whose Cause they plead we are cast out and excluded from Church Communion with them by the unscriptural Conditions of it which they would force upon us The Distance between us that ensues hereon they are the Causes of not we for we are ready to joyn with them or any others upon the Terms of Christ and the Gospel And do they think it meet that we should revenge their fault upon our selves by a voluntary abstinence from all the wayes and means of our edification Doth any man think that Jesus Christ leaves any of his Disciples unto such a condition as wherein it is impossible they should observe his Commands and Institutions without sin That we should joyn in some Societies that in them we should assemble together for the worship of God in him and that we should in them do and observe whatever he hath appointed we look upon as our indispensible Duty made so unto us by his Commands These things say some you shall not do with us if you will do no more and if you do them among your selves you are Schismaticks But this is a severity which we know we shall not meet with at the last Day We stand at the Judgment Seat of Jesus Christ. It will it may be be demanded by what Warrant or Authority we do assemble our selves in Church Societies for the Administration of Gospel Ordinances and who gave us this Authority VVe answer That it is acknowledged there is a Difference between them and us so that with them we cannot enjoy the VVorship of God But of this Difference we are not the Cause nor do give occasion to any blameable Divisions by our Principles or Practises VVhere the Cause is found there the guilt remains This being the state of things with us it is fond to imagine that any Professors of the Gospel do absolutely want a Warranty or Authority to obey Jesus Christ to observe his Commands and to serve him according to his revealed VVill. His Command in his Word his Promise of the acceptance of them and of his presence among them in all the Acts of their holy obedience the assistance and guidance of his holy Spirit which he affords graciously unto them are a sufficient Warranty and Authority for what they do in express complyance with his Commands and more they will not plead a power for VVhere the Spirit and Word of Christ are there is his Authority And this is no otherwise committed unto men but to enable them to act obedientially towards him and Ministerially towards others And were Church Actings considered more with respect unto the Obedidience that in them is performed unto Christ which is their first and principal Consideration it would quickly be evident whence men might have Authority for their performance And by the same means are we directed in their Order and Manner Besides the Ministers who go before the people in their Assemblies are all of them so far as we know solemnly set apart unto their Office and VVork according unto what Christ hath appointed and their Duty it is to teach unto all men the good wayes of Christ and to go before them who are convinced and perswaded by them in their practise These things hath their Lord and Master required of them and an account concerning them will he call them unto at the last Day A Dispensation is committed unto them and a necessity is thence incumbent on them to preach the Gospel and who shall excuse them if they neglect so to do For that all those who are Ministers of the Gospel are called to preach the Gospel and that diligently every one according as he hath received the Gift of the Grace of God is out of question with them that do believe the Gospel And of the Stewardship which is committed unto them herein are they to give an Account And we do know that it is a fearful thing for sinners that is wilful neglecters of his Commands to fall into the hands of the living God Our Lord Jesus Christ also hath testified beforehand that he who setteth his hand to this Plough and looks back again is not fit for the Kingdome of God He alone who calls them to this work can discharge them of it and that either by the Rule of his Word or his Providence And when men are invincibly hindred as many are at this day it is their suffering but not their sin Otherwise none can absolve them from the Duty they owe to Jesus Christ in this matter and that Debt which they owe to the Souls of men in undertaking the work of the Ministry Some indeed suppose or pretend to suppose that a Prohibition given them by Superiors forbidding them to preach though not by nor according unto any Rule of the Gospel doth discharge them from any Obligation so to do that it shall be no more their Duty It would do so no doubt had they received no other command to preach the Gospel nor from any other Authority than that of and from those Superiors by whom they are forbidden But being perswaded that they have so from him who is higher than the highest they cannot acquiesce in this Discharge nor being bought with a price can they now be Servants of men But by whom are they thus forbidden to preach It will be supposed that the Church which differs from them and which originally makes it self a part in these Differences by the conditions of communion which it would impose upon them is no competent Judge in this case Nor will their Prohibitions who apparently thereby revenge their own Quarrel influence the Consciences of them that dissent from them For we speak not of what will or may take place but what the Consciences of men will or may be concerned in By the Civil Magistrate they are not forbidden to preach that we know of It is true they are prohibited to preach in the Legal Publick Meeting Places or Churches and these places being in the power and care of the Magistrate it is meet his Terms and conditions of their use should be accepted of or his Prohibition observed or his Penalty quietly undergone where a peaceable occasion is made use of contrary unto it As to other places Ministers are not absolutely forbid to preach in them no such power is as yet assumed or exercised Only the Manner of Assemblies for Sacred Worship and the Number of them that may assemble are regulated by Laws for Secular Ends or Civil Security and that under express Penalties incurred on a contrary practice But the Consciences of Ministers cannot be concerned in such Laws so far as to be exempted by them from the Obligation that lies upon them from the command of Christ to preach the Gospel This they are commanded by him to do and others know the penalties from men under the danger whereof they must attend unto them Besides the reason of these Legal Prohibitions so far as they do extend are taken from Civil considerations alone namely of
Duty and not so much as a shadow of Authority for it would be left unto us For what is allowed in case of a sudden emergency upon an Offence taken by the whole Congregation at the wickedness of any which is instructed beforehand that this ought to be no matter of offence unto them as it may be it cannot be proved ever to have been observed in any one Instance so the allowed exercise of it would yield no relief in this case And if any one should extend the Rule beyond the interpretation that is put upon it by the present current administration of Church-Discipline there is no great question to be made what entertainment he would meet withal for his so doing And it is to no purpose to come into the Church as it were on purpose to go out again And if instead of dealing with the Souls and Consciences of men in the Name and Authority of Christ as Stewards of his Mysteries any can content themselves to be Informers of Crimes unto others we desire their pardon if we cannot comply with them therein And this is the Sum of what at present we are pleading about It is the duty of Ministers of particular Churches to judge and take care concerning the fitness of them according unto the Rules of the Gospel and the Nature of the Duty required of them who are to be admitted into the Fellowship of the Church and thereby unto a participation of all the holy Ordinances thereof This Charge the Lord Christ hath committed unto them and hereof will require an Account from them Upon the neglect or right discharge of this Duty Consequents of great moment do depend yea the due attendance unto it hath a great Influence into the Preservation of the Being of the Church and is the Hinge whereon the well-being of it doth turn But the power of exercising Ministerial Authority in a just attendance unto this Duty we must renounce in our conformity if we should submit thereunto For we have shewed before that after we have conformed we can pretend no excuse from what is enjoyned us or forbidden unto us by virtue thereof all being founded in our own voluntary act and consent Hence the guilt of this Omission must wholly fall on us which we are not willing to undergo There are we know many Objections raised against the committing of this Power and Trust unto the Ministers of particular Congregations Great Inconveniences are pretended as the consequents of it The Ignorance and Unfitness of most Ministers for the discharge of such a Trust if it should be committed unto them the Arbitrariness and partiality which probably others will exercise therein the Yoke that will be brought on the people thereby and disorder in the whole are usually pleaded to this purpose and insisted on But 1. This Trust is committed unto some or other by Christ himself and it is necessary that so it should be Never did he appoint nor is it meet nor was it ever practised in the Primitive Church that every one should at his pleasure on his own presumptions intrude himself into a participation of the holy things of the House of God The consideration of Mens Habitations with their Age and the like are of no consideration with respect unto any Rule of the Gospel Either therefore it must be left unto the pleasure and will of every man be he never so ignorant wicked or profligate to impose himself on the communion of any Church of Christ or there must be a Judgment in the Church concerning them who are to be admitted unto their communion 2. From the first