A Form of Rejection from the Communion of the Church.
Jesus Christ, the King and Lawgiver of the church, hath commanded, that, If a brother trespass against us, we go and tell him his fault between him and us alone; and if he will not hear us, we shall then take with us one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established; and if he shall neglect to hear them, that he tell it to the church; and if he neglect to hear the church, that he be to us as a heathen man, and a publican. And that we keep no company, if any that is called a brother, be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner, with such a one, no, not to eat. And that we withdraw ourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and note him, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. According to these laws of Christ, we have admonished this offending brother, who hath greatly sinned against God, and grieved and injured the church; we have earnestly prayed and patiently waited for his repentance, but we have not prevailed. But after all, he continueth impenitent, and will not be persuaded to confess and forsake his sin: we do therefore, according to these laws of Christ, declare him unmeet for the communion of the church, and reject him from it; requiring him to forbear it, and requiring you to avoid him; and we leave him bound to the judgment of the Lord, unless his true repentance shall prevent it.[279]
A Form of Absolution, and Reception of the Penitent.
Though you have greatly sinned against the Lord, and against his church, and your own soul, yet seeing you humble yourself before him, and penitently fly to Christ for mercy, resolving to do so no more; hear now the glad tidings of salvation, which I am commanded to declare unto you. If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and he is the propitiation for our sins. If we confess our sins, he is faithful to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness, considering thyself lest thou also be tempted. According to this word of grace, |* This must be omitted if the person was not first rejected.|[* I do loose the bonds here laid upon you, and receive you again into the communion of the church,] requiring to receive you, and not upbraid you with your sin, but rejoice in your recovery. And I do declare to you the pardon of all your sins in the blood of Christ, if your repentance be sincere. And I exhort and charge you, that you believingly and thankfully accept this great, unspeakable mercy, and that you watch more carefully for the time to come, and avoid temptations, and subdue the flesh, and accept reproofs, and see that you return not to your vomit, or to wallow again in the mire, when you are washed; but obey the Spirit, and keep close to God in the means of your preservation.[280]
A Form of Thanksgiving, or Prayer, for the Restored Penitent.
O most merciful Father, we thank thee that thou hast brought as under so gracious a covenant, as not only to pardon the sins of our unregenerate state; but also upon our penitent confession, and return, to cleanse us from all our unrighteousness, and pardon our falls by the blood of Christ, and to restore our souls, and lead us again in the paths of righteousness, and command thy servants to receive us. We thank thee that thou hast thus restored this thy servant, giving him repentance and remission of sin, |* Leave out this if he was not rejected.|[* and returning him to the communion of thy church.] We beseech thee, comfort him with the believing apprehensions of thy forgiveness and reconciliation through Jesus Christ. Restore unto him the joy of thy salvation, and uphold him by thy free Spirit; stablish, strengthen, settle him, that with full purpose of heart he may cleave unto thee; and now thou hast spoken peace to him he may not return again to folly. As he nameth the name of Christ, let him depart from iniquity, and never more dishonour thee, thy church or truth, nor his holy profession, but save him from temptation. Let him watch and stand fast, and sin no more, lest worse befall him. Let him not receive this grace in vain, nor turn it into wantonness, nor continue in sin, that grace may abound. But let his old man be crucified with Christ, and the body of sin be destroyed; that henceforth he may no more serve sin, remembering what fruit he had in those things whereof he is now ashamed, and that the end and wages of sin is death: and let us all take warning by the falls of others, and be not high-minded, but fear; and let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. Let us watch and pray that we enter not into temptation, remembering that the flesh is weak; and our adversary the devil walketh about seeking whom he may devour. And let none of us hate our brother in our hearts, but in any wise rebuke our neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him: and confirm us unto the end, that we may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ; to whom with thee, O Father, and thy Holy Spirit, be kingdom, and power, and glory for ever.[281] Amen.