shall wilfully and obstinately transgress in any of these things it is the Right and Duty and in the Power of the Church to remove him from its Society BUT this is not the entire nor the next immediate Ground Reason or Warranty of Ecclesiastical Excommunication For this natural Equity will not extend it self unto cases that are in things Spiritual and Supernatural nor will the actings of the Church thereon reach unto the Consciences of Men for the proper ends of Excommunication Wherefore it was necessary that it should have a peculiar Institution in the Church by the Authority of Jesus Christ. For 1. THE Church is such a Society as no Men have Right or Power either to enter into themselves or to exclude others from but by virtue of the Authority of Christ. No warranty from the Light of nature or from the Laws of Men or their own voluntary confederation can enable any to constitute a Church-Society unless they do all things expresly in obedience unto the Authority of Christ. For his Church is his Kingdom his House which none can constitute or build but himself Wherefore it is necessary that the power of Admission into and Exclusion from the Church do arise from his Grant and Institution Nor is it in the power of any Men in the World to admit into or exclude from this Society but by virtue thereof 2. EXCOMMVNICATION is an act of Authority as we shall see afterwards But no Authority can be exercised in the Church towards any person whatever but by virtue of the Institution of Christ. For the Authority it self however ministerially exercised by others is his alone and he exerts it not but in the ways of his own appointment So in particular the Apostle directs that Excommunication be exerted in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ that is in and by his Authority 1 Cor. 5.4 3. THE Privileges from which Men are excluded by Excommunication are not such as they have any Natural or Civil Right unto as hath been proved but meerly such as are granted unto the Church by Jesus Christ and Men cannot by virtue of any Agreement among themselves without a Warranty from him by his Institution Expel others from the Privileges which are meerly of his Grant and Donation He alone therefore hath given and granted this Power unto the Church namely of Excluding any by the Rules and Ways of his Appointment from the Privileges of his Grant which is the peculiar Power of Excommunication inquired after 4. THERE is such an Efficacy assigned unto Excommunication in binding the Consciences of Men in retaining their Sins in the Destruction or Mortification of the Flesh in the Healing and Recovery of Sinners as nothing but the Authority of a Divine Institution can give unto it By virtue of natural Light and mutual Consent Men may free themselves from the Company and Society of those who will not walk with them according to Rules of Communion agreed upon among them but they cannot reach the Minds and Consciences of others with any of these Effects 5. THAT Excommunication is an express Ordinance of our Lord Jesus Christ in his Churches is fully declared in the Scripture For 1. The power of it is contained in the Authority given by Christ unto the Church under the Name of the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven For the Power expressed therein is not meerly Doctrinal and Declarative as is the preaching of the Gospel the consequent whereof upon the Faith or Unbelief of them that hear it is the Remitting or Retaining of their Sin in Heaven and Earth but it is Disciplinary also as it is appropriated unto the House whose Keys are committed unto the Stewards of it And seeing the design of Christ was to have his Church Holy Vnblamable and without offence in the World that therein he might make a Representation of his own Holiness and the Holiness of his Rule and whereas those of whom it is constituted are liable and subject unto Sins scandalous and offensive reflecting dishonour on himself and the Church in being the occasion of sinning unto others that design would not have been accomplished had he not given this Authority unto his Church to cast out and separate from it self all that do by their Sins so give offence And the neglect of the exercise of this Authority in a due manner was the principal means whereby the Glory Honour and usefulness of the Churches in the World were at length utterly lost 2. It hath a direct Institution Matth. 