A Solemn Exhortation made and published to the several Churches of Christ within this PROVINCE of LANCASTER, FOR The Excitation of all persons therein to the practice of their Duties, requisite to the effectual carrying on of Church-Discipline; and in it the Edification of our Churches, and the Reformation of Religion.  
BY THE Provincial Synod assembled at Preston, Feb. 7. 1648.  
LONDON, Printed for LUKE FAWN, and are to be sold at his shop at the sign of the Parrot in Paul's Churchyard. M.DC.XLIX.  
feb 1648   

 decorative header consisting of a French fleur-de-lis flanked by a Tudor rose and a Scottish thistle  
A Solemn Exhortation made and published to the several Churches of Christ within this Province of Lancaster.  
THE Government of the Church of Christ, which he himself instituted, being in this Province lately restored to the hands of those his Officers unto whom he himself committed it: He (who is the Head of the Church, to whom God the Father hath given all power in Heaven and in Earth,) having stirred up, and stood by the honourable and pious Parliament, (whose Acts will be renowned,) to wrest it out of the hands of those that usurped, depraved, and misadministred it, and, with the Advice of the Reverend Assembly of Divines, to deliver it (vindicated and purged from the former depravements, and confirmed with their civil Sanction,) to those his servants, unto whom by his Will and Testament he had assigned it. The faithful Execution of this Government now rests upon the charge of those Officers with whom it is so, both by divine Commission, and humane Injunction, entrusted; and the diligent improvement of it to spiritual advantage remains upon the care of those Churches and Church members over whom it is placed, and to whose benefit it is appointed to be subservient; and if either the Execution of the one, or the improvement of the other, be slacked, the effect, of it will fail, and great will be the fail thereof, We of this Synod, called by the aforesaid Authorities, opening a way to the Churches, whereunto we severally appertain, to design us to the present inspection of this large Association of Churches for their edification; having set ourselves to find out, and pursue what (within the extent of our power) may be conducible thereunto, have quickly apprehended the promoting of the aforesaid due execution, and improvement of Church Government, to be mainly necessary to that end; and not only taking notice of, but laying to heart the flow proceeding of it among us, more especially in some places, and more particularly in some duties, have thought meet amongst other means for the putting on thereof, to address ourselves by way of exhortation to all our Churches, and in them to all our Brethren, both public Officers, and other Members, beseeching the God of all Grace through Jesus Christ, That this our service may be acceptable and profitable to them, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.  
The matter (dearly beloved in our Lord) of Church Discipline, which we persuade, were it either Arbitrary, or of a temporal concernment, we should have passed it over in silence at this time; but when we consider that it is one of those Commandments which our Lord Jesus Christ, before his ascending up to Heaven through the Holy Ghost, gave unto the Apostles whom he had chosen, and whom he charged to teach all Nations, made his Disciples to observe all things whatsoever he had commanded them; and that it hath the Church of God, and the souls of men purchased by his precious blood for its object; The restoring and preserving of the purity of Christ's Ordinances, the verity of his Doctrine, the orderliness of men's Conventions, the Peace and Union of Christian Brethren, and Churches in Judgement, heart and practice for its end, and that ignorance, error, and iniquity, are the enemies against which it draweth forth, and weildeth its weapons; we cannot but speak, and yet withal judge a little speaking for this to them to whom we speak may suffice.  
