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

The Pastor ordering the Offender to attend at the Time appointed, he then gives him an Opportunity to express his Repentance: Which if the Pastor perceives not now done unto Satisfaction, he does with a proper Zeal propose unto the Brethren, Whether any one of them can Object against their proceeding unto the Censure of an Excommunication upon the Incorrigible Offender; — But if they Concur thereunto, he shall take their Silence for a full Intimation of their Consent unto so sad an Action. Hereupon the Pastor (either now goes on unto the Action, or) signifies unto the Offender, that he must on such a Day give his Attendance, and hear then what the Church has to say unto him. If he refuse to attend on the Day specified, the Censure is pronounced upon him, for his adding of such a Contumacy unto his former Iniquity. But if he do attend, the Pastor having recited a summary Account of the Case, in the hearing of the Congregation, once more gives the Offender a Liberty to speak ⟨p. 151⟩what he can, for the Prevention of that Sentence, which is else waiting for him. If what he says be not a sufficient Arrest of the Judgment, then, as Tertullian elegantly describes this awful Action, Judicatur magno cum pondere, ut apud certos de Dei Conspectu, summumque futuri Judicii Praejudicium est. The Pastor once again, takes the Concurrence of the Brethren, as he did before; and then proceeds with all possible Seriousness, Gravity, Majesty, Compassion, and Solemnity, unto the Censure.

The Pastor ordering the Offender to attend at the Time appointed, he then gives him an Opportunity to express his Repentance: Which if the Pastor perceives not now done unto Satisfaction, he does with a proper Zeal propose unto the Brethren, Whether any one of them can Object against their proceeding unto the Censure of an Excommunication upon the Incorrigible Offender; — But if they Concur thereunto, he shall take their Silence for a full Intimation of their Consent unto so sad an Action. Hereupon the Pastor (either now goes on unto the Action, or) signifies unto the Offender, that he must on such a Day give his Attendence, and hear then what the Church has to say unto him. If he refuse to attend on the Day specified, the Censure is pronounced upon him, for his adding of such a Contumacy unto his former Iniquity. But if he do attend, the Pastor having recited a summary Account of the Case, in the hearing of the Congregation, once more gives the Offender a Liberty to speak ⟨p. 151⟩