AS there is butGenes 1. 1. Exo. 20 3, one God and Father of all, one Lorde over all, and one Spirit: So is there but 1. Tim 2. 4. Phil. 2, 25. Ephe • . 18. Iohn 8. 4 • one Trueth, one Faith, one Saluation, one Church, called in one hope, ioyned in one profession, guided by oneDeut. 6. 25. Rom 10, 8. • , Tim. 3, 15 Iohn 8, 51 1. Iohn • . 3. 4. &c. rule euen the Worde of the most high.

This Church as it is vniversallie vnderstood, conteyneth in it all theGen. 17. 1, Pet. 1. 2, Revela. 7. 9. 1. Cor. 10 • Iohn. 17, 10. Elect of God that haue bin, are, or shalbe: But being considered more particularlie, as it is seene in this present world, It consisteth of a companie and fellowship ofPsal. 1 • 1. 1. & 149, 1. Isai, 62. 12. Ephe. 1. 1, 1. Cor, 1. 2. Deut. 14. 2. faithful andDeut. 12, 5. Iohn. 6, 37 & 3. 14. & 12. 32. Luke 17, 2. holie people gathered in the name of Christ Iesus their onlyGen 44. 10. Psal. 45. 6. Zacha. • . 9. Heb. 1, 8. King,Rom 8. 34. Iohn. 17. Heb. 5. 9. & 8. 1. & 4. 14 Priest, andDeut 18, 15. Mat. 17. 15 Hebr 1. 1. Gen 14. 18. Prophet,Exo. 20. 7. 8. Leuit 10. 5 Iohn 4. 23. worshiping him aright, beingMat 11. 29. 1. Cor, 11. 16 Mar, 13. 24. Reue 22. 8. peaceablie and quietlie governed by his Officers and lawes,Ephe 4. 3. 1. Cor. 1. 13 Mar. 9. 50. keeping the vnitie of faith in the bonde of peace &Iohn 13. 34. • . Cor. 13. 4 1. Pet. 4. 22. 1. Ioh 3. 1 • . loue vnfained. MostPsal. 87. 2. ioyful, excellent and glorious things are euerie where in the Scriptures spoken of this Church. It is called thePsal. 87. 2. Citie,1. Tim. 3. • 5. Heb 3. 6 House1, Cor. 3, 17. Temple, andIsaiah • . 2, Micha, 4, • mountaine of the eternal God: the chosen generation, Zach 8, 3. 1. Pet 2. 9. the holie nation, the peculiar people, the Isaiah 51. & 27. 11. Vineyarde, theCant 4. 12. Isa. 51. • . garden enclosed, the spring shut op, the sealed foūtaine, the orchchyard of Pomgranades with sweete fruites, theIsaiah 9. 25. heritage, theMicha 3. 2. Iohn 3. 5. kingdome of Christ: yea hisCan 5. 2. sister, his loue, his spouse, hisPsal. 45. 9. Queene, & his1. Cor. 12. 27. Ephe. • . 2 • bodie, the ioye of the whole earth To this societie is theGal. 4. 28. couenant and all the promises made ofPsal. 147. 14. 2 Thess. 3. 16 peace, of loue and ofIsay. 46. 13. Zach. 14. 17 saluation, of theIsai 60. Ezec. 47. Zach. 4 12. presens of God, of his graces, of his power, and of hisEze. 48. 35. Mat. 28. 20. Isai. 6 • . protection: And surelie if this Church be considered in her partes, it shal appeare most beautifull, yea most wonderfull, and even 〈◊〉 . 4. 9.. rauishing the sences to conceaue, much more to beholde, what then to enioy so blessed a communion. For b • hold herIsai. 62. 11. Ioh, 12. 15. H • h. 7. 8. King and Lord is the King of peace, & Lorde him selfe of all glorie. Shee enioyeth most holie and heauenlieMat 11. 30. 1 Ioh. 53. lawes, most faithfull and vigilantActes • 0. Pastours, most syncere & pureRom. 12. 7. Teachers, most careful and vpright Rom. 12. 8. Governours, most diligent andActes 6. trustie Deacons, most louinge and soberRom. 12. 8. Releeuers, and a mostMat. 5. 5. Ezech 36. 32. Isa. 〈◊〉 . 8. humble, meeke, obedient, faithfull and loving people, everie1. King 7. 9. Zach. 14. 21 1. Pet, 2. 5. stone livinge, elect and precious, everie stone hath his beautie, hisGala. 6. • . burden and his • , Cor. 1 • . Rom. 12. 3. order. All bound to Hebr. 10. 24. edifie one another, exhort, reproue & cō fort one anotherDeuit. 19. 17. 1. Thes, 2. 9 louinglie as to their owne me • bers,C •• os. 3. 2 • . 1. Ioh, 〈…〉 faithfullie as in the eyes of God.

No2. Cor. • . 17. 2. Iohn g. Office here is ambitiouslie affected, no • . Tim. 4. 2. 3. Gal. 6. 12 lawe wrongfullie wrested or1. C • r. 5. wilfully neglected, no • ere 23. 28. 1. Tim. 3. 15 trueth hid or perverted,1. Co • . • . & 14. 30. Col • 4 7. everie one here hath fredome and power (not disturbing the peaceable order of the Church) to 〈◊〉 his complaintes and griefes, and freely to reprooue the transgresions and errours of an • e without exceptions of persons.

Here is noIohn. 10. 1. intrusion or cli • ing vp an other way into the sheepefolde, thenActes. 1. 23. & 6. 3. & 14 23. by the holy & free election of the Lordes holie and free people, and that according to the Lordes holie and free people, and that according to the Lorde Ordinance, humbling them selves by fasting • and prayer before the Lorde, crauing the direction of his holy Spirit, for the triall and approving of his Giftes, &c.

Thus they orderlie proceede to ordination by fastinge and prayer, in which1. Tim. 4. 14. & • . 22. action the Apostles vsed layinge on of handes. Thus hath euerie one of the people interest in the election and ordination of their officers, as also in the administration of their offices vponLuke 17. 3. Rom. 16. 17 Col. 4. 17. transgression, offence, abuse, &c. hauing an especiall care vnto the inviolable order of the Church, as is aforesaid.

Likewise in this Church they haue holyMat. 5. 19 1. Ti. 1. 18. lawes, as limits & bondes, which, it is lawfull at no hande to transgresse. They haue lawes to direct them in the choise of euerie officer, wat kinde of men the Lorde will haue. Their Pastour must be apte toDeut • 3. 10 Mal. 2. 7. 1. Tim. 3. • . teach, no yong Scholler, 2. Ti. 2. 15 able to diuide the worde aright,Tit 1. 9. 2. Tim. 4. 2 holding faste that faithful worde, according to doctrine, that he may be able also to exhorte, rebuke, improoue, with wholesome doctrine, & to conuince them that saye against it: He must be a man that loueth goodnes: he must be wise, righteous, holie▪ temperate: hee must be of lifeTit. 1. 7. 8 on reproueable, as Gods Stewarde: hee must be generalie well reported of, & one that ruleth his owne housholde vnder obedience with al-honestie: he must be modest, humble, meeke, gentle, & louing: hee must be a man of great Numb. 1 • . 7. Isay. 50. 4. Iere 3. 15. Eze. •• . 18. Actes 20. patience, compassion, labour and diligence: hee must alwaies be carefull and watchfull over the flocke whereof the Lorde hath made him overseer with all willingnes & chearefulnes,1. Pet. 5. 1. 2 • 3▪ 4, not holding his office in respect of persons, but doing his duetie to everie soule, as he will aunswere before the chief Shepheard,1. Tim. 2. 20 1. Tim. 3. &c.

