Welchman on Article XXXIII: Of Excommunicate Persons, how they are to be avoided

as rebels against Christ, and by his notorious Crimes is become a Scandal to the Christian Name, should be driven out from the Communion of the Church, and be looked upon as a Heathen, since he lives such a Heathenish Life? It is the Duty of all good Christians to withdraw them- selves from every Brother that walketh thus disorderly, to note that Alan, and to have no Company with him, that be may be ashamed, 2 I hefi. iii. 6, 14. But if he repent, he is to be restored again to Communion with the Church. But in the mean Time it is to be observed, that Princes and Subjects, Huthands and Wives, Parents and Children, Masters and Servants, notwithstanding any Sentence of Excommunication, ought to perform their respective Du- ties to each other; since these are Obligations, which have no Dependence on the Religion of the Persons they are to be performed to.

Sec 1 Gor. v. 3, 4, 5. Ter I verily, as absent in Body but present in Spirit, have judged already, as though I were pre- ent, concerning Him that hath done this Deed ; In the Name of our Lord Fesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and

y Spirit, with the Power of our Lord Fejus Christ, to de- liver such an ene unto Satan for the Deęstrudtion of the Flesh, that the Spirit may be saved in the Day of the Lord Fesus.

See also Ignatius. I caution you against Beasts in the e Shape of Men, whom you ought not only not to receive, & but also, if possible, not to meet.“ And St. Cyprian. „ Whoever holds not the Unity of the Church, how much & soever he may boast of himself, and whatever he may claim to himself, he is a profane Person, an Alien, and & without the Pale of the Church.

Ought to be taken, &c.] See 1 Cr. v. 11, 13. But now ¶ hade written unto you, not t9 keep Company, if any Man hat is called a Brother, be a Fornicator, or Covetous, or an Illoluter, or a Ratiler, or a Drunkard, or an Extortioner, with such an one, not to eat. Therefore put away from amