The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

2. THESE Church-Members that may be justly Excommunicated, are of Two sorts.

1. SUCH as continue obstinate in the practice of any scandalous Sin, after private and public admonition. The process from the first Offence in Admonition, is so stated in ordinary cases, Matth. 18. that there is no need farther to declare it. The Time that is to be allotted unto the several Degrees of it, shall be spoken unto afterwards. And unto a right judgment of obstinacy in any scandalous Sin, it is required, (1.) That the Sin considered in it self be such, as is owned to be such, by all, without doubting, dispute or hesitation. It must be some Sin that is judged and condemned in the Light of Nature, or in the express Testimony of Scripture; yea, such as the Holy Ghost witnesseth, that continued in without Repentance, it is inconsistent with Salvation. If the thing it self, to be Animadverted ⟨p. 212⟩on, be dubious or disputable whether it be a Sin or no, especially such a Sin, either from the Nature of the Fact, or the Qualifications of the Person offending, or from other Circumstances, so as that the guilty Person is not self-condemned, nor are others fully satisfied in their Minds about the nature of it, there is no room for Excommunication in such cases. And if it be once allowed to be applied towards any Sins, but such as are evident to be so (as the Apostle says, the Works of the Flesh are manifest) in the Light of Nature, and Express Testimony of Scripture, not only will the Administration of it be made difficult, a matter of dispute, unfit for the Determination of the Body of the Church, but it will leave it unto the wills of Men to prostitute unto litigious brawls, quarrels and differences, wherein Interest and Partiality may take place; which is to profane this Divine Institution. But confine it as it ought to be, unto such Sins as are condemned in the Light of Nature, or by Express Testimony of Scripture, as inconsistent with Salvation by Jesus Christ, if persisted in, and all things that belong unto the Administration of it, will be plain and easy.