(4.) That we must here be content with such arguments and tes- timonies as we act upon in other ordinances and things belonging to the worship and order of the churches; such as the distribution of elders into teachiug and ruling, the administration of the sacraments by officers only, gesture in the sacrament of the supper, observation of the first day of the week, and the like.
These things being premised, the order above expressed is con- firmed,—
I. From the light and law of nature, with the unalterable reason of the thing itself Hence are churches directed unto this order and practice.
There is somewhat that is moral in all ordinances. Some of them are wholly so as to their matter and substance, and founded in the light of nature, being only directed as to their principle, manner, and end, in the gospel. Such is excommunication itself, as might easily be made to appear. And from hence a direction unto duty and an indispensable obligation unto obedience do arise. That which is moral in any ordinance doth no less oblige us to an observation of it than that which is of mere institution; and it obligeth us because it is moral. And the Lord Christ being in all things the Lord of our consciences, what we do therein Ave do it in obedience unto him.
Now, that the order established is thus grounded and warranted appears by the ensuing rules, taken from the light of nature: —
L " Quod omnes tangit, ab omnibus tractari debet." All men are to consider that wherein the concernment of all doth lie, according to their respective interests. What is the ground and reason why all the members of a church do consider, determine, give their coun- sel and consent, in the case of any person being cast out of their
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society? It is warranted by virtue of this rule. They all have com- munion with such a person, and must all withdraw communion from him, and therefore must consider the reason of his excision or cutting off. Now, a church in its censures doth not eject any one from the enjoyment of ordinances numerically only, that is, in that one society; but specifically, that is, from the ordinances of Christ in all churches. Hence it becomes the concernment of other churches, even as many as the person ejected may seek communion from; and therefore it is to be considered by them with respect unto their own duty of walk- ing towards him.
2. "Cujus est judicare, ejus est cognoscere." Whosoever is to judge is to take cognizance of the fact, and the reason of it. This is to be done according to the several interests that men may have in the matter under consideration; — which in some is of jurisdiction, which in this case we admit not of; in others, of counsel and advice. Now, other churches are not allowed in this case to be merely passive and indifferent, but must make a determination in it. This is evident on supposition of the injured person's offering himself to their com- munion; for they must reject him or receive him. In both they judge, and therein must take cognizance, by hearing the matter from the church, and so on both sides. And unless this be allowed, no church can or ought to expect that any other church will reject from communion any whom they reject, merely because they are rejected, unless they suppose their judgment to be absolutely a rule unto any other churches to walk by in their observation of the commands and institutions of Christ.
3. On the part of the persons supposed to be injured, every man by the law of nature is obliged to undertake " inculpatam sui tute- 1am," the just defence of his own innocency by all lawful ways and means. And as absolutely the way, means, and measure of this de- fence are left unto a man's own prudence, so there is a rule given unto it, — Wherever the glory of God or the good of his neighbour is con- cerned. If either of these suffer by his wrong, he is obliged to vin- dicate his own innocency, nor is at liberty to suffer false imputations to lie upon him. It is in such cases a man's sin not to do so. And in the case under consideration, this can be done only by an address unto other persons for their assistance, according to their interest. An interest of jurisdiction, in civil courts or in churches, in this case there is none. The interest of private persons herein is of compas- sion, prayer, and private advice; the interest of churches is a cog- nizance of the cause, with advice and judgment thereon. And for persons or churches not to give assistance in this case, according to truth and equity, is their sin.
That these are principles of the light of nature and the natural
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reason of sucli things, appears from the general allowance of them so to be, and their constant practice amongst all men walking accord- ing to that light and law.
Gorol. If churches, as they are assemblies and societies of men in communion for the same end, observe not the indispensable rules of societies, they cannot, as such, be ordinarily preserved in their being and communion.