planting of Christian Religion those who preached the Gospel unto the conversion of the Souls of men were principally intrusted with this Power and it was their duty to gather them who were so converted into that Church-Order and Fellowship wherein they might partake of the Sacred Mysteries or solemn Ordinances of the Christian Worship And this course of proceeding continued uninterrupted with some little variation in the manner of the exercise of this Power and Duty until Corruption had spread it self over the face of the whole professing Church in the world But still a shadow and resemblance of it was retained and in the Papal Church it self to this day particular Confessors are esteemed competent Judges of the meetness of their Penitents for an admission unto the Sacraments of their Church And who shall now be esteemed more meet for the discharge of this duty than those who succeed in the Office and Work of Preaching the Word whereby men are prepared for Church-Society And as it is a thing utterly unheard of in Antiquity that those who dispensed the Word unto the Illumination and Conversion of men should not have the power of their disposal as to their being added to the Church or suspended for a time as there was occasion so it is as uncouth that those who now sustain the same Place and Office unto the several Congregations attending on their Ministry should be deprived of it 3. If there be that Ignorance and Disability in Ministers as is pretended the blame of it reflects on them by whom they are made And we are not obliged to accommodate any of the Wayes or Truths of Christ unto the Sins and Ignorance of men And if they are insufficient for this work how come they to be so sufficient for that which is greater namely to divide the Word aright unto all their Hearers But we speak of such Ministers as are competently qualified according to the Rule of the Gospel for the discharge of their Office and no other ought there to be And such there are blessed be God through the watchful care of our Lord Jesus Christ over his Church and his Supplies of the Gifts of his Spirit unto them And such as these know it is their Duty to study meditate pray ask Counsel and advice of others perhaps of more Wisdom and Experience than themselves that they may know how in all things to behave themselves in the House of God Nor will God be wanting unto them who in sincerity seek direction from him for the discharge of any Duty which he calls them unto Other security of regular orderly and useful proceedings in this matter Christ hath not given us nor do we need For the due Observance of his Appointments will not fail the attaining of his Ends which ought to be ours also 4. The Judgment and acting of the Church-Officers in the Admission of persons into the compleat Society of the Faithful is not arbitrary as is pretended They have the Rule of the Scripture which they are diligently to attend unto This is the entire Rule which the Lord Christ hath left unto his Church both for their Doctrine and Discipline Whatever is beyond this or beside it is not his nor owned by him What is not done according to this Rule is of no force in the Consciences of men though it may stand until lawfully recalled
Spirit which is savingly communicated unto the Church in this sense alone a greater number of Persons belonging thereunto than in any One Nation or Church under Heaven The charge therefore of some against us that we Paganize the Nation by reason of some different Apprehensions from others concerning the regular Constitution of particular Churches for the Celebration of Gospel Worship is wondrous vain and ungrounded But we know that men use such severe Expressions and Reflections out of a discomposed habit of Mind which they have accustomed themselves unto and not from a sedate Judgment and consideration of the things themselves And hence they will labour to convince others of that whereof if they would put it unto a serious Tryal they would never be able to convince themselves This then is that Church which on the account of their Sincere faith and Obedience shall be saved and out of which on the account of their Profession there is no salvation to be obtained which things are weakly and arrogantly appropriated unto any Particular Church or Churches in the World For it is possible that men may be Members of it and yet not belong or relate unto any particular Church on the Earth and so it often falleth out as we could manifest by instances did that work now lie before us This is the Church which the Lord Christ loved and gave himself for it that he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word that he might present it unto himself a Glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish And we must acknowledge that in all things this is the Church unto which we have our first and Principal regard as being the spring from which all other considerations of the Church do flow Within the virge and compass of it do we indeavour to be found the End of the Dispensation of the Gospel unto Men being that they should do so Neither would we to save our Lives which for the Members of this Church and their good we are bound to lay down when justly called thereunto wilfully live in the neglect of that Love towards them or any of them which we hope God hath planted in our hearts and made natural unto us by that one and self-same Spirit by whom the whole Mystical Body of Christ is animated We do confess that because the best of Men in this Life do know but in part that all the Members of this Church are in many things liable to Error mistakes and Miscarriages And hence it is that although they are all internally acted and guided by the same Spirit in all things absolutely necessary to their Eternal salvation and do all attend unto the same Rule of the Word according as they apprehend the mind of God in it and concerning it have all for the Nature and Substance of it the same Divine Faith and Love and are all equally united unto their Head yet in the Profession which they make of the conceptions and perswasions of their minds about the things revealed in the Scripture there are and always have been many Differences among them Neither is it morally possible it should be otherwise whilst in their Judgment and Profession they are left unto the Ability of their own Minds and Liberty of their Wills under that great variety of the Means of Light and Truth with other Circumstances whereinto they are disposed by the Holy Wise Providence of God Nor hath the Lord Christ absolutely Promised that it shall be otherwise with them but securing them all by his Spirit in the foundations of eternal Salvation he leaves them in other things to the exercise of mutual Love and forbearance with a charge of Duty after a continual endeavour to grow up unto a perfect Union by the improvement of the blessed Aids and Assistances which he is pleased to afford unto them And those who by ways of Force would drive them into any other Union or Agreement than their own Light and Duty will lead them into do what in them lies to oppose the whole Design of the Lord Christ towards them and his Rule over them In the mean time it is granted that they may fall into Divisions and Schisms and mutual Exasperations among themselves through the Remainders of Darkness in their minds and the Infirmity of the flesh And in such Cases mutual judgings and despisings are apt to ensue and that to the Prejudice and great Disadvantages of that Common faith which they do profess And yet notwithstanding all this such cross intangled wheels are there in the course of our Nature they all of them really value and esteem the things wherein they agree incomparably above those wherein they differ But their valuation of the matter of their Union and Agreement is purely spiritual whereas their Differences are usually influenced by Carnal and Secular Considerations which have for the most part a sensible Impression on the Minds of poor Mortals But so far as their Divisions and Differences are unto them unavoidable the Remedy of farther Evils proceeding from them is plainly and frequently expressed in the Scripture It is Love Meckness forbearance bowels of Compassion with those other Graces of the Spirit wherein our Conformity unto Christ doth consist with a true understanding and due valuation of the Vnity of faith and the common Hope of Believers which are the ways prescribed unto us for the prevention of those Evils which without them our unavoidable Differences will occasion And this excellent way of the Gospel together with a Rejection of evil surmises and a watchfulness over our selves against irregular judging and censuring of others together with a peaceable walking in consent and Unity so far as we have attained is so fully and clearly proposed unto us therein that they must have their Eyes blinded by Prejudices and Carnal Interests or some effectual working of the God of this world on their minds into whose understandings the Light of it doth not shine with uncontroulable Evidence and Conviction That the Sons or Children of this Church of Jerusalem which is above and is the Mother of us all should on the account of their various Apprehensions of some things relating to Religion or the worship of God unavoidably attending their frail and imperfect condition in this world yea or of any Schisms or Divisions ensuing thereon proceeding from Corrupt and not throughly mortified Affections be warranted to hate judge despise or contemn one another much more to strive by external force to coerce punish or destroy them that differ from them is as forreign to the Gospel as that we should believe in Mahomet and not in Jesus Christ. Whatever share therefore we are forced to bare in Differences with or Divisions from the Members of this Church that is any who declare and evidence themselves so to be by a visible and regular Profession of faith and Obedience as it is
