A gospel-church, or, God's holy temple opened wherein is shewed from the scriptures ... / by Stephen Ford ...

CHAP. XIII.

Where are several Questions Answered and Resol∣ved.

Quest. WHether a Church-member may with∣draw or absent himself from the Lord's Supper, upon any Sin, or Offence given him, by one or more of his Fellow-members in the Church?

Answ. The offended Member may not with∣draw, nor by any means absent himself on that Account. Too many indeed are apt to think, (and they Act accordingly) that they have a Dispensation to neglect their Duty, and practi∣cally to slight their Priviledge, because others are not so good as they should be, and have gi∣ven them Offence. But that which gives them such a Dispensation, is their own Pride, Igno∣rance, Prejudice and wilfulness, not Jesus Christ their Head. But I say, you may not absent your selves, or neglect that great Ordinance up∣on such Accounts. (1) Because it is your Du∣ty to receive it, and wait on Christ in it, (as

hath been shewed) and it is not anothers Sin, that can discharge you of your Duty. (2) If thy Brother hath sinned, and thereby incapaci∣tated himself for a worthy receiving and celebrating of this holy Ordinance; thou hast the greater Reason offered thee, to come and re∣ceive it worthily to the honour of Christ. For it is most unreasonable, that he should be de∣prived of the Glory of his Grace, and thy Du∣ty, because thy Brother hath sinned against him, and dishonoured him already. (3) Hast thou rebuked thy sinning Brother, and laboured to bring him to Repentance? and art thou mour∣ning, and praying for him, and waiting on God for his Recovery, as thou art bound to do? 1 Cor. 5.2. Why! then his Sin shall not be laid to thy Charge; neither may it impede or hin∣der thy Reception of this Ordinance. (4) It is thy Prejudice and Wrath against, if not thy Loathing and Hating of the offending Person, that causes thy Neglect, or the Guilt thou hast contracted to thy own Soul and Conscience, that makes thee forbear coming to the Lord's Table, and not a dutiful and conscientious For∣bearance, because God would have it so. For it is contrary to his holy Will. (5) Allow of this, and you will never want occasions, but the Devil and your own Lusts will still supply you with enough, to provoke and perswade you to a total neglect of this Duty.

Quest. Suppose I find my self unfit and indis∣posed to receive the Lord's Supper, may not I neg∣lect it?

Answ. No: for thy waiting on Christ at his Table is thy Duty, as hath been proved. And

therefore thou maist not think of neglecting it; but the more unfit and indisposed thou findest thy self to be, the more seriously, diligently and vigorously thou shouldst labour to prepare thy self, and get the removal of thy Indispositions: To obtain and put on the Wedding-Garment, that thou maist worthily partake of this Ordi∣nance. If the Iron be blunt; the harder you must strike, Eccl. 10 10. The more unprepared you are, the more and greater diligence you must use to prepare. I know that Church-members are subject to this Temptation, which if yielded to, will bring on many Mischiefs upon their Souls, as some have sadly experienced. But what hinders, that you endeavour not the removal of these Evils presently? you may not alwayes live so, but one time or other you must get rid of them, unless you will perish. And when will you find a fitter time for the doing of it, than now? Therefore know, that you have two great and indispensible Duties lying before you. 1. To use all means for the removing all Obstructions, and to get your Hearts in a ready meet posture for God and your Duties, Amos, 4.12. (2) To wait on Christ at his Table on the next opportunity, 1 Cor. 1••.28. and not to add Sin to Sin by neglecting either of them.

Quest. What do you think of those Members, who do wilfully neglect to come to the Lord's Table very often, and for a long time together? or of such as will ride out of Town such dayes, as they are called to partake of it?

Answ. First, either they are dead rotten Members, such as are mentioned in Matth. 13.20, 21. Joh. 15.2, 6. Heb. 6. and Heb. 10. or

