CHA P. XXX.

Of Church Cenfures..

HE Lord Jefus as King and Head of his Church, hath therein appointed a Government in the Hand of Church Officers, diftinct from the Civil Magiftrate":

good: Know ye not that a little lea- kingdom, to order it, and to cfta

II. To thefe Officers the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven are committed, by. Virtue whereof they have Power respectively to retain and remit Sins; to fhut that Kingdom against the Impenitent, both by the Word and Cenfures; and to open it unto penitent Sinners by the Miniftry of the Gofpel, and by Abfolution from Cenfures,as Occafion fhall require

III. Church Cenfures are neceffary 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 Chrift and the holy Profeffion of the Gofpel, and for preventing the Wrath of God which might juftly fall upon the Church, if they fhould fuffer his Covenant and the

after that miracles, then gifts of an heathen man and a publican. healings, helps,governments,diver- 7. 18. Verily I fay unto you, Whatfities of tongues. Mar. 28. 18. And: foever ye fhall bind on earth, fhall Jefus came, and spake unto them, be bound in heaven: and what fofaying, All power is given unto me ever ye shall loofe on earth, ihall be in heaven and in earth. v. 19. Go loofed in heaven: John 20.21. Then ye therefore and teach all nations, faid Jefus to them again, Peace be baptizing them in the name of the unto you; as my Father hath fent Father, and of the Son, and of the me, even fo fend I you. v. 22. And holy Ghoft: v. 20. Teaching them when he had faid this, he breathed. to obferve all things whatfoever I on them, and faith unto them, Re-. have commandéd you: and lo, I ceive ye the holy Ghost. u. 23. am with you always even. unto the Whofe foever fins ye remit, they are end of the world. Amen. dremitted unto them; and whofe foever fins ye retain, they are retained. 2 Cor. 2. 6. Sufficient to fuch à manis this punishment, which was inflicted of many. v.7.So that contrariwife, ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, left perhaps fuch a one should be fwallowed up with overmuch forrows 8. Wherefore I beseech you, that you would confirm your love towards him. ein nogu br 'hna tompofà cor.

IL Mar. 16. 19. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven and whatfoever thou fhalt bind on earth, fhall be bound in heaven and whatsoever thou shalt loofe on earth,fhall be loofed in heat yen. Mat. 18.17. And if hefhall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: bur'if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as

Seals thereof, to be profaned by notorious and obftinate Offenders.

IV. For the beter attaining of thefe Ends, the Officers of the Church are to proceed by Admonition, Sufpenfion from the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper for a Seafon, 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 farther Edification of the Church, there ought to be fuch Affemblies as are commonly calledSynods or Councils".

II. As

III. 1 Cor. 5. chapter throughout.] our word by this epiftle, note that rTim. 5. 20. Them that fin rebuke man, and have no company with before all,that others alfo may fear. him, that he may be ashamed. v.15. Mat. 7. 6. Give not that which is: Yet count him not as an enemy, but holy unto the dogs, neither caft yel admonish him as a brother. 1. Cor. your pearls before fwine, left they. 5. 4. Inthe name of our Lord Jefus: trample them under their feet, and Chrift, when ye are gathered togeturn again and rent. you. 1 Tim. ther, and my fpirit, with the power 1. 20. Of whom is Hymeneus and Alexander, whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blafpheme. [1 Cor.11.27. to the end.] With Fade 23. And others fave with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garments fpotted by the flesh.

of our Lord Jefus Chrift, v. s. To deliver fuch an one unto Satan for the deftruction of the flesh, that the fpirit may be faved in the day of the Lord Jefus. v. 13. But them that are without, God judgeth. Therefore put away from among your felves that wicked perfon. Mat.18.17. And if he IV. dr Theff. s. 12. And we be- fhall neglect to hear them, tell it unfeech you, brethren, to know them to the church: but if he neglect to which labour among you, and are hear the church,let him be unto thee over youin the Lord, and admonish as an heathen man and a publican. you. 2 Theff. 3. 6. Now we com- Tit. 3. 10. A man that is an heretick, mand you brethren, in the name of after the first and fecond admoniour Lord Jefus Chrift, that ye with- tion, reject. draw your felves from every brother that walketh diforderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us 14. And if any man obey not

