True Account Of What was done by a Church of Christ in Exon( whereof Mr. Lewis Stucley is Pastor) the eighth day of March, 1657. when two members thereof were Excommunicated.  
together with the Judgement of the Non-conformists in the dayes of Q. Elizabeth, ●nd K. james, concerning Excommunication by a particular Church.  
●●blished by an eye and ear-witness.  ●ould thy lies make men hold their peace? And when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed? Job chap. 11. ver. 3. nile dictum quod, non dictum prius. 
LONDON, ●●inted by R. W. for Matthew Keinton, at the Fountain in Pauls Church-yard. 1658.   


REctè Excommunicati ab Ecclesia sunt in potestate Satanae ad interitum carnis, 1 Cor. 5. Si vero paenitentiam agunt,& recipiuntur, tum à Satana liberantur. Histor. Nagdeb. cent. 1. li. 2. p. 135, 47.   

EXcommunicationem indicari per modum illum loquendi, quo Apostolus usus est, 1 Cor. 5 5.& 1 Tim. 1.20. Nempe tradere Satanae ad interitum carnis, rectè judicarunt multi ex veteribus, quia extra Ecclesiam Satanas regnat. Synop. pure. Theol. conscript. P. Poliandrum, Rivetum, Walaeum, Thysium, Disp. 48.40.   

WHAT is Excommunication? A giving up to Satan. Greenham. p. 843. of his works.   

ONE and the last of the Spiritual means of fear is Excommunication, whereby men are delivered to Satan, 1 Cor. 5.5. that delivering of the incestuous person cannot be a bare bodily punishment, but an excluding of a sinner from the Communion and fellowship of the Church& must be done in the face of the Church by the consent of the whole Church, as appears ver. 2.& 4. Perkins on judas. p. 587.   

THE greater Excommunication( as distinct from suspension) putteth the Excommun cate from the Sacrament of the Lords body and blood, and depriveth them of all that comfort; and strength of Grace which from it they might receive: it denieth to them the benefit of the Churches public Prayers, and so leaveth them to themselves as forlorn and miserable wretches, and whence it is that they are said to be delivered, to Satan; because they are left( naked and voided of all means to make resistance) unto his Will and Pleasure. Field of the Church. p. 23, 24.   

NEither is it anything else then Excommunication which the Apostle signifieth by delivering to Satan, 1 Cor. 5.5.  
Thorndick in his discourse of the right of the Church in a Christian state. page. 34.  
The Censure of Excommunication cutteth men off from the Conversation of Christians, which forfeit the privileges, to which they pretend, and so delivers them to Satan by consequence, as those that lodged without the camp of Israel, were in danger to be lick up by the Amalekite, 1 Cor. 5 5. 1 Tim. 1.20. Thorndick in his Primitive Government of Chu●●hes, page. 91.   

THE end of excommunication is that he may be ashamed, that he may see himself alone, no company but the Devil thought bad enough for him, and so be brought to sense and shane of his own vil●ness, which is the most necessary preparative to reformation, and therefore though a little before, binding, Excommunicating, delivering to Satan be made Synonima's. It followeth, Excommunication it is an Act of Mercy and Charity of all other the greatest, though under the show of severity and wrath. Doctor Hammon of the power of the keys, p. 117.   

IF the terror and horror of Excommunication( to be cast out of the Church, and delivered up into the power of Satan) win not a sinner, nothing will. Caudry Church reform, promoted. p. 65.  
The last remedy is to shane him when he shall see himself abhorred and forsaken of all good men, and when all the People avoid his company as a leprous person, accounting him not fit for human society, being delivered to Satan. Idem. p. 68.  
Excommunication is a delivering a man over to the power of Satan. Idem. p. 85.   

John C●rnford( one of the six last that were burnt in England for the true Religion) when he heard himself, and his followers excommunicated, stirred with a vehement zeal of God, and proceeding in a more true excommunication against the Papists: in the name of them all pronounced sentence against them in these words. In the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the Power of his holy Spirit, and the Authority of his holy catholic and apostolic Church, we do give here into the hands of Satan to be destroyed the bodies of all those Blasphemers and heretics that do maintain any error against his most holy Word, or do condemn his most holy Truth for heresy, to the maintaining of any false Church or feigned Religion: So that by this thy just judgement, most mighty God against thine Adversaries, thy true Religion may be known to thy Glory and our Comforts, and to the edifying of all our Nation; good Lord so be it. Trap on John 9.22.   

I Am their same opinion, who interpret the delivering to Satan of Excommunication, and so doth gualther himself; so doth the Syriack which readeth; that you( Corinthians may deliver such an one to Satan. If it was an act of the Church of Corinth, then it was a Church-sensure not a Miracle. The Greek doth also carry it to be an Act of the Church of Corinth assembled together. We have also some,( though not all) of the ancients for us in this particular: as Balsamon in Canon. Epist Basilij ad Amphilock. Can. 7. observeth. Gillespy's Aarons-rod blossoming. p. 435.  
Whether the Power of Excommunication in actu primo, seu quoad esse did belong to the collective body of the Church of Corinth or not, is a question controverted and to this day, sub judice lis est; yet even those who hold the affirmative part of the question, do notwithstanding say, that in actu secundo, seu quoad operari, the power pertained to their Bresbytery, which is confirmed by 2 Cor. 2.6 where the Apostle speaking of the censure of that incestuous man, saith not that it was inflicted by all, but by many, the Pastors and Elders of Corinth; how be it the execution and final act of that high censure was to be with the consent, and in the Presence of the Congregation. Gillespy's Asserion of the Government of the Church of Scotland. p. 115, 116.   

I Deny not but the faithful convened; or were to convene in this meeting, 1 Cor. 5. with the eldership, &c. but the meeting is demonstrated pastoral and presbyterial with spiritual Power from the special intended end in that act which was authoritatively to deliver the Fornicator to Satan. Rutherf. peaceable. plea. p. 235.  
One and the same word {αβγδ} to purge out the leaven, 1 Cor. 5.7. applied both to Elders and Believers hath divers meanings according as it is applied to divers subjects; so that the Elders did purge out and excommunicate one way, that is authoritatively, &c. and the people did purge out the leaven another way, by a popular consenting that he should be excommunicate. Rutherfords peaceable plea for Pauls Presbytery in Scotland. p. 236.   

APollonius saith, that the Walacrian Churches hold, that Classes and Synods have power to cast out from the Communion of the Churches, as a Heathen and a Publican, and to deliver to Satan an obstinate offending Church. p. 130. in English.   

Rules for Admission.  
THat such who desire to walk with God, and his people in all ordinances, &c. Be at a Church-meeting proposed to the Church for their approbation and admission. That they do then solemnly and seriously profess their faith and Repentance before all the Congregation, &c. That they do then seriously and solemnly covenant and promise, to walk with God and his People( particularly the Church to which they now join themselves) according to the Rules of the Word of God, Deut. 29.1.9. to the end: Nehem. 9.38. and chap. 10. 1, 29. Josh. 24.21, 28. 2 Cor. 8.5. That if the Church do approve of their conversation, and profession, they be received; otherwise, desired to forbear, or excluded till the Church be satisfied; By the Church here is meant the whole body: or the mayor number of the men at least, &c.   

Particular Rules for walking in Church-Order.  
THat all Admitted, &c. Yield and submit themselves to the Discipline of Christ in his Church, as it shall be made known to us from the Word: and may be to Edification exercised in our particular Congregation, 2 Cor. 8.5. 1 Cor. 5. 2 Cor. 10 3, 4, 5, 6 Heb. 13.17, &c. That the consent of the whole Church, or at least the greater part of the men, be taken by the Pastor and Officers, in matters of weight and moment, 1 Cor. 5.4, &c. That such as shall privately offend, be first privately admonished; if that prevail not, then with two or three; if that prevail not, then let the matter be declared to the Church, and the offendor publicly admonished by the Pastor: if that prevail not, let him be accounted as an Heathen, and a Publican, Mat. 18.15, &c. That such as sin openly, be more speedily and severely dealt withal, and proceeded against, 1 Tim. 5.20, 24, 25. 1 Cor. 5. per tot. Mr. J●●n T●ckel in his Church-Rules, pag. 4, 5, 7.    

To the Impartial Reader.  
Reader,  
I Judge it needless for me to make any apology for my thus coming forth in Print; if these Papers do not that for the Publisher: 'tis past the power of his Epistle, I shall no longer detain thee from their perusal, then to tell thee how they are connected. Understand therefore that the 8th. of this instant March was appointed by a Church of Christ in this City, for the cutting off two offenders, that had been found guilty of several miscarriages; and of refusing private and public admonition: In the beginning of the day, one of the Elders gave a brief Relation of the ends of their meeting: and then begged the presence of God with the Church in that days-work. Afterwards the Pastor Mr Lewis Stucley preached. The notes of which Sermon, I am glad I took in short-hand from his mouth, or otherwise thou mightest never have seen a true Copy of them. Sermon being ended, he prayed, and then proceeded to pronounce the sentence, which he closed with a second prayer. This great business being thus dispatched; some reasons were given for the Churches re-entering into Covenant: and then a divine Blessing being implored; there was a subscription of all present, both Officers and Members.  
Thus hast thou a brief account of the most material passages of that day. Now because the main work thereof, viz. Excommunication by a particular Church furnished with Officers, is become so great a wonder; I have annexed some Sheets gathered out of some Rare Pieces of men Famous in their, and this Generation, relating to that affair. If my transcriptions either of the Sermon, or of the eminent old Non-conformists Assertions and Reasons be imperfect; I hope thou wilt overlook all the Errat's seeing I had very few dayes( not weeks) for the collecting, and writing the whole for the Press. If tho●… beest resolved to try all things, and hold fast tha●… which is good: and not to entertain or reject an●… thing for its seeming Novelty: I doubt not, but afte●… thou hast perused this Discourse: thou wilt accoun●… me  
Thine, and th●… Truths friend●… Thomas Mall●… Exon. March. 22. 1657, 8.   
1 Cor. 5.5. 
To deliver such a one unto Satan for the Destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.  
IN the former part of this Chapter we have these two things:  
1. The Apostles reprehension of the neglect of Church-Discipline.  
And secondly, The Apostles care to supply the neglect thereof.  
First, The Apostles Reprehension of the neglect of Church-Discipline; where we have 1. A Church Delinquent, but one in the Chapter, or but one notorious; an incestuous person, that is, but one to such a height as was fitted, and prepared for the throwing out: and under this head we have 1. the nature of his sin described; and that two ways: 1. It was incest; and then 2. such as the Heathens would not allow, they detested it verse 1. It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication, as is not so much as name among the Gentiles, &c. And as we have the nature of the sin; So secondly we have the notorietie, the publikeness of it. It is commonly reported, generally known verse 1. But then, as we have a Church-Delinquent fitted for Excommunication: So 2. Here we have the Churches sin; and the Church is charged for three things. 1. That they restend in a good opinion of their own condition, while they were not chargeable with such an abomination: they prided themselves likely, and likely were puffed up, that they were not so unclean, as that man ver. 2. And ye are puffed up, &c. 3. He accuseth them for not publicly sorrowing for this scandalous sinner ver. 2. and have not rather mourned, &c. That which the Apostle expected from them was, that they should have demeaned themselves in such a manner, as that they should have evidenced to others, that they were sensible that God was dishonoured, and that they abominated such a sin.  
But then thirdly, he chargeth them for their neglecting to excommunicate this man v. 2. And have no● rather mourned, that he that hat●… done this dead, might be taken away from among you. He would have had them so to have sorrowed, as that their sorrow should have ended in Excommunication. But it is not the work of the Apostle to charge home sin only; But  
Secondly, The Apostles care is also to supply their neglect: and here we have 1. the Apostle encouraging of t●is Church to ●roceed to a sentence ver. 3. For I verily as absent in body, bu● present in spirit, have judged a●ready, &c. as if he had said, I am free to do what I put you upon doing; and 2. as if he did not much doubt that they would submit: he sheweth the manner ho● the sentence must be executed ver. 4. In the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, &c. 3. He she eth them who is the efficient cause of Excommunication; ●nd here is a principal cause; the Power of the Lord Jes●s Christ co●curring ●ith his Church ver. 4. with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ; and the Ministerial cause, the Church ver. 4. when ye are ga hered together. 4. That things may be well managed, he setteth down the form of Excommunication: to deliver the Chu●ch-Delinquent to Satan, ver. 5. To deliver such a one to Satan. 5. He giveth them the end of this Church-Discipline; and that is double. 1. The destruction of the flesh. 2. that the soul may be saved ver. 5. to deliver such a one to Satan, for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.  
Give me leave a little, as it were in a paraphrase, to run over the words to my Text. As if the Apostle had said, It is a great shane, and reproach that lieth upon you, that sins of unnatural uncleanness are found among you. And that such offences are committed among you, as civil nations, though not Christians would a●hor to be guilty of; namely, a son to use his fathers wife; and you are so far from being humbled at this, that you are secure, and puffed up with your privileges, that you do not mind the dishonour of God hereby: you do not consider that this is a crime fit for censure; Now the Apostle supposing their consciences are convinced of this sin, and inquiring what is to be done? He tells them ver. 3. that his judgement is, that he should be excommunicated: and least they should say, we will not do it without thee in thy absence; to temove that, he tells them, that though he be absent from them, yet that should not hinder: for though I be absent, I am of this Judgement ver. 3. For I verily as absent in body, but present in spirit have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this dead. But we know not how to proceed against him, 
Let the Church be convened.  we are convinced he ought to be removed, But how shall it be done? Why, saith the Apostle, get a Church meeting; and the power of the Lord Jesus will be with them so met, and what then? Why, Excommunicate him. Ho● shall that be done? deliver him over to Satan. I, but this is a very unlikely means to reduce him; Is Satan to help the Church? or will Satan be useful to save the sinner? Yea, saith the Apostle: though Satan intentionally will not reduce a sinner, yet God will over-rule him; God will use him, and employ him in the work; therefore Deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.  
The obse●vation I shall give you is this: That it is the will of God, that a Church of Christ should excommunicate their scandalous members, when they remain incorrigible.  
Here we are to consider these things. First, Who those are that are to Excommunicate. Secondly, Wherein Excommunication lieth. Thirdly, Why the Church must Excommunicate. Fourthly, What a fearful Sentence this is. Fifthly, Answer some Objections, and give the matter of Fact, and so some uses.  
First, Who are to Excommunicate? the fourth verse tells you, when ye are gathered together, the Church convened: the Authority of Excommunication pertaineth to the whole Church: So Mr. Leigh on this Scripture. The Apostle would not take the whole power to himself, saith Peter Martyr, he would not Excommunicate him alone; the Pope and the Bishops have been bold this way: but so would not the Apostle. But when ye are gathered together. It is a dangerous course that so great a Sentence, as is Excommunication( saith Peter Martyr) should be in the hand of one particular person: If the power were in the Apostle alone, the Apostle were more blame-worthy then the Church, for suffering this unclean member in this church; but the Apostle blameth the Church, that they did not cast him out; they should have taken him away from among them ver. 3. And he prescribeth the manner of excommunication to them, that they might proceed upon him; and after he ●resseth them to put the sentence in execution: that they should purge away the old leaven ver 7. And again ver. 13. that they should p●t away from among themselves tha● wicked person: The Arguments to enforce th s Exhor ation concern the whole Church: From the danger of infection; that ●s one; such a sin being as leaven, that will diffuse from the whole lump; the whole are in danger ver. 6.7. your glorying is no● good: know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out ●herefore the o●d leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened: Again, the whole were to keep the C●ristian-pass-over, as the Jews did theirs; where the Leaven was to be cast out of every house, and every one was to contribut●… what he could to the casting it out. Besides the Apostle had written a former Epistle to this Church, wherein he had advised th●… whole Church not to keep company with Fornicators, verse 9. suc●… he means as they had power over; for some there were that wer●… without, and these he leaveth to Gods judgement, verse 13.  
Object. The Papists( and so others) object, that though the Apostl●… commanded that the Act should be done in the face of the Church, ye●…( say they) the Judgement and Authority of giving sentence, was i●… himself, and not in the whole multitude, as the Protestants affirm.  
Answ. It seems then the Protestants hold so, that it lieth in the Church, if the Authors of the Rhemish Testament wrong them not.  
2. The Papists also( it seems) grant that the Act should be done in the face of the whole Church: and if excommunication of members; then admission of Members should be in the face of th●… whole Church. There is the same reason for the admission o●… Members into the Church, as for the casting of them out. I wis●… this were considered by them who admit, and suspend Members i●… corners and Chambers, without the privity of them that shoul●… be present at such a work.  
3. But for a full answer to this, let Mr. Cartwright give it i●… his notes on the Rhemish Testament. First, It is clear( saith he) that though the Apostle judged him worthy of excommunication yet if the Ministrs of the Church, with the rest of the Body, ha●… not shut him out, he had not been taken for a Publican. Secondly It is clear the Apostle would not have them do it, but when gathered together: he would not have them to excommunicate him, but a●… a Church-meeting, &c.  
Object. The Papists object further, that the Church are but witness and lookers on of the Action.  
Answ. Mr. Cartwright giveth many Answers to this.  
1. First,( saith he) if the Church were only assembled to bea●… witness; then Pauls Spirit was only to bear witness: for the personal presence of the Church, and the Apostles spiritual presenc●… were met together in this affair. Besides.  
2. He saith, Do not ye judge them that are within; surely that i●… much more then to be Witnesses, and Lookers on; for the Apostl●… useth the same work to declare the Churches Power, as he doth t●… declare his own Power; and how unlikly is it that the same word i●… the same chapter, about the same matter, should signify to judg●… when applied to Paul, and to be but a Witness, when applied to th●… Church?  
And that we are not alone in this; to this also agreeth Dr. Fu●… on the Rhemish Testament. The Authority of excommunicatio●… ( saith he) pertaintaineth to the whole Church, and the Governours execute that Authority in the name of Christ, and in the name of the Church to avoid confusion. Thus saith Paraeus on the place, the Church are not witnessess only: but judges of this Action, and he concurs with Peter Martyr, of whom before.  
So Mr. Rutherford( that great champion for Presbytery) the Apostle( saith he) sheweth what was their duty as Christians convened together in a Church-way: the Apostle doth not command one christian, but the Church gathered together in the name of the Lord Jesus to cast himout; 
{αβγδ}.  we apply it( saith he) to the casting of scandalous persons out of the Church, as leaven was to be put out of the Houses of all who were to eat the Passover. But.  
Secondly, Wherein lieth Excommunication? It lieth in the Churches, delivering up a scandalous impenitent sinner to Satan: It lieth in turning such a one out of the house of God; and from the company of the Lords people, and putting him into the Kingdom and power of the Devil. To make his sentence full, three thing are requisite( though not all alike necessary.) 1. It should pass ●… rom a good intention and heart; and not from a revengeful principle. 2. It should be when the cause is just and clear, and clearly proved.  
And 3. Executed according to Christs order, that is, after private Admonition, unless the sin be public as the incestuous persons was; when we have gone privately, and then more publicly,( if the offence be private) and the party remain incorrigible, then the sentence is to be pronounced in a Church-assemblie convened for that end, in the name of Christ, and then it is of validity, yea of such validity, that Christ hath said expressly, whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, Mat. 18.18.  
It is a committing the incorrigible delinquent unto Satan, not an absolute giving of him up, but a committing to him, as of a prisoner to a Jailor. Non dedendum said committendum saith Asanasius on the place.  
First he is not delivered to Satan morally, this is a sinful deliverance to give over one to Satan that he may work in him as in his work-house, and as in a child of disobedience. Eph. 2.2. for we suppose that a soul already converted, may be excommunicated, but he cannot be thus delivered unto Satan, so as to be under that power that natural men are. But.  
Secondly, he is delivered unto Satan penally, to a penal Torturer, and who is to work sororw and fear in the conscience for sin, and to scar the Offender, and that way to humble him, that so the Spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.  
This form of Excommunication. as Deodati and Paraeus think, is taken from Saul,( 1 Sam. 16, 14.) when rejected of the Lord. Fo●… Excommunication is a partial rejection from God, and whilst th●… party is excommunicated, those influences from God that wer●… wont to be given, are suspended from him, though a gracious soul. I●… the primitive times it was followed with horrors of Spirit, and torments of body. And Josephus reports that those that were foun●… in any considerable sin, and cast out of the congregation, came t●… some miserable death. To be short, I suppose that the essence o●… excommunication lieth in severing sinners from Saints Communion and so throwing them back into Satans Kingdom. Delivering to Satan, includeth two things. 1. Here is terminus a quo, from whence delivered from the Church: from the Society of the faithful they are taken off from them, and then 2. terminus ad quem, unto whom, and that is said to be the devil. The word Deliver in signification it is a relative word, it seemeth to have a relation to asking or demanding. The Devil he is called the Accuser of the Brethren, Rev. 12.10. and he is called an Adversary, 1 Pet. 5.8. or an Impleader; When he hath an Accusation against a Church or Member: 
{αβγδ}.  he demands to have the sinner delivered over to him, that he may torment him, and the Lord is pleased to answer this request of his, and biddeth the Church deliver up the Offendor to Satan; and he is so delivered up, when he is thrust out from before the Lord, and excluded from the Saints communion; he is no longer to be accounted( saith Barcus) membrum Christi& ecclesiae, said Satanae) a member of Christ and the Church, but a member of Satan of Satans Kingdom. But then.  
3. Why must the Church excommunicate, or why must they deliver to Satan? Before I shall answer this, for method-sake I shall premise that look, as hell consist in paena damni& paena sensus, so doth this punishment in the pain of loss, and the pain of sense: here somewhat that the sinner is deprived of, and somewhat that he is sensibly under, as a misery and torment; somewhat he is cut off from, and deprived of, and some positive evil that he lieth under: he is deprived of the society of Gods people, and actually set under the tormenting power of the devil; we need not puzel ourselves much, what course Satan takes with the Offendor so delivered: sure it is such a Power that he hath over him, as Christ hath appointed for the destruction of the flesh, that the soul may be saved. Accordingly I shall put this into two questions.  
Quest. 1. Why are scandalous m mbers to be cut off from the communion of Saints?  
Quest. 2. Why are they to be deliv●red to Satan?  
Quest. 1. Why are they to be cut off from the hous● of God?  
Answ. 1. Because that God hath forsaken them, and therefore so should the Church: God is departed from them, and therefore the Church should leave them: the ground of our Union with them( whom we are to procede on) was their visible closing with Christ: now when that visibility ceaseth, when that outward appearance of religion ceaseth, the Union is to be dissolved. It was founded and built upon visible holiness, and when visible holiness ceaseth, the Union must cease: he that opposeth God and Christ in his Laws, is to be opposed by all that are Christs: there ought to be the same mind in all that are the servants of Christ, that was in Christ their Master; they are to esteem whom Christ esteemeth, and to hate whom he hateth; when these persons outwardly closed with Christ, they outwardly subscribed, that they would be the Lords; and therefore we owned them: now they have cast away these cords from them, they have broken Covenant, neglected the house of God, contemned admonition private and public, &c.  
2. Therefore are they are be cast out from Communion, because indeed there can be no Communion with them. They being acted by indifferent Laws, they cannot be owned: we cannot walk with them: they that are sound, they own Christ as their Law-giver and Head: these reject him as their Lawgiver and Head; we cannot agree with such: Sanctity and Sensuality cannot agree; the Motions and Original of the godly and wicked are contrary: the Saints Original is from Heaven, and the wicked mans from earth, and their motion are contrary, the one downward, the other upward, like two balances, if one goeth up, the other goeth downward, therefore they must needs be put on contrary practices: for that which is born of the flesh will oppose that which is born of the Spirit; and though Jacob and Esau may for a while be in the womb of the Church, yet there will be struggling till they part, they cannot admit of no accommodation: What Communion hath Light with Darkness? What Concord hath God with Belial? What part have Believers with Infidels? What agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols. The Apostle bids us in the 2 Cor. 6.14, 15.16. Be ye not unequally yoked together with Unbelievers, for what fellowship hath Righteousness with Unrighteousness? &c. Depart from me all ye Workers of Iniquity; saith David, Psal. 6.8. It is an intolerable Wo to good men to be forced to be amongst wicked men. Psal. 120.5. Wo is me that I sojorn in Mesech, that I dwell in the Tents of Kedar. But then.  
3. God hath promised his peculiar residence among his Church, but he hath not promised it, save upon these terms, that he may be in a clean house, and not among beasts, now all contumacious persons are as beasts, God will not dwell with them, he compareth them to Spiders and Cockatrices, Isa, 59.5. to Vipers, Mat●… 12.34. to Scorpions. Ezek. 2.6. these are no fit company fo●… God or Man, therefore to be cast out: look into the Scriptur●… again, and you shall see that wicked men are called Lions, and they are savage, Psal. 22.21. they are called Bears, Isa. 11.7. an●… they are cruel, they are called Dragons, Ezek. 29.3. and they ar●… hideous, Dogs, Mat. 7.6. and they are bloody, they are called Wolve●… Ezek, 22.27. and they are ravenous.  
And what, Do you think God will dwell with Wolves, Bears●… Dogs, surely no? And therefore the Church seeing that this i●… the way to keep God among them, by removing Dogs ( without are Dogs) therefore they are met together this day to remove such, in whose presence God cannot delight, nor sobe●… Saints.  
4. There is danger of infection to the Church, if this leaven 〈…〉 continued; and therefore they are to be thrown out. A litt●… leaven l●aveneth the whole lump: it is the Argument of the Apostle in this chapter to press them to excommunication, verse 〈…〉 7. Your glorying is not good( saith the Apostle) Know ye not, th●… a little leaven leaveneth the whole Lump? Purge out therefore the o●… leaven that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened; &c. Our E●…glish Proverb is significant, one scabbed sheep infects a who●… flock: a man cannot take this fire into his bosoms, and not be bu●…ned. Prov. 6.28. Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burnt●… neither can a man handle this pitch without defilement, Psal. 10 35. They were mingled among the heathens, and learned their work And therefore Mr Rutherford in his due right of of Presbyteri●… page. 76. observeth, that the power of excommunication was give●… by Christ to a Church upon this formal ground and reason, b●…cause a Congregation is a number of sinful men, who may 〈…〉 scandalised, and who may be infected with the company of 〈…〉 scandalous person, for if a Congregation were a company of A●…gels, which cannot be infected; such Power should not be giv●… them, so that as Nature hath given hands to a man to defend hi●…self from injuries and violence: and horns to oxen to hold off v●…olence; so Christ hath given to his Church the Power of exco●…munication, as spiritual armor to ward off and defend the co●…tagion of ●icked fellowship. Gal. 5.9, 10. A little leaven leveneth the whole lump. I have confidence in you through the Lo●… that ye will b● none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you, sh●… ar his judgement whoever he be.  
All the members may be corrupted by one rotten one, as 〈…〉 rotten coat may corrupt a hoard; a gangrene though in t●… to, will soon endanger the vital parts, if it be not cut off fro●… the body natural, and it holdeth in the Church, where t●… several members are in danger from one corrupted part; so that except we use the remedy appointed by God to eschew the contagion of the wicked, we are in danger: and therefore, Prov. 22.24, 25. Make no frienship with an angry man, and with a furious man thou shalt not go, least thou learn his way, and get a snare to thy soul. And again, Prov. 5.8, 9. Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh ●… he door of her house, least thou give thine honour unto others, and thy ●… ears unto the cruel. It is dangerous to come near the house of such, Revel. 18.4. And I heard another Voice from Heaven, saying, Come ●… ut of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye re●… eive not of her plagues. And though we should not be actually cor●… upted, yet we shall sin, and tempt the Lord, in keeping ourselves ●… nder such a temptation, when we have power to deliver ourselves ●… rom it, by cutting off them, that will eat as a gangrene, 2 Tim. ●… .17. Their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenus, ●… nd Philaetus. The whole lump is in danger, that is the Argument ●… f our Apostle here. All the Church, they that are most confident, ●… nd pride themselves most are in danger: therefore the leaven is to ●… e cast out, that is, not the sin abstractly considered, but he that hath done the dead. The ancients have been curious this way; and ●… erefore Sozomene reports concerning the Emperour Theodosius Se●… or, that he being willing to confer with Eunomius, the Arian Bi●… op, his wife Placilla the Empress earnestly dissuaded him, least ●… e being perverted by his speeches, should begin to like of his He●… sie. Nothing is more difficult then to be familiar with sinners, ●… nd not to be infected by them: by being encouraged, or seduced, ●… nd even constrained to sin by the conversations of rotten fellow-●… embers. If Corah be of a troublesone spirit, and be over-run with ●… ride and envy, he quickly draweth in two hundred and fifty into ●… e conspiracy; men famous in the Congregation and men of renown. ●… is abode was so near the Reubenites, that he soon infuseth his poy●… n into Dathan and Abyran, and had not all Israel withdrawn spee●… ly, they had been in danger of infection with a ●itness.  
5. If Excommunication should not be with reference to scanda●… us members, Christ and his church would suffer by connivance, ●… d sparing this Rod: it is a kind of justifying a sinner, when we ●… not punish his sin, according to the power of the Lord Jesus gi●… n us for this end. Religion becometh ridiculous, and Profession is ●… ught to scorn, when sinners are let alone; and therefore we ought ●… r Christs honour to pull off the Masking Robes; and the Vi●… rds wherewith these have deceived us, and others to, and to ●… ew to the world, that we do not Judge them.  
But upon this account, because they rise u● against the laws of ●… hrist; we are to declare plainly that they are guilty of such sins ●… make them not worthy of a Name in the House of God. The Apostle may aim at this in the first ver. It is certainly heard that th●… is fornication amongst you; this bad report he makes the first groun●… of proceeding to Excommunication,, as if he had said, It is a di●…honour to Christ that there are such things commonly talked o●… therefore timely declare against them. So say I, it is Reported th●… there is among you a notorious liar, and a lawless woman, th●… knoweth no subjection at home and or abroad, to her own husban●… or to the Church of God; It will argue little affection to Christ: 〈…〉 you let these alone, if you let Rebels against his Majesty alone 〈…〉 therefore purge out these, bear witness against these, that t●… wicked may not say, we have liars and disobedient persons among us uncontrolled: ut sitis nova massa, that you may appear to 〈…〉 such a lump, such a Cong●egation as is unleavened.  
6. Therefore are we to throw out such to deter others from s●… that these may be examples to others; when the Magistrate gro●…eth careless, sin groweth bold, when he doth not punish sin, sinn●… grow bold-faced; not only the offenders themselves, but others 〈…〉 so sin after their similitude in hope of the same impunity, 1 T●… 5.20. Them that sin rebuk openly that the rest also may fear; Here●… the End of God, and this is a blessed end that others may fear.  
By the way give me leave to reflect on ourselves: this is a d●… of taking shane to ourselves; what do we know but that, if 〈…〉 had discharged our duty sooner on the liar, we might have preve●…ed the others fail, her disobedience and pe●versness of spirit? T●… Lord lay not this to our charge: if public and notorious offend 〈…〉 had been made public examples, others might have feared; this 〈…〉 the End that God aimeth at in punishing, that all Israel sho●… hear and fear, and do no more such wickedness, Deut. 13.11. If 〈…〉 partake of their sin, we must expect to partake of their judgeme●…  
7. And lastly, Because God delights that the punishment of a 〈…〉 be like the sin in kind: the punishment commonly bears the Im●… and superscription of the sin; so true is it, that what a man sow●… that shall he reap, Gal. 6.7. God often returns the sins of Chu●… members so on them, that they may red the name of their 〈…〉 stamped upon their punishment; Eye for eye, that was of old, E●… 21.24. These have turned their backs on pure Ordinances, theref●… they shall no longer enjoy them: they were careless and rega●…less of Church-orders; and now by the orders of the House 〈…〉 God, they are to be turned out from behold●ng our faith, and●…der, that they may say, as that wretched Adonibezel, judge. 17. A●… have done so God hath requited me; That is a dreadful word, Z●… 7.13. therefore it is come to pass, that as he called, and they would h●ar; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the Lord of H●… God hath cried by Officers, by Members, but these wretches wo●… ●ot hear the Church; well saith God, will not they hear me 〈…〉 shall come to pass they shall cry, and I will not hear; Christ giveth Orders to throw them to day out of his special care, and the Churches daily inspection.  
Qestion 2. Why are hey to be delivered to S●tan?  
Answer, It may be a sufficient Reason that it is the will of God it should be so. But I shall name two other Reasons.  
1. That there may be some proportion betwixt their punishment and their visible state and condition. They appear to be children of Hell, and therefore fitter for fellowship with damned spirits, then to be associates of the Lord and his people. Ye are of your Father the D●vil, and the lusts of your father ye will do, Joh. 8.44. If they will do the works of the Devil, the Devils company is fitter for them then the fellowship of the people of God.  
Object. But perhaps the parties have faith: and what will ye deliver such to Satan?  
Answ. I answer, they do not appear to us as Believers: they that live in the neglect of any known duty wilfully, are not to be looked on as Believers; they have no more visible faith to me then an Heathen. My Brethren, de occultis non judicat ecclesia; we do not look to secret things: He that liveth in any known sin, and refuseth to repent of it, is visibly unregenerate. And that is our quarrel, or rather the Lords quarrel with them, this day ours, because the Lords. After the church hath proceeded on a person, he is to be looked on without Grace, because none appeareth but the contrary. It is said of Cain that he was of that wicked one, 1 John 3.12. And all that live in sin,& blushy not to be seen in the practise of it, they look like the Devil.  
2. That the flesh may be destroyed, and the spirit may be saved in the day of Christ. But more of this by and by under the fifth general.  
Fourthly, I shall show you what a fearful sentence this is. And here I shall distinguish as before.  
First, It is a fearful sentence to be cast out of a Church. A very severe sentence; and this will appear if we consider a few things.  
1. Gods people in Church-Relation, they stand nearly Related unto God, in the Relation of children to a father, that is a near Relation; they are children, and God is their Father; they are sons and daughters, and he their Father; In the Relation of a wife to an Husband, the Lambs wife, so the Church is called; in as near a Relation as members to the head; they are members of Christs body, bone of his bone, flesh of his flesh: what a fearful judgement is it to be separated from these? to be pulled as it were from the body of Christ, from the flesh of Christ? to be cut off from the bones of Christ! they are called the Excellent of the Earth, Isa. 43.4. Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. It is a credit to a man to keep company with honourable persons: but to be burned out of their society is a sore, and bitter thing. For a Noble man to be degraded, and live amongst scullions; this is nothing to the being thrown out of the Assembly of Gods people among the pots of the earth.  
2. There are choice blessings entailed on a Church estate, which they are cut off from. God hath said Zeph. 3.17. The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty, he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy: he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing: Here is a promise to Zion; the Lord thy God will rest in them. God will not rest with Excommunicates, Psalm 87.2. The Lord loveth the gates of Zion, more then all the dwellings of Jacob. God delights in the public communion of his people, more then in all their private dwellings; these are to be turned out from that Society which God loveth. Again Isa. 46.13. And I will place Salvation in Zion for Israel my Glory. These are to be turned out from salvation to day, from the place of salvation. The Name of the Church is Jehovah Shammah, Ezek. 48.35. The Lord is there: To be turned out of the place where the Lord is, how sad is it? Psal. 76.2. In Salem is his Tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion; What a sad thing is it to be turned out of the house where God is resident? Psal. 27.4. One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the daies of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lo●d, and to inquire in his Temple. There God unvaileth himself; these are to be denied this one thing that David desired: there are choice manifestations of God there, and these may not hope to enjoy them whilst in an Excommunicate estate. Again in Isa. 25.6. God promiseth that in this Mountain he will make a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees: of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined. These are to be turned out from this feast of fat things, Psalm 36.7, 8. How excellent is thy loving kindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy House, and thou shalt make them drink of the River of thy Pleasures. Nay, David found that all his springs were in the Church, Psal. 87.7. All his joys, and enlargements he got them in the Church. How sad is it to have these springs so dammed up, that that we cannot enjoy them? Nay, to the Church is committed the Covenants, Rom. 9.4. and the Seals of the Covenant too; you cannot singly have the Seals of the Covenant; but as joined with the people of God? What a sad thing is it to be put in such a condition, where one shall not enjoy the benefit of the Covenant.  
3. Gods people inchurched have the Image of God shining upon them: they have or should have choice Graces, which are indeed very delightful. Seneca could say, that the very look of a good man did please him. If the look of a good man did please an heathen, should it not please much more a Christian? and if the look of one good man, What should the look of many? if one star be glorious, what is a constellation? It must needs be a sweet thing to be in a Communion with the Lords people, to be in the midst of these beds of spices, Can. 6.2. My beloved is gone down into his garden, into the beds of Spices to feed in the gardens and to gather lilies It is as sad to be thrust out of their company from the sight of the graces of the Lords people: the appearance of these Graces, are lost to Excommunicates. Saints in Communion have a mighty advantage by seeing the Conversation of Church-members, to see how they deny themselves, how they trample the world under their feet, to see a company of Believers part from life rather t●en from a little Command; this is taken to see their feet stand in an even place, not walking halting●y and uncomely, but keeping Judgement and doing Righteousness at all times, Psal. 106.3. to see their hands filled with both the Tables, having an equal respect to all his commands, these are glorious sights, but such as excommunicates may not enjoy; for they are to be put away from the midst of them. Examples of imitation or caution are very cogent and taking: they work more on us sometimgs then Doctrines: we are more prove to be affencted with what we see, then what we here. Those that will not be wrought on by Sermons, may by conversations. 1 Pet. 3.1. Likewise ye wives be in subjection to your own husbands, that if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives. Now what a sad thing is it to be turned out from beholding the Conversations of the Lords people! this is a dreadful sentence, a little piece or Hell,  
4. Saints in Communion are engaged to be faithful to one anothers souls, in watching over one another, and in reproving one another. But all this is to be lost to day. These are to lose all this.  
Likely they did not much care for it, the more is the pitty. But Mannah is Mannah, though such proud and filthy stomacks nauseate it. God will loose us to day from that particular tie that we were before under to these wretches. My Brethren, have not you found advantages by watching over one anothers quickening one another, councilling one another, and stirring up the Graces of one another? And when you have come off from one another; Have you not been more inflamed with love to God, more humbled in your own eyes, more prepared for sufferings, more disengaged from the world? Think then what a loss this is to be deprived of these helps.  
Secondly, To be delivered to Satan, is also a further proof of the sharpness of this Rod, and the weight and heaviness of it Though it be hard to tell which is worse: as I told you but now. The delivery supposeth a Demand, the Devil cometh, and d●…mandeth of God such a Member( she is mine saith the Devil, 〈…〉 have been a liar from the Beginning, and such a one is she, she hat●… learned to lye after me, and therefore give her up. What saith Go●… to us, deliver up such a liar to Satan? take her devil and torme●… her, and vex her, put forth some Power on her for the destruct●…on of the flesh: Satan cometh on again; There is another i●… this fold that I demand saith he: I demand her that hath remove●… the bounds in her family in imitation of me: when I was in thy family, I was not contented with my then station: I was not hig●… enough: I would pirck up, and be above: and so hath she 〈…〉 she hath sinned after my likeness, give me that lawless woman give me all my Children.  
