238 The right manner offanflifting the Zame of G©r expulfive faculty to purge any thing out again ; fo a Congrega- tion that is altogether without fuch an Ordinance as that is of expelling fuch as are wicked and ungodly ; I fay, I find noScri- pture chat doth force people, and require them as bound in con- fcience to continue there where they may not enjoy all the Or- dinances of jefus Chrift, and the right underflatiding of what I law now, will help us to anfwer all chore Scriptures that are brought. As if it be that of 7uclas, firft it is hard tomake it out deer whether it were the Lords Supper that he received, yea, or no : but fuppofe it be granted that he did, yet I make no que- ftion but fuch as Judas was, that fhall continue to make fuch an outward profeffion as he did, and could not be dilcovered in the Church-way, but that we may receive with fuch as are clofe Hypocrites. Youwil fay., jefus Chrift knew him to be faulty, andhe told john that lay in his bofom what he was ; but though he knew him as he was God, yet he deals with him in his Minifterial way, and he had appointedbefore that none were to becaft out, but were to be dealt withal in fuch a Minifterial way ; fo that it is not enough though I knew byRevelation from God that fuch a man were an Hypocrite Suppofe God fhould reveal from Heaven tome chat fuch a manwere anHypocrite, I think1might communicate with him 11111 when he doth not fo far difcover hiinfelf that I can by witnefs prove his evil ; therefore though men be wicked, yet it doth not defile the Communion where they are, if therebath been that way ufed that Chrift hash ap- pointed for the obietvation of his Church. And when that is done, then I am to withdraw fromhim, and to profefs againft Communion with him , fo that that's enough to anfwer the cafe. We read likewife that there were divers wicked men among she Corinthian', andof Tares that grew in the Wheat. It's true,lhere were wicked men among them, but they were enjoy ned by the Apoftle to caft out thole wicked men, and if theydid not do ir,ic was their linand they were defiled by it. And for Tares that wereamong the Wheat, take it that this is meant concerning the Church, fuppofe it were (andyet Chrift faith Rlainly, thai the field it the worldi and it's thegodly, and the
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=