Ergo before excommunication, they must publicly and by the power of the keys, convince them of Heresy, rebuke them, pray for them, and finally by the spirit of Paul a Pastor, 1 Cor: 5. 4. judicially cast them out. Now let all be Judges, if this be far from pastoral preaching, and if here be not ministerial acts, and the highest judicial and authoritative censure exercised by no Ministers at all; and what hindereth by this reason, but the independent Church (that doth publicly and authoritatively pray, fast, rebuke, convince gainsayers, make and unmake, by the power of the keys, pastors and Ministers) may also without Ministers preach, and administer the Sacraments? against which the Separatists themselves do speak and give reasons from Scripture, that none may administer the Sacraments, until the pastors and teachers be chosen and ordained in their office.1 But hence we clearly see an independent Church constituted in its complete essence, and exercising ministerial acts, and using the keys without any ministry and edifying their Ministers, so that a ministry is accidental, and a stranger to the independent Church both in its nature and working, and seeing they edify others without a ministry: why may not private Families, where the independent Church dwelleth, edify themselves without a public ministry? I read in Arminian and Socinian writings, that seeing the Scriptures are now patent to all. 1 A sent Ministry is rather useful and profitable then necessary. 2 The preaching of the Word by Ministers is not necessary: So Episcopi•s: ⟨p. 197⟩The Arminians in their Apology,2 and the Catechise of Raccovia: I will not impute these conclusions to our dear brethren,3 but I entreat the father of Lights to make them see the premisses.4 3 Three or four believers this way in covenant joined together to worship God,5 have intensively and essentially all the power of the keys, as the Council convented at Jerusalem, Acts 15. 4. the power of Ordination, public praying, public and authoritative convincing of the gainsayers, and judicial rebuking, which Paul ascribeth to the Pastors and preaching Elders, 1 Tim: 5. 20, 21. 1 Tim: 3. 2. Tit: 1. 9. 2 Tim: 4. 2. as essential parts proper to their calling, do not agree at all to pastors, but by accident, in so far as they are believers, or parts of an independent congregation by this doctrine;
Ergo before excommunication, they must publickly and by the power of the keyes, convince them of Heresie, rebuke them, pray for them, and finally by the spirit of Paul a Pastor, 1 Cor: 5. 4. judicially cast them out. Now let all be Judges, if this be farre from pastorall preaching, and if here be not ministeriall acts, and the highest judiciall and authoritative censure exercised by no Ministers at all; and what hindreth by this reason, but the independent Church (that doth publickly and authoritatively pray, fast, rebuke, convince gainsayers, make and unmake, by the power of the keyes, pastours and Ministers) may also without Ministers preach, and administer the Sacraments? against which the Separatists themselves doe speake and give reasons from Scripture, that none may administer the Sacraments, untill the pastors and teachers be chosen and ordained in their office.1 But hence we clearly see an independent Church constituted in its compleat essence, and exercising ministeriall acts, and using the keyes without any ministry and edifying their Ministers, so that a ministry is accidentall, and a stranger to the independent Church both in its nature and working, and seeing they edifie others without a ministry: why may not private Families, where the independent Church dwelleth, edifie themselves without a publick ministry? I reade in Arminian and Socinian writings, that seeing the Scriptures are now patent to all. 1 A sent Ministry is rather usefull and profitable then necessary. 2 The preaching of the Word by Ministers is not necessary: So Episcopi•s: ⟨p. 197⟩The Arminians in their Apology,2 and the Catechise of Raccovia: I will not impute these conclusions to our deare brethren,3 but I intreat the father of Lights to make them see the premisses.4 3 Three or foure believers this way in covenant joyned together to worship God,5 have intensively and essentially all the power of the keyes, as the Councell convented at Hierusalem, Acts 15. 4. the power of Ordination, publick praying, publick and authoritative convincing of the gainsayers, and judiciall rebuking, which Paul ascribeth to the Pastors and preaching Elders, 1 Tim: 5. 20, 21. 1 Tim: 3. 2. Tit: 1. 9. 2 Tim: 4. 2. as essentiall parts proper to their calling, doe not agree at all to pastors, but by accident, in so farre as they are beleevers, or parts of an independent congregation by this doctrine;
- 1Separatists confess. art. 34. p. 25.
- 2Episcop disput. 26. 23.
- 3Remonstr. apol fol. 246.
- 4Remonstran in confess. c. 21 sec. •, 4.Remonstran in confes. c. 21 sec. •, 4.
- 5Cat•ches. Raccovie•s de eccles. C••isti a▪ 11. ••l. 305. 306. & 16. fol. •01 30•.