Their Doctor or Teacher must be a man apt to teach, able to diuide the worde of God aright,Titus. 1. 2. Tim. 2 15. and to deliuer sound and wholesom doctrine from the same, still building vpon that sounde ground worke, he must be mightie in the Scriptures,1. Cor. 1, 17 & 2, 4. 〈…〉 . able to conuince them gainsayers, & carefullie to deliuer his doctrine pure, 〈…〉 sound & plaine, not with curiositie or affection, but so that it may edisie the most simple, approuing it to euerie mans cōscience, he must be of life vnreproueable, one that can governe his owne housholde, he must be of manners sober, temperate, modest, gentle and louing, &c.

Their Elders must be of wisedome and iudgement: endued with the Spirit of GOD, able to discerne betweene cause and cause,Numb. 11. 24 betweene plea and plea,2. Chro 19. 8 Actes 15. 1. Tim. 5. and accordinglie to preuent and redres euilles, alwayes vigilāt and intending to see the statutes, ordinances and lawes of God kept in the Church, and that not onelie by the people in obedience, but to see the officers doe their dueties. These men must bee of life likewise vnreproueable, governing their owne families orderlie, they must be also of maners sober, gentle, modest, louing, temperate, etc.

Their Deacons must be men of honest report, hauing the misterie of the faith in a pure cōscience,Actes. 6. 2. 1. Tim. 3. &. 9 endued with the holy ghost: they must be graue, temperate, not giuē to excesse, nor to filthie lucre.

Their Releeuers or Widowes must be women of 60, yeares of age at the least,1. Tim 5. 9. 10. for auoydinge of inconueniences: they must be well reported of for good workes, such as haue nourished their children, such as haue bin harberous to straungers: diligent and seruiceable to the Saintes, compassionate and helpeful to them in aduersitie, giuē to euerie good worke, continuing in supplications and prayers night and daye.

These Officers must firste be duelie proued, then if they be founde blameles, • . Tim. 3. 10 administer, etc.

Nowe as the persons, giftes, cōditions, manners, life and proofe of these officers, • . Cor. 1 • . 12 1 • . is set downe by the holie Ghoste: So are their offices limitted, seuered, and diuers:

The Pastours office is,Leuit. 10. 10 11. to feede the sheep of Christ in greene and wholesome pastures of his worde, and leade them to the still waters,Num. 1 • . • . euen to the pure fountaine and riuer of life.Ezek 44. 23. and • 4. 33. Hee must guyde and keepe those sheepe by that heauenlie sheephooke and pastorall staffe of the worde,Psal. 23. Iohn • 1. 15. thereby drawing them to him, thereby lookinge into their soules, euen into their most secrete thoughtes: Thereby discerning their diseases, and thereby curinge them: applying to euerie disease a fit and cōuenient medicine, according to the qualitie and danger of the disease,Actes 20. 1 Pet. 5. 1. and giue warning to the Church,Zacha, 11. 7 that they may orderlie proceede to excommunication.Reuel. 2 • . 2. Further, he must by this his sheepehooke watch over and defend his flock from rauenous beastes and the Wolfe,Luke 12. 42. and take the litle foxes,2. Cor 10. 4. 5 Heb. 8. 12. etc.

The Doctours office is alreadie sett downe in his description:Ezech 33. 1. His speciall care must bee,1. Cor. 11. 19 to builde vppon the onely true grounde-worke,Ioh. 10. 11. 22 golde, silver, and pretious stones,Leuit. 10. 10 that his worke may endure the triall of the fire, and by the light of the same fire,Ezech 44. 24. reueale the Tymber, Hay,Mal. 2. 6, and Stubble of false Teachers: hee must take diligent heede to keepe the Church from errours. • . Cor. 3. 11 And further hee must deliver his doctrine so playnlie,1. Cor 1. 7. simplie,2. Tim. 4. 16 and 6. 20. and purelie, that the church may increase with the increasing of God,Ephe. 2. 20. & grouwe vp vnto him which is the head Christ Iesus.Heb. 6. 1.