The miserable disorders, errors, and offences, which like a flood have broken out, continued, and risen to so great a height among us, to the high dishonour of the Name of God, the great hindrance and shame of the Gospel, and the trampling of the holy things, and precious pearls thereof, under the feet of dogs and swine, the subversion of many fouls, the vexation of others, the disturbance of our Church's peace, and the errecting of many walls of partition betwixt brethren, the decay and discouragement of the power of godliness, the opening of the reproachful mouths of the enemies of Religion, the advancement of Satan's seat amongst us, the pulling down and continuing of many national Judgements, and the rendering of Reformation so extremely difficult. These these, O Brethren, are the deplorable fruits of the want of this Discipline; which but to mention may make all pious cars to tingle: what then may the seeing and enduring of them so long move in our hearas? And how great a guilt shall we incur, if we shall be now wanting in our places, either to the setting up, or diligent practice of this Discipline? And here as we cannot excuse ourselves in our own consciences, so we desire not to conceal that in the late Prelatical Usurpation; we are conscious to ourselves of departing from our duty, in compliance with the mis-proccedings thereof: we judge ourselves for it, and we do earnestly desire, that our failings herein may be so far from becoming a precedent for future, either to ourselves or others, that the remembrance thereof may be to both, for time to come, a Caveat and an incentive to obfirmed fidelity and diligence in all our disciplinary duties; and that whatsoever sort of men may come hereafter to carry themselves in way, either in neutrality, discountenance, prohibition, or opposition to us therein, we may yet acquit ourselves in the same. We would not have to he forgotten how long the work of the Reformation of this Church, in point of Discipline, hath stayed, and stuck behind those of Doctrine and Worship, which hath been our great stain and trial: With what prayers, tears, solicitations and testimonies, by preaching, writing, practising, and suffering, our Predecessors, and we have striven for the effecting of it? What expectations and hopes of late have been conceived of it? What undertake gone about, and adventures made for it? What delays and obstructions have been interposed? How much, and many ways Satan and wicked men have stood against and retarded it? What contestations and conflicts have been encountered? What costs, not only of wealth, but of blood, expended for the attainment of it? What a public, solemn, and soule-binding Covenant, and Oath, hath been takin by us, and most people in this Nation, sincerely, really and constantly to endeavour the same? By what slow steps, through the violent and hazardous oppositions made against it, the intervention of other urgent affairs, and the intermixture of humane frailties, the Parliament, the Assembly of Divines, and the several Church Assemblies, in their respective endeavours about it, have proceeded? And how, in, and above all, the most mighty hand of God hath been exalted, and his unsearchable wisdom, and rich mercy magnified in, not only the redemption of our lives, liberties and estates, from the common enemies, and the full subduing of them once, and again, before the Lord, and before his people, but the bringing forth out of all those perplexed, dangerous, difficult, and cross occurrences of great advantage to us, as in many other respects, so especially in the establishing of Church-Government in that good measure in which it is settled: The progress whereof in this Province, we have much cause to admire, and study thankfulness for: And we confess the greatest defects that now remain concerning it, are in the practice of it, which is our part; and that the unfitness, unsetledness, averseness, and remissness of men's spirits in relation to it, is now the great obstruction at which it sticks: And we may be jealous, lest as the want of love to the Truth hath, through the just Judgement of God, been a wide inlet in many places to damnable Heresies, so the want of a heart in us to use this price in our hand of Church-power, may lay us open to destructive disorder. We observe also, That as man's corruption and Satan's malice concurred to hinder Church Discipline while the work of discovering, clearing up, and public authorising of the rule was in hand, by raising and keeping up of differences in judgement, with hot and doubtful disputes concerning it, unworthy aspersions, and contempt cast upon it, anticipations of mature direction of authority about it by some brethren's rending from our Churches, and setting up ways of Discipinle dissonant to it, private, politic designings under pretences of it, a common hatred to Reformation, and strictness imposed by it, disaffection and discouragement to it by many in places of Power; expectation and endeavours for a legal Toleration, and an assuming of liberty in Religion for the present, the fruitful mother of all Atheism, Error, false Religion, and Profaneness; so do they still concur by the same arts and means, and that with a higher hand, to hinder the putting of it in practice: so that by the short experience we have had, and the present face of things, we may very probably make account to meet with yet as much, yea more difficulty in the carrying on of this Discipline, than was found in the establishing of it; which some men, whose counsel is flesh and blood, discerning, may perhaps take occasion thence to languish, in their activeness, or wholly to refrain from acting, or to stand off from joining in it, and happily to blame the godly forwardness of others: but we wish such men better counsellors, and hope all those who are acted by principles of conscience, and spiritual interest, will, from the apprehension of such difficulty, collect an obligation to more diligence, and thence address themselves with greater zeal, courage, and resolution to the work.  
All these mighty engagements, and impulsives, brethren and beloved, being with serious and right Christian consideration weighed, we beseech, and exhort you, in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, That the Government and Discipline of the Church, ordained by Christ, and set forth summarily by authority in the Ordinance of Parliament of 29. August 1648. be presently, faithfully, constantly, and impartially put in practice, in all Church assemblies, by all Ministers, ruling Elders, and other Christians, according to the Power, or Commandment, delivered to them in the Word of God respectively, with all other known duties of Religion coming within the cognizance of the said Government; and in particular as conducing, or necessarily concomitant thereunto these following.  
First, That in such Congregations as are not provided of ruling Elders, and may afford any number of persons duly qualified for that Office, the Minister and People do without delay or excuse, proceed with due solemnity to elect such Elders; and that the persons so elected take upon them the said function, as thereunto called of God; and that the Classical Presbytery, to which that Congregation appertained, or, if that be not, the Ministers, and others, nominated by Ordinance of Parliament of 2. Octob. 1646. as sit to be of that Classis, proceed to constitute that congregational Eldership, to which the said persons are so chosen; and the Eldership so constituted to address themselves to the Execution of the Discipline in their Congregation with all diligence, and to associate themselves as they have opportunity to the Classical Presbytery, which they belong unto.  
