power consists in a relation unto the Church that they are set over so they are commanded to attend unto the service of the Churches wherein and whereunto they are so ordained Act. 20.28 1 Peter 1.2 And that with all diligence care and watchfulness as those that must give an account Heb. 13.17 which no man is able to do towards more Churches than one the same duty being at all times to be performed towards all And because the whole authority of the Elders Pastors or Bâ—shops of Churches is ministerial â— Cor. 4.1 consisting in a power of acting upon the command of Christ they are bound in their own persons to the discharge of their duty and Office without the least pretence of authority to delegate another or others to act their part or to do their duty which would be an effect of autocratorical authority and not of obedience or Ministry The latter way also of relation unto many Churches is unwarrantable For 1 It hath no warrant in the Scripture no Law nor constitution of Christ or his Apostles can be produced to give it countenance but Elders were ordained to their own Churches and commanded to attend unto them 2 No rule is given unto any Elders how they should behave themselves in reference unto more Churches than one in the exercise of their ministerial power as there are rules given unto every one for the discharge of that duty in the Church whereunto he is related 3 There is no example to give it countenance recorded in the Scripture 4 The authority to be put forth hath no foundation 1 Not in the gifts they have received for the ministerial power is not an absolute ability or faculty of doing what a man is able but a right whereby a man hath power to do that rightly and lawfully which before he could not do This gifts will not give to any for if they did they would do it to all that have received them 2 Not in their election for they are chosen in and by that Church whereunto they stand in especial relation whose choice cannot give ministerial power over any but themselves 3 Not in their setting apart by fasting prayer and imposition of hands for this is only unto that office work and power whereunto they are chosen They are not chosen for one end and set apart for another 4 Not from the Communion of Churches for that gives no new power but only a due exercise of that which was before received Qu. 27. What are the principal duties of the Pastors or Teachers of the Church An. 1 To be examples unto the flock in faith love knowledge méekness patience readiness to suffer for the name and Gospel of Christ with constancy therein 2 To watch for the souls and take care of all the spiritual concernments of the whole flock committed to them 3 To preach the word diligently dividing it aright 4 To preserve and contend for the truth 5 To administer all the Ordinances of the Gospel duly and orderly 6 To stir up and exercise the gifts they have received in the discharge of their whole work and administration of all Ordinances 7 To instruct admonish cherish and comfort all the Members of the Church as their conditions occasions and necessities do require 8 To attend with diligence skill and wisdome unto the discharge of that authority which in the rule of the Church is committed unto them 1 1 Tim. 3.10 11 13. Chap. 4.12 2 Tim. 2.3 Coloss. 1.24 Phil. 2.17 Chap. 3.17 2 Heb. 13.17 Acts 20.28 3 2 Tim. 2.15 2 Tim. 4.2 Rom. 12.6 7 8. 4 1 Tim. 6.20 Acts 20.28 Jude 3. 5 1 Cor. 4.1 2. 1 Tim. 3.15 6 1 Tim. 4.14 15 16. 7 Acts 20.18 19 20 25 26. 1 Thes. 3.5 2 Tim. 2.24 25. 8 Rom. 12.8 1 Tim. 5.17 The answer is full and plain Qu. 28. Wherein principally doth the authority of the Elders of the Church consist An. 1 In that the Rule of the Church and the guidance thereof in things appertaining unto the worship of God is committed unto them And therefore 2 Whatever they do as Elders in the Church according unto rule they do it not in the name or authority of the Church by which their power is derived unto them nor as Members only of the Church by their own consent or covenant but in the name and authority of Iesus Christ from whom by virtue of his Law and Ordinance their ministerial office and power is received so that 3 In the exercise of any act of Church power by and with the consent of the Church there is an obligation thence procéeding which ariseth immediately from that authority which they have received of Iesus Christ which is the spring of all rule and authority in the Church 1 Acts 20.28 Heb. 13.7 17. 1 Pet. 5.2 1 Cor. 12.28 2 1 Tim. 3.5 Coloss. 4.17 2 Cor. 10.4 8. 3 1 Tim. 4.11 Titus 2.15 1 Peter 1.2 3 4 5. Explication The answer unto this Question explains the power or authority of the Elders of the Church from whom they do receive it and how it is exercised by them the right stating whereof is of great importance in the whole discipline of the Church and must therefore here be farther explained to this end we may consider First that all Church power is originally vested in Jesus Christ the sole head and Monarch thereof God the Father hath committed it unto him and intrusted him with it for the accomplishment of his work of mediation Matth. 28.18 Secondly that he doth communicate of this authority by way of trust to be exercised by them in his name unto persons by him appointed so much as is needful for the ordering and disposing of all things in his Churches unto the blessed ends for which he hath instituted and appointed them For no man can have any power in his Church for any end whatever but by delegation from him What is not received from him is meer usurpation And whoever takes upon himself the exercise of any Rule or Authority or power in the Church not granted unto them by him or not rightly derived from him is an oppressor a thief and a Robber this necessarily follows upon the absolute investiture of all power in him alone 1 Cor. 12.28 Ephe. 4.11 12. Thirdly the means whereby the Lord Christ communicates this power unto men is by his Law and constitution whereby he hath granted ordained and appointed that such and such powers shall be exercised in his Church and that by such and such persons to be derived unto them in such a way and manner so that the word of the Gospel or the Laws and constitutions of the Lord Christ therein are the first recipient seat and subject morally of all Church power whatever Matth. 16.19 Matth. 18.18 19 20. Fourthly the way and means whereby any persons come to a participation of this power regularly according to the mind of Christ is by the obedience unto and due observation of his laws and commands
of the Church expressed which they are not to exceed in any thing Herein are bounds and limits fixed to the actings of the whole Church and of every part and member of it Thirdly This power or authority thus granted and conveyed by Jesus Christ is to be exercised as to the manner of the administration of discipline with skill and diligence Rom. 12.6 1 Cor. 12. and the skill required hereunto is a gift or an ability of mind bestowed by the Holy-Ghost upon men to put in execution the Laws of Christ for the government of the Church in the way and order by him appointed or a spiritual wisdom whereby men know how to behave themselves in the house of God in their several places for its due edification in faith and love 1 Tim. 3.15 And this ability of mind to make a due application of the Laws of the Gospel unto persons times and actions with their circumstances is such a gift of the Holy-Ghost as whereof there are several degrees answering to the distinct duties that are incumbent on the Rulers of the Church on the one hand and Members on the other And where this skill and wisdome is wanting there it is impossible that the Discipline of the Church should be preserved or carryed on Hereunto also diligence and watchfulness are to be added without which ability and power will never obtain their proper end in a due manner Rom. 12.6 7 8. Fourthly The end of this discipline is continuance increase and preservation of the Church according to the rule of its first institution 1 Cor. 5.7 This power hath Christ given his Church for its conservation without which it must necessarily decay and come to nothing Nor is it to be imagined that where any Church is called and gathered according to the mind of Christ that he hath left it destitute of power and authority to preserve it self in that state and order which he hath appointed unto it And that which was one principal cause of the decayes of the Asian Churches was the neglect of this Dicipline the power and priviledge whereof the Lord had left unto them and intrusted them withall for their own preservation in order purity and holiness And therefore for the neglect thereof they were greatly blamed by him Rev. 2.14 15 20. Chap. 3.2 as is also the Church of Corinth by the Apostle 1 Cor. 5.2 as they are commended who attended unto the diligent exercise of it Revel 2.2 Chap. 3.9 The disuse also of it hath been the occasion of all the defilements abominations and confusions that have spread themselves over many Churches in the World Quest. 42. Vnto whom is the power and administration of this Discipline committed by Jesus Christ Answ. As to the authority to be exerted in it in the things wherein the whole Church is concerned unto the Elders as unto tryall judgement and consent in and unto its exercise unto the whole Brotherhood as unto love care and watchfuless in private and particular cases to every member of the Church Matth. 24.45 Ephes. 4.13 14. Acts 20.28 1 Tim. 3.5 Chap. 5.17 Heb. 13.17 1 Pet. 2.3 1 Thes. 5.12 Gal. 6.1 2. 1 Cor. 4.14 1 Cor. 5.2 4 5. 2 Cor. 2.6 7 8. 2 Tim. 4.2 Explication It hath been shewed that this power is granted unto the Church by virtue of the Law and constitution of Christ. Now this Law assigns the means and way whereby any persons do obtain an interest therein and makes the just allotments to all concerned in it What this Law Constitution or Word of Christ assigns unto any as such that they are the first seat and subject of by what way or means soever they come to be intrusted therein Thus that power or authority which is given unto the Elders of the Church doth not first formally reside in the body of the Church unorganized or distinct from them though they are called unto their Office by their suffrage and choice but they are themselves as such the first subject of Office power For so is the Will of the Lord Christ. Nor is the interest of the whole Church in this power of discipline whatever it be given unto it by the Elders but is immediately granted unto it by the will and Law of the Lord Jesus First In this way and manner the Authority above described is given in the first place as such unto the Elders of the Church This Authority was before explained in answer unto the 28th question as also was the way whereby they receive it And it is that power of office whereby they are enabled for the discharge of their whole duty in the teaching and ruling of the Church called the power of the keyes from Mat. 16.19 Which expression being Metaphorical and in general lyable unto many interpretations is to be understood according to the declaration made of it in those particular instances wherein it is expressed Nor is it a two-fold power or Authority that the Elders of the Church have committed unto them one to teach and another to rule commonly called the power of order and of jurisdiction but it is one power of Office the duties whereof are of several kinds referred unto the two general heads first of teaching by preaching the word and celebration of the Sacraments and 2 Of rule or government By virtue hereof are they made Rulers over the house of God Matth. 