since the Reformation to be as sound and healthful a part of the Catholick Church as any in the world For we know no Place nor Nation where the Gospel for so long a season hath been preached with more Diligence Power and Evidence for Conviction nor where it hath obtained a greater Success or Acceptation Those therefore who perish amongst us do not do so for want of Truth and a right belief or Miscarriages in Sacred worship but for their own Personal Infidelity and Disobedience For according to the Rules before laid down we do not judge that there are any such Errors publickly admitted among them nor any such Miscarriages in Sacred Administration as should directly or absolutely hinder their eternal Salvation That they be not any of them through the Ignorance or Negligence of those who take upon them the conduct of their Souls encouraged in a State or way of Sin or deprived of due Advantages to farther their spiritual Good or are lead into Practices in Religion neither acceptable unto God nor tending to their own Edification whereby they may be betrayed into Eternal Ruine is greatly incumbent on themselves to consider Unto this Catholick Church we owe all Christian Love and are obliged to exercise all the Effects of it both towards the whole and every Particular Member as we have Advantage and Occasion And not only so but it is our Duty to live in constant Communion with it This we can no otherwise do but by a Profession of that Faith whereby it becomes the Church of Christ in the notion under Consideration For any failure herein we are not that we know of charged by any Persons of Modesty or Sobriety The Reflections that have been made of late by some on the Doctrines we teach or own do fall as severely on the Generality of the Church of England at least until within a few years last past as they do on us And we shall not need to owne any especial Concernment in them until they are publickly discountenanced by others Such are the Doctrines concerning Gods Eternal Decrees Justification by Faith the Loss of Original Grace and the Corruption of Nature the Nature of Regeneration the Power and Efficacy of Grace in the Conversion of Sinners that we say not of the Trinity and satisfaction of Christ. But we do not think that the Doctrines publickly taught and owned among us ever since the Reformation will receive any great dammage by the impotent assaults of some few especially considering their mannagement of those assaults by tales railing and ralliery to the lasting reproach of the Religion which themselves profess be it what it will Thirdly The Church of Christ or the visible Professors of the Gospel in the world may be considered as they are disposed of by Providence or their own choyce in Particular Churches These at present are of many sorts or are esteemed so to be For whereas the Lord Christ hath instituted sundry solemn Ordinances of Divine Worship to be observed joyntly by his Disciples unto his honour and their edification this could not be done but in such Societies Communities or Assemblies of them to that purpose And as none of them can be duly performed but in and by such Societies so some of them do either express the Union Love and common Hope that is among them or do consist in the means of their preservation Of this latter sort are all the wayes whereby the Power of Christ is acted in the Discipline of the Churches Wherefore we believe that our Lord Jesus Christ as the King Ruler and Lawgiver of his Church hath ordained that all his Disciples all persons belonging unto his Church in the former notions of it should be gathered into distinct Societies and become as Flocks of Sheep in several Folds under the eye of their Great Shepherd and the respective Conducts of those employed under him And this conjunction of Professors in and unto particular Churches for the celebration of the Ordinances of sacred Worship appointed by Christ and the participation of his Institutions for their edification is not a matter of accident or meerly under the disposal of common Providence but is to be an act in them of choice and voluntary obedience unto the commands of Christ. By some this Duty is more expresly attended unto than by others and by some it is totally neglected For neither antecedently nor consequentially unto such their Conjunction do they consider what is their duty unto the Lord Christ therein nor what is most meet for their own edification They go in these things with others according to the custome of the Times and Places wherein they live confounding their Civil and spiritual Relations And these we cannot but judge to walk irregularly through ignorance mistakes or prejudices Neither will they in their least secular concernments behave themselves with so much regardlesness ot negligence For however their Lot previously unto their own choyce may be cast into any place or Society they will make an after-judgment whether it be to their advantage according to the Rules of prudence and by that judgment either abide in their first station or otherwise dispose of themselves But a Liberty of this nature regulated by the Gospel to be exercised in and about the great concernments of mens souls is by many denyed and by most neglected Hence it is come to pass that the Societies of Christians are for the most part meer effects of their Political Distributions by Civil Lawes aiming principally at other ends and purposes It is not denyed but that Civil Distributions of Professors of the Gospel may be subservient unto the ends of Religious Societies and Assemblies But when they are made a means to take off the minds of men from all regard to the Authority of the Lord Christ instituting and appointing such Societies they are of no small disadvantage unto true Church-Communion and Love The Institution of these Churches and the Rules for their disposal and Government throughout the world are the same stable and unalterable And hence there was in the first Churches planted by the Apostles and those who next succeeded them in the care of that work great Peace Vnion and Agreement For they were all gathered and planted alike according unto the Institution of Christ all regulated and ordered by the same common Rule Men had not yet found out those things which were the Causes of Differences in after-Ages and which yet continue so to be Where there was any difference it was for the most part on the account of some noysom foolish Phantastical Opinions vented by Impostors in direct opposition to the Scripture which the generality of Christians did with one consent abhor But on various occasions and by sundry degrees there came to be great variety in the conceptions of men about these Particular Churches appointed for the Seat and Subject of all Gospel Ordinances and wherein they were authoritatively to be administred in the Name of Jesus Christ For
from him Instead hereof some have invented bonds of Ecclesiastical Vnity which may outwardly bind men together in some appearance of order whilst in the mean time they live in envy wrath and malice biting and devouring one another or if there be any thing of Love among them it is that which is meerly natural or carnal and sensual working by a joynt consent in delights and pleasure or at best in Civil things belonging unto their conversation in this world The love that is among such persons in this world is of the world and will perish with the world But it is a far easier thing to satisfie Conscience with a pretence of preserving Church Unity by an acquiescency in some outward Rules and Constitutions wherein mens minds are little concerned than to attend diligently unto the due exercise of this Grace of Love against all Oppositions and Temptations unto the contrary For indeed the exercise of this Love requires a sedulous and painful labour Heb. 6. 10. But yet this is that alone which is the Bond of Perfection unto the Disciples of Christ and without which all other pretences or appearances of Unity are of no value with him Secondly This Love acts it self by forbearance and condescention towards the Infirmities mistakes and faults of others wherein of what singular use it is for the Preservation of Church Peace and Order the Apostle at large declares 1 Cor. 13. Fourthly The Lord Christ by his Kingly Authority hath instituted Orders for Rule and Ordinances for Worship to be observed in all his Churches That they be attended unto and celebrated in a due manner belongs unto the unity which he requires among his Disciples To this end he communicates supplyes of spiritual ability and wisdome or the Gifts of his Spirit unto the Guides and Rulers of his Churches for their administration unto edification And hereon if a submission unto his Authority be accompanyed with a due attendance unto the Rule of the Word no such variety or difference will ensue as shall impeach that Unity which is the Duty of them all to attend unto In these things doth consist that Evangelical Church Vnity which the Gospel recommends unto us and which the Lord Christ prayed for with respect unto all that should believe on his Name One Spirit one Faith one Love one Lord there ought to be in and unto them all In the possession of this Vnity and no other were the first Churches left by the Apostle And had they in succeeding Generations continued according to their Duty in the preservation and liberty of it all those scandalous Divisions which afterwards fell out among them on the account of Pre-eminences Jurisdictions Liturgies Rites Ceremonies violently or fraudulently obtruded on their Communion had been prevented The ways and means whereby this Vnity may be obtained and preserved amongst Christians are evident from the Nature of it For whereas it is Spiritual none other are suited thereunto nor hath the Lord Christ appointed any other but his Spirit and his Word For to this end doth he promise the presence of his Spirit among them that believe unto the consummation of all things And this he doth both as to lead and guide them into all Truth necessary unto the Ends mentioned so to assist and help them in the orderly performances of their Duties in and about them His Word also as the Rule which they are to attend unto he