That the Ministers of the Gospel give themselves continually to prayer, and to the Ministry of the Word; that they study to show themselves approved to God, workmen that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth; that they be eminently and exemplary holy, and blameless in their conversation; that they be quick sightedly watchful against the springing and spreading of Errors, and the breaking out of Divisions within their flocks, and that they labour to instruct by way of catechising all the young, and weak in knowledge within the same.  
That the Ministers and Elders set themselves diligently to the oversight of their Congregations, to discern into, and help them in their knowledge, and spiritual estate, and to discover, direct, and correct their conversation, therein passing over none that profess Christianity within their bounds, uncast our of the Church, and endeavouring the recovery of those that are cast out; That they constantly meet in public, that they may be ready for the addresses of the people, and to consult on, and apply such means as may be effectual for the edification of the congregation, or any member thereof▪ That they rule with diligence, and impartiality in the application, or releasement of Church censures, as the condition of any shall require: That they punctually observe the meetings of the associated Presbyteries, Classical and Provincial; that in matters too hard for their single Elderships, or wherein they are appealed from, they may reap the benefit of joint counsel, authority, and prayer, and mutually afford the same, and that none of them detract, grow weary, or suffer themselves to be diverted from frequenting such assemblies, although the affairs of Church-discipline, being so newly entered upon, be for the present somewhat extraordinarily pressing.  
The Classical Presbyteries (being that one special work of theirs is to superintend them that have the oversight of others) are besought to take special care, that the Ministers, and ruling Elders, within their respective Divisions, be sufficient for their callings, industrious in the execution thereof, and unblameable in their walking; in which respects their accutest vigilancy is required, that the unworthy be timely prevented, the negligent, or offensive regulated, and the unreclaimable ejected.  
All Christians whatsoever are exhorted, That they beware of giving any offence to any, either by manifest sin, or by the appearance of evil, remembering that double heavy woe, which in the sentence of our blessed Saviour offences bring, to wit, one to the world, another to the offence giver. That they carefully avoid all rash, or groundless taking of offence against any person, or practise, not judging upon in evident cases, as being bound out from it by a double Law of Justice and Charity: And here, whereas there are said to be some that murmur against certain of the Communicants, in the several Congregations, as if they were visibly unworthy of the Lords Supper, We desire that such complainers would rather apply themselves to their duty of private admonition, and public information, and proof thereof before the Elderships respectively, and not uncharitably charge, either an unworthiness upon a party, or a misadministration upon an Eldership before a due eviction thereof be made.  
And forasmuch as imputations of infufficiency and scandalousness are in general expressions, and in private talk, cast upon some Church-Officers; we earnestly pray, that there may be either an orderly complaint, prosecution, and proof made of such imputations before the Presbytery whereto any such Officer belongeth, or a forbearing of such smitings with the tongue. Furthermore, Christians are exhorted, That what errors, or offences, they plainly discern in any brother, they take notice of them, not to hate, disdain, upbraid, or presently to withdraw brotherly respect, and society from him for the same, much less to whisper, or publish such things, when, where, or to whom there is no warrant, to the defamation, or exasperating of the party, and the multiplying of offences, but to exercise pity, and endeavours of recovery towards him; if the matter be a smaller failing, or but an infirmity, to instruct, and persuade him, and patiently to bear, expecting his amendment: if the matter be of an higher nature, and scandalous indeed, let every one take heed of winking at, or being wanting in his place, to the removing of the Scandal, and make conscience to apply himself according to the rule of Christ, by a set, solemn, and opportune admonition in private to the lapsed party, withal wisdom, fidelity, meekness, and love, accounting it a happy work to gain a fallen brother, and that this private admonition is ordinarily the first step to the process of Church-Discipline. If upon it the party's repentance be not discerned, follow our Saviour's rule to the next step, take along with you to the person, one or two faithful brethren, That they may be both witnesses and assistants to a second admonition: If neither in this course a good effect appear in him, omit not that third remedy prescribed by Christ, of telling it to the Church, but go and acquaint the Eldership with thy brother's trespass, thy past proceed for his reclaiming, and the successesness thereof, which last remedy is to be made use of forthwith in all publicly known, or openly divulged scandals; and both in case of such published Scandals, and in those more private, so persisted in against brotherly admonition, as is aforesaid; we exhort every person that is offended, or knoweth, and can testify the matter of fact, That he willingly appear and witness the same before the Eldership; all which is to be done by every one respectively, as he tendereth the saveing the offender, the putting away of the evil from the Church, the vindication of that worthy Name of Christ, by which we are all called, and the purity of his Ordinances, and that he himself may not be a partaker of other men's sins: In this course of admonition, and prosecution before the Eldership, let none out of private spleen revive the memory of old, and forgotten offences; which not only tract of time, but the real Reformation of the party, unto the full satisfaction of the godly, and silencing of the world, may have buried: And let every one that is overtaken with a fault be ready to receive, submit to, accept of, and improve to his good the admonition of any Church-Officer or Brother given him, as an act of conscience, and love in his Brother, and as to himself a kindness or excellent oil to heal him.  
