A Second Admonition to Edward Bagshaw, Part 2 · Section 50
Sect. 50. E. B. p. 14. Though through the Corruption of men and negligence of Church-Officers, many ungodly prophane Formaliſts and hypocrites did (and daily do) creep in; yet there is a ſtrict command given to put ſuch out of the Church, and turn aſide from them—If ſuch are to be withdrawn from, then if any Church which is admoniſhed concerning them ſhall ſtill maintain, abett and countenance them, that Church is defiled, and unfit to be communicated with, 1 Cor. 5. 7. Eccleſ. 9. 18. Heb. 12. 15.
R. B. 1. It is only groſs ſinners, after juſt Admonition upon proof, that are to be put out. The Officers ought not to do it without proof. 2. Have you or others rightly Admoniſhed every Pariſh Miniſter that you call us to ſeparate from, and convicted them upon proof, when you have heard them ſpeak for themſelves?When a Church is to be ſeparated from for approving ſin? 3. And who gave you authority ſo to examine other Paſtors, being but a ſingle perſon? 4. We eaſily grant (and earneſtly deſire) that true Church-Juſtice ſhould make a difference: But in caſe the Officers do not their duty, it is none of the peoples duty to ſeparate therefore, haveing done their own part, except in theſe caſes: 1. That the Error or Crime be ſo great, as to be inconſiſtent with Chriſtianity, or Church communion. 2. That the Church do not only neglect it, but deliberately Own that Error or Crime in its aggravated ſtate, as it is ſo inconſiſtent with Chriſtianity or Communion; Not only being conſequentially guilty of it, (as the beſt man may be of the moſt heinous ſin of another, by ſome omiſſion of his duty to cure it) but making it their profeſſion or Practice. 3. That this be done, not by ſome particular members only, but by an eſſential part of the Church, that is, either by the Paſtor, or by the main body of the people. 4. That this be fully proved, or ſo notorious as to need no proof. 5. That they be impenitent herein after due admonition: When theſe five things concur, it is a duty to ſeparate from a Church as unfit for Chriſtian Communion. (And in lower caſes it is a duty to prefer a Better, when we can have it.)
But its much higher (or lower rather) that you go:10. F. doctrin You ſay [A Church which after admonition and diſcovery of offenders, will not uſe her authority to caſt them out.] This may be by miſ-information on the ſinners ſide, or by meer negligence, as in Eli's caſe, and may be a great ſin, and yet not the ſame in kind, as that which ſhould be cenſured; nor ſuch as will unchurch that Church, nor make its communion unlawful to the innocent.
As to your proofs, the Texts you▪ cite are all written to the whole Churches as Churches, who are bid put them away, &c. ſave that to Timothy, and Rev. 2. which is to the Church-Rulers. And it followeth not, that if a Church, or Church-Rulers who have the power of the Keyes, are bid to reject or caſt out, or not ſuffer an Heretick or wicked perſon, and to have no fellowſhip with them, therefore every member is forbidden to have Communion with that Church in Gods Worſhip, unleſs they caſt ſuch a one out. I did by many Scripture inſtances, Rev. 2. & 3. & 1 Cor. 11. & 15, &c. prove the contrary, to which you give no anſwer.
5. Let all ſober Readers note how few in the world we ſhall have communion with on your terms. How certainly you will turn all Churches into ſtrife and bitter envyings, confuſion, and every evil work. For Railers and Covetous among the reſt, are thoſe that muſt be avoided: And if any member of the Church ſhall think that one Railer, or one Covetous perſon is kept in unjuſtly, away they muſt go, and condemn the Church as unworthy of Communion. And who will not think that read your Book, that you would be one of the firſt accuſed of Railing? Yea, how few even of the ſtricteſt ſeparating Churches are they, that neglect not Diſcipline upon ſome one perſon? It may be it may be a rich or powerful man, that will perſecute or divide the Church if he be caſt out? Is there no Gathered Churches (as they are called) that have one Railing woman in, or one Covetous perſon?
6. But Sir, our queſtion is not only of the Communion of Members, but alſo of ſtrangers occaſionally and rarely: And what call hath a ſtranger to try the Diſcipline of another Church? Or what opportunity hath he to know all their members crimes, and to admoniſh them? Why may not I in my travail communicate with a Church whoſe members and Diſcipline I know not? At leaſt all Pariſh Churches have not been thus admoniſhed by you.