Part 7

[43] _Spanhemius_ in a Book, called _Englands warning, by Germanies woe_; or, An Historicall Narration of the Anabaptists in _Germany_, &c.

[44] By Mr. _Carthwright_, against Archb. _Whitgift_. Mr. _Vdal_. Mr. _Hildersham_. Mr. _Traverse_, &c.

[45] Heb. 13.17, 24.

[46] 1 Pet. 5.3. Ier. 10.16.

[47] _Non quia soli, sed quia solùm præsunt._

[48] _De divers. grad. Minist. Evang._ cap. 11, p. 108.

[49] _Calvin. in locum. Chrysostom._ upon 1 Cor. 12.28. _Estius_ upon 1 Cor 12.28.

[50] [Syriac: two words] ומעדרנא ומדברנא.

[51] Κυβερνησειζ.

[52] _Gerhardus de Ministerio Ecclesiastico_, Calvin. _in locum_, P. Martyr, _in locum_. Beza _in locum_. Piscator _in locum_. Ambros. _in locum_. Chrys. _in locum_. Salmer. _in locum, Septimo loco ponit gubernatores, id est, eos qui præsunt aliis, & gubernant, plebemque in officio continent. Et Ecclesia Christi habet suam politiam, & cum Pastor per se omnia præstare non posset, adjungebantur ille duo Presbyteri, de quibus dixit_, Qui bene præsunt Presbyteri, duplici honore digni habeantur, maxime qui laborant in verbo & doctrina; _Qui una cum Pastore deliberabant de Ecclesiæ cura, & instauratione: qui etiam fidei atque honestæ vitæ consortes erant_.

[53] Estius _in_ Rom. 12. _Aliis placet etiam hac parte speciale quoddam charisma sive officium significari, & misereri dicatur is qui ab Ecclesia curandis miseris, potissimum ægrotis, præfectus est, iisque præbet obsequia; velut etiam hodie fit in nosocomiis; qui sensus haudquaquam improbabilis est._

[54] _Cornelius à Lapide_, in Rom. 12.6, 7, 8.

[55] _Whitak. in prælectionibus suis, ut refert in refutatione Dounami Sheervodius_, cited by the Author of Altare Damascen. cap. 12. pag. 925, 926.

[56] Whitgift against Carthwright.

[57] In a Sermon of his in print.

[58] _De perpetua Eccl. gubernat._

[59] 2 Cor. 11.27. 1 Thess. 2.9.

[60] Beza in 1 Tim. 5.17. Piscator in locum. Calvin. in loc.

[61] _Non enim una persona potest dici Ecclesia cum Ecclesia sit populus & Regnum Dei._

[62] Heb. 13.17, 24.

[63] _Chrys._ upon Matth. 18.

[64] _Camer. de Ecclesia_, upon Matth. 18.

[65] pag. 208, 209, 221.

[66] pag. 146.

[67] _unde & Synagoga, & postea Ecclesia Seniores habuit, quorum sine consilio nihil agebatur in Ecclesia; quod qua negligentiâ obsoleverit nescio, nisi forte Doctorum desidiâ, aut magis superbiâ, dum soli volunt aliquid videri_, Ambros. in 1 Tim. 5.

[68] _Præsident probati quique Seniores honorem istum non pretio sed testimonio adepti._ Tertull. Apolog. cap. 39.

[69] _Nonnulli præpositi sunt qui in vitam & mores eorum qui admittuntur inquirant, ut qui turpia committant iis communi cœtu interdicant, qui vero ab istis abhorrent, ex animo complexi meliores quotidie reddant_, Orig. lib. 3. _Contra Celsum_.

[70] Basil in Psalm 33. _Ubi quatuor gradus Ministrorum constituit, quod scilicet alii sint in Ecclesia instar oculorum, ut Seniores; alii instar linguæ, ut Pastores; alii tanquam manus, ut Diaconi_, &c.

[71] Optatus lib. 1. _advers. Parmen._ mentioning a persecution, that did for a while scatter the Church, saith, _Erant Ecclesiæ ex auro & argento quam plurima ornamenta, nec defodere terræ, nec secum portare poterat, quare fidelibus Ecclesiæ Senioribus commendavit_. _Albaspinæus_ that learned Antiquary upon that place acknowledged, That besides the Clergy, there were certain of the Elders of the people, men of approved life, that did tend the affaires of the Church, of whom this place is to be understood.

