The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

The Supreme efficient cause of it, is the Power or Authority of the Lord Jesus Christ instituting this Ordinance in his Church, giving Right and Power unto it for its administration, In the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with his Power. (2.) The declarative cause of the Equity of this Sentence, which was the Spirit of the Apostle, or the Authoritative Declaration of his judgment in the case, with my Spirit. (3.) The Instrumental Ministerial ⟨p. 203⟩cause of it, which is the Church; do it in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, Ver. 4. and thereby purge out the old Leaven, that you may be a new Lump, Ver. 7. whence the punishment of this Sentence is said to be inflicted by many, 2 Cor. 2.6. that is, all those who on his Repentance were obliged to forgive and comfort him, that is the whole Church, Ver. 7. (5.) The nature of the Sentence is the delivering of such an one to Satan for the destruction of the Flesh, that the Spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus, Ver. 5. Not the destruction of his Body by Death, but the through mortification of the Flesh, whereby he was shortly afterwards recovered and restored into his former condition. The whole of what we plead for, is here exemplified; as, (1.) The cause of Excommunication, which is a scandalous Sin unrepented of. (2.) The preparation for its execution, which is the Churches sense of the Sin and Scandal, with Humiliation for it. (3.) The warranty of it, which is the Institution of Christ, wherein his Authority is engaged. (4.) The manner and form of it, by an Act of Authority with the consent of the whole Church. (5.) The effect of it in a total separation from the Privileges of the Church. (6.) The end of it. (1.) With respect unto the Church, its purging and vindication. (2.) With respect unto the Person Excommunicated; his Repentance, Reformation and Salvation.

The Supream efficient cause of it, is the Power or Authority of the Lord Jesus Christ instituting this Ordinance in his Church, giving Right and Power unto it for its administration, In the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with his Power. (2.) The declarative cause of the Equity of this Sentence, which was the Spirit of the Apostle, or the Authoritative Declaration of his judgment in the case, with my Spirit. (3.) The Instrumental Ministerial ⟨p. 203⟩