18.15 16 17 18 19 20. If thy Brother shall Trespass c. tell it unto the Church but if he neglect to hear the Church let him be unto thee as an Heathen Man and a Publican Verily I say unto you whatsoever ye shall bind on Earth shall be bound in Heaven and whatsoever ye shall loose on Earth shall be loosed in Heaven c. After all the Learned and Unlearned Contests that have been about this place the sence of it is plain and obvious unto such as whose Minds are not clouded with prejudices about such Churches and such Excommunications as are utterly foreign unto the Scripture But that by Trespasses in this place Sins against God giving scandal or offence are intended hath been proved before as also that by a Church a particular Christian Congregation is intended This Church hath the cognizance of the scandalous offences of its Members committed unto it when brought before it in the due Order described Hereon it makes a Determination designing in the first place the Recovery of the Person offending from his Sin by his hearing of its Counsel and Advice But in case of Obstinacy it is to remove him from its Communion leaving him in the outward condition of an Heathen and a Publican So is he to be esteemed by them that were offended with his Sin and that because of the Authority of the Church binding him in Heaven and Earth unto the punishment due unto his Sin unless he doth Repent The Rejection of an offending Brother out of the Society of the Church leaving him as unto all the Privileges of the Church in the State of an Heathen declaring him liable unto the Displeasure of Christ and Everlasting Punishment without Repentance is the Excommunication we plead for and the Power of it with its Exercise is plainly here granted by Christ and Ordained in the Church 3. According unto this Institution was the practice of the Apostles whereof we have several Instances I might insist upon the Excommunication of Simon the Magician a baptized professor by Peter who declared him to have neither part or lot in the Church upon the discovery of his wickedness Act. 8.13 20 21 22 23. Yet because it was the single Act of one Apostle and so may be esteemed extraordinary I shall omit it However that fact of the Apostle is sufficiently declarative of what is to be done in the Church in like cases and which if it be not done it cannot be
Suffrage of the people 2. I have shewed instances before out of the Scripture that when a thing is done by the whole people it is usual to ascribe it unto him or them who were chief therein as elsewhere the same thing is ascribed unto the whole people THE same Authors contend that the liberty of choosing their own Officers or Elders such as it was was granted unto them or permitted by way of condescention for a Season and not made use of by virtue of any right in them thereunto But this permission is a meer imagination It was according to the mind of Christ that the Churches should choose their own Elders or it was not If it were not the Apostles would not have permitted it and if it were they ought to ordain it and practise according to it as they did Nor is such a constant Apostolical Practice proposed for the direction of the Church in all Ages to be ascribed unto such an Original as Condescension and Permission Yea it is evident that it arose from the most fundamental principles of the constitution and nature of the Gospel Churches and was only a regular pursuit and practice of them For 1. THE Calling of Bishops Pastors Elders is an Act of the power of the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven But these Keys are originally and properly given unto the whole Church unto the Elders of it only Ministerially and as unto exercise Pastors are eyes to the Church But God and Nature design in the first place sight to the whole Body to the whole Person thereunto it is granted both subjectively and finally but actually it is peculiarly seated in the eye So is it in the grant of Church-Power it is given to the whole Church though to be exercised only by its Elders THAT the grant of the Keys unto Peter was in the Person and as the representative of the whole confessing Church is the known judgment of Austin and a multitude of Divines that follow him So he fully expresseth himself Tractat. 124. in Johan Peter the Apostle bare in a general figure the person of the Church For as unto what belonged unto himself he was by Nature one Man by Grace one Christian and of special more abounding Grace one and the chief Apostle But when it was said unto him I will give unto thee the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven c. he signified the whole Church c. Again the Church which is founded in Christ received from him in the person of Peter the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven which is the power of binding and loosing UNTO whom these Keys are granted they according to their distinct interests in that grant have the Right and Power of Calling their Bishops Pastors or Elders for in the exercise of that Trust and Power it doth consist But this is made unto the whole Church And as there are in a Church already constituted several sorts of persons as some are Elders others are of the people only this Right resideth in them and is acted by them according to their respective capacities as limited by the light of nature and divine institution which is that the Election of them should belong unto the body of the people and their Authoritative Designation or Ordination unto the Elders And when in any place the supream Magistrate is a Member or Part of the Church he hath also his peculiar Right herein THAT the power of the Keys is thus granted originally and fundamentally unto the whole Church is undeniably confirmed by Two Arguments 1. THE Church it self is the Wife the Spouse the Bride the Queen of the Husband and King of the Church Christ Jesus Psal. 45.10 John 3.29 Revel 21.9 Chap. 22.17 Matth. 