The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

IT will be said, that it hath another end also; namely, the preservation of the purity of the Church, and the vindication of its Honour and Reputation, wherein it suffers by the scandalous offences of any of its Members. Whereunto, I say, (1.) No Church is or can be made impure by them whom Christ hath purged; as he doth all those who are truly penitent. (2.) It is no Dishonour unto any Church to have Sinners in it, who have evidenced sincere Repentance. (3.) The present offence and scandal may be provided against by an Act of Rectoral Prudence, in causing the offending Person to abstain from the Lords Table for a Season.

V. IT is Enquired, (Fifthly) Whether such as voluntarily, causelessly and disorderly, do leave the Communion of any Church whereof they are Members, though not guilty of any scandalous immoralities, ma• and ought to be Excommunicated?

V. IT is Enquired, (Fifthly) Whether such as voluntarily, causlesly and disorderly, do leave the Communion of any Church whereof they are Members, though not guilty of any scandalous immoralities, ma• and ought to be Excommunicated?

Answ. 1. WHERE Persons are esteemed Members of Churches by external causes without their own consent, or by Parochial cohabitation, they may remove from one Church unto another by the Removal of their Habitation, according unto their own Discretion. For such cohabitation being the only formal Cause of any Relation to such a Church in particular, upon the ceasing of that cause, the Relation ceaseth of its own accord.