Essay Towards Brotherly Peace and Union, Essay · Chapter 5
CHAP. V. Of Church Government and Cenſures.
Queſtion 1.
WHo are the ſeat or ſubject of Church Rule or Government?
Anſw. Church government or Rule is placed by Chriſt in the officers of the Church,Platform of diſcipline. who therefore are called Rulers; the holy Ghoſt frequently, yea alwayes when he mentioneth Church Rule and Church Government, aſcribeth it to Elders; whereas the worke and duty of people is expreſſed in the phraſe of obeying their Elders, and ſubmitting themſelves to them in the Lord. Platform of diſcipline from New England, Chap. 10. Sect. 7.
Queſt. 2. How is Church government to be conſidered?
Anſw. Church government is to be attended, either in regard of the eſſentials or circumſtantials of it, Mr. Hooker, part. 1. page 3. line 18.
Queſt. 3. What are the eſſentials of Church government?
Anſw. The eſſentials required to the compleating of Church government, are partly in the perſons that diſpenſe, partly in the Ordinances that are diſpenſed. Ibid. p. line 20.
Queſt. 4. What is eſſential in the perſons that diſpenſe the Ordinances?
Anſw. In the perſons that diſpenſe, the kinds of officers appointed to that work, the nature, bounds and limits of their offices, all theſe are eſſentials. Mr. Hooker, ibid. line 22.
Queſt. 5. What are the Ordinances that theſe are to diſperſe?
Anſw. The Ordinances that theſe are to diſpenſe, are, Preaching, Prayer, Seals, Church cenſures, &c. Theſe all are to be found in the Word, an fetched from the Word, and now under the Goſpel, they are and ought to be the ſame in all places, amongſt all people, at all times in all ſucceeding generations untill the coming of Chriſt. Ibid. line 25.
Queſt. 6. May there then be no alteration in theſe things which you call eſſentials?
Anſw. It is not left in the power of perſons, Officers, Churches, nor all the States in the world, to add or diminiſh or alter any thing in the leaſt meaſure: But as God did appoint all in the old Teſtament, and thoſe Inſtitutions did endure there ever (as Scripture ſpeaks) untill the coming of Chriſt, when the ſame power which appointed, changed them: So in the new Teſtament where are to expect no alteration, Chriſt the Law-giver he onelyonly appoints; none but he can; and he hath made known his will, that he will not change them. Mr. Hookers Survey, part 1. p. 5. l. 32.
Queſt. 7. What are the circumſtantials of government?
Anſw. The circumſtantials of diſcipline, as time, place, the carrying on of theſe diſpenſation in civil decencies ſuitable to the quality of the things and conditions of the time, as peace and perſecution; the general rules of theſe are in the Word delivered; but the particular application admits varieties, mutabilities and alterations according as neceſſities or conveniencies ſhall appear by emergent occaſions. Mr. Hookers Survey part 1 page 6. line 3.
Queſt. 8. You have ſpoken already of moſt of the eſſentials of Church government, namely Officers and Ordinances of worſhip; but what ſay you of Church cenſures? are they neceſſary?
Anſw. The cenſures of the Church are appointed by Chriſt for the preventing, removing, and healing of offences in the Church, for the reclaiming and gaining of offending brethren, for the deterring others from the like offences, for purging out the leaven which may infect the whole lump; for vindicating the honor of Chriſt, and of his Church, and the holy profeſſion of his Goſpel, and for preventing the wrath of God which may juſtly fall upon the Church, if they ſhould ſuffer his Covenant and the ſeals thereof to be prophaned by notorious and obſtinate offenders. Platform of diſcipline from New England, chap. 14. ſect. 1.
Queſt. 9. How many cenſures are there in the Church?
Anſw. Three; the firſt admonition, the ſecond ſuſpenſion, the third excommunication.
Queſt. 10. What is admonition?
Anſw. Admonition is of two ſorts; the firſt more private, when the offended brother admoniſheth the offender of his offence, according to the rule of Chriſt, between him and the offender alone. The ſecond leſſe private, and yet not publike, when he takes one or two with him. Platform of diſcipline, chap. 14. ſect. 2. Mr. Cottons way pag. 89.
Queſt. 11. But what if the offending party be not gained by either of theſe admonitions?
Anſw. The offended brother tells the Church of it, to wit, in Gods way. Mr. Cotton of the way, pag. 90. line 12.
Queſt. 12. What do you mean by telling the Church in Gods way?