hath committed unto them and other ways and means for the compassing of this end besides the due improvement of spiritual Assistances in a compliance with the holy Rule he hath not designed or appointed This is that Gospel-Vnity which we are to labour after and these are the means whereby we may do so But now through the mistake of the minds of men with the strong influence which carnal and corrupt Interests have upon them we know how it hath been despised and what hath been set up in the room thereof and what have been the means whereby it hath been pursued and promoted We may take an Instance in those of the Church of Rome No sort of Christians in the world as we have already observed do at this day more pretend unto Vnity or more press the necessity of it or more fiercely judge oppose and destroy others for the breach of it which they charge upon them nor more prevail or advantage themselves by the pretence of it than do they But yet notwithstanding all their Pretenâ—es it will not be denied but that the Vnity which they so make their boast of and press upon others is a thing utterly forreign to the Gospel and destructive of that Peace Union and Concord among Christians which it doth require They know how highly Unity is commended in the Scripture how much it is to be prized and valued by all true Believers how acceptable it is to Jesus Christ and how severely they are condemned who break it or despise it These things they press and plead and make their advantage by But when we come to enquire what it is that they intend by Church-Vnity they tell us long Stories of Subjection unto the Pope to the Church in its Dictates and Resolutions without farther examination meerly because they are theirs Now these things are not only of another nature and kind than the Unity and Concord commended unto us by Jesus Christ but perfectly inconsistent with them and destructive of them And as they would impose upon us a corrupt confederacy for their own secular Advantage in the room of the spiritual Unity of the Gospel so it was necessary that they should find out means sutable unto its Accomplishment and Preservation as distant from the means appointed by Christ for the attaining of Gospel-Vnion as their carnal Confederacy is from the thing its self And they have done accordingly For the enforcing men by all wayes of deceit and outward violence unto a compliance with and submission unto their Orders is the great Expedient for the establishment and preservation of their perverse Union that they have fixed on Now that this Fictitious Vnity and corrupt carnal pursuit of it have been the greatest occasion and causes of begetting fomenting and continuing the Divisions that are among Christians in the world hath been indeniably proved by Learned men of all sorts And so it will fall out where-ever any reject the Union of Christs Institutions and substitute in the room thereof an Agreement of their own Invention as his will be utterly lost so they will not be able to retain their own Thus others also not content with those bounds and measures which the Gospel hath fixed unto the Vnity of Christians and Churches will have it to consist almost wholly in an outward Conformity unto certain Rites Orders Ceremonies and Modes of Sacred Administrations which themselves have either invented and found out or do observe and approve Whoever dissents from them in these things must immediately be branded as a
was ordained or for which Pastors and Teacher's are granted unto the Church Eph. 4. 8 9 10 11 12. And the Scripture abounds in the Declaration of what skill and knowledge in the Mystery of the Gospel what Attendance unto the Word and Prayer what Care watchfulness and diligent Labour in the Word and Doctaine are required unto a due discharge of the Ministerial Duty Where it is omitted or neglected where it is carelessly attended unto where those on whom it is incumbent to act more like Hirelings than true Shepherds where they want skill to divide the Word aright or wisdom and knowledge to declare from it the whole Counsel of God or diligence to be urgent continually in the Application of it there the principal end of all Church-Communion is ruined and utterly lost And where it so falls out let any man judge what thoughts they are like to be exercised withal who make Conscience of the performance of their own Duty and understand the necessity of enjoying the Means that Christ hath appointed for their edification And it is certain that such Churches will in vain or at least unjustly expect that Professors of the Gospel should abide in their particular communion when they cannot or do not provide food for their Souls whereby they may live to God Unless all the Members of such Churches are equally asleep in security Divisions among them will in this case ensue Will any Disciple of Christ esteem himself obliged to starve his own Soul for the sake of communion with them who have sinfully destroyed the principal end of all Church-communion Is there any Law of Christ or any Rule of the Gospel or any Duty of Love that require them so to do The sole immediate end of mens joyning in Churches being their own edification and usefulness unto others can they be bound in Conscience alwayes to abide there or in the communion of those Churches where it is not to be attained where the means of it are utterly cast aside This may become such as know not their duty nor care to be instructed in it and are willing to perish in and for the company of others But for them which in such Cases shall provide according to the Rules of the Gospel for themselves and their own safety they may be censured judged and severely treated by them whose Interest and Advantage it is so to do they may be despised by Riotous Persons who sport themselves with their own Deceivings but with the Lord Christ the Judge of all they will be accepted And they do but encrease the dread of their own Account who under pretence of Church-Power and Order would forcibly shut up Christians in such a condition as wherein they are kept short of all the true ends of the Institution of Churches To suppose therefore that every voluntary departure from the constant Communion of such Churches made with a design of joyning unto those where the Word is dispensed with more diligence and Efficacy is a Schisme from the Church of Christ is to suppose that which neither the Scripture nor Reason will give the least Countenance unto And it would better become such Churches to return industriously unto a faithful Discharge of their Duty whereby this occasion of Divisions may be removed out of the way than to attempt their own Justification by the severe prosecution of such as depart from them Thirdly In pursuit of the Doctrine of the Gospel so improved and applyed it is the known and open Duty of Churches in their Guides or Ministers by all means to countenance and promote the Growth of Light Knowledge Godliness strictness and fruitfulness of Conversation in those Members of them in whom they may be found or do appear in an especial manner Such are they to own encourage and make their companions and endeavour that others may become like unto them For unless men in their ordinary and common conversation in their affections and the interest which they have in the Administration of Discipline do uniformly answer the Doctrine of Truth which they preach it cannot be avoided but that it will be matter of offence upto others and of Reproach to themselves Much more will it be so if instead of these things those who Preside in the Churches shall beat their fellow servants and eat and drink with the drunken But by all wayes it is their duty to separate the precious from the vile if they intend to be as the Mouth of the Lord even in their Judgments Affections and Conversations And herein what Wisdome Patience Diligence Love Condescention and Forbearance are required they alone know and they full well know who for any season have in their places conscientiously endeavoured the Discharge of their Duty But whatever be the Labour which is to be undergone therein and the trouble wherewith it is attended it is that which by the appointment of Christ all Ministers of the Gospel are obliged to attend unto They are not by contrary actings to make sad the hearts of them whom God would not have made sad nor to strengthen the hands of them whom God would not have encouraged as they will answer it at their peril The hearts of Church Guides and of those who in an especial manner fear God thriving in Knowledge and Grace under the Dispensation of the Word ought to be knit together in all holy affections that they may together grow up into him who is the Head For where there is the greatest evidence manifestation of the power and presence of Christ in any there ought their Affections to be most intense For as such persons are the Crown the Joy and rejoycing of their Guides and will appear to be so in the Day of the Lord so they do know or may easily do so what Obligations are on them to honour and pay all due respects unto their Teachers how much on all accounts they owe unto them whereby their mutual Love may be confirmed And where there is this Vniformity between the Doctrine of the Gospel as Preached and the Duties of it as practised then are they both beautiful in the eyes of all Believers and effectual unto their proper ends But where things in Churches through their negligence or corruption or that of their Guides are quite otherwise it is easie to conjecture what will ensue thereon If those who are forwardest in Profession who give the greatest evidence that they have received the power of that Religion which is taught and owned among them who have apparently attained a growth in spirituol Light and Knowledge above others shall be so far from being peculiarly cherished and regarded from being loved liked or associated withal as that on the other side they shall be marked observed reproached and it may be on every slight provocation put even to outward trouble whilst men of worldly and prophane Conversations ignorant perhaps riotous and debauched shall be the delight and companions of Church Guides and Rulers it cannot be that
