Of the Social Exercise of Church Power in Sessions, Presbyteries, and Synods

In preaching the gospel, and administering the sacraments, ministers exercise their power as single persons. But all jurisdiction relative to admission of members, ordination of officers, censure of offenders, or absolution of penitents, is to be exercised socially, in courts constituted of two or more rulers, in the name of Jesus Christ, — viz. in Sessions, Presbyteries, and Synods.

I. Sessions are church courts constituted of the rulers of a

particular congregation. Their appointment by Christ is evident. 1. The light of nature teaches us to decide smaller matters by inferior courts, Exod. xviii. 17 — 23. 2. The Scripture

approves of judging lesser matters by inferior courts, Exod. xviii. 17 — 26. Matth. v. 22. xviii. 17 — 20. 3. In the form of process against scandals, prescribed by Christ, there is a plain allusion to the courts of the Jewish synagogues or congregational assemblies, Matth. xviii. 15 — 18. 4. In conformity to

the Jewish synagogues, every Christian congregation hath several elders allotted to it by God’s warrant, Mark v 35 — 38. Luke viii. 41. xiii. 14. John ix. 22. Acts xiii. 15. xviii. 8, 17. xiv. 23. Tit. i. 5. 5. Necessity requires such courts; it being

impossible for every thing proper to be judged in congregations, to be got carried to presbyteries and synods. — It belongs to sessions to inquire into the spiritual state or Christian characters of members of the congregation; to admit members to, or puspend them from sealing ordinances; to admonish and rebuke offenders, or absolve them when penitent.

II. Presbyteries are church-courts constituted of different pastors, and ruling elders from different congregations. — Such courts are warranted by Christ. 1. Many affairs of the church, as trial, and ordination of pastors; judging subtle heretics; composing differences in sessions, or between different congregations, require such courts, Rom. xiv. 19. 1 Cor. xiv. 26, 40.

2. The strict connection of Christians in one mystical body of

Christ, requires that unity of fellowship among them should be carried as far as possible, Rom. xii. 5. Eph. iv. 3 — 6. 1 Cor. xii. 12, 27. 4. There is an express mention of a presbytery at

the ordination of Timothy, 1 Tim. iv. 14. 5. The Scripture

exhibits several patterns of one presbytery governing several particular congregations of Christians. 1. At Jerusalem three thousand were added to one hundred and twenty members of the then forming church, and ot hers daily adding, Acts i. 15. ii. 41, 47. Five thousand were afterwards added to them, and there¬ after such multitudes, that the twelve apostles, on account of their preaching the gospel, had not time to receive or distribute their charity to the poor. To all these were added a great number of priests, and, no doubt, others obedient to the faith, Acts iv. 4. v. 14. vi. 7. All these taken together could scarcely

be fewer than forty thousand. - Notwithstanding repeated

persecutions, Acts viii. xii. we find them many ten thousands. Acts xxi. 20; which could scarcely be fewer than forty or eighty thousand. Now, in what private house, and they had no other place, could all these assemble to eat the Lord’s Supper together. — The twelve apostles, with several other teachers, laboured ordinarily at Jerusalem, for many year’s, and preached the gospel in different languages. Now, how absurd to pre¬ tend, that they did all this in one single congregation, Acts ii. 41, 42. iv. 31 — 37. vi. 2. viii. 14. xv. 2. ii. 5 — 12? — Nevertheless, all the Christians in and about Jerusalem are represented as one church, the rulers of which met together for acts of government, Acts xi. 27, 30. xv. 2. vi. 1 — 6. xxi. 18. 2. At

Antioch a great number believed; and afterward much people was added to the Lord, Acts xi. 24, 26. They had a great number of teachers, Acts xi. 20, 23, 26. xiii. 1 — 3. xv. 35. How could such multitudes amidst persecutors find one place fit to contain them, in their eating the Lord’s Supper? Or, how could so many teachers find work in one single congregation? Nevertheless, they are all called one church, Acts xiii. 1 — 3. xv. 35.

