History Of Methodist Reform, Volume I - Media Sabda Org

ought not to exist in the church of Christ, however such proceedings might be received by those
under regal authority I know not, but I am sure cannot exist and prosper long in this country being
blessed with a constitution superior to any in the world.
Permit me then to give you my light on turning a member out of the church: when a personal
offense is given, let the offender follow our Lord's direction, as in the 18th, of Matthew. If the
offense is not of a personal nature, but is an offense against the church, let the minister if convenient,
if not any other spiritual member, deal with him precisely as our Lord has above directed, but if this
does not cure the offender tell it to the church, the society to which he belongs. If there be two or
more male members born of God, and known to be spiritual members, in the said society,
uncorrupted by blood, marriage or otherwise, as might render them unfit to judge in such a case, and
where there are no such members in any of our societies, or where there are a great many in either
case, let a select number of like disinterested spiritual members be called upon, let the minister and
said members proceed to try the offender, as laid down in our form of discipline, and if equally
divided the side, the minister is to determine the case. But if it should so happen that a member was
kept in society contrary to the opinion of the minister (which would seldom happen) he cannot be
compelled to administer the holy sacrament to such a member until proper humiliation appears (can
any one object to this?).
It is plain none but the spiritual members have a right to judge in the church. Women (and all the
unconverted members, the catechumens), have no right as appears from Paul's first letter to the Cor,
2d, chapter, 15th, verse, but he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man
(that is not spiritual). David, in speaking on this subject 149 Psalm — "This honor have all his
saints." See, Whitby's Notes on the 6th, verse, 2d, chapter of 2d, Cor. It is well known that the power
claimed by too many of the clergy has been the cause of the greatest contentions and the greatest
curse that ever was in the Christian church. It must be the offspring of Hell nourished and trained
up in France, and Spain, etc., or we should find the purest religion in those churches where the
highest degree of favor was exercised, if favor to the clergy was necessary to promote true religion;
but the contrary is manifest, that power in the clergy makes hypocrites, but seldom makes converts
to God. Who then is most like Satan? He that is most proud and haughty: who is most like the Son
of God? He that is most humble, meek and lowly. Lord hear my earnest prayer and make me one of
the most humble, that thou mayest hasten the time when this shall be the only strife in thy church,
who shall be the must humble, then we shall see an earnest seeking after these poor, lost sheep that
have wandered out of the way on account of the power, then shall we see them returning like the
lambs of the flock to their mothers with tokens of the greatest joy, then poor sinners would fear and
tremble and Hell would shake to its center, then would our church become the praise of all the earth
to see all the ministers and laymen in sweet reunion again.
Much more might be said from scripture to prove the church has the power, and it cannot be
denied that in all countries whore the clergy have power that there were great and good men who
cried against it, knowing that power in the clergy was the downfall of true religion. Lord inspire thy