Gospel-Worship

but do not ye judge them that are within? When we have so far freed our selves as professing against their sin, then we cannot be said to have communion with them, and then we do withdraw from those that walk disorderly, when we do our duty thus far. 1 Thess. 3. 14. If any man obey not our word by this Epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed; and in the sixth verse of that Chapter he commands them in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that they should withdraw themselves from every Brother that walked disorderly. So that till we do our duty we come to be defiled; but now, if we do our duty, then it is not the mixture of a Congregation that is enough to hinder any from receiving the Sacrament there: and this will tend much to satisfy men about the receiving in mixed congregations where any are cast into them and are actual Members there.

but doe not yee judge them that are within? When wee have so far freed our selves as professing against their sin, then we cannot be said to have communion with them, and then wee do withdraw from those that walk disorderly, when wee doe our duty thus far. 1 Thess. 3. 14. If any man obey not our word by this Epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that hee may be ashamed; and in the sixt verse of that Chapter hee commands them in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that they should withdraw themselves from every Brother that walked disorderly. So that till we do our duty we come to be defiled; but now, if we do our duty, then it is not the mixture of a Congregation that is enough to hinder any from receiving the Sacrament there: and this will tend much to satisfie men about the receiving in mixt congregations where any are cast into them and are actuall Members there.

But now on the other side, if we be in a place where either this Congregation will not take upon them any such power to cast out unworthy ones, or are not convinced of this power, then there is no rule that Christ hath set, that we must be forced all our days to continue to be in such a congregation as denies one of the Ordinances of Jesus Christ; if so be there be any such that are wicked, and we do first what we can to have them cast out, and we wait with patience in such a congregation for to have them cast out, and yet we see that either the congregation doth not understand that they have any such power, or do deny such a power that they have, and so upon that all people are left in a mixed way, I say then there is no rule in all the Book of God that should force men to continue to be members of such a communion where they cannot enjoy one Ordinance of Jesus Christ, which is the Ordinance of Separating the precious from the vile, the Ordinance of casting out the wicked and ungodly. It were a very diseased body and in danger quickly of the loss of life, to take in every thing into it, and to have no […]