Members of our Lord Jefus Chrift, whether it be to rule in civile Policie, or to ferve in the fpirituall Miniftrie, or els to live in godly Reverence and Subjection, Chap. V. The weekly Affembly of the Minifters, Elders, and Deacons. T O the Intent that the Minifterie of God's Worde may be had in Reverence, and not brought to Contempt through the evil Converfation of fuch as are called thereunto; and alfo that Faultes and Vices may not by long Sufferance growe at length to extreame Inconveniences; it is ordeined, that every Thursday the Minifters and Elders in their Affembly or Confiftorie diligently. examine all fuch Faults and Sufpicions as may be efpied, not only amongst others, but chiefly amongst themselves, left they feeme to be culpable of that which our Saviour Chrift reproved in the Pharifees, who coulde efpie a Mote in another Man's Eye, and could not fee a Beame in their own. And because the Eye ought to be more cleare than the rest of the Bodie, the Minister may not be spotted with anie Vice, to the great Slander of God's Worde, whole Meflage he beareth: Therefore it is to be understood, that there be certaine Faults, which if they be deprehended in a Minister, he ought to be depofed, as Herefie, Papistrie, a 2 e Matth. Chap. V. Rom. 2. 19--24. Ezek. 36. 22, 23. Ifa. 52. 5. Papiftrie, Schifme, Blafphemie, Perjurie, Fornication, Theft, Drunkenneffe, Uurie, Fighting, unlawfull Games, with fuch like, Others are more tolerable, if fo be that after brotherly Admonitions he amend his Fault, as ftrange and unprofitable Fashion in preaching the Scriptures, Curiofitie in fecking vain Questions, Negligence, as well in his Sermons, and in studying the Scriptures, as in all other Things concerning his Vocation, Scurrilitie, Flattering, Lying, Backe-biting, wanton Words, Deceit, Coveloufnelle, Taunting, Diffolation in Apparel, Gefture, and other his Doings, which Vices, as they be odious in all Men, so in him, that ought to be as an Example to others of Perfection, in no wile are to be fuffered, especially if fo be that according to God's Rule he being brotherly advertifed, acknowledge not his Fault and amend, Chap. VI. Interpretation of the Scriptures. heare fome Place of the Scriptures orderly expounded; at the which Time it is lawfull for every Man to fpeake or inquire as God fhall move his Heart, and the Text minister Occafion, fo it be without Pertinacitie or Dildaine, as one that rather feeketh to profite, than to contend. And if fo be any Contention rife, then fuch as The Book of Common Order. 413 are appointed Moderators, either fatisfie the Par ty, or else if he feeme to cavill, exhort him to keepe Silence, referring the Judgment thereof to the Minifters and Elders, to be determined in their Affemblie before mentioned. Chap. VII. The Order of the Ecclefiaftical Dif cipline. A ceffity of S no Citie,Towne, Houfe or Fami- The Nely an maintaine their Eftate, and Difcipline porfper without Policy and Governance, even fo the Church of God, which requimore purely to be governed, than any Citie or Family, cannot without fpirituall Policy and Ecclefiaftical Difcipline continue, increase and flourish; and as the Word of God is the Life and Soule of this Church, fo this godly Order and Difcipline is as it were Sinews in the Body, which knit and joine the Members together with decent Order and Comelineffe,it is a Bridle to stay the wicked from their Mischiefs, it is a Spurre to pricke forward fuch as be flow and negligent; yea, and for all Men, it is the Father's Rod, ever in a Readinefs to chastife gently the Faults committed, and to caufe them afterward to live in more godly Feare Chap. VII. Eph. s. What Dif- Feare and Reverence. Finally. It is an cipline is. Order left by God unto his Church, For what I whereby Men learne to frame their Willes and Doings, according to the Law of God, by inftructing and admonifhing one another, yea, and by correcting and punishing all obftinate Rebelles and Contemners of the fame. ought to be. used. There are Three Caufes chiefely which move the Church of God to the executing of Difcipline, First. That Men of evil Converfation be not numbred among God's Children, to their Father's Reproach, as if the Church of God were a Sanctuary for naughty and vile Perfons. The Second Refpect is that the Good be not infected with companying with the Evil, which Thing Saint Paul forefaw when he commanded the Corinthians to banifh from amongst them the incestuous Adulterers, faying, A little Leaven maketh foure the whole Lumpe of Dowe. The Third Caufe is, that a Man thus cor. rected, or excommunicated, might be afhamed of his Fault, and fo through Repentance come to Amendment, the which Thing the Apoftle calleth, delivering to Sathan, that his Soule may be faved in the Day of the Lord ", meaning that he might be punished with Excommunication, to the Intent his Soule fhould not perifh for ever. k Eph. 5. 7--11. 1 1 Cor. 5. 6, 7. Gal. $. 9. Cor. 5. 5. 2 Cor. 2. 6, 7, 8. Firft of Proceed First therefore, it is to be noted, that The Order this Cenfure, Correction or Difcipline,ing in pri is either private or publick; private, as vate Dif if a Man commit either in Maners or cipline. Doctrine against thee, to admonish him brotherly betweene him and thee; if fo be he ftubburnely refift thy charitable Advertisements, or elfe by Continuance in his Fault, declareth that he amendeth not, then after he hath been the Second Time warned, in Prefence of Two or Three Witneffes, and continueth obstinatelie in his Error, he ought, as our Saviour Chrift commandeth, to be dif-Publique Difcipline clofed and uttered to the Church, so that according to publike Difcipline, he either may be received through Repentance, or els be punished, as his Fault requireth". : to be obfer And here, as touching private Difci- what pline,three Thinges are to be noted,Firft. Thinges are That our Admonitions proceede of a godly Zeale and Confcience, rather feek- vate Dilci ing to winne our Brother, than to fclander Pline. him Next, that we be affured that his Fault be reproveable by God's Word: And finally, that we ufe fuch Modestie and Wifedome, that if we lomewhat doubt of the Matter, whereof we admonifh him, yet with godly Exhortations he may be brought to the Knowledge of his Fault, or if the Fault appertaine to many "Matth. 18. 15, 16, 17. Luke 17.3. Jame 5. 16, 19, 20. Lev. 19. 17. 2 Theff. 3. 6. |