they remain such, partake of these holy mysteries p, or be admitted thereunto q. T CHAP. XXX. Of Church Cenfures. HE Lord Jesus, as King and Head of his church, hath therein appointed a government in the hand of churchofficers, diftinct from the civil magistrate a. VIII. p 1 Cor. xi. 27, 28. (See in letter 1.) v. 29. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not difcerning the Lord's body. 2 Cor. vi. 14. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath unrighteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? v. 15. And what concord hath Chrift with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? v. 16. What agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath faid, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. q1 Cor. v. 6. Your glorying is not good: Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? v. 7. Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our paflover is facificed for us. v. 13. But them that are without, God judgeth, therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked perfon. 2 Thef. iii. 6. Now we com. mand you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourfselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. v. 14. And if any, IL To man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. v. 15. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a a brother. Mat. vii. 6. Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rent you. I. a Ifa. ix. 6. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. v. 7. Of the increase of his government and peace, there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with ju-. stice, from henceforth even for ever : the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. I Tim. v. 17. Let the elders that rule well, be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine, 1 Theff. v. 12. And we beseech you, brethren, to know them who labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you. Acts xx. 17. And from Miletus e sent to Ephefus, and called the elders of the church. v. 18. And when they were come to him, he 11. To these officers the keys of the kingdom of heaven are committed, by virtue whereof they have power respectively to retain and remit sins, to shut that kingdom against the impenitent, both by the word and censures; and to open it unto pemitent finners, by the ministry of the gospel, and by absolution from censures as occasion shall require b. III. Church cenfures are necessary for the reclaiming and gaining of offending brethren, for deterring of others from the like offences, for purging out of that leaven which might infect the whole lump, for vindicating the honour of Christ and the holy profeffion of the gofpel, and for preventing the wrath of God, which might justly fall upon the church, if they should suffer his covenant, and the feals thereof, to be profaned by notorious he faid unto them, Ye know from the first day that I came into Afia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons. Heb. xiii. 7. Remember them who have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, confidering the end of their conversation. v. 17. Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves; for they watch for your fouls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. v. 24. Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the faints. They of Italy falute you. 1 Cor. xii. 28. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, fecondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, governments, diverfities of tongues, Mat. xxviii. 18. And Jesus came, and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. v. 19. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Fatlier, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: v. 20. Teaching them to observe all things whatso. ever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. II. b Mat, xvi. 19. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou fhalt bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, shall be loofed in heaven. Mat. xviii. 17. And if he shall neglect to hear them, 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. v. 18. 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 loofed in heaven. John xx. 21. Then said Jesus unto them again, Peace be unto you; as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. v. 22. And when he had faid this, be breathed on them, and faith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghoft. v. 23. Whose soever fins ye remit, they are remitted; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. 2 Cor. ii. 6. Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. v. 7. So that contrariwife, ye ought notorious and obftinate offenders c. rather of the IV. For the better attaining of these ends, the officers of the church are to proceed by admonition, suspension from the facrament of the Lord's supper for a season, and by excommunication from the church, according to the nature of the crime, and demerit of the perfon d. : F CHAP. XXXI. Of Synods and Councils. OR the better government and further edification church, there ought to be fuch afsemblies as are commonly called synods or councils a. rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch forrow. v. 8. Wherefore I beseech you, that you would confirm your love towards him, III. c (1 Cor. v. ch. throughout.) 1 Tim. v. 20. Them that fin, rebuke before all, that others also may fear. Mat, vii. 6. Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rent you. 1 Tim. i. 20. Of whom is Hymeneus and Alexander, whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blafpheme. (1 Cor. xi. 27. to the end.) With Jude 23. And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire: hating even the garments spotted by the flesh. IV. 1 d Theff. v. 12. And we befeech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you. 2. Theff. iii. 6. Now we com mand you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Chrift, that ye with draw yourselves from every brother that walketh diforderly, and not II. As after the tradition which he received of us. v. 14. And if any man obey not our word by this, epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. v. 15. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. 1 Cor. v. 4. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye аге gathered together, and my fpirit, with the power of the Lord, Jesus Christ, v. 5. To deliver fuch an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. v. 13. But them that are without, God judgeth, Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked per. fon. Mat. xviii. 17. And if he shall neglect to hear them, 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. Tit. iii. 10. A man that is an beretic, after the first and fecond admonition, reject.. 1. a Als xv, 2. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small difsention and difputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should 1 11. As magistrates may lawfully call a synod of ministers and other fit perfons, to confult and advise with about matters of III, It belongeth to fynods and councils, minifterially to de- p. 110 of i i 1 should go up to Jerufalem unto the ter. II. b Ifa. xlix. 23. And kings shall when he had gathered all the chief c Aas xv. 2, 4. (See in letter a.) V.2. 11. of God appointed thereunto in his word d. IV. All fynods or councils since the apostles times, whether general or particular, may err, and many have erred: therefore they are not to be made the rule of faith or practice, but to be used as an help in both e. V. Synods and councils are to handle or conclude nothing but that which is ecclesiastical: and are not to intermeddle with civil affairs, which concern the commonwealth, unless by way of humble petition, in cases xtraordinary; or by way of advice for fatisfaction of confcience, if they be thereunto required by the civil magistrate f. CHAP. XXXII. Of the State of Men after death, and of the Resurrection of the Dead. T HE bodies of men, after death, return to duft, and fee corruption a; but their fouls (which neither die nor fleep,) III. dActs xv. 15, 19, 24, 27, 28. v. IV. e Eph. ii, 20. And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself hav Acts being the chief cornerstone. V. Luke xii. 13. And one of the company faid unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. v. 14. And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge, or a divider over you? John xviii. 46. Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world, if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. I. a Gen. iii. 17, In the sweat of thy face |