3. At Ephesus the word of God grew mightily and prevailed. A multitude even of magicians believed, and burnt their devilish books to the value of fifty thousand pieces of silver, Acts xix. 10, 17 — 20. 1 Cor. xvi. 8, 9. They had Paul, and twelve other teachers, that prophesied at once; and afterwards a consider¬ able number of presbyters or bishops, Acts xix. 1 — 10. xx. 17, 2S, 36. — Nevertheless, all these Christians of Ephesus belonged to one church, the rulers of which are represented as one Angel, and met to judge their spiritual affairs, Rev. i. 11. ii. 1. Acts xx. 17, 28. 4. At Corinth many believed; the Lord had muck

people. Acts xviii. 8 — 10. They had a considerable number of teachers that taught in different languages and churches, 1 Cor.

xiv. 20, 26, 29, 32, 34. Nevertheless, all the Christians at Corinth were but one church, the rulers of which met together for government, 1 Cor. i. 2. v. 4, 13. 2 Cor. ii. 6, 9. In none of these places had they then any diocesan bishops, as their uniting heads.

III. Synods are church-courts constituted of several presbyteries, in order to review their sentences when necessary, and to regulate affairs which are too hard for presbyteries, or which affect different presbyteries. The divine warrant for synods appears, 1. From the ecclesiastical sanhedrim of the Jews, which had the supreme power in excommunications, &c. 2 Chron. xix. 11. Mat. xviii. 18. 2. From the greater safety of extensive consultation, Eccl. iv. 9. Prov. xi. 14. 1 Cor. xiv. 32.

3. From the law of necessity in some cases, — as when a whole presbytery or their people are infected with error or scandal; or when disputes arise between different presbyteries. 4. From the unity of the church. Mat. xvi. 18. 1 Tim. iii. 15. Eph. iv. 4 — 12. 1 Cor. xii. x. 32. 5. From the pattern of the apostoli¬

cal synod, Acts xv. Here was a proper case for the decision of a synod; — a dispute which could not be composed by the presbytery of Antioch, and which concerned not only the churches of Syria and Cilicia, but also of Jerusalem, — from which the raisers of it pretended to derive their authority. Here the proper members of a synod were convened, — Apostles and elders at Jerusalem, with others deputed from the churches of Syria and Cilicia, — who all, as on the same level, judged, Acts

xv. 2, 6, 22 — 36. xvi. 4. As it was impossible for all the be¬

lievers in Jerusalem to meet in this synod, we are uncertain if the brethren mentioned in the history of it means any but preaching elders, Acts xv. 22; but we grant that such private Christians as were present signified their consent, and even voted in the election of the commissioners that were to bear the letters of the synod to the churches of Syria and Cilicia, Sec. — — Here, as in a synod, the Apostles and elders, by reasoning from facts, and especially from the Scriptures, prepared the affair for a decision. - In the decision itself the whole power of a church

synod was exercised. The true doctrine was solemnly asserted and declared; the erroneous were publicly stigmatized; and a decree of decency and order was established. - The whole de¬

cision was authoritative, not mere consultation, and hence is called a necessary burden imposed, — decrees ordained; — and as such was cheerfully submitted to by the churches concerned,

Acts XV. 28, 31. xv i. 4, 5. 1 Thess. v. 12. 1 Cor. xvi. 16. Heb. xiii. 7, 17.

The subordination of sessions to presbyteries, and of presbyteries to synods, is manifest, 1. From the very light of nature, which requires the subordination of the lesser to the greater. 2. From the gradation prescribed by Christ in the removing offences. Mat. xviii. 15 — 18. 3. From the reference made by

the churches of Syria and Cilicia to the Synod at Jerusalem, Acts xv. 4. From the absurdities which follow on the denial of it, as that no relief is left by the law of Christ for one that is injured by the greater part of a congregation, session, or presbytery; — that no means are left for the reclaiming a greater part of a congregation, session, or presbytery, — nor any means of promoting uniformity between sister congregations. 5. From a consideration of the peculiar advantages of presbyterian government. 1. It best restrains the lordly pride of clergymen. 2. It best secures liberty and peace to the people. 3. It best brings offenders to adequate censure. 4. It most effectually answers the purging out of error. 5. It is best calculated to prevent schisms and separations.

