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Show fall out, though very feldomc) in [uch a cafe, when t~e matter is weigh tie and the doubt great on both fides, thenh( wuhcdo~on con lent)' wee :call in for light from other Cburc eJ; an mtreat them to Lend over to us fi1ch of their Elden? or B:ethren, as may be tit to judge in u1ch a c:mfe j np~n theu· conung, the Church meeting togetherin the Nat;Je ot Chn!l:, the whole caufe, and all the proceedings in it, are laid. open to .them; wh? by the help of Chrift, pondering and !l:ndymg all.tlungsaccordingtothe rule of the Word, the truth is cleared, a rtghtway of peace and concord difcovered and advifed, and the fpirits of the Brethron on all parts comfortably Catisfied. S E C To I v, IN thefc tranfaCtions wee know not what might be rtibjeCl: to exception, or eontroverfie; but only that we allow .to t?e people [o much power in the cenlt1resof the C?ur~h, both 1? bmdmg an offender to admonition and excommumcauon, and m looting of penitents from the Came. But the Reaf~ns that prevail with us. to take this courfe, feems to us to have evtdent ground from Scnptnre- light; and therefore may excufe us from following the pat· tern of fuch Churches as rather confult with humane:wifdome then divine infiitution in this cafe. Our fir!l: Reafonis talten from the royall rule of Love and Wif· dome, in healing offences, given by our Saviour, Matth. t8.17. where he dircCl:eth a Brother offended, for the healin~ of the fpirit of an offender, finally to referrc the m~tter to the Church. 1eU (C·dth he) tbe Church. Now we cannot finde throughout the new Te!l:;~ment, that ever the word Church is taken any otherwife then for 'the Society andCongrerr,ation ofthel~'aithtull; unle!feit be once, where it is taken for a civiil Affbnbly, ACl:.19. 41. Bnt never for one Bifbop,or Cmmjcllor,or Arcbde..zcon; for neither doth the Scripture acknowledge any of thefc offices in the Church at all, (as hath been fhcwed.abovc) taking a Bifh~p, as-now. they lh nd ; nor ca~ the Clmch, which is a wordiof mr,llitrlde,hold forth a Bifhnp ot hiS Commiffary, who is bnt one perf on: For,: thongh one per(on m1y reprefent a whole Church when he is fent forth in rhe ChurcheS name, wilh inll:rnctions from the Church ; y~t fi1chis not the cafe . here: here: The Bifhopcometh in his own name,and the Commij[ary in the Bij/Jop1 name,but neither of them in the Churcher name,nor with in• frmCl:ions from the Chur~h; but rather with dell:ruCl:ions,or at leaft with difiu:·bances to the Church. Neither is the word Church taken through~t the new Tell:ament for an A§emb!J. of Pmbytm .' the Conftflo!Y IS a word t~nheard of therc.Nor are any complaints dire• fred thither, unleffe It be to prepare them for the hearing&judge• ment of the Church; As all the Eldm are foid to be a.ffembled itt t!Je bdufe of]ama,to prepare mtd inflml1F au! for tbe c~JTri:~ge of hi! matter before the Church, Nor are any Cenfures of the Church committed to the Pmbytm a/on<, to be adminifrred by them; though they be tO be adminiflred by tlmn in 1 he prefince , and witb tbe confint of the Church. And therefOre when the Angeli of the Chr~rcbu in AJia arc blamed for neglcCl: of proceeding again!l: offcnders, (whether Ba· Jaam, or Jez.~bel, or the Nic/JolaitaiiJ) the charge is given not to the AngelJ of the Churches ondy, but to the Churclm alfo themfelves; Let !Jim wat hath an tare heare what tbe Spirit faitb UlftO the Cl;,.clm, Rev.2.17·29. And though the word Congregation, which is all one with Cbwch, be fometimes put in the old Te!l:ament for Eldm or Judges oft be Congregation; yet · 1. It is farre more frequently put for the Eldm and bod] oft he people met together, as he that obferveth the feverall places !hall findeic. 2. When it is put for the Eldets and ]11.dga of the Congregati• on,asNumb.3S·I2·2-t, 25. ids neverunder!l:oodofthem fitting in a.ConJiflory by tbemfilvu apart from the people,but in the prefince •fthe publicb,_Affembly of the people, whoalfo hadlibertie in fuch ca• fes to refcue .an innocent front unjufr puni!hment.I Sam.14-, 45· ObjeEI. In M,,t. 18.17. when Chrifr direCl:eth'the Brother of· ·fended to tell the Church, he fpeaketh of fuch a Church to whom ·wee may orderly, afld ordinari!J complaine; now this wee cannot <loe to the whole multitude. . Anfrv; Wee willingly grant, it will be order!J to tell any offence ·to',the Eldert of the Churcb, before it be prefented to the nrultiuide of the -CnUI'Ch, ·both bec'aufe they are the mouths and guides of .the Church; and alfo meet it is all things be prepared by them for . the Churches cognizance, that fa the Church be not cumberedJ (as fometirues it might)w.idl uMcceffaryJlnd frivolouaagitations. ·t, 0 Bu~ |