in nature; but their fictions and conceits are not;
therefore be not Executioners under them: See with your own eyes; you shall, and must, at the
Last Day, give an account of your office; be not led about without eyes, blindfold; you should see with your own eyes: You are the true heads of the congregation: The lambs of Christ are committed to your trust; the priests are but elders in the congregation; if they walk rightly before them, and give good example to the congregation by their good doctrine, life, and conversation, then honour and respect should be given to them as elders of the congregation of Christ; not that they are lords over the congregation, but servants of the congregation: They should have the spirit of
Christ, and bless the congregation, and the congregation should give themselves up with them into one love, into one will, and so pray and sing, and speak together of God's love and wonders, that so there may be one spirit, one heart, in one will, and so the weak may be helped by the prayer and faith of the strong.
8. The congregation should incline their ear to the speech of the elders, who are strong and powerful in the spirit, and should receive the word of the spirit with earnest desire: The elders should teach with meekness, and deal with the congregation as with their own children, they should instruct them in their teaching and reproving with modest admonition: They should not bring bitter hearts into the congregation, in sending forth reproaches against the weak children, that the feeble be not quite discouraged.
9. But he that despiseth the congregation of Christ, and departeth from the Christian-way, they should privately warn and admonish such an one: If he will not regard, then they have the curse [or Excommunication] of the spirit to bind him in hell in the anger of God, that Satan may vex his heart, till he turn and repent: for the congregation hath in Christ great power, they have the key to open and shut; but, as is mentioned before, the priest alone hath not the power: No, he hath it not alone, for he is but the servant of the congregation:
The meanest of them all, if he is faithful [loyal in Faith], hath as much authority in the curse or Excommunication as the greatest; for we are all members of the body of Christ: If the meanest of all shut any out of the congregation in the curse of Excommunication, if the party is guilty, then he is in
[or under] the curse, or Excommunication; but if the party has wrong done him, then he is in the curse, or Excommunication, who hath done him the wrong, who hath belied him: Therefore look to it, ye elders, consider what you do, and do not make the congregation of Christ, which Christ hath dearly purchased with his blood, to scandalize [reproach, or offend] one another, else you yourselves are in [or under] the curse of Excommunication, and are without the congregation of Christ. Search [try, and examine] and consider beforehand, ere you judge what spirit's child he is whom you judge: Try his spirit beforehand, for many are zealous out of ignorance, whom you should instruct and receive: you know not what
God's spirit giveth to every one; for he hath many and sundry gifts: Judge all in the way of love;
be not rigid, be not furious, stern and obstinate:
Instruct the simple in meekness, that he may place his delight in the congregation; for such were
Christ's Apostles, your predecessors: They taught
in such a manner, and instructed the congregation by good example, doctrine, and life.
[Concerning the Lord's Supper.]
10. When they met together, and made known the wonders of the LORD, and sat together with a fervent spirit; then, after exhortation one of another, they distributed the Lord's Last Supper, as he had commanded them: They took bread and brake it, and ate of it, and thereby, and therewith, have commemorated the Lord's death; in like manner also they took the cup, and drank of it, and commemorated the shedding of his blood; saying one to another, Take, and eat the Lord's body, which was given for us on the cross.
in nature; but their fictions and conceits are not;
therefore be not Executioners under them: See with your own eyes; you shall, and must, at the
Last Day, give an account of your office; be not led about without eyes, blindfold; you should see with your own eyes: You are the true heads of the congregation: The lambs of Christ are committed to your trust; the priests are but elders in the congregation; if they walk rightly before them, and give good example to the congregation by their good doctrine, life, and conversation, then honour and respect should be given to them as elders of the congregation of Christ; not that they are lords over the congregation, but servants of the congregation: They should have the spirit of
Christ, and bless the congregation, and the congregation should give themselves up with them into one love, into one will, and so pray and sing, and speak together of God's love and wonders, that so there may be one spirit, one heart, in one will, and so the weak may be helped by the prayer and faith of the strong.
8. The congregation should incline their ear to the speech of the elders, who are strong and powerful in the spirit, and should receive the word of the spirit with earnest desire: The elders should teach with meekness, and deal with the congregation as with their own children, they should instruct them in their teaching and reproving with modest admonition: They should not bring bitter hearts into the congregation, in sending forth reproaches against the weak children, that the feeble be not quite discouraged.
9. But he that despises the congregation of Christ, and departs from the Christian-way, they should privately warn and admonish such an one: If he will not regard, then they have the curse [or Excommunication] of the spirit to bind him in hell in the anger of God, that Satan may vex his heart, till he turn and repent: for the congregation has in Christ great power, they have the key to open and shut; but, as is mentioned before, the priest alone has not the power: No, he has it not alone, for he is but the servant of the congregation:
The meanest of them all, if he is faithful [loyal in Faith], has as much authority in the curse or Excommunication as the greatest; for we are all members of the body of Christ: If the meanest of all shut any out of the congregation in the curse of Excommunication, if the party is guilty, then he is in
[or under] the curse, or Excommunication; but if the party has wrong done him, then he is in the curse, or Excommunication, who has done him the wrong, who has belied him: Therefore look to it, you elders, consider what you do, and do not make the congregation of Christ, which Christ has dearly purchased with his blood, to scandalize [reproach, or offend] one another, else you yourselves are in [or under] the curse of Excommunication, and are without the congregation of Christ. Search [try, and examine] and consider beforehand, ere you judge what spirit's child he is whom you judge: Try his spirit beforehand, for many are zealous out of ignorance, whom you should instruct and receive: you know not what
God's spirit gives to every one; for he has many and sundry gifts: Judge all in the way of love;
be not rigid, be not furious, stern and obstinate:
Instruct the simple in meekness, that he may place his delight in the congregation; for such were
Christ's Apostles, your predecessors: They taught
in such a manner, and instructed the congregation by good example, doctrine, and life.
[Concerning the Lord's Supper.]
10. When they met together, and made known the wonders of the LORD, and sat together with a fervent spirit; then, after exhortation one of another, they distributed the Lord's Last Supper, as he had commanded them: They took bread and brake it, and ate of it, and thereby, and therewith, have commemorated the Lord's death; in like manner also they took the cup, and drank of it, and commemorated the shedding of his blood; saying one to another, Take, and eat the Lord's body, which was given for us on the cross.
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