24.45 Stewards in his house 1 Cor. 4.1 Overseers of the Church Act. 20.28 1 Peter 5.2 Guides unto the Church Heb. 13.7 17. Not that they have a supream or autocratorical power committed unto them to enable them to do what seems right and good in their own eyes seeing they are expresly bound up unto the terms of their Commission Matth. 28.19 20. To teach men to do and observe all and only what Christ hath commanded nor have they by virtue of it any dominion in or over the Church that is the laws rules or priviledges of it or the consciences of the Disciples of Christ to alter change add diminish or bind by their own authority 1 Pet. 5.3 Mark 10.42 43 44. But it is a power meerly ministerial in whose exercise they are unto the Lord Christ accountable servants Heb. 13.17 Matth. 24.45 And Servants of the Church for Jesus sake 2 Cor. 4.5 This authority in the Discipline of the Church they exert and put forth by virtue of their Office and not either as declaring of the power of the Church it self or acting what is delegated unto them thereby but as ministerially exercising the authority of Christ committed unto themselves Secondly The body of the Church or the multitude of the Brethren women being excepted by especial prohibition 1 Cor. 14.34 35. 1 Tim. 2.11 12. Is by the Law and constitution of Christ in the Gospel interested in the administration of this power of discipline in the Church so far as First To consider try and make a judgement in and about all persons things and causes in reference whereunto
he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God John 3.3 requiring regeneration as an indispensable condition in a Member of his Church a subject of his Kingdom For his Temple is now to be built of living stones 1 Pet. 2.5 Men spiritually and savingly quickened from their death in sin and by the Holy-Ghost whereof they are partakers made a meet habitation for God Eph. 2.21 22. 1 Cor. 3.16 2 Cor. 6.16 which receiving vital supplyes from Christ its head increaseth in faith and holiness edifying it self in love Ephes. 4.15 16. And as the Apostles in their writings do ascribe unto all the Churches and the Members of them a participation in this effectual vocation affirming that they are Saints called sanctified justified and accepted with God in Christ Rom. 1.5 6. 1 Cor. 1.2 1 Cor. 4.15 Heb. 3.1 Jam. 1.18 1 Pet. 2.5 2 Cor. 6.17 18. 1 Cor. 6.11 So many of the duties that are required of them in that relation and condition are such as none can perform unto the glory of God their own benefit and the edification of others the ends of all obedience unless they are partakers of this effectual calling 1 Cor. 10.16 17. 1 Cor. 12.12 Ephes. 4.16 Add hereunto that these Churches and the members of them are not only commanded to separate themselves as to their Worship of God from the World that is men in their worldly state and condition but are also required when any amongst them trasgress against the rules and laws of this holy calling above described to cast them out of their society and communion 1 Cor. 5.13 from all which it appears who are the subject matter of these Churches of Christ as also secondly the means whereby they come to be so namely the administration of the spirit and word of Christ and Thirdly the general ends of their calling which are all spoken to in this answer Quest. 20. By what means do persons so called become a Church of Christ Answ. They are constituted a Church and interested in the rights power and priviledges of a Gospel-Church by the will promise authority and law of Iesus Christ upon their own voluntary consent and engagement to walk together in the due subiection of their Souls and Consciences unto his authority as their King Priest and Prophet and in an holy observation of all his commands ordinances and appointments Matth. 18.20 Chap. 28.18 19. Acts 2.41 42. Exod. 24.3 Deut. 5.27 Psalm 110.3 Isa. 44.5 Chap. 59.21 Ephes. 4.7 8 9 10. 2. Cor. 8.5 Explication That the Lord Christ hath constituted such a Church-state as that which we enquire about hath been proved already Unto a Church so constituted he hath also by his word and promise annexed all those priviledges and powers which we find a Church to be entrusted withall This he hath done by the standing and unalterable Law of the Gospel which is the Charter of their spiritual society and incorporation Neither are nor can any persons be interested in the rights of a Church any otherwise but by virtue of this Law and constitution This therefore is first to be laid down that the sole moral foundation of that Church-state which we enquire after is laid in the Word Law and appointment of Christ. He alone hath authority to erect such a society he is the builder of this house as well as the Lord over it Heb. 3.3 6. neither without it can all the authority of men in the World appoint such a state or erect a Church and all acceptable actings of men herein are no other but acts of pure obedience unto Christ. Farthermore We have declared that the Lord Christ by the dispensation of his word and spirit doth prepare and fit men to be subjects of his Kingdom Members of his Church the work of sending forth the means of the conversion of the souls of men of translating them from the power of darkness into light he hath taken upon himself and doth effectually accomplish it in every generation And by this means he builds his Church Matth. 18.20 For unto all persons so called he gives command that they shall do and observe whatever he hath appointed them to do Mat. 28.20 in particular that they profess their subjection to him and their obedience in joyning themselves in that state wherein they may be enabled to observe all his other laws and institutions with the whole worship of God required therein Being converted unto God by his Word and Spirit they are to consider how they may now obey the Lord Christ in all things Amongst his commands this of joyning themselves in Church societies wherein he hath promised his presence with them Matth. 