The cry of a stone, or, a treatise; shewing what is the right matter, forme, and government of the visible church of Christ. How, and wherein the present Church of England is wanting and defective, both in the body of the land, and in the parochiall branches thereof, with divers reasons and grounds taken from the Scriptures, to perswade all that feare God, rather to suffer any afflictions at the hands of men, than to submit to mans carnall policy and humane devices in the worship of God, or be deprived of the sweet fellowship of the saints in the right order of the Gospel. Together with a just reproofe of the over-strained and excessive separation, contentions and divisions of such as commonly are called Brownists. By Robert Coachman.

The visible Church hath right to all Gods Ordinances.

IT is then a societie of religious and faithfull people, that have right * 1.1 to Gods spirituall Ordinances, and such onely may, and must use them, so farre as they are able. They are all of them to strive to attaine the best gifts, and especially to prophesie, yea, and if it were possible, * 1.2 to be Doctors, and that not in bare conceit, but in truth and soundnesse, and such amongst them as excell in gifts and graces they are much to love and reverence, and also to encourage them to the orderly use of the * 1.3 grace they have received, without hiding their talent, that so all may learne and receive comfort. * 1.4

And because all good men have not one and the same gift, therefore every one is advisedly to consider, what his portion is, and what he may take to, and where he must stay, that none run beyond their line, presume above that which is meet. * 1.5

Some have the gift of utterance, and are fluent in speech, others a gift of discerning to judge of that which is uttered: some are excel∣lent * 1.6 in prayer, others are sweet in singing, some are apt to move pro∣fitable * 1.7 questions, others prompt in answering them, some can dispute very profitably, others can receive much helpe by disputation, &c.

And many times they which are of little manifestation, and least seene to meddle in publique passages are most holy and strict in their conversation, whose examples doe often times preach as profitably as if * 1.8 they had the greatest fluencie of speech that could be.

Neither must the Saints be envious against one another, because they have not one and the same gift: for one and the same spirit worketh diversly in all the members of the Church, that this spiritu∣all body may be compleate, and performe all spirituall offices; as the naturall body hath divers members, and all for severall offices, much lesse may any hide their talent, because it is not of the same measure with others; since he which had but one talent was required to traf∣fique * 1.9 as well as he that had five, and all the servants are commanded to watch as well (though not so much) as the Porter. * 1.10

This visible Church of Saints stand bound and tied each to other, [ 2] not onely by the common rule of Christianity; but by their very in∣corporating and combining together into a Church State, or spiri∣tuall policie, from which naturally or necessarily ariseth that which we call the Discipline, or power which is independent amongst themselves, for the curing and purging of sin and sinners that breake * 1.11 out amongst them into any enormous or scandalous practice.

For as in cities and corporations, each member carefully observeth

whether his neighbour observe the rules of the Charter wherunto he * 1.12 is sworne, and upon default in matter of weight, the partie offending is either disfranchized, or otherwise corrected civilly; so in this bro∣therhood or spirituall policie of the Church, each man observeth, as himselfe, so his fellow members, that if any find his brother to trans∣gresse against the heavenly Charter, and Covenant made with God and his people, he reproveth and admonisheth him lovingly betwixt them two alone, and if it be any capitall or scandalous evill, and that * 1.13 he will not repent of it, then the brother offended, taketh with him one or two, to helpe, convince and reprove the sinner, and to witnesse both the fact, and the due proceeding thereabout; and if hee will not hearc them so as to repent, then to complaine to the congrega∣tion, whereof hee is a member, that so being rebuked of many, hee may * 1.14 yet at last be ashamed, and give God the glory, and so receive for∣givenesse of God and men. But if hee will not heare nor regard the Church, nor in reverence to that sacred meanes of his recovery, re∣pent and humble himselfe for his sinne, then the Church with humble and sorrowfull hearts must cut him off as a decayed member, and deliver him unto Satan, that so that proud and corrupt flesh may be destroyed, and the spirit saved in the day of the Lord Iesus. * 1.15

Provided still, that all these proceedings be in love, lenitie and compassion, and that no man be brought to the Church, much lesse * 1.16 censured; for infirmities and failing in judgement, or for matters in our times doubtfull and controversall, but for matters of weight, and such evills as being persisted in, doe out of doubt, shut the party out of heaven, of which more hereafter▪

And for their more better and orderly proceeding in the use of all the Ordinances of God in the Church, they are as soone as any, fit [ 3] men rise out of them, or joyne unto them, to make choice of some for their Bishops, Pastors or Elders, upon whom they must ordinarily * 1.17 depend, for the dispensing of the Word, Prayer and Sacraments; as also to rule, guide, and goe before them in their consultations decrees, and execution of Discipline, and all other publique businesse.

