his soule, to either an experienced Christian or Pastor, as Jam 5. 16. but this confession is free to the grieved party, I meane free from being canonically commanded in our Assemblies, and far from Sacramentall confession, or Auricular confession to a Priest.
FINIS.