Confirmation and restoration the necessary means of reformation, and reconciliation; for the healing of…Confirmation and restauration the necessary means of reformation, and reconciliation; for the healing of…

Now 1. No man can perform all this duty, to a man that he knoweth not to be thus related to him: If he know not that he owes him this duty, any more then to any one else in the world, how shall he pay it him? To say that we are bound to take all men, that converse with us, to be such; is to say, that Christians must renounce their wits, and turn the Church into Bedlam.

Now 1. No man can perform all this duty, to a man that he knoweth not to be thus related to him: If he know not that he owes him this duty, any more then to any one else in the world, how shall he pay it him? To say that we are bound to take all men, that converse with us, to be such; is to say, that Christians must renounce their witts, and turn the Church into Bedlam.

2. And as this proves, that the Church-members must be made known to one another, so it proves that they must have a Judgment of Discretion in receiving them: (though the Pastors have the Judgment of Governing Direction.) For 1. God hath not left the Pastors at liberty, to take in whom they Please; but hath described what Profession they shall accept, or what persons they shall admit, and whom they shall reject. If therefore the Pastors go against the Word of God, then this following is the peoples duty: 1. If they know not the error, or the case be doubtful, they are to rest in Obedience to their Pastors, (for ⟨p. 139⟩that's undoubtedly their duty) the work being the Pastors and not theirs. 2. But if the case be plainly contrary to the Scripture, (as if he would admit an Impenitent Drunkard, Fornicator, &c.) they must disown his sin, that it lie not upon them, and refuse private familiarity with that person; but not withdraw from public Ordinances, because of his presence. For when they have done their duty, and rid themselves of the guilt by a dissent, the person is to them as Morally absent, though Locally and Physically present; and the Ordinance is not defiled to them by his Corporal presence; but the guilt will lie on the Rulers of the Church: otherwise, all Churches should be broken in pieces, if the people must separate, when every one that they are confident is unworthy is Introduced: and the Governed will become the Governors. 3. But if it be not a few that the Pastors thus introduce against the certain Word of God; but so many and such as will corrupt the substance of the Church,