Anſw. The offended brother is by the mouth of the Elders to tell it the Church. Platform of diſcipline from N. E. chap. ſect. 2. That is, he telleth the Elders who are the mouth of the Church, that by them it may be preſented before the Church. Mr. Cottons way, pag. 90. line 13. The matter muſt firſt be brought to the Elders, and by them debated and delivered to the Church. Mr. Hookers Survey, part 3. p. 36, l. 2.
Queſt. 13. But why muſt the mattor be firſt brought to the Elders, and debated by them?
Anſw. 1. For that they are guides and leaders of the Church, Heb. 13.17. the watchmen and overſeers of it; and therefore they muſt know the cauſes and controverſies; to the full in all circumſtances, difficulties, windings and turnings thereof, that they may be able to lead the Congregation in the way of peace and truth, which they cannot do unleſſe they know the way themſelves. Mr. Hookers Survey, part 3. pag. 36. line 3.
2. To them it appertains to judge, whether the things be of weight and worth, and ſo need and require the preſence and aſſiſtance of the body to expreſſe their judgement againſt them, and the party guilty of them or no; for if they be petty buſineſſes, and altogether unfit and unworthy to trouble the Congregation withall, it is in their power to prevent ſuch cauſeleſs and needleſs diſturbance, and therefore to ſuppreſſe any further proceeding therein. Mr. Hooker, part 3. pag. 36. line 10.
Object. But by this means, if the Elders be corrupt in judgement, or partial in affections, they may ſilence the weighteſt cauſe that can be, and ſo prejudice the innocency of thoſe they are not friendly to, and hinder the reformation of thoſe whom in a corrupt and partial way they ſinfully favour.
Anſw. Therefore as it is in their power to ſuppreſſe ſuch petty occaſions as are not worthy the times, pains, and diſturbances that muſt be ſpent upon them: So yet to prevent injuſtice and partiality in ſuch caſes, the party who takes himſelf wronged, may complain of the Elders in that behalf; and if the Congregation ſee apparently that they have dealt unjuſtly and partially, it is in their power to rectifie; but if the complaints prove unjuſt and unreaſonable, be it at the peril of him that complains; for he is to be cenſured ſharply and ſeverely, as out of pride and perverſeneſſe, refuſing to liſten to the ſeaſonable advice and counſel of thoſe who were ſet over him by the Lord; as alſo becauſe he had needleſly diſturbed the peace of the Congregation as much as in him lies. Hookers Survey of diſcipline, part 3. pag. 6. line 26.
Thirdly, the preparation is to be made by the Elders, becauſe if the body of the people be numerous, they will be unable with any comely conveniency to weigh all the circumſtances and difficulties which will certainly and neceſſarily occur in ſuch agitation, nor can in reaſon beſtow their times and pains upon them, as the intricacy and perplexity of the work will ſometimes require. Ibid.
Queſt. 14. But what is the work, or power of the Members then in order unto cenſures?
Anſw. As the Brethren have a power of order, and the priviledge to expoſtulate with their Brethren in caſe of private ſcandal, according to the rule, Matth. 18.15, 16. So in caſe of publick ſcandal, the whole Church of Brethren have power and priviledge to joyne with the Elders, in enquiring, hearing, judging of publick ſcandals, ſo as to binde notorious offenders and impenitents under cenſure, and to forgive the repentant: Mr. Cotton of the Keys, page 13. But yet this enquiring and hearing is not to be underſtood as if the complaint were immediately, and pro primâ inſtantiâ, to be brought to the Church or Fraternity. No, but it is firſt to be brought to the Elderſhip, prepared and ripened by them, and by them related to the Church, for the Elders, before that have not onelyonly examined the offender and his offence, and the proofs thereof privately; but, do alſo publickly reviſe the heads of all the material paſſages thereof before the Church, and do withall declare the counſel and will of God therein, that they may rightly diſcern and approve what cenſure the Lord requireth to be adminiſtred in ſuch a caſe: Mr, Cotton of the Keys, page 14. line 36.
Queſt. 15. But yet after the Elders have thus examined the caſe, and declared their judgement concerning it, the Church have yet a power to judge; have they not?
Anſw. Yes; but not as an act of rule and authority; for there is a judgment of diſcretion by way of priviledge, as well as of authority, by way of ſentence; that of diſcretion is common to all the Brethren, as well as that of authority belongs to the Presbytery of the Church. In England the Jury by their verdict, as well as the Judge by his ſentence, do both of them judge the ſame Malefactor; yet in the Jury their verdict is but an act of Popular liberty, in the Judge it is an act of his judicial authority. Mr. Cotton of the Keys, page 14. line 11.
Queſt. 16. What is the difference then between the judgment which the Brethren paſſe in the cenſure of Excommunication, and that which the Elders paſſe?
