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they remain fuch, partake of these holy myfteries p, or be admitted thereunto q.

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CHAP. XXX. Of Church Cenfures.

HE Lord Jefus, as King and Head of his church, hath therein appointed a government in the hand of churchofficers, diftinct from the civil magiftrate 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 unrighteoufnefs with unrighteoufnefs? and what communion hath light with darknefs? 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.

q 1 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 Chrift 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 Theff. iii. 6. Now we com

and you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jefus Chrift, that ye withdraw yourfelves from every brother that walketh diforderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. V. 14. And if any,

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man obey not our word by this e piftle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be afhamed. 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 caft ye your pearls before fwine, left 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 fon is given, and the government fhall be upon his fhoulder: and his name fhall be called, Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlafting Father, the Prince of Peace. v. 7. Of the increafe of his government and peace, there fhall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to eftablifh it with judgment and with ju- . ftice, from henceforth even for ever: the zeal of the Lord of hofts will perform this. 1 Tim. v. 17. Let the elders that rule well, be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine, Theff. v. 12. And we befeech you, brethren, to know them who labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonith you. A&s xx. 17. And from Miletuse fent to Ephefus, and called the ders of the church. v. 18. And when they were come to him,

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11. To thefe officers the keys of the kingdom of heaven are committed, by virtue whereof they have power refpectively to retain and remit fins, to fhut that kingdom against the impenitent, both by the word and cenfures; and to open it unto penitent fianers, by the ministry of the gospel, and by absolution from cenfures as occafion fhall require b.

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 justly fall upon the church, if they should fuffer 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 feafons. Heb. xiii, 7. Re. member them who have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whofe faith follow, confidering the end of their converfation. v. 17. Obey them that have the rule over you, and fubmit yourfelves; 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 fet fome in the church, firft apostles, fecondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, governments, diverfities of tongues, Mat. xxviii. 18. And Jefus came, and spake unto them, faying, 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 obferve all things whatfo.

ever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

II. 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 fhalt loofe on earth, shall be loofed in heaven. Mat. xviii. 17. And if he fhall 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 fay unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth, fhall be bound in heaven: and whatfoever ye shall loose on earth, shall be loofed in heaven. John xx. 21. Then faid Jefus unto them again, Peace be unto you; as my Father hath fent me, even fo fend I you. v. 22. And when he had faid this, he breathed on them, and faith unto thein, Receive ye the Holy Ghoft. v. 23. Whofe foever fins ye remit, they are remitted; and whofe foever fins ye retain, they are retained. 2 Cor. ii. 6. Sufficient to fuch a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. v. 7. So that contrariwife, ye ought

rather

notorious and obftinate offenders c.

IV. For the better attaining of these ends, the officers of the church are to proceed by admonition, fufpenfion from the facrament of the Lord's fupper for a feafon, and by excommunication from the church, according to the nature of the crime, and demerit of the perfon d.

FOR

CHA P. XXXI. Of Synods and Councils.

OR the better government and further edification of the church, there ought to be fuch affemblies as are commonly called fynods or councils a.

rather to forgive him, and comfort him, left perhaps fuch 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 alfo may fear. Mat. vii. 6. Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither caft ye your pearls before fwine, left 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 fave with fear, pulling them out of the fire: hating even the garments fpotted 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 Jefus Chrift, that ye withdraw 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, epiftle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be afhamed. 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 Jefus Chrift, when ye are gathered together, and my fpirit, with the power of the Lord Jefus Chrift, v. 5. Tq 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 yourselves that wicked per. fon. Mat. xviii. 17. And if he fhall 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 Acs xv, 2. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no fmall diffention and difputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them,

fhould

II. As magiftrates may lawfully call a fynod of minifters and other fit perfons, to confult and advife with about matters of religion b: fo, if magiftrates be open enemies to the church, the minifters of Chrift, 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 fynods and councils, minifterially to de- p.110 termine controverfies of faith, and cafes of confcience; to fet down rules and directions r the better ordering of the public worship of God, and government of his church; to receive complaints in cafes of mal-administration, and authoritatively to determine the fame: which decrees and determinations, if confonant to the word of God, are to be received with reverence and fubmiffion, not only for their agreement with the word, but al fo for the power whereby they are made, as being an ordinance

of

fhould go up to Jerufalem unto the apostles 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 apostles, and elders came together for to confider of this mat

ter.

II. b Ifa. xlix. 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 duft of thy feet, and thou shalt know that I am the Lord: for they fhall not be ashamed that wait for me. 1 Tim, ii. 1. I exhort therefore, that first of all fupplications, prayers, interceffions, and giving of thanks be made for all men. For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godlinefs and hocefty, (2 Chron. xix. 8. to the end.) (2 Chron. xxix, and xxx. chap. throughout.) Mat. ii, 4. And

V.-2.

when he had gathered all the chief
priests and fcribes of the people to-
gether, he demanded of them where
Chrift fhould be born.
v. 5. And,
they faid unto him, In Bethlehem
of Judea: for thus it is written by
the prophet. Prov. xi. 14. Where
no counfel is, the people fall: but
in the multitude of counsellers there
is fafety.

c AЯs xv. 2, 4. (See in letter a.)
v. 22. Then pleafed it the apoftles
and elders, with the whole church,
to fend chofen men of their own
company to Antioch, with Paul and
Barnabas; namely, Judas firnamed
Barfabas, and Silas, chief men 2-
mong the brethren.
V. 23. And
wrote letters by them after this
manner, The apostles, and elders,
and brethren fend greeting unto the
brethren who are of the Gentiles in
Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia, v.
25. It feemed good unto us, being
affembled with one accord, to fend
chofen men unto you with our be
loved Barnabas and Paul.

III.

of God appointed thereunto in his word d.

IV. All fynods or councils fince the apoftles times, whether general or particular, may err, and many have erred: thereAnofore 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 ecclefiaftical: and are not to intermeddle with civil affairs, which concern the commonwealth, unless by way of humble petition, in cafes xtraordinary; or by way of advice for fatisfaction of confcience, if they be thereunto required by the civil magiftrate f

CHA P. XXXII. Of the State of Men after death, and of the Refurrection of the Dead.

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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, 29, 30, 31. (See in the Bible.) Acts xvi. 4. And as they went thro' the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apofties and elders who were at Jerufalem, Mat. xviii. 17. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it to 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 fay unto you, Whatfoever ye fhall bind on earth, fhall be bound in heaven : and whatsoever you fhall loofe on earth, fhall be loofed in heaven. V. 19. Again I fay unto you, that if two of you fhall agree on earth as touching any thing that they fhall afk, it fhall be done for them of my Father who is in heaven. v. 20. For where two or three are ga thered together in my name, there

am I in the midst of them.

Iv. e Eph. ii, 20. And are built upon the foundation of the apoftles and prophets, Jefus Chrift himself

hav

being the chief corner stone. Acts xvii. 11. Thefe were more noble than thofe in Theffalonica, in that they received the word with all readinefs of mind, and fearched the fcriptures daily, whether thofe things were fo. 1 Cor. ii. 5. That your faith fhould not ftand in the wifdom of men, but in the power of God, 2 Cor. i. 24. Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy; for by faith ye stand.

V.fLuke xii. 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 faid unto him, Man, who made me a judge, or a divider over you? John xviii. 46. Jefus anfwered, My kingdom is not of this world, if my kingdom were of this world, then would my fervants fight, that I fhould not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

I.a Gen. iii. 19, In the fweat of thy

face

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