Christianismus primitivus, or, The ancient Christian religion, in its nature, certainty, excellency, and beauty, (internal and external) particularly considered, asserted, and vindicated from the many abuses which have invaded that sacred profession, by humane innovation, or pretended revelation comprehending likewise the general duties of mankind, in their respective relations : and particularly the obedience of all Christians to magistrates, and the necessity of Christian-moderation about things dispensible in matters of religion : with divers cases of conscience discussed and resolved / by Thomas Grantham ...

SECT. V. Of the way of God to proceed against such as Sin openly in the Church of Christ.

Sins which are committed directly against the Lord, as Idolatry, Murther, Whoredome, Theft, Drunkenness, Covetousness, Swear∣ing, &c. these are not within the Compass of that Rule, Matt. 18. If thy Brother trespass against thee, &c. and therefore cannot law∣fully be remitted by any private person to whom the same may be acknowledged, as in the case of private offences between Brother and Brother. But crimes of this nature are to be punished with greater severity, and the Church ought speedily to censure such evil doers, as unfit for Christian society, till reformed of such impieties, 1 Cor. 5. 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. Here the Sin committed by one in the Church of Corinth was Fornication: the Church is reproved, for that they had not put him out of their Communion, who whiles he remained among them was as Leaven, to infect the whole lump; wherefore the Apostle commands them (and in them all other Churches) to put away the wicked from among them. This great power hath God given to every Church: 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 de∣struction of the Flesh, that the Spirit may be saved in the day of our Lord Jesus.

That earnest charge to Timothy (and in him to all Pastors) 1 Tim. 4. 20, 21. is carefully to be observed for the preservation of all Chur∣ches from the Infection of Sin. Them that sin, rebuke before all, that others also may fear: I charge thee before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Elect Angels, that thou observe those things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality. For as in the great House, the Church, there are vessels of dishonour, as well as ves∣sels

of honour; so the way to preserve the vessels of honour is to purge away those dishonourable vessels, 2 Tim. 2. 20, 21.

Now whether persons sinning so notoriously ought to be cast out of the fellowship of the Faithful, albeit they do submit themselves to the Church (at least for a time) is I confess a difficult question; yet he that seriously considers the scope of the Apostle, 1 Cor. 5. will find cause to believe it ought to be so, when the sin commit∣ted is of such a crying nature as that was; to the end they may bear their shame who sin so against the Lord; and that the Truth may retain its credit. I find the antient Christians were very severe on that account, and censured by Dr. Field and others, * 1.1 as over strict in that case. But when the case of Miriam Numb. 12. 14, 15. is du∣ly weighed, who was put out of the Camp seven days; and compa∣red with Pauls words, Put away from among your selves that wicked person; It may rationally be conceived, that it's the will of God that in such cases of transgression, the offender ought to give some proof of his sincere humiliation, before his admission to the Communion of the Church of God. It's evident it was a considerable time be∣fore the Fornicator at Corinth could be admitted to his Priviledges in the Church, though his sorrow was very great. True it is, as Paul blames them for not hasting to put him out of the Church; so af∣terward he moderates their severity, and concludes, that the punish∣ment that had then been long upon him, was sufficient, and wills the Church to restore him, and to confirm their love to him least he should be swallowed up of over-much sorrow, 2 Cor. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.

The Novations indeed (if that be true which is storyed of them) were too severe, in not readmiting those that fainted in the time of perfection, though with Repentance they desired it. For without doubt there is mercy for those that sin after Baptism. And yet though this inordinate zeal was justly condemned by the Antients, 'tis said that some of themselves would not admit some offenders to Commu∣nion under seven years experience of their humiliation: * 1.2 which severe course, however it manifests their great hatred of Sin, yet can as little be justified as the Novatians. Surely extreams are always hurt∣ful, and some that find fault with the Fathers, are fallen into another extreme, even to indulge almost all manner of naughtiness; the most Prophane, as well as Hypocritical Time-servers are now countenanced, not in respect of Communion in general, but honoured with places of Trust, in the Parochial Churches of this and other Nations, to the scandal of Religion, and the inevitable prejudice of the Refor∣mation so zealously begun by our pious Predecessors.

Howbeit, through the grace of God the pristine and pure Dis∣cipline of the Gospel is asserted and executed in the Baptized Chur∣ches generally, insomuch that no known or notorious offender can possibly retain his Communion there, but is sure to meet with that censure which the Law of Christ awards him, nor can he be readmit∣ted, without such Reformation (at least in appearance) as the Gospel calls for in such cases.

Finally, to tell the World how this Ordinance of Christ concerning the Discipline of the Church hath been abused by Popish Pardons on the one hand, and Penance on the other; what abominable Mer∣chandize they have made of the Sins of Men: or to set down the present Mercenary proceedings of the Protestant Churches in their Ecclesiastical Consistories (where the simplicity of Christian Dis∣cipline cannot enter) is but to weary the Reader, who as he runs may read the black Characters of such unchristian proceedings from day to day, which every good man desires to see amended.

Notes

• * 1.1

  D. Field of the Church.
• * 1.2

  Dr. Field of the Church.