The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

Wherefore, this Delivery unto Satan, is an Ordinance of Christ for the exciting of Saving Grace in the Souls of Men, adapted unto the case of falling by scandalous Sins, peculiarly effectual above any other Gospel Ordinance. Now this cannot be such a Delivery unto Satan, as that pretended, which can have no other end but Destruction and Death. (3.) This Delivery unto Satan is no more but the casting of a Man out of the visible Kingdom of Christ, so giving him up as unto his outward condition into the state of Heathens and Publicans which belonged unto the Kingdom of Satan. For he, who by the Authority of Christ himself, according unto his Law and Institution, is not only debarred from a participation of all the privileges of the Gospel, but also visibly and regularly devested of all present Right to them and Interest in them, he belongs unto the visible Kingdom of Satan. The gathering of Men by Conversion into the Church, is the turning of them from the Power of Satan unto God, Act. 26.18. a delivery from the Power of Darkness, that is, the Kingdom of Satan, and a translation unto the Kingdom of Christ, Col. 1.13. Wherefore, after a Man hath by Faith, and his conjunction unto a visible Church, been translated into the Kingdom of Christ, his just rejection out of it, is the Redelivery of him into the visible Kingdom of Satan, which is all that is here intended. And this is an act suited unto the end whereunto it is designed. For a Man hereby is not taken out of his own Power and the conduct of his own Mind, not acted or agitated by the Devil, but is left unto the sedate consideration of his present state and condition. And this, if there be any spark of ingenuous Grace left in him, will be effectually operative, by shame, grief and fear, unto his Humiliation, especially understanding that the design of Christ and his Church herein, is only his Repentance and Restoration.

Wherefore, this Delivery unto Satan, is an Ordinance of Christ for the exciting of Saving Grace in the Souls of Men, adapted unto the case of falling by scandalous Sins, peculiarly effectual above any other Gospel Ordinance. Now this cannot be such a Delivery unto Satan, as that pretended, which can have no other end but Destruction and Death. (3.) This Delivery unto Satan is no more but the casting of a Man out of the visible Kingdom of Christ, so giving him up as unto his outward condition into the state of Heathens and Publicans which belonged unto the Kingdom of Satan. For he, who by the Authority of Christ himself, according unto his Law and Institution, is not only debarred from a participation of all the privileges of the Gospel, but also visibly and regularly devested of all present Right to them and Interest in them, he belongs unto the visible Kingdom of Satan. The gathering of Men by Conversion into the Church, is the turning of them from the Power of Satan unto God,