C****i
发帖数: 1776 | 1 第三十章 论教会的劝惩
一．教会的君王和元首主耶稣将教会管理权交于教会圣职人员之手；但他们与国家
官员不同（赛9:6-7；提前5:17；帖前5:12；徒20:17，28；来13:7，17，24；林前12:2
8；太28:18－20）。
二．天国的钥匙交给了这些圣职人员，因此他们有权不免去或赦免人的罪，按照情形的
需要，用圣道和劝惩向不悔改的人关闭天国，又藉着宣讲福音和撤除劝惩，向悔改的人
开放天国（太16:19；18:17－18；约20:21－23；林后2:6－8）。
三．若教会任凭罪恶昭彰和刚愎自负的罪人，亵渎上帝的圣约和印记，就会有上帝的震
怒公平地临到。为了矫正并得着那犯罪的弟兄，防止他人犯同样的过犯，并除去那能够
感染全团的酵，维持基督的尊荣与福音的纯正，避免上帝的震怒，教会的劝惩乃是必不
可少的（林前5；提前5:20；太7:6；提前1:20；林前11:27－34；犹23）。
四．为了更完美地达成以上目的，教会圣职人员应当按照犯罪的性质和犯罪者的罪状
予以训诫，或暂停圣餐，或逐出教会（帖前5:12；帖后3:6，14－15；林前5:4，5，13；
太18:17；多3:10）。 | C****i
发帖数: 1776 | 2 CHAPTER XXX
Of Church Censures
I. The Lord Jesus, as King and Head of his church, hath therein appointed a
government, in the hand of church officers, distinct from the civil magistra
te.[556]
II. To these officers the keys of the kingdom of heaven are committed; by vi
rtue whereof, they have power, respectively, to retain, and remit sins; to s
hut that kingdom against the impenitent, both by the Word, and censures; and
to open it unto penitent sinners, by the ministry of the gospel; and by abs
olution from censures, as occasion shall require.[557]
III. Church censures are necessary, for the reclaiming and gaining of offend
ing brethren, for deterring of others from the like offenses, for purging ou
t of that leaven which might infect the whole lump, for vindicating the hono
r of Christ, and the holy profession of the gospel, and for preventing the w
rath of God, which might justly fall upon the church, if they should suffer
his covenant, and the seals thereof, to be profaned by notorious and obstina
te offenders.[558]
IV. For the better attaining of these ends, the officers of the church are t
o proceed by admonition; suspension from the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper
for a season; and by excommunication from the church; according to the natu
re of the crime, and demerit of the person.[559]
[556] Isaiah 9:6-7. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and
the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Won
derful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Pe
ace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon
the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it
with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of t
he LORD of hosts will perform this. 1 Timothy 5:17. Let the elders that rule
well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the
word and doctrine. 1 Thessalonians 5:12. And we beseech you, brethren, to kn
ow them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish y
ou. Acts 20:17-18. And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elder
s of the church. And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know,
from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been wit
h you at all seasons. Hebrews 13:7, 17, 24. Remember them which have the rul
e over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, co
nsidering the end of their conversation.... Obey them that have the rule ove
r you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that mu
st give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that
is unprofitable for you.... Salute all them that have the rule over you, and
all the saints. They of Italy salute you. 1 Corinthians 12:28. And God hath
set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teach
ers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, divers
ities of tongues. Matthew 28:18-20. And Jesus came and spake unto them, sayi
ng, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and
teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I hav
e commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the worl
d. Amen.
[557] Matthew 16:19. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of he
aven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and
whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Matthew 18:1
7-18. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if
he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a
publican. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be
bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in h
eaven. John 20:21-23. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as m
y Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he bre
athed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever
sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain,
they are retained. 2 Corinthians 2:6-8. Sufficient to such a man is this pu
nishment, which was inflicted of many. So that contrariwise ye ought rather
to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed
up with overmuch sorrow. Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your
love toward him.
[558] 1 Corinthians 5. 1 Timothy 5:20. Them that sin rebuke before all, that
others also may fear. Matthew 7:6. Give not that which is holy unto the dog
s, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under th
eir feet, and turn again and rend you. 1 Timothy 1:20. Of whom is Hymenaeus
and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to
blaspheme. 1 Corinthians 11:27-34. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread,
and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and
blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of tha
t bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily,
eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord?s body. Fo
r this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we w
ould judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we ar
e chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. Whe
refore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. An
d if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto con
demnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come. Jude 23. And others
save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spott
ed by the flesh.
[559] 1 Thessalonians 5:12. And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which
labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you. 2 Thessal
onians 3:6, 14-15. Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jes
us Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disor
derly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.... And if any ma
n obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with
him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish hi
m as a brother. 1 Corinthians 5:4-5, 13. In the name of our Lord Jesus Chris
t, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord
Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the f
lesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.... But them
that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that
wicked person. Matthew 18:17. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it
unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee
as an heathen man and a publican. Titus 3:10. A man that is an heretick aft
er the first and second admonition reject. |
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