are become Monuments of God's Mercy unto this Day.

trouble

Thirdly, Such, who being departed from their 3 Self-Se firft Love and ancient Zeal for the Truth, become paration, cold and lukewarm; and yet are ashamed to make fome Opo. open Apoftacy, and to turn back again, fo as to deny fers. all the Principles of Truth, they having had already fuch Evidence of Clearnefs upon their Understanding: Yet not keeping low in their own Habitations, but being puffed up, and giving way to the restless Imaginations of their exalted and wondering Minds, fall out with their Brethren; caufe Divifions; begin to find Fault with every Thing, and to look at others more than at themselves; with fwelling Words to talk of, and preach up a higher Difpenfation, while they are far from living up to the Life and Perfection of this prefent; like unto fuch who faid, We will not have this Man to rule over us : Cry out of Formality and Apoftacy, because they are not followed in all Things; and if they be reproved for their Unruliness, according to the good Order of the Church of Chrift, then they cry out, Breach of Liberty, Oppreffion, Perfecution: We will have none of your Order and Government; we were taught to follow the Light in our Confciences, and not the Orders of Men. Well, of this hereafter; but this gave the Rife of this Controverfy: Which leads me to that, which I proposed in the fecond Place.

SECTION III.

Whether there be now to be any Order or Government in the Church of Chrift.

I

N Anfwer to this Propofition I meddle not at this Time with thofe, that deny any fuch Thing, as a Church of Chrift; I have referved their Plea to

another

another Place. Neither need I to be at much Pains Church to prove the Affirmative, to wit, That there ought Order and to be Government and Order in the Church of

Govern

ment

granted.

Reafon I.

HI.

III.

Christ, unto the Generality of our Oppofers, both Papifts and Proteftants; who readily confefs and acknowledge it, and have heretofore blamed us for Want of it. Though now fome of them, and that of the highest Pretenders, are become fo unreafonable, as to accufe us for the Ufe of it; improving it fo far as they can, to our Difadvantage: For fuch is the Blindness of partial Envy; that whereas the fuppofed. Want of it was once reckoned heretical, now the prefent Performance of it is counted criminal.

These then, to whom I come to prove this Thing, are fuch, who having caft off the Yoke of the Crofs of Chirft in themselves, refufe all Subjection or Government: Denying that any fuch Thing ought to be, as difagreeing with the Teftimony of Truth: Or thofe, who not being fo wilful and obftinate in their Minds, yet are fearful or fcrupulous in the Matter, in respect of the dangerous Confequences, they may apprehend, fuch a Thing may draw after

it.

For the clearing then as well the Miftakes of the one, as anfwering the Cavils of the other, I judge the Truth of thefe following Affertions will sufciently prove the Matter; which I fhall make no great Difficulty to evidence.

First, That Jefus Chrift, the King and Head of the Church, did appoint and ordain, that there fhould be Order and Government in it.

Secondly, That the Apostles and primitive Chritians, when they were filled with the Holy Ghoft, and immediately led by the Spirit of God, did practife and commend it.

Thirdly, That the fame Occafion and Neceffity now occurring, which gave them Opportunity to exercise that Authority; the Church of Chrift hath

the

the fame Power now, as ever, and are led by the fame Spirit into the fame Practices.

As to the First, I know there are fome, that the very Name of a Church, and the very Words Or

vo:d the

der and Government, they are afraid of. Now this The Abufe I fuppofe hath proceeded, because of the great Hy make not pocrify, Deceit, and Oppreffion, that hath been true Use, cloaked with the Pretence of thefe Things: But why Thould the Truth be neglected, because Hypocrites have pretended to it? The right Inftitution of these Things, which have been appointed and ordained by God, must not, nor ought not to be despised, because corrupt Men have abufed and perverted them. I know not any Thing, that hath been more abused and perverted in the whole World, than the Name of a Chriftian: Shall we then renounce that honourable Title, because fo many Thousands of wicked Men, yea, Antichrifts, have falfly affumed it to themselves? The Man of Sin hath taken upon him to fit in the Temple of God, as God; yet we must not therefore deny, that God is in this Temple. If the Synagogue of Satan hath affumed the Name of the Church of Chrift, and hath termed her Oppreffion and Violence, the Power and Authority thereof; therefore must not the Church of Chrift and its Authority be exercised, where it truly is according to his Mind? This I prefix to warn all to beware of ftumbling at Things, which are innocent in themfelves; and that we may labour to hold the fteady, even Path of Truth, without running in either of the Extreams. For that Jefus Chrift did appoint Order and Government to be in the Church, is very clear from his plain Words, Matt. xvii. 15, 16, 17, 18. Verse 15. Moreover, if thy Brother shall tref Church Or pafs against thee, go tell him bis Fault between thee der ap: pointed by and him alone; if he fhall hear thee, thou hast gained Chrift, and tby Brother. Verse 16. But if he will not bear thee, thereof. then take with thee one or two more, that in the Mouth