such Churches should long continue in peace nor is that peace wherein they continue much to be valued An Agreement in such wayes and practises is rather to be esteemed a Conspiracy against Christ and Holiness than Church Order or Concord And when men once find themselves hated and it may be Persecuted for no other cause as they believe but because they labour in their Lives and Professions to express the power of that Truth wherein they have been instructed they can hardly avoyd the entertainment of severe thoughts concerning them from whom they had just reason to expect other usage as also to provide for their own more peaceable encouragement and edification Fourthly Hereunto also belongeth the due exercise of Gospel Discipline according to the mind of Christ. It is indeed by some called into question whether there be any Rule or Discipline appointed by Christ to be exercised in his Churches But this doubt must respect such outward forms and modes of the Administration of these things which are supposed but not proved necessary For whether the Lord Christ hath appointed some to Rule and some to be ruled whether he hath prescribed Lawes or Rules whereby the One should govern and the other obey whether he hath determined the Matter Manner and End of this Rule and Government cannot well be called into Controversie by such as profess to believe the Gospel Of what nature or kind these Governours or Rulers are to be what is their Office how they are to be invested therewith and by what Authority how they are to behave themselves in the Administration of the Laws of the Church are things determined by him in the Word And for the Matters about which they are to be conversant it is evidently declared of what nature they are how they are to be mannaged and to what end The Qualifications and Duties of those who are to be admitted into the Church their deportment in it their removal from it are all expressed in the Lawes and Directions given unto the same end In particular it is ordained That those who are unruly or disorderly who walk contrary unto the Rules and wayes of holiness prescribed unto the Church shall be rebuked admonished instructed and if after all means used for their amendment they abide in impenitency that they be ejected out of Communion For the Church as visible is a Society gathered and erected to express and declare the Holiness of Christ and the power of his Grace in his Person and Doctrine And where this is not done no Church is of any advantage unto the interests of his Glory in this World The Preservation therefore of Holiness in them whereof the Discipline mentioned is an effectual means is as necessary and of the same importance with the preservation of their Being The Lord Christ hath also expressly ordained That in case Offences should arise in and among his Churches that in and by them they should be composed according to the Rules of the Word and his own Lawes and in particular that in sinful miscarriages causing offence or scandal there be a regular proceeding according unto an especial Law and Constitution of his for the removal of the offence and recovery of the offendor as also that those who in other cases have fallen by the power of temptation should be restored by a spirit of meekness and not to instance in more Particulars that the whole Flock be continually watched over exhorted warned instructed comforted as the necessities or occasions of the whole or the several Members of it do require Now supposing these and the like Laws Rules and Directions to be given and enjoyned by the Authority of Christ which gives Warranty for their Execution unto men prudent for the ordering of affairs according to their necessary circumstances and Believers of the Gospel doing all things in obedience unto him we judg that a compleat Rule or Government is erected thereby in the Church However we know that the exercise of Discipline in every Church so far as the Laws and Rules of it are expressed in the Scripture and the Ends of it directed unto is as necessary as any Duty enjoyned unto us in the whole course of our Gospel Obedience And where this is neglected it is in vain for any Churches to expect Peace and Vnity in their Communion seeing it self neglecteth the principal means of them It is pleaded that the mixture of those that are wicked and ungodly in the sacred Administrations of the Church doth neither defile the Administrations themselves nor render them unuseful unto those who are rightly interested in them and duly prepared for the participation of them Hence that no Church ought to be forsaken nor its Communion withdrawn from meerly on that account many of old and of late have pleaded Nor do we say that this solely of its self is sufficient to justifie a separation from any Church But when a Church shall tolerate in its Communion not only evil men but their evils and absolutely refuse to use the Discipline of Christ for the Reformation of the One and the taking away of the other there is great danger least the whole Lump be leavened and the edification of particular persons be obstructed beyond what the Lord Christ requires of them to submit unto and to acquiesce in Neither will things have any better success where the Discipline degenerates into an outward forcible Jurisdiction and Power The things of Christ are to be administred with the Spirit of Christ. Such a frame of heart and mind as was in him is required of all that act under him and in his Name Wherefore Charity Pity Compassion Condescention Meekness and Forbearance with those other Graces which were so glorious and conspicuous in him and in all that he did are to bear sway in the minds of them who exercise this Care and Duty for him in the Church To set up such a Form of the Administration of Discipline or to commit the exercise of it unto such persons as whereby or by whom the Lord Christ in his Rule of the Church would be represented as furious captious proud covetous oppressive is not the way to honour him in the world nor to preserve the peace of the Churches And indeed some while they boast of the Imitation of Christ and his Example in opposition to his Grace do in their Lives and Practises make unco the world a Representation of the Devil But an account of this Degeneracy is given so distinctly by Peitro Suave the Author of the History of the Council of Trent lib. 4 ad Ann. 1551. that we think it not unmeet to express it in his own words He saith therefore that Christ having commanded his Apostles to preach the Gospel and administer the Sacraments he left also unto them in the person of all the faithful this principal precept to love one another charging them to make peace between those that dissented and for the last Remedy giving the care thereof to the
as necessary Conditions of Communion in or among the Churches of Christ. We dispute not now about the Lawfulness or Vnlawfulness or things in themselves nor whether they may be observed or no by such as have no conviction of any Sin or Evil in them Neither do we judge or censure them by whom they are observed Our Enquiry is solely about our own Liberty and Duty And what concerneth them is resolved into this one Question as to the Argument in hand Whether such Things or Observances in the Worship of God as are wholly unscriptural may be so made the indispensible Condition of Communion with any particular Church as that they by whom they are so made and imposed on others should be justified in their so doing and that if any Differences Divisions or Schismes do ensue thereon the guilt and blame of them must necessarily fall on those who refuse submission to them or to admit of them as such That the Conditions proposed unto us and imposed on us indispensibly if we intend to enjoy the Communion of this Church are of this nature we shall afterwards prove by an induction of Instances Nor is it of any concernment in this matter what place the things enquired after do hold or are supposed to hold in the Worship of God our present Enquiry is about their warranty to be made conditions of Church-Communion Now we are perswaded that the Lord Christ hath set his Disciples at liberty from accepting of such terms of Communion from any Churches in the world And on the same Grounds we deny that he hath given or granted unto them Authority to constitute such Terms and Conditions of their Communion and indispensibly to impose them upon all that enjoy it according to their several capacities and concerns therein For First The Rule of Communion among the Disciples of Christ in all his Churches is invariably established and fixed by himself His Commission Direction and Command given out unto the first Planters and Founders of them containing an obliging Rule unto all that should succeed them throughout all Generations hath so established the Bounds Limits and Conditions of Church-Communion as that it is not lawful for any to attempt their Removal or Alteration Go ye saith he to them and teach all Nations Baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost teaching them to observe all things whatever I have commanded you and lo I am with you alwayes even unto the end of the world All the Benefits and Blessings all the Comfort and use of Church-Assemblies and Communion depends alone on the promise of the Presence of Christ with them Thence doth all the Authority that may be exercised in them proceed and thence doth the efficacy of what they do unto the edification of the Souls of men arise and flow Now that any one may thus enjoy the Presence of Christ in any Church with the Fruits and Benefits of it no more can be required of him but that through the Preaching of the Gospel and Baptism being made a professed Disciple he do or be ready to do and observe all whatsoever Christ hath commanded This hath he established as the Rule of Communion among his Disciples and Churches in all Generations In all other things which do relate unto the Worship of God he hath