A P P E N D 1 .X. 813 The ruiners of the church are; fzrfl, they that are miniflers of the word. In their examination, it is fpecially to be taken heed unto, that they be apt to teach, and tried men, not utterly unlearned, nor newly planted and converted to the faith. Now thefe nsinfers of the word are, firfl pallors, which do adminifler the word and facraments, then teachers, which are occupied in wholefome doc`lrine. Betides, there are alfo elders, which watch over the life and behaviour of every man, and deacons which have care over the poor. . Further, in every particular church there ought to be a prefbytery, which is a confflory, and, as it were, a fente of elders. Under the name ofelders he are contained, they who in the church mirziflerdotirine, and they who are properly called elders. By the common counted of the elderjhip, all things are direlled that belong to the fate of their church. Fir/l, filch as belong to the guidance of the whole body of it in the holy and common affèmbly, gathered together in the name of theLord, that all things may be done in them duly, orderly, and to ediftca- tión. 2. Then alfo filch as pertain to particular perfons. Firfl, to all the members of that church, that the good may enjoy all the privileges that belong unto them, that the wicked may be con reeled with ecclfa/llical cenfzrres, ac- cording to the quality of the fault, private and publick, by admonfing and by removing either from the Lord's fupper by fùfpen /ion, (as it is commonly called), or out ofthe church by excommunication. The which belong fpecialy to the miniflers of publick charge in the church to their calling, either to be begun or ended, and ended either by relieving, or pun f ing them, and that for a time by fufpenfìon, or altogether by dep ftion. For dire6íing of the elderfhip, let the pa/lors be fet over it; or if there 6e more paflors than one in the fame church, let the paftors do it in their turns. But yet in all the greater a/airs ofthe church, as in excommunicatingof any, and in chumg and depfing of church mini /tens,' nothing may be con- cluded without the knowledge andcofnt of the church. Particular churches ought to yieldmutual help one to another ; for which caul they are to communicate amongft themfelves. The endof this communicating together is, that all things in them may be fo diretled, both in regard ofdscOlrine, and al,/o of difcipline, as by the word of God they ought to be. Therefore the things that belong hereunto are determined by the common opinion of thfe who meet fo to communicate together ; and whatfoever is to be amended, furthered, or procured, in any of thofe -feveral churches that be- long to that afmby. Wherein, albeit no particular church bath poorer cver another, yet every particular church of the fame retort, meeting and ccunfel, ought to obey the opinionof more churches with whom they communicate. 5 M For
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=