A53671:305
A brief instruction in the worship of God, and discipline of the churches of…
A brief instruction in the worship of God, and discipline of the churches of the New Testament, by way of question and answer with an explication and confirmation of those answers.
London : s.n., 1667
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.
Thirdly, this duty is so incumbent on every member of the Church, that in case of the neglect thereof, he both sinneth against the institution of Christ, and makes himself partaker of the sin of the party offending, and is also guilty of his danger, and ruin thereby, with all that disadvantage which will accrue to the Church, by any of the members of it continuing in sin against the rule of the Gospel. They have not only liberty thus to admonish one another, but it is their express and indispensable duty so to do. The neglect whereof is interpreted by God to be hatred of our Brother; such as wherewith the love of God is inconsistent, Levit 19.17. 1 John 4.20. Chap. 3.15.
Thirdly, this duty is so incumbent on every member of the Church, that in case of the neglect thereof, he both sinneth against the institution of Christ, and makes himself partaker of the sin of the party offending, and is also guilty of his danger, and ruine thereby, with all that disadvantage which will accrue to the Church, by any of the members of it continuing in sin against the rule of the Gospel. They have not only liberty thus to admonish one another, but it is their express and indispensible duty so to do. The neglect whereof is interpreted by God to be hatred of our Brother; such as wherewith the love of God is inconsistent, Levit 19.17. 1 John 4.20. Chap. 3.15.
Fourthly, although this duty be personally incumbent on every individual member of the Church, yet this hinders not but if the sin of an offender ⟨p. 195⟩be known to more than one at the same time, and they jointly take offence thereat, they may together in the first instance admonish him, which yet still is but the first, and private admonition; which is otherwise, when others are called into assistance, who are not themselves acquainted with the offence but only by information, and join in it, not upon the account of their own being offended, but of being desired according unto rule to give assistance to them that are so.