The Cry of a Stone, Section 2
The viſible Church hath right to all Gods Ordinances.
IT is then a ſocietie of religious and faithfull people, that have right SECT. 2.to Gods ſpirituall Ordinances, and ſuch onelyonly may, and muſt uſe them, ſo farre as they are able. They are all of them to ſtrive to attaine the beſt gifts, and eſpecially to propheſie, yea, and if it were poſſible, 1 Cor. 14. 1. 2. Heb. 5. 12.to be Doctors, and that not in bare conceit, but in truth and ſoundneſſe, and ſuch amongſt them as excell in gifts and graces they are much to love and reverence, and alſo to encourage them to the orderly uſe of the 1. Cor. 16. 18.grace they have received, without hiding their talent, that ſo all may learne and receive comfort.& 14. 29. 30. 31
And becauſe all good men have not one and the ſame gift, therefore every one is adviſedly to conſider, what his portion is, and what he may take to, and where he muſt ſtay, that none run beyond their line, preſume above that which is meet.1. Cor. 10. 16. Rom. 12. 3.
Some have the gift of utterance, and are fluent in ſpeech, others a gift of diſcerning to judge of that which is uttered: ſome are excellent 1. Cor. 12. 4. 5. 6.in prayer, others are ſweet in ſinging, ſome are apt to move profitable The gifts of the Church.queſtions, others prompt in anſwering them, ſome can diſpute very profitably, others can receive much helpe by diſputation, &c.
And many times they which are of little manifeſtation, and leaſt ſeene to meddle in publique paſſages are moſt holy and ſtrict in their converſation, whoſe examples doe often times preach as profitably as if 1 Theſ. 1. 7. 8.they had the greateſt fluencie of ſpeech that could be.
Neither muſt the Saints be envious againſt one another, becauſe they have not one and the ſame gift: for one and the ſame ſpirit worketh diverſly in all the members of the Church, that this ſpirituall body may be compleate, and performe all ſpirituall offices; as the naturall body hath divers members, and all for ſeverall offices, much leſſe may any hide their talent, becauſe it is not of the ſame meaſure with others; ſince he which had but one talent was required to traffique Mat. 25. 26. 27.as well as he that had five, and all the ſervants are commanded to watch as well (though not ſo much) as the Porter.Mar. 13. 24. 27
This viſible Church of Saints ſtand bound and tied each to other, not onelyonly by the common rule of Chriſtianity; but by their very incorporating and combining together into a Church State, or ſpirituall policie, from which naturally or neceſſarily ariſeth that which we call the Diſcipline, or power which is independent amongſt themſelves, for the curing and purging of ſin and ſinners that breake 1. Cor. 5. 7.out amongſt them into any enormous or ſcandalous practice.
For as in cities and corporations, each member carefully obſerveth whether his neighbour obſerve the rules of the Charter wherunto he The power of the Church.is ſworne, and upon default in matter of weight, the partie offending is either disfranchized, or otherwiſe corrected civilly; ſo in this brotherhood or ſpirituall policie of the Church, each man obſerveth, as himſelfe, ſo his fellow members, that if any find his brother to tranſgreſſe againſt the heavenly Charter, and Covenant made with God and his people, he reproveth and admoniſheth him lovingly betwixt them two alone, and if it be any capitall or ſcandalous evill, and that Mat. 18. 15. 16 17.he will not repent of it, then the brother offended, taketh with him one or two, to helpe, convince and reprove the ſinner, and to witneſſe both the fact, and the due proceeding thereabout; and if hee will not hearc them ſo as to repent, then to complaine to the congregation, whereof hee is a member, that ſo being rebuked of many, hee may 2. Cor. 2. 6.yet at laſt be aſhamed, and give God the glory, and ſo receive forgiveneſſe of God and men. But if hee will not heare nor regard the Church, nor in reverence to that ſacred meanes of his recovery, repent and humble himſelfe for his ſinne, then the Church with humble and ſorrowfull hearts muſt cut him off as a decayed member, and deliver him unto Satan, that ſo that proud and corrupt fleſh may be deſtroyed, and the ſpirit ſaved in the day of the Lord Ieſus.1. Cor. 5. 5.