set them and left them at liberty which so far as it is a Grant and Priviledge purchased for them they are obliged to make good and maintain We know it will be here replied that among the Commands of Christ it is that we should hear the Church and obey the Guides and Rulers thereof Whatever therefore is appointed by them we are to submit unto and observe even by virtue of the Command of Christ. And indeed it is certainly true that it is the Will and Command of the Lord Jesus that we should both hear the Church and obey the Guides of it But by virtue of this Rule neither the Church nor its Guides can make any thing necessary to the Disciples of Christ as a condition of Communion with them but only what he hath commanded For the Rule here laid down is given unto those Guides or Rulers who are thereby bound up in the Appointments of what the Disciples are to observe unto the Commands of Christ. And were a Command included herein of obeying the Commands or Appointments of Church-Guides and the promise of the Presence of Christ annexed thereunto as he had given them all his own Power and placed them in his Throne so we had been all obliged to follow them whither ever they had carried or led us although it were to Hell it self as some of the Canonists on this Principle have spoken concerning the Pope Here therefore is a Rule of Communion fixed both unto them that are to rule in the Church and them that are to obey And whereas perhaps it may be said that if the Rulers of the Church may appoint nothing in and unto the Communion of the Church but what Christ hath himself commanded then indeed is their Authority little worth yea upon the matter none at all For the Commands of Christ are sufficiently confirmed and fixed by his own Authority and to what end then serves that of the Rulers of the Church We must say that their whole Authority is limited in the Text unto Teaching of men to observe what Christ hath commanded And this they are to do with Authority but under him and in his Name and according to the Rules that he hath given them And those who think not this Power sufficient for them must seek it elsewhere for the Lord Christ will allow no more in his Churches To make this yet more evident we may consider that particular Instance wherein the Primitive Christians had a Trial in the Case as now stated before us And this was in the Matter of Mosaical Ceremonies and Institutions which some would have imposed on them as a condition of their Communion in the Profession of the Gospel In the determination hereof was their Liberty asserted by the Apostles and their Duty declared to abide therein And this was the most specious Pretence of imposing on the Liberty of Christians that ever they were exercised withal For the Observation of these things had countenance given unto it from their Divine Original and the condescending Practice of the Apostles for a good season That other Instances of the like nature should be condemned in the Scripture is impossible seeing none had then endeavoured the Introduction of any of that Nature But a general Rule may be established in the determination of one Case as well as in that of many provided it be not extended beyond what is eminently included in that case Herein therefore was there a Direction given for the Duty and Practise of Churches in following Ages and that in pursuit of the Law and Constitution of the Lord Christ before-mentioned Neither is there any force in
who make that refusal Other groundless Accusations and Charges we value not for this is but Mans Day the Judgment whereof we neither stand nor fall unto Yea we esteem our selves obliged in all peaceableness and sobriety to bear witness against such impositions and unto that Liberty wherewith the Lord Christ hath made his Churches and Disciples free And if once things were come unto that state that men would assign no other Terms of Church Communion than what Christ hath appointed it would quickly appear where the guilt of our Divisions would remain if any such Divisions would yet remain But so long as there is a desire to make the Wills and Wisdomes of some men fallible even as others the Rule and measure of obedidience in spiritual things an end of strife and contention among Christians will be expected in vain And this we say with hearts in some measure sensible and pained to see the Body of Christ torn in pieces by the lusts passions and carnal interests of men Could we contribute any thing to the healing of the Wounds and Ruptures that are amongst Christians provided it may have a consistency with the mind of Christ aud the Duty we owe unto him as indeed nothing else will really contribute any thing thereunto we should with all readiness and faithfulness give up our best endeavours therein And where we can do nothing else we hope we shall bear with Patience those disdainful Reproaches which the Pride of men blown up by a confluence of secular perishing advantages prompts them to pour out upon us for our non-compliance with their Impositions Secondly By the Conformity required of us we must consent unto the Omission of sundry Duties which are made so unto us by the Command and Appointment of Jesus Christ. If we are at any time hindred in the discharge of any necessary Duty by others we have somwhat to plead in our own excuse But if we our selves voluntarily consent to the neglect or omission of them we cannot avoyd the guilt of sin And the worst way whereby such a consent may be expressed is by compact and agreement with others as though it were in our Power to bargain with other men what Duties we will observe aâ—d what we will omit in the Worship of God Now in the Conformity required of us we are to give this consent and that as it were by Compact and Agreement which deprives us of all pretence of excuse in our omissions It is no time afterward to plead that we would discharge such Duties were we not hindred or forbidden We have our selves antecedently and voluntarily renounced a concern in such forbidden Duties For no man can honestly conform but it is with a declared Resolution to accept of all the Terms and Consequents of it with an Approbation of them Under this Notion it is that we look on Conformity and what others apprehend thereby or understand therein who seem to press men to conform unto what they do not approve we know not If then there be any omission of known Duties inseparably accompanying our Conformity that thereby we solemnly consent unto This therefore we are obliged to refuse because without sin in the voluntary neglect and omission of Duty we cannot comply with it which therefore can be no Schism in us nor what might in any way render us blameable The Lord Christ hath prescribed no such Law of Vnity and Peace unto his Churches as that his Disciples should be bound constantly to neglect any known Duty which they owe to himself for their sakes Nor do his Institutions interfere that the observance of any one should exclude a due attendance unto another Neither doth he by his commands bring any one into a necessity of doing that which is evil or of omitting any thing that is required of him in the way of Duty However therefore we value Church-Peace and Union we dare not purchase it by an Abrenunciation of any Duty we owe to Jesus Christ nor would an Agreement procured on such Terms be of any use unto us or of advantage to the Church its self Wherefore that complyance in Church communion which would be obstructive of any necessary Dutyes is not by the Lord Christ enjoyned us and therefore its omission cannot be culpable in us but it would its self be our sin Especially would it be thus where the Duties so to be omitted are such as are incumbent on us by virtue of especial Office wherein we are peculiarly required to be faithful It remaineth therefore only that we declare wherein we should by conformity engage unto the omission of such Duties as are indispensibly required of us And this we shall do in some few Instances 1 Every Minister of the Gospel hath by the Appointment of Jesus Christ the whole immediate Care of the Flock whereof he is Overseer committed unto him That no part hereof which belongs unto their Edification is exempted from him the Charge that is given unto him and the Account which will be expected from him do sufficiently evidence For as Ministers are called Overseers Rulers Guides Pastors and the like so are they commanded to feed the Flock to take the Oversight of it and to Rule the House of God a discharge of all which must come into their Account Nor is there any word spoken in the whole Scripture relating to the Rule and Government of the Church which is not spoken principally with respect unto them Nor is there the least Intimation of an Exemption of any Part of the Discipline of the Gospel from their Office or Care If it be pretended that there is let the Places be produced wherein such an Exemption is made or any Instances of it among the first Churches and they shall be considered for hitherto no such thing hath been attempted that we know of Nor is it at all concluded from the Plea that some are appointed unto a Superior Degree above others in the Rule of the Church For a man may have the whole Rule of his Flock committed unto him although he should be obliged to give an Account unto others of his Discharge thereof It is therefore the Duty of all Ministers of the Gospel not only to to Teach Instruct and Preach to their Flocks but to go before them also in Rule and Government and in the Exercise of the Spiritual Discipline appointed in the Gospel in the Order wherein it is appointed for their Edification The keys of the Kingdome of Heaven are committed unto them or they are not If they are not by what Authority do they take upon them to open and shut in the House of God in Ministerial teaching and authoritative Administration of sacred Ordinances For these things belong unto the Authority which is given by Christ under the Metaphorical Expression of the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven the Reason of the Allusion and its Application being obvious And if these are not received by any they are Usurpers if they
