The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

AGAIN, The manner of its Administration, according to the mind of Christ, may be considered. And hereunto are required, (1.) Prayer, without which it can no way be administered in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Administration of any solemn Ordinance of the Gospel, without Prayer, is an horrible profanation of it. And the neglect or contempt hereof, in any who take upon them to Excommunicate others, is an open Proclamation of the nullity of their Act and Sentence. And the observation of the Administration of it without any due Reverence of God, without solemn invocation of the Name of Christ, thereby engaging his Presence and Authority in what they do, is that principally which hath set the Consciences of all mankind at liberty from any concernment in this Ecclesiastical Censure; and whence those that Administer it expect no other success of what they do, but what they can give it by outward force. And where this fails, Excommunication is quickly laid aside. As it was when the Pope threatened the Cantons of the Swissers, that if they complied not with some of his Impositions, he would Excommunicate them; whereon they sent him word they would not be Excommunicated, which ended the matter. Wherefore, when our Lord Jesus Christ gives unto his Church the power of binding and loosing, directing them in the exercise of that power, he directs them to ask assistance by Prayer, when they are gathered together, Matth. 18.18, 19, 20. And the Apostle directs the Church of Corinth, that they should proceed unto this Sentence when they were gathered together in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Cor. 5.4. which could not be without calling on his Name. In brief, without Prayer, neither is the Ordinance it self sanctified unto the Church, nor are any meet to Administer it, nor is the Authority of Christ either owned or engaged, nor Divine Assistance attained; neither is what is done any more Excommunication than any rash Curse is, so that many proceed inordinately out of the Mouths of Men.

AGAIN, The manner of its Administration, according to the mind of Christ, may be considered. And hereunto are required, (1.) Prayer, without which it can no way be administred in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Administration of any solemn Ordinance of the Gospel, without Prayer, is an horrible profanation of it. And the neglect or contempt hereof, in any who take upon them to Excommunicate others, is an open Proclamation of the nullity of their Act and Sentence. And the observation of the Administration of it without any due Reverence of God, without solemn invocation of the Name of Christ, thereby ingaging his Presence and Authority in what they do, is that principally which hath set the Consciences of all mankind at liberty from any concernment in this Ecclesiastical Censure; and whence those that Administer it expect no other success of what they do, but what they can give it by outward force. And where this fails, Excommunication is quickly laid aside. As it was when the Pope threatned the Cantons of the Swissers, that if they complied not with some of his Impositions, he would Excommunicate them; whereon they sent him word they would not be Excommunicated, which ended the matter. Wherefore, when our Lord Jesus Christ gives unto his Church the power of binding and loosing, directing them in the exercise of that power, he directs them to ask assistance by Prayer, when they are gathered together,