The true and only way of concord of all the Christian churches the desirableness…

§. 6. 5. No one Act of sin sufficiently repented of, is matter for a just excommunication, be the sin never so great; For the penitent are pardoned: If the Repentance be before the excommunication, it preventeth it: For the first part of discipline is to persuade the sinner to repentance, as being intended for his recovery and salvation: and excommunication is never just but when the sinner will not repent. As under the Law of Innocency death was the wages of any sin, but under the Gospel faith and repentance are the remedying conditions; so accordingly though Adam was cast out of Paradise for the first sin, none are to be cast out of the Church for any sin merely as a sin, but as not repented of by a believer. I say not that this is the Magistrates rule in punishing the body, but the Pastors in excommunicating.

§. 6. 5. No one Act of sin sufficiently repented of, is matter for a just excommunication, be the sin never so great; For the penitent are pardoned: If the Repentance be before the excommunication, it preventeth it: For the first part of discipline is to perswade the sinner to repentance, as being intended for his recovery and salvation: and excommunication is never just but when the sinner will not repent. As under the Law of Innocency death was the wages of any sin, but under the Gospel faith and repentance are the remedying conditions; so accordingly though Adam was cast out of Paradise for the first sin, none are to be cast out of the Church for any sin meerly as a sin, but as not repented of by a believer. I say not that this is the Magistrates rule in punishing the body, but the Pastors in excommunicating.

§. 7. 6. Yea the time and means of admonition for bringing the sinner to repentance must be competent, and such as are suitable to a rational hope of his repenting, and not as some Lay Chancellors do, if a few rough words make them not repent, presently excommunicate him; nor pro forma to say thrice I admonish you, I admonish you, I admonish you] ⟨p. 180⟩and then [I excommunicate you.] It is not a jesting matter, nor to be past as hastily as angry word. The sinner must be gravely and seriously told of the evil of his sin, and if it be something which he taketh for no sin, he must be convinced by Scripture proof, and must be heard speak for himself with patience; and if he hear not a more private admonition, he must be reproved before the Church, that many may consent for the more authoritative conviction, and for the warning of others, and that the Church may thereby clear themselves as not consenting to the sin,