Again further, Not only Churches come to be defiled; but ⟨p. 374⟩secondly, particular persons and communicants come to be defiled in this if they neglect the duty that belongs unto them as Christians. That is thus: Christ requires this, If thy brother offend thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone; but if he will not bear thee, then take with thee one or two more; And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the Church. Now if thou hast done this thy duty to all scandalous persons in the Congregation, then the sin be upon the Church, thou mayest receive the Sacrament with comfort though wicked men be admitted there. So that though the communion be defiled, that is, defiled to those that are guilty, to those that have neglected their duty (wheresoever the power lies in a Church, whosoever in that Church neglects their duty of casting out those that offend, they defile the communion so far as in them lieth, and if any of you that are particular members neglect your duties, so far as in you lieth the communion is defiled by you:) but if you do your duty once, then, though wicked men may be there, you may receive the Sacrament with comfort; For though the communion may be defiled in respect of others that have neglected their duty, yet it is not defiled in respect of you that have done your duty. Now then, to conclude this with that place in Psal. 119.1. Blessed is the man that is undefiled in the way. Blessed are those men that in their way, in the course of their lives keep themselves from defilement, and especially keep themselves from defilement in the ways of Gods worship. Blessed is he whose heart is cleansed from secret filth, that by the vain carnal plots reasonings and cunning fetches of wicked men he doth not defile himself in his way.
Again further, Not only Churches come to be defiled; but ⟨p. 374⟩secondly, particular persons and communicants come to be defiled in this if they neglect the duty that belongs unto them as Christians. That is thus: Christ requires this, If thy brot•er offend thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone; but if he will not bear thee, then take with thee one or two more; And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the Church. Now if thou hast done this thy duty to all scandalous persons in the Congregation, then the sin be upon the Church, thou maist receive the Sacrament with comfort though wicked men be admitted there. So that though the communion be defiled, that is, defiled to those that are guilty, to those that have neglected their duty (wheresoever the power lies in a Church, whosoever in that Church neglects their duty of casting out those that offend, they defile the communion so farr as in them lieth, and if any of you that are particular members neglect your duties, so far as in you lieth the communion is defiled by you:) but if you do your duty once, then, though wicked men may be there, you may receive the Sacrament with comfort; For though the communion may be defiled in respect of others that have neglected their duty, yet it is not defiled in respect of you that have done your duty. Now then, to conclude this with that place in Psal. 119.1. Blessed is the man that is undefiled in the way. Blessed are those men that in their way, in the course of their lives keep themselves from defilement, and especially keep themselves from defilement in the waies of Gods worship. Blessed is he whose heart is cleansed from secret filth, that by the vain carnal plots reasonings and cunning fetches of wicked men he doth not defile himself in his way.
