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scripture_n	apostle_n	call_v	spirit_n	2,556	5	4.9072	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A96941	A modell of the government of the church under the gospel, by presbyters, proved out of the holy scriptures, to be that one, onely uniform government of the universall visible church, and of all nationall, provinciall, classicall and congregationall churches: which is according to the will and appointment of Jesus Christ. Which may serve to stay such as are doubting, with hope of full satisfaction, and clear demonstration of this truth, shortly to be made by the reverend Assembly of Divines. / Composed by a Presbyterian minister of the city of London, and approved by divers of his learned brethren, and at their request published.	Walker, George, 1581?-1651.	1646 (1646)	Wing W362; Thomason E342_3; ESTC R200927	24,926	36

of Antioch Act. 13. 1. the Church of Corinth 1 Cor. 1. 2. and of Thessalonica 1 Thess. 1. 1. and the Churches of Galatia Gal. 1. 2. yea and the particular Congregation in the house of Aquila and Priscilla Rom. 16 15. and 1 Cor. 16. 19. and in the house of Nymphas Coloss. 4. 15. and of Philemon vers. 2. are every one called the Church as well as the universall body is called the Church Math. 16. 18. Ephes. 1. 22. Coloss. 1. 24. and 1 Tim. 3. 15. 9. The principall parts of this Government of Christ which allwayes ought to go together and are inseparable in every well ordered and constituted Church are two First Doctrine which the Apostle calls {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Secondly Discipline which he calls {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} 2 Tim. 3. 16. which our Saviour in allusion to other Scriptures calls the keyes of the Kingdome of heaven Math. 16. 19. For as keyes do open and shut the doore of an house so do both Doctrine and Discipline open and shut the Kingdome of heaven Christ his true Church They open it to believers and to humble and paenitent persons and shut it against unbelievers and scandalous obstinat sinners who continue in their impenitency after conviction And for this cause our Saviour calls Doctrine and Teaching by expounding that word and law aright the key of knowledge Math. 23. 13. and Discipline he calls the key of David Revel. 3. 7. alluding to the words of the prophet Isa. 22. 22. where the Lord saith that he will lay the key of the house of David upon the shoulder of Eliakim so he shall open and none shall shut and he shall shut and none shall open that is I will commit the Government into his hands as the words before shew to rule the house of Juda as a Father The preachers of the word by convincing Doctrine do wound the wicked and are said to root out to pull and throw down and to destroy Jer. 1. 10. Yea and to torment the world to smite the earth with plagues and to shut heaven Revel. 11. 6 10. And by the converting word of the Gospel and the ministery of reconciliation to heal the broken in heart to open the prisons and to set captives at liberty Isa. 61. 1. And to build and to plant Jer. 1. 10. And to open the right way into the sheepfold Joh. 10. 16. The key of discipline also doth by censures which are according to the infallible Word of God shut out ignorant and scandalous persons from Communion with the children of the Kingdom purgeth out the old leaven and so bindeth the obstinate that they are bound in heaven Matth. 18. 18 1 Cor. 5. 7 13. But by declaring in the name and word of Christ absolution and remission of sins to persons penitent it opens the door of the Kingdom and receives into Christs sheepfold such as are brought back from going astray and loseth such as are bound 2 Cor. 2. 10. The exercise of the power of these two keys consists in divers publike acts done with authority by commission from Christ First the main act of doctrine is preaching the Word as the mouth of God to the people and applying it fitly to all sorts of persons instructing the ignorant discovering to them the corruption of their nature by which they are Children of wrath Eph. 2. 1 2 3. and so humbling them in their own eyes driving them out of themselves drawing them to Christ by the promises of the Gospel wooing them and as Ambassadours for Christ praying them in Christs stead to be reconciled unto God 2 Cor. 5. 20. and espousing them to Christ 2 Cor. 11. 2. And on the other side reproving rebuking and admonishing with authority as messengers of God all sinners and transgressours 2 Tim. 4. 2. Tit. 1. 13. Threatning and denouncing judgements hell and damnation against all that are hard hearted and impenitent as the Apostles did Act. 8. 23. and 13. 10. Rom. 2. 1 2 5. 1 Cor. 6 9. Heb. 20. 26 29. Iam. 5. 1. 2 Pet. 2. 13. Iude vers. 4. 11 14 15. These acts of doctrine private Christians may perform mutually among themselves and according to the measure of grace which God hath destributed to every one they are in brotherly duty and in Christian zeal and charity bound to perform them privately But publike Ministers only called of God and sent to preach can do them with power and authority as Gods mouth and Christs Ambassadours and their word is to be received as the Word of God 1 Thes. 2. 13. and as a message from heaven with fear reverence and trembling Isa. 66. 5. The acts of discipline which are to be performed by Gods Ministers also not as preachers in the pulpit before all the Congregation but as Presbyters in the Consistory are divers First receiving accusations before witnesses 1 Tim. 5. 