O saith God! That you did it: O my Church when convened! Deliver her also to Satan. I have given him leav●… to molest and disquiet her: do not with-hold her, but deliver her O Beloved! Is not this a fearful Judgement? therefore it is called a curse: It is an {αβγδ}: Is it not sad for God t●… curse such a one, and to say, the devil take such an one? remember for the church to be commanded in the name of Christ to curse such an one, to bid the Devil take such a woman, such a liar, such a contumacious woman; here vox populi est vox Dei: to go forth from the Church of Christ with the curse of God and man, how terrible is it? It is like the final sentence, depart from me, &c. If we must depart, let us go into some good place and good company, no, but into the Devils company: but let us be at liberty, no, but chains must be put on: ye must be bound, Mat. 18.18. Ho● terrible is this? Beloved know this of a truth, whom ye this day shall bind on earth, shall bo bound in Heaven: and those poor souls that shall be under the curse of God to day, shall never be delivered from it without Repentance from these sins of theirs. Look as Godliness h●th the promises of this life, and that which is to come; so Ungodliness hath the curse of this life, and that which is to come. They are cursed, if they repent not to the day of Christ. Quis non exhorreat se trad●● Satanae summo host● Dei. Who would not tremble saith Peter Martyr to be delivered to Satan, the greatest enemy that God hath in the world: to be under the power of a cruel Tyrant, to be a Galli-slave to the Turk, were a great misesy; but alas no Magistrate, no Power so cruel and malicious, as Satan is: to lye under such a cruel enemy that hates, the soul, and persons so exceedingly. It cannot but be a very great Affliction.  
I sp●ak this that I might bespeak you, and my o●n soul to pitty these poor forlo●n souls. That in putting them under the Power of the Devil, ye may she● campassion. You that are servants, do not ye account it a sad thing to be under wicked Masters? David reckoneth it amongst other great curses, set thou a wicked man over ●… m, that is a curse, Psal. 109.6. O what is it then to set a wick●… Devil over a soul? What is it to have a wicked Spirit ●… er one? Nay the wi●ked one as he is called, 1 joh. 3.12? ●… ear my Brethren, that the work we are about to day, though it ●… such sad work, doth not lye near enough to our hearts; nay as ●… d as it is, I fear it maketh some besotted sinners to laugh this ●… y: but surely did these consider the fearful nature of Excommucation, it might turn their laughter into weeping. Whatever ●… untenance Excommunicates may have amongst us, yet an excommunicate person was so odious to the Jews; that besides that they ●… d shut him out of the Synagouge; if they did but meet such an ●… e, they looked on it as a special mis-fortune, as a special token ●… some sad tidings, which would befall them. So much was this censure of the Church reverenced in those days, that it was accounted worse then five deaths. 
〈…〉 the jews.  Will you hear Mr. Greenham's Opinion of Excommuni●… tes; they are among Ziims and Jiims, among the Owls and ●… ragons; they are as in Hell, and from the Congregation of ●… wrist. To say no more of this: if God saith, take him Jailor, if the ●… evil he the Keeper, and a Saint, or another be the Prisoner, ●… u may guess how he shall be used: O! how will hetear and rend ●… conscience, &c. But will you say why so fearful a sentence? ●… What is the end of Excommunication? that is the fifth thing.  
Fifthly, What doth God intend in all this? I answer, that this ●… thing out it is a medicinal punishment; it is physic, and it is ●… last physic: God saith now or never, here is the last way, ●… this doth not take, farewell. The end( its plain) is medici●… l, that the flesh may be destroyed, and the Spirit may be ●…ed in the day of Christ: and here let us take notice, though ●… ere be severity, yet there is mercy mingled with it.  
1. Here is Mercy in this, that God will not have such a course ●… en, save when all other helps fail, not till then: and there●… e he will have us to begin with private admonitions, Mat. 18. ●…. Cover the fault as long as may be; if yet no audience then ●… ceed unto a second or third, until such time as the party ceas●… to hear the Church; until that day, this sentence is not to ●… inflicted. There is Mercy in this, that God delayeth it so long.  
〈…〉. Here is mercy in this: it is but in interitum carnis: it is but for ●… destruction of the flesh, that is the prime end of excommunica●… n, and then.  
〈…〉. He setteth bounds to the Devil: prescribeth it Diabolo ter●… as. Athan, he sheweth that Satan is limmitted to the flesh, ●… shall go no further then the flesh: Again.  
〈…〉. It is not malum perpetuum, said ad tempus,: the end is, that the soul may be saved in the day of Christ:( which last w●…( in the day of Christ) you may apply either to the day of de●… or the day of Christs appearing:) so that this moderateth 〈…〉 severity of the sentence, in this, that it doth not put any into a 〈…〉 wherein they cannot be saved; we put them rather in a way to saved: Perirent, nisi perirent, 1 Tim. 1.20. Therefore were Hy●…nus and Alexander delivered to Satan, that they might learn no●… blaspheme. And Paul boasts of his Authority, 2 Cor. 10.8. that 〈…〉 Lord gave it him for edification, and not for destruction: So t●… the primary intrinsical end of the Rod of Excommunication is 〈…〉 the edifying of souls. The wisdom of God hath appointed by sha●… grief, and sorrow of being put out of Christs Family, to humble 〈…〉 spirit of him that hath any thing of God,( though secretly) ly●… in him.  
I come now to some Objections to be answered.  
Object. 1. Is not this a very unlikely way to save souls by put●… them out of the care of the Church, and out of the fellowship of the p●…ple of God? and especially to put them into the hands of the Dev●… may you not more easily reform a wanton within her fathers house, t●… by casting her forth into the stews?  
Answ. But who art thou, O man that disputest against God??〈…〉 will you reason against the wisdom of Christ? You see clearly it his will, that he be put away; and this putting away is  ●…livering to Satan: and the express reason is, that the flesh may be●…st●oyed, and the soul saved. A Medicinal depriving of an off●…dor of the comfortable communion of the Saints is a means, a●… mighty through God to humble.  
Object. 2. But what if these persons that we intend to excommunic●… be found godly: is not this dangerous to carry ourselves so to 〈…〉 children of God?  
Answ. This hath been spoken to already; but yet some will 〈…〉 you, that the Apostle speaketh of the incestuous person, supposing h●… godly, that he had not all flesh, but spirit as well as flesh. Yet wave that: I pray you consider to prevent stumbling at Excom●…nication: may not Regenerate persons fall into such grievous sin●… incest and murder? and then why not for a time into contumacy 〈…〉 to the Church, which deserveth Excommunication. They that co●…mit such sins deserve Excommunication; but the converted n●… commit such sins, therefore they may deserve to be Excommuni●…ted, and they that deserve it should have it. Godly men have 〈…〉 heard admonition: Asa was a good man, yet he was so far fr●… hearing the Prophet▪ that he claps him up in prison, for being fai●…ful; Are we to suspend Excommunication on this supposition, t●… such an one may be seminally, or secretly a child of God? who t●… shall be Excommunicated? It being possible that Grace may 〈…〉 within him: But to shut up this; know that the object of ●… xcommunication by Christs appointment, is one that refus●… th to hear the Church, whether he be converted or not.  
Object. 3. But you will say Excommunication in the Text was for ●… ncest, that is a great offence, and you have not such matter against ●… ease, that you intend to proceed upon.  
Answ. 1. The first Answer I shall give you here unto is this. ●… hough the offence should be in the matter small; yet that hin●… ereth not, but that the Offender should be excommunicated: As ●… said before, so say I still; and it will be found a truth for ever: ●… he Reason of Excommunication is not for the first ossence only; ●… ut for contumacy and impenitency joined with it: so that look ●…; Unbelief is in some sense the only condemning sin; that is thus, ●… hatever sins a man hath committed; if he did but believe, he were ●… if: so whatever offence a man hath committed, if he would ●… ear the first admonition, or the second, or the Churches admoni●… on, he should not be proceeded on, he may not be excommuni●… ted. As Unbelief is the sin that damneth, so neglecting to hear ●… e Church is the sin that excommunicateth. If a Church-mem●… r was guilty of the higest crime imaginable. Suppose it Sodo●… y, &c. Yet if he giveth evidence of Repentance, he is not to ●… cast out: and yet if the offence be never so small, if he hears ●… ot the Church: and therein Christ; he is to proceeded against. No ●… over did this incestuous person discover sorrows for his sin, but ●… e Apostle is as urgent for his absolution, as before his Excomu●… cation. 2 Cor. 2 6, 7. sufficient to such a man is this punishment ●… hich was inflicted of many: so that contrarwise ye ought rather ●… forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps, such an one should ●… swallowed up with over-much sorrow: And you shall find that ●… e Brethren for the Presbyterian Government are of this mind: ●… ear their great Champion, Mr. Rutherford in his Divine right of ●… hurch-government. p. 226. A Fault may be light, and small in ●… s rise.( mark it light and small) so long as it is private which de●… rveth not Excommuaication: but if contumacy shall come to ●… e fault,( that is, if the party shall neglect private and public ●… dmonition) as it is here in its growth, and tendency to scanda●… ze many, it is not small. Will ye hear one much unbiased, Lu●… er himself. Si aliquis Ecclesiae Minister, &c. Tom. 2. in Gen. 21. If ●… be any Officer of the Church should not absolve me, but drive ●… e off from the holy Communion, though the matter of offence ●… ere but light, ye I believe I should despair with Iudas, and go and ●… ang myself.  
And we find also, that whoever was three days together from ●… hurch without urgent necessity, was to be excommunicated, ac●… ording to the fixth general Council in Trull. In Constantinople can 80. Do not some think it a small matter to be three or 〈…〉 times absent from the Church-meetings without any cause? But 2. I answer that all things being considered, the fa●… of both these delinquent-members will( for ought I 〈…〉 see, yet to the contrary) weigh in the scal with the 〈…〉 of the incestuous person. For though this sin of the Corinthia●… called an unheard of sin, not name among the Gentiles; yet sure 〈…〉 is a kind of Hyperbolick expression not heard, that is, not very c●…mon among the Gentiles, but detested by some of them. There instances among the profane Authors of this sin. Antiochus the 〈…〉 of Demetrius by his fathers consent matched with his mother 〈…〉 Law as Plutarch, in the life of Demetrius doth observe. So Da 〈…〉 married his father Artaxerxes his wife. There was incest.  
The meaning then is, that this sin was abominable to som●… the civil heathens: and so we may say of the delinquencies wh●… both these are charged with. I shall speak here a little plainly.  
For the one of them. mistress S.E. she is accused among o●… things for lying more then three times: sufficiently proved. 〈…〉 us look a little into this sin, and perhaps we may say of it, i●… not name among the Gentiles: sure it was a sin abominated 〈…〉 the heathen. It is said of Epaminondas that he abhorred mendacium●…cosum, a jesting lye, though he was an Heathen; So that the Apo●… aggravation will fall on this sin also. It is a fault that is not na●… among the heathen: that is, it is detestable to some of the heath●… so Calvin and Paraeus open the words. And the Persian:& Indians 〈…〉 a Law, that whoever had heen thrice convicted of lying, should 〈…〉 on pain of death never s●eak a word more all his life after.  
I beseech you my Brethren, let us not account of sins only●…cording to the esteem of Nations: let us look into the boo●… God; and see whethet lying be a small sin First God saith●…presly, that there is no sin more against godliness, then lying 〈…〉 63.8. Surely they are my People: How prove you that? I have 〈…〉 evidence of it; They are Children that will not lye. So that ly●… seemeth to be inconsistent with the relation of Children: thi●… such a spot as is not in Gods own Children: nay God engag●… himself? if you look narrowly to that Scripture) for his peo●… these a●e the People that will not lye. Secondly it is one of the se●… things that God abominateth. Prov. 6.16, 17, 18, 19, These 〈…〉 things doth the Lord hate, yea seven are an abomination unto him: 〈…〉 proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that  shed innocent blood, An he●… that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running 〈…〉 mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and him that soweth●…cord among Brethren, &c. Among these seven things abominated 〈…〉 God, lying is twice repeated: and therefore it is no slight thi●… it seemeth to be most abominable. And what though, so●… amongst us, should account this a l●ttle sin: so was Sodomy one ●… ty by the Inhabitants of Sodom. Thirdly, though men will rank ●… s sin among the lower-form sins, yet it may further appear that ●… odd doth not, in that dreadful word, Rev. 21.8. But the fearful ●… d unbelieving, and the abominable, and Murderers, and Whoremongers, ●… d Sorcerers, and Idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the ●… ke, which burneth with brimstone: which is the second death. Mark it, ●… ith what sinners are liar, coupled? you couple them with sinners, ●… ilty only of vain thoughts, &c. But the Scripture coupleth them ●… ith Unbelievers, and abominable, with Whoremongers, Murder●… s, and Idolatets: view the place again: it is not said all the fear●… il, all the murderers, &c. but all liars, and what shall become of ●… em? they must all to the lake; and may not we turn them out of ●… e Church of God, whom God will turn down to Hell? Fourthly, ●… is safer in some sense to tolerate an incestuous person, then a liar ●… a Church: especially such an one as soweth discord, a discontented liar, as this woman was. The peace of the Church is not so ●… ndangered by an unclean wretch, as by a liar, there can be no com●… union with such. It is( as one saith) the breaking of all Socie●… y: there can be no converse between man and man where this is. ●… nd what mischief this lying woman hath been likely to do amongst ●… s, you are not altogether ignorant.  
But to come to the other woman: she hath been accused for neg●… ecting fellowship with the people of God, and in that for Cove●… ant-breaking; but chiefly hath been dealt with, for that scan●… alous carriage of hers in running away from her husband. Though ●… ome may make this a light sin to, yet this is a sin against the light of Nature: and so cometh under the Character the Apostle ●… iveth. The Heathen could have taught her otherwise: the ●… ight of Nature lead them to co-habitation ubi tu Cajus, ibi ego Caja: was a solemn usage in their marriages; and therefore we may be ●… ble to give account to others, that this is no slight offence, for the Heathen knew by the light of Nature, that as they were to be one ●… lesh: so they were to live together. The Scripture saith, Let the wife see that she fears her husband, Eph. 5.33. But to run from an husband, argueth a base esteem of the husband, and to take such a vile woman for her companion, that had run before— some of you know how, greatneth her sin, and maketh it the more scandalous. Hagar was culpable in running from her Mistress: but a wife much more, in running from her husband.  
The Apostle saith of wives, that they must be keepers at home, and obedient to their husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed, Tit. 2.5. How much the Name of God suffered( you know in part) by her leaving her husband: I am sure I have been hit in the teeth with the scandalousness of the fact: the streets of the City have rung with the disobedience of that wretch, Mistris M. A. by na●… I approve of Dr. Taylors Exposition on the last name Scripture, 〈…〉 thing here condemned( saith he) is the affection of gadding at a●… or all hours with disposition of hearing, or telling news, or affe●…ing merriment and expensive company, accounting the house a p●…son. But surely it doth with a witness reprove flying from ho●… flying as she did from her home; if they may not gad from ho●… they may not fly from home. By this she hath stained her self, 〈…〉 profession, her husband, wronged him exceedingly, as if he w●… such a Nabal that none could dwell with him, and therein very m●… belieth him. Besides in it she throws up the trust, that God 〈…〉 put into her hands, of sharing in the government of household affa●… in it she neglected her children, gave an ill president to them t●… were grown up to be capable of infection by so ill example. So t●… you see the offences of both these, are in this like the incestuous p●…sons sin, they are such, as are not name among the Gentiles, and 〈…〉 indeed abominable.  
Answ. 3. But then thirdly, let us consider the sins of these 〈…〉 men, with some circumstances going before and after.  
First, For Mistris S. E. I shall give you a little account of h●… and it must be this account: that she was burdensome to many 〈…〉 us before she came under Church-admonition; shee took liberty 〈…〉 speaking in the Church for sometime, and being reproved by me f●… it, from that time there was a visible decay of affection to me; have much observed, that when I often treated with her, I fou●… her of a troublesone disconten●ed spirt, quarreling either with t●… Church in general, or with several members, whom she would i●…peach, and being  told by me it was an irregularity, and admoni●…ed to discharge her duties to them, she ●as offended at me, yet p●…sisted notwithstanding: And I am confident that there is scarce o●… Brother, or Sister, that can bear witness of her faithfulness in●…proving privately; though she so much blazoned abroad, suppos●… or real infirmities, and I leave it to you to judge whether this w●… not schismatical.  
She was also observed to dislike those persons, as unfit for Churc●… fellowship, whom the Church approved, and was a great stick●… against the Church, for several persons, whom they could not co●…fortably close with, yea she would seldom discover her liking 〈…〉 disliking of persons proposed, till the Church had given their de●…sive sentence. Thus from time to time she was a briar in our side But then when private Admonition was given her by a Brother 〈…〉 two, which was done several times; this we can say that there w●… hardly any one that came from her, but with a sad heart( so ●ro●… was her carriage, and so lofty, and her spirit ●o un●amed.) But wh●… she was under Church-admonition concerning several things; s●… ●… as found tripping very much in reference to her tongue, and lying ●… regiously: so that the whole Church could bear witness against ●… r; And being farther pressed to hear the Church, she refused, and ●… f my memory fail not) she said, she would be drawn asunder by ●… ild horses rather then come amongst us. And though she had life— ●… up her right hand to heaven, to walk in fellowship with us, yet hath she separated from us, and to this day sought not reconcilia●… on, neither hath she expressed Repentance for her sins: but she hath justified her self in all that she hath done; instead of confes●… g her lies, she stands in her justification; and though she accus●… the Church in general, and particular members thereof falsely, ●… e performeth no duty, that according to Matth. 18.15. she is bound ●…, of telling it between him and thee, in order to the making any ●… us sensible of a( supposed) sin.  