In the present imperfect state of the Christian church, Of¬ fences will often be both given and taken, Mat. xviii. 7. Of¬ fence or Scandal means some thing openly done or neglected by church-members, which in matter or manner is contrary to the law of God, and which tends to decoy others into sin, or mar their spiritual comfort, Isa. xxvii. 11. Hos. iv. 1,2,6. 1 Cor. v. 11. vi. 9, 10. Gal. v. 19 — 21. 2 Thess. i. 8. iii. 6, 14. 1 Thess. iv. 1 — 8. Rom. xiv. 1 Cor. viii. x. xiv. Mat. vi. 5, 16. Isa. xiv iii. 5. Such offences are very bad in their nature and consequences, but are necessarily permitted by God, Mat. xviii. 1 — 9. 1. To punish hypocritical professors of religion, 2 Thess.

ii. 8 — 12. 2. To occasion spiritual blessings to true saints, Isa.

viii. 11, 12. Rom. xiv. 18, 19. 1 Cor. xi. 19. 3. To occasion

the spread of the gospel, Acts xv. 37 — 41. Phil. i. 12 — 14. Rom. xi. 20 — 22.

Great prudence and order, as well as faithfulness and zeal, are necessary in the removing offences. 1. If the offence be known to but one, or a few, the offender must be secretly re¬ proved, Lev. xix. 16, 17. Psalm cxli. 5. Prov. xxvii. 5, 6. Eph. v. 3 — 11. Mat. xviii. 15. 2. If no satisfaction be thus obtain¬

ed, we are to take with us one or two friends, who may assist us in the reproof, or witness the offender’s carriage under it. Mat. xviii. 16. 3. If the offender persist in the obstinate de-

’ fence of his conduct, or denial of that which can be proved, he must be delated to a church judicatory. 4. If he disregard the dealings and decision of the church judicatories with respect to him, he must be excommunicated from the fellowship of the church, and held as an heathen man and publican, Mat. xviii, 17, 18.

In their whole procedure, particularly in that which relates to scandals, the end of church judicatories must he to support the innocent, condemn the guilty, and edify all concerned, Dent, xxv. 1. Rom. xiv. 19. 1 Cor. xiv. 26. 2 Cor. xiii. 8, 10. x. 8.

- In order to obtain this end, their conduct ought to be, 1.

Candid and open, 2 Cor. i. 12. 2 Tim. ii. 15. 2. Regular,

1 Cor. xi. 13, 14. xiv. 40. 3. Moderate and gentle, Phil. iv. 5.

Luke ix. 51 — 56. 2 Tim. ii. 24, 25. 1 Thess. ii. 7, 8. Mat. x. 16. Col. iii. 12 — 14. 4. Patient and long-suffering, Prov. xviii.

13. Eph. iv. 2, 32. 5. Prudent, Eph. v. 15. Eccl. iii. 1 — 11.

Prov. x. 5. 6. AVith equity, Prov. xvii. 15. Mat. xxviii. 20.

Rev. ii. 2. iii. 2. 2 Sam. xxiii. 3. Luke xvii. 1 — 12. 7. With

impartiality, James ii. 1 — 14. iii. 17. 1 Tim. v. 21. 8. With

an earnest aiming to promote the glory of God in the edification of his church, Psalm lxix. 9. 1 Cor. x. 31. xiv. 26. 1 Cor. x. 8. xiii. 8, 10. 1 Pet. iv. 11.

All the censures inflicted by church-courts proceeding from a spiritual power, must necessarily be of a spiritual nature, affect¬ ing neither body nor goods. - Their principal censure of excommunication is reckoned two-fold, the lesser excommunication judicially suspending church-members from partaking of the seals of God’s covenant, 2 Thess. iii. 6, 14, 15. Rom. xvi. 17; and the greater excommunication, which shuts them out from church fellowship altogether into the world, or king¬ dom of Satan, while they continue impenitent, 1 Cor. v. 4, 5, 13. 1 Tim. i. 20. Tit. iii. 10, 11. Mat. xviii. 17. - The rele¬

vant ground of such excommunication is not any disobedience to mere human authority, James iv. 12. Isa. lxvi. 5. John xvi. 2, 3; nor any conduct indifferent in itself, Rom. xiv. 5, 6; nor any matter of doubtful disputation, Rom. xiv. 1; nor any slips of mere human infirmity, James iii. 2. Gal. ii. II. - But ei¬

ther some error subversive of the gospel and our hope towards God, openly advanced and obstinately maintained, Tit. iii. 10, 11. 1 Tim. i. 20; or obstinate perseverance in some scandal¬

ous practice, plainly condemned by the word of God, 1 Cor. v. 4/5, 13.