18.20 that is to dwell amongst them by his word and spirit Isa. 59.21 is the very first This by virtue of that command and promise of his they are warranted and enabled to do nor do they need any other warrant The authority of Christ is sufficient to beare men out in the discharge of their duty to him Being then made willing and ready in the day of his power Psalm 110.3 they consent choose and agree to walk together in the observation of all his commands And hereby do they become a Church For their becoming a Church is an act of their willing obedience unto Christ. This obedience is an act of their wills guided by rule for this also is necessary that they proceed herein according to the rules of his appointment afterwards to be unfolded And herein upon their obedience unto the commands of Christ and faith in his promises do Believers by virtue of his Law and constitution become a Gospel Church and are really and truly interested in all the power rights and priviledges that are granted unto any Church of Christ. For in this obedience they do these two things which alone he requires in any persons for the obtaining of an interest in these priviledges First They confess him his person his authority his law his grace Secondly They take upon themselves the observance of all his commands Thus did God take the children of Israel into a Church-state of old He proposed unto them the Church obedience that he required of them and they voluntarily and freely took upon themselves the performance of it Exod. 24.3 And Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord and all the judgements and all the people answered with one voice and said all the words which the Lord hath said will we do So Deut. 5.7 and hereby they had their solemn admission into their Church-state and relation unto God And the like course they took when ever there was need of renewing their engagements Josh. 24.18 21 22. And the people said we will serve the Lord for he is our God and Joshua said unto the people ye are witnesses against your selves that ye have chosen the Lord to serve him and they said we are witnesses This was the covenant that was between God and that people which was solemnly renewed so often as the
Church was eminently reformed Now although the outward solemnity and ceremonies of this covenant were peculiar unto that people yet as to the substance and nature of it in a sacred consent for the performance of all those duties towards God and one another which the nature and edification of a Church do require it belongs to every Church as such even under the Gosple And this is the way whereby Beleivers or the Disciples of Christ do enter into this state the formal constituting cause of any Church This account doth the Apostle give of the Churches of the Macedonians 2 Cor. 8.5 And this they did not as we hoped but first gave their own selves to the Lord and unto us by the will of God before the performance of other duties and in order thereunto they first gave themselves to the Lord Jesus Christ or took upon themselves the observance of his commands and institutions which is the intendment of that expression Among these commands one was that they should give up themselves to the Apostles doctrine Rule and government in the order by Christ prescribed that is in Church order This therefore they did by the will of God according to his will and appointment This description doth the Apostle give of the way whereby the Believers of Macedonia were brought into Churches It was by their own obedience unto the will of God consenting agreeing and taking upon themselves the observation of all the commands and institutions of Christ according to the direction and guidance of the Apostles So did the Believers at Jerusalem Acts 2.41 42. Being converted by the word and making profession of that conversion in their Baptism they gave up themselves to a stedfast continuance in the observation of all other Ordinances of the Gospel Besides the Church is an house a Temple the house of God 1 Tim. 3.15 The house of Christ Heb. 3.6 The Temple of God Ephe. 2.21 22. Believers singly considered are stones living stones 1 Peter 2.5 Now how shall these living stones come to be an house a Temple can it be by occasional occurrences civil cohabitation in political precincts usage or custome of assembling for some parts of worship in any place these things will never frame them into a house or Temple This can be no otherwise done but by-their own voluntary consent and disposition Ephe. 2.19 20 21 22. Ye are fellow-Citizens with the Saints and of the household of God and are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy Temple in the Lord in whom you also are builded together for an habitation of God through the spirit Chap. 4.16 From whom the whole body fitly joyned together and compacted by that which every joynt supplyeth according to the effectual working in the measure of every part maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of it self in love From these and sundry other places it is manifest that the way and means of Believers coalition into a Church-state is their own obedience of faith acting it self in a joynt voluntary consent to walk together in an holy observation of the commands of Christ whence the being and union of a particular Church is given unto any convenient number of them by his Law and constitution Qu. 21. Seeing the Church is a society or spiritual incorporation of persons under rule government or Discipline declare who or what are the rulers governors or Officers therein under Jesus Christ An. They have been of two sorts 1 extraordinary appointed for a season only and 2 ordinary to continue unto the end of the World Qu. 22. Who are the extraordinary Officers or Rulers or Ministers of the Church appointed to serve the Lord Jesus Christ therein for a season only An. 1 The Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ with 2 the Evangelists and Prophets indowed with extraordinary gifts of the holy Ghost associated with them and employed by them in their work and Ministry 1 Math. 10.2 3. Acts 1.26 1 Cor. 12.28 Ephe. 4.11 2 Luke 10.1 2 Tim. 4.5 Titus 1.5 Acts 11.27 28. Acts 21.9 10 11. 