A37205:195
The power of Congregational churches asserted and vindicated in answer to a treatise of…
The power of Congregational churches asserted and vindicated in answer to a treatise of Mr. J. Paget entitled The defence of church-government exercised in classes and synods / by John Davenport.The power of Congregational churches asserted and vindicated in answer to a treatise of Mr. J. Paget intituled The defence of church-government exercised in classes and synods / by John Davenport.
London: printed for Rich. Chiswell and to be sold by John Usher of Boston, 1672
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Answ. 1. This Argument is built upon a mistake or error in the foundation of it. For the Rule prescribed in Matth. 18. is ••t for removal of all offences, but of such private and less heinous offences as grow public and notorious, only by the obstinacy of the Delinquent. For, if offences be public and heinous in themselves, the Apostle doth not direct Churches to proceed by those steps, 1 Cor. 5.11. Rev. 22.15.
Answ. 1. This Argument is built upon a mistake or error in the foundation of it. For the Rule prescribed in Matth. 18. is ••t for removal of all offences, but of such private and less hainous offences as grow publick and notorious, only by the obstinacy of the Delinquent. For, if offences be publick and heinous in themselves, the Apostle doth not direct Churches to proceed by those steps, 1 Cor. 5.11. Rev. 22.15.
2. Nor doth it make the People Rulers of their Rulers, or Judges of their Judges, ⟨p. 137⟩when we say, that the Church hath a power over them, in case of Delinquency. For Excommunication is not an act of the highest Rule, or Authority, but of the highest Judgment; and therefore the Power of it may well be in the whole Church, as their Privilege, without any intrenchment upon the Rule and Authority of Elders, wherein, as Officers, they are above the Brethren, whilst they act according to Rule: But, if they become Delinquents, then as Members, they are under the Power of the whole. The Church must submit to them, as Rulers, whilst they rightly exercise the Authority of their Office, in Preaching, Administering the Seals, holding forth light from Scripture to guide them in censure, ordering Speech and Silence according to Rules of Order and Edification, and in other Official Acts: But they must submit to the Church, questioning, or proceeding to censure them with good advice of Neighbour-Churches and Elders; (who as they concurred in giving them the right hand of fellowship in their Ordination, so they should concur in approving this Censure, as justly inflicted by the Church, from parity of reason.) The Mayor in a free City, or Corporation, is, in the right Administration