History Of Methodist Reform, Volume I - Media Sabda Org

command, when he told the elders not to lord it over God's heritage. Paul appeared to have learned
the same lesson, when he writes to Timothy, the servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle
to all men, apt to teach, patient. I therefore conclude the clergy has not that power you say they have.
Your recorded proof for establishing the power of the clergy is in 5th, chapter, 1st, Cor, but do
not find one word to the ministers separate from the church in the whole chapter. The apostle
determined what ought to be done himself, which was perfectly right. He an apostle of the Gentiles
had planted a church in the idolatrous city of Corinth, the scripture was not compiled at that time as
we have it now, and that part of the New Testament that was then wrote in loose sheets, and less
known than the old, consequently no regular discipline in the church, it is natural to suppose they
were at a loss to know how to proceed, but the apostle writes and gives them a form, (but very
different from yours) "in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ when ye are gathered together, and my
spirit (concurring) with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ to deliver such a one to Satan etc." He
then gives the reason, which was "to purge out the old leaven" etc., and also reminds them he had
wrote to them before, not to company with fornicators, but now I have written unto you not to keep
company; if any man that is called a brother, be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer,
or a drunkard, or an extortioner, with such a one, no not to eat, for what have I to do to judge them
also that are without? Do ye not judge them that are without? Put them that are without God judgeth.
Wherefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person."
This is the form our Lord gave his disciples, tell it to the church, worthy of imitation, put away
from among yourselves that wicked person, this power the church has and are directed to exercise
it both as to censure and readmission upon true repentance. To prove this point I refer you to 2d, Cor,
2d, chapter, 6th, verse. "Sufficient to such a man is this punishment which was inflicted of many"
(not one), and so far was the good apostle from asserting his authority as too many do in our day, he
beseeches the church to confirm their love toward him that had offended. The above facts are so
plain, and are the opinion of so many ancient and modern divines, you will please to excuse me for
not agreeing with you when you say, the minister at Corinth was unfaithful, he connived at the
enormous crime, either because he did not love the cause of holiness, which is the cause of God, or
because he gave way to the evil solicitations of the "people," that "Paul steps into the minister's place
and cuts him off." As I cannot find this assertion in the word of God shall leave it as I find it, and
proceed to your third proof for establishing the absolute authority of the clergy over the laity, and
if there is one passage in the revelation that proves it, I am not the only one that is mistaken, but
many able divines have been and are now in ignorance.
In the 1st, chapter of the Revelation, John dedicates his vision to the seven churches, which were
under his immediate inspection, the ministry not mentioned which is certainly a warning to all the
churches of the world: in the 2d, and 3d, chapter John as a prophet writes to the angel, or minister,
say some, and through them to the churches, commending the good and condemning the evil that
prevailed in each church, with suitable promises and threats, and their final end, if they did not repent
of their evil deeds, both as to doctrine, and works; but contrary to Bishop Newton and several other
learned commentators, you apply this epistle to the ministers, and say with what high approbation
our Lord does here express himself concerning the determined opposition of the chief minister of
the church of Ephesus. Surely you do not attend to the whole epistle, or you would have seen that
the chief minister had left his first love, and was fallen, which is far from being a high