The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

4. THERE is such an Efficacy assigned unto Excommunication in binding the Consciences of Men, in retaining their Sins, in the Destruction or Mortification of the Flesh, in the Healing and Recovery of Sinners; as nothing but the Authority of a Divine Institution can give unto it. By virtue of natural Light and mutual Consent, Men may free themselves from the Company and Society of those who will not walk with them according to Rules of Communion agreed upon among them; but they cannot reach the Minds and Consciences of others with any of these Effects.

5. THAT Excommunication is an express Ordinance of our Lord Jesus Christ in his Churches is fully declared in the Scripture. For, (1.) The power of it is contained in the Authority given by Christ unto the Church, under the Name of the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. For the Power expressed therein is not merely Doctrinal and Declarative as is the preaching of the Gospel, the consequent whereof upon the Faith or Unbelief of them that hear it, is the Remitting or Retaining of their Sin in Heaven and Earth; but it is Disciplinary also, ⟨p. 120⟩as it is appropriated unto the House whose Keys are committed unto the Stewards of it. And seeing the design of Christ was to have his Church Holy, Unblamable and without offence in the World, that therein he might make a Representation of his own Holiness, and the Holiness of his Rule; and whereas those of whom it is constituted, are liable and subject unto Sins scandalous and offensive, reflecting dishonour on himself and the Church, in being the occasion of sinning unto others; that design would not have been accomplished, had he not given this Authority unto his Church to cast out and separate from it self all that do by their Sins so give offence. And the neglect of the exercise of this Authority in a due manner, was the principal means whereby the Glory, Honour, and usefulness of the Churches in the World, were at length utterly lost. (2.) It hath a direct Institution, Matth. 18.15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20. If thy Brother shall Trespass, &c. tell it unto the Church; but if he neglect to hear the Church, let him be unto thee as an Heathen Man and a Publican. Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall bind on Earth shall be bound in Heaven, and whatsoever ye shall loose on Earth, shall be loosed in Heaven, &c. After all the Learned and Unlearned Contests that have been about this place, the sense of it is plain and obvious, unto such as whose Minds are not clouded with prejudices about such Churches and such Excommunications as are utterly foreign unto the Scripture. But that by Trespasses in this place, Sins against God giving scandal or offence, are intended, hath been proved before; as also, that by a Church, a particular Christian Congregation is intended. This Church hath the cognizance of the scandalous offences of its Members committed unto it, when brought before it in the due Order described.