2. Cor. 1.1 Explication That the Church is a Spiritual corporation attended with rule and government is evident from the nature of the thing it self and testimonies of Scripture Only as the Kingdome of Christ is not of this World or Worldly so this rule and government of the Church is not mearly external and secular but spiritual Neither doth this rule at all belong unto it merely as materially considered in men yielding obedience unto the call which is the foundation of the Church nor absolutely as it is formally constituted a Church by the consent and agreement described but moreover it is required that it be organically compleat with Officers or rulers now to the constitution of such a society or corporation there is required First that the persons whereof it is constituted do consent together into it for the attaining of the ends which they design Without this no society of any kind can exist This is the form of mens coalescencie into societyes And that there is in the Church such a consent and agreement hath been shewed Secondly that there be Rules or Laws for the guidance and direction of all the Members of the society in order to their pursuit of the proper ends of it That such Rules or Lawes are given and prescribed by the Lord Christ unto the Church will afterwards appear in our consideration of them in particular so that the Church is a society of men walking according unto Rule or Law for the attaining of the ends of the society Thirdly that there be Authority instituted for to see to the due Observation of these Rules and Lawes of the society which consists in this 1 That some be appointed to Rule and Govern in the Church 2 Others to Obey and be Ruled or Governed both according to the Laws of the society and not otherwise And both these are eminently found in this Church-state as we shall see in the ensuing Question with their Answers and Explications Now that these Officers or Rulers should be of two sorts both the nature of the thing it self required and so hath our Lord Jesus Christ appointed For when the Church was first to be called gathered and erected it was necessary that some Persons should 〈◊〉 extraordinarily employed in that work for ordinary Officers antecedent unto the calling and erection of the Church there could be none And therefore these pesons were in an extraordinary manner endowed with all that power which afterwards was to reside in the Churches themselves and moreover with that which was peculiarly needful unto the discharge and performance of that special duty and work that they were appointed unto But when Churches were called gathered erected and setled for continuance there was need of Officers suited to their state and condition called in an ordinary way that is
in them unto whom they are prescribed As when an Office with the power of it is constituted and limited by the law of the Land there is no more required to invest any man in that office or to give him that power than the due observance of the means and way prescribed in the law to that end The way then whereby the Elders of the Church do come to participate of the power and authority which Christ hath appointed to be exercised in his Church is by their and the Churches due observance of the Rules and Laws given by him for their election and setting apart unto that office Heb. 4.3 Acts 14.24 Fifthly on this account they receive their power from Christ himself alone and that immediately for the means used for their participation of it are not recipient of the power it self formally nor do authoritatively collate or conferr it only the laws of Christ are executed in a way of obedience So that though they are chosen and set apart to their office by the Church yet they are made Overseers by the holy-Ghost Acts 20.28 Though they have their power by the Church yet they have it not from the Church nor was that power whereof they are made partakers as was said formally resident in the body of the Church before their participation of it but really in Christ himself alone and morally in his word or law And thence is the rule and guidance of the Church committed unto them by Christ Heb. 13.7 17. 1 Pet. 5.2 1 Tim. 3.5 Sixthly this authority and power thus received from Christ is that which they exert and put forth in all their ministerial administrations in all which they do as ministers in the house of God either in his worship or in the rule of the Church it self They exercise that authority of Christ which he hath in his law appointed to be exercised in his Church and from that authority is due order given unto the administration of all the ordinances of worship and an obligation unto obedience to acts of rule doth thence also ensue so that they which despise them despise the authority of Christ. Seventhly when as Elders they do or declare any thing in the name of the Church they do not as such put forth any authority committed unto them from and by the Church but only declare the consent and determination of the Church in the exercise of their own liberty and priviledge but the authority which they act by and which they put forth is that which is committed to themselves as such by Jesus