The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

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, 2 Cor. 2. In brief, it is such a Divine Order that is here prescribed, as without the observance whereof, no Church can long subsist. (5.) There is no difficulty in the other part of the Objection, about the Delivery unto Satan. For, (1.) It cannot be proved, that hereon the Offender was delivered so into the power of Satan to be cruciated, agitated, and at length killed, as some imagine; nor can any instance of any such thing, be given in the Scripture or Antiquity; though there be many of them, who upon their rejection out of the Church, were enraged unto an opposition against it, as it was with Simon Magus, Marcian, and others. (2.) Yea, it is evident that there was no such thing included in their delivery unto Satan, as is pretended. For the design and end of it was the Mans Humiliation, Recovery and Salvation, as is expressly ⟨p. 205⟩affirmed in the Text; and this effect is actually had, for the Man was healed and restored.

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,