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…

Some would have none be counted an Heretic but he who is convicted and condemned so to be in his own Conscience, mistaking Paul's Words, Knowing that he that is such, is subverted, being condemned of himself. He may be condemned of himself, tho not for his Heresy, yet for his spending his Time about Questions, and strife of Words, to the disquieting the Peace of the Church; or tho not condemned of himself directly, yet indirectly; according ⟨p. 34⟩to the Purport of his own Notion, or what he grants about the Point in Debate, &c. Else the Apostle refers to some notable and notorious self-condemned Heretic. It is a great question, whether Hymeneus and Alexander we•• condemned in their own Consciences, about that Heresy charged upon them, and yet were delivered up to Satan. However the Rule is plain, respecting any that are subverted, and resolutely maintain any Heretical Notion, i. e. after he hath been twice (or oftener) admonished, that is, after all due means used, and pains taken with him, to convince him of his abominable Error; and yet if he remains obstinate, he must be delivered up to Satan; that is, the righteous censure of the Church must pass upon him, as in the case of other notorious Crimes. Heresy is a Work of the Flesh: and hence some conceive such ought to be punished by the Civil Magistrate.

Some would have none be counted an Heretick but he who is convicted and condemned so to be in his own Conscience, mistaking Paul's Words, Knowing that he that is such, is subverted, being condemned of himself. He may be condemned of himself, tho not for his Heresy, yet for his spending his Time about Questions, and strife of Words, to the disquieting the Peace of the Church; or tho not condemned of himself directly, yet indirectly; according ⟨p. 34⟩to the Purport of his own Notion, or what he grants about the Point in Debate, &c. Else the Apostle refers to some notable and notorious self-condemned Heretick. It is a great question, whether Hymeneus and Alexander we•• condemned in their own Consciences, about that Heresy charged upon them, and yet were delivered up to Satan. However the Rule is plain, respecting any that are subverted, and resolutely maintain any Heretical Notion, i. e. after he hath been twice (or oftner) admonished, that is, after all due means used, and pains taken with him, to convince him of his abominable Error; and yet if he remains obstinate, he must be delivered up to Satan; that is, the righteous censure of the Church must pass upon him, as in the case of other notorious Crimes. Heresy is a Work of the Flesh: and hence some conceive such ought to be punished by the Civil Magistrate.