[72] _Et nos habemus in Ecclesia Senatum nostrum, cœtum Presbyterorum; cum ergo inter cœtera etiam senes Judea perdiderit quomodo poterit habere concilium, quod proprie Seniorum est?_ Hier. _in_ Is. 3.2.

[73] Aug. writing in his 137. Epistle to those of his own Church, directs his Epistle, _Dilectissimis Patribus, Clero, senioribus, & universæ plebi Ecclesiæ Hipponensis_.

So again. Aug. lib. 3. _contra Cresconium_, cap. 56. _Peregrinus Presbyter, & Seniores Ecclesiæ Musticanæ regionis._

Again, Sermo. 19. _de verbis Domini. Cum ob errorem aliquem a Senioribus arguuntur & imputantur alicui de illis, cur ebrius fuerit?_ &c.

Again, _Epistola Synodalis Concilii Carbarsussitani apud eundem_, Aug. _enar. in_ Psalm 36. _Necesse nos fuerit Primiani causam quem plebs sancta Carthaginensis Ecclesiæ Episcopum fuerat in oculis Dei sortita, Seniorum literis ejusdem Ecclesiæ postulantibus audire atque discutere._

[74] Gregor. Magnus. _lib._ 11. _ep._ 19. _Si quid de quocunque Clerico ad aures tuas pervenerit, quod te juste possit offendere, facile non credas, sed præsentibus Ecclesiæ tuæ Senioribus diligenter est perscrutanda veritas, & tunc si qualitas rei poposcet, Canonica districtio culpam feriat delinquentis._ We should have added before, that _in actis purgationis Cæciliani & Fælicis_; We read _Episcopi, Presbyteri, Diaconi, Seniores_. Again, _Clerici & Seniores Cirthensium_. Sundry Letters were produced and read in the conference: one directed, _Clero & Senioribus_: another, _Clericis & Senioribus_. The Letter of _Purpurius_ to _Sylvanus_, speaketh thus, _Adhibete conclericos, & Seniores plebis Ecclesiasticos viros, & inquirant diligenter quæ sint istæ dissensiones_.

[75] Sutlivius _de Concil. ab_ 1. _cap._ 8 saith, that among the Jews _Seniores tribuum_, the Elders of the Tribes did sit with the Priests in judging controversies of the Law of God. Hence he argues against _Bellarmine_, that so it ought to be in the christian Church also, because the priviledge of christians is no less then the priviledg of the Jewes.

[76] 1 Cor. 10.16, 17.

[77] Rom. 4.11.

[78] Joh. 6.63.

[79] 1 Tim. 4.8.

[80] 2 Chr. 23.19. Ezek. 44.7, 8.

[81] Levit. 10.10. Ezek. 22.26.

[82] 1 Cor. 5.13. Rev. 2.14, 15, 20. Tit. 3.10.

[83] Levit. 19.17.

[84] 1 Sam. 2.

[85] _Zelum singularem laudat in tuenda disciplina Ecclesiæ, quod vitiis in cœtu grassantibus se fortiter opposuerit, scandalosos censuris debitis correxerit, vel Ecclesiæ communione ejecerit. Ita enim præcepit Christus & Apostolus, & viguerunt censuræ in primitiva Ecclesia magno bono_, Pareus in locum.

[86] That the Church of _Ephesus_, is not Individually, but collectively to be taken, _vide Smectymnuum_.

[87] 1 Cor. 12.28. 1 Tim. 5.17. 1 Thess. 5.12. Heb. 13.17.

[88] Gal. 6.6. where the word κατηχουμενος properly signifieth a teaching by questions and answers.

[89] _Mihi quidem sufficit conscientia mea, vobis autem necessaria est fama mea._ Aug. ad fratr. in Eremo.

[90] Tertullian. Apologet.

[91] In his Book of Christian subjection, _&c._

[92] In his letters to _Wadesworth_.

[93] _J.G._

[94] Pezelii mellificium historicum, pars 2. pag. 268.

[95] _M. Stock_ upon Malachy, cap. 3.

The EXHORTATION.

Having thus in few words, vindicated both our Government and our Persons, we conceive it necessary to subjoyn an Exhortation unto all the Ministers, and Elders, and people, that are within the Province; which we shall branch into these ensuing particulars:

1. We shall direct our speech _unto the Ministers and Ruling Elders, that have accepted of, and do act according to the Rules of the Presbyterian Government, as they are conjoyned in one and the same Presbytery_.

