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Orthodox Creed · Chapter 34

Of the Discipline and Government of the Church of Christ

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Page 47 of the printing · the scan

1. We believe that the Great King, and Law-giver, Christ, the Universal and only Head of his Church, hath given to his Visible Church, a subordinate Power, or Authority,a for the Well-being, Ordering, and Governing of it, for his own Glory, and the Churches Profit, and Good: The Executive part of which derivative power of Discipline and Government, is committed to his Ministers, proportionable to their Dignities and Places in the Church,b in a most harmonious way, for the Beauty, Order, Government, and Establishment of the same, and consisteth in the exercise and execution of the Censors, or Rod of Correction, he hath appointed therein,c for the Purgation, or Pruning of the same; in order to prevent Scandals and Offences, both publick and private. And in case of personal and private Trespasses between Party and Party, that the Member so offended, tell his Offence to his Brotherd between them alone; and if he shall not hear him, to take one or two more; if he will not hear him then, to tell it unto the Church.e And the Ministers of Christ ought to rebuke them sharply, that sin before them in the Church;f and in case there be any wicked, publick, and scandalous Sinners, or obstinate Hereticks, that then the Church ought speedily to convene such her Members, and labour to convict them of their Sin and Heresie, Schism, and Prophaneness, whatsoever it be; and after such regular Suspension,g and due Admonition, if such Sinners repent not; that then for the Honour of God, and preserving the Credit of Religion, and in order to save the Sinner’s Soul, and good of the Church, in obedience to God’s Law, to proceed and excommunicate the Sinner, by a judicial Sentence in the Name of Christ and his Church,h tendering an admonition of Repentance to him with Gravity, Love, and Authority, and all this without Hypocrisie, or Partiality; praying for the Sinner, that his Soul may be saved in the Day of the Lord. And under this second degree, of Withdrawing, or Excommunication, to account him as a Heathen, or Publican,i that he may be ashamed. But upon the third and highest Act of Excommunication, it being a most dreadful Thunder-clap of God’s Judgment, it is most difficult, for any Church now to proceed in,j it being difficult to know when any Man hath sinned the unpardonable Sin, and so to incur a total Cutting-off from the Church.

Proofs

Each links to the Scripture index: what else cites the passage.

  1. aIsaiah 9:6; Matthew 28:18; 18:17, 11; Revelation 2:3; 1 Corinthians 5:4
  2. bHebrews 13:7, 17
  3. c2 Thessalonians 3:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:12–14; 2 Corinthians 2:5–7
  4. dLeviticus 19:17–18
  5. eMatthew 18:15–17
  6. f1 Timothy 5:20; 2 Timothy 2:14; Titus 1:12–14
  7. gLeviticus 13:1–8; Numbers 12:14–15; 2 Thessalonians 3:6
  8. h1 Corinthians 5:4–7; Titus 3:10; Revelation 2:14, 20, 22–23
  9. iMatthew 18:17
  10. j1 Corinthians 16:22

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Orthodox Creed (1679) 34.1, symbolics.dev/orthodox1679/34.1

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