ÌI 5ireer. XIII. SanE?j catio. 281 the church at all times: and, better to be a loft fheep, than a Oat or fwine. For excommunication cuts of aCtua1 communion only, until repentancebe evident; and not abfolutely abolitheth the title and relation of a brother and church - member, though it judgeth one to be an unnatural brother, and a pernicious rot- ten member at prefent, not fit foradsof communion. Betides, admonition is hill to be afforded, 2 Theft: iii. t5. and any means are to be ufed, that may ferve to cure and rettore him The church reacheth forth a hand to help fuch a perfon, though it do not join hands in fellowthip with him; or it communicateth to him, not with him. Yet if he have not fo ;much grace as to repent, it were better he. had never known the way of righteoufnefs, 2 Pet. ii. .2r. (6) The lively examples of faints are before our eyes in church-fellowfillip, to teach and encourage, Phil. iii. 17. and iv. 9. 2 Tim. iii. io, ï t. 2 Cor. ix. 2,. 2. By thofe holy duties that are required and do appertin to this fellowfhipand communion. All atta that belong to this fellowlliip are holy ; as, hearing, receiving the facratnent, prayer, mutual admonitions, &c. I {hall confider forne fuch holy as whereby we are rather doers than receivers, and which we perform towards others : As, (t.) Godly difcourfe, teaching, admoniíhing, corm fortingothers in Ch itt; which we cannot fo perform towards others, as towards thofe we have ftriet fel- lowíhip with in Chriít. Others, like fvine, trample thefe jewels underfoot; and faints therefore are ford ed to refrain from godly difcourfe in their company, Amos v. to, 13. and vi; io. But holy difcourfe is moil. acceptable to the faints, and to bepraelifed with them, Mal. iii. 16. and is greatly to the advantage of holinefs, Prov. xi. 25. (i ) In helping, fuccouring, and converting with Chritt in his member3, we dá good to Chtift in his members in church fellowfhip : and we ourfelves, as N n
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