2. _Unto those of our respective Congregations, that submit unto the Government, and are admitted unto the Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ, in the Presbyterian way._

3. _Unto those that live within the bounds of the Province, and have not yet submitted to the Government, nor are admitted to the Sacrament, in the Presbyteriall way._

1. We shall direct our speech unto the Ministers and Ruling-Elders, that have accepted of, and do act according to the Rules of the Presbyterian Government, as they are conjoyned in one and the same Presbytery.

That which we have to say unto them, is,

To perswade them to be _faithfull in the discharge of the great trust committed unto them_. To be a _Ruler in Gods house_, as it is a place of _great honour_, so also of _great trust_; and he that hath this trust committed unto him, ought to be one of a thousand. It is a good saying of an Heathen, _Magistratus virum indicat_, Magistracy will try a man what he is, so will this office you. Such are the mountains of opposition you are like to meet withall; such is the courage you must put on; such is the wisdome and piety you must be cloathed withall, that we may truly say with the Apostle, _Who is sufficient for these things?_ As _Tacitus_ saith of _Galba_, that he was _Capax imperii, nisi imperasset_, thought very fit to have been an _Emperour_, had he not been an _Emperour_; so there are many that have been thought fit to be _Elders_, till they were made _Elders_. Many that seemed very good, when private Christians; when advanced into places of trust, have proved very wicked. To have the _body and blood of Christ Sacramentall in your custody_; To be made _Keepers of Christs Vineyard_, and _watchmen over his flock_; To have the _keyes of the Kingdom of Heaven_ committed unto you: This is not only a great honour, but a great burden. And therefore it must be your exceeding great care, so to behave your selves in the Church of God, which is his house, that you may give up your account with joy at that great day. For this purpose we Exhort you;

1. That you would labour to discharge your Office with care and diligence, according to the advice of the Apostle, [96]_Let him that Ruleth, Rule with diligence_. The Apostle foresaw how negligent Elders would be, in the trust committed unto them; and therefore he chose to lay this speciall injunction upon them. You must not suffer the key of discipline to rust for want of using, but must remember, that the life of discipline is in the execution; and that the _unprofitable servant was cast into Hell, not for abusing; but for not improving of his Talent_.

2. That you would study to Rule with all humility and Self-denyal, [97]not as lording it over Gods heritage, but as being examples to the flock, remembring the saying of our blessed Saviour, [98]_The Kings of the Gentiles exercise Lordship; And they that exercise authority upon them, are called Benefactors: But ye shall not be so. But he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief_, (or, as it is in the Greek[99], he that Ruleth,) _as he that serveth_. You must not be as _Diotrephes_ who loved to have the _Preheminence_; not as the _Pharisees, [100]who loved the uppermost roomes at feasts, and the chief seats in the Synagogue_.

3. That you would labour to Rule the Church of God with all _peaceablenesse_, and _quietness_; doing nothing out of contention, envy, or malice; but all out of pure love, with the spirit of meekness and patience. That the people may read love and gentleness written upon all your admonitions and censures. [101]_For the servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in all meekness instructing those that oppose themselves, if God peradventure will give them repentance, to the acknowledgment of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the Devill, who are taken captive by him at his will._ Famous is the saying of our Saviour, _Have salt in your selves, and peace one with another_. By _salt_, is meant (as _Chemnitius_ and others observe,) _sincere doctrine and discipline_ whereby the people of God are seasoned, and kept from the putrefaction of sin and errour; this _salt_ is so to be sprinkled, as that if it be possible, it may have peace joyned with it. _Have salt in your selves, and peace one with another._ There are that think, that sincere discipline and peace cannot stand together, but they are confuted by Christs own words. The readiest way to have true peace one with another, is to have salt within our selves. There are indeed, some Congregations, that have this salt, without this peace; which is a misery to be exceedingly bewailed. There are others which have _peace_ without this _salt_, but this _peace_ is a wicked _peace_; a peace with sin and errour, which will end in damnation. But blessed and happy are those Congregations, that have _salt in themselves, and true Christian peace one with another_. A Church-Officer must not be a _bramble_, rending and tearing the people committed to his charge, but as a _fig tree_, _vine_, and _olive tree_, refreshing them with his _fatnesse, swetnesse, and fruitfulnesse_.