I. Acts 15. 2. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small diffenfion and disputation with them,

they

II. As Magiftrates may lawfully call a Synod of Ministers and other fit Persons, to confult and advise with about Matters of Religion: So if Magiftrates be open Enemies to the Church, the Minifters of Christ,of themselves by Virtue of their Office;or they with other fit Perfons, upon Delegation from their Churches, may meet together in fuch Affemblies c.

III. It belongeth to Synods and Councils, minifterially to determine Controverfies of Faith and Cafes of Confcience; to fet down Rules and DireЯtions for the better ordering of the publick Worfhip of God, and Government of his Church; to receive Complaints in Cafes of Mal-administration, and authoritatively to determine the fame: Which

they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, fhould go up to Jerufalem unto the apoftles and elders about this queftion. v.4.And when they were come to Jerufalem, they were received of the church, and of the apoftles and elders; and they declared all things that God had done with them. v. 6. And the apoftles and elders came together for to confider of this

matter.

II. Ifa. 49. 23. And kings fhall be thy nurfing fathers, and their queens thy nurfing mothers: they fhall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet, and thoufhalt know that I am the Lord: for they fhall not be afhamed that wait for me. 1 Tim. 2. 1. I exhort therefore, that first of all, fupplications, pray ers, interceffions, and giving of thanks be made for all men. viz. For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet

De

and peaceable life in all godliness and honefty. [2 Chron. 19. 8. to the end, ] [ 2 Chron. 29. and 3.0. chapters throughout.] Mat. 2.4. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and fcribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Chrift fhould be born. v. 5And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea : for thus it is written by the prophet. Prov. II. 14. Where no counsel i, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellers there is safety.

c. Acts 13. 2. 4. See in letter ".] v. 22. Then pleased it the apoftles and elders, with the whole church,to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch, with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas firnamed Barfabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: 7.23. And wrote letters by them after this manner, The apostles, and elders, and brethren fend greeting unto the brethren which are of theGentiles in Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia. v. 25. It *feemed

Decrees and Determinations, if confonant to the Word of God, are to be received with Reverence and Submiffion; not only for their Agreement with the Word, but also for the Power whereby they are made, as being an Ordinance of God appointed thereunto in his Word ".

IV. All Synods or Councils fince the Apoftles 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 *.

V. Synods and Councils are to handle or conclude nothing but that which is Ecclefiaftical: And are not to intermeddle with Civil Affairs which concern the Common-wealth, unless by way of humble Petition in Cafes extraordinary; or by way of Advice for Satisfaction of Confcience, if they be thereunto required by the Civil Magiftrate

feemed good unto us, being affem bled with one accord, to fend chofen men unto you, with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

III. Acts 15, 15, 19, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31. [ See in the Bible.] Acts 16.4. And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apoftles and elders which were at Jerufalem. Mat. 18. 17. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect fo hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. v. 18. Verily I fay unto you, Whatfoever ye fhall bind on earth, fhall be bound in heaven: and what foever ye hall loofe on earth, fhall be loofed in heaven. v. 19. Again I fay unto you, that if two of you hall agree on earth as touching any thing that they fhall ask, it fhall be done for them of my Father which

CHAP.

is in heaven. v. 20. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

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IV. Eph. 2. 20.And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jefus Chrift himself being the chief corner-stone. Acts 17. 11. These were more noble than thofe in Theffalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and fearched the fcriptures daily, whether thöfe things were fo. 1 Cor. 2. 5. That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, bút in the power of God. 2 Cor. 1. 24, Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

V. f Luke 12. 13. And one of the company faid unto him, Mafter, fpeak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. v. 14. And

he