The glory of a true church, and its discipline displayed wherein a true gospel-church…The glory of a true church, and its discipline display'd wherein a true gospel-church…

Briefly to each of these.

1. Suspension is to be when'• Member falls under Sin, and th• Church wants time fully to hea• the matter, and so can't withdraw from him, or cast him out.

2. If any Member walks disorderly, tho not guilty of gross scandalous Sins, he or she, as soon as it is taken notice of, ought to be admonished, and endeavours to be used to bring him to Repentance:¹ For we hear that there are some which walk disorderly, not working at all, but are busy-bodies. Such as meddle with Matters that concern them not, it may be (instead of following their Trade and Business) they go about from one Member's House to another, telling or carrying of Tales and Stories of this Brother, or of that Brother or Sister, which perhaps may be true, or perhaps false, and ⟨p. 23⟩may be too to the Reproach or Scandal of some Member or Members, which, if so, it is back-biting; and that is so notorious a Crime, that without Repentance they shall not ascend God's holy Hill.² Back-biting is a diminishing our Neighbours, or Brother's good Name, either by denying him his due Praise, or by saying any thing to his Charge falsely or irregularly, or without sufficient cause or evidence, Thus our Annotators. But this of disorderly walking does not amount to such a Crime, but Evils not so notorious;³