[A] true account of what was done by a Church of Christ in Exon (whereof Mr. Lewis Stucley is pastor) the eighth day of March, 1657. when two members thereof were excommunicated. Together with the judgement of the non-conformists in the dayes of Q. Elizabeth, and K. Iames, concerning excommunication by a particular church. [Pu]blished by an eye abd ear-witness.

REctè Excommunicati ab Ecclesia sunt in potestate Satanae ad interitum car∣nis, 1 Cor. 5. Si vero paenitentiam a∣gunt, & recipiuntur, tum à Satana li∣berantur. Histor. Nagdeb. cent. 1. li. 2. p. 135, 47.

EXcommunicationem indicari per modum illum loquendi, quo Apostolus usus est, 1 Cor. 5 5. & 1 Tim. 1.20. Nempe tradere Satanae ad interitum carnis, rectè judica∣runt multi ex veteribus, quia extra Ecclesiam Satanas regnat. Synop. Pur. Theol. conscript. P. Poliandrum, Rive∣tum, Walaeum, Thysium, Disp. 48.40.

WHAT is Excommunication? A giving up to Sa∣tan. Greenham. p. 843. of his works.

ONE and the last of the Spiritual means of fear is Ex∣communication, whereby men are delivered to Sa∣tan, 1 Cor. 5.5. that delivering of the incestuous person can∣not be a bare bodily punishment, but an excluding of a sin∣ner from the Communion and fellowship of the Church & must be done in the face of the Church by the consent

of the whole Church, as appears ver. 2. & 4. Perkins on Jude. p. 587.

THE greater Excommunication (as distinct from suspension) putteth the Excommun cate from the Sacrament of the Lords body and blood, and depri∣veth them of all that comfort; and strength of Grace which from it they might receive: it denieth to them the benefit of the Churches publique Prayers, and so leaveth them to themselves as forlorn and miserable wretches, and whence it is that they are said to be delivered, to Satan; because they are left (naked and void of all means to make resistance) unto his Will and Pleasure. Field of the Church. p. 23, 24.

NEither is it anything else then Excommunication which the Apostle signifieth by delivering to Satan, 1 Cor. 5.5.

Thorndick in his discourse of the right of the Church in a Christian state. page 34.

The Censure of Excommunication cutteth men off from the Conversation of Christians, which forfeit the priviledges, to which they pretend, and so delivers them to Satan by consequence, as those that lodged without the camp of Israel, were in danger to be lick up by the Amalekite, 1 Cor. 5 5. 1 Tim. 1.20. Thorndick in his Primitive Government of Chu••••hes, page 91.

THE end of excommunication is that he may be ashamed, that he may see himself alone, no compa∣ny but the Devil thought bad enough for him, and so be brought to sense and shame of his own vil••ness, which is the most necessary preparative to reformation, and there∣fore

though a little before, binding, Excommunicating, delivering to Satan be made Synonima's. It followeth, Excommunication it is an Act of Mercy and Charity of all other the greatest, though under the shew of severi∣ty and wrath. Doctor Hammon of the power of the keyes, p. 117.

IF the terror and horror of Excommunication (to be cast out of the Church, and delivered up into the pow∣er of Satan) win not a sinner, nothing will. Caudry Church reform, promoted. p. 65.

The last remedy is to shame him when he shall see himself abhorred and forsaken of all good men, and when all the People avoid his company as a leaprous person, accounting him not fit for humane society, being delivered to Satan. Idem. p. 68.

Excommunication is a delivering a man over to the power of Satan. Idem. p. 85.

IOHN C••rnford (one of the six last that were burnt in England for the true Religion) when he heard himself, and his followers excommunicated, stirred with a vehe∣ment zeal of God, and proceeding in a more true ex∣communication against the Papists: in the name of them all pronounced sentence against them in these words. In the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the Power of his holy Spirit, and the Authority of his holy Catholick and Apostolick Church, we do give here into the hands of Satan to be destroyed the bodies of all those Blasphemers and Hereticks that do maintain any error against his most holy Word, or do condemn his most holy Truth for Heresie, to the maintaining of any false Church or feigned Religion: So that by this thy just judgement, most mighty God against thine Adversaries, thy true Religion may be known to

thy Glory and our Comforts, and to the edifying of all our Nation; good Lord so be it. Trap on John 9.22.

I Am their same opinion, who interpret the delivering to Satan of Excommunication, and so doth Gual∣ter himself; so doth the Syriack which readeth; that you (Corinthians may deliver such an one to Satan. If it was an act of the Church of Corinth, then it was a Church-sensure not a Miracle. The Greek doth also carry it to be an Act of the Church of Corinth assembled together. We have also some, (though not all) of the Antients for us in this particular: as Balsamon in Canon. Epist Ba∣silij ad Amphilock. Can. 7. observeth. Gillespy's Aarons-rod blossoming. p. 435.

Whether the Power of Excommunication in actu pri∣mo, seu quoad esse did belong to the collective body of the Church of Corinth or not, is a question controverted and to this day, sub judice lis est; yet even those who hold the affirmative part of the question, do notwithstanding say, that in actu secundo, seu quoad operari, the power pertained to their Bresbytery, which is confirmed by 2 Cor. 2.6 where the Apostle speaking of the censure of that incestuous man, saith not that it was inflicted by all, but by many, the Pastors and Elders of Corinth; how be it the execution and final act of that high censure was to be with the consent, and in the Presence of the Congre∣gation. Gillespy's Asserion of the Government of the Church of Scotland. p. 115, 116.

I Deny not but the faithfull convened; or were to con∣vene in this meeting, 1 Cor. 5. with the eldership, &c. but the meeting is demonstrated pastoral and presbyterial with spiritual Power from the special intended end in

that act which was authoritatively to deliver the Forni∣cator to Satan. Rutherf. peacable. plea. p. 235.

One and the same word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to purge out the leaven, 1 Cor. 5.7. applyed both to Elders and Believers hath divers meanings according as it is applyed to divers subjects; so that the Elders did purge out and excommu∣nicate one way, that is authoritatively, &c. and the peo∣ple did purge out the leaven another way, by a popular consenting that he should be excommunicate. Rutherfords peaceable plea for Pauls Presbytery in Scotland. p. 236.

APollonius saith, that the Walacrian Churches hold, that Classes and Synods have power to cast out from the Communion of the Churches, as a Heathen and a Publican, and to deliver to Satan an obstinate offending Church. p. 130. in English.

Rules for Admission.

THat such who desire to walk with God, and his peo∣ple in all ordinances, &c. Be at a Church-meeting proposed to the Church for their approbation and ad∣mission. That they do then solemnly and seriously pro∣fess their faith and Repentance before all the Congrega∣tion, &c. That they do then seriously and solemnly co∣venant and promise, to walk with God and his People (particularly the Church to which they now joyn them∣selves) according to the Rules of the Word of God, Deut. 29.1.9. to the end: Nehem. 9.38. and chap. 10. 1, 29. Josh. 24.21, 28. 2 Cor. 8.5. That if the Church do approve of their conversation, and profession, they be received; otherwise, desired to forbear, or excluded til the Church be satisfied; By the Church here is meant the whole body: or the Major number of the men at least, &c.

Particular Rules for walking in Church-Order.

THat all Admitted, &c. Yield and submit themselves to the Discipline of Christ in his Church, as it shall be made known to us from the Word: and may be to E∣dification exercised in our particular Congregation, 2 Cor. 8.5. 1 Cor. 5. 2 Cor. 10 3, 4, 5, 6 Heb. 13.17, &c. That the consent of the whole Church, or at least the greater part of the men, be taken by the Pastor and Officers, in matters of weight and moment, 1 Cor. 5.4, &c. That such as shall privately offend, be first privately admonished; if that prevail not, then with two or three; if that prevail not, then let the matter be declared to the Church, and the offendor publickly ad∣monished by the Pastor: if that prevail not, let him be accounted as an Heathen, and a Publican, Mat. 18.15, &c. That such as sin openly, be more speedily and severely dealt withal, and proceeded against, 1 Tim. 5.20, 24, 25. 1 Cor. 5. per tot. Mr. J••••n T••ckel in his Church-Rules, pag. 4, 5, 7.