elements in this sacrament, yet they receive not the thing signified thereby; but by their unworthy coming thereunto, are guilty of the body and blood of the Lord, to their own damnation. Wherefore all ignorant and ungodly persons, as they are unfit to enjoy communion with him, so are they unworthy of the Lord's table; and cannot without great sin against Christ, while they remain such, partake of these holy mysteries, or be admitted thereunto. Chapter 30. Of Church Censures. (1.) The Lord Jesus, as King and Head of his Church, hath therein appointed a government in the hand of Church officers, distinct from the civil magistrate. (2.) To these officers the keys of the kingdom of heaven are committed by virtue whereof they have power respectively to retain and remit sins; to shut that kingdom against the impenitent, both by the word, and censures; and to open it unto penitent sinners, by the ministry of the Gospel, and by absolution from censures, as occasion shall require. (3.) Church censures are necessary for the reclaiming and gaining of offending brethren, for deterring of others from the like offences, for purging out of that leaven which might infect the whole lump, for vindicating the honour of Christ and the holy profession of the Gospel, and for preventing the wrath of God, which might justly full upon the Church, if they should suffer his covenant, and the seals thereof, to be profaned by notorious and obstinate offenders. (4.) For the better attaining of these ends, the officers of the Church are to proceed by admonition, suspension from the sacrament of the Lord's Supper for a season, and by excommunication from the Church, according to the nature of the crime, and demerit of the person.. Chapter 31. Of Synods and Councils. (1.) For the better government and further edification of the Church, there ought to be such assemblies are commonly called Synods or Councils. (2.) As magistrates may lawfully call a Synod of ministers and other fit persons to consult and advise with, about matters of religion; so, if magistrates be open enemies to the Church, the ministers of Christ, of themselves, by virture of their office, or they, with other fit persons, upon delegation from their Churches, may meet together in such assemblies. (3.) It belongeth to Synods and Councils ministerially to determine controversies of faith and cases of conscience; to set down rules and directions for the better ordering of the public worship of God, and government of his Church; to receive complaints in cases of mal-administration, and authoritatively to determine the same: which decrees and determinations, if consonant to the word of God, are to be received with reverence and submission; not only for their agreement with the word, but also for the power whereby they are made, as being an ordinance of God, appointed thereunto in his word. (4.) All Synods or Councils since the Apostles' times, whether General or Particular, may err; and many have erred. Therefore they are not to be made the rule of faith or practice, but to be used as an help in both. (5.) Synods and Councils are to handle or conclude nothing but that which is ecclesiastical: and are not to intermeddle with civil affairs, which concern the commonwealth, unless by way of humble petition in cases extraordinary; or by way of advice, for satisfaction of conscience, if they be thereunto required by the civil magistrate. Chapter 32. Of the State of Men after Death, and of the (1.) The bodies of men after death return to dust, and see corruption but their souls, (which neither die nor sleep,) having an immortal subsistence, immediately return to God who gave them. The souls of the righteous, being then made perfect in holiness, are received into the highest heavens, where they behold the face of God in light and glory, waiting for the full redemption of their bodies and the souls of the wicked are cast into hell, where they remain in torments and utter darkness, reserved to the judgment of the great day. Besides these two places for souls separated from their bodies, the scripture acknowledgeth none. : (2.) At the last day such as are found alive shall not die, but be changed and all the dead shall be raised up, with the self-same bodies, and none other, although with different qualities; which shall be united again to their souls for ever. (3.) The bodies of the unjust shall by the power of Christ be raised to dishonour: the bodies of the just by his Spirit unto honour; and be made conformable to his own glorious body. Chapter 33. Of the Last Judgment. (1.) God hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the world in righteousness by Jesus Christ, to whom all power and judgment is given of the Father. In which day, not only the apostate angels shall be judged, but likewise all persons that have lived upon earth shall appear before the tribunal of Christ, to give an account of their thoughts, words, and deeds; and to receive according to what they have done in the body, whether good or evil. (2.) The end of God's appointing this day, is for the manifestation of the glory of his mercy, in the eternal salvation of the elect; and of his justice, in the damnation of the reprobate, who are wicked and disobedient. For then shall the righteous go into everlasting life, and receive that fulness of joy and refreshing which shall come from the presence of the Lord: but the wicked, who know not God, and obey not the Gospel of Jesus Christ, shall be cast into eternal torments, and be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power. (3.) As Christ would have us to be certainly persuaded that there shall be a day of judgment, both to deter all men from sin, and for the greater consolation of the godly in their adversity so will he have that day unknown to men, that they may shake off all carna security, and be always watchful, because they know not at what hour the Lord will come; and may be ever prepared to say, Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly. Amen. THE END OF THE APPENDIX. |