SECTION U. 13 comet saints*. _ Seehis advice to the Corinthians; "1 Cor. v. 4. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, deliver sucha wickedman to Satan ; verse 13. Put away from among yourselves that wicked person. And in 2 Cor. 6. this is called a punishment inflicted by many. And verses7, 8, 10. the church was taught and required to forgive him upon his evident repentance, to confirm their love towards him, to the fellowship of the church. It is granted indeed, when proper officers are chosen and fixed among them, it is by their ministra- tions, by their advice and direction, christian churches should usually exercise this discipline ; and so the orders of Christ are directed to the angels of the churches. Rev. chapters ii. and iii. But the whole work of reformation and discipline there required, is such as eminently concerns the churchesor people themselves, and not the pastors only. - It is also granted, that many times churches do commit the whole care of this matter into the hand of their ministers, as being usually fittest to judgeof the professionmade ; but itought never to be so entirely given into their bands, as to renounce the people's right of judging in these affairs. Diotrephes, who loved to have the pre eminence among them, assumed to himself the right of receiving and casting out members from the church ; but he was severely reproved for his pride and usurpation, when he forbid his fellow-christians to receive brethren who werewor- thy ; 3 John 0, 10. Ministers may happen to prove so injudici- ous, or so negligent of enquiry into the profession and qualifica- tions of persons to be admitted, so subject to prejudices, or so engaged in a party-quarrel, as to fill the church with such mem- bers as may be very contrary to the sentiments of the Majority of the church ; and if the people renounce their own right in this affair, they may thank themselves for suchunhappy consequences, I would add also, that if people entirely give up the right of admission and exclusion to the minister alone, they can never cast the minister himself out, if he be never so impious and immoral. Having found the constitution of a christian church to be so conformable to the dictates of right reason let us con- sider what are the acts of worshipwhich are to be paid to God in public, and in what manner must they be performed; andwe shall find the- light of reason and the New Testament happily agreeing here also. VI. The several acts of worship which the light of nature directs us to pay to the great God, are such as these : To adore him with all humility, on the account of his glorious perfections, * It is granted this text refers to Phebe, as a traveller at Rome, and desiring to hold occasional communion with the Christian church there ç but the reason of things is the same, or stronger, with regard to receiving persons into a 8xrd and constant communion all any church; 'there must be still a mutual agreement.
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