Provided ſtill, that all theſe proceedings be in love, lenitie and compaſſion, and that no man be brought to the Church, much leſſe 1. Cor. 16. 14.cenſured; for infirmities and failing in judgement, or for matters in our times doubtfull and controverſall, but for matters of weight, and ſuch evills as being perſiſted in, doe out of doubt, ſhut the party out of heaven, of which more hereafter▪
And for their more better and orderly proceeding in the uſe of all the Ordinances of God in the Church, they are as ſoone as any, fit men riſe out of them, or joyne unto them, to make choice of ſome for their Biſhops, Paſtors or Elders, upon whom they muſt ordinarily 2. Tim. 2. 2. Tit. 1. 6. 7.depend, for the diſpenſing of the Word, Prayer and Sacraments; as alſo to rule, guide, and goe before them in their conſultations decrees, and execution of Diſcipline, and all other publique buſineſſe.
Theſe Biſhops or Elders may not intrude themſelves into their offices Iohn 10. 1. 2. Miniſters election. Act. 6. 3. 5. and 14. 23. Ordination of the miniſters. 1. Tim. 5. 22.and miniſtrations, by any forreigne or civill power, but muſt be choſen by that Church and ſocietie of Saints in which they are to adminiſter.
Their ordination or putting in poſſeſſion, muſt be with giving a charge to them, with ſome ſigne, either of giving the hand, or laying hands upon their heads, which may be done either by the Elders of ſome other Church, who as brethen may aſſiſt and helpe their neighbours, ſo farre as they can; or rather by ſome principall man amongſt No ſucceſſion of any univerſall Miniſterie now.themſelves: ſince it cannot be imagined with any ſhew of reaſon, that there is any univerſall Miniſtery ſince the Apoſtles dayes, neither any that can execute their office out of that particular flocke whereof the holy Ghoſt hath made them overſeers, no more then the Lord Major Act. 20. 28.of London may goe and execute juſtice in the Citie of Yorke, of which more hereafter.
And although in the Common-wealth, a Lordly and Imperious Miniſters no Lords 1 Pet. 5. 3.rule may be tollerable, yet the Miniſterie of the Church is of another nature, and may not be imagined to be any matter of State, or to ſtand for any carnall pompe, but is a matter of meet ſervice, and they 2 Cor. 4. 5. 1 Theſ. 5. 12. Act. 6. 4. 2 Tim. 2. 16. 2 Cor. 4. 2.are conſtantly to labor in ſpirituall works in all humility & patience, giving themſelves wholy to their miniſtrations, and ſtudying to approve themſelves to every mans conſcience in the ſight of God. Neither is their office for name and forme, but for the preſervation of order and comlineſſe in Church Ordinances, that all the rights and priviledges of the Church may be uſed and continued in a grave and comiy manner, as they are excellent in their ſubſtance and matter.
And as theſe Biſhops or Elders are to preach conſtantly the Word, both on the Lords Day, and other times of the Churches meetings, The Miniſters muſt ſtill preſerve the libertie of the Saints in the Church.and to adminiſter the Sacraments in both kinds upon the members of the Church, as there is occaſion; as alſo to execute and declare the publique decrees, determinations and cenſures of the Church: So they are not any way to infringe the liberty of the Saints, or ingroſſe their privileges, but ſtill to foſter & cheriſh all thoſe ſeverall gifts and graces which are in all, or any of the members. They muſt ſtill uphold and maintaine in the Church the ſtoole of the Prophets, and to have in great eſteeme Propheſying or preaching by men of gifts and 1 Cor. 14. 1. 2.aptneſſe, though not in office, that ſo all may learne and increaſe, that ſo fit and able men may be bred up in the Church, whom the body 2 Tim. 4. 5. 6.may appoint into office of Miniſterie in after times, or when any of their officers ſhall any way faile.
