17.Confederative nature of church discipline
Owen on the confederative nature of church discipline according toMat 18:15f As also Dr. John Owen explains (XV:177f): "None can be ignorant of what is required of them, Mat 18:15-20. ... They are bound by the Law of Christ in due order...required of them toward the Church.... The duty also of the whole Church in such cases is no less evidently declared...to put from amongst them [!!!] such obstinate offenders.... Hereunto also are subservient all the commands that are given them to exhort and admonish one another [cf.Heb 10:24-29; Heb 12:22f ;Heb 13:7-17], that the whole Church may be preserved in purity, order, holiness. and faithfulness....
"With whom rests the principal care and power according to the mind of Christ to see the discipline of the Church in particular congregations exercised, and to exercise it accordingly? If this should be found to be in the Ministers [plural] and, through their neglect in the administration of it, offenders be left in their sins and impenitency without a due application of the means for their healing and recovery; if the Church itself come to be corrupted thereby, and to fall under the displeasure of Jesus Christ as these things in one degree or other, more or less, will ensure on that neglect it will not turn unto their comfortable account at the great day. That this is their duty, that this authority and inspection is committed unto them, the reasons before insisted on...do undeniably evince."
Further, in XVI:154 & XVI:169 Owen adds: "All lawful societies constituted such by voluntary confederation according unto peculiar laws and rules of their own choice unto especial duties and ends, have a right and power by the light of nature to receive into their society those that are willing and meet engaging themselves to observe the rules, laws and ends of the society and to expel them out of it who wilfully deviate from those rules....
Wherefore, when our Lord Jesus Christ gives unto his Church the power of binding and loosing directing them in the exercise of that power He directs them to ask assistance by prayer when they are gathered together, Mat 18:18-20."