19. Secondly publike admonition and personall reproof and rebuke of such as are convicted of offence and scandall by two or three witnesses 1 Tim. 5. 20. Tit. 3. 10. Thirdly after admonition condemned and scorned and the authority of the Eldership despised and sleighted these scorners are to be refused and rejected Tit. 3. 10. which cannot be if they be admitted to the holy Communion The Apostle injoins every faithfull Minister to withdraw himself from perverse persons of corrupt mindes 1 Tim. 6. 5. And he commands the brethren in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ that they withdraw themselves from every brother that walketh disorderly 2 Thes. 3. 6. Certainly he is blinde and hath the eye of his reason put out who doth not in these forenamed places see and understand that all scandalous perverse and stubborn persons are by the Commandement of Christ which is Jus divinum to be refused and not admitted into holy Communion which is Excommunicatio minor that is lesser excommunication The fourth act of discipline is the censure of the greater Excommunication which is the utmost censure of a Church member even casting him out of Church communion for his obstinacy in his scandalous sins and refusing to hear and obey the Church After this sentence given against any person he is in our Saviours phrase to be esteemed as an heathen man who is no member of the Church for the present but shut out of Gods Kingdom and in the Apostles phrase he is delivered to Satan and taken captive by the Devil and held in his snare 2 Tim. 2. 26. This censure is according to the will and by the appointment of Jesus Christ Matth. 18. 17. Where he saith of him who will not hear nor obey the Church Let him be to thee as an heathen and as a Publican The Apostle in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ commanded the Elders of the Church of Corinth by this censure and with the power of the Lord Jesus Christ to proceed against the incestuous person to put him away from among them

Let the Elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour Also S. Paul left Titus in Creet and appointed him to ordain Presbyters in every City and such overseers as were fit to rule the Church Tit. 1. 5. Peter and Iohn were Presbyters and called themselves so as they with others governed severall Churches 1. Pet. 5. 1. John 2. 1. and John 3. 1. Wherefore ô London thou that hast chosen the best part rejoice in the Lord thy God who hath made his glory to rise upon thee and his light to shine upon thy grave Senatours thy religious Common-Councell and all thy true hearted Citizens and hath led them into those waies which be in Christ which Saint Paul taught every where and in every Church 1 Cor. 4. 17. For the encouraging of you worthy Citizens in your constancy and for the confirming of them that are weak and wavering I have framed out of the Scriptures this brief discourse concerning that one uniform Church-Government which Christ by his Apostles ordained and appointed to be set up in the whole universall Church and to be observed in all other Churches members of the universall Here you have the Heavenly patern shadowed out in a small compasse of that Government for the establishment whereof in this City and Kingdom you have stood up and appeared openly at severall times If the Lord be pleased to blesse you with courage for his truth and with constancy and perseverance till you obtain your desire which is the desire also of all Orthodox faithfull Ministers in the Land then shall London be called The City of the Lord the Zion of the holy one of Israel And they who despise her and stand up against her to hinder the work of God in her hands shall bow down at the soles of her feet and her enemies shall lick the dust even lick up the dust of her feet for they shall not be ashamed who wait for the Lord Isa. 49. 23. This is the praier of your servant in the work of the Lord and humble suppliant for your prosperity at the throne of grace G. W. A Modell of the Government of the Church under the Gospel by Presbyters proved out of the holy Scriptures to be that one onely uniform Government of the universall visible Church and of all Nationall Provinciall Classicall and Congregationall Churches which is according to the will and appointment of Jesus Christ THe holy Scriptures of the New Testament do speak most plainly of a Church Government and of ruling and rulers which the Lord Jesus Christ hath appointed to be in his Church visible on earth in the times under the Gospel the patern and platform of this Government together with a commission to govern the universall Church in all Nations according to it he gave to his Apostles by word of mouth in the time of his life as the Gospel in divers passages doth testifie and after his passion when he shewed himself alive unto them and was seen of them fourty daies speaking the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God Act. 1. 3. And that the Apostles by word and writing and by their example and practice might infallibly instruct all Churches by them gathered unto him in all Nations and might deliver unto them so as they had received from the mouth of him the supream Lord that one uniform Government He filled them with extraordinary gifts and sent unto them the holy Ghost the Comforter to lead them into all truth Joh. 16. 13. to teach them all things and to bring all things to their remembrance whatsoever he had said unto them Joh. 14. 