History Of Methodist Reform, Volume I - Media Sabda Org

ambition) as a little child, ye shall rot enter the kingdom of heaven. He then told them the most
humble is the greatest in the kingdom; and for the better securing of the little ones (new converts,
the laity) from the power of them, and all succeeding preachers, he denounces a dreadful woe to all
be they who they may that should offend one of these little ones; and that it might be the deeper
rooted in the heart, he warns them again, and then the third time tells them the reason, for "their
angels do behold the face of my father which is in heaven." O ye ministers of the gospel, who
contend so strenuously for power over the laity, I wonder how you can read our Lord's words,
without sinking into the deepest humiliation.
Now it is plain to me our Lord was so far from telling his disciples to cast members out of the
church, without the consent of the church, as you tell the preachers now, he has pointed out a
different and more pleasing work to every humble minister; forgiving injuries and seeking the lost
sheep. "Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven that one of these little ones should
perish." Then follows the text you have first quoted, and so strenuously applied, "If thy brother shall
trespass against thee go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone" etc. You then tell us these
words were addressed to the apostles and through them to all the ministers of Christ to the end of
the world; this is evident from the words immediately following the question, and which are a
continuation of the same paragraph, and would not belong to the private members of the church. So
then by the same rule private members are excluded from the promise, "where two or three are
gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them," as it is a continuation of the same
paragraph. Now from your doctrine lay members are not taught by this chapter to be humble, not to
forbid one of these little ones, not to tell his brother his fault, though he may trespass against him,
not a right to claim the promise of the Lord to be in the midst, though they may meet and pray in
Christ's name, not to forgive injuries, all which I can no more believe, than I can that lay members
may not receive the Lord's supper, because when first instituted by our Lord, it was first given to the
twelve apostles; but contrary to even commentators which I have lately read on this passage, you
have excluded laymen from telling his brother his fault, or the church, though he may be personally
offended, and has given the power to the minister, and tell us of the first and second reproof given
by the ministers, and then ask a question that I believe was never asked by any Christian before; shall
these two or three witnesses proceed to exclude him, but why this question is asked I know not, as
I know of no such precedent in Christendom. Our Lord says tell it to the church, but the church you
say has no authority to judge and determine the case, but how is he to bear the church, if the church
has no such power? Or, how is the offender to be tried? there is no way if we follow your note on
this passage, but the preacher who is the accuser to be both judge and executioner which is contrary
to scripture and reason, to all law human and divine, and must be deemed by every humble Christian,
an empty show for the most wise and prudent preacher (say nothing of the proud and haughty), to
call the church together (as the Nabobs do their slaves) for no other purpose, than to show his
authority; from the above it is clear when our Lord speaks of the church, he does not mean Peter,
John, James, or Paul, and am sure much less of any single preacher of later times, but most certainly
includes ministers and lay members.
This is evident, the church is to judge and determine, the minister to execute. We find our Lord
often reproved the disciples for their disputing and strife, who should be the greatest. He plainly told
them the kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and they that exercise authority upon
them, were called benefactors, but ye shall not be so etc. Peter well remembered his Lord's