Confession of Faith, According to the Holy Word of God.

Mark the words: But so shall it not be among you. This can not be applied to the apostles only, who were equal servants, the one being no greater than the other, and they soon separating from each other to preach the Gospel to all nations, could not, on this account, show to each other alone the duty of servants here required; hence the words, among you, must necessarily be understood of the whole church, seeing Christ spoke to his twelve apostles many others of his principal doctrines and commandments, which relate to all believers, as his blessed lips say in the Gospel: “And what I say unto you I say unto all.” Mark 13:37.

“Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.” John 18:36; 6:15; Matt. 5:39; 2 Cor. 10:4; Eph. 6:13; Is. 2:4; Micah 4:3; Zech. 9:10; Ps. 76:3.

Read further, not according to what law the believers are to govern the unbelievers, but only how the church of Christ shall be obedient to government. “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers.” “Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience’ sake.” “Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear.” Rom. 13:1,5,7.

“Render therefore unto Cesar the things which are Cesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s.” Matt. 22:21; Mark 12:17.

“Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well.” 1 Pet. 2:13,14.

“Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, to speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men.” Tit. 3:1,2; 1 Tim. 2:2; Jer. 29:7; Baruch 1:11.

ARTICLE XXVIII.

Of the discipline of the Christian Church and separation of offending members. Of this we confess: That, as a house or city cannot be maintained without doors, gates and walls by which evil men may be expelled, excluded and debarred, and the good and pious be taken in and protected; so Christ, for the preservation of his church, gave her the key of heaven, which is his word, that by and according to the same she should judge and reprove according to truth, for their reformation, all those in her communion that are found to offend in doctrine and conversation, that is, to act contrary to any commandment or ordinance which God has given to his church; and thus to separate the disobedient from her communion, that the church may not be leavened and stained by their false doctrine and impure walk, and become a partaker of other men’s sins; and that the pious thereby may be brought to fear, and restrain themselves from the commission of similar offenses.

And, as God through Moses commanded this punishment of transgressors to be inflicted according to the magnitude of the offense, so that those who through ignorance, weakness, and otherwise, offended by minor sins against any of the commandments of the Lord, were reconciled to God by various offerings and the intercessions of the priests, but the open, great transgressors of the law could not be reconciled by such offerings, but had to die without mercy under two or three witnesses; so Christ in the New Testament also taught to inflict christian punishment according to the magnitude of the offense; not to man’s destruction, as in the punishment of Israel, which was death, by which the transgressor was cut off from repentance and reformation; but Christ having come to save men’s souls, instituted this punishment for the reformation of sinners and ordained that if any one see his brother commit a transgression which is obviously a sin, but not so great as to have brought forth death in him, he shall out of Christian love for his soul, speak to him privately, with the word of God, and reprove him of his sin and admonish him. If he receive this Christian admonition, he has gained his 390 brother, and shall, out of fervent charity, conceal and cover his sin. 1 Pet. 4:8. But if he heareth him not, he shall take one or two more with him, so that in the mouth of these witnesses every word may be established. But if he shall neglect to hear them, then the matter must be brought before the church; and if he neglect to hear the church, all the members of which are judges, he shall be excluded from the brotherhood.