-1

really and indeed, yet not carnally and corporally, but spis ritually, receive and feed upon Christ crucified, and all benefits of his death: the body and blood of Christ being then not corporally or carnally in, with, or under the bread and wine; yet as really, but spiritually, present to the faith of believers in that ordinance, as the elements themselves aro to their outward senses o

VIII. Although ignorant and wicked men receive the outward elements in this sacrament, yet they receive not the thing signified thereby; but by their unworthy coming thereunto are guilty of the body and blood of the Lord, to their own damnation. Wherefore all ignorant and ungodly persons, as they are unfit to enjoy communion with

him, so are they unworthy of the Lord's table, and cannot, Hy without great sin against Christ, while they remain such, partake of these holy mysteries P, or be admitted thereunto %.

CHAP.

o I Cor. x. 16. The cup of blesga not good. Know ye not that a ing which we bless, is it not the little leaven leaveneth the whole communion of the blood of Christ? lump? Ver. 7. Purge out therefore the bread which we break, is it not the old leaven, that ye may be a the communion of the body of Christ? new lump, as ye are unleaven. VIII. Pi Cor. xi. 27, 28. (See in

ed. For even Christ our passover letter 1.] Ver. 29. For he that eat is sacrificed for us. Ver. 13. But eth and drinketh unworthily, eat them that are without God judge eth and drinketh damnaţion to him eth. Therefore put away from Belf, not discerning the Lord's body, among yourselves that wicked person. 2 Cor, vi. 14. Be ye not unequally 2 Thess, iii. 6. Now we coniniand yoked together with unbelievers : you, brethren, in the name of our for what fellowship hath righ- Lord Jesus Christ, that ye with. teousness with unrighteousness? and

draw yourselves from every brother that communion hath light with that walketh disorderly, and not darkness ? Ver, 15. And what con

after the tradition which he rem cord hath Christ with Belial? or

ceived of us. Ver. 14. And if any what part hath he that believeth man obey not our word by this with an infidel? Ver. 16. Aod epistle, note that man, and have no what agreement hath the temple company with him, that he may of God with idols? for ye are

be ashamed. Ver. 15. Yet count the temple of the living God; as him not as an enemy, but admonish God hath said, I will dwell in him as a brother. Mat, vii. 6. Give them, and walk in them; and I not that which is holy unto the dogs, will be their God, and they shall be neither cast ye your pearls before any people.

swine, lest they trample them under 8 I Cor. v. 6. Your glorying in their feet, and turn again and rend you

tha, who have spoken unte for kingdom of heavens and what

CHAP. XXX. Of Chúrch Censures.
THE Lord Jesus, as king and head of his church, hath

therein appointed a government in the hand of churchofficers, distinct from the civil magistrate a:

II. To these officers the keys of the kingdom of heaven are committed, by virtue whereof they have power respectively to retain and remit sins, to shut that kingdom against the impenitent, both by the word and censures ; and to open it unto penitent sinners, by the ministry of the gospel, and by absolution from censures, as occasion shall require

III. Church 1. & Isa. is. 6. For unto usa

the word of God; whose faith whild is born, anto us a son is given, follow, considering the end of their and the government shall be upon

conversation. Ver. 17. Obey them his shoulder and his name shall that have the rule over you, and be called Wonderful, Counsellor, submit yourselves: for they watch The mighty God, The everlasting

for your souls, as they that must Father, The Prince of Peace. Ver. 7. of the increase of his govern.

give account; that they may do it

with joy, and not with grief: for ment and peace there shall be no that is unprofitable for you.

Ver. end, upon the throne of David, and 24. Salute all them that have the opon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and

rule over you, and all the saints.

They of Italy' salute you. I Cor. with justice, from henceforth, even

xii. 28. And 'God hath set some in for ever : the zeal of the Lord of the church: first, apostles; seconhosts will perform this

. Tim.

darily, prophets; thirdly, teachers ; v. 17. Let the elders that rule well after that miracles; then gifts of be counted worthy of double honour,

healings, helps, governments

, diespecially they who labour in the versities of tongues. Mat. xxviii

. word and doctrine, i Thess. v. 12.