Neither may the Elders deprive the Saints of their lawfull and Chriſtian libertie in their elections, rejections or determinations in 3 Ioh. …. 10.the Church by any fore-ſtallings, repreſſings, inſultings, or preventions, but contenting themſelves with meeke and grave counſell to goe before the reſt in their proceedings; and if the body of the Church ſhall not agree to that which the officers ſhall thinke beſt, that yet the officers thinke it no diſparagement to their eminencie, or honour to be overſwayed, and led beſide their mindes and purpoſes ſometimes by the body of the Church, whoſe ſervants they are, knowing, that where the honour and order of God is obſerved, no man can truly receive any dammage.
And as the viſible Church muſt continue their aſſembling and communicating together in all actions for the ſoule, ſo the duties of love, and their communion in temporall things for the body may in The Churches benevolence.no wiſe be neglected, whileſt this fraile life laſteth, which communion in giving and receiving, though it be no religious action in it ſelfe, Philip. 4. 15. Iam. 2. 22.yet is it of ſuch ſimple neceſſitie and affinitie thereunto, as that it may no more be ſevered from religion, then good workes may be ſeverd from faith; and for their more eaſie, and ſubſtantiall doing theſe duties, and relieving the wants of their brethren, they are o looke out wiſe and truſtie men, from amongſt themſelves, whom they are Act. 6. 3. 5. 1 Tim. 3. 10.to chooſe and appoint to this buſineſſe, and to whom they muſt commit their money and treaſure, and to whoſe wiſedome and faithfulneſſe The Deacons office.they muſt referre the diſtribution and diſpoſing of thoſe temporall things.
And in this contribution the Saints whom God hath bleſſed with 1 Cor. 15. 2. Rom. 12. ….any portion of this worlds goods muſt accordingly extend their mercifull liberality with all cheerefulneſſe, yea, and if need ſo require, to ſell even their lands and goods, and whatſoever they have to relieve Act. 2. 45. Luke 12. 33.the wants of their poore brethren, without any murmuring or diſcontent, remembring, that the life of a Chriſtian is more precious then any thing elſe in this world.
This diſtribution of the Churches benevolence, muſt be to the Elders that toyle in the Word and Doctrine, as alſo to the poore, aged, 1 Tim. 5. 17. 1 Cor. 9. 11. 12. Gal. 6. 10.ſicke, and helpleſſe perſons, eſpecially thoſe of the houſhold of Faith, that ſo the will of God may be done, and all comfort and encouragement given to the poore Saints, as alſo all murmuring complaints and outcries prevented, by which it may be ſaid, (and that not without Act. 6. 1.cauſe) that the Church hath pietie, but no pitie.
Neither is the widowes office to be forgotten as a needleſſe thing, but if it fall out that amongſt the Church there be found ſome aged The widdowes office.and grave widowes who are looſed from the bands of wanton youth, and have age upon them as a crowne of glory, being yet healthy, cheerefull, and ſtrong, the Church is there to chooſe and appoint them for Deaconeſſes, Prou. 16. 31.or tenders of the ſick, and to allow them ſuch reliefe and maintenance, 1 Tim. 5. 9. 10 Rom. 16. 1. 2.as is needfull and fit, knowing that in ſickeneſſe there is required much labour and paines, and moſt neede of comfort and encouragement.
And thus the Church and people of God, goe hand in hand, both in ſickneſſe and in health, in poverty and in wealth, in adverſitie and proſperitie, rejoycing together, weeping together, and being of like Rom. 12. 15. 16affection, in a ſweet and heavenly ſympathie, holding out in adverſitie 2 Cor. 6. 8.without ſhrinking, and perſevering in proſperity with all moderation.