C 231 much harder to the Minillers, to the Laity the change is not fo great as herein alters the cafe of Lawfulnefs or Duty. ro. I found that `"t. Paul charged the Churchof Corinth, as having among them men Carnal, guilty of Schifm, flander- ing the Apof."tle; ; guilty of finful Law-Suits, and defrauding each other, bearing with inceft, difordered, profane and drunk at Sacramental Communions ; fome decryed the Refurrettion, 6~e. The Galatians feem more to be accufed than they, as depraving the Chriftian Doctrine. The Coloffi.ns faulty ; al- molt all the SevenChurches of Afa charged with grievous corgi ruption. And yet in all thefe, no man is commanded to feparate fromany one of tiléfe Churches, nor blamed for not doing ,it. I 1. And, which is moil of all, I find that Chrift himfelf, whowas certainly finlefs,heldopen Communion with the yewifh Church in Synagogues and Temples, and Commanded the peo- ple their duty even to the falfly obtruded Priefls , and tohear the Pharifeeswhile theydelivered 1 ofes's.Law ; though hecon- demned and feparated from their falfe Doctrine, and fuperfti- tious traditions and corruptions . Thefe are my Reafons for LayParifh- Communion. L. But you did rot anfrrer [from fuch turn away, and with fuch not to Eat, &c.] M. The anfwer is obvious; i. It is the duty of the Church to cart out wicked impenitent men ; and this Chrift commandeth them ; but he never bids particular Chriftians to feparate from theChurch where fome fuch are,becaufe the Church omits itsdu- ty : For then you fhould feparate fromduty,from GodsWorfhip and holy.Communion, onpretenceof feparating from finners. 2. But for Family and Private Converfe, every Chriftian is judge himfelf, and mull refufe all familiarity with fcandalous Chriftians which encourageth them in finor feemeth to own.it. GodCommandethnoman todo that which is not in his power; to put a fcandalous impenitent man from the Church, is in the Churches power, and fo that command belongs to them ; it is not in yourpower, and therefore belongs not to you, fave to admonifh men, and tell, the Church; but to put men from your table and familiarity, is in your power and belongs toyou. Suppofe the Kingwrite to the City of London to put all Re- bels out of their Company and .Converfe ; its cafie to under- And MEW z :
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