4. That you would labour to make your Congregations pure, as well as peaceable; following after piety, as much as verity and unity. That all your people under your charge, may be visible Saints at least. It is the great complaint that some take up against the _Presbyteriall Government_, that it studieth unity and truth, but neglecteth holiness and purity. And therefore we beseech you Brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ, who is called _the holy One_, that you would labour to free the Government from this scandal. If there be any under your inspection grosly ignorant, or of scandalous life and conversation, you ought not to admit him to the Sacrament; for if you do, you are accessary to his sin of unworthy receiving; you are instrumentall to the damnation of his soul, you pollute the ordinance; you offend the godly amongst you; you render the Government obnoxious to just exception; and you bring down the heavy judgments of God upon the Congregation. If there be any that after admission prove scandalous, you are to admonish him; and if he continue obstinate, you are _to put away from among your selves that wicked person_, to purge out the _old leaven_, that you may be a _new lump_. And this you are to do:

1. _For the Churches sake_; that the Church in which you are Rulers, may not be infected; _for know you not, that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?_

2. _For the sinners sake_; you must deliver such a one _unto Satan_, for the _destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus_.

3. _For Christs sake_, that his name may not be dishonoured, and that he may not be forced to depart from your Assemblies.

4. _For the Ordinances sake_, that they may not be polluted.

5. _For your own sakes_, that you may not be damned for other mens sins.

Oh that our words might take impression upon all your hearts, that are Ministers and Elders within the Province! what a glorious thing were it, if it might be said of all our Congregations, that they are not only _true_, but _pure Churches, and Churches united in love, and in the truth_? How would this tend to the honour of Jesus Christ, the King of his Church? How would this make him delight to dwell in the midst of you? How would this stop the mouthes of Anabaptists, Brownists, and Independents? How would the blood of Jesus Christ be preserved from prophanation, and the wicked in time gained to repentance, and the blessing of God be upon us, together with peace and plenty in all our dwellings?

We beseech you once more, by the blood of Jesus Christ, which was shed for your souls, that you would not prostitute it to open sinners, but use all possible means to make your Congregations more and more pure. For this purpose, consider, what the Directory for Church-Government, advisedly and religiously requireth of you, namely, _That where there are many Ruling-Officers in a particular Congregation, some of them do more especially attend the inspection of one part, some of another, as may be most convenient. And some of them are, at fit times, to visit the several families for their spiritual good._ And for the better inabling you to do these things, we exhort you further:

5. That you would labour to abound more and more in all _knowledge_, and _soundnesse of judgement_, _and in all manner of godly conversation_; for he that would be fit to _purge_ Gods house of ignorance and scandal, must first _purge_ himself of ignorance and scandal. _Church-purification_ and reformation, must begin in _self-purification_ and reformation. He that will reprove sin in others, must be free from that sin himself; otherwise it will be said, _Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye, and then thou shalt see clearly, to cast out the moat out of thy brothers eye_. And he must be free from all other scandalous sins also; otherwise men will be ready to say, This man reproveth me for drunkenness, but he himself is covetous; he reproveth me for swearing, but he himself will lie. And therefore our prayer to God for you is, [102]_That you may be filled with the fruits of Righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God, that your love may abound yet more and more, in knowledge, and in all judgment; that ye may approve the things that are excellent: That ye may be sincere, and without offence, till the day of Christ_. For you are appointed by Christ to convince gain-sayers, and therefore you had need to let the Word of God dwell in you richly, in all wisdom, especially in these dayes, wherein there are many unruly and vain talkers, and deceivers, whose mouthes must be stopped; who subvert whole houses, teaching things they ought not, for filthy lucres sake. You are appointed by Christ, to be examples to the flock. And that which is but a little sin in others, will be a great one in you. Your sins are not sins, but monsters: You are like _Looking-glasses_, according to which, others dresse themselves; you are like pictures in a glass-window, every little blemish will be quickly seen in you: Your lives are looked upon as _Presidents_, your examples, as _Rules_: And therefore you ought to be _exemplarily holy_, or else you shall receive the _greater condemnation_.

6. That you would labour to be _good in all your relations_, good _Parents_, good _Masters_, good _Husbands_, dwelling with your wives according to knowledge, as being heires together of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered: _For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the Church of God?_ How shall he be a good Ruling Elder, that doth not rule well his own house, _having his children in subjection with all gravity_? How can he perswade others to set up the worship of God in their families, that hath none in his own? And therefore, that you may rule the better in Gods Church, you must make your _houses_ as it were _little Churches_.

