Of Congregational Affemblies, that is, the meeting of the ruling Officers of a particular Congregation for the Government thereof. THE HE ruling officers of a particular congregation have power authoritatively to call before them any member of the congregation, as they fhall fee juft occafion. To inquire into the knowledge and fpiritual eftate of the feveral members of the congregation. To admonifh and rebuke, Which three branches are proved by Heb. xiii. 17. 1 Theff. v. 12, 13. Ezek. xxxiv. 4. p. Authoritative fufpenfion from the Lord's table of a perfon not yet caft out of the church, is agreeable to the fcripture: First, Because the ordinance itself muft not be profaned. Secondly, Because we are charged to withdraw from these that walk diforderly. Thirdly, Because of the great fin and danger, both to him that comes unworthily, and alfo to the whole church 9. Heb. xiii. 17. Obey them that have the rule over you, and fubmit yourselves: 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. 1 Theff. v. 12. And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; v. 13. And to esteem them very highly in love for their works fake. And be at peace among yourfelves. Ezek. xxxiv. 4. The difeafed have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was fick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye fought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. q Matth. vii. 6. Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, nei And ther caft ye your pearls before fwine, left they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rent you. 2 Theff. iii. 6. Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jefus Chrift, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh diforderly, and not after the tradition which ye recei ved of us. v. 14. And if any man obey not cur 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. I Cor. xi. 27. Wherefore, whofoever fhall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord unworthing, fhall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. See on to the end of the chapter. Compared with Jude 23. And others fave with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment fpotted by the flesh. Tim. v. 22. Lay hands fuddenly And there was power and authority, under the Old Testament, 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: Firft, Becaufe thofe who have authority to judge of, and admit, fuch as are fit to receive the facrament, have authori ty to keep back fuch as fhall be found unworthy. Secondly, Because it is an ecclefiaftical business 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 intrinfical weakneffes and mutual dependence, as alfo in regard of enemies from without. THE Of Claffical Affemblies. HE fcripture doth hold out a prefbytery in a church. A prefbytery confifteth of minifters of the word, and 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. fuddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other mens fins: keep thy felf pure. r Lev. xiii. 5. And the priest fhall look on him the seventh day: and behold, if the plague in his fight be at a ftay, and the plague fpread not in the fkin; then the prieft fhall fhut him up feven days more. Numb. ix. 7. And those men faid unto him, We'are defiled by the dead body of a man: wherefore are we kept back, that we may not offer an offering of the Lord in his appointed feafon, among the children of Ifrael? 2 Chron. xxiii. 19. And he fet the porters at the gates of the houfe of the Lord, that none that was unclean in any thing fhould enter in. The 1 Tim. iv. 14. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was gi ven thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the prefby. tery. Acts 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 go up to Jerufalem unto the apoftles and elders about this que ftion. v. 4. And when they were come to Jerufalem, they were received of the church, and of the apoftles and elders, and they decla red all things that God had done with them. v. 6. And the apofiles and elders came together for to con fider of this matter. t Rom. xii. 7. Or ministry, let US The Scripture 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 these congregations were under one prefbyterial government. This appeareth thus: 1. First, The church of Jerufalem confifted of more congregations than one, as is manifeft, First, 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 difperfion w. us wait on our miniftring; or he that teacheth, on teaching; v. S. Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with fimplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that fheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. I Cor. xii. 28. And God hath fet fome in the church, first apoftles, fecondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diverfities of tongues. Acts viii. 1. And Saul was confenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great perfecution against the church which was at Jerufalem; and they were all fcattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the a poftles. Acts i. 15. And in those days Peter ftood up in the mids of the difciples, and faid, (the number of the names together were about an hundred and twenty). Acts ii. 41. Then they that gladly received his word, were baptized and the fame day there were added unto them about three thousand fouls. v. 46. And they continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladnefs and fingleness of heart, V. 47. Praifing God, and having favour : Secondly, with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily fuch as fhould be faved. Acts iv. 4. Howbeit, many of them which heard the word, believed; and the number of the men was about five thoufand. Acts v. 14. And believers were the more added unto the Lord, multitudes both of men and women. Acts vi. 1. And in those days, when the number of the difciples was multiplied, there arofe a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily miniftration. v. 7. And the word of God increafed; and the number of the difciples multiplied in Jerufalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. w Acts ix. 31. Then had the churches 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 Holy Ghoft, were multiplied. Acts xii. 24. But the word of God grew and multiplied. Acts xxi. 20. And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and faid unto him, Thou feest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe, and they are all zealous of the law. A&s 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 seldom ; which will not confift with Acts vi. z. Thirdly, The diverfity of languages among 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 pref byterial government; becaufe, Firft, They were one churchy. Secondly, The elders of the church are mentioned z. Thirdly, The apostles did the ordinary acts of prefbyters, as presbyters in that kirk; which proveth a prefbyterial church before the difperfion, Acts vi. Fourthly, The feveral congregations in Jerufalem being one church, the elders of that church are mentioned as meeting together for acts of government a; which proves, that thofe feveral congregations were under one prefbyterial go vernment. x Acts vi. 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. y Acts viii. 1. And Saul was confenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great perfecution against the church which was at Jerufalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apoftles. Acts ii. 47. Praifing God, and having favour with all the people, and the Lord added unto the church daily fuch as should be faved. Compared with Acts v. 11. And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard thefe things. Acts xii. 5. Peter therefore was kept in prifon; but prayer was made without ceafing of the church unto God for him. Acts xv. 4. And when they were come to Jerufalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them. . And z Acts xi. 30. Which also they did, and fent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. Acts xv. 4. And when they were come to Jerufalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they decla red all things that God had done with them. v. 6. And the apostles 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 own company to Antioch, with Paul and Barna bas; namely, Judas firnamed Barfabas, and Silas, chief men among the Brethren. Acts xxi. 17. And when we were come to Jerufalem, the brethren received us gladly, v. 18. And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were prefent. And whether thefe congregations were fixed or not fixed, in regard of officers or members, it is alfo one as to the truth of the propofition, Nor doth there appear any material difference betwixt the feveral congregations in Jerufalem, and the many congregations now in the ordinary condition of the church, as to the point of fixednefs required of officers or members. 3. Thirdly, Therefore the fcripture doth hold forth, that many congregations may be under one presbyterial govern ment. II. Secondly, By the inftance of the church of Ephefus; for, 1. That there were more congregations than one in the church of Ephefus, appears by Acts xx. 31. b, where is mention of Paul's continuance at Ephefus in preaching for the fpace of three years: and Acts xix. 18, 19, 20. Where the fpecial effect of the word is mentioned c; and verf. 10. 17. of the fame chapter, where is a distinction of Jews and Greeks d; and 1 Cor. xvi. 8, 9. where is a reafon of Paul's ftay at Ephefus until Pentecofte; and verf. 19. where is mention of a particular church in the house of Aquila and Prifcilla, the church, and of the apofties 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. v. 22. Then it pleafed the apostles 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 among the brethren. Acts xxi. 17. And when they were come to Jerufalem, the brethren received us gladly. v. 18. And the day following, Paul went in with us to James; and all the elders were prefent. And fo forward. b.Acts xx. 31. Therefore watch, and remember that by the fpace of three years, I ceafed not to warn every one night and day with tears. e Acts xix. 18. And many that believed, came and confeffed, and fhewed their deeds. v. 19. Many alfo of them which used curious arts, brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of filver. v. 20. So mightily grew the word of God, and prevailed. d Acts xix. 10. And this continued by the fpace of two years; fo that all they which dwelt in Afia, heard the word of the Lord Jefus, both Jews and Greeks. v. 17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks alfo dwelling at Ephefus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jefus was magnified. er Cor. xvi. 8. But I will tarry at Ephefus until Pentecoft. v. 9. For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adverfaries. I Cor |