Christ. Eighthly this authority is comprised in the Law and constitution of Christ which themselves exert only ministerially and therefore when ever they act any thing authoritatively which they are not enabled for or warranted in by the word of the Gospel or do any thing without or contrary unto rule all such actings as to any spiritual effect of the Gospel or obligation on the consciences of Men are Ipso facto null and are no way ratified in Heaven where all their orderly actings are made valid that is by Christ himself in his Word Ninthly The reason therefore why the consent of the Church is required unto the authoritative acting of the Elders therein is not because from thence any authority doth accrew unto them anew which virtually and radically they had not before but because by the rule of the Gospel this is required to the orderly acting of their power which without it would be contrary to rule and therefore ineffectual as also it must needs be from the nature of the thing it self for no act can take place in the Church without or against its own consent whilest its obedience is voluntary and of choice But if it be asked what then shall the Elders do in case the Church refuse to consent unto such acts as are indeed according to rule and warranted by the institution of Christ it is answered that they are First diligently to instruct them from the word in their duty making known the mind of Christ unto them in the matter under consideration 2 To declare unto them the danger of their dissent in obstructing the edification of the Body to the dishonour of the Lord Christ and their own spiritual disadvantage 3 To wait patiently for the concurrence of the grace of God with their Ministry in giving light and obedience unto the Church and 4 In case of the Churches continuance in any failure of duty to seek for advice and counsel from the Elders and Brethren of other Churches all which particulars might be enlarged would the nature of our present design and work permit it Quest. 29. What is the duty of the Church towards their Elders Pastors or Teachers Answ. 1 To have them in reverence and honour for their office and works sake 2 To obey them conscientiously in all things wherein they speak unto them in the name of the Lord. 2 To pray earnestly for them that they may and to exhort them if need require to fulfill the work of the Ministry 4 To communicate unto them of their temporals for their comfortable subsistance in the World and usefulness unto others 5 Wisely to order things by their direction so as that they may be amongst them without fear 6 To abide with and stand by them in their sufferings for the Gospel and service of Christ among them 1 1 Thes. § 12 13. 1 Tim. 5.17 2 Heb. 13.17 1 Cor. 16.16 3 Ephes. 6.18 19. Colos. 4.3 2 Thes. 3.1 Colos. 4.17 4 Gal. 6.6 1 Cor. 9.14 5 1 Cor. 16.10 6 2 Tim. 1.16 17 18. 2 Tim. 4.16 Quest. 30. Are there any differences in the Office or Offices of the Guides Rulers Elders or Ministers of the Church Answ. The Office of them that are Teachers is one and the same among them all but where there are many in the same Church it is the will of Christ that they should be peculiarly assigned unto such especial work in the discharge of their office power as their gifts received from him do peculiarly fit them for and the necessities of the Church require Rom. 12.4 5 6 7 8 1 Cor. 8.11 1 Pet. 4.10 Chap. 5.2 Explication The Office of them that are to instruct the Church in the name and authority of Christ is one and the same as hath been shewed before And there are many names that are equally accommodated unto all that are partakers of it as Elders Bishops Guides They are all alike Elders alike Bishops alike Guides have the one office in common amongst them and every one the whole intire unto himself But there are names also given unto them whereby they are distinguisht not as to Office but as to their work and employment in the discharge of that office such are Pastors and Teachers Ephes. 4.11 Which are placed as distinct persons in their work partakers of the same Office Now the foundation of this distinction and difference lyes First In the different gifts that they have
And herein alone doth the order honour and beauty of the Church consist Church members therefore are to search and enquire after the particular duties which as such are incumbent on them as also to consider what influence their special state and condition as they are Church members ought to have into all the duties of their obedience as they are Christians For this priviledge is granted unto them for their edification that is their fartherance in their whole course of walking before God And if this be neglected if they content themselves with a name to live in this or that Church to partake of the Ordinances that are stated and solemnly administred only that which would have been to their advantage may prove to be a snare and temptation unto them What these especial duties are in the particular instances of them is of too large a consideration here to be insisted on Besides it is the great dutie of the Guides of the Church to be inculcating of them into the minds of those committed to their charge For the Churches due performance of its dutie is their honour Crown and reward Qu. 35. Whence do you reckon prayer which is a part of moral and natural worship among the institutions of Christ in his Church An. On many accounts as 1 because the Lord Christ hath commanded his Church to attend unto the worship of God therein 2 because he bestowes on the Ministers of the Church gifts and ability of prayer for the benefit and edification thereof 3 he hath appointed that all his other ordinances should be administred with prayer whereby it becomes a part of them 4 because himself ministers in the holy place as the great High priest of his Church to present their prayers unto God at the throne of grace 5 because in all the prayers of the Church there is an especial regard had unto himself and the whole work of his mediation 1 Luke 18.1 Chap. 21.36 Rom. 12.5 1 Tim. 2.1 2. 