These Bishops or Elders may not intrude themselves into their of∣fices * 1.18 and ministrations, by any forreigne or civill power, but must be chosen by that Church and societie of Saints in which they are to administer.

Their ordination or putting in possession, must be with giving a charge to them, with some signe, either of giving the hand, or laying hands upon their heads, which may be done either by the Elders of some other Church, who as brethen may assist and helpe their neigh∣bours, so farre as they can; or rather by some principall man amongst * 1.19 themselves: since it cannot be imagined with any shew of reason, that there is any universall Ministery since the Apostles dayes, neither

any that can execute their office out of that particular flocke where∣of the holy Ghost hath made them overseers, no more then the Lord Major * 1.20 of London may goe and execute justice in the Citie of Yorke, of which more hereafter.

And although in the Common-wealth, a Lordly and Imperious * 1.21 rule may be tollerable, yet the Ministerie of the Church is of another nature, and may not be imagined to be any matter of State, or to stand for any carnall pompe, but is a matter of meet service, and they * 1.22 are constantly to labor in spirituall works in all humility & patience, giving themselves wholy to their ministrations, and studying to approve themselves to every mans conscience in the sight of God. Neither is their office for name and forme, but for the preservation of order and comlinesse in Church Ordinances, that all the rights and privi∣ledges of the Church may be used and continued in a grave and com∣iy manner, as they are excellent in their substance and matter.

And as these Bishops or Elders are to preach constantly the Word, [ 4] both on the Lords Day, and other times of the Churches meetings, * 1.23 and to administer the Sacraments in both kinds upon the members of the Church, as there is occasion; as also to execute and declare the publique decrees, determinations and censures of the Church: So they are not any way to infringe the liberty of the Saints, or ingrosse their privileges, but still to foster & cherish all those severall gifts and graces which are in all, or any of the members. They must still up∣hold and maintaine in the Church the stoole of the Prophets, and to have in great esteeme Prophesying or preaching by men of gifts and * 1.24 aptnesse, though not in office, that so all may learne and increase, that so fit and able men may be bred up in the Church, whom the body * 1.25 may appoint into office of Ministerie in after times, or when any of their officers shall any way faile.

Neither may the Elders deprive the Saints of their lawfull and Christian libertie in their elections, rejections or determinations in * 1.26 the Church by any fore-stallings, repressings, insultings, or preven∣tions, but contenting themselves with meeke and grave counsell to goe before the rest in their proceedings; and if the body of the Church shall not agree to that which the officers shall thinke best, that yet the officers thinke it no disparagement to their eminencie, or honour to be overswayed, and led beside their mindes and purposes sometimes by the body of the Church, whose servants they are, knowing, that where the honour and order of God is observed, no man can truly receive any dammage.

And as the visible Church must continue their assembling and [ 5] communicating together in all actions for the soule, so the duties of love, and their communion in temporall things for the body may in * 1.27 no wise be neglected, whilest this fraile life lasteth, which commu∣nion

in giving and receiving, though it be no religious action in it selfe, * 1.28 yet is it of such simple necessitie and affinitie thereunto, as that it may no more be severed from religion, then good workes may be severd from faith; and for their more easie, and substantiall doing these duties, and relieving the wants of their brethren, they are o looke out wise and trustie men, from amongst themselves, whom they are * 1.29 to choose and appoint to this businesse, and to whom they must com∣mit their money and treasure, and to whose wisedome and faithful∣nesse * 1.30 they must referre the distribution and disposing of those tem∣porall things.

