T H E

Second Book of DISCIPLINE;

OR,

Heads and Conclufions of the Policy of the Kirk.

CHA P. I.

Of the Kirk and Policy thereof in general, and wherein it is different from the Civil Policy.

HE Kirk of God fometimes is largely taken, for

TH

all them that profefs the Evangel of Jefus Chrift; and fo it is a Company and Fellowship, not only of the Godly, but alfo of Hypocrites, profeffing always outwardly the true Religion.

Other Times it is taken for the Godly and Élect only, and fometimes for them that exercife fpiritual Function in the Congregation of them that profess the Truth.

The Kirk in this laft Senfe hath a certain Power granted by God, according to the which it ufes a proper Jurifdiction and Government, exercifed to the Comfort of the whole Kirk.

This Power Ecclefiaftical is an Authority granted by God the Father, through the Mediator Jefus Chrift, unto his Kirk gathered; and having Ground in the Word of God, to be put in Execution by them, unto whom the fpiritual Government of the Kirk, by lawful Calling, is committed,

The Policy of the Kirk, flowing from this Power,

is an Order or Form of fpiritual Government, which is exercised by the Members appointed thereto by the Word of God; and therefore is given immediately to the Office-bearers, by whom it is exercised, to the good of the whole Body.

This Power is diverfly used: For fometime it is feverally exercised, chiefly by the Teachers; fometime conjunctly, by mutual Confent of them that bear the Office and Charge, after the Form of Judgment. The former is commonly called Poteflas Ordinis, and the other Poteftas Jurifdictionis.

These two Kinds of Power have both one Authority, one Ground, one final Caufe; but are different in the Manner and Form of Execution, as is evident by the Speaking of our Mafter in the 16th and 18th of Matthew.

This Power and Policy Ecclefiaftical is different and diftinct, in the own Nature, from that Power and Policy which is called Civil Power, and appertaineth to the Civil Government of the Common-wealth: Albeit they be both of God, and tend to one End, if they be rightly used, viz. to advance the Glory of God, and to have godly and good Subjects.

For this Power Ecclefiaftical floweth immediately from God, and the Mediator Jefus Chrift, and is fpiritual, not having a temporal Head on the Earth, but only Chrift, the only fpiritual King and Governor of his Kirk.

It is a Title falfly ufurped by Antichrift, to call himfelf Head of the Kirk; and ought not to be attributed to Angel nor Man, of what Eftate foever he be, faving to Chrift the only Head and Monarch in the Kirk.

Therefore this Power and Policy of the Kirk should lean upon the Word immediately, as the only Ground thereof, and should be taken from the pure Fountains of the Scriptures, the Kirk hearing the Voice of Chrift the only fpiritual King, and being ruled by his Laws.

It is proper to Kings, Princes and Magiftrates, to be called Lords, and Dominators over their Subjects, whom they govern civilly: But it is proper to Christ only to be called Lord and Mafter, in the fpiritual Government of the Kirk; and all others, that bear Office therein, ought

ought not to ufurp Dominion therein, nor be called Lords, but only Minifters, Difciples and Servants: For it is Chrift's proper Office to command and rule his Kirk univerfally; and every particular Kirk, through his Spirit and Word, by the Ministry of Men.

Notwithstanding, as the Minifters, and others of the Ecclefiaftical Eftate, are fubject to the Magiftrate Civil, fo ought the Perfon of the Magiftrate be fubject to the Kirk fpiritually, and in Ecclefiaftical Government. And the Exercife of both thefe Jurifdictions cannot ftand in one Perfon ordinarily.

The Civil Power is called the Power of the Sword, and the other the Power of the Keys.

The Civil Power fhould command the Spiritual to exercife, and to do their Office according to the Word of God; the fpiritual Rulers fhould require the Chriftian Magiftrate to minifter Juftice and punish Vice, and to maintain the Liberty and Quietnefs of the Kirk within their Bounds.

The Magiftrate commandeth external Things, for external Peace, and Quietnefs amongst the Subjects: The Minifter handleth external Things only for Confcience Cause.

The Magiftrate handleth external Things only, and Actions done before Men; but the fpiritual Ruler judgeth both inward Affections, and external Actions, in Respect of Confcience, by the Word of God.

