60 A CHRISTIAN CHCRCH. Though the apostle Paul gives directions to Timothy and Titus about the rejection of heretics, yet it must be noted that these two very extraordinary persons, evangelists divinely com- missioned and endowed, and by virtue hereof might act in a superior way in every church whither they were sent : andthey were to teach the churches the orders of Christ: Nor does it follow that every ordinary minister has the same power ; nor indeed does it appear that Timothy and Titus were to exercise it without the churches' consent. For St. Paul himselfwhen lie gave apostolical orders for excommunicating the incestuous Corinthian, would have it done when the whole church was gathered together, and as an act of that particular community; as in the texts before cited. Though the seven epistles in the second and third chapters of the Revelation are inscribed tothe angels of ministers of those seven churches, and directions are there given about the casting out false worshippers and idolaters, yet it is evident that the contents of these epistles are plainly addressed to the whole body of christians that made up those several societies or churches, and they were to cast out idolaters, &c. from among them, as an act of the churches by their minis- ters. Though ministersand elders are sometimes called guides and rulers, &c. yet it is never to be understood in so absolute a sense, as to take all power away from thesociety or congrega- tion, and leave the ministers to tyrannize as they please over the churches, and, like Diotrephes, to admit and exclude whom they will; for which usurpation the apostle John severely cen- sures him 3 John, verses 9, 10. Now when such a mode of admission into churches as I have described, by the ministration of the elders, and the consent of the church, has the light of nature and reason leading us into it, and scripture gives frequent countenance to it by various rules and examples, it does not fall very short of á sacred institution. Sect. V. But it will be objected here, " that it may hap- pen that the Ministers may be in the right, and the people in the wrong, in their judgment in particular cases : And must the vote of the people decide such an affair, against the opinion of ministers, elders, or rulers ?" I answer in the first place, I. That when any person is proposed to the church, concern- ingwhose admission the minister and people are not agreed, it is much better to persuade that person to seek communion with someother church, rather than oecasion strife and debate betwixt the people and the minister. But if that cannot be conveniently, surely it is more adviseable in itself, and more acceptable to God, that any single person should deny himself the benefit of special ordinances, at least for a season, than become a bone of contention, and perhaps,' a sword of division, in a christian
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