The office of the Auncientes is expressed in their description:Numb. 11. 16 Their especiall care must bee,Deus. 16. 18 to see the ordinaunces of God truely taught and practized,2. Chro. 19. 8 asweell by the officers in dooing their duetie vprightlie,Exod. 39. 42 as to see that the people obey willinglie and redilie.1. Tim. 3. 15 It is their duetie to see the Congregation holilie and quietlie ordered,2. Tim. 1. 13 and no way disturbed,1. Cor. 11. 16 and 14. 33. by the contentious and▪ disobedient, frowarde and obstinate:Gal 2. 5. 5. not taking away the libertie of the least,Colos 1. 16. but vpholding the right of all, wiselie iudgginge of times and circumstances:Actes 20. They must bee readie assistauntes to the Pastour and Teachers,1. Pet. 5. 1. helpinge to beare their burden,Rom. 1 • . 8. but not intruding into their office.

The Deacons office is,Actes 6. faithfullie to gather, and collect by the ordinance of the Church, the goodes aud be • euolence of the faithfull, and by the same direction, diligētlie and trustilie to distribute them according to the necessitie of the Sainctes.Rom. 12. 8. Further they must enquire and consider of the proportion of the wantes both, of the Officers and other poore, and accordinglie relate vnto the Church that provision may be made.

The Relieuers & Widowes office is,1. Tim. 5. 9. to minister to the sicke, lame, wearie, & diseased, such helpefull comforts as they neede, by watching, tending and helping them. Further,Rom. 12, 8 they must shewe goode example to the yonger Women, in sober, modest, & godlie conuersation, avoyding idlenes, vaine talke, & light behauiour.

These Officers, though they be diuers and seuerall, yet are they not seuered,Luke. 9, 46. least their should be a diuision in the bodle,Iohn. 13. 12, but they are as members of the bodie, hauing the same care one of another, • . Cor. 12. 12 • 25. • 8. ioyntlie doing their seuerall dueties to the seruice of the Sainctes▪ and to the edification of the Bodie of Christ,Ephe, 4. 11. 12. 13. 16. till wee all meete togither in the perfect measure of the fullnes of Christe, by whom all the bodie being in the meane whyle, thus coupled and knit togither by everie ioynt for the furniture thereof, according to the effectuall power which is in the measure of everie parte, receyueth increase of the bodie, vnto the edifing of it self in loue: neyther can anie of these Offices be wanting, without grieuous lamenes, & apparant deformitie of the bodie, yea violent injurie to the Head Christ Iesus.

Thus this holie armie of sainctes, is marshalled here in earth by these Officers,Rom. 12, vnder the conduct of their glorious Emperour CHRIST,1. Cor. 12. that victorious Michaell. Thus it marcheth in this most heavenlie order,Reuel. 14. • . 2 & gratious araye, against all Enimies both bodelie and ghostlie.Reuel. 12. 11, • Peaceable in it self as Ierusalem, terrible vnto them as▪ Cant. 6. • . an Armie with banners, triumphing over their tyraimie with patience, their crueltie with meekenes, and over Death it self with • dying. Thus through the blood of that spotles Lambe, and that Worde of their testimonie, they are more then Conquerours,Rom. 8, 38, 39. brusing the Head of the Serpent: yea through the power of his Worde, they haue power to cast downe Sathan like lightning:Luke 10. 18. 19. to treade vpon Serpents and Scorpions: to cast downe strong holds, and everie thing that exalteth it self against GOD.Mat. • 6, 18. The Gates of Hell and all the Principalities and powers of the worlde,Rom 1. • 3. 39. shall not prevayle against it.

Further,Mat. 16. 19. hee hath giuen them the Keyes of the Kingdome of Heauen, That whatsoever they binde in earth by his worde,Iohn. 10, 〈◊〉 . shalbe bounde in heaven: and whatsoever they loose on earth,Mat. 18. 18. shalbe loosed in heaven.

Nowe this power which Christ hath given vnto his Church,Iohn. 20. 23. and to everie member of his Church, to keepe it in order,Mat. 16. 16. and 18. 18. hee hath not lefte it to their discretions and lustes to be vsed or neglected as they will,Deut 12. 32 but in his last Will and Testament,Revel. 22. 18. he hath sett downe both an order of proceeding, and an end to which it is vsed.

