The power of Congregational churches asserted and vindicated in answer to a treatise of…

2. Other Churches and the Elders of them ought to preserve the entireness of Power of every particular Church, in re propriâ, inviolate. The Law of Love and Righteousness binds every man hereunto. One Corporation must uphold the just Rights, Liberties, and Power of another. If a man see his brothers Ox or Sheep go astray, he must in any case bring them again unto his brother, Deut. 22.1. much more if he see a Sheep of Christ go astray by sinful prejudice against the Church, he must in any case convince him of his error, and bring him again to the Church, as the Angel returned Hagar to Sarah her Mistress, Gen. 16.8, 9. For this purpose, 1. They must not receive an accusation against an Elder (much less, against the Church and Eldership) under two or three witnesses, 1 Tim. 5.19. therefore much less, from a Delinquent under public censure, and that in his one cause. 2. If more join with him attesting what he saith; they must see, 1 Whether they do it, in a way of faction, siding with a censured Delinquent against the Church, or no. If yea; they ⟨p. 159⟩must testify against their way, as contrary to Rule, and avoid them, as disturbers of the peace of the Church, Rom. 16.17. If not; they must inquire, 1, whether they have pleaded with the Church it self, Hos. 2.2. in such manner as becometh such as would approve themselves to love the Truth and Peace, Zach. 8.21. before they become accusers of the Brethren unto others. 2 Whether they proceed peaceably, or tumultuously? and tumultuously they do act, if they seek nor Light in the use of Means, first, at home, but refuse help that way, when it is offered them, that they may make trouble and disturbance to the Church, by spreading their complaints abroad, and those, not to some one Church, without whose help the question cannot be ended, as the Church at Antioch sent to the Church at Jerusalem, but to eight or nine Churches, some nearer, some far distant from the Church, some 40, 50, 100, 150 miles off, and that without giving notice of their purpose to the Church, or having their consent thereunto, or so much as to the stating of the question. If so, they may clearly see an evil spirit working in the business, with which, others should have no fellowship,