made for them and allows unto them in due season so also to keep off those from partaking in them who without his Masters Order and Warrant would intrude themselves into his Family and unjustly possess themselves of the Priviledges of it In these things doth the Faithfulness of a Steward consist And the same is required in Ministers of the Gospel with respect unto the Houshold of their Lord and Master and the Provision that he hath made for it These therefore being undeniably parts of of the duty of faithful Pastors or Ministers it is evident how many of them we must solemnly renounce a concernment in upon a compliance with the conformity in matter and manner required of us Neither are these Duties such as are of light importance or such as may be omitted without any detriment unto the Souls of men The Glory of Christ the Honour of the Gospel the Purity of the Church and its Edification are greatly concerned in them And they in whose minds a neglect of these things is countenanced by their attendance unto some outward Forms and Appearances of Order have scarcely considered him aright with whom they have to do Some therefore of these Duties we shall instance in First It is the Duty of all faithful Ministers of the Gospel to consider aright who are so admitted into the Church as to obtain a Right thereby unto a Participation of all its Holy Ordinances Take care they must that none who have that Right granted them by the Law of Christ be discouraged or excluded nor any altogether unworthy admitted And hereunto as it is generally acknowledged a credible Profession of Repentance Faith and Obedience that is of those which are sincere and saving is required To neglect an Enquiry after these things in those that are to be admitted unto the Table of the Lord is to prostitute the Holy Ordinances of the Gospel unto contempt and abuse and to run cross to the constant practice of the Church in all Ages even under its greatest degeneracy And the Right Discharge of this Duty if we may be allowed to be in earnest in spiritual things if it be believed that it is internal Grace and Holiness for the sake whereof all outward Administrations are instituted and celebrated is of great weight and importance to the Souls of men For on the part of persons to be admitted if they are openly and visibly unworthy what do we thereby but what lies in us to destroy their Souls It cannot be but that their hardning and impenitency in sin will be hazarded thereby For whereas they have granted unto them the most Solemn Pledge of the Lord Christ's Acceptance of them and of his Approbation of their state towards God that the Church is authorized to give what reason have they to think that their condition is not secure or to attend unto the Doctrine of the Church â—ressing them to look after a change and relinquishment of it For although the administration of the Sealing Ordinances doth not absolutely set the Approbation of Christ unto every individual person made partaker of them yet it doth absolutely do so to the Profession which they make They witness in the Name of Christ his Approbation of it and therewithal of all persons according to their real Interest in it and answering of it But those who in no considerable Instances do answer this Profession can obtain nothing unto themselves but an occasion of hardning and rendring them secure in a state of Impenitency For tell men whilst you please of the necessity of Conversion to God of Reformation and a holy Life yet if in the course of their Vnholiness you confirm unto them the Love of Christ and give them Pledges of their salvation by him they will not much regard your other Exhortations And thence it is come to pass in the world that the conformity worth that we contend about ten thousand times over which ought to be between the Preaching of the Word the Adninistration of the Sacraments and the Lives of them who are Partakers of them is for the most part lost The Word still declares that without Regeneration without saving Faith Repentance and Obedience none can enter into the Kingdom of God In the Adninistration of the Other Ordinances there is an abatement made of this rigorous determination and men have their salvation assured unto them without a credible profession yea or a pretence of these Qualifications And the Lives of the most who live in the enjoyment of these things seem to declare that they neither believe the one nor much regard the other In the mean time the Church it self as to its Purity and the holiness of its communion is dammaged by the neglect of a careful inspection into this Duty For it cannot be but that Ignorance Worldliness and Prophaneness will spread themselves as a Leprosie over such a Church whence their communion will be of very little use and advantage unto Believers And hereby do Churches which should be the Glory of Christ by their expression of the Purity Holiness and excellency of his Person and Doctrine become the principal Means and Occasions of his Dishonour in the world and he that shall read that Christ loved his Church and gave himself for it that he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word that he might present it unto him self a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish will be much to seek after the Effects of this Design of Christ in his Love and Death if he measure them by what appears in Churches under the power and influence of this neglect Nor do those who plead for the continuance of things in such a state without Reformation sufficiently consider the Representation that the Lord Christ made of himself when he was about to deal with his Churches some of which were overtaken with carelesness and negligence in this matter And yet hath he therein laid down a Rule as to what kind of proceedings Particular Churches are to expect from him in all Generations And it is a matter of no small Amazement that any Churches dare approve and applaud themselves in such a state of impurity and defection as is evidently condemned by him in those primitive patterns Do men think he is changed or that he will approve in them what he judged and condemned in others Or do they suppose he minds these things no more and because he is unseen that he seeth not But we shall all find at length that he is the same yesterday to day and for ever and that as the Judge of all he stands at the door Now this Duty by conformity we renounce a concernment in so as to attend unto it by virtue of Ministerial Authority whence the guilt of all the evil consequents thereof before mentioned must fall on us For it is known that a meer shadow of the work of this
for the preservation of outward Order And whatever Arbitrariness may be supposed in making a judgment upon the Rule of the Word or in the Application of its rule unto the present Case it must abide in some or other And who shall be thought more meet or able to make a right determination thereon than those whose Duty it is and who have the advantage to be acquainted with all Circumstances belonging to the Case proposed Besides there is the Judgment of the Church or the Congregation it self which is greatly to be regarded Even in the Church of England a suspension of any from the Lords Supper is allowed unto the Curate upon the Offence of the Congregation which is a sufficient evidence that a Judgment in this Case is owned to be their due For none can take Offence but upon a Judgment of the Matter at which he is offended nor in this case without a right to determine that some Offences ought to debar Persons from a participation of the holy Ordinances as also what those Offences are This therefore is to be considered as an Aid and Assistance unto Ministers in the discharge of their Duty It is the Church into whose communion persons are to be admitted And although it be no way necessary that determinations in this Case should be always made by Suffrage or a Plurality of Votes in the Body of the Church yet if the Sense or Mind of the Congregation may be known or is so upon the Enquiry that ought to be made unto that purpose that any persons are unmeet for their communion it is not convenient they should be received nor will their Admission in this case be of any advantage to themselves or the Church The Light of Reason and the Fundamental constitutive Principles of all Free Societies such as the Church is ascribe this Liberty unto it and the Primitive Church practised accordingly So also is the judgment and Desire of the Congregation to be considered in the admission of any if they are made known to the Guides of it For it is expected from them they should confirm their Love unto them without dissimulation as Members of the same Body and therefore in their approbation of what is done their Rulers have Light and Encouragement in their own Duty Besides there is appointed and ought to be preserved a communion among Churches themselves By virtue hereof they are not only to make use of mutual Aid Advice and Counsel antecedently unto a actings of Importance but each particular Church is upon just demand to give an account unto other Churches of what they do in the Administration of the Ordinances of the Gospel among them and if in any thing it hath mistaken or miscarried to rectifie them upon their Advice and Judgment And it were easie to manifest how through these Means and Advantages the Edification of the Church and the Liberty of Christians is sufficiently secured in that discharge of Duty which is required in the Pastors of the Churches about the Admission of persons unto a Participation of holy ordinances in them 5. This Duty therefore must either be wholly neglected which will unavoidably tend to the corrupting and debauching of all Churches and in the end unto their Ruine or it must be attended unto by each particular Church under the conduct of their Guides and Rulers or some others must take it upon themselves What hath been the issue of a Supposal that it may be discharged in the latter way is too well