26. And that Government which they partly by word and writing and partly by their example and practice did prescribe uniformly in all Churches is of divine instution and to it all Orthodox reformed Churches in all the Christian world at this day have submitted themselves acknowledging it to be the onely Government Ecclesiasticall which is Jure divino and by the will and appointment of Jesus Christ And yet in this unstable and wavering age and generation and in this unsetled state and land full of confusion as the giddy-headed multitude which are like clouds without water carried about with every winde of Doctrine and dream of new lights beginning to appear do call into question the saving doctrines of aeternall truth and the chief Articles of the Christian faith firmly beleeved constantly professed and never doubted of by any true Christians So also many of the wisest Statesmen who are esteemed the pillars of the Kingdom and the stay of the State do doubt and make question whether there be any Church Government Jure Divino and by the will and appointment of Jesus Christ What that Government is Who are the Governours And by what rules and laws they ought to govern And how farre and in what things matters and causes power is given to them by Christ to rule and govern in the Church For the answering of all such questions and removing of all such doubts and scruples I will endeavour out of love to the truth and zeal to the honour of Christ and the advancement of his Kingly power in his Church to lay down some sure grounds of Doctrine gathered out of holy Scripture and proved by clear testimonies of Gods spirit speaking in the infallible written word And first I take this as an undeniable principle That whatsoever Christ hath with his own mouth commanded or by his spirit moved his Apostles to teach by writing and word or by example and practice concerning the well ordering and Government of his Church in any place which is as usefull in all places and the reason of it stands firm in all ages and it may be practised profitably by ordinary Pastours Also whatsoever is necessarily presupposed or included in any thing which Christ in the Gospel commandeth or of necessity must follow thereupon is Jure divino and by the will and appointment of Jesus Christ Secondly because the main question which comes to be answered upon which all the rest do depend is Whether there be any proper and particular Church-Government distinct from Civill Government The answer is easy and such as may fully satisfie any reasonable Christian For first in every Nation Kingdom and state wherein Christian Religion is publikely and generally professed all the people are to be considered two waies First as men and members of a civill society or Common Wealth Secondly as Christian men and members of the Church the mysticall body of Christ As they are members of the Common-wealth they are to be ruled by the laws of men which are there in force and do binde them to obedience in temporall things to their Kings and Civill Magistrates and to good order and behaviour among themselves for the peace and safety of humane society and of the civill State And this Government may be among them who are Turks Heathens and nor Christians for it is common to all men of all Nations States

and Kingdoms But as they are Christians and members of the Church Christs mysticall body so they are to be governed by the law of Christ which bindes them to the obedience of him in all things which concern their spirituall estate heavenly life and blessednes and to holy communion among themselves in spirituall things These two States and Governments are so distinct and different that either of them may stand alone without the other There are and have been divers earthly Kingdoms well ordered and wisely governed in all outward temporall things in which Christ hath had no Church neither was Christianity known or professed And again Christ hath had a Church well governed and flourishing in Religion grace and godlines when there was no civill Government King or Civill Magistrate to help or uphold it but all set against it to persecute vex and make havock of it as it was in the daies of Christ and of his Apostles and in divers ages after And yet Christ was the King and the Church was his Kingdom in which he ruled and is called the Kingdom of God Matth. 12. 28. and that Kingdom of heaven Matth. 3. 2. 4. 14. Now a Kingdom is not an Anarchy that is a confused multitude without Government but a Monarchy in which there is one King who is supream Governour And in the Church which is Gods holy hill and spirituall Zion Christ alone is the King Psal. 2. 6. Zech. 9. 9. Joh. 12. 15. and the head and sole ruler Mat. 2. 6. Ephes. 1. 22. and the Government is on his shoulder Isa. 9. 6. He also alone is the Lord and Law-giver Isa. 33. 22. Iam. 4. 12. and his Word is the law and rule of Government Isa. 2. 3. yea the law and rule by which the spirit ruleth Rom. 8. 2. and to which he is limited in moving and working Ioh. 16. 13. 3. But that Church-Government may be more clearly and distinctly understood we are further to distinguish between the supreme power of Government which is onely in the hand of Christ and the delegated power which he hath given to his Ministers to exercise under him a subordinate and minesteriall Government The supreme Government which is in the hand of Christ is Monarchicall For to him alone all power is given in heaven and in earth Math. 28. 