25.1 5 6. Other Wife Christ hath none nor hath the Church any other Husband Now to whom should the Keys of the House be committed but unto the Bride There is I confess another who claims the Keys to be his own but withal he makes himself the Head and Husband of the Church proclaiming himself not only to be an Adulterer with that Harlot which he calleth the Church but a Tyrant also in that pretending to be her Husband he will not trust her with the Keys of his House which Christ hath done with his Spouse And whereas by the Canon Law every Bishop is the Husband or Spouse of his Diocesan Church for the most part they commit an open Rape upon the people taking them without their consent at least are not chosen by them which yet is essential unto a lawful Marriage And the Bride of Christ comes no otherwise so to be but by the voluntary choice of him to be her Husband FOR the Officers or Rulers of the Church they do belong unto it as hers 1 Cor. 3.21.22 And Stewards in the House 1 Cor. 4.1 the Servants of the Church for Jesus sake 2 Cor. 4.5 IF the Lord Christ have the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven that is of his own House Heb. 3. If the Church it self be the Spouse of Christ the Mother of the Family Psal. 68.13 the Bride the Lambs Wife and if all the Officers of the Church be but Stewards and Servants in the House and unto the Family if the Lord Christ do make a grant of these Keys unto any whereon the disposal of all things in this House and Family doth depend the Question is Whether he hath originally granted them unto his holy Spouse to dispose off according unto her judgment and duty or unto any Servants in the House to dispose of her and all her concernments at their pleasure 2. THE power of the Keys as unto binding and loosing and consequently as unto all other acts thence proceeding is expresly granted unto the whole Church Matth. 18.17 18. If he shall neglect to hear them tell the Church but if he neglect to hear the Church let him be unto thee as an Heathen Man and a Publican verily I say unto you whatsoever ye shall bind on Earth shall be bound in Heaven and whatsoever ye shall loose on Earth shall be loosed in Heaven What Church it is that is here intended we have proved before and that the Church is intrusted with the power of binding and loosing And what is the part of the Body of the people herein the Apostle declares 1 Cor. 5.4 2 Cor. 2.6 SECONDLY This Right exemplified in Apostolical Practice is comprehended in the Commands given unto the Church or Body of the People with respect unto Teachers and Rulers of all sorts for unto them it is in a multitude of places given in charge that they should discern and try false Prophets fly from them try Spirits or such as pretend Spiritual Gifts or Offices reject them who Preach false Doctrine to give testimony unto them that are to be in Office with sundry other things of the like nature which all of them do suppose or cannot be discharged without a Right in them to choose the worthy and reject the unworthy as
as that by virtue of their Office they are to use it unto all its ends in his way and method whereof the Conversion of Sinners is one And for a Man to conceive of himself in a double capacity whilst he is Preaching to the same Congregation is that which no Mans experience can reach unto 2. In occasional Preaching in other places whereunto a Pastor of a Church may be called and directed by Divine Providence For although we have no concernment in the figment of an indelible Character accompanying Sacred Orders yet we do not think that the Pastoral Office is such a thing as a Man must leave behind him every time he goes from home or that it is in his own power or in the power of all Men in the World to devest him of it unless he be dismissed or deposed from it by Christ himself through the Rule of his Word Where-ever a true Minister Preacheth he Preacheth as a Minister for as such the Administration of the Gospel is committed unto him as unto all the ends of it whereof the chief as was said is the Conversion of Souls Yea of such weight is it that the Conveniency and Edification of particular Churches ought to give place unto it When therefore there are great Opportunities and providential Calls for the Preaching of the Gospel unto the Conversion of Souls and the Harvest being great there are not Labourers sufficient for it it is lawful yea it is the Duty of Pastors of particular Churches to leave their constant attendance on their Pastoral Charge in those Churches at least for a Season to apply themselves unto the more publick Preaching of the Word unto the Conversion of the Souls of Men. Nor will any particular Church be unwilling hereunto which understands