known to be insisted on For whilst those who undertake the Exercise of Church-Power are such as do not dispense the Word or preach it unto them towards whom it is to be exercised but are strangers unto their spiritual state and all the Circumstances of it whilst they have no way to act or exercise their presumed Authority but by Citations Processes Informations and Penalties according to the manner of Secular Courts of Judicature in Causes Civil and Criminal and whilst the Administration of it is committed unto men utterly unacquainted with and inconcerned in the Discipline of the Gospel or the preservation of the Church of Christ in Purity and Order and whilst herein many the most or all of them who are so employed have thereby outward Emoluments and Advantages which they do principally regard the due and proper care of the right Order of the Churches unto the Glory of Christ and their own Edification is utterly omitted and lost It is true many think this the only decent useful and expedient way for the Government of the Church and think it wondrous unreasonable that others will not submit thereunto and acquiesce therein But what would they have us do or what is it that they would perswade us unto Is it that this kind of Rule in and over the Church hath Institution given it in the Scripture or countenance from Apostolieal Practice Both they and we know that no pretence of any such Plea can be made Is it that the first Churches after the Apostles or the Primitive Church did find such a kind of Rule to be necessary and therefore erected it among themselves There is nothing more remote from Truth Would they perswade us that as Ministers of the Gospel and such as have or may have the care of particular Churches committed unto us that we have no such concernment in these things but what we may solemnly renounce and leave them wholly to the mannagement of others We are not able to believe them The Charge that is given unto us the Account that will be required of us the nature of the Office we are called unto continually testifie other things unto us Wherefore we dare not voluntarily engage into the neglect or omission of this Duty which Christ requireth at our hands and of whose neglect we see so many sad Consequents and Effects The Lord Christ we know hath the same Thoughts and makes the same Judgment of his Churches as he did of old when he made a solemn Revelation and Declaration of them And then we find that he charged the Failings Neglects and Miscarriages of the Churches principally upon the Angels or Ministers of them And we would not willingly by our neglect render our selves obnoxious unto his Displeasure nor betray the Churches whereunto we do relate unto his just indignation for their declension from the Purity of his Institutions and the vigour of that Faith and Love which they had professed We should moreover by the Conformity required of us and according to the Terms on which it is proposed engage our selves against the exercise of our Ministerial Office and Power with respect unto them who are already Members of Particular Churches For this we carry along with us that by Conforming we voluntarily consent unto the whole state of Conformity and unto all that we are to do or not to do by the Law thereof Now it is not to be expected that all who are duly initiated or joyned unto any Church
shall always walk blameless according unto the Evangelical Rule of obedience without giving offence unto others The state of the Church is not like to be so blessed in this World that all who belong unto it should be constantly and perpetually inoffensive This indeed is the Duty of all but it will fall out otherwise It did so amongst the Primitive Churches of old and is not therefore otherwise to be expected amongst us on whom the ends of the world are come and who are even pressed with the Decayes and Ruines of it Many Hypocrites may obtain an admission into Church Societies by the strictest Rules that any can proceed upon therein And these after they have known and professed the wayes of Righteousness may and often do turn aside from the holy Commandment delivered unto them and fall again into the Polutions of the world Many good men and really sincere Believers may through the power of Temptations be surprized into faults and sins scandalous to the Gospel and offensive to the whole Congregation whereof they are Members Hath the Lord Christ appointed no Relief in and for his Churches in such Cases no way whereby they may clear themselves from a participation in such impieties or deliver themselves from being looked on as those who give countenance unto them as they who continue in this Communion may and ought to be no Power whereby they may put forth from among them the old Leaven which would otherwise infect the whole no way to discharge themselves and their Societies of such Persons as are impenitent in their Sins No Means for the awakening conviction Humiliation and Recovery of them that have offended no way to declare his Mind and Judgment in such Cases with the Sentence that he denounceth in Heaven against them that are impenitent If he hath done none of these things it is evident that no Churches in this world can possibly be preserved from disorder and Confusion Nor can they by Love and the Fruits of an holy Communiou be kept in such a condition as wherein he can be pleased with them or continue to walk amongst them For let men please themselves whilst they will with the Name of the Church it is no otherwise with them where Persons Obstinately and impenitently wicked and whose Lives are wholly discrepant from the Rule of the Gospel are suffered to abide without controll But if he hath made the Provision enquired after in this Case as it is evident that he hath both the Authority he hath granted unto his Church for these Ends his Commands to exercise it with Care and Watchfulness with the Rules given them to proceed by with the known End of all Instituted Churches for the Promotion of Holiness being all open and plain in the Scripture it must then be enquired unto whom this Trust is firstly committed and of whom these Duties are principally required For Private Members of the Church what is their Duty and the way how they may regularly attend unto the Discharge of it according to the Mind of Christ in case of scandalous Sins and Offences among them they are so plainly and particularly laid down and directed as that setting aside the Difficulties that are cast on the Rule herein by the extreamly forced and unproveable exceptions of some interested Persons that none can be ignorant of what is required of them Mat. 18. v. 15 16 17 18 19 20. And a Liberty to discharge their Duty herein they are bound by the Law of Christ in due Order to provide for If they are abridged hereof and deprived thereby of so great a Means of their own Edification as also of the usefulness required in them towards the Church whereof they are Members it is a spiritual Oppression that they suffer under And where it is voluntarily neglected by them not only the Guilt of their own but of other Mens sins also lies upon them Neither is their own Guilt small herein For suffering sin to abide on a Brother without reproof is a fruit of hatred in the Interpretation of the Law and this hatred is a sin of an heynous Nature in the sense of the Gospel The Duty also of the whole Church in such Cases is no less evidently declared For from such Persons as walk disorderly and refuse to reform on due Admonition they are to withdraw and to put from amongst them such obstinate Offenders as also previously thereunto to watch diligently least any root of bitterness spring up among them whereby they might be defiled And hereunto also are subservient all the Commands that are given them to exhort and admonish one another that the whole Church may be preserved in Purity Order Holiness and Faithfulness But the chief enquiry is with whom rests the Principal Care and Power according to the Mind of Christ to see the Discipline of the Church in Particular Congregations exercised and to exercise it accordingly If this should be found to be in the Ministers and through their neglect in the Administration of it Offenders be left in their sins and Impenitency without a due Application of the means for their Healing and Recovery if the Church its self come to be corrupted thereby and to fall under the Displeasure of Jesus Christ as these things in one Degree or other more or less will ensue on that neglect it will not turn unto their Comfortable Account at the great Day That this is their Duty that this Authority and Inspection is committed unto them the Reasons before insisted on in the Case of Admission do undeniably evince And if those Ministers who do Conscientiously attend unto the Discharge of their Ministerial Office towards particular Flocks would but examine their own hearts by the Light of open and plain Scripture Testimonies with the Nature of their Office and of the work they are ingaged in there would need little arguing to convince them of what Trust is committed unto them or what is required from them If the Consciences of others are not concerned in these things if they have no Light into the Duty which seems to be incumbent on them their Principles and Practices or as we think mistakes and neglects can be no Rule unto us What we may be forbidden what we may be hindred in is of another Consideration But for us voluntarily to ingage unto the Omission of that Duty which we cannot but believe that it will be required of us is an Evil which we are every way obliged to avoid There are also sundry Particular Duties relating unto these that are more general which in like manner on the Terms of Communion proposed unto us must be foregone and omitted And where by these means or neglects some of the Principal ways of Exercising Church Communion are cast out of the Church some of the means of the Edification of its Members are wholly lost and sundry Duties incumbent on them are virtually prohibited unto them untill they are utterly grown into