The glory of a true church, and its discipline display'd wherein a true gospel-church is described : together with the power of the keys, and who are to be let in, and who to be shut out / by Benjamin Keach.

Of Disorders, or causes of Dis∣cords, and how to be prevent∣ed, corrected, and removed.

I. ONE cause of Discord is, through the Ignorance in some Members of the Rules of Di∣scipline, and right Government; particularly when that Rule in Matth. 18. is not followed.

But one Person ••••kes up an Of∣fence against another, and speaks, of it to this or that Person, before he hath, told the Brother offend∣ing, of it; which is a paspable Sin, and a direct violation of Christ's holy Precept: and such must, as Offenders themselves, be in a Gospel way dealt with.

To prevent this, the Discipline, of the Church should be taught; and the Members informed of their Duties.

II Another thing that causes Trouble and Disorder in a Church,

is want of Love, and tender Affe∣ctions to one another; as also not having a full sight and sense of the great evil of breaking the Bonds of Peace, and Vnity: O that all would lay this abominable Evil to Heart, how base a thing it is to break the Peace of a private Family, or Neighbourhood; but much more sinful to disturb the Peace of the Church of the living God, and break the bonds of the V∣nity thereof. Behold, how good, and how pleasant it is, for Brethren to dwell together in Vnity! But, O how ugly and hateful is the contrary!

III. Another disorderly Practice is this, When one Member or another knows of some sinful act, or evils done by one or more Members, and they conceal it; or do not act according to the Rule; pretending they would not be lookt upon as Contentious Per∣sons: but hereby they may become guilty of other Mens Sins, and also suffer the Name of God, and the Church, to lye under Reproach, and all thro their neglect. This is a great Iniquity.

IV. When an Elder, or Church shall know that some persons are Scandalous in their Lives, or Here∣retical in Judgment, and yet shall bear or connive with them.

V. When Members take liber∣ty to hear at other Places, when the Church is assembled to wor∣ship God: this is nothing less than a breaking their Covenant with the Church, and may soon dis∣solve any Church: For by the same Rule, one may take that li∣berty, another; nay, every Mem∣ber may. Moreover, it casts a Contempt upon the Ministery of the Church, and tends to cause such who are Hearers to draw off, and to be Disaffected with the Doctrine taught in the Church, (they knowing these Dissenters do belong unto it.) I exhort there∣fore, in the Name of Christ, this may be prevented: And any of you that know who they are, that take this Liberty, pray discover them to the Church. We lay no restraint upon our Members from hearing such, who are sound in the Faith at other times.

VI. The Liberty that some take to hear Men that are corrupt in their Judgments; and so take in unsound Notions, and also strive to distil them into the Minds of others, as if they were of great Importance. Alas, how many are Corrupted in these days, with Arminianism, So∣cinianism, and what not! This cau∣ses great trouble and disorder.

VII. When one Church shall re∣ceive a Member or Members of a∣nother Congregation without their Consent or Knowledge: Nay such that are Disorderly and may be loose Livers, or cast out for Immorality; or Persons filled with Prejudice without cause. This is enough to make Men Atheists, or contemn all Church Authority, and Religion: For hath not one regular Church as great Autho∣rity from Christ as another.

VIII. Another disorder is, when Members are received without the general Consent of the Church; or before good Satisfaction is ta∣ken of their Godly Lives, and Conversations: Or when a Church is too remiss in the reception of her Members.

IX. Another disorder is, when a Church shall receive a charge against a Member, (it being an Offence between Brother and Bro∣ther) before an orderly proceed has been made by the offended Per∣son.

X. When Judgment passes with Partiality; some are connived at, out of favour or affection: Le∣vi was not to know his Father or Mother in Judgment.

XI. When Members do not con∣stantly and early attend our pub∣lick Assemblies, and the worship of God on the Lord's-day espe∣cially, but are remiss in that mat∣ter: This is a great Evil.

XII. When part of a Church shall meet together as dissatisfi∣ed, to consult Church-matters, without the knowledge or con∣sent of the Church, or Pastor: This is disorderly, and tends to division; and such should be mar∣ked.

XIII. Another thing that tends to disquiet the Peace of the Church is, when there are any undue heats of Spirit, or Passion shewed

in the Pastor, or others, in ma∣naging the Discipline of the Church. Have we not found by experience the sad effect of this? There∣fore things must be always mana∣ged with coolness, and sweetness of Spirit, and moderation; every Brother having liberty to speak his mind, and not to be interrup∣ted, until he has done; nor a∣bove one speak at once.