18. and he is set at Gods right hand far above all principalitie and power and might and dominion and every name that is named both in this world and in that which is to come And God hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be head over all things to the Church which is his body Ephes. 1. 21. 22. And this power of Government is proper to him and he reserves it to himself But the subordinate and Ministeriall power of Government he gave to his Apostles and to their Successours Mark 16. 15. Joh. 20. 21. where he said As my father hath sent me so send I you Go into all the world and preach the Gospell to every Creature And promised to be with them alwayes to the end of the world Math. 28. 20. And lest any should thinke that this rule and Government of the Church was limited to the Apostles and was to dye and and to expire with them The Scriptures do fully prove and plainly demonstrate that it was also by Gods appointment imparted to others in the Apostles dayes as 1 Cor. 12. 28. where the Apostle writes that God hath set in his Church not onely Apostles Prophets and others of extraordinary gifts but also teachers helps and Governments And Rom. 12. 8. The Church is compared to a naturall body and the severall members thereof having gifts differing according to the grace that is given them are commanded to exercise their gifts and to wait on their severall offices as Prophets on prophesying Ministers on ministering Teachers on teaching and he that ruleth on ruling with diligence And 1 Thess. 5. 12. the brethren are intreated to know them that labour among them and are over them in the Lord and admonish them and to esteem them very highly in love for their works sake and 1 Tim. 5. 17. Let the Elders that rule well saith the Apostle be counted worthy of double honour especially they that labour in the word and doctrine and Heb. 13. 7. He inioynes the brethren to remember them that have the rule over them and vers. 17. to obey them and submit themselves because they watch for their soules as they that must give account and vers. 24. he saith Salute them that have the rule over you All which Scriptures and many others wherein severall acts of Government are commanded to be done by Pastours and overseers of the Church other acts of discipline commended when they were done and the neglect of them blamed do prove a Ministeriall Government in the hand of Church rulers Jure divino and by the appointment of Christ 4. The subordinate and Ministeriall Government which Christ hath set up in his Church is not Monarchical as that supreme Government is which he reserves to himself Neither is it Civil left to Civil Magistrates who judge and rule over men in Civil states and societies and about temporal and worldly affaires of this life such judging and dividing our Saviour disclaymed Luke 12. 14. saying Who made me a judge or a divider over you when a man requested him to speak to his brother to divide the inheritance with him And he told Pilat that his kingdom was not of this world John 18. 36. They who rule under him in his Church must meddle onely with spiritual things which concerne mens spiritual estates and eternal life and the salvation of their soules And they are all equal in title honour and office even Elders stewards and dispensers of holy things There is no one cheif Lord above the rest in the whole Church on earth or in any part thereof whether National Provinciall or Classical Church But of the Apostles who were the chief Pastours and rulers in his Church he said Whosoever will be great among you let him be your minister Math. 20. 26. and Luk. 22. 26 And as Peter received this lesson from his Lord so he gave charge to all Presbyters of the Church fellows in the Presbytery with himself that they must take the oversight of the flock and not be as Lords over Gods inheritance but as ensamples to the flock 1 Pet. 5. 3. The authority and title of Lords our Saviour will have left to the Kings and Rulers of states and Kingdoms on earth Luk. 22. 25. 5. The Government of the Church which is Ecclesiasticall our Saviour gave in common to all his Apostles who were the Pastours of the Church universall and the first teachers of all Nations who had a charge and Commission from Christ to gather and build up Churches in all the world and to teach and instruct all people to observe all things whatsoever he had commanded them as we see

preaching of the same word and doctrine which they wrote and preached Thirdly Although the Pastours and Teachers which succeed the Apostles are unable to work miracles and to write infallible Scriptures and give unchangeable rules to all Churches as the Apostles did because they have not such extraordinary gifts and calling Yet in things which are in the power of ordinary Presbyters and Pastours as meeting many together in Synods and Presbyteriall Assemblies to decide and determine controversies according to the Scriptures it is a thing as easy and ordinary for them wherein to imitate them as for many Lords and Commons to meet in a Parliament to remove grievances in the Common-wealth And certainly so farre as God makes us able we are bound to follow their practice and examples Fourthly The more extraordinary gifts that the Apostles had the lesse need they had to meet in Synods and Assemblies either all or divers of them together Paul and Barnabas had an infallible spirit and did dispute against the errour at Antioch and condemned it by as infallible a sentence as the Apostles did at Jerusalem And yet for a paterne to all succeeding Churches and to make the judgement