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A53671 A brief instruction in the worship of God, and discipline of the churches of the New Testament, by way of question and answer with an explication and confirmation of those answers. Owen, John, 1616-1683. 1667 (1667) Wing O721; ESTC R9489 80,905 231

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of the Church expressed which they are not to exceed in any thing Herein are bounds and limits fixed to the actings of the whole Church and of every part and member of it Thirdly This power or authority thus granted and conveyed by Jesus Christ is to be exercised as to the manner of the administration of discipline with skill and diligence Rom. 12.6 1 Cor. 12. and the skill required hereunto is a gift or an ability of mind bestowed by the Holy-Ghost upon men to put in execution the Laws of Christ for the government of the Church in the way and order by him appointed or a spiritual wisdom whereby men know how to behave themselves in the house of God in their several places for its due edification in faith and love 1 Tim. 3.15 And this ability of mind to make a due application of the Laws of the Gospel unto persons times and actions with their circumstances is such a gift of the Holy-Ghost as whereof there are several degrees answering to the distinct duties that are incumbent on the Rulers of the Church on the one hand and Members on the other And where this skill and wisdome is wanting there it is impossible that the Discipline of the Church should be preserved or carryed on Hereunto also diligence and watchfulness are to be added without which ability and power will never obtain their proper end in a due manner Rom. 12.6 7 8. Fourthly The end of this discipline is continuance increase and preservation of the Church according to the rule of its first institution 1 Cor. 5.7 This power hath Christ given his Church for its conservation without which it must necessarily decay and come to nothing Nor is it to be imagined that where any Church is called and gathered according to the mind of Christ that he hath left it destitute of power and authority to preserve it self in that state and order which he hath appointed unto it And that which was one principal cause of the decayes of the Asian Churches was the neglect of this Dicipline the power and priviledge whereof the Lord had left unto them and intrusted them withall for their own preservation in order purity and holiness And therefore for the neglect thereof they were greatly blamed by him Rev. 2.14 15 20. Chap. 3.2 as is also the Church of Corinth by the Apostle 1 Cor. 5.2 as they are commended who attended unto the diligent exercise of it Revel 2.2 Chap. 3.9 The disuse also of it hath been the occasion of all the defilements abominations and confusions that have spread themselves over many Churches in the World Quest. 42. Vnto whom is the power and administration of this Discipline committed by Jesus Christ Answ. As to the authority to be exerted in it in the things wherein the whole Church is concerned unto the Elders as unto tryall judgement and consent in and unto its exercise unto the whole Brotherhood as unto love care and watchfuless in private and particular cases to every member of the Church Matth. 24.45 Ephes. 4.13 14. Acts 20.28 1 Tim. 3.5 Chap. 5.17 Heb. 13.17 1 Pet. 2.3 1 Thes. 5.12 Gal. 6.1 2. 1 Cor. 4.14 1 Cor. 5.2 4 5. 2 Cor. 2.6 7 8. 2 Tim. 4.2 Explication It hath been shewed that this power is granted unto the Church by virtue of the Law and constitution of Christ. Now this Law assigns the means and way whereby any persons do obtain an interest therein and makes the just allotments to all concerned in it What this Law Constitution or Word of Christ assigns unto any as such that they are the first seat and subject of by what way or means soever they come to be intrusted therein Thus that power or authority which is given unto the Elders of the Church doth not first formally reside in the body of the Church unorganized or distinct from them though they are called unto their Office by their suffrage and choice but they are themselves as such the first subject of Office power For so is the Will of the Lord Christ. Nor is the interest of the whole Church in this power of discipline whatever it be given unto it by the Elders but is immediately granted unto it by the will and Law of the Lord Jesus First In this way and manner the Authority above described is given in the first place as such unto the Elders of the Church This Authority was before explained in answer unto the 28th question as also was the way whereby they receive it And it is that power of office whereby they are enabled for the discharge of their whole duty in the teaching and ruling of the Church called the power of the keyes from Mat. 16.19 Which expression being Metaphorical and in general lyable unto many interpretations is to be understood according to the declaration made of it in those particular instances wherein it is expressed Nor is it a two-fold power or Authority that the Elders of the Church have committed unto them one to teach and another to rule commonly called the power of order and of jurisdiction but it is one power of Office the duties whereof are of several kinds referred unto the two general heads first of teaching by preaching the word and celebration of the Sacraments and 2 Of rule or government By virtue hereof are they made Rulers over the house of God Matth. 24.45 Stewards in his house 1 Cor. 4.1 Overseers of the Church Act. 20.28 1 Peter 5.2 Guides unto the Church Heb. 13.7 17. Not that they have a supream or autocratorical power committed unto them to enable them to do what seems right and good in their own eyes seeing they are expresly bound up unto the terms of their Commission Matth. 28.19 20. To teach men to do and observe all and only what Christ hath commanded nor have they by virtue of it any dominion in or over the Church that is the laws rules or priviledges of it or the consciences of the Disciples of Christ to alter change add diminish or bind by their own authority 1 Pet. 5.3 Mark 10.42 43 44. But it is a power meerly ministerial in whose exercise they are unto the Lord Christ accountable servants Heb. 13.17 Matth. 24.45 And Servants of the Church for Jesus sake 2 Cor. 4.5 This authority in the Discipline of the Church they exert and put forth by virtue of their Office and not either as declaring of the power of the Church it self or acting what is delegated unto them thereby but as ministerially exercising the authority of Christ committed unto themselves Secondly The body of the Church or the multitude of the Brethren women being excepted by especial prohibition 1 Cor. 14.34 35. 1 Tim. 2.11 12. Is by the Law and constitution of Christ in the Gospel interested in the administration of this power of discipline in the Church so far as First To consider try and make a judgement in and about all persons things and causes in reference whereunto