If the fault bee priuate,Leuit, 19. 17. 18, private holy & loving admonition & reproofe is to be vsed, with an inwarde desire & earnest care to winne their brother:Mat. 18. 15. But if hee wil not heare,Deut. 19. 15 yet to take two or three other brethrē with him, whom he knoweth most meete for that purpose,Mat. 18. 16. that by the mouth of two or thre witnesses, euerie word may be confirmed: And if he refuse to heare them, then to declare the matter to the Church, which ought seuerelie and sharpelie to reprehende, grauelie to admonishe, and louinglie to perswade • he partie offending: shewing him the heynousnes of his offence, and the daunger of his obstinacie, and the fearefull judgements of the Lorde.

All this notwithstanding the Church is not to holde him as an enimie, • , Thess. 3, 15. but to admonishe him and praye for him as a Brother, proouinge if at anie time the Lorde will giue him repentaunce. For this power is not given them to the destruction of anie,2. Cor. 10. • and 1 • . 10. but to the edification and preseruation of all.

If this preuaile not to drawe him to repentance,Mat. 18. 16. Then are they in • he Name and power of the Lorde IESVS, with the whole Congregationn, reve • entlie in prayer to proceede to excommunication, casting him out of the couenaunt and protection of the Lorde, for his disobedience and obstinacie,1. Cor. 5. 5. and committing him to Sathan for the destruction of the fleshe, that the Spirit may bee saued in the day of the Lorde Iesus, if such bee his good wil and pleasure.

Further,Mat. 18. 17. they are to warne the whole Congregation and all other Faithfull,1, Cor. 5. 1 • . to holde him as a Heathen and a Publicane, and to abstaine them selues from his societie as not to eate or drinke with him, &c. vnles it bee such as of necessitie must needes, as his Wife, his Children and Familie: yet these (if they be Members of the Church) are not to joyne to him in anie Spirituall exercise.

If the Offence bee publike,1. Tim. 5. 20 the partie is publiquelie to bee reproued,Gal, 2. 14. and admonished: if hee then repent not,Io •• • 7 19. to proceede to excommunication, vt supra. 2, Cor. 7. 9.

The repentance of the partie must bee proportionable to the Offence,Leuit. 19 18, viz. Pro. • 0. 12. If the Offence bee publique publique:Rom. 12. 19. & 〈◊〉 . 10 and 14. 1. If priuate, priuate: humbled, submisiue, sorrowfull vnfained, giving glorie to the Lord.Gal. 6. 1. 2. Mark 9. 50, Ephe. 4, 29. Mat. 18. 15. Lam 5. 15. 19. • 0.

There must great care be had of Admonitions, that they bee not captious, or curious finding faulte where none is. Neyther yet in bitternes or reproche, for that were to destroye and not to saue our brother: but they must bee carefullie done, with prayer going before, they must bee seazoned with trueth, grauitie, love & peace.

Moreover in this Church is an especiall care had by euerie Member thereof,Luke. 1 • . • . of Offences: The Stronge ought not to offend the Weake,Pro. 10. 12. nor the weake to iudge the Stronge:Rom. 14. 12. • • 9. but all graces here are given to the service and edification of eache other in loue and longe sufferinge.Gal. • . 2.

In this Church is the Trueth purelie taught, and surelie kept:Gen, 1 • . heere is the Couenaunte, the Sacramentes, and promisses,Isay, 44. 3. the graces, the glorie, the presence, the worship of God,Gal. • 23. &c. • nd • . 1 • . Isay. 60. 15. Deut, 4. 13 Isay. 56. 7 1. Tim. • 15. Isay. 5 • . • .

Into this Temple entreth no vncleane thinge,Isay 52. 1 neither what so ever worketh Abhominations or lyes,Ezek 44. 9. but they which are written in the Lambes Booke of life.Isay. 35. 8. Zach 14. • 1. 〈◊〉 , 21. 27.

But without this CHVRCH shalbee dogges and En • haunters,Rom. • . 9. & Whoremongers,Reuel. 22. 19. & Murderers, and Idolatours and who so euer loueth & maketh lyes.