18. And Jesus came, and spake unAnd we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among

to them, saying, Al power is given

unto me in heaven and in earth. yon, and are over you in the Lord, Ver. 19. Go ye therefore, and

teach and admonish you. Acts xx. 17. all nations, baptizing them in the And from Miletus he sent to Ephe. sus, and called the elders of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost : Veri

name of the Father, and of the church. Ver. 18. And when they 20.' Teaching them to observe all were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first

things whatsoever I have commandday that I came into Asia, after alway, even unto the end of the

ed you; and, lo, I am with you what manner I have been with you world. Amen. at all seasons. Heb, xiii. 7. Remem. ber them which have the rule over

II. 6 Mat. xvi. 19. And I will give unto thee the keys of the

III. Church censures are necesary for the reclaiming and gaining of offending brethren; for deterring of others from the like offences; for purging out of that leaven which might infect the whole lump; for vindicating the honour of Christ, and the holy profession of the gospel; and for preventing the wrath of God, which might justly fall upon the church, if they should suffer his covenant, and the seals thereof, to be profaned by notorious and obstinate offenders

IV. For the better attaining of these ends, the officers of the church are to proceed by admonition, suspension from the sacrament of the Lord's Supper for a season, and by excommunication from the church, according to the nature of the crime, and demerit of the persona,

CHAP.

12

toever

soever thou shalt bind on earth, seech you, that he would confirmi shall be bound in heaven; and what.

your love towards him. soever thou shalt loose on earth, IIL.[1 Cor. V. throughout.] 1 Timi shall be loosed in heaven, Mat. v. 20. Them that sin rebuke before xvii . 17. And if he shall neglect all

, that others also may fear. Mate to hear them, tell it unto the vü. 6. Give not that which is holy church; but if he neglect to hear unto the dogs, neither cast ye your the church, let him be unto thee pearls before swine, lest they tramas an heathen man, and a publican, ple them under their feet, and turk Ver. 18. Verily i say unto you, again and rend you.

i Tim, i. 20 Whatsoever

ye

shall bind on earth, Of whom is Hymeneus and Alexann shall be bound in heaven; and what der; whom I have delivered once

ye shall loose on earth, shall Satan, that they may learn got be loosed in heaven. John xx. 21. to blaspheme. [1 Cor. xi. 27. to the Theo said Jesus to them again, Peace end.] With Jude, Ver. 23. And be unto you; as my Father hath others save with fear, pulling thema sent me, even so send I you. Ver. out of the fire; hating even the gar. 22. And when he had said this, ments spotted by the flesh. he breathed on them, and saith unto

IV. ai Thess. V. 12. And we them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost : beseech yon, brethren, to know Ver. 23. Whose soever sins ye remit,

them which labour among you, and they are remitted unto them; and are over you in the Lord, and adm whose soever sins ye retain, they monish you. 2 Thess. iii. 6. Now are retained. '2 Cor. i. 6. Sufficient we command you, brethren, in the to such a man is this punishment, game of our Lord Jesus Christ, that which was inflicted of many. Ver. ye withdraw yourselves from every 7. So that contrariwise, ye ought

brother that walketh disorderly, and rather to forgive him, and comfort not after the tradition which he rehin, lest perhaps such an one should ceived of us. Ver. 14. And if any be swallowed up with over-much man obey not our word by this sprrow. Ver. 8. Wherefore I ben spistle, note that man, and have no

- company

CHAP. XXXI. Of Synods and Councils. FOR "OR the better government, and further edification of

the church, there ought to be such assemblies as are commonly called Synods or Councilsa,

II. As magistrates may lawfully call a synod of ministers, and other fit persons, to consult and advise with about matters of religion b; so if magistrates be open ene. mies to the church, the ministers of Christ, of themselves, by virtue of their office, or they, with other fit persons upon delegation from their churches, may meet together in such assemblies

III. It

matter.

me.

are

tompany with him, that he may be things that God had done with them, ashamed. Ver. 15. Yet count him

Ver. 6. And the apostles and elders not as an enemy, but admonish hin

came together for to consider of this as a brother. 1 Cor. v. 4. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

II. b Isa. xlix. 23. And kings shall when ye are gathered together, and be thy nursing-fathers, and their my spirit, with the power of our

queens thy nursing-mothers; they Lord Jesus Christ, Ver. 5. To de

shall bow down to thee with their liver such an one unto Satan for the face toward the earth, and lick up destruction of the flesh, that the

the dust of thy feet, and thou shalt spirit may be saved in the day of know that I am the Lord; for they the Lord Jesus. Ver. 13, But them

shall not be ashamed that wait for that without God judgeth.

