Ratio disciplinae fratrum Nov-Anglorum. A faithful account of the discipline professed and practised; in…

The Pastor sends for the Delinquent, and usually he desires a few of the chief Brethren to be with him in the Action; and enquiring into the Merit of the Cause, he finds one of these to be necessary. Either the Delinquent manifesteth himself so sensible of his Miscarriage, that only a Public Acknowledgement before the whole Church is to be expected from him; or else there is yet manifest that hardness of Heart, that bespeaks for him a public Admonition.

The Pastor sends for the Delinquent, and usually he desires a few of the chief Brethren to be with him in the Action; and enquiring into the Merit of the Cause, he finds one of these to be necessary. Either the Delinquent manifesteth himself so sensible of his Miscarriage, that only a Publick Acknowledgement before the whole Church is to be expected from him; or else there is yet manifest that hardness of Heart, that bespeaks for him a publick Admonition.

When 'tis judged that a public ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, may make the Plaster for the Wounds which the Transgressor has given to Religion as broad as the Sore, he is put either upon Writing of his Acknowledgement, (which is most usual) or upon speaking of it, as 'tis foreseen will be most for Edification. And then in some Congregation of the Faithful, either the Church alone (which is thought most Advisable where the Neighbourhood is very Populous, and full of Strangers) or the Rest of the Neighbourhood staying with the Church (which is the Custom in most Places;) the Pastor gives the Church a true Report of the Scandal, and adds his Hope of the Man's having Repented of it; who now appears before them, to testify it with a Confession proper to the Occasion, which is then exhibited. Thus, there was an Exomologesis enjoined on the Penitents in the Primitive Churches; and there was that whereof Tertullian so expresses himself, Satisfactio Confessione disponitur, Confessione Poenitentia nascitur. This being done, the Pastor puts it unto the Vote of their uplifted Hands, Whether they ⟨p. 145⟩accept the Satisfaction which has been thus offered by the Repenting Brother before them, and are willing to restore him to their Favour and Fellowship? Which being signified, the Pastor then makes a loving and faithful Speech unto the Restored Person; magnifying the Mercy of GOD unto the Penitent, and therewith directing and exciting of him to improve what has now occurred, for his more circumspect Walk all the Remainder of his Pilgrimage; And then unto the rest of the Assembly, to take notice what those Evils are which they now see must be repented of, and Watch and Pray that they may not fall into them.