4. Where a church is complete and organized with its stated rulers, as the church of Corinth was, yet rules, instructions, and commands, are given expressly unto the fraternity or community of the church, for their duty and acting in the administration of this sentence, and the cutting off of an offender, 1 Cor. v. 1-7; 2 Cor. ii. 7, 8; yea, the iff/r///./a, or infliction of the sentence, is ascribed unto them, verse 6. All these things do suppose a right and duty thereon to act according to their interest in excommunication to re- side in the whole church. Wherefore, —
5. There are some acts belonging hereunto that the church itself, in the body of the fraternity, cannot be excluded from without de- stroying the nature of the sentence itself and rendering it ineffec- tual. Such are, the previous cognizance of the cause, without which they cannot be blamed for any neglect about it; preparatory duties unto its execution, in prayer, mourning, and admonition, which are expressly prescribed unto them; and a testification of their consent unto it by their common suffrage. Without these things excom- munication is but a name with a noise; it belongs not unto the order appointed by Christ in his church.
6. Hence arise the duties of the church towards an excommuni- cated person that are consequential unto his exclusion from among them. Such are, praying for him, as one noted by the church and under the discipline of Christ; avoiding communion with him in public and private, that he may be ashamed, and the like; — all which arise from their own voluntary actings in his exclusion, and suoli as without a judgment of the cause they cannot be obliged unto.
OF EXCOMMUNICATION. 1 73
7. Yet, on the other side, unto the formal completeness of this sentence, an authoritative act of office-power is required : for, — (1.) There is in it such an act of ride as is in the hands of the elders only; (2.) The executive power of the keys in binding and loosing, so far as it compriseth authority to be acted in the name of Christ, is intrusted with them only.
8. Wherefore I shall say no more, in answer unto this inquiry, but that excommunication is an act of church-power in its officers and brethren, acting according unto their respective rights, interests, and duties, particularly prescribed unto them. The officers of the church act in it as officers, with authority ; the brethi'en, or the body of the church, with joower, yet so as that the officers are no way excluded from their power, consent, and suffrage, in the acting of the church, but have the same interest therein with all the other members of the church ; — but the community of the church have no interest in those authoritative actings of the officers which are peculiar unto them. Where either of these is wanting, the whole duty is vitiated, and the sense of the sentence rendered ineffectual.
First. It is inquired, Whether excommunication, justly deserved, may and ought to he omitted in case of trouble or danger that may ensue unto the church thereon?
It is usually granted that so it may and ought to be ; which seems in general to have been the judgment of Austin.
The troubles and dangers intended are threefold: — 1, From the thing ii^e\i\ 2. From the |;ersow5 to be excommunicated; 8. From the church.
1. " Trouble may arise from the thiyig itself; for there being an exercise of authority or jurisdiction in it over the persons of men not granted from the civil magistrate by the law of the land, those that execute it may be liable unto penalties ordained in such cases.
2. " The persons to be excommunicated may be great, and of great interest in the world, so as that if they receive a provocation hereby, they may occasion or stir up persecution against the church, as it hath often fallen out.
8. " The church itself may be divided on these considerations, so as that lasting differences may be occasioned among them, which the omission of the sentence might prevent."
For answer hereunto, some things must be premised ; as, —
1. Here is no supposition of any thing sinful or morally evil in the church, its officers or any of its members, by refusing to omit the pronouncing of this sentence. Whether there be any sin in giving occasion unto the troubles mentioned, to be avoided by an omission of duty, is now to be inquired into.
2. We must suppose, — (1.) That the cause of excommunication be clear and evident, both as unto the merit of the foct and the due
1 74) TKUE NATURE OF A GOSPEL CHURCH.
application of it unto the person concerned, so as that no rational indifferent man shall be able to say that it is meet that such a one should be continued a member of such a society; as it ought to be wherever excommimication is administered. (2.) Tliat svfficient time and space for repentance, and for giving satisfaction unto the church (whereof afterward), hath been allowed unto the person after admo- nition. (3.) That the church doth really suffer in honour and re- putation by tolerating such a scandalous offender among them.
I answer, on these suppositions, I see no just reason to counte- nance the omission of the execution of this sentence, or to acquit the church from the guilt of sin in so doing; for, —