else they have fouly back sliden from God, and contracted much guilt and hardness of Heart. You may be sure that matters go very ill with them at home, and that they are in a withering and dying condition: that they have wickedly forsaken God, and God hath forsaken them, 2 Chron. 15.2. They have most horribly sin∣ned against Knowledge and Conscience, grieved the holy Spirit, and alienated their Hearts from God. They have lost the savour of Christ, that was on their Hearts, the Conscience of, and love to their Duties, all care of, and respect to their own and their Brethren's Souls; and have with Ephraim, cast off the thing that is good; and therefore Evil pursues them, Hosea. 8.3. and they are under the Temptations of the Devil. For were it not thus with them, they could not, durst not do as they do in this great and weigh∣ty matter. The sight of their Duty, the sense of their own wants, and their love to Christ, their Brethren and their own Souls, would in no wise permit, or dispense with such wilful neglects of so great a Duty and Priviledge, and to keep at a distance from their God. And if you mind them, and have close discourse with them about spiritual things, you may find them neglecters and slighters of other Duties; of Carnal, Vain, Sottish and Stupid Spirits; and that their Hearts and Souls are in a sad and mi∣serable condition. They desire not, care not for your Company, nor to hear you talk with them about their Soul's concernments. And if they pretend any excuse, or offer to defend their ••••glects; be sure they will cast all, or most of the blame or cause off from themselves on o∣thers;

which argues a vile wicked Spirit. They neglect the Lord's Table, not because their own Hearts & Wayes are very evil and abomina∣ble, (if any will believe them) no; but be∣cause their Ministry, the Church, or some par∣ticular Members of it are not good enough for their Communion. And herein they blas∣pheme or scandalize them, and offer violence to their own Consciences, for the clearing of them∣selves, and in belying their Teacher or Bre∣thren.

Quest. Is not Excommunication an Ordinance of Christ in his Church?

Answ. Yea, it is a great and useful Ordi∣nance, which may not be neglected, when need requires, on any pretence whatsoever; because the Lord Jesus, the King and Head of his Churches hath instituted and commanded it to be done; and hath thereby made it their indis∣pensible Duty, Matth. 18.15, 16, 17. 1 Cor. 5.4, 5, 11, 12, 13. 2 Thes. 3.6, 14.

Quest. For what ends must the Church use this Ordinance? and why hath Christ appointed it, and commanded the Administration of it?

Answ. For these Six ends, 1. To remove Offence from the Church. For a scandalous Member continuing in his Impenitency is a Stumbling-block to them. 2. The healing of the Offender, by bringing him to deep Convicti∣on of his Sin, and Repentance for it: to hum∣ble him, to cause him to own and acknowledge his Sin, and amend his Wayes, 2 Cor. 2.5, 6, 7. 3. To clear the Church of the guilt of his Sin. For if they neglect their Duty, and so practi∣cally wink at his Sin, they involve themselves

in the guilt of it, 1 Tim. 5.22. 4. To caution others, and cause them to hear and fear, and do not so wickedly, Deut. 21.21. Deut. 17.12, 13. 5. To free the Church from Reproach and Scan∣dal from without; for their Enemies will un∣doubtedly defame them, if they hear that they suffer visible Transgressors among them. 6. To purge out the Leaven, that the Church may be a pure Lump; 1 Cor. 5.7, 8. and a holy Habitation of God, Eph. 2.

Quest. When must this Ordinance be used in the Church?

Answ. Only in case of necessity, when other means will not convince and bring Offenders to serious and hearty Repentance, prevent or re∣move the other Evils, or obtain the Ends before mentioned, Matth. 18.15, 16, 17.

Quest. What is Excommunication?

Answ. It is the cutting off a Church-member from his Membership with the Church, putting him out of their Communion and Society, and shutting him out from the enjoyment of all Church-Priviledges, & putting him into the De∣vils Kingdom: or to deliver him to Satan, in the name of Christ, for the destruction of the flesh, that his Spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord, 1 Cor. 5.4, 5. It is variously expressed in Scrip∣ture in the fore-quoted Texts, Matth. 18. 2 Thes. 3.1 Cor. 5.

Quest. But is not Excommunication an high Act of Cruelty, and too great Severity for a Church to use towards their Follow-members?

Answ. No. For it is one of Christ's healing Medicines, wherewith he cures Souls, and one of his soveraign Means whereby he sets broken

bones in joynt. The loving, kind and compassi∣onate Head and Father of his People hath not such a heart towards them, neither hath he shewed any Cruelty or undue Severity towards them in his appointing this Ordinance for his Churches, and requiring the Execution of it on obstinate Transgressors for their Health & Cure. 2. The executing of this healing Ordinance on such, is so far from being an Act of Cruelty, as that it is one of the highest Acts of our Love, Favour and Kindness to their Souls; and the wil∣ful neglect of it, is one of the highest Acts of Cruelty, that we can shew them. For to let a Brother alone in his Sin and known Wickedness, see him in the Ditch and leave him there: knowing him dropping into Hell, and not use the means the Lord hath given us, for the help∣ing of him out, and preventing of his eternal Ruine, is such a piece of Cruelty and horrible Injustice, as that there can hardly be greater found among men. If it be Cruelty in me to use the Lords means for saving of my Brother's Soul, then let it be so called and accounted, not else. And great is their simple Ignorance, or wilful Blindness, who think and talk after this rate; and too many of them, are found in the Churches of Christ.