XIV. When one Brother or more Dissents in the sentiments of their Minds from the Church, in any matters circumstantial; either in re∣pect of Faith, Practice, or Discipline, and will not submit to the Majori∣ty, but raise Feuds; nay, will rend themselves from the Church, rather than consent.

I Quaery, what reason, or ground, hath any Man to refuse Commu∣nion with a Church that Christ hath not left, but hath Commu∣nion with?

XV. When any Member shall divulge, or make known to Per∣sons, not of the Congregation, nor being concerned in those mat∣ters

what is done in Church-meetings, the Church in this re∣spect (as well as in others) is to be as a Garden inclosed, a Spring shut up, a Fountain sealed. This oft times occasions great Grief, and the disorderly Person should be detected. Is it not a shame to any of a private Family, to divulge the Secrets of the Fami∣ly? But far greater shame do these expose themselves unto.

XVI. Another disorderly Practice is this; viz. When a Member shall suggest, and seem ••o insinuate in∣to the minds of other Members some evil against their Pastor, yet will not declare what it is; and may only be evil Surmisings, & out of Prejudice; and yet refuses to acquaint the Pastor with what it is: This is very abominable, and a palpable violation of the Rule of the Gospel, and Duty of Members to their Minister. Such a person ought to be severely re∣buk'd, and if he confess not his Evils, and manifesteth unfeigned Repentance, to be dealt with far∣ther. Moreover, it is a great e∣vil

in another to hear such base▪ Insinuations, and neither rebuke the Accuser, and so discharge his Duty, nor take two or three more to bring the Person to Repen∣tance. If he deal thus by a pri∣vate Brother, it is a great Evil, but far worse to an Elder, whose Name and Honour, ought with all Care and Justice, to be kept up, as being more Sacred.

XVII. Another disorderly Pra∣ctice is, (which causes much trou∣ble) When the publick Charges of a Church are not equally born; but some too much burdened, when others do but little or no∣thing.

And also, when every one does not Contribute to the Poor, as God has blessed them, on every Lord's day, or first day of the Week, as he hath Commanded.

XVIII. Another disorder is this▪ When Members refuse to com∣municate with the Church at the Lord's table, because some person, or persons, they think are guilty of Evil, and yet they have not proceeded with them according to

Rule: These either Excommu∣nicate the Church, or themselves, or those Persons at least, they censure unwarrantably.

I beseech you for Christ's sake, that this may never be any more among you: You ought not to deal thus with them; or refuse your Communion, (tho faulty) until the Church has dis∣member'd, or withdrawn from them; or at least Suspended them.

XIX. When one Member, shall believe, or receive a report against another, before he knows the truth of the matter.

XX. When an Accusation is brought against an Elder, contra∣ry to the Rule, which ought not be without two or three Wit∣nesses, as to the matter of Fact.

XXI. When the word of God is not carefully attended upon, on Week, or Lecture-days, by the Members generally; tho the said Meeting being appointed by the whole Church.

XXII. VVhen Days of Prayer and Fasting, and of publick Thanks∣giving,

or when days of Disciplining are not generally attended upon.

Lastly, VVhen Gifted Bre∣thren are not duely encouraged: First privately to exercise their Gifts; and being in time appro∣ved, called forth to Preach or Exercise in the Church: And when encouragment is not given to bestow Learning also upon them, for their better Accomplishment. What will become of the Church∣es in time to come, if this be not prevented with speed?

Notes

• Mat. 18.15.
• Disorders Corrected & Removed.
• Iohn 13.12, 17, Eph. 4.3. Heb. 13.1. Eph. 4.31, 32. & cap. 5.2.
• Psal. 132.1.
• Jam. 3.16.
• Acts 5.3.8.
• Levit. 19.17.
• Acts, 4.23.
• Pet. 2.2.
• Acts 9.27.
• Mat. 18.15.
• Psal. 63.1.
• Cant. 7.12.
• Mark 16.1.
• 1 Cor. 1•• 25.
• Romans 16.17.
• 2 Tim. 2.25.
• Jude, 19.
• Jam. 3.14.16.
• Cant. 4.12.
• Rom. 1.29.
• 1 Tim. 6.4.
• Zech. 7.10.
• 1 Tim. 5.19
• 1 Timo. 5.19.
• 1 Cor. 8.14.
• •• Cor. 16.2.
• Math. 18.
• Ier. 20.10.
• 1 Tim. 5.19.
• Isa. 55.••.
• Acts 2, 1, 2.
• Acts, 10, 33.
• Ioel 2, 1••.