298 The Gofpelof theLeprofy. Mat. 18. 17. So ofold, z Chron. 23. 19. Jehoiada fit Porters at the Gates of the Houfe of the Lord, that none whiLb was unclean many thing fhould enter in This includes Moral as well as Ceremonial Unclean- nefs. Queft. 3. The Ends of this Ordinance. Aníw. They are many : The principal are thefe three. T . To vindicate the Name ofGod from the difhonour done to it by wick- ed Men creeping in among his People. This vindicates the Holinefs of God, that though he loves Sinners, yet he Thews his Lore in fan&i- fying and turning them from their Sins, not in fheltering and encou- raging them in their Wickednefs. This end is intimated in i Cor. 5. T. It is commonly reported that there is Fornication prong you, and that fuch Fornication as is not fo much as named among the Gentiles, q. d. The Name of God fufFers by it : The Gentiles take Offence againft Religi- on becaufe of this ; they are ready to fay as Ezek. 36. zo. thefe are the Lord's People. And fo the holy Name of God is profaned by fuch Sinners, as the Prophet there fpeaks. So again, 2 Cor. 7. ti what clearing ofyour felves ? In clearing themfelves they clear the Name of God. I Mention this firft, becaufe this is the great and chief End of this Ordinance. And it never fails of attaining this End, though it have, little Succefs in other Refpe&s : Though the Sinner be never fo ob- ftinate, yet however the Name of God is cleared. 2. For the Church's Good, to take away infeaious Perfcns from a- mongft them, and fo to preferve and warn the refs ;. to keep the Church pure and free from Infe&ion. r Cor, 5. 6. A little Leaven lea - veneth the whole Lump. One Root of Bitternefs may defile many, Heb. 12, 15. And to warn others, that others may fear, r Tim. 5.20. That all lfrael may hear and fear, and do no more prefumptuoufly, Deut. 17. 13. 3. For the good of the Sinner himf-lf, to bring him to repentance. For the Deflrufíion ofthe Flefh, r Cor. 5. 5. the inceftuous Corinthian muff be delivered unto Satan, for the Defirullion of the Flcfh. And God did fo biefs this Ordinance to him, that he was humbled, and brought to tdeep and thorough Repentance thereby. I confefs this End is not al- ways attained: But yet the Ordinance is not in vain. For this is not the only End of it, nor yet the chief End. For God's Glory is the chief End, the vindicating his great Name, the manifefting his Juftice and Holinefs, and hatred of Sin ; and this end is attained, though the Sinner is not converted by it. Quell-, A. What is the manner ofproceeding in Excommunication ? 1nf iw,
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=