Quest. But for what sins should this Ordinance be administred to, or executed on Church-mem∣bers?

A. For any sins that are not unavoydable Infir∣mities, if persisted in, & the Offenders reject or neglect to hear, receive, and improve Reproofs, to their Conviction, Sorrow, and Amendment; to their deep Humiliation, Confession and vo∣luntary

Acknowledgment. The Lord Jesus hath not told us in particular, for what sins Offenders should be Excommunicated out of the Church; but tells us in Ma••th 18.15. that if thy Brother sin against thee: He names not the particular sin or sins; but that expression implys any sin, that is not an unavoydable infirmity in him: And mark it, It is not the matter of the sin that is so much to be minded, as the manner of sinning, and the Circumstances wherewith it is attended. As 1. If a sin that is generally known among Professors of the Gospel, and owned to be a sin, and which the Sinner cannot be ignorant of, especially when it is laid before him, and opened to him by the Reprover. (2.) VVilfully or carelesly committed. (3.) If it be a scandalous sin, and pernitious to God or Men. (4.) If com∣mitted upon deliberation. (5.) VVith heat and fervour of spirit. (6.) If committed after Conviction of the Evil of it, and Repentance for it. (7.) If it be persisted in after Admoni∣tion, or the Offender shall slight or neglect Bro∣therly Reproof under it, and shall contemn the first and second Admonition turning a deaf ear to it; or shall not repent and give satisfacti∣on for the wrong he hath done by his sin; I say, let the matter of the sin be what it will, if at∣tended with some, or all these Circumstances and Aggravations; the Church may by Christ's Authority proceed against him, and cut him off. To name some few of the many sins, which if not repented of, but persisted in, which they may be judged to do, until they manifest open Repen∣tance. (1) Strong & violent Passions. (2.) Ap∣parent Wrath, Envy, Bitterness, and Anger

shewed without great provocation. (3.) Appa∣rent Frowardness, Peevishness, Clamour, & Strife. (4.) Jangling, Disputing, & Peace-breakings, & all things that directly tend to hinder the Edifi∣cation and Peace of the Church. (5.) Back-bitings, and speaking evil against, or of one a∣nother. (6.) Constant or frequent neglects of Family and Church-duties, and the Ordinances of God in them. (7.) Needless Associating and holding Communion with profane and scanda∣lous persons. (8.) Defrauding any persons of their just dues any way, on any account whatso∣ever, when it might have been prevented. (9.) Disobedience to the Lawful Commands and Rules of Parents, Masters, Magistrates, El∣ders, or any other that have Authority over them. (10.) Publishing false Doctrines against the Fundamentals of the Gospel, Faith, and Worship. (11.) False Accusing any Persons, especially any of the Church. (12.) Railing at, or reviling others to their face, or behind their backs. (13.) Idleness, Tatling, and being Busie-bodies in other mens matters that concern them not. These, and many more of like im∣port, are such apparent sins, as that Church-members cannot be supposed to be ignorant of them, and they are very offensive Evils to God and men▪ So likewise is wilful deserting and causeless leaving of a Church at their own will and pleasure, and thereby have bro∣ken the Covenant of God. I have not room to enlarge on these brief hints of this matter; but I could otherwise say much more for the clearing and confirming of it.

Quest. May Churches keep out such persons as offer themselves to joyn with them, at their own will and pleasure, without apparent cause?

Ans. No, they may not; for 1. We have no dispensation to do so, but are bid to receive them, Rom. 14.1. Rom. 15.7. (2.) The Pri∣mitive Churches did receive persons, as soon as they proffered to joyn with them, unless they had any just cause to deny them; and what they did therein, was by Apostolical direction. (3.) By refusing to accept them into Commu∣nion speedily (without just cause) they do greatly wrong and injure them, and grieve such as the Lord would not have grieved. (1.) They keep them out of their Right, and detain from them their just dues; they deprive them of their Pri∣viledges which Christ hath bought for them. And (2,) Lay them under many and great Temptations to sin and despond. (4.) They rob God of his Honour and Glory, which he might receive from them in their Church-duties. (5.) They discourage persons from coming to, and joyning with them, and so expose them∣selves to ruine. For the Churches cannot long subsist without continual additions of new Members, because death is still fetching away, and pulling out of the old. (6.) They do ex∣pose themselves to reproach and just censure by such wilful neglects towards them. (7.) Or∣dinarily, they may be either received or re∣jected in one week, as well as in three months, did all mind and attend to their duty in their place in the Churches. Take heed that this e∣vil be not found in or among you; for assuredly it is a foul Iniquity to rob God, wrong Souls, and injure the Church; to grieve the hearts of the Godly, and tempt them to sin; which Ini∣quity you are guilty of, who by your negligence

or prejudice do keep them from Church. Ordi∣nances, who desire to partake of them with you, longer than of necessity.

Quest. May not Pastors leave their Churches upon any account whatsoever?

Ans. Doubtless God may, and somtimes he doth providentially call them off, and they ought to follow it. For (1.) There is not any Pre∣cept of Christ enjoyning them to stay with them all their days. (2.) Christ tells them, that if they be persecuted in one City, they may fly to ano∣ther, Matth. 10.23. But they may not leave them, no, not with the Churches consent and approbation, but upon some extraordinary Pro∣vidences and Calls of God. For as Christ their Master sent them there, and they were setled there by him, as the great Agent and Doer of it, to do his work, and minister in his Name, and by his Authority, with his Gifts & Blessing; so the Churches have nothing to do to dismiss and give them liberty to depart without the good leave and consent of Christ himself, who sent and set them in and among them. And therefore their leaving of the Churches, and the Churche; dis∣missing of them, is not their own act, but in and by the order and commission of Christ. What they do therein, must be only in, from, and by the Will and Pleasure of their Head and King, and not from their own. For without Warrant from him, the Churches have no power to leave their Pastors, nor their Pastors them.

Quest. When, or upon what accounts may Pa∣stors leave their Churches?

A s. First, when they are severely persecu∣ted, and their Enemies level their fiery Darts,

and shoot their Arrows of malice against their Persons and Families, and persist in their so do∣ing, so as that there is no probable way to escape them, but in all probability they shall be de∣voured by them. In this case, the Lord Jesus, the Apostles, and the Elders at Jerusalem fled and went their way; and hereby the Lord doth often call off Pastors now. (2.) In case the Churches leave them, and will not stand by them. (3.) In case their Churches fall into Rents & Schisms, and they grow so head-strong and unruly, as that they can do no good upon them, as somtimes it falls out. (4.) In case they cannot live and subsist with and by them, but in a miserable and distressed condition. For if the Churches provide not for them, and they have not otherwise a subsistance, they are not bound to provide for their Churches. For God hath ordained, that they, that preach the Gospel, should live of the Gospel, 1 Cor. 9.14. and they must live by Bread, and provide for their Fami∣lies, or they deny the Faith, and are worse than In∣fidels, 1 Tim. 5.8. (5.) In case the Lord doth open a door for their Ministry else-where, which is always to be observed in this matter. If Providence invite them else-where to mini∣ster to a People that they knew not of, and sought not after, but the hand of Providence presented it to them (as it were) accidentally, and are by that strange people (as to them) de∣sired to preach to, and take the care of them; and so they lay not down their work, but follow it in those other places, where in all probability they may do Christ and Souls greater Service, and not expose themselves thereby to those

Straits and Temptations to sin, they were in be∣fore: I say, take in this case with any of the other, & I am satisfied their Call is clear to leave their Churches.

Quest. May Church-members leave their Churches at their own will and pleasure, and go else-where when they please?

