flesh, and adjudging them worthy of death.-Thus was the incestuous person of the church of Corinth excommunicated, and by the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, when they were gathered together, delivered unto Satan without using any previous admonition: of which read: For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that has done this deed; In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 1 Cor. 5: 3-5. Of whom is Hymeneus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. 1 Tim 1: 20.-Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may learn. 5: 20.-I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present the second time; and being absent, now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all others, that if I come again, I will not spare. 2 Cor. 13: 2.

There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. 1 John 5: 16.-But the soul that doeth aught presumptuously, (whether he be born in the land, or a stranger;) the same réproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Num. 15: 30. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses; Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace. Heb. 10: 28, 29.- For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within ? But them that are without God judgeth.-Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. 1 Cor. 5: 12, 13.-Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 6: 9, 10.- For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolator, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Eph. 5: 5.

ARTICLE TWENTY-NΙΝΤΗ.

OF SHUNNING, AVOIDING AND WITHDRAWING FROM THOSE FALLEN OFF AND EXCOMMUNICATED MEMBERS.

Or the shunning and withdrawing from the excommunicated members of the church we believe and acknowledge, That as the putting away from the church and excommunicating its sinful members is commanded of God, for the amendment of the sinner, and the purifying of the church; so hath God also commanded to withdraw from such sinful members, by keeping no company with them, that they may be ashamed and amend their life. This shunning proceeds from excommunication, as the fruit and proof of it, and without which excommunication would be in vain. Therefore it is the duty of all the faithful to adhere to the ordinance of God in thus withdrawing from the members that are put away; which consists in withdrawing from them spiritual communion of the Lord's supper, the evangelical salutation and kiss of peace and charity with all therewith connected. Also to withdraw from them in all temporal and bodily things; as, in eating and drinking, buying and selling, and in their whole walk and conversation.

In this manner must all believers withdraw from those who are put away from the church for their sinful deeds, and shun them in all evangelical spiritual things, as also in temporal things according to the word of God: and like as in excommunication no respect to persons must be manifested, but all the members concur in putting away from among thein the evil person; so likewise in withdrawing, (in both spiritual and temporal things,) must no respect of person be shown by sparing any, be he man or wife, parent or child, or however near may be the affinity. For we can nowhere read, where God gave a general commandment and ordinance to his church, that any inembers thereof were wholly exempted or exonerated therefrom; but much more do we see the reverse in many places, where the whole multitude had to conform to one divine rule without the exemption of any. Therefore must such an ordinance of God be observed by every member of the church of Christ, in the fear of the Lord, without reserve, to shame the sinner, that he may amend his ways, turn to God for pardon and forgiveness of sins, and again be reconciled and received into the church.

But as all the observance of the commandments of God, should be tempered with christian kindness and modesty; so must these christian graces also have place in the withdrawing from and shunning the excommunicated.Therefore must the faithful believers use more circumspection, justice and reason, in this than did the Scribes and Pharisees, in the observance of the Sabbath day, who it appears would sooner have seen men suffer and die than to help and relieve them on the Sabbath day, pretend

ing that they would thereby break the Sabbath: notwithstanding they themselves transgressed the Sabbath in many matters of less weight. But as the pious observers of the Law of Moses, did not sin, nor break the Sabbath, when they were not engaged in doing their own work on the Sabbath but those works which were commanded them to do of God: so also do believers not transgress nor sin, neither do they deal against the command of shunning, when they do not their own work or business but the business which is commanded them of God to do to those who are to be shunned; namely, to supply them in time of need, with all the necessaries of life, and by the word of God to administer spiritual nourishment to their souls.Also when they are brought into danger, or sustain loss by fire, water, or such like accidents where assistance is necessary, it is the duty of all believers, to assist them and administer to their relief. And thus by works of charity; carefully seek that which is lost, call back and point out the right way to those who are gone astray, by gently reproving them, and instructing them by the word of God, if haply these christian admonitions, according to the example of Christ, might find entrance into the heart, and reclaim them. But in all the works of man's own doing, the faithful christian must avoid all intercourse with those who are under excommunication until they have reformed and are again united to the church.