These cautions observed, if the scandalous offender continue impenitent, or unreformed, after due admonitions and patience, let the pastor in the congregation, when he is present, rebuke him before all, that the church may sufficiently disown the crime, and others may see the odiousness and danger of the sin. But let this also be with the love and prudence before mentioned.
If the offender in obstinacy will not be there, the pastor may open the crime before the congregation: and present or absent, (in case he remain impenitent,) if the case will bear so long a delay, it is convenient, that the pastor publicly pray for his conviction and repentance, that he may be saved.
And this he may do one, or two, or three, or more days, as the nature of the case and prudence shall direct him.
If during these means for his recovery (after the proof of the crime) there be a communion of the church in the Lord's supper, let the pastor require him to forbear, and not suffer him to partake of the Lord's table.
If yet the offender remain impenitent, let the pastor openly declare him unmeet for the communion of the church, and require him to abstain from it, and require the church to avoid communion with him. And let him bind him by the denunciations of the threatenings of God against the impenitent.
But before this is done, let no necessary consultation with other pastors, or concurrence of the church, be neglected: and after let there be place for due appeals, and let ministers consent to give account when they are accused of mal-administration.
But if, after private admonition, (while the offence is such as requireth not public confession,) the sinner be penitent, let the minister privately apply to his consolation the promises of the gospel, with such cautelous prudence, as is most suitable to his condition.
And if he repent not till after public admonition, or that the scandal be so great and notorious, as that a public confession is necessary, let him, at a seasonable time appointed by the pastor, with remorse of conscience, and true contrition, confess his sin before the congregation, and heartily lament it, and clear the honour of his christian profession which he had stained, and crave the prayers of the church to God for pardon and reconciliation through Christ, and also crave the ministerial absolution and restoration to the communion of the church, and profess his resolution to do so no more; but to live in new obedience to God, desiring also their prayers for corroborating and preserving grace.
It is only a credible profession of repentance, that is to be accepted by the church.
The foregoing cautions must be carefully observed in such confessions, that they be not made to the injuring of the magistrate, or of the church, or of the reputation of others, or of the life, estate, or liberty of the offender, or to any other shame than is necessary to the manifesting of his repentance, and the clearing of his profession, and the righting of any that he hath wronged, and the honour and preservation of the church.