7. That you would labour to be men of _publique spirits_, seeking the things of Christ before, and more then your own; mourning more for the miseries of the Church, then your own; and rejoycing more in the prosperity of _Sion_, then your own.

A Church-Officer must be like old _Eli_, who was more troubled at the losse of the _Ark_, then the death of his two sons. And like the Psalmist, that bewailed more the _burning of Gods house_, then his own; and the desolation of _Gods Church_, then of the _Kingdome_.[103]

8. That you would labour to be of a _liberall and free spirit, feeding the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly, not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind_. A Covetous _Judas_ will betray Jesus Christ for thirty pieces of silver, and sell a good conscience for a messe of pottage; and be prodigal of the blood of Christ, rather then lose his trading.

9. That you would labour to be of a _courageous and resolute spirit, valiant for the truth and cause of God_; as _Luther_ was, who alone opposed a world of Enemies; and as _Athanasius_, who was both as an _Adamant_, and a _Loadstone_, in his private converse[104]; he was very courteous and affable, drawing all men to him, even as a Loadstone doth iron; but in the cause of God, and of his truth, he was _unmoveable_, and _unconquerable_ as an Adamant. There is nothing will cause you sooner to apostatize from your Principles, and from your practices, then base fear of men. This made even _Peter deny Christ_; and _David_, run to the _Philistines_, & _Abraham_, to dissemble. The Wise man saith, _The fear of man bringeth a snare, but who so putteth his trust in the Lord, shall be safe._ Our prayer to God for you, is, That the [105]_Lord would speak unto you with a strong hand; and instruct you, that you may not walk in the way of this people, saying a Confederacy unto those unto whom this people shall say a Confederacy; nor fear their fear: but sanctifie the Lord of hosts in your hearts, and make him your fear and your dread_. And you have a most blessed promise added, That _Jesus Christ will be unto you for a Sanctuary_, to protect and defend you in the day of your greatest fears and dangers.

10. That you would labour to be of a _tender spirit_, tender of the honour of God, of the blood of Christ Sacramental, of the souls of the people committed to your charge, of the truths and Government of Christ. A Church-Officer must not be a _Gallio_, not caring what becomes of Religion, and the interest of Christ. Nor a luke-warm _Laodicean_, neither hot nor cold, lest he be spewed out of the mouth of Christ. But he must be a _Josiah_, whose commendation was this, that his _heart was tender_, a _David_, _whose eyes ran down with rivers of tears, because men kept not the law_: a _Jeremiah_, who wished, that _his head were waters, and his eyes a fountain of tears, that he might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of his people_.

11. That you would _persevere_ and _continue_ in the great trust committed unto you, not deserting, nor neglecting the duty thereof, for any present discouragements whatsoever; remembring what out Saviour saith, _He that hath put his hand to the plough, and looketh back, is not fit for the Kingdome of Heaven_.

We cannot deny, but there are many things to dishearten you, and make you grow faint and weary, _viz._ your own insufficiency to so great a work; the untractablenesse, and unperswadeablenesse of many among the people to submit unto the Government; The small beginnings of reformation in Church-Government unto which we have yet attained, and especially the little countenance that it finds with many, from whom it might most justly be expected. Yet notwithstanding, we hope, that that God which hath stirred you up to help to lay the first stone in this building, will not suffer you to leave the work, till the _head stone_ be brought forth with shoutings, crying, _grace, grace unto it_. For this purpose, we desire you earnestly to consider with us;

1. That the Authority by which you act, is divine. For the office not only of a teaching, but also of a Ruling Elder, is founded upon the Word of God, as hath been already shewed.

2. That the Government which you have entred upon, is not a Government of mans framing, but the Government of Jesus Christ; who as King and Head of his Church, hath appointed you your work, and hath promised, [106]_That where two or three of you are gathered together in his name, there to be in the midst of you_, to protect, direct, sanctifie, support, and comfort you. This Christ is [107]_that stone cut out of the mountain without hands, that will destroy all the Kingdomes that oppose him and his Government, and will himself become a great mountain, filling the whole earth_. The time is shortly coming, when the _Kingdomes of this world shall become the Kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ_; when the [108]_mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be axalted above the hills, and people shall flow unto it: And many Nations shall say, Come and let us go up to the Mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of_ Jacob, _and he will teach us his wayes, and we will walk in his pathes. And that Nation and Kingdome, that will not serve the Lord Christ, shall perish yea those Nations shall be utterly wasted._