296 The Gofpel of the Leprofy. This was a Type of Excommunication, that great GofpeiOrdi nance, which: is, the !hutting of a Sinner out of the Camp. This brings me to fpeak of Excommunication, which is fuitable to the prefect Pro- vidence. Fat this shutting out the Leper from the Camp of Kraal, fig- nified (hutting out of the Church. This therefore I fhall fpeak a- little to, both the Text and the prefent Providence of God leading and calling to it, under thefe five Heads. r The Nature of Excommunication. 2. The Cafes wherein it muff be done. 3. The Ends and Ufes of it. 4. The Manner of Proceeding. 5. To whom this Work and Power belongs. z. For the Nature of Excommunication. It is the putting of a Man out of the Church, and delivering him unto Satan. Pat away from among you that wicked Perfon, t Cor. 5. ult. So Diotrephes, 3 Joh. i o. cafe the Brethren out of the Church. There is a going out of the Church, when Men rend themfelves offby Apoftacy, Herefy or Schifm. t yob. 2. 19. they went out from us In which they are aéiive, and cut off themfelves, that is their own ad ; but in this they are Sufferers, this is the Church's` Aa by the Power ofChrift. For as a Perfori is united by Confent into Spiritual Fellowfhip : So by the Church's Dif ent to have him be of them any longer, he is cut off, or caft out ; upon which he falls into the Hand of Satan una- voidably t Delivering him unto Satan, t Cor. 5. S. For the Church is the vifible Kingdom of Chrift in this World ; therefore when caft out of that,"they - fall into ` the 'Hand of Satan who is the God of this World; if put out of Chrift's Kingdom, and from under his gracious Scepter; they muff needs fall under the -Kingdom and Power of Satan. Queft. What Power of Satan is this ? 11nfw. Not a bodily Poffeffon ; becaufe the Apoffle writes to the whole ChurchOf airing. todo it, 'But it cannot be fuppofed, that the whole Church had the Gift of Miracles t Neither indeed is the Lord wonted to work Miracles for that end We do not find it in Scripture, that the Lord doth put Men by Miracle into Satan's Hand, but he rather Works mitaculoafly to:deliver ` them from it. But a Spiritual Power of Satan over them is hereby meant ; namely, either tçr trrify. or.,Ttupsfy `them. t.' Sometimes he gives Satan a seïifyiag Power in order to their humbling 2. If
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