ßi4) 4 Another Rule is given in cafe of private Injuries, that are only fuch, and that is, that we immediately forgive them. 5. It doth not feem a DireEtìon fuitedunto that intenfe Love, . which the Lord Chrift requireth in all his Difciples one to- wards another, nor the nature of that Love in its Exercife, as it is defcribed, I Cor. 13. that for aprivate Injury done unto any man, without refpe& unto finagainft God therein,which is the fcandal, he fhould follow his Brother fo far as to have him calf ®ut ofthe Communion ofall Churches and Believers, whichyet in cafe ofSinunrepented of, is a neceffaryDuty. idly. The Rule here prefcribed, and the DireEtion given, were fo prefcribedand given for the ufe of all the Difciples of Chrift in all Ages, and are not tobe confined unto any prefent cafe, or the prefent feafon. For (i.) There was nofuch cafe at prefent, no mutual offence among any of his Difciples, that fhould require this Determination ofit, only refpeét is had un- to what might afterwards fall out in the Church. (2.) There was no needof any fuch Direction at that time, becaufe Chrift himfelf was then conftantly prefent with them, in whom all Church Power did refide both eminently and formally. Ac- cordingly, when any of them did offend unto fcandal, lie did himfelf rebuke them ; Matth. 1 6 . 2. 2.,z 3 . And when any thingof mutual Offence fell out among them , he inftru&ted them, and directed them into the way of Love, doing what any Church could do, and much more alfo,Mat.zo z4,z5,26,z7.28., 3 )This was a cafe which our Saviour foreknew and foretold that it would fall out in the Church infuture generations evenunto the end of the world. It loth fo every day, and will do fo whilft men are in an imperfect Rate here below. Nor is there any thing wherein the Church as unto its Order, rurity and Edifi- cation, is more concerned. Nor can any of thembe preferved withouta certain Rule for the cure andhealingof offences; nor are fo, in any Church, where fuch a Rule is not,or is negie&ted. It is therefore fond to fuppofe, that our Saviour fhould pre - lcribe this Rule for thatfeafon wherein there was no need of it and
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