The way of the churches of Christ in New-England, or, The way of churches…The vvay of the churches of Christ in New-England, or, The vvay of churches…

Answ. These Arbiters in the Church had not place or office of Government, but of Counsel only, to direct brethren in the judgement of right and wrong, equity and inequity; nor was such a power of such Arbitration any special gift; for the Apostle thinketh every member of the Church, even the least capable enough of it, and sufficient for it. Nor is it well said, since God hath set up Christian Magistrates, there need no Arbiter to be set up in the Church, nor Church Governors; For it is plain, the Apostle maketh it a fault or defect in the Church of Corinth, that any of their members went to law at all for such suites, as the least member of the Church, (if he were called to hear the case) ⟨p. 19⟩might arbitrate and determine; and he maketh it a further fault, that they go to law under Infidels. Now therefore, saith he, there is utterly a fault among you, that brother goeth to law with brother, and that under Infidels, ver. 6, 7. The former is a defect of brotherly love, the latter is a neglect of the honour of Christ, and of his Church: and before Infidels. If brother goes to law with brother before Christian Magistrates, the latter of these faults is avoided, but not the former. Neither may it be thought, as some have done, that the benefit of Christian Magistracy taketh off the necessity of Church-Government: For the government of the Church, is as the Kingdom of Christ is, not of this world, but spiritual and heavenly. The power of the keys is far distant from the power of the sword, and though one of them may need the help of the other, when they go astray, yet when they are rightly ordered, and administered, the one of them doth not intercept, but establish the execution of the other.

Answ. These Arbiters in the Church had not place or office of Government, but of Counsell onely, to direct brethren in the judgement of right and wrong, equitie and inequitie; nor was such a power of such Arbitration any speciall gift; for the Apostle thinketh every member of the Church, even the least capable enough of it, and sufficient for it. Nor is it well said, since God hath set up Christian Magistrates, there need no Arbiter to be set up in the Church, nor Church Governours; For it is plaine, the Apostle maketh it a fault or defect in the Church of Corinth, that any of their members went to law at all for such suites, as the least member of the Church, (if he were called to heare the case) ⟨p. 19⟩