And in this contribution the Saints whom God hath blessed with * 1.31 any portion of this worlds goods must accordingly extend their mercifull liberality with all cheerefulnesse, yea, and if need so require, to sell even their lands and goods, and whatsoever they have to relieve * 1.32 the wants of their poore brethren, without any murmuring or dis∣content, remembring, that the life of a Christian is more precious then any thing else in this world.

This distribution of the Churches benevolence, must be to the Elders that toyle in the Word and Doctrine, as also to the poore, aged, * 1.33 sicke, and helplesse persons, especially those of the houshold of Faith, that so the will of God may be done, and all comfort and encourage∣ment given to the poore Saints, as also all murmuring complaints and outcries prevented, by which it may be said, (and that not without * 1.34 cause) that the Church hath pietie, but no pitie.

Neither is the widowes office to be forgotten as a needlesse thing, [ 6] but if it fall out that amongst the Church there be found some aged * 1.35 and grave widowes who are loosed from the bands of wanton youth, and have age upon them as a crowne of glory, being yet healthy, cheerefull, and strong, the Church is there to choose and appoint them for Deaconesses, * 1.36 or tenders of the sick, and to allow them such reliefe and maintenance, * 1.37 as is needfull and fit, knowing that in sickenesse there is required much labour and paines, and most neede of comfort and encou∣ragement.

And thus the Church and people of God, goe hand in hand, both in sicknesse and in health, in poverty and in wealth, in adversitie and prosperitie, rejoycing together, weeping together, and being of like * 1.38 affection, in a sweet and heavenly sympathie, holding out in adver∣sitie * 1.39 without shrinking, and persevering in prosperity with all mo∣deration.

Notes

• * 1.1

  SECT. 2.
• * 1.2

  1 Cor. 14. 1. 2. Heb. 5. 12.
• * 1.3

  1. Cor. 16. 18.
• * 1.4

  & 14. 29. 30. 31
• * 1.5

  1. Cor. 10. 16. Rom. 12. 3.
• * 1.6

  1. Cor. 12. 4. 5. 6.
• * 1.7

  The gifts of the Church.
• * 1.8

  1 Thes. 1. 7. 8.
• * 1.9

  Mat. 25. 26. 27.
• * 1.10

  Mar. 13. 24. 27
• * 1.11

  1. Cor. 5. 7.
• * 1.12

  The power of the Church.
• * 1.13

  Mat. 18. 15. 16 17.
• * 1.14

  2. Cor. 2. 6.
• * 1.15

  1. Cor. 5. 5.
• * 1.16

  1. Cor. 16. 14.
• * 1.17

  2. Tim. 2. 2. Tit. 1. 6. 7.
• * 1.18

  Iohn 10. 1. 2. Ministers elec∣tion. Act. 6. 3. 5. and 14. 23. Ordination of the ministers. 1. Tim. 5. 22.
• * 1.19

  No succession of any universall Ministerie now.
• * 1.20

  Act. 20. 28.
• * 1.21

  Ministers no Lords 1 Pet. 5. 3.
• * 1.22

  2 Cor. 4. 5. 1 Thes. 5. 12. Act. 6. 4. 2 Tim. 2. 16. 2 Cor. 4. 2.
• * 1.23

  The Ministers must still pre∣serve the liber∣tie of the Saints in the Church.
• * 1.24

  1 Cor. 14. 1. 2.
• * 1.25

  2 Tim. 4. 5. 6.
• * 1.26

  3 Ioh. ••. 10.
• * 1.27

  The Churches benevolence.
• * 1.28

  Philip. 4. 15. Iam. 2. 22.
• * 1.29

  Act. 6. 3. 5. 1 Tim. 3. 10.
• * 1.30

  The Deacons office.
• * 1.31

  1 Cor. 15. 2. Rom. 12. ••.
• * 1.32

  Act. 2. 45. Luke 12. 33.
• * 1.33

  1 Tim. 5. 17. 1 Cor. 9. 11. 12. Gal. 6. 10.
• * 1.34

  Act. 6. 1.
• * 1.35

  The widdowes office.
• * 1.36

  Prou. 16. 31.
• * 1.37

  1 Tim. 5. 9. 10 Rom. 16. 1. 2.
• * 1.38

  Rom. 12. 15. 16
• * 1.39

  2 Cor. 6. 8.