As this sentence becomes exceedingly dreadful by God’s ratification of it, Mat. xviii. 17, 18. John xx. 23; it ought not to be inflicted upon any before their scandalous error or practice be fully proved against them, and they be allowed proper time to consider their conduct, and the nature and design of this awful ordinance, Tit. iii. 10, 11. - The design of such excom¬

munication is, 1. To render offenders sensible and ashamed of their sin, afraid to continue or die in it, and earnestly desirous to repent and be saved, Jude 22, 23. 2 Thess, iii. 14. 1 Tim. i

57 5

20. 1 Cor. v. 5. 2. To prevent others partaking with them in

their sin, and to deter them from the like evils, 1 Tim. v. 20.

2 Cor. vii. 12. 3. To vindicate the honour of Christ, and his

religion and church, 2 Cor. vi. 14 — 18. vii. 1,11. 1 Cor. v. 7, 13.

The power of excommunicating church-members being authoritative, belongs only to her rulers, Mat. xviii. 17, 18. xvi. 19; to the many or more excellent, 2 Cor. ii. 6. Heb. xi. 4. Luke xi. 31, 32. Their warrant for inflicting this tremendous censure is, 1. The keys of the kingdom of heaven are committed to them, Mat. xvi. 19. 2. They have Christ’s express command

to inflict it, Mat. xviii. 17 — 20. Tit. iii. 10, 11. 3. They have

an approved example of it in the church of Corinth directed by an Apostle, — and another inflicted by that apostle; in neither of which there appears any thing extraordinary in the occasion, matter, manner, effect, or end, 1 Cor. v. 1 Tim. i. 20. — — The procedure of church-rulers to inflict this sentence ought to be carried on, 1. With much solemn and earnest prayer, James v. 16. 2. With much deep humiliation and mourning, 1 Cor. v.

2. 2 Cor. xii. 21. 3. With a deep impression of their own ap¬

proaching appearance before the tribunal of Jesus Christ, 2 Cor. v. 10, 11. Mat. xviii. 18. 4. With great meekness and compasssion towards the offenders, Jude 22, 23.

No performance of any natural or necessary moral duty to¬ wards excommunicated persons ought to be suspended, 1 Cor. vii 12, 13. Nor ought church-rulers to forbear dealing with them for their conviction, as God gives them opportunities. But to render them ashamed, all church-members ought, as far as possible, to avoid all familiar civil fellowship with them, 1 Cor. v. 11. Matth. xviii. 17. — None ought to be absolved or relaxed from this censure, and restored to the fellowship of the church, before, by their profession and practice, they have given such evidence of their repentance as would satisfy any impartial and inquiring mind, 2 Cor. n. 6 — 10.

Reflect. Ponder now, my soul! Am I a true member of the church of the living God? Or, am I a branch that shall be withered, and cast out into eternal fire? — In this systematic view of God’s truths, have I, last of all, beheld the tremendous sentence of excommunication and absolution from it? Let me think, as in Jehovah’s presence* under what sentence of his I myself now am: — for what I am prepared, or preparing: — what I shall receive from Jesus Christ at his second coming. — Perhaps I must appear before his awful tribunal in the very same state and temper of mind in which I finish this work — this

page. - Hearest thou, O my soul, what these thousands of

truths which I have been reviewing, bear witness for, or against me? — Alas! Have I reviewed so many precious, — so many sav-OF THE SOCIAL EXERCISE OF CHURCH POWER.

ing truths, and seen none in their glory, felt none in their power? — Alas! What an hell-hardened heart must I have now, if the vail still remain, and they have all proved a hilling letter, a ministration, a savour of death unto death, unto me! How dreadful, if I leap into eternal flames with all this oil of gospel-truth in my conscience! — To prevent this tremendous event, — and to glorify the God of all grace, let me conclude my work, with a solemn surrender of myself, as a poor, an unparalleled, ignorant, guilty, polluted, and enslaved sinner, — to Jesus Christ, as in the gospel made of God unto me wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. — Let my conscience, — let angels, — let the redeeming three, bear me witness, that I consent, heartily consent, that Jesus, and all that he is and has, be mine, and that I be his from henceforth and for ever; — and that in me, the first-rate sinner, he may shew, in the ages to come, all his long-suffering, and the exceeding riches of his grace. If my soul love not this Lord Jesus, let me be Anathema, Maeanatha, accursed at his coming.