of two or three Witnesses, every Word may be establish

ed.

the Form

"I.

ed. Verse 17. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the Church: But if he neglect to bear the Church, let him be unto thee as an Heathen-man, and a Publican. Verse 18. Verily, I say unto you. whatfoever ye shall bind on Earth, fhall be bound in Heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loofe on Earth, fhall be loofed in Heaven. From which Scripture it doth manifeftly and evidently follow, First, That Jefus Christ intended, there fhould be a certain Order and Method in his Church, in the Procedure towards fuch as tranfgrefs. Secondly, That he that refuseth to hear two, is become more guilty, as hardened, than in refufing to hear him, that firft reproved alone. III. Thirdly, That refufing to hear the Judgment of the Church, or whole Affembly, he doth thereby exclude himself, and fhut out himself from being a Member; and is juftly judged by his Brethren, as a Heathen and a Publican.

II.

IV. And lastly, That the Church, Gathering, or Affembly of God's People has Power to examine and call to an Account fuch, as appearing to be among them, or owning the fame Faith with them, do tranfgrefs; and in cafe of their refufing to hear, or repent, to exclude them from their Fellowship: And that God hath a fpecial Regard to the Judg'ment and Senfe of his People thus orderly proceeding, fo as to hold fuch bound in Heaven, whom they bind on Earth, and fuch loofed in Heaven, whom they loofe on Earth, I am partly confident, that no rational Man will deny, but that thefe naturally follow from the above-mentioned Scripture; and if there fhould be any found so unreasonable as to deny it, I could prove it by neceffary and unevitable Confequences: Which at prefént, as taking it for granted, I forbear to do. If it be reckoned fo great a Crime to offend one of the little ones, that it were better for him, that fo did, that a Milftone were banged about bis Neck, and he were drowned in the Depth of the Sea; without Question, to offend

and

and gainfay the whole Flock must be more criminal, and muft draw after ita far deeper Judgment.

of Church

Now, if there were no Order nor Government in the Church, what fhould become of those that tranfgrefs? How fhould they be again reftored? The End Would not this make all reproving, all inftructing, Order. all caring for, and watching over one another, void and null? Why fhould Chrift have defired them to proceed after this Method? Why doth he place fo much Weight upon the Judgment of the Church, as to make the refufing of hearing it to draw fo deep à Censure after it; which he will not have to follow the refusing to hear one or two apart, though the Matter be one and the fame? And fo as to the subftantial and intrinfick Truth of the Thing, there lies the fame Obligation upon the Tranfgreffor tó hear that one, as well as all; for that one advifeth him to that which is right and good, as well as the whole And they do but homologate or confirm that, which that one hath already afferted: Yet Jefus Chrift, who is the Author of Order, and not of Confufion, will not have a Brother cut off, or reputed a Publican, for refufing to hear one or two, but for refufing to hear the Church. And if it be objected, That the Church of Rome, and all other Objection, falfe Churches, make Ufe of this Scripture, and cover their Perfecution, and Cruelty, and Oppreffion by it; and thou fayft no more than they fay. I anfwer, I fuppofe no Man will be fo unreasonable, as to affirm, that the Church of Rome abufing this Scripture, will make it falfe in itfelf; but how we differ in our Application of this Scripture, fhall be spoken of hereafter. I am not now claiming Right to this Power, as due to us, that is referved for another Place; but this, I fay, is that, which I now aver to be manifeft from the Scripture Teftimony, and to be in itself an unquestionable Truth, That Jefus

D

* This Word, derived from the Greek, fignifies, To agree in Judgment.