143 / 652
SEEM.
IX.]
WITH
ITS
DUTIES.
AND
ADVANTAGES.
133
should receive such
as
desire
to
join
with them
upon
these principles.
4.
"
In
order
to
keep the church pure
from sin
and
scandal,
they
should
separate
themselves from those
that
walk
disorderly, who
are
guilty
of
gross
and
known
sins;"
Thess. iii.
6.
They
should
reprove
them with
just
severity, as
the
offence deserves
;
and
if
the crime
be
such
as
makes void
their
profession, they should
be
cast
out
of
the church, or excommunicated,
as
the
Corinthian
offender, who
committed incest,
was
cast out
by his
bre-
thren,
when the
church
was
gathered together
at
the
order of the
apostle
;
1
Cor.
v. 4, 5,
7,
11,
13.
"
They
must
put
away wicked
persons
from
among them," lest
they
be
charged with
encouraging or indulging iniquity.
When there are
settled
elders or ministers
among them,
these
ought
to
go
before the church,
in
a
way
of
advice
and direction according
to
the
will
of
Christ,
and
by
their
lips
persons
should
be
received
into,
or cast out
of
the
congregation
:
This
is
called the
"
discipline
of
the
church."
Yet
it
is
still to be
deemed
an
act
of
the
church
;
for
Paul's
epistles, which
are written
to
the
churches require
them to receive
worthy members,
and
they are
required
to
cast
out
those who are proved
to
be
unworthy
:
Therefore
this .sentence inflicted
on the
Co-
rinthian sinner
is
called
"
the
punishment
that
was
in-
flicted
by
many
;" 2
Cor.
ii.
6.
and
in
the
7.
and
8..
verses,
the
church
is
commanded to
forgive
and receive
him
again
upon
his
deep
repentance.
5.
"
It
is
necessary
that
officers
be chosen
by
the
church, to
fulfil
several
services
in it,
and
for it."
What
person
will
take upon
him
constantly
to
speak
in
prayer,
and
be as
the mouth
of
the people
to
God
?
Who
shall
preach,
and be
as the
mouth
of
God
to
the people?
Who
shall
baptize and
administer
the
Lord's-
supper?
Who
shall take
care
of
a
place for
worship,
or
provide
bread and
wine
for the Lord's table
?
Who
shall
collect
and
distribute the
money
of
the church
to
the
minister
or the poor,
sif
no
particular
persons are
appointed
for
these purposes
?
But
how
many sorts
of
officers
belong
to a
christian church, and what
their distinct
services
are,
shall
be
shewn
under
the
next general
head.
6.
"
It
is
the
duty
of
those whose
circumstances wilt
H.
3