Ans. No, they may not: They must not leave them, unless by some extraordinary hand of Providence the Lord calls them off, to walk with another people. If by Persecution or by Pover∣ty, or by the command of their Parents, Hus∣bands, or Masters, or other Superiours, they are called off, they may go with the Churches consent, as likewise in other weighty cases. But they may not go from them at their own will and pleasure, to gratifie their Pride, Prejudice, and to please their own fickle minds and itching ears, or upon any ordinary account whatsoever; and that for these reasons, (1.) The Lord char∣ges them not to forsake their Churches, nor holding Communion and Fellowship with them in the Ordinances and Worship of God, Heb. 10.24, 25. (2.) He brands them, and sets a black mark of Ignonimy on all wilful and cause∣less Deserters of Churches, 1 Joh. 2.19. Heb. 10.25, 26. as the manner of some is, which is a con∣temptuous expression of them, who forsake their Church-membership, and their places, work and duty there. (3.) Deserters of their Church-membership at their own will and pleasure do make the Churches thereby to be like Inns or Ale-houses, where persons go in and out at their own will and pleasure. Such as do so in Fami∣lies and civil Societies, are accounted vile, law∣less

and extravagant persons, because they live not under good Laws, nor walk by the good Rules and Orders of the Society. How much more vile and lawless are Church-members, who have given up themselves in a professed subjection to Christ, 2 Cor. 9.13. and engaged to walk as Church-members, and yet shall walk, act, and go in and out, as lawless persons, who owe no subjection to Christ, nor to his Laws and Authority in the Church? (4.) Wilful Deserters of Churches, are notorious Covenant-breakers also. When they gave the right hand of Fellowship, and were received into the Church, they solemnly promised to walk with God in the Church, hold Communion with it, subject unto, and live under the Government and according to the Laws thereof, until God should by some extraordina∣ry Providence call them off: Yet notwithstand∣ing they call off themselves, and they do there∣by practically contemn and trample on their solemn Engagement, as well as on the Laws, Orders and Government of Christ. (5) Their causeless and wilful departure from and leaving of a Church, to which they were joyned, is very reproachful and scandalous to the Church. For by their so forsaking of it, they declare that they are too good, and the Church is too bad for their Communion. They cast dirt on the Church and the Ministry of Christ therein with a wit∣ness and manifest that either themselves, or the Church and the Ministry there, are very vile and wicked: Or else why did they leave and forsake them? It was either for their Goodness or Wickedness. Not for their Goodness in their

account, for should they pretend to leave them for their Goodness, they will thereby lay open their own Hypocrysie and Profaness to all men, and be sure that they will not do in words at least. Why then, what follows, but that the cause of their departure is the Churches and their Ministers Wickedness or Unworthiness? Thus they will do, and care not what mischief they do unto the Church, so they may but save stakes and gratifie their own Lusts. (6) Such Deserters of Churches are Church-destroyers: they fight against God, and pull down that which he builds up. God puts in and fastens stones, and they pull them out. He sets up and forms holy Temples for himself to dwell in, 2 Cor. 6.16. Eph. 2. ult. and they break them down, or deface and marr them at least. What Churches can stand in order, from and beauty, if the Members of them may do what they please, and go in and out when they will? (7) By such departures from their Churches they cut off and cast out themselves from the People of God, his Worship and Ordinances, and put them∣selves into the Devils Kingdom again. For they may not, ought not to be accepted or re∣ceived into any of the Churches of Christ else∣where, because they are disorderly walkers, and are under the blot of scanda ous persons, of lawless and disobedient Members. (8) They may not depart, because of the just occasion of Offence, Grief and Trouble, that they will give the Church thereby; excepting in extraordinary cases, or are necessitated by staying and hold∣ing Communion with the Church to partake with them in Sin. And it is remarkable, how

God hath declared his abhorrence of such de∣partures by the Judgments, that have followed such as have been guilty of it.

Finally my Brethren; let us all mind and fol∣low the things that make for peace, and things wherewith one may edifie another, Rom. 14.19. Let us in all our doings and procedures, con∣sult and endeavour to know the will of God, walk by his Laws, conform to, be ruled by, and practise the holy and perfect will of our glorious Head, & soveraign Lord and King, Joh. 14.15. Joh. 15.10. Rom. 12.1, 2. Eph. 6.6. Joh. 14.21, 23. 1 Joh. 5.2, 3. Let us never adventure on any actions or things, until we have a Divine Warrant for it, and when we have that in our eye, let us proceed with all our might, doing that which is the Will of God, and that because it is his Will. For then we may, and shall be able to do our works comfortably. Then we shall do them as the holy Will of God in obedi∣ence to his Command and Authority. Then shall we please and honour our Head and King, and by Faith and Hope look for, and expect his free and gracious Acceptance, and his promised Assistance; as also a great Reward in this life and that which is to come. Then you may con∣fidently expect, and chearfully look for Fellow∣ship and Communion with God in all your ways and Duties, when in your places and stations, you are really observing and doing the holy and perfect Will of God, and not your own.