him that comes unworthily, and also to the whole church q And there was power and authority, under the old Teftament, to keep unclean perfons from holy things r. The like power and authority, by way of analogy, continues under the New Testament. The ruling officers of a particular congregation have power authoritatively to fufpend from the Lord's table a perfon not yet caft out of the church; First, Because thofe who have authority to judge of, and admit, fuch as are fit to receive the facrament, have authority to keep back fuch as fhall be found unworthy. Secondly, Because it is an ecclefiaftical bufinefs of ordinary practice belonging to that congregation. When congregations are divided and fixed, they need all mutual help one from another, both in regard of their intrinsical weakness and mutual dependence, as also in regard of enemies from without. THE Of Claffical affemblies HE Scripture doth hold out a prefbytery in church s. fuch have ye fought that which wasloft: compared with Jude v 23. And obut with force and with cruelty thers fave with fear, pulling them have ye ruled them. outof the fire; hating even the garment fpotted by the flesh.1 Tim 5. 22. Lay hands fuddenlyon no man neither be partakers of other mens fins. Keep thy felf pure. q Mat. 7. 6.Give not that which is holy unto thedogs, neither caft your pearls before fwine,left, they trample them under their feet,and turn again,and rent you 2 Theff. r Lev. 13. 5.And the priest shall 3.6. Now we command you bre- look on him the feventh day; and thren, in the name of our Lord Je- behold if the plague in his fight be fus Chrift, that ye withdraw your at a stay, and the plague fpread not felvesfromevery brotherthatwalk- in the fkin, then the priest shall eth diforderly, and not after the fhut himup feven days more. Num. tradition which he received of us. g. 7.And those men faid unto him 7. 14. And if any man obey not We are defiled by the dead body of our word by this epifile, note that a man; wherefore are we kept man, and have no company with back, that we may not offer an ofhim,that he may be afhamed.v.15. fering of the Lord in his appointed Yet count him not as an enemy, feafonamong thechildren of Ifrael? butadmonishhim asabrother. 1 Cor. 2Chron 23.19. And he fet the por11. 27. Wherefore whofoever fhall ters at the gates of the houle of the eat this bread, or drink this cup of Lord, that none that was unclean thel ord unworthily, fhallbe guilty in any thing fhould enter in. of the body & blood of the Lord. fi Tim 4. 14. Neglect not the So on to the end of the chapter. gift fuch other public officers as are agreeable to and warranted by the word of God, to be church-governors to join with the ministers in the government of the church t.. :. The fcriptures doth hold forth, that many particular congregations may be under one prefbyterial government. This propofition is proved by inftances; I. First, Of the church of Jerufalem, which confifted of more congregations than one, and all thefe congregations were under one presbyterial government. This appeareth thus: 1. First, The church of Jerufalem confifted of more congregations than one, as is manifeft. Firft. By the multitude of believers mentioned in divers, both before the difperfion of the believers there, by means of the perfecution v.. And alfo after the giftthat is in thee,which was given thee by prophecy,with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery Acts 15. 2. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no fmall diffen tion anddifputationwiththem, they determined that Pual and Barnabas and certain others of them, Thould go up to Jerufalem unto the apoftles & elders about this queltion 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 apostles and elders came together for to confider of this matter. dif fenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great perfecution againftthe church which was at Jerufalem, and they were all fcattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apoftles: Acts. 1:15. And in those days Peter ftood up in the midst of the difciples, & faid (the number of the names together were about an hundred and twenty,)Acts2.41. Thenthey that gladly received his word were baptized; and the fame day there were added unto them a bout three thoufand fouls. v. 46. Andthey continuingdaily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from houfe to houfe did eat t Rom. 12.7.Or miniftry,let us, their meat with gladnefs, & finglewait on our miniftring: or he that nefs of heart,v. 47.Prailing God, teacheth, on teaching: v.8. Or he and having favourwith all the peothat exhorteth,on exhortation: he ple, and the Lord added to the that giveth,let him do it with fim- churchdaily fuch as fhouldbefaved. plicity: he that ruleth, with dili- Acts 4.4. Howbeit, many of them gence he that theweth mercy, with which heard the word, believed, cheerfulness, 1 Cor 12. 