(2.) Because of the consequents of them. Disadvantage to the gospel, prejudice to the ways of Christ, and the utter impairing the authority of all church-censures, must needs ensue, if there be no way to rectify such mistakes, or if they are left unrectified ; as may easily be manifested.
2. This is also necessary on the part of the church supposed to have erred; for whereas all church-power is for edification, that which is unduly put forth and exercised is rather for destruction, the guilt whereof every church ought to rejoice in being delivered from, especially considering that there is much more evil in condemning the righteous than in acquitting the wicked, though both of them be an abomination.
3. On the part of the persons unduly or unjustly separated from the church by such censures. This is so evident that it needs no confirmation.
4. On the account of all other churches holding communion with the church which hath (as it is supposed to have) miscarried. The reasons hereof will afterward be made to appear.
Corol. This relief, by what means soever it is to be obtained, is of great use to the churches of Christ, and of great concernment unto their peace and edification.
Q. 3. How may such \mal\administrations he rectified?
A. The rectifying such maladministrations may be (and is ordi- narily no otherwise to be expected) by the advice and counsel of other churches, walking in the same fellowship and ordinances of
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tlie gospel with that church so faihng, as is supposed; and this to be given upon tijo hearing and understanding of the whole proceedings of that church in the administration supposed irregular.
This, being the principal thing aimed at, must be further con- sidered. And, —
1. The way or means whereby other churches conne to the know- ledge of such supposed miscarriages in any church of their commu- nion may be considered. Now, this is either, —
(1.) By public report. So the Israelites took notice of the fact of the Reubenites, and the Gadites, [and the half tribe of Manasseh,] in building an altar; which thereupon they sent to inquire about: they heard say they had done it. Josh. xxii. 11. So the apostle took no- tice of the miscarriage of the church of Corinth in the case of the incestuous person, 1 Cor. v. 1. And this is a sufficient ground of inquiry, or of desiring an account of any church in such cases.
(2.) By information of particular persons whom they judge holy and faithful. So the apostle took notice of the dissensions in the church of Corinth : they were " declared unto him by them of the house of Cliloe," 1 Cor. i. 11.
(3.) By an account given unto them by any church requiring their advice in any case of difficulty, either before or after the administra- tion of censures. So the church at Antioch gave an account of their troubles and differences to the church at Jerusalem, Acts xv.
(4.) By the addresses of the j)ersons injured, or supposing them- selves to be so: which to make, whilst they judge themselves inno- cent, is their indispensable duty, either directly by seeking advice or counsel from them, or by desiring admission into the fellowship of the gospel with them ; which they cannot grant without an inquiry into the causes of their separation from any other church or society.
Corol. Where there is a concurrence of the most ways or means of information, there ought to be the more diligence in the inquiry.
Hence it follows, that it is the duty of churches walking in the same order and fellowship of the gospel, upon such information or com- plaint as before mentioned, of any undue administration of church- censures, especially of excommunication by any church amongst themselves, to inquire by their messengers into the cause and manner of it, to the end that they may give their joint advice and counsel in the matter. And it is the duty of the church complained of or informed against to give them an account of all their proceedings in that case, with their reasons for their procedure, and to hearken unto and consider the advice that shall be offered and given unto them.
2. This will appear sufficiently confirmed if we consider, in order unto a right judgment of the grounds whereon this way and practice is asserted, —
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(1.) That this advice of churches in communion to be given and taken is no ordinary or standing ordinance of the church as to its practice, though it be as unto its right, but is only to be made use of in extraordinary cases, and such as should not occur, — although they will ; and for this cause it is more sparingly mentioned in the Scripture.
(2.) That it is, and may be fully proved to be, the duty of all churches, by previous advice with other churches in cases of diffi- culty, to prevent this consequent counsel ; which, being after a sen- tence given, must needs be attended with many difficulties.
(3.) Tliat- the practice of the churches as to discipline is no longer recorded in the Scripture than they had the direction and help of the apostles, which supplied all extraordinary emergencies among them; so that many instances of this practice amongst them are not to be expected, — and it is of the care and wisdom of our Lord Jesus that we have any.