2 Ephe. 4.8 12 13. Rom. 8.15 16. Gal. 4.6 3 Acts 2.42 1 Tim. 4.5 4 Rev. 8 3 4. Heb. 4.14 15 16. Chap. 6.20 Chap. 10.20.21 22. 5 John 14.13 Chap. 15.16 22 26. Ephe. 3.14 15. Qu. 36. May not the Church in the solemn warship of God and celebration of the Ordinances of the Gospel make use of and content it self in the use of forms of prayer in an unknown tongue composed by others and prescribed unto them An. So to do would be 1 contrary to one principal end of prayer it self which is that Believers may therein apply themselves to the throne of grace for spiritual supplies according to the present condition wants and exigencies of their souls 2 to the maâ—n end that the Lord Iesus Christ aimed at in supplying men with gifts for the discharge of the work of the mimistry tending to render the the promise of sending the holy Ghost which is the immediate cause of the Churches preservation and continuance néedless and useless Moreover 3 It will render the discharge of the duty of Ministers unto several precepts and exhortations of the Gospel for the use stirring up and exercise of their gifts impossible and 4 thereby hinder the edification of the Church the great end of all Ordinances and institutions 1 Rom. 8.26 Phil. 4.6 Heb. 4.16 1 Pet. 4.7 2 Ephes. 4.8 12 13. 3 1 Tim. 4.14 2 Tim. 1.6 7. Colos. 4.17 Matth. 25.14 15 16. 4 1 Cor. 12.7 Quest. 37. Is the constant work of Preaching the Gospel by the Elders of the Church necessary Answ. It is so both on the part of the Elders or Ministers themselves of whom that duty is strictly required and who principally therein labour and watch for the good of the flock and on the part of the Church for the fartherance of their faith and obedience by instruction reproof exhortation and consolation Matth. 24.45 46 47 48 49 50 51. Rom. 12.7 8. 1 Cor. 9. 17 18. Ephes. 4.12 13. 1 Tim. 4 15 16. Chap. 5.17 2 Tim. 2.24 25. Chap. 3.14 15 16 17. Chapter 4.2 Quest. 38. Who are the proper subjects of Baptism Answ. Professing Believers if not Baptised in their infancy and their Infant séed Matth. 28.19 Acts 2.38 39. Acts 16.33 1 Cor. 1.16 1 Cor. 7.14 Colos. 2.12 13. With Genesis 17.10 11 12. Quest. 39. Where and to whom is the Ordinance of the Lords Supper to be administred Answ. In the Church or Assembly of the congregation to all the Members of it rightly prepared and duly assembled or to such of them as are so assembled 1 Cor. 11.20 21 22 28 29 33. Acts. 2.46 Quest. 40. How often is that Ordinance to be administred Answ. Every First day of the wéek or at least as often as opportunity and conveniency may be obtained 1 Cor. 11.26 Acts 20.7 Quest. 41. What is the Discipline of the Church Answ. It consists in the due exereise of that authority and power which the Lord Christ in and by his Word hath granted unto the Church for its continuance increase and preservation in purity order and holiness according to his appointment Matth. 16.19 Rom. 12.8 2 Cor. 10.4 5 6. Rev. 2.2 20. Explication Sundry things are to be considered about this discipline of the Church as First The foundation of it which is a grant of power and authority made unto it by Jesus Christ as Mediator Head King and Law-giver of his Church For all discipline being an act of power and this being exercised in and about things internal and spiritual no men can of themselves or by grant of any others have any right or authority to or in the exercise thereof Whoever hath any interest herein or right hereunto it must be granted unto him from above by Jesus Christ and that as Mediator and head of his Church For as all Church power is in an especial manner by the authority and grant of the Father vested in him alone Matth. 28.18 Ephes. 1.20 21 22 23. So the nature of it which is spiritual the object of it which are the Consciences and Gospel priviledges of Believers with the ends of it namely the glory of God in Christ with the spiritual and eternal good of the souls of men do all manifest that it can have no other right nor foundation This in the first place is to be fixed that no authority can be exercised in the Church but what is derived from Jesus Christ as was spoken before Secondly The means whereby the Lord Christ doth communicate this power and authority unto his Church is his word or his law and constitution concerning it in the Gospel so that it is exactly limited and bounded thereby And no power or authority can be exercised in the Church but what is granted and conveyed unto it by the word seeing that Christ communicates no power or authority any other wayes What ever of that nature is beside it or beyond it is meer usurpation and null in its exercise Herein is the commission of the Guides and Rules
26.16 19. these are sufficient intimations of what care and diligence we ought to use in attending unto what God hath appointed in his worship and although now under the new Testament he doth not ordinarily proceed to the inflicting of temporal judgements in thâ— like cases of neglect yâ—â— he hath not wholly left us without instances of his putting forth tokens of his displeasure in temporal visitations on such miscarriages in his Church 1 Cor. 11.30 For this cause saith the Apostle many are weak and sickly among you and many sleep From all which it appeares of what concernment it is unto the glory of God and the salvation of our own souls to attend diligently unto our duty in the strict and sincere observation of the worship of the Gospel for he lets us know that now a more severe punishment is substituted against such transgressions in the room of that which he so