For mistress M. A. Her coming amongst us is somewhat observa●… e; Before such time, as we were a Church, we had a meeting of ●… hristians, wherein none were admitted, but those that gave an ac●… unt of the grounds of their hope; at length Mistris A. proposed ●… er self to this Society, and spake very confidently of her conditi●…: on a sudden she was( as some observed) stopped in her speech; ●… ving a little before spoken much of her assurance, yet discovered ●… much ignorance, that I believe not one person was satisfied with ●… at, which she spake as her experience; therefore she was denied. ●… ut a considerable time after the Church was constituted, she defir●… Church-fellowship; And then came in with so much difficulty, ●… at( as I am credibly informed, for I was then absent.) Mr. Stone●… m, the then Teacher of this Church, hinted to her to this purpose, ●… at the Church had stretched to the utmost line of Charity in or●… er to her Reception; and therefore advised her that her future de●… eanour might be such, as might give better satisfaction concerning ●… er for the future, then they had for the present. Since when, though ●… e did engage to fellowship with us: I think this I may say, there ●… not a Brother, or Sister here, that can bear witness of her per●… rming any Church-duty to them, of admonition, exhortation, or ●… eproof; and if any of you can witness for her in these things, I ●… arge you to discover it; I speak this, because if she hereafter ●… thing dirt in this, or that, or the other persons face by Reports, you ●… ay look on such things as slanders, or on her as a Covenant-brea●… er in not observing the Rule of Christ. A considerable time after ●… is there happened to be some heats, heats did I say? yea a flamme ●… as kindled in her spirit, against a sister in law of hers, who is in ●… ommunion with us. The business grew to that height, that the ●… lders were necessitated to examine it: At that time I came engaged to her as the party innocent, rather then the other; but when ●… h●ngs were examined, I found she had wronged her sister exceedingly, by defaming her in the Eastern parts amongst her Relat●… as well as among several members here, and never discharged●… duty towards her. She carried her self so dis-ingeniously, that I●… hardly charity for her at that time to judge her gracious; Fo●… would endure no council, no admonition, though tendered ●ith 〈…〉 bowels: And though her sister was many ways the wronged 〈…〉 son, and begged her with tears not to go off in a passion, yet o●… went in a disdaining way. After long pressing her to confess wronging of her sister: at length, it seemed, she did go to he●… some outside way, she did somewhat that looked like Repenta●… or that we would feign one as a retraction. But it seemeth 〈…〉 that day she had rankour in her spirit against me; for she hath●…fest since; that the reason why she would not speak with me, th●… desired by me, was, because I was unfaithful in that business: 〈…〉 if I were unfaithful in that business, ever let me be so unfait●… if I were unfaithful, it was in not reproving her more cuttingly 〈…〉 words were too soft I fear. However she patcheth up a peace 〈…〉 her sister, apd skinneth over the wound; But within a little after, she carrieth her self frowardly, not only to her Sister, b●… all the Brethren that had discourse with her about her miscarria●… and particularly about her neglecting Church-fellowship( w●… was too apparent) and her discontent grew to that height, tha●… grew angry with her own husband, and in her passion ran from 〈…〉 which being so scandalous, the Church thought themselves obl●… to admonish her of that, and other sins, but she breaketh forth passionate speeches, defaming the Church, and despising their 〈…〉 refusing from that day to this to hear the Church, and perswa●… her husband to an undue, and unjust separation from us. She is contented to be a Covenant-breaker her self, but would have ot●… break the Oath of God under which they lye.  
Give me leave yet further to aggravate the sin of both these●…ties in a comparison with the incestuous person: First, in all li●…hood the incestuous person had never been reproved for this si●… his, as may be inferred from ver. 2. They did not mourn over him; 〈…〉 so have these; these have been admonished privately, and 〈…〉 likely.  
Secondly, When the incestuous person was put away, the next 〈…〉 we hear of him is his Repentance, but these, since their suspen●… which is a kind of Excommunication, yet have shewed no Re●…mation; instead of sorrowing they rejoice, and think themse●… worthy to be cried up, and to sit in the highest places of the S●…gogue, for their stout carriage towards a poor Church of Chris●…  
Thirdly, We do not find that the incestuous person jeered at 〈…〉 Sentence of excommunication, but so do these: Here I cannot 〈…〉 take notice of one thing; after such time as Gannicle was thr●… to utter destruction: therefore thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people? How many appointed by God to the sword of Excommunication are there, yet let alone every where? Mr. Rutherford in his Divine Right of Church-government, pag. 520, saith, that they a●e co-partners with the wicked, who dispense the bread to them who are knowingly dead in sins. Wo to them that say they are entrusted with the keys of Heaven, and yet open the door wide to them whom God would have to be kept from his holy Hill; and do not exclude them from communion, whom God would have to be put away from the midst of them: that can men say, why they do not difference the precious from the vile out of the Pulpit, as well as in the Pulpit? they are afraid to offer in the Pulpit mercy to the wicked and impenitent; but why do they give the Seals of mercy and forgiveness to them, that are walking openly in the way to destruction? It is a terrible word, that in Ezek. 13.19. And will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of Barley, and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hear your lies? To save them that should die how sad is this? How then dare men say, this is the blood of the Covenant  shed for the Remission of your sins? Drink ye all of it? How can men say this to a company of loose persons, and disorderly walkers? How can the mother be guiltless of the death of her child, that giveth him poison with this caution, that she telleth him it is poison: so do many Ministers; they tell men of the danger of unworthy Receiving; crying, take heed you come not to the table of the Lord, it is pioson; and yet give the Bread to them. Men fond relieve themselves with a charge they give their people, that they come not unpreparedly to the Lords table: But alas!— they pled for more then a Doctrinal power that they have to bar the wicked from holy things by Excommunication, and yet improve it not.  
Object. But it is pleaded, that they suspend from the Sacrament.  
Answ. I think they are hardly agreed on that point to this day, whether there be such a censure as suspension appointed by Christ, and many of them confess that they use suspension as a prudential, to comply with their Brethren, rather then as an Instituted Ordinance. But truly this is to be for a lamentation, that such an indisputable Ordinance, as Excommunication should be laid aside, and a Prudential shall serve turn. How doth this entrench on Christs wisdom in appointing this Rod in his house, ●hen it shall not be used from one year to another, though the miscarriages of many calls for it: Sad is it that prudential Remedies shall excommunicate the censure of Excommunication: this is to be matter of lamentation.  
Object. But they would say, they would Excommunicate, but they want the Magistrates power.  
Answ. I shall give in the Answers of two men of Renown to this. First, Mr. Rutherford, he saith, who gave the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven to the Magistrates? It is confessed, if there were no Christian Magistrates, the Ch●rch might Excommunicate; and shall the Magistrate, because he is a Christian, spoil the Church of the power she had; when she wanted a Magistrate?  
But then hear Mr. Baxter in his Gildas Salvianus, or Reformed Pastor. I shall give you his words. pag. 214. How many Ministers in England be there that know not their own charge! that never cast out one obstinate sinner! no nor brought one to public confession, and expression of repenta●ce, and promise of Reformation? No nor admonished one publicly to call him to such Repentance? May not we lament it in Exon? The great out-cryers against Separation( say I) pretend that all within the compass of their Parishes are Church-members. And yet for many years together they neglect Church-censures, saith Mr. Baxter, hear him again, pag. 222. We are sent, as Christs ambassadors to speak in his Name, and not in the Princes, and by his Authority we do our work, as from him we have our Commission. The same power that you have to preach without or against the Magistrates command, the same have you to exercise Pastoral Guidance and Discipline without it, &c. And again, pag. 226. The Magistrate fineth and imprisoneth: that is his part: It is your part to bring them to open Repentance; or to cast them out: Doth not the Magistracy of England punish ten, twenty, what if I say an hundred Swearers, Drunkards, or Sabbath-breakers by the sword, for one that the Elders of the Church do punish by censures, or bring to public repentance for the satisfaction of the Church. And again, pag. 227. What had the Church of Christ done till the daies of Constantine the great: if it had no better Pastors then you, that will not govern it without the joint compulsion of the Magistrate? Discipline, and severe Discipline was exercised for three hundred years together, where the Prince did not give them so much as a Protection, nor Toleration, but persecuted them to the death. And again, pag. 228, Are the keys of Christs Kingdom so useless that they will not open, and shut without the help of the sword? If they have contracted any rust, by which they are made less fit for service, next to the Prelates, we may thank ourselves, that let them lye so long unused. In pag. 232. Mr. Baxter raiseth an Objection, that we are but single Pastors, and therefore cannot excommunicate men alone, he answereth to this largely, and amongst other things, thus:  
Have you none in your Parish, not one or two to make ruling Elders of, that by their conjunction you may be authorised to do more then now you do? I mean according to your own principles. And what hindereth but you may join together if you will? If it must needs be many Pastors conjunct, that must exercise any act of Discipline, why is it so don●? Doth any forbid them? It is a reproachful charge upon all the Ministers in the Country, to say, that Discipline is cast aside, because they can get none to join with them in the execution. Remember this day and remember often the danger that cometh to Ministers, and people w●ere the leaven is not cast out. And let this be for a lamentation.  
Use 2. The second Use is of caution several ways.  
First, Caution to them that yet have not joined themselves to any particular Church, let them beware how they join themselves to any Church, where Discipline is neglected. The leaven of wickedness, is leaven to this day. There is as great danger in wicked company now, as ever there was: if so be, you may join with visibly unleavened Societies, beware how ye join with others, lest after you thank yourselves for all the pollution and misery you contract, by joining yourselves to undisciplined Congregations.  
Secondly, Let it be a caution to you my Brethren, and to others, not to be offended at a Church, in case some prove rotten and unsound. The Apostle tells us, 1. Cor. 11.19. There must be Heresies among you, that they which are approved, may be made manifest among you. If there were none, what would become of the Rod? The rod is made for the back of Offenders. Be not offended at Corinth, though there be found an incestuous person there: nor at us, though a Liar and Covenant-breaker be amongst us: they are to be cast out. Be offended at us rather, when we neglect Church-Discipline.  
Use 3. The third Use is of information. This informeth us, what a wise God we have to deal with, who can make the most unlikely means serviceable to his ends; who can make Satan do his own work. That is to be considered to day. A man would think that such a censure should totally and finally harden a sinner. It would so, if God did not otherwise dispose of it, if it were not Christs institution. Oh, How is carnal reason here nonplussed! My own reason tells me, that this days meeting( not considering it as an institution) will harden these wretches more: But when I remember an institution of Christ, when I remember that God would have the Church convened, and that to deliver to Satan for the destruction of the flesh: It giveth me some hopes, when I remember that God did make the earth to help the woman, Rev. 12.16. Why may he not here make the Serpent the Devil, to help the woman This is admirable, that the flesh must be destroyed, and Satan must haue an hand in it: What strange tools can God work with?  
Use 4. The fourth and the last se is of Exhortation to the Church of God to four things.  
First, Boast not over the fallen. It is by Grace that thou standest. If God let thee alone before the setting of the Sun, thou wilt turn thy back as much on Christ and his people, as these have done; thou wilt contemn Christs institutions if let alone, and nelect private and public Admonition, as much as these: thou wilt despise the Church in thy heart and tongue, as much as these. When the Gentiles were in the olive three, in the Church, Rom. 11. And the Jew cut off. The Apostle was jealous that this privilege would swell the Gentiles into great thoughts of themselves, and into a contempt of the Jews: and therefore he cautioneth them, ver. 18. Boast not against the Branches, that is, against the Branches that are broken off. If God let thee alone, thou wilt be the fourth person that will be thrown out of this house of God.  
Secondly, Boast not of thyself too much. Perhaps thou vauntest that thou hast kept thyself within compass; But art not thou guilty of such wickedness. That had the Brethren been faithful to thy soul, thou mightest also have come under censure this day: or perhaps thou delighest in contemplative wickedness, and art but a painted wall, a guilded post, a very Formalist, full of envy pride, &c. Know this.  
1. That Satan will be contented to have the inward Rooms, if he cannot possess the whole house. Thou art as safely the Devils by indulging to a secret sin, as if thou wert guilty of an open scandalous evil: nay in some sense in a far worse condition; for if thy wickedness did break forth, thou mightest enjoy this sharp privilege of Excommunication,( whose end is for the destruction of the flesh, that the Spirit might be saved in the day of the Lord,) which now, because thy sin is secret, thou canst not enjoy. It is true, the Excommunicates are put under the power of Satan judicially, but thou art under his Power already, thou mayst fear, thou art delivered to Satan mo●ally, to be hardened: but these are to be delivered, though judicially; yet medicinally also to be humbled, shamed and softened, that the Spirit may be saved. Again.  
2. Thou that boastest, that thou carriest things cleverly, know that there is a doctrinal Excommunication, that many Church-members may be under, many more then we can possibly beware of. When your Ministers declare from Gods word, that Hypocrites shall not inherit heaven, &c. That Word of God hath Authority enough to bind you over to the day of Christ, unless you repent.  
3. Kno● this, that God may detect you before you die, and likely he will, and therefore boast not of your secrecy in sinning, your paint may fall off: the stake in the hedge, though at the first it looketh green, yet after a while, it will whither, and show itself to be but a stake, and not a living Branch.  
Cùn was at first a Sacrificer, and yet at length cast out, cast out of the sight of the Lord, out of his fathers family, from the Ordinances, &c. God will not always s●ffer you to abuse his own patience and the good opinion of Beholders, and the place of your standin●… in the Church of God. A dead oak may be left alone in a wood, but a dead vine may not be let alone in a Vineyard.  
Thirdly, Through this cloud, labour what ye can to shine the brighter, let me bespeak you in the words of the Apostle, Phil. 2.14, 15, 16. Do all things without murmerings and disputings, that ye may be blameless and harmless; the Sons of God without rebuk in the midst of a crooked and perverse Nation, among whom ye shine as Lights in the world, holding forth the word of life, that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, nor laboured in vain. I beseech you repair Gods honour and the Churches what you may, by shining the brigher, and amongst other ways this is one, let it be in those Graces that are most opposite to the sins of the Excommunicates, to those sins you are come, to witness against this day: You have thrown out one already for his Heretical Principles, and not hearing the Church; Do you covet the more to be sound in the Faith, and to be steadfast and unmovable in a form of wholesome words: And for this end, I cannot but commend your purpose of subscribing a profession of faith this day. So for these that are to be thrown out this day, the more lying one hath been guilty of; the more do you speak truth one to another,; and let there not be a lying tongue in the midst of us: and the more another is found disobedient, I beseech you labour the more to keep your bounds at home, as also in this Church of Christ; and here also I cannot but approve of your purpose to subscribe a Covenant that will be a fence against a lawless Spirit.  
Fourthly, Let me beseech you to love Heaven the better for this day, and the sad occasion of it. Here we see, that notwithstanding all our Covenants and Engagements; yet we are a mixed people: the Leaven is amongst us to this day. Let us take a view of Heaven, when putting some on the borders of hell, In Heaven there are no mixtures, there are none Leavened, there are none that cause division; there they are all of one heart, and of one piece. Let this provoke us to long for Heaven: Here is lying and deceitfulness, fickleness and levity: but in Heaven there is no such inconstant and scandalous company: there are all faithful friends, a faithful Father, a faithful Christ, a faithful Spirit, faithful Angels, all faithful friends. Here ever and anon we have the Briar and the Thorn( such the earth brought forth ever since the fall) here the Canaanite and the Perizite are amongst us; but in Heaven no Briar groweth. let us be invited to love heaven the better.  
The Church is compared to the Kingdom of Heaven, and it should be so here, into which no unclean thing should enter; but yet it is not so in this lower Heaven, in this house of God, Here are vessels of dishonour that appear so, and here vessels get rust, and the very appointing excommunication speaketh what God saw his Church would need. But Excommunication is no more appointed for Heaven above, since the Angelss were thence cast out.  
The end of the Sermon which was delivered before the Persons were Excommunicated.   