and determination of more authority in all Churches of beleeving Jews and Gentiles and to shew the unity of spirit and uniformity of doctrine and discipline among them all an appeal was made to a generall Synod of all the Apostles and Elders at Jerusalem And therefore the necessary use and reason of such Synods and Classicall Presbyteries being still the same in all ages And ordinary Ministers of Christ having more need of common help and assistance because many eies see more then one and many heads consulting together will better search out the truth and true sense of Scripture in doubtfull matters and of great concernment The objection doth make more for the confirmation of the doctrine to wit that the practice and examples of the Apostles in the manner of governing the Church is of divine authority and ought to be esteemed the will and appointment of Christ 7. Now out of these points plainly proved by cleer texts of holy Scripture We may easily raise a perfect definition or description of that Government partly Ecclesiasticall which Christ as King of his Church hath set up therein namely this That it is the exercise of power and authority in matters spirituall which concern the salvation of souls given by Christ to the Pastours and Elders of his Church for the gathering building up and well ordering of it and for the perfecting of the Saints the members thereof For the confirmation of this definition in every part and member of it we have expresse words of holy Scripture First the Commission which Christ the supream Lord gave to his Apostles and to their successours in all ages to the end of the world was not only by preaching the Gospel to make men Disciples but also to open the kingdom of Heaven and by Baptisme to admit beleevers and Disciples into it and to teach them to observe all things whatsoever he had commanded them Matth. 28. 19 20. But to shut out unbeleevers as being under damnation and in the kingdom of Satan Mark 16. 16. And that by this Commission not only power and authority was given them to propound the word by way of doctrine but also to use the rod of discipline and to correct and censure all such as were offenders untractable and puffed up the Apostle Paul sheweth 1 Cor. 4. 20 21. Where he saith that when he cometh to Corinth he will know not the speech of them that are puffed up but the power For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power even to use the rod of correction and sharp censure as the next words shew viz. What will you Shall I come to you with a rod or in love and in the spirit of meeknes And what this rod is the next chapter immediatly declares in which he gives them a charge In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to excommunicate in their solemne Assembly the incestuous person And 2 Cor. 10. 8. and Chap. 13. 10. He doth plainly affirm that to him and his fellow-Ministers the Lord hath given power and authority even to use sharpnesse Secondly That this power is not carnall nor exercised about worldly matters but is spirituall and mighty through God exercised in pulling down the strong holds of sin and Satan casting down imaginations and every high thing which exalteth it self against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ The Apostle affirms 2 Cor. 10. 4 5. Thirdly This power and authority is given to be exercised for edification not for destruction as the Apostle teacheth 2 Cor. 10. 8. 13. 10. even for the perfecting of the Saints and for the edifying of the body of Christ Ephes. 4. 12. Fourthly The exercise of this power and authority is uniform and the waies of it the same in all Churches No supreme Magistrate hath power to alter it it is not to be usurped nor contended for by any to whom God hath not given abilities nor called thereunto It belongs to the Pastours and Teachers who have a calling to expound publikely the Word and law of Christ and to their assisting Elders who are fit to judge accordingly For such the Apostles appointed to be their successours and not civill Magistrates which were not known in the Church till many years after the days of the Apostles And to the Apostles and their successours the Lord Christ gave this power to rule his Church and it continued in their hands in all the Apostolicall Churches The same waies which the great Apostle of the Gentiles observed himself he taught in every Church every where 1 Cor. 4 17. and so he ordained in all Churches 1 Cor. 7. 17. And when any swerved from the institution of Christ in the use of the ordinances and contended for forms and fashions differing from the common rule and custom The Apostle reproved and blamed them as appears 1 Cor. 11. 16 17. The Pastours Elders and Teachers who labour in the Word and Doctrine and watch for the souls of the people and by the holy Ghost are made overseers over the flock are the Governours and rule over them in the Lord and they ought to submit themselves to be ruled and guided by them as being the stewards of Gods house his Church and dispensers of the mysteries of Christ as these places following do shew Act. 20. 28. Take heed to your selves and to all the flock over the which the holy Ghost hath made you overseers to feed the Church of God And 1 Cor. 4. 1. Let a man so account of us as of the Ministers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God And 1 Thes. 5. 12. We beseech you brethren to know them that labour among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you And to esteem them very highly in love