The Civil Magiftrate craves and gets Obedience by the Sword, and other external Means: But the Minifter, by the fpiritual Sword, and spiritual Means.

The Magiftrate neither ought to preach, minifter the Sacraments, nor execute the Cenfures of the Kirk, nor yet prescribe any Rule how it should be done, but command the Minifters to obferve the Rule commanded in the Word, and punish the Tranfgreffors by civil Means. The Minifters exerce not the Civil Jurifdiction, but teach the Magiftrate how it fhould be exercifed according to the Word.

The Magiftrate ought to affift, maintain and fortify the Jurifdiction of the Kirk. The Minifters should affift

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their

their Princes in all Things agreeable to the Word, providing they neglect not their own Charge, by involving themselves in Civil Affairs.

Finally, as Minifters are subject to the Judgment and Punishment of the Magiftrate, in external Things, if they offend; fo ought the Magiftrates to fubmit themfelves to the Difcipline of the Kirk, if they tranfgrefs in Matters of Confcience and Religion.

CHA P. II.

Of the Policy of the Kirk, and Perfons or Office-bearers, to whom the Administration is committed.

S in the Civil Policy, the whole Common-wealth

A confiteth in them that are Governors, or Magi

ftrates; and them that are governed, or Subjects: So in the Policy of the Kirk, fome are appointed to be Rulers, and the rest of the Members thereof to be ruled, and obey according to the Word of God, and Inspiration of his Spirit, always under one Head and Chief Gover nor, Jefus Chrift.

Again, The whole Policy of the Kirk confifteth in three Things, viz. in Doctrine, Discipline, and Distribution. With Doctrine is annexed the Administration of Sacraments; and, according to the Parts of this Divifion, arifeth a threefold Sort of Officers in the Kirk, to wit, of Minifters or Preachers, Elders or Governors, and Deacons or Distributers; And all these may be call. ed by a general Word, Minifters of the Kirk: For als beit the Kirk of God be ruled and governed by Jefus Chrift, who is the only King, High-prieft, and Head thereof, yet he ufeth the Miniftry of Men, as the most neceffary Mids for this Purpose.

For fo he hath, from Time to Time, before the Law, under the Law, and in the Time of the Evangel, for our great Comfort, raifed up Men, endued with the Gifts of the Spirit, for the fpiritual Government of his Kirk, exercising by them his own Power, through his Spirit and Word, to the building up of the fame.

And

And, to take away all Occafion of Tyranny, he willeth that they fhould rule with mutual Confent, as Brethren, and with Equality of Power, every one according to their Function.

In the New Teftament, and Time of the Evangel, he hath used the Miniftry of the Apoftles, Prophets, Evangelifts, Paftors and Doctors, in Adminiftration of the Word; the Eldership for good Order, and Adminiftration of Difcipline; the Deaconfhip to have the Care ef the Ecclefiaftical Goods.

Some of thefe Ecclefiaftical Functions are ordinary, and fome extraordinary or temporary. There be three extraordinary Functions, the Office of the Apoftle, of the Evangelift, and of the Prophet, which are not perpetual, and now have ceased in the Kirk of God; except when it pleafed God extraordinarily for a Time to ftir fome of them up again.

There are four ordinary Functions or Offices in the Kirk of God; the Office of the Paftor, Minister or Bishop; the Doctor, the Prefbyter or Elder, and the Deacon.

Thefe Offices are ordinary, and ought to continue perpetually in the Kirk, as neceffary for the Government and Policy thereof; and no more Offices ought to be received or fuffered in the true Kirk of God, established according to his Word.

Therefore all the ambitious Titles, invented in the Kingdom of Antichrift, and in his ufurped Hierarchy, which are not of one of these four Sorts, together with the Offices depending thereupon, in one Word, ought to be rejected.

CHA P. III.

How the Perfons that bear Ecclefiaftical Functions are to be admitted to their Office.

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"Ocation or Calling is common to all that should bear Office within the Kirk, which is a lawful Way, by the which qualified Persons are promoted to any fpiritual Office within the Kirk of God,

Without this lawful Calling it was never leifom to