Anſw. Great is the difference. For though the Jury have given up their judgment and verdict, yet the Malefactor is not thereupon legally condemned, and much leſſe executed, but upon the ſentence of the Judge. In like ſort here, though the Brethren of the Church do with one accord give up their vote and judgment for the cenſure of an offender, yet he is not thereby cenſured till upon the ſentence of the Presbytery. Mr. Cotton Keyes, page 14. line 20.
Queſt. 17. Have then the Brethren no power of authority, but only of priviledge and liberty? Is not binding and looſing an act of authority? and power to binde and looſe, given to the Church of Chriſt?
Anſw. The whole Church may be ſaid to binde and looſe, in that the Brethren conſent and concur with the Elders both before the cenſure, diſcerning it to be juſt and equal, and declaring this by lifting up their hands, or by ſilence ; and after the cenſure, in rejecting the offender cenſured from their wonted communion. Idem. line 4.
Queſt. 18. Whither is this conſent of the Brethren unto the judgement and ſentence of the Elders concerning the Excommunication of a Member an act of authority, or of obedience?
Anſw. The people give conſent in obedience to the will and rule of Chriſt: Hence is that ſpeech of the Apoſtle, we have in readineſſe to revenge all diſobedience, when your OBEDIENCE & is fullfilled, 2 Cor. 10.6. The Apoſtles revenge of diſobedience by way of reproof in preaching, doth not follow the peoples obedience, but proceedeth whether the people obey it or no; it was therefore their revenge of diſobedience by way of cenſure in Diſcipline which they had in readineſſe when the obedience of the Church is fulfilled, in diſcerning and approving the equity of the cenſure, which the Apoſtles and Elders have declared to them from the Word. Mr. Cotton of the Keyes, page 15. line 6. And if the people cannot convince the Elder of his errour or miſtake in the ſentence, they are bound to joyne their judgment with his in the compleating of the ſentence, without impertinent queſtions, needleſſe ſcruples, wilfull and diſorderly gain-ſayings. Mr. Hookers Survey, P. 3. page 42. line 7.
Queſt. 19. But what if the caſe prove doubtful, and there ariſe a difference between the Elders and the Brethren?
Anſw. If the caſe be doubtful, and the difference grows wide and great, it is then ſeaſonable to crave the counſel and help of neighbouring Churches. Mr. Hookers Survey, part 3. page 40. line 15.
Queſt. 20. May not the Brethren proceed to the ſentence of Excommunication without the Elders?
Anſw. Excommunication is one of the higheſt acts of rule in the Church, and therefore cannot be performed but by ſome Rulers. Mr. Cotton of the Keyes, page 16. line 6.
Object. But the twenty foure Elders, (who repreſent the private Members of the Church, as the foure living creatures do the foure Officers) had all of them Crowns upon their heads, and ſate upon Thrones, which are ſignes of Regal Authority?
Anſw. The Crowns and Thrones argue them to be Kings no more than their white garments argue them to be Prieſts, verſe 4. but neither Prieſts nor Kings by office, but by liberty to performs like ſpiritual duties by grace, which others do by office and grace both. Mr. Cotton of the Keyes, page 16. line 19.
Queſt. 21. What are the things or caſes for which the cenſure of Excommunication is to be inflicted?
Anſw. It muſt not be for petty and ſmall aberrations, but for ſuch evils as the mind and conſcience of a man inlightned by the Church of God would condemn in himſelf, or any upon the firſt ſerious conſideration, was his underſtanding left to the liberty of reaſon to act thereby, and not crack-brained and perverted with prejudice and ſelfiſhneſſe. Mr. Hookers Survey of Diſcipline, part 3. page 34. line 30.
Queſt. 22. But tell us ſomewhat more particularly and expreſſely, what is the matter of Excommunication?
Anſw. Such evils as are either heinous or abominable; as fornication, murder, adultery, inceſt, treaſon, or if not ſo groſſe, yet carry the face of evil in their fore-head, upon the firſt ſerious and well-grounded conſideration of reaſon, and have been pertinaciouſly and obſtinately perſiſted in after all means improved for their conviction and reformation. Mr. Hookers Survey of Diſcipline, part 3. page 34. line 37.
Queſt. 23. You did a little above (Queſt.8.) mention ſuſpenſion as a cenſure diſtinct from Excommunication; in what caſes is that practiſed, or uſed in the Church of Chriſt?
