1. As touching private offences, the rule Matt 18 is to be observed, only
this by the way must be permitted, viz. if but one brother or two have the
knowledge of some members crime, yet if it be publically known to the world,
and the name of God reproached, it being an immoral act, the private brother
is not to proceed with such an offender, according to Matt 18. but forthwith
to bring it to the church, that the public scandal may be taken off.
2. But if it be a private offence or injury done to a brother or sister
in particular, and not being a notorious scandalous sin, the brother must
not mention it to one soul, either within, or without the church, until
he hath proceeded according to the rule.
(1.) He must tell his brother his fault. Moreover, if thy brother shall
trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault betwixt thee and him alone;
if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. Thou must labor in
love and all affections to convince him of his fault; but if he will not
hear thee,
(2.) Thou must take one or two more, but before see they are discreet persons,
and such that are most likely to gain upon him; and they with thee are to
labour with all wisdom to bring him to the sense of his fault: 'tis not
just to speak to him, as if that were enough; no, no, but to take all due
pains, and to strive to convince him, that so the matter may be issued,
and the church not troubled with it: But if he will not hear thee, take
one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word
may be established.
(3.) But if he will not hear them after all due means and admonitions used,
then it must be brought to the church; and if he will not hear the church,
he must be cast out: The elder is to put the question, whether the offending
brother be in their judgments incorrigible, and refuseth to hear the church;
which passing in the affirmative by the vote of the congregation, or the
majority of the brethren by the lifting up of their hands, or by their silence;
the pastor after calling upon God, and opening the nature of the offense,
and the justness of their proceedings, in the name and by the authority
of Christ, pronounces the sentence of excommunication to this effect. That
A.B. being guilty of great iniquity, and not manifesting unfeigned repentance,
but refusing to hear the church, I do in the name, and by the authority
of Christ committed unto me as a pastor of this his church, pronounce and
declare that he is to be, and is hereby excommunicated, excluded or cast
out of the congregation, and no longer to be owned a brother, or a member
of this church; and this for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit
may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. And this we believe is the substance
of that which the apostle calls a delivering up to Satan, he being cast
into the world, which is called the kingdom of Satan, where he rules and
reigns. "The delivery unto Satan (saith Dr. Chauncy) signifies only
the solemn exclusion of a person from the communion of the church, the visible
Kingdom of Christ, and disenfranchising him, or divesting him of all visible
rights to church privileges, casting him into the kingdom of the world,
where the Prince of Darkness rules in the children of disobedience. And
this being done, he is to be esteemed to be no better than an heathen man,
or publican, or as an evil person, and not to have so much as intimate civil
communion withal."