1 Tim. ii, 1. I exhort therefore, Therefore put away from among

that, first of all, supplications, prayers, yourselves that wicked person. Mat. intercessions, and giving of thanks, xviii. 17. And if he shall neglect to

be made for all men : Ver. 2. For hear them, tell it unto the church: kings, and for all that are in author but if he neglect to hear the church, rity; that we may lead a quiet and let him be unto thee as an heathen peaceable life in all godliness and man, and a publican. Tit. iii. 10. A honesty. [2 Chron. xix. 8. to the man that is an heretick, after the first end. and second admonition, reject.

2 Chron. Chapters xxix. and 1. a Acts xv. 2. When therefore

xxx. throughout.] Mat. ii. 4. And Paul and Barnabas had no small dis priests and scribes of the people to

when he had gathered all the chief sension and disputation with them, gether, he denranded of them where they determined that Paul and Bar

Christ should be born. Ver. 5. And nabas, and certain other of them, they said unto him, In Bethlehem pf should go up to Jerusalem unto the

Judea ; for thus it is written by the apostles and elders about this ques- prophet. Prov. xi. 14. Where no coun. tion.

Ver. 4. And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were re

sel is the people fall: but in the mulceived of the church and of the apos

titude of counsellors there is safety. tles and elders, and they declared all

Acts xv. 2, 4. [See in lettera 1 Ver. 22. Then pleased it the apostles

and

1

to hear them, tell it unto the

III. It belongeth to synods and councils ministerially to

determine controversies of faith, and cases of conscience; to bud

set down rules and directions for the better ordering of the => publick worship of God, and government of his church ; to

receive complaints in cases of mal-administration, and authoritatively to determine the same: which decrees and determinations, if consonant to the word of God, are to be received with reverence and submission, not only for their agreement with the word, but also for the power whereby

they are made, as being an ordinance of God, appointed Luthereunto in his word

IV. All synods or councils since the apostles' times, whether general or particular, may err, and many have erred.; therefore they are not to be made the rule of faith or practice, but to be used as an help in both

V. Synods and councils are to handle or conclude nothing but that which is ecclesiastical ; and are not to intermeddle with civil affairs, which concern the commonwealth, unless

by and elders, with the whole church, the church, let him be unto thee as to send chosen men of their own

an heathen man, and a publican. company to Antioch, with Paul and Ver. 18. Verily I say unto you, : Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed

Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth, Barsahas, and Silas, chief men among

shall be bound in heaven; and what. the brethren: Ver. 23. And wrote

soever ye shall loose on earth, shall letters by chem after this manner;

be loosed in heaven. Ver. 19. The apostles, and elders, and bre Again I say unto you, That if two of thren , send greeting unto the bre

you shall agree on earth as touching thren which are of the Gentiles in

any thing that they shall ask, it Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia.

shall be done for them of my Father Ver. 25. It seemed good unto us,

which is in heaven. Ver. 20. For being assembled with one accord,

where two or three are gathered to send chosen men unto you, with together in my name, there am our beloved Barnabas and Paul.

in the midst of them.' !!I. d Acts xv. 15, 19, 24, 27, 28,

IV. ¢ Eph. ii. 20. And are built 29, 30, 31. (See in the Bible.] Acts

upon the foundation of the apostles xvi . 4. And as they went through

and prophets, Jesus Christ himself the cities, they delivered them the

being the chief corner-stone. decrees for to keep, that were or

xvü. 1l. These were dained of the apostles and elders

than those in Thessalonica, in which were at Jerusalem. Mat. zvü, 17. And if he shall neglect all readiness of mind, and search

ed the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

That

Acts more noble

cburch : but if he neglect to hear

I Cor. ü. 5.