So that I do considerately advise you (after long study of this point, and as cautelous a proceeding as most have used) for you know my former Judgement, and that I never administered the Sacrament, till within this year, and that I was then invited to it by an eminent wonder of providence) I say, I advise you to beware how you deny to men the seals, till you have tried with them this way prescribed by Christ: Christ is free in entertaining, and so must we; Christ putteth away none, but them that put away themselves; and then doth he call after them as long as there is hope of hearing, as one that is grieved at their destruction, and not ⟨p. 252⟩delighted in the death of sinners, but had rather they would return and live: And even thus must we do too. Laziness is the common cause of separation: when we should go with words of pity and love, and with tears beseech sinners to return to their duty, and show them their danger; we neglect all this, to save us the labour and the suffering that sometime follows this duty; we will plead that they are no Church-Members, and so not the Brethren that we are bound to admonish, and so lazily separate from them, and say as Cain, Am I my Brothers keeper? or as the man to Christ, who is my Neighbour? And thus when we have made his sin our own by our silence, and not reproving him then we excommunicate him for it out of our society and from the Ordinances, and so judge our selves out of our own mouths. Or we separate from him for the neglect of some duty, when we our selves have neglected both to him and others, this great and excellent duty of faithful admonition. It is more comfortable to recover one soul then to cast off many by separation. Though I know that the avoiding communion with wilful offenders, who by this due admonition will not be reclaimed, is a most necessary & useful duty too. But do not execute a man before he is judged; nor judge him before you have heard him speak, & fully proved that ⟨p. 253⟩obstinacy is added to his sin; (except it be to suspend him while he is under this legal trial,) But perhaps you will object, that we have no discipline established, & so no Authority to do thus and the means are vain which cannot attain their end. To which I answer: 1. You have divine authority: 2. And may do as much as I press without a Presbytery, First, you may admonish privately: Secondly, before witness:
So that I doe considerately advise you (after long study of this point, and as cautelous a proceeding as most have used) for you know my former Judgement, and that I never administred the Sacrament, till within this year, and that I was then invited to it by an eminent wonder of providence) I say, I advise you to beware how you deny to men the seales, till you have tried with them this way prescribed by Christ: Christ is free in entertaining, and so must wee; Christ putteth away none, but them that put away themselves; and then doth he call after them as long as there is hope of hearing, as one that is grieved at their destruction, and not ⟨p. 252⟩delighted in the death of sinners, but had rather they would returne and live: And even thus must we do too. Lazinesse is the common cause of separation: when we should go with words of pitty and love, and with teares beseech sinners to return to theit duty, and shew them their danger; we neglect all this, to save us the labour and the suffering that sometime follows this duty; wee will plead that they are no Church-Members, and so not the Brethren that we are bound to admonish, and so lazily separate from them, and say as Cain, Am I my Brothers keeper? or as the man to Christ, who is my Neighbour? And thus when we have made his sinne our owne by our silence, and not reproving him then we excommunicate him for it out of our society and from the Ordinances, and so judge our selves out of our own mouths. Or we separate from him for the neglect of some duty, when wee our selves have neglected both to him and others, this great and excellent duty of faithfull admonition. It is more comfortable to recover one soule then to cast off many by separation. Though I know that the avoiding communion with wilfull offendours, who by this due admonition will not be reclamed, is a most necessary & usefull duty too. But do not execute a man before he is judged; nor judge him before you have heard him speak, & fully proved that ⟨p. 253⟩obstinacy is added to his sinne; (except it be to suspend him while he is under this legall triall,) But perhaps you will object, that we have no discipline established, & so no Authority to do thus and the means are vain which cannot attain their end. To which I answer: 1. You have divine authority: 2. And may do as much as I presse without a Presbitery, First, you may admonish privately: Secondly, before witnesse:
