A47522:83
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…
The glory of a true church, and its discipline displayed wherein a true gospel-church is described : together with the power of the keys, and who are to be let in, and who to be shut out / by Benjamin Keach.The glory of a true church, and its discipline display'd wherein a true gospel-church is described : together with the power of the keys, and who are to be let in, and who to be shut out / by Benjamin Keach.
London : s.n., 1697
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Of Scandalous Persons guilty of gross Acts of Immorality.
IF any Member fall into any gross Acts of Sin,1 as Swearing, Lying, Drunkenness, Fornication, Covetousness, Extortion, or the like, and it is known and publicly spread abroad to the great scandal and reproach of Religion, and of the Holy Name of God, his Church, and People; the said Offender so charged, the Church must send one or two Brethren to him to come before the Congregation: if he will not come, but doth slight and contemn the Authority of the Church, that will bring farther Guilt upon him, for which Offence he incurs ⟨p. 30⟩the Censure before - mentioned But if he doth appear, his Charge is to be laid before him, and the Witnesses called; and after he ha• made his Defence, and said all he hath to say, and the Congregation finds him Guilty,2 then the same Censure is to pass upon him, to the end he may be brought to unfeigned Repentance, and the Name of God cleared; and some time must be taken to make it appear that he hath true Repentance, by the Reformation of his Life and holy walking afterwards, before he be received again, and the Censure of the Church in a solemn manner be taken off.
IF any Member fall into any gross Acts of Sin,1 as Swearing, Lying, Drunkenness, Fornication, Covetousness, Extortion, or the like, and it is known and publickly spread abroad to the great scandal and reproach of Religion, and of the Holy Name of God, his Church, and People; the said Offender so charged, the Church must send one or two Brethren to him to come before the Congregation: if he will not come, but doth slight and contemn the Authority of the Church, that will bring farther Guilt upon him, for which Offence he incurs