The Gofpel of the Leprofy. 297 2. if they be not terrified by Satan, when under this Ordinance, there is a ft. pifying hardning Power ; and there never was any Man `juf ly Excommunicated, but fell under one ofthefe two. OueJt'. 2. What are the Cafes wherein Excommunication ought to be ad. miniftred? Anfn. Et being the higheít Cenfure, and the fevereft part of that Spiritual Vengeance, which the Lord hath intrufted his Minifters and Churches with ; it (hruld rever be aftd but in Cafes of great Extremity, when no'other means in the ordinary courfe of-God'. Difpenfition will attain the End. But when the Sinner's Cafe is fuch, that it is he- yond the reach of other Means to help. lmmedicabile vulnus enfe re- 'cidenduíri eft. "Hence it is not to be u¡edfor metr failings, and infirmities, and Sins of Weakneff, which a. godly Man may fall into, and yet walk with God uprigh 1, But for fuch Sins and Evils as are incontinent with Grace here, or Glory hereafter Such, as if a Man lives and dies, and goes on in ; it is not poffible he Ihould have any Grace in his Heart, or any grounded comfort or hope of Salvation. Hence alto it is not to be ufed for Things doubtful anddi/putable, Rom. 14.1. much lefs for Things indifferent ; for they neither commend us, nor difcöm..nend us unto God, a Cor. 8.8. and therefore fhould not to the Church. For in fuch Things,. we are not either the better or the worfe for pra&iing or forbearing ; as the Apostle there expref- ly afr'erts. But for Things clear and ceytuin, and univerfally acknow- ledged amongft all that deferve the Name of Chriftians : The Scrip- ture (peaks clearly to two Cafes. r. Fundamental Errors of yudgment. So the Apoftle s Tim. T. ult. dealt with Hymneus and Pbiletus, And what theyheld, is more par- ticularly expreffed in 2 Tim. a. 17, z8. viz. that the Refurrefiion is pafi already. So Tit. 3. r o. An Heretick after his being twice admoni/hed re- jeft : So here Lev. 14. 44. if the Leproiy be in the Head, he is utters unclean. Hence therefore, if any Man deny one God and three Perfons, de- ny the Scriptures, the Deity of Chrift, the Immortality of the Soul, the Refurreaion of the Body, or fuch like Fundamental Points ; it is the Duty of the Church to caft him out from among them ; he is unclean. 2. For ¡andalous Prafíices in a Man's Life and Converfation. The Rule is plain, z Theft: 3, 6. Withdraw your felves from every Brother that walketh diforderly : So in the Cafe of the lnceftuous Corinthian, Cor. 5. 13. put away from among your (elves that Wicked Petton. So Qq Mar.
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