The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

IT is usually replied hereunto, that this was an extraordinary act of Apostolical Power, and so not to be drawn by us into Example. For he himself both determines the case, and asserteth his presence in Spirit, that is by his Authority to be necessary unto what was done. Besides, it was a delivery of the Man to Satan, that is, into his power to be afflicted and cruciated by him, to be terrified in his Mind, and punished in his Body to the destruction of the Flesh, that is unto Death. Such was the Delivery of a Man to Satan by the Apostle mentioned here, and 1 Tim. 1.9, 20. in the judgment of many of the Ancients. But there is no such Power in any Church at present to deliver an offender unto Satan, nor any appearing effects of such a pretence. Wherefore, ⟨p. 204⟩this is a matter which belongs not unto Churches at present.

I ANSWER, (1.) What the Apostles did in any Church, whether present or absent, by their own Authority, did not prejudice the Right of the Churches themselves, nor their Power acted in Subordination unto them and their guidance. So it is evident in this place, that notwithstanding the exerting of any Apostolical Power intimated, the Church it self is charged with its Duty, and directed to exercise its Authority in the Rejection of the Offender. (2.) There is nothing extraordinary in the case. (1.) It is not so that a Member of a Church should fall into a scandalous Sin, unto the dishonour of Christ and the Church, giving offence unto Persons of all sorts. (2.) It is an ordinary Rule, founded in the Light of Nature, confirmed here and elsewhere by express Divine Commands, that such an one be rejected from the Society and Communion of the Church, until he give satisfaction by Repentance and Reformation. (3.) It is that without which the Church cannot be preserved in its purity, nor its being be continued, as both Reason and Experience do manifest. (4.) The judgment both of the Fact and Right was left unto the Church it self, whence it was afterwards highly commended by the Apostle for the diligent discharge of its Duty herein,