A brief instruction in the worship of God, and discipline of the churches of…

(3.) To preserve his person from dishonour and disreputation, and thereby to keep up his usefulness in the Church. To this end hath our Lord appointed the discharge of this duty in private, that the failings of men may not be unnecessarily divulged, and themselves thereby exposed unto temptation.

(4.) To preserve the Church from that scandal that might befall it, by the hasty opening of all the real or supposed failings of its members. And

(4.) To preserve the Church from that scandal that might befall it, by the hasty opening of all the reall or supposed faylings of its members. And

(5.) To prevent its trouble in the public hearing of things that may be otherwise healed and removed.

(5.) To prevent its trouble in the publick hearing of things that may be otherwise healed and removed.

Eighthly, In case the persons offending, be not humbled nor reformed, nor do give satisfaction unto them by whom they are admonished, then hath our Lord ordained a second degree of this private exercise of discipline; that the persons who being offended, have discharged the foregoing duty themselves according unto rule, shall take unto them others, two or three, as the occasion may seem to require, to join with them in the same work and duty, to be performed in the same manner for the same ends, with that before described, Matth. 18, 15, 16, 17. And it is the duty of these persons so called in for assistance;

Eighthly, In case the persons offending, be not humbled nor reformed, nor do give satisfaction unto them by whom they are admonished, then hath our Lord ordained a second degree of this private exercise of discipline; that the persons who being offended, have discharged the foregoing duty themselves according unto rule, shall take unto them others, two or three, as the occasion may seem to require, to joyn with them in the same work and duty, to be performed in the same manner for the same ends, with that before described, Matth. 18, 15, 16, 17. And it is the duty of these persons so called in for assistance;

First, To judge of the crime, fault, or offence reported to them; and not to proceed unless they find it to consist in something expressly contrary to the rule of the Gospel, and attested in such manner, and with such evidence, as their mutual love doth require in them, with ⟨p. 199⟩respect unto their Brethren. And they are to judge of the testimony that is given concerning the truth of the offence communicated unto them, that they may not seem either lightly to take up a report against their Brother, or to discredit the testimony of others.

First, To judge of the crime, fault, or offence reported to them; and not to proceed unless they find it to consist in something expresly contrary to the rule of the Gospel, and attested in such manner, and with such evidence, as their mutual love doth require in them, with ⟨p. 199⟩respect unto their Brethren. And they are to judge of the testimony that is given concerning the truth of the offence communicated unto them, that they may not seem either lightly to take up a report against their Brother, or to discredit the testimony of others.

Secondly, In case they find the offence pretended not to be a real offence indeed contrary to the rule of the Gospel, or that it is not aright grounded, as to the evidence of it, but taken up upon prejudice, or an over-easy credulity, contrary to the law of that love which is required amongst Church-members, described 1 Cor. 13. and commanded as the great means of the edification of the Church and preservation of its union, then to convince the brother offended of his mistake, and with him to satisfy the person pretended to be the offender, that no breach or schism may happen among the members of the same body.

Secondly, In case they find the offence pretended not to be a reall offence indeed contrary to the rule of the Gospel, or that it is not aright grounded, as to the evidence of it, but taken up upon prejudice, or an over-easie credulity, contrary to the law of that love which is required amongst Church-members, described 1 Cor. 13. and commanded as the great means of the edification of the Church and preservation of its union, then to convince the brother offended of his mistake, and with him to satisfie the person pretended to be the offender, that no breach or schism may happen among the members of the same body.

Thirdly, Being satisfied of the crime and testimony, they are to associate themselves with the offended Brother in the same work and duty, that he himself ⟨p. 200⟩had before discharged towards the offender.

Ninthly, Because there is no determination how often these private admonitions are to be used in case of offence, it is evident from the nature of the thing it self, that they are to be reiterated; first the one, and then the other, whilst there is any ground of hope, that the ends of them may be obtained through the blessing of Christ, the Brother gained, and the offence taken away. Neither of these then is to be deserted, or laid aside, on the first, or second attempt, as though it were performed only to make way for somewhat farther; but it is to be waited on with prayer and patience, as an ordinance of Christ appointed for attaining the end aimed at.

Ninthly, Because there is no determination how often these private admonitions are to be used in case of offence, it is evident from the nature of the thing it self, that they are to be reiterated; first the one, and then the other, whilest there is any ground of hope, that the ends of them may be obtained through the blessing of Christ, the Brother gained, and the offence taken away. Neither of these then is to be deserted, or laid aside, on the first, or second attempt, as though it were performed only to make way for somewhat farther; but it is to be waited on with prayer and patience, as an ordinance of Christ appointed for attaining the end aimed at.

Tenthly, In case there be not the success aimed at obtained in these several degrees of private admonition, it is then the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, that the matter be reported unto the Church, that the offender may be publicly admonished thereby, and brought to repentance; wherein is to be observed,

Tenthly, In case there be not the success aimed at obtained in these several degrees of private admonition, it is then the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, that the matter be reported unto the Church, that the offender may be publickly admonished thereby, and brought to repentance; wherein is to be observed,

First, That the persons who have endeavoured in vain to reclaim their offending Brother by private admonition, are to acquaint the Elders of the Church with the case and crime: as also what they have done according to rule, for the rectifying of it; who upon that information, are obliged to communicate the knowledge of the whole matter to the Church. This is to be done by the Elders, as to whom the preservation of order in the Church, and the rule of its proceeding do belong, as we have showed before.

First, That the persons who have endeavoured in vain to reclaim their offending Brother by private admonition, are to acquaint the Elders of the Church with the case and crime: as also what they have done according to rule, for the rectifying of it; who upon that information, are obliged to communicate the knowledge of the whole matter to the Church. This is to be done by the Elders, as to whom the preservation of order in the Church, and the rule of its proceeding do belong, as we have shewed before.

Secondly, The report made to the Church by the Elders is to be, (1.) Of the crime, guilt, or offence (2.) Of the Testimony given unto the truth of it (3.) Of the means used to bring the offender to acknowledgement and repentance (4.) Of his deportment under the private previous admonitions either as to his rejecting of them, or as to any satisfaction tendered; all in order, love, meekness, and tenderness.

Secondly, The report made to the Church by the Elders is to be, (1.) Of the crime, guilt, or offence (2.) Of the Testimony given unto the truth of it (3.) Of the means used to bring the offender to acknowledgement and repentance (4.) Of his deportment under the private previous admonitions either as to his rejecting of them, or as to any satisfaction tendred; all in order, love, meekness, and tenderness.

Thirdly, Things being proposed unto the Church, and the offender heard upon the whole of the offence, and former ⟨p. 202⟩proceeding, the whole Church, or multitude of the Brethren, are with the Elders to consider the nature of the offence, with the condition and temptations of the offenders, with such a spirit of meekness as our Lord Jesus Christ in his own person set them an example of, in his dealing with sinners, and which is required in them as his Disciples, Gal. 6.1, 2. 2 Cor. 2.8.

Fourthly, The Elders and Brethren are to judge of the offence, and the carriage of the offender according to rule, and if the offence be evident, and persisted in, then

Fifthly, The offender is to be publicly admonished by the Elders, with the consent and concurrence of the Church, 1 Thes. 5.14. 1 Tim. 5.20. Matth. 18.16, 17. And this admonition consists of Five parts;

Fifthly, The offender is to be publickly admonished by the Elders, with the consent and concurrence of the Church, 1 Thes. 5.14. 1 Tim. 5.20. Matth. 18.16, 17. And this admonition consists of Five parts;

(1.) A declaration of the crime or offence, as it is evidenced unto the Church.