Anſw. In two Caſes. Firſt thus; Members born in the Church, and having received their Memberſhip in their infancy, being grown to years of diſcretion, muſt come to tryal and examination, and manifeſt their faith and repentance by an open profeſſion thereof before they be received to the Lords Supper, or otherwiſe not to be admitted thereunto. Platform of Diſcipline from New Eng. chap. 12. ſect. 7. (ſee before chap. 3. Queſt. 5.) though thy ſuſpenſion be not ſtrictly a cenſure, being rather actus charitatis, than poteſtatis; and as they call it, ſuſpenſio per modum cautelae. Secondly, thus; while the offending brother lyeth under the cenſure of admonition, he ſtands in the judgment of the whole Church as a convinced publick offender; and therefore till he be reconciled to the Church by the penitent and publick acknowledgement of his ſin before them, he doth abſtain from the Lords Table, according to the direction of our Saviour who would not have an offender preſent himſelf nor his guift before the Altar, while the guilt of the offence of his brother lay upon him, Mat. 5.23, 24. Or as the Prieſts in the Law did forbear to eat of the holy things whileſt they lay in uncleanneſſe, Lev. 22. 3, 4. Or as one Who lying in his uncleanneſſe, did rather pollute the holy Ordinance of God by partaking of it, than receive any holineſſe from it. Mr. Cottons way of the Churches, page 91. line 26.
Object. But this ſeems to be but a voluntary act of the offending party; this is not a Church cenſure.
Anſw. If the Church diſcern the offending brother to be willing to hear, but not yet fully convinced of his offence, as in caſe of Herefie, they are to diſpenſe to him a publick Admonition, with declaring the offender to be under the publick offence of the Church, who doth thereby withhold or ſuſpend him from the holy fellowſhip of the Lords Supper till his offence be removed by penitent confeſſion. Platforme of Diſcipline from N. E. cap. 14. ſect. 2. and this is truly and properly ſ…spenſio per modum cenſurae.
Hitherto of Church Government and Cenſures. Now out of theſe particulars draw we theſe poſitions with inferences thereupon.
1. Church-government or rule is placed by Chriſt in the officers of the Church, who therefore are called Rulers. See anſw. to queſt. 1. Therefore the fraternity are not the ſeat or ſubject of Rule or power.
2. The eſſentials of Church-government are unalterable: See anſwer to queſt. 1. Therefore they who believe ruling Elders to be eſſentials of government, and yet conſtitute none in their Churches, live in a neglect of duty contrary to their judgment and perſwaſion.
3. Church Cenſures are Chriſts appointments. See anſw. to queſt. 7. and cannot be diſpenſed, at leaſt ſome of them without Rulers. See anſw. to q. 19. Therefore Churches that have no Rulers, do not nor cannot obſerve all the Ordinances and appoinments of Jeſus Chriſt.
4. Petty matters and ſmall aberrations, are not to be cenſured by excomunication; but ſuch evils as are either heinous and abominable, or at leaſt are ſuch as the minde and conſcience of a man inlightned by the truth of God, would condemn in any upon the firſt ſerious conſideration. See anſwer to queſt. 20, 21.
5. Offences are not immediately and at the firſt daſh to be brought to the Church or community, but firſt to the Elders to be conſidered, debated, ripened by them, received as ſerious and weighty, or rejected as ſlight and frivolous. See anſwer to queſt. 11. And therefore that Tell the Church (which is the next immediate ſtep after the firſt and ſecond, brethren and private admonition) it is not Tell the fraternity or community, but Tell the Elders.
6. The power which the brethren have in cenſures, it is not a power of rule and authority, but a power of liberty; and the judgement they paſſe, it is not a judgement of authority, but a judgement of diſcretion ; they are but as the Jury, the Elderſhip is as the Judge. See anſwer to queſt. 14, 15, 16.
7. The Church binds and looſes only by conſenting to the judgement and ſentence of the Elders, which conſent of theirs is an act of obedience, and they are bound to yeeld to it, unleſs they can manifeſt that the judgement of the Elderſhip is corrupt and erroneous. See anſwer to queſt. 18.
8. In doubtful caſes, and in matters of difference, it is ſeaſonable to crave the help and counſel of neighboring Churches, See anſwer to queſt. 19.
9. There are two ſorts of Church-Members, ſome compleat who are admitted to all Ordinances, ſome incompleate who having received their Memberſhip in their infancy, are ſuſpended from the Lords Table, and other Church-priviledges, till they have paſſed a tryal, and have received approbation of their fitneſs for thoſe enjoyments. An offending brother lying under publike admonition, is ſuſpended from the Lords Table, before he be excommunicated; therefore ſuſpenſion is a cenſure diſtinct from Admonition and Excommunication.