Soo The Gofpel of the Leprofÿ. is meant by the Word E it ? ] It muff needs relate to the privateOf- fence before- mentioned This Text therefore fpeaks not of publick Scandals; but of fuch Offences as are private, till the Offender's lirt- penitency neceflîtate the making of them Publick. The fame Rule is given in cafe of Corrupt Opinions. 'Titus 3.1o. There mutt be a firft and a fecond Admonition beforeRejec9ion. The Reafon is, becaufe it may be hoped in thefe Cafes, that the Man_'a. Sin may have been for w,,ant of ConviEfion, and therefore not of Pre- fumption ; unlefs he refff Light, when Means and Matter of Convi- &ion is held forth.. And in private Offences the matter may poffibly be healed privately. Rule 2. In other Cafes there is no need of filch delatory Proceeding. If it be evident aid apparent, that the Sinner doth not Sin for want of Light, but prefismptuorifly againft Light. And if the Thing be already Publick, fo that it cannot be hid nor healed privately, as in the Cafe of Publick Scandals. When the Of- fence is fo heinioau, that it cries to Heaven for Vengeance, wafletb the Confcience, and is generally Scandalous ; the Cen- see Scobel's Couea of lures of the Church may proceed with more Expe- Aas andordinances,àn. dition. Thus ordained that great Reforming Par- 48. cap.rr&pag.trg. liament by the Advice of that Affembly ofDivine.; that fate at Wejiminfter upon their Call. ThaReafons to prove this, viz. that the Proceedings with Offen- ders, ought to bemore fpeedy and fummary in Cafes of atrocious Wick- ednefs, are fuch as thefe. Reaf t. From Levit. 13. The Prieff is direc`ied to fufpend or Phut him up feven Days, if the Cafe be doubtful. But if it be evident that the Man is a Leper, ( and prefumptuous Sinners may well be account- ed Lepers) the Rule is to !hut him out of the Camp, not to fufpend him feven Days, but Phut him out immediately. See Verf. 3. and 46. Reaf. 2. From the Cafe of the I::ceffuous Perfon in t Cora 5. The Apoffle doth not warn them to take heed of Excommunicating him, and to fufpend him firff, and then to wait meekly and mercifully for him, till he Repent. No, but he declares he had already determined the Café, that he lhould be delivered to Satan, Verf 3. 4. And indeed there is a general Silence throughout the Scripturecon- cerning fuch Gradations and Delays incaïe of publick flagrant Scan- dals. There is noCaution, no Direaion given for filch previous Ad- monitions to be given to fuch Perlons, in order to the preventing of Excommunication% Rea[ 3,
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=