The True Form of Church Government, Chapter 16 – Chapter 17
CHAP. XVI.
THe placing and displacing of Church-officers, appertaineth unto the Eldership. This is proved in the 7. chap. & their objections are there answered for the first part, which is the placing: but the latter part is to be cleared by some moe reasons, because the Bb. do displace the best Ministers at their pleasure, which is proved to be a most wicked action, by these reasons.
1 Those that are called unto the Ministery by the Lord from heaven, and outwardly by the means of men, so long as they are blamelesse in doctrine and conversation 1. Tim. 3.10. cannot be displaced▪ without hainous wickednesse against the manifest wil of God: But such are the Ministers that the Bb. do daily displace, as they confesse themselves, when (even) in their sermons they justifie their doctrine, in saying that they differ onelyonly in outward rites; and as their greatest enemies will say, when they are asked of such mens lives: Therefore they cannot be displaced without great wickednesse.
2 Those that are carefull to discharge the dutie of Gods Ministers, both in teaching▪ and giving example to their flocks, cannot be displaced without great impietie: Such are these Ministers, that are daily displaced, as appeareth by this, that they preach more diligently then any other, and that they follow not the course of the world, in adding living unto living, but many of them (being as worthy for their gifts, as the worthiest) live poorely, rather then they will want the comfort of a good conscience: Therefore they cannot be put to silence without great sin.
3 To deprive Gods people of their spirituall comfort, is a grievous and horrible wickednesse: To put such to silence as are before mentioned, is to deprive Gods people of their spirituall comfort: which if any man will denie, all the godly where such a one dwelleth, shall tell him he lieth: Therefore to displace such Ministers, is a hainous and horrible wickednesse.
4 That which giveth occasion to the weake to stumble and fall away from the Gospel, is a hainous and horrible sin: But such is the displacing of those Ministers, as appeareth by this, that many doubt whether that which he hath taught be true, whom the professors of the Gospel do display, and by this, that many who had made good beginnings, by the discontinuance of their teachers, do fall away: Therefore to displace those Ministers, is a hainous and horrible sin.
5 Those whose labours God doth blesse, cannot be displaced without fighting against God, and consequently great impietie: But such are th…se Ministers that the Bb. do daily displace, as all that love the Gospel in every countrey can witnes: Therefore to displace them is great impiety.
6 That action which giveth the common enemy just cause to rejoyce, and hope to get the victory, is a hainous and horrible offence: But such is the displacing of those Ministers, as appeareth in every countrey, where such Ministers are displaced, and such enemies do dwell: Therefore to displace such, is a hainous and horrible offence.
7 That action that causeth the doers thereof to be esteemed enemies to the Gospel, must needs be a hainous sin: But such is the putting of those Ministers to silence, for it maketh the people that have any love to Religion, think that they are not of God in so doing, for, say they, he that loveth Christ, cannot crosse the course of the Gospel as these men do: therefore the displacing of them is a hainous sin.
8 That which letteth in more wickednesse at once, then the diligent preaching of the Word could drive out in divers yeers, must needs be a hainous sin: but such is the displacing of these Ministers: for, prophaning of the Sabbath, and all disorder, cometh into a congregation the same day that such a Minister, that hath long laboured against it is displaced, as experience in such places proveth: therefore to displace such Ministers is a hainous sin.
9 That which interrupteth the course of the Gospel, without warrant either from Gods Word, or the Laws of the land, is a hainous and horrible sin: Such is the displacing of those Ministers, as is proved in all the writings on our side; and lastly, in the answer to D. Bridges: therefore to displace such Ministers, is a hainous and horrible sin.
Therefore if the Ministers that be usually displaced, be called of God;The Conclusion. if they discharge the dutie of good Ministers, both in doctrine and life; if the displacing of them, be to deprive Gods people of their spirituall comfort; if it give occasion to some to doubt of the Gospel, and to fall away; if God give a blessing unto their labours; if the displacing of them give the enemy matter to rejoyce, and hope to overcome; if it c…se the displacer… to be esteemed enemies to the Gospel; if it let in more wickednesse in one day, then preaching can throw out in many yeers; if it interrupt the course of the Gospel, without warrant either from the Word of God, or Laws of the Land; th…n must it needs follow, that the displacing of those Ministers is a most hainous, and horrible sin against the Lord.
CHAP. XVII.
THe Eldership is to admonish every one, by whom offence appeareth unto them to grow in the Church: There is no question between us, about admonition it self, but this they deny, that the execution of any discipline (and therefore of this point) belongeth unto the Eldership; which point is proved in the severall Chapters going before: so that I need not say any thing of this, saving with (a reason or twain) to shew the necessitie and benefit of it in the Church of God.
1 That which private men offended, are commanded to seek unto for the redresse of the offender, is a necessarie, and an ordinarie way for the amendment of them that do offend in the Church of God: But such is the admonition of those that are in authoritie, and carry the name of the Church, Matth. 18.15. see chap. 14. and the 1. proposition of the same: Therefore admonition in such cases by the Eldership, is a necessarie and ordinarie way, for their amendment that do offend.
2 That which is more available to bring the offender to repentance, than private admonition▪ either by one, or moe, that same is very profitable and necessarie in the Church of God: But such is the publike admonition by the governours of the Church, as appeareth by this, that Christ maketh it a remedie, when the other two will not prevail, Matth. 18.15. Therefore it is verie profitable and necessarie in the Church of God.
3 That which maketh men more afraid to offend, then an… admonition that private men can give, is profitable and necessarie in the Church of God: But such is the Eldership, before whom men know they shall be brought if they do not amend: Therefore it is very profitable and necessarie in the Church of God.
4 That which hath a greater promise to do good, then private admonition, is very necessarie in the Church of God: But such is the admonition that is given by the Eldership, because it prevaileth when the former doth not: Therefore it is profitable in the Church of God.
5 That without which, all duties of charity cannot be exercised towards sinners, is needfull to be in the Church of God: But without admonition by the Eldership, all duties of charitie cannot be exercised towards sinners: Therefore it is needfull to be in the Church of God.
6 That which would bridle the outragious sins of some, and keep in the derision and mockerie, that private admonitions do receive, is needfull to be in the Church of God: But this would admonition by the Eldership do; for if men knew that they should answer unto the Church for their ill dem… nour, to them that rebuke them for sinning▪ they would refrain (at least for fear) from such kinde of outrage: Therefore it is needfull to be in the Church of God.
The Conclusion.Therefore seeing publike admonition before the Eldership is to be sought, by those that are offended, and cannot be satisfied; seeing it is more available then private admonition; seeing it maketh men more afraid to offend; seeing it hath a greater promise; seeing without it all duties of charitie, cannot be exercised towards the sinner; lastly seeing it would bridle the outragious sins of many; therefore it must needs follow, that it is very profitable, and necessarie to be in the Church of God.