visibly inflicted under the old Testament Heb. 10.25 26 27 28 29. Qu. 16. Is there yet any other consideration that may stir up Beleivers to an holy and religious care about the due observation of the institutions of the Gospel Answ. Yea namely that the great apostacy of the Church in the last dayes foretold in the Scripture and which God threatneth to punish and revenge consists principally in false worship and a departure from the institutions of Christ. Rev. 14.4 5. Chap. 17.1 2 3 5. Explication That there is an Apostacy of the Church foretold in the book of the Revelations is acknowledged by all who with sincerity have inquired into the minde of God therein The state of things at this day and for many ages past in the World sufficiently confirm that perswasion And herein sundry things in general are obvious unto every sober consideration thereof First the horrible evils troubles and confusions that are to be brought into and upon the World thereby Secondly the high guilt and provocation of God that is contained in it and doth accompany it Thirdly the dreadful vengeance that God in his appointed time will take upon all the promoters and obstinate maintainers of it These things are at large all of them foretold in the Revelation and therein also the Apostacy it self is set forth as the cause of all the plagues and destructions that by the righteous judgement of God are to be brought upon the World in these latter dayes Now as God doth earnestly call upon all that fear him not to intermeddle nor partake in the sins of the Apostates lest they should also partake in their judgements Chap. 18.4 I heard a voice from Heaven saying come out of her my people that ye be not partakers of her sins and that ye receive not of her plagues So he doth plainly declare wherein the apostacy and sin it self should principally consist and that is in the corrupting and contaminating of the Ordinances of his worship or the introduction of false worship joyned with the persecution of them who refused to submit thereunto For this cause is the sin it self set out under the name of fornication and whoredome and the Church that maintains it is called the Mother of Harlots Chap. 17.5 That by fornication and whoredome in the Church the adulterating of the worship of God and the admission of false self-invented worship in the room thereof whereof God is jealous is intended the Scripture every where declares It is easie then to gather of how great concernment unto us it is especially in these latter dayes wherein this so hainous and provoking sin is prevalent in the World carefully to attend unto the safe unerring rule of Worship and diligently to perform the duties that are required therein Quest. 17. Which are the principal institutions of the Gospel to be observed in the worship of God Answ. 1. The calling gathering and setling of Churches with their Officers as the seat and subject of all other solemn instituted worship 2. Prayer with thanksgiving 3. Singing of Psalms 4. Preaching the word 5. Administration of the Sacraments of Baptism and the Supper of the Lord. 6. Discipline and rule of the Church collected and setled most of which have also sundry particular duties relating unto them and subservient unto their due observation 1. Matth. 28.19 20. Acts 2.41 42. 1 Cor. 12.28 Ephes. 4.11 12. Matth. 18.17 18 19. 1 Cor. 4.17 1 Cor. 7.17 Acts 14.23 Titus 1.5 1 Tim. 3.15 2. 1 Tim. 2.1 Acts 6.4 Acts 13.2 3. 3. Ephes. 5.19 Colos. 3.16 4. 2 Tim. 4.2 Acts 2.42 1 Cor. 14.3 Acts 6.2 Heb. 13.7 5. Matth. 28.19 Matth. 26.26 27. 1 Cor. 11.23 6. Matth. 18.17 18 19. Rom. 12.6 7 8. Rev. 2.3 Explication These things being all of them afterwards to be spoken unto severally and apart need not here any particular Explication They are the principal heads wherein Gospel-worship consisteth and whereunto the particular duties of it may be reduced Qu. 18. Whereas sundry of these things are founded in the light and law of nature as requisite unto all solemn worship and are moreover commanded in the moral Law and explications of it in the Old Testament how do you look upon them as Evangelical institutions to be observed principally on the authority of Jesus Christ Answ. Neither their general suitableness unto the principles of right reason and the dictates of the light and law of nature nor the practice of them in the worship of God under the Old Testament do at all hinder them from depending on the meer institution of Iesus Christ as to those especial ends of the â—â—â—ry of God in and by himself and the edification of his Church in the faith which is in him whereunto he hath appointed them Nor as unto that especial manner of their performance which he requireth in which respects they are to be observed on â—he account of his authority and command only Matth. 17.5 Matth. 28. â—0 John 16.23 24. Heb. 3.4 5 6. Ephes. 1.22 Chap. 2.20 21 22. Heb. 12.25 Explication The principal thing we are to aim at in the whole worship of God is the discharge of that duty which we owe to Jesus Christ the King and head of the Church Heb. 3.6 Christ as a Son over his own house whose house are we 1 Tim. 3.15 That thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thy self in the house of God which is the Church of the living God This we cannot do unless we consider his authority as the formal reason and cause of our observance of all that we do therein If we perform any thing in the worship of God on any other account it is no part of our obedience unto him and so we can neither expect his grace to assist us nor have we his promise to accept us therein for that he hath annexed unto our doing and observing whatever he hath commanded and that because he hath commanded us Matth. 28 20. teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and loe I am with you alwayes even