After the persons were Excommunicated: there were given these following Reasons, why a Church of Christ should then renew their Covenant with God, why any of the members thereof are justly Excommunicated.  

Reason 1.  
THe excommunicating of obstinate, and impenitent members, is the purging out of filth, which was got within such a Church: this is implied in that excommunication is commanded, 1 Cor. 5.7. under the Metaphor of purging: Purge out therefore the old leaven; and if we peruse the Records of Scripture, we shall find, that whensoever any filth was ●… t into the house of God, by sinful remissness in the people of God, ●… ey did not satisfy themselves with throwing out the filth, but so●… mnly renewed their Covenant. Thus they did in Asa's time: a ●… ophet cometh, and telleth Asa that how they ●… ere defiled, when Asa heard those words, 
Hebr. Abominations.  ●… took courage and put away the abomina●… e idols out of the Land, but what? was that all? No, And ●… y entred into a covenant, 2 Chron. 15.8. and vers. 12. Com●… read: they did both put away the Abominations that were ●… ong them, and they did bind themselves more firmly to all ●… ties of piety towards God, comprised under the phrase of seeking ●… Lord; so in Hezekiahs days, he commanded ●… Levites to carry forth the filthiness out of ●… holy place, but that is not all, 
Under this word filthiness is comprised, what ever was brought into the Temple to pollute the true worship of God. large. Anot. in loc.  he would al●… have them enter into Covenant with God ●… in, as appears by comparing the fifth& the ●… th ver. of the 29. chapped. of the second book ●… hron. Thus in Nehemiahs time, after they ●… been mixed with strangers: the seed of ●… el, such as were truly Israelites, that did not disgrace Israel, from whom they descended, they put away all strangers, Neh. 9.2. and also renewed 
Heb. Fidelity or sureness, or a sure thing to note,( saith Mr. Caril) that a well grounded Covenant is a sure, and firm, and irrevokable act.  their Covenant ver. 38. Because of all this we make a sure Covenant.   