28. And and the number of the men was aGod hath fet fome in the church; bout five thousand. Acts 5. 14. firft apostles,fecondarily prophets, And believers werethemore added thirdly teachers,afterthat miracles, unto the Lord, multitudes both of then gifts of healings, helps, go- men and women. Acts 6. 1. And vernments, diverfities of tongues. in thofe days,when the number of v Acts 8. 1. And Saul was con- the difciples was multiplied, there arofe him that comes unworthily, and alfo to the whole church q And there was power and authority, under the old Teftament, to keep unclean perfons from holy things r. The like power and authority, by way of analogy, continues under the New Teftament. The ruling officers of a particular congregation have power authoritatively to fufpend from the Lord's table a perfon not yet caft out of the church; First, Because thofe who have authority to judge of, and admit, fuch as are fit to receive the facrament, have authority to keep back fuch as fhall be found unworthy. Secondly, Because it is an ecclefiaftical bufinefs of ordinary practice belonging to that congregation. When congregations are divided and fixed, they need all mutual help one from another, both in regard of their intrinsical weakness and mutual dependence, as alfo in regard of enemies from without, Of Claffical affemblies THE have ye fought that which wasloft: but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. fuch compared with Jude v 23. And o thers fave with fear, pulling them outof the fire; hating even the garq Mat. 7. 6.Give not that which ment fported by the flesh.1 Tim 5. is holy unto thedogs, neither caft 22 Lay hands fuddenlyon no man your pearls before fwine,left, they neither be partakers of other mens trample them under their feet,and fins. Keep thy felf pure. turn again,and rent you 2 Theff. r Lev. 13. 5.And the prielt fhall 3.6. Now we command you bre- look on him the feventh day; and thren, in the name of our Lord Je- behold if the plague in his fight be fus Chrift, that ye withdraw your at a ftay,and the plague fpread not felvesfromevery brotherthatwalk- in the fkin, then the prieft fhall eth diforderly, and not after the fhut himup feven days more. Num. tradition which he received of us. g. 7.And thofe men faid unto him 7. 14. And if any man obey not We are defiled by the dead body of our word by this epifile, note that a man; wherefore are we kept man, and have no company with back, that we may not offer an ofhim,that he may be ashamed.v.15. fering of the Lord in his appointed Yet count him not as an enemy, feafonamong thechildren of Ifrael? butadmonifhhim asabrother. 1 Cor. 2Chron 23.19. And he fet the por11. 27. Wherefore whofoever shall ters at the gates of the house of the eat this bread, or drink this cup of Lord, that none that was unclean the ord unworthily, fhallbe guilty in any thing fhould enter in. of the body & blood of the Lord. f1 Tim 4. 14. Neglect not the So on to the end of the chapter. gift fuch other public officers as are agreeable to and warranted by the word of God, to be church-governors to join with the ministers in the government of the church t. The fcriptures doth hold forth, that many particular congregations may be under one prefbyterial government. This propofition is proved by inftances; I. First, Of the church of Jerufalem, which confifted of more congregations than one, and all thefe congregations were under one presbyterial government. This appeareth thus: 1. First, The church of Jerufalem confifted of more congregations than one, as is manifeft. Firft. By the multitude of believers mentioned in divers, both before the difperfion of the believers there, by means of the perfecution v.. And alfo after the giftthat is in thee,which was given thee by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery Acts 15. 2. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no fmall diffen tion anddifputation with them, they determined that Pual and Barnabas and certain others of them, Thould go up to Jerufalem unto the apoftles & elders about this queltion 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 apostles and elders came together for to confider of this matter. dif fenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great perfecution againftthe church which was at Jerufalem, and they were all feattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apoftles: Acts. 1:15. And in thofe days Peter ftood up in the midst of the difciples, & faid (the number of the names together were about an hundred and twenty,)Acts2.41. Thenthey that gladly received his word were baptized; and the fame day there were added unto them a bout three thoufand fouls. v. 46. Andthey continuingdaily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from houfe to houfe did eat t Rom. 12.7.Or miniftry,let us, their meat with gladnefs,& finglewait on our miniftring: or he that nefs of heart,v. 47.Prailing God, teacheth, on teaching: v.8. Or he and having favourwith all the peothat exhorteth,on exhortation: he ple, and the Lord added to the that giveth,let him do it with fim- churchdaily fuch as fhouldbefaved. plicity: he that ruleth, with dili- Acts 4.4. Howbeit, many of them gence:he that theweth mercy,with which heard the word, believed, cheerfulness, i Cor 12. 28. And and the number of the men was aGod hath fet fome in the church; bout five thousand. Acts 5. 14. firft apoftles, fecondarily prophets, And believers werethemore added thirdly teachers,afterthat miracles, unto the Lord, multitudes both of then gifts of healings, helps, go- men and women. Acts 6. 1. And vernments, diverfities of tongues. in thofe days,when the number of v Acts 8. 1. And Saul was con- the difciples was multiplied, there arofe difperfion w. Secondly, by the many apostles and other preachers in the church of Jerufalem: And if there were but one congregation there,then each apostle preached but feldom x; which will not confift with Acts vi. 2. Thirdly, The diverfity of languages amongst the believers, mentioned both in the fecond and fixth chapters of the Acts doth argue more congregations than one in that church. 2. Secondly,all thofe congregations were under one prefbyterial government, becaufe, First, they were one church y. Secondly, The elders of the church are mentioned z. Thirdly, The apoftles did the ordinary acts of prefbyters,as pres arofe a murmuring of the Grecians churchdaily fuchas should befaved against the Hebrews.because their compared with Acts 5.11.Andgreat widowswere neglected in the daily fear came upon all the church, & miniftration, v.7. And the word upon as many as heard thefethings of God increafed, and the number Acts1 2.5.Peter therefore was kept of the difciples multiplied in Jeru- in prifon, but prayer was made falem greatly, and a great compa- without ceafing of the church unny of the priests were obedient to to God for him. Acts 15.4 And the faith. when they were come to JerufawActs9.31.Thenhadthechurches lem, they were received of the church, and of the apoftles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them. reft throughout all Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria, and were edified, and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the z Acts 11. 30. Which allo they holy Ghost, were multiplied. Acts did, and fent it to the elders by the 12.24. But the word of God grew hands of Barnabas and Saul. Acts and multiplied. Acts 21. 20. And 15. 4. And when they were come when they heard it, they glorified to Jerufalem, they were received the Lord,& faid unto him, Thou feeft,brother, howmany thoufands of Jews there are which believe, & they are all zealous of the law. x Acts.6.2. Then the twelve called the multitude of the difciples unto them, and faid, It is not reafon that we fhould leave the word of God, and ferve tables. of the church, and of the apoftles and elders, and they declared all thingsthat Godhaddone withthem. v. 6. And the apoftles and elders came together to confider of this matter.v. 22. Then it pleafed the apoftles and elders, with the whole church,to fend chofen men of their ownicompanyto Antioch,with Paul y Acts 8.1. And Saul was con- & Barnabas, namely Judas firnamfenting unto his death. And at that ed Barfabas,and Silas, chief men atime there was a great perfecution mong the brethren. Acts 21. 17. against the church which was at Je- And when we were come to Jerurufalem,& they were all fcattered falem, the brethren received us abroad throughout the regions of gladly, 18. And the day followJudea & Samaria, except the apo- ing, Paul went in with us unto files. Acts 2. 47. Praifing God,and James, and all the elders were having favour with all the people. prefent. And the Lord added unto the a Acts |