IV. The manner in which persons may be constituted a particular church is...
Here
follows a narrative of proceeding at the constitution of one baptist church in
the year {1732}. The set day being come, and the parties concerned met,
fasting; one of the two ministers present stood up and spoke to this effect.
26.
“Good people! the occasion of our meeting is a desire, which some of you have,
to be constituted into a christian church. It is well that it is in your hearts
to be put together and compacted, so as to {rise} into a temple of Jesus,
wherein his honour may dwell. Happy for you and for us if the precious stones
of the sanctuary be found in this place, and happy for the neighbourhood if a
house of God be erected here. But is God build not the house they labour in
vain that build it. Because of this, and also because of the danger of building
wood, hay, and stubble on the precious foundation let us ask help of God to be
wise builders; and intreat, that he will be a worker together with us on this
occasion.”
27.
“The builder of all things is God! and to that God do we now pray for help in
the time of need! Jesus master see what building is to be here, and what stones
are these! It is in our heart to form them into a temple to thy name; but
without thy mind would we not do either little or much. If these persons be
living and precious stones help them to show it and us to discern it; if not
reveal that unto us; left on the one hand, any of the precious sons of Zion
should become a stone disallowed and rejected of the builders; and left on the
other, we should plant a root of bitterness in the Lords garden, or fasten a
withered arm to the Lords body. Let the head of the church be present on this
occasion; for two or three are come together in thy name to build thee a house;
be thou head in the building; lay the first stone; lay the last, lay the midst.
Act now the laying that is written, I will build my church and the gates of
hell shall not prevail against it. As far as thou permittest us to be workers
together with thee, help us to be faithful that our work may stand, the reward
sure, and thou have glory for ever. Amen.”
Then the minister
desired them who purposed to become a church to draw near, and to give in their
names to him; that done, and a list of them written, he began to ask them the
following questions.
28.
“Is it your desire to be constituted a church in this place?”
As many as answered in
the affirmative were further asked the following questions.
29.
“Are your habitations so near to each other than you can meet together in one
place every Lords day, or oftener if needs be?”
This enquiry caused a
demur in the case of one man who lived a great way off; but because there was
no church nearer to which he could have joined himself he was admitted, The
minister proceeded,
30.
“Are ye so far acquainted with each others characters, graces, and principles,
that ye can freely coalesce into one body, and comfortably walk together in
fellowship?”
The answer was in the
affirmative without any exception. Then the minister proceeded,
31.
“There is a work of Gods Spirit that convinceth of sin and misery, that
enlightens the mind in the knowledge of Christ; that reneweth the will; and
that persuadeth and enableth the sinner to embrace that same Christ as he is
freely offered in the gospel, which work is styled effectual calling. And this work is so essential a qualification to
church membership that the society is, from it, termed εκκλησια or the called of the Lord. Can you make it
appear to us that this good work hath been wrought in you; for before Barnabas
exhorted the disciples to be married to the Lord, it is said that he saw the grace of God?
Each declared his
experience in such manner as induced the ministers to judge favourably of them.
The acting minister went on.
32.
“A church is called the household of
faith, and all the members are called faithful: let us therefore have a
confession of your faith; for as true faith gives you a right to become members
of a church (Joh. i. 12), so to a
profession of that is the promise of the keys of the kingdom of heaven made, (Math. xvi. 16-19).”
Each referred to the baptist
confession of faith as fully expressing the articles of his belief. The
minister examined them on some of the chief points of the confession, in order
to see whether they understood it. The {jist} of what they said amounted to,
what I would call, the essentials, viz. “A profession of
repentance towards God; of sincere obedience to his laws; of faith in Christ as
the only Saviour; of the hope of pardon and eternal life through his mediation
and sacrifice; of submission to his word as the sovereign and infallible rule
of religious faith and practice; of the public worship of one God, through one
mediator, by one Spirit; in the reverent use of the word, prayer and praise,
and other ordinances.” The minister
proceeded,
33.
“Is it the full purpose of your hearts henceforth to do all things whatsoever Christ
hath commanded, and be obedient?”
They all solemnly
declared that to be their fixed resolution. The minister went on,
34.
“It appears by the gospel that baptism is prerequisite to a church state. And because
some take that to be baptism which in reality is not, we require whether you
have been duly baptized?”
Some produced
certificates; other witnesses to their baptism. The minister went on.
35.
“The believing Samaritans had hands laid on them before their incorporation
into a church; we would know therefore whether you have submitted to that
rite?”
They answered in the
affirmative except two; and produced witnesses or certificates. Here follows a
copy of one of the certificates. “This certifies that
our brother _______, after making a credible profession of repentance, faith,
and vows of holiness, was dipped in water in the name of the father, son and
holy ghost at _______, on the ____ day of _______, in the year _____, at which
time he had also hands laid on him by me _______ minister of the Baptist church
at _______.” Those who had not submitted
to this rite were reasoned with so that they desired it might be administered
to them; which accordingly was done. See the manner under the proposition which
speaks of this ordinance. Then the minister interrogated them all in such a
{sort} as produced the following instrument of confederation.
36.
“In the name of the Lord Jesus, we do voluntarily and jointly separate
ourselves from the world; and voluntarily and jointly give ourselves to the
Lord, who hath promised to receive such, and be to them a God; holding
ourselves henceforth as his, and no longer our own. We do all voluntarily and
mutually give ourselves one to another, and voluntarily and mutually receive
one another in the Lord; meaning hereby to coalesce into one body, jointly to
exist and jointly to act by the bands and rules of the gospel; each esteeming
himself henceforth as a member of a spiritual body; accountable to it, subject
to its control, and no otherwise separable therefrom than by consent first had,
or unreasonably refused. We do further voluntarily and jointly vow to do all
things whatsoever the Lord hath commanded, and be obedient, that he may be with
us always: particularly, to deny ourselves; take up the cross; follow Christ; keep
the faith; assemble together every Lord’s-day to worship; love as brethren;
submit one to another in the Lord; and observe all rules prescribed to church
members. Finally, we do voluntarily and jointly engage to know, honour,
maintain, and obey them that shall have the rule over us in the Lord. This is
the covenant we now solemnly enter into in the fear of God. In testimony and
ratification whereof each of us signs his name hereunto. So help us God. Amen.”
When signing was over,
the minister proceeded to declare them a church, in words to this effect; to
which were joined prayer and praise.
37.
“In the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the authority of our office we pronounce
you [mentioning their names] a true gospel Church; endowed with all necessary
power towards becoming a complete organized body, and the due government of
yourselves; and therefore stand bound to make a proper use of that power as ye
shall answer it to the head of the church. On whose name let us further call.”
38.
“One family more, O Lord, is now added to the families of faith! One temple
more raised to Jesus! One church more prepared as a bride for the Lamb of God!
Devoted to thee be this family of faith! Sacred to thy name this living temple!
And betrothed to the bridegroom, this chaste virgin! Take the family under thy
special care, thou God of the families of all the earth; and come and be Lord
over thine own house! Meet the dedication of this little sanctuary with
acceptance, and preserve it pure; and if ought defiling should at any time
stand in the holy place drive the abomination thereout, and cause that it
profane thy temple no more! Accept this knot of virgin souls which we present
to thee! Be this the day that they become the bride the lambs wife! Remember
the kindness of their youth and the love of their espousals; and henceforth let
them find that their maker is their husband! Give them a pastor after thine own
heart, that this zion may be the birth place of souls, and a gate of heaven!
Help them to be like minded; to love as brethren; to speak the same thing; and
walk by the same rule! Righteous Lord! as thou and the father art one so let
them be one in thee; one in thy service; one among themselves in the bonds of
peace and charity; and with one mouth and one heart glorify God! Thou, Lord,
hast laid the foundation of this house, and we cry grace! grace to it! Thou has
also fixed the top stone, and the shout in the church is, the Lord hath built
the temple, and the Lord shall have the glory. Amen.”
Then they sung, as followeth;
the words by Dr. Watts, Ps. cxxxii. The music by Mr.
Stanley.
Here,
mighty God, accept our vows,
Here,
let thy praise be spread;
Bless
the provisions of thy house,
And
fill thy poor with bread.
Here,
let the son of David reign,
Let
God’s anointed shine;
Justice
and truth his court maintain,
With
love and power divine.
Here
let him hold a lasting throne
And
as his kingdom grows,
Fresh
honours shall adorn his crown,
And
shame confound his foes.
Arise,
O king of saints, arise,
And
enter to thy rest,
Lo!
thy church waits with longing eyes
Thus
to be owned and blest.
Then the minister
uttered the benediction in these words.
40.
“The Lord bless you, and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you,
and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you
peace through Jesus Christ; the grace of whom be with you; the love of God the
father; and the communion of the holy Ghost, both now and henceforth. Amen.”
Then each took the
other by the right hand, and putting his right cheek to his, said,
41.
“I plight communion and love to you my dear brother; in token whereof I give
you the right hand of fellowship and kiss of charity.”
This being over, and
the Lords supper administered, one of the brothers invited the rest to his
home, where he had the love feast prepared, and at which he washed the
disciples feet. See the manner under the proposition which relates to the
subject.
No comments:
Post a Comment