Reason. 2.  

{αβγδ} a {αβγδ} Elegit, quia eliguntur person inter quas& res ac conditions propter quas, foedus initur Buxtorf.  Such purging out of filth qualifieth such a Church for renewing their covenant with God, the Hebrew word, beareth( a covenant) cometh from Barah, which signifieth to choose exactly, and judiciously, only choice persons are fit for Covenanting-work; the Lord promiseth that he will cause his people to pass under the Rod, and so he would bring them into the bond of the Covenant, 
Totum populum Israelis ita probabo,& recognoscam, ut Pastor gregem ad recipiendos in foedus& caulam meam bonas: improbosque abdicandos. Jun. in loc. Thus Polanus also, and the large Anotat. expounds this placc.  Ezek. 20.37. Jumus expoundeth the words thus: as if God had said, I will prove and try the whole people o●… Israel as a Shepherd doth his flock: that I may take the good, and sound into the fold of my Covenant, and cast out the wicked and unsound; this interpretation is not only favoured, but fully approved,( saith, Mr. Caril) in the words immediately following vers. 38. I will bring you into the bond of the Covenant, and I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me; this was the choice qualification of those that renewed thei●… Covenant, Nehem. 10.28. They had not only knowledge and understanding, but they had separated themselves from the people of the lands, unto the law of God: they had purged out filth from 〈…〉 Among them. Such a Church before the Rebels are purged out from among them, is not so qualified for covenanting with the Lord●…   