that even the whole end of particular Churches is but the Edification of the Church Catholick and that their good and advantage is to give place unto that of the Glory of Christ in the whole The good Shepherd will leave the Ninety and Nine Sheep to seek after one that wanders and we may certainly leave a few for a season to seek after a great multitude of wanderers when we are called thereunto by Divine Providence And I could heartily wish that we might have a trial of it at this time THE Ministers who have been most celebrated and that deservedly in the last Ages in this and the neighbour Nations have been such as whose Ministry God made eminently successful unto the Conversion of Souls To affirm that they did not do their work as Ministers and by virtue of their Minsterial Office is to cast away the Crown and destroy the principal glory of the Ministry For my own part if I did not think my self bound to Preach as a Minister and as a Minister Authorized in all places and on all occasions when I am called thereunto I think I should never Preach much more in this World. Nor do I know at all what Rule they walk by who continue publick constant Preaching for many years and yet neither desire nor design to be called unto any Pastoral Office in the Church But I must not here insist on the debate of these things 6. IT belongs unto Men on the account of their Pastoral Office to be ready willing and able to comfort relieve and refresh those that are tempted tossed wearied with fears and grounds of disconsolation in times of trial and desertion The Tongue of the Learned is required in them that they should know how to speak a word in Season unto him that is weary One excellent qualification of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Discharge of his Priestly Office now in Heaven is That he is touched with a sense of our Infirmities and knows how to succour them that are tempted His whole Flock in this World are a company of tempted ones His own Life on the Earth he calls the time of his Temptation And those who have the charge of his Flock under him ought to have a sense of their Infirmities and endeavour in an especial manner to succour them that are tempted But amongst them there are some always that are cast under darkness and disconsolations in a peculiar manner some at the entrance of their Conversion unto God whilst they have a deep sense of the terrour of the Lord the sharpness of Conviction and the uncertainty of their Condition Some are relapsed into Sin or omissions of Duties some under great sore and lasting Afflictions some upon pressing urgent particular Occasions some on Sovereign Divine Desertions some through the buffetings of Satan and the injections of blasphemous Thoughts into their Minds with many other occasions of an alike nature Now the Troubles Disconsolations Dejections and Fears that arise in the Minds of Persons in these Exercises and Temptations are various oftentimes urged and fortified with subtil arguing and fair pretences perplexing the Souls of Men almost to Despair and Death It belongs unto the Office and Duty of Pastors 1. TO be able rightly to understand the various cases that will occurr of this kind from such principles and grounds of Truth and Experience as will bear a just confidence in a prudent Application unto the Relief of them concerned The Tongue of the Learned to know how to speak a Word in Season to him that is weary It will not be done by a collection and determination of cases which yet is useful it its place For hardly shall we meet with two cases of this kind that will exactly be determined by the same Rule all manner of Circumstances giving them variety But a Skill Understanding and Experience in the whole nature of the Work of the Spirit of God on the Souls of Men of the Conflict that is between the Flesh and the Spirit of the Methods and Wiles of Satan of the Wiles of Principalities and Powers or wicked Spirits in high places of the Nature and Effects and Ends of Divine Desertions with Wisdom to make Application out of such Principles of fit Medicines and Remedies unto every Sore and Distemper are required hereunto These things are by some despised by some neglected by some looked after only in stated cases of Conscience in which Work it is known that some have horribly debauched their own Consciences and others to the scandal and ruine of Religion so far as they have prevailed But not to dispute how far such helps as Books written of cases of Conscience may be useful herein which they may be greatly unto those who know how to use them aright the proper ways whereby Pastors and Teachers must obtain this Skill and Understanding is by diligent study of the Scriptures Meditation thereon fervent Prayer Experience of Spiritual Things and Temptations in their own Souls with a prudent observation of the manner of Gods dealing with others and the ways of the opposition made to the Work of his Grace in them Without these things all pretences unto this Ability and Duty of the Pastoral