Also we exhort all Christians cordially to esteem and affect, diligently to attend upon, really to subject themselves to, and profitably to use what Discipline is but the conservatory or enclosure of, to wit the public and private Ordinances of the Gospel, as the Word, the Sacraments, Prayer, and the rest: And in regard of that great neglect, we observe in many places by many, of that soul-feasting Ordinance, the Lords Supper, which was so dearly bequeathed by Christ immediately before his death unto his Church; We exhort, that no person of age, that names himself by the Name of Christ, would ordinarily absent, or wretchlesly deprive himself thereof, but that he labour for knowledge to enable him to examine himself for faith, and for a good conscience towards God and man; and that he be diligent in the use of all public and private means to attain the same, and particularly that he submit to be catechised by the Minister, and tried, and approved by the Eldership. And whereas some that come not to the Lords Supper, nor offer themselves to the Eldership to be admitted to it, repine as if they were kept back by them, they are exhorted not to pretend themselves to be debarred by them whereas they never tendered themselves to be received. And whereas others that absent themselves, except against the manner of admission, by approving themselves to the Eldership in point of knowledge and conversation, such should religiously weigh upon what binding grounds the Eldership requires the said satisfaction, and to endeavour themselves, either to receive resolution of the Eldership, or Minister, for their insisting on such satisfaction, or to yield resolution to them for their refusing to give it; and if that way they gain not access to the Ordinance, rather to appeal to the Classical, and thence to the Provincial Assembly, in case they find themselves aggrieved, then to sit down without using what means they are afforded to gain participation in so necessary and precious an Ordinance.  
All Governors of Families are exhorted to see to the godly ordering of their households, to observe constantly, and to bring all under their charge unto Family Duties of Religion, as Prayer, reading the Word, repeating, and taking account of Sermons, especially on the Lord's Day, singing of Psalms, catechising them, and bringing them to be catechised by the Minister, that they may come to, and grow up in the knowledge and obedience of the truth, necessary to their Salvation; and so to restrain them from wickedness, and lead them to godliness, both by their own example, and by their authority, that (as much as in them lies) the Church, or any of their Brethren be not offended with any of them; and their eternal happiness may be procured.  
Also such as keep Schools for the education of youth, are exhorted to train up their youth in divine literature, and to discipline them to eschew vice, and practice piety, themselves also exercising duties of Religion in their Schools, and being every way exemplary in good to them; and that in allowing times of recreation, they, according to the Directory, leave the observing of holidays, and exchange them for other convenient times.  
And we exhort, That if any Brethren amongst us, either in any thing descent from the present constitution of Church Government, or take offence at any practice in any of our Churches, or Members, they would beware of running into, or continuing in Schism thereupon, but walk by the same rule with us, so far as there is an agreement in judgement betwixt us, and endeavour to receive or give satisfaction wherein there is any practical difference, and take heed of violating their own declared principles, concerning continuing, or withdrawing of Church-communion.  
Lastly, Let all Christians chief study, strive for, and exercise the power of godliness, whereto Church-Discipline serveth as an handmaid, and whereof visible conformity is but the outward shape; and let the mainest of their care be employed in the getting and keeping of faith and a good conscience, the materials of that power of godliness; and seeing most perilous times are come upon us, wherein it is opposed and assaulted by all ways, both of subtlety and power: We earnestly exhort and warn you all, that with exquisite heed and resolute steadfastness ye discern and resist all those that shall seek to seduce you, either into error, or division, contrary to that sound doctrine, and safe fellowship, which ye have embraced in our Churches; that with accurate circumspection ye keep yourselves from the common and reigning sins of these times; that ye stand fast to our solemn League and Covenant, in all the branches of it, and namely, in those that contain the great, and much hazarded, public Interests of Religion, Civil Government, and Brotherly Union, not suffering yourselves to be drawn aside to any new inventions, to the subverting of any of them: And that ye walk in the old path, and good way of the infallible Scriptures, and avoid such courses, as have but the warrant of pretended good intentions, urgent necessity, or misinterpreted providence coined for them; And if it be the Will of God, That ye must suffer for not saying a confederacy to such ways, or for well doing, be not afraid of men's terror, neither be troubled, nor ashamed, but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, rejoice, count yourselves happy, glorify God on this behalf, and commit the keeping of your souls to him in well-doing, as unto a faithful Creator.  


James Hyet, Moderator.  
Thomas Johnson, Assessor.  
Edward Gee, Scribe.    
FINIS.