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 Church being thus informed of the estate and carriage of the offence, the Elders do labour in public with the offender to convince him, both of his sin and impenitency under it, notwithstanding all the faithfulness, and love of his Brethren, in seeking to heal his spirit in private. It is free also for any of the Brethren (leave and liberty being first desired and obtained of the Elders) to help forward the conviction by any words of wisdom and zeal which God shall put into their mouths; wherein if the convictions and persuasions of the Church do prevail to any kindly humiliation of the offender in the acknowledgement of his sin before the Lord and his Church; the offender is gained, the sin is subdued, others discouraged from the like offence, and the Church is satisfied.

The Church being thus informed of the estate and carriage of the offence, the Elders doe labour in publick with the offender to convince him, both of his sinne and impenitencie under it, notwithstanding all the faithfulnesse, and love of his Brethren, in seeking to heale his spirit in private. It is free also for any of the Brethren (leave and libertie being first desired and obtained of the Elders) to help forward the conviction by any words of wisdome and zeale which God shall put into their mouths; wherein if the convictions and perswasions of the Church doe prevaile to any kindly humiliation of the offender in the acknowledgement of his sinne before the Lord and his Church; the offender is gained, the sinne is subdued, others discouraged from the like offence, and the Church is satisfied.

But if on the contrary the offender stand out in defence of his sin, as well against the whole Church, as he did before against the Brethren, who dealt with him in private, the Church then entereth into consideration of the Nature and Quality of the offence, whether it be gross and heinous, such as is condemned by the light of nature, (like those cast out by the Apostle, 1 Cor. 5.11.) or whether it be such as (through some mist of ignorance, or strength of present passion) he doth not clearly discern the sinfulness of it: if it be of the former sort, they proceed then to excommunication, both in respect of the nature of the crime (whereof more hereafter) as also in respect of his contumacy to the Church. If it be of the later sort, the Church proceedeth not forthwith to excommunication of the offender, but after once or twice admonition; For in this case it is with the offender as with an Heretic, who may err at first, and stand in his error, for want of clear light, and is therefore once and again (according to the rule of the Apostle,