Reason 3.  
It is no small affliction to such a Church, that there is need of the dreadful Censure of Excommunication to be inflicted on any of its members; it cannot but be a time of trouble to the whole Church, when any of its members are cut off by Excommunication: it cannot but be as great a trouble as it is to our natural bodies, when a finger, or a to, or an arm, or a leg are cut of●… Such time therefore is seasonable for such work. I will cause you saith the Lord, to pass under the Rod, and so I will bring you in. ●… the bond of the Covenont, Ezek. 20.37.  
This was one cause of that Covenant in Nehemiahs dayes. We are in great distress, Neh. 
Pios sub virgam transmittit Deus, ut ad foederis exhibitionem eos inducat quum nolit eos sui juris esse,& pro arbitrio carnis vivere. Polon. in loc.  9.37. And because of all this we make a sure Covenant, vers. 38.   

Reason. 4.  
Excommunication of Incorrigible members ought to be joined with fasting, 1 Cor. 5.2. the Apostle blameth the Corinthian Church, because they had not mourned, 
{αβγδ} refers to the style of mourners, and denotes the solemnity usual among the Jews, of putting on mourning habits, and wailing over them that were Excommunicated. Leigh. in loc. When there was Excommunication, they did anciently fast. Trap. in loc.  that he that had done that dead, might be taken away from among them; and the proper business, of a fasting day, is entering into, or renewing Covenant with God: the Covenant in Nehemiahs time, came in the close of a fasting day, as appears, Nehem. 9.1, 38. compared.   

Reason 5.  
At such a time satan hath faster hold of some, that were of such a Church: and therefore at such a time God should have faster hold of such a Church. Such as are Excommunicated, they are( as hath been  told you) delivered to satan, 1 Cor. 5.5. 
Hoc illud est, quod Christus dicit, fieri sicut ethnicum, sieve publicanum, Matth. 18.17. Slater in loc. So Beza, Calvin, Paraeus, Alapide, Estius, Morton, Leigh. large Annot. and the Dutch Annot. interpret this place.  And therefore such a Church should deliver up themselves A fresh to God; such poor wretches are given up to Judicial hardness, so that they are sorry for nothing so much, but that they with such a Church entred into Covenant with God; they have rerracted and recanted what formerly they did: and therefore such a Church to manifest that they are still of the same mind, and that they do not repent of what they have done, should renew their Covenant. Such wretches they have renewed their Covenant with Hell, and satan, and therefore such a Church should renew their Covenant with God.   

Reason 6..  
At such a time such a Church seeth sad instances of its prone●… to backslide from God, and what they should do, if God should leav●… them to themselves: and a Covenant is a Golden Girdle to tie 〈…〉 fast to God; it is a joining ourselves to th●… Lord, Jer. 50.5. 
Let us glue ourselves to the Lord; so some: let us bind ourselves to the Lord, not only as the borrower doth himself to the usurer for a time; but as the wife doth her self to her husband, for ever, saith Dr. Burgess in his Sermon before the Parliam. on those words.  Seeing therefore such 〈…〉 Church seeth at such a time in a more espec●…all manner their pronness to suffer this Golde●… Girdle to loosen, and untie, to dis-join and unglue themselves from God: therefore it is very seasonable for such a Church at such a tim●… to enter into bond again unto the Lord, to ti●… this Golden Girdle yet faster: to glue themselves once more to the Lord, that so God an●… and they may never part. One main end o●… Covenanting is to prevent starting aside fro●… God. For this end blessed Hooper was willin●… to be tied to the stake, because he was flesh a●… well as spirit.   

Reason. 7.  
At such a time Satan will be tempting and assaulting others i●… such a Church: when Satan and the world have got any to Aposta●…tize, and to de●art from God and his ways; they are encouraged t●… set upon more, to endeavour the seducing of more of the Member●… of such a Church: Now there is no such way to prevent Satans d●…sign, as for such a Church to renew their Covenant; therefore wa●… Israel to renew their Covenant, le●… there should be among them any, who●… heart turneth away from the Lord 
Or as the Greek and Caldie explain it, that there be not, &c. Ayns. in loc.  Deut. 29.10, 12, 18.   

Reason 8.  
It is a very choice Mercy to have filth purged out of Church of Christ, though by excommunicating some of its me●…bers, in Ezek. 20.38.' Its promised as no small mercy that God wou●… purge out from among his people the Rebel●… and such as thransgress against God. 
The Doctrine that Dr. burgess in the first Par. Sermon, raiseth from Jer. 50.5. is this, when God vouchsafe●… any deliverance to his Church, especially from babylon, then it is m●… seasonable and necessary to close with God by a more solemn, strict a●… inviolable Covenant, to be his, and only his for ever. See it largely pros●…cu●●●hrough the Sermon.  Th●… might further appear by the motives, whereby the Apostle Paul● resseth the Church of Corinth to excommunicate the incestuous Co●… thian, 1 Cor. 5, 6.7. now this is the use that Gods People should ●… ache of any choice mercy, thereby to engage themselves more close●… y to God; this is the motive that Moses urgeth to persuade the Is●… aelites to enter into a special Covenant with God, beside the solemn Covenant which he made with them( and they with him) in Ho●… ebb, Deut. 29.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.9, 10, &c.   

Reason 9.  
At such a time, such a Church stands in more then ordina●… y need of Gods renewing his Covenant with them, to have God ●… aster bound unto them: And then God is in a special manner, ●… illing thereunto, see this most evidently demonstrated in Jer. 32. ●… rom v. 37. to the 42. v.& 2 Cor. 6.17, 18. it is but reasonable therefore ●… hat such a Church should then be willing to renew their Covenant ●… ith God, and thereby bind themselves faster unto his Majesty.   

Reason 10.  
This is the likeliest means to enable and incline such a Church, to purge out what filth may remain in the midst of them, ●… nd to keep more filth from getting within such a Church for the ●… uture. God hath promised that he will pruge out from such a peo●… le as renew their Covenant with him all the Rebels, Ezek. 20.38. ●… nd he hath promised to establish such a Church for a People to ●… imself. Deut. 29.12, 13, besides hereby such a Church, such a peo●… le are more engaged to purge out all the remaining leaven, and to ●… eep out the uncircumcised, and the Philistine from entering with●… n the gates of Zion, and so are likely to become, and to be pre●… erved a new lump, as they are unleavened: it is very warrantable therefore for us this day, to take up their their words in Nehe. 9.38.    

Because of all this, we make a sure Covenant, and writ it.  
I Believe that there is one only God in three Persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost; Infinite in Being, Wisdom, Goodness and Power: The Maker, Preserver and Disposer of all things, and the most just and merciful Lord of All.  
I believe that Mankind, being fallen by his sin from God and Happiness, under the wrath of God, the curse of his Law, and the power of the Devil: God so loved the world that he gave his only Son to be their Redeemer, who being God, and one with the Father, did take to him our Nature, and became man, being conceived of the Holy Ghost in the Virgin Mary, and born of her, and name JESUS CHRIST: and having lived on Earth without sin, and wrought many Miracles: for a witness of his Truth he gave up himself a satisfy for our sins, and a Ransom for us, in suffering death upon the across,& being butted, he rose again the third day, and afterward ascended into Heaven, where he is Lord of All, in Glory with the Father: and having ordained, that All that truly repent and believe in him, and love him above ●… ll things, and sincerely obey him, and that to the death