B20736:315
The way of the churches of Christ in New-England, or, The way of churches…The vvay of the churches of Christ in New-England, or, The vvay of churches…
The way of the churches of Christ in New-England, or, The way of churches walking in brotherly equality, or co-ordination, without subjection of one church to another measured and examined bight golden reed of the sanctuary, containing a full declaration of the church-way in all particulars / by Mr. J. Cotton ...The vvay of the churches of Christ in New-England, or, The vvay of churches walking in brotherly equalitie, or co-ordination, without subjection of one church to another measured and examined bythe golden reed of the sanctuary, containing a full declaration of the church-way in all particulars / by Mr. J. Cotton ...
London: printed by Matthew Simmons, 1645
THE Way of the Churches of Christ in NEW-ENGLAND, Measured by the G… › Chapter 5 › Section 1
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
If the offence be private between Brother and Brother, the Brother offended is to follow the Rule of Christ, Mat. 18.15, 16, 17. That is, first to go and tell him of his fault, or (as the word signifieth) Convince him of his fault, and to admonish him of it privately; So that the plaster may be no broader then the sore; private admonition is most suitable to a private fault, and expresseth both the wisdom and love of the Brother, who in so doing, both healeth and covereth the offence at once: If the offender take the admonition in good part, (as taking part with the admonition against his own sin) the Brother hath won and gained him both to God and himself: to God by repentance; to himself by this experiment of his brotherly love: But if the offender hear not his Brother, but takes part with his sin against the admonition, he then taketh one or two more with him, (such as in wisdom he thinketh to be most fit to prevail with him) that so by the mouth of two or three, his word of admonition may be established; or if the offender hear them not, his word of accusation to the Church may be established: And they coming to the offender and acquaint him with the cause of their coming to bring him to the sight of his sin, which they understand is committed by him; they first call upon the name of Christ to be present with them in this duty according to his promise, Mat. 18.19, 20. where he hath said he will be present with any two or three that are met together in his name, to ask of him, (for it is upon this occasion, and this chiefly upon which the promise is ⟨p. 90⟩made.) And the brother offended layeth open the offence before them, and declareth how ill the labour of his love was accepted before, and desireth their help to assist him in the conviction of the offender. If they can prevail with him to acknowledge his offence, and to be humbled for it, the soul of the offender is healed, thanks are given to God, and mutual love renewed and increased amongst themselves. But if the offender deny the fact, and there is none to prove it but the Brother that brought them, they can proceed no farther, because the testimony of one against one, will not stand in Judgement, Deut. 19.15.