Most gracious God, according to thy command we have warned this sinner, and told him of thy threatenings, and foretold him of thy certain terrible judgments, that he might flee from the wrath to come; but alas, we perceive not that he repenteth or relenteth, but hardeneth his heart against reproof; as if he were able to contend with thee, and overcome thy power. O let us prevail with thee for grace, that we may prevail with him for penitent confession and reformation. O pity a miserable sinner! so miserable, as that he layeth not to heart his misery, nor pitieth himself. O save him from the gall of bitterness, and from the bonds of his iniquity. Give him repentance unto life, that he may recover himself out of the snare of the devil, who is taken captive by him at his will. Give him not up to a blind mind, to a seared conscience, a heart that is past feeling, nor to walk in his own counsels, and after his own lusts. Let him no longer despise the riches of thy goodness, and forbearance, and long-suffering, nor with a hardened, impenitent heart, treasure up wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of thy righteous judgment; who wilt render to every man according to his deeds, even to them that are contentious and obey not the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil. Let him be sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them that commit such things; and let him not think in his impenitency to escape thy judgment. O suffer him not, when he heareth the threatenings of thy word, to bless himself in his heart, and say, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imaginations of my heart, and add sin to sin; lest thy anger and jealousy smoke against him, and thou wilt not spare him, but blot out his name from under heaven, and all thy curses lie upon him, and thou separate him to evil, even to the worm that dieth not, and to the fire that is not quenched. O save him from his sins, from his impenitency, and the pride and stubbornness of his heart. O save him from the everlasting flames, and from thy wrath, which he is the more in danger of, because he feeleth not, and feareth not his danger. Let him know how hard it is for him to kick against the pricks, and how woeful to strive against his Maker. Lay him at thy footstool in sackcloth and ashes, in tears and lamentation, crying out, Woe unto me that I have sinned; and humbling his soul in true contrition, and loathing himself, and begging thy pardoning and healing grace, and begging the prayers and communion of thy church, and resolving to sin wilfully no more, but to live before thee in uprightness and obedience all his days. O let us prevail with thee for the conversion of this impenitent sinner, and so for the saving of his soul from death, and the hiding and pardoning of his sins; that he that is lost may be found, and he that is dead may be alive, and the angels of heaven, and we thy unworthy servants here on earth, may rejoice at his repenting. Let us see him restored by thy grace, that we may joyfully receive him into our communion, and thou mayst receive him at last into thy heavenly kingdom, and Satan may be disappointed of his prey; for thy mercy' sake, through Jesus Christ our Lord and only Saviour.[278] Amen.
_A Form of Rejection from the Communion of the Church._
Jesus Christ, the King and Lawgiver of the church, hath commanded, that, If a brother trespass against us, we go and tell him his fault between him and us alone; and if he will not hear us, we shall then take with us one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established; and if he shall neglect to hear them, that he tell it to the church; and if he neglect to hear the church, that he be to us as a heathen man, and a publican. And that we keep no company, if any that is called a brother, be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner, with such a one, no, not to eat. And that we withdraw ourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and note him, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. According to these laws of Christ, we have admonished this offending brother, who hath greatly sinned against God, and grieved and injured the church; we have earnestly prayed and patiently waited for his repentance, but we have not prevailed. But after all, he continueth impenitent, and will not be persuaded to confess and forsake his sin: we do therefore, according to these laws of Christ, declare him unmeet for the communion of the church, and reject him from it; requiring him to forbear it, and requiring you to avoid him; and we leave him bound to the judgment of the Lord, unless his true repentance shall prevent it.[279]
_A Form of Absolution, and Reception of the Penitent._
[Sidenote: * This must be omitted if the person was not first rejected.]