The true form of church government first instituted by Christ, novv used and practised in all the reformed churches of Germanie, France, and Scotland: humbly presented to the high and honourable court of Parliament, at this time most happily assembled. Plainly proved by Scripture, rectifide reason, and the testimonie of the Church, some hundreds of yeares after the Apostles time, and the generall consent of the Churches rightly reformed in these latter times, contrary to the Romish, and our archiepiscopall government.

CHAP. XVIII. (Book 18)

THose that be not reclaimed from their faults by admoni∣tion, are by the Eldership to be suspended from the Lords Supper, or being officers of the Church, from the execution of their office, untill they do either give good testimonie of their amendment, or just cause to be further proc••••ded

against. Neither is there any controversie betwixt them and us, about this point; saving that (as in the former) they will denie it to appertain to the Eldership, which is proved before. I will therefore (for their understanding that desire direction in the truth) first, shew that it is a course that hath warrant in the Scripture••; secondly, that it is of very profitable use in the Church of God: the first is thus proved.

1 Whatsoever is enjoyned, as a dutie to be done by every Christian, if he leave it undone,* 1.1 he is to be compelled by the governours of the Church to do it, Luke 14.17.23. But if a mans brother have any thing against him, and he make no conscience to leave his gift there, and be first reconciled, Mat. 5.24. he is to be compelled to do it: Therefore separation from the Lords Supper is warra••ted by the Word.

2 If that commandment of Christ, Matth. 7 5. give not that which is holy unto dogs, can neither be properly under∣stood of them, that were never of the Church, nor them that be excommunicated; then it is a warrant for such separation of the unworthy, and consequently, that separation is war∣ranted in the word: But the former is true, as appeareth by this, that the meanest of the Jews did know, that holy things belonged to neither of them, and so the commandment had been needlesse: Therefore suspention is warranted by the Word.

3 If there be sinners that are not to be excommunicated, and yet it were offensive to give them the Lords Supper, then is this course warranted by the Word, for else should Christ have left his Church destitute of direction, in common and usuall difficulties, which is proved in the first chapter to be otherwise: But such s••••ners there are as the notorious sinner repenting; men mainly suspected of notorious transgressions, &c. Therefore suspention hath his warrant in the word.

4 The course that God prescribed in the shadow, for cor∣porall purifyings, must in the body (in respect of the sub∣stance) be observed in the spirituall clensing of every member of the Church: But many were separated from the publike sacrifices for a season, by reason of their corporall unclean∣nesse, who, yet were not worthy to be excommunicated▪

Therefore must also some be kept from the Lords Supper for a season, who yet appeare not so hainously to have sinned, as to deserve excommunication.

5. The Church cannot without great offence, suffer one that hath fallen into some open sinne, or that is vehemently s••spected, to have hainously offended, continue in the ad∣ministration of any publike function: But the Church cannot justly displace such a man at the first, making shew of repen∣tance, or standing upon his purgation: Therefore he must be separated for a time.

6. That which was commanded under the Law to be done to the Priest, that was uncleane in body, or suspected to be a Leaper; that same must much more under the Gospell, be done unto the Minister, or other Church-Officer, that hath sinned, or is suspected to have committed a great sinne. But such a Priest was to be separated from offering of sacrifices for a certaine time: Therefore much more must the like be done to a Church-officer in the like case.

* 1.2Therefore, if the Church be to compell a private man to doe his dutie; if, give not holy things to dogges, be under∣stood of them within the Church; if there be sinners that can∣not without offence be admitted to the Lords Supper, and yet deserve not excommunication; if for corporall uncleannesse under the Law, they were to abstaine a certaine time; and if the church cannot without great offence, suffer him that hath committed an open sinne (though he repent) or that is vehe∣mently suspected of a notorious sinne, continue in the execu∣tion of his office, untill the congregation be satisfied; Lastly, if the Priest that was uncleane, or suspected of leprosie, might not offer sacrifices: then is it plaine, that both the separation of some men from the Lords Supper, and other from the exe∣cution of their publique function for a time; is a thing war∣ranted by the word of God.

* 1.3The latter part, which is that this kinde of suspention hath a profitable use in the Church of God, is thus proved.

1. That which keepeth the godly in more carefull obedi∣ence, and keepeth in the hypocrites, that they breake not out, is very profitable for the Church of God: But such is the use

of the separation from the Lords Supper, and from execu∣ting publike function in the Church: Therefore it is profita∣ble in the Church of God.

2. That which removeth (even) the appearance of of∣fence, from the Church of God, is very profitable for the same: But such is the separation: Therefore it is profitable for the Church of God.

3. That which declareth unto the world, that the Church of God is carefull to practice that which it professeth, is ve∣ry profitable: But such is this separation, for it sheweth that they cannot away with ungodly life; no, not among them∣selves: Therefore it is profitable for the Church of God.

4. That which giveth occasion to the church, to be exer∣cised in the actions of Religion, with more sound comfort, is profitable for the same: But such is this separation, for e∣very one shall see thereby, the unworthy (for whose sakes, God might be angry with them all, Josh. 7.11.) weeded from among them: Therefore it is profitable for the Church of God.

5. That which is a speciall meanes to procure the Lord (in mercy) to continue his Word unto his Church, is profi∣table for the same▪ such is this separation; for it is a notable means to keep men in obedience to that which they professe: Therefore it is profitable for the Church of God.

Therefore, if separation of the knowne or suspected sinner,* 1.4 from the Lords Supper, and such a Church officer from the execution of his publike function, doe keepe men in obedi∣ence that be godly, and restraineth hypocrites from outrage; if it remove the very appearance of evill; if it let the world see, that the Church laboureth to practice that which it doth professe; if it make every member of the Church to be exer∣cised in the actions of Religion, with greater comfort; lastly, if it be a speciall mean to procure the Lord in mercy, to con∣tinue his Word; then must it needs follow, that it is of very profitable use unto the Church of God.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Suspention warranted by the Word, be∣ing upon such grounds as the Word setteth down.
• * 1.2

  The Conclu∣sion.
• * 1.3

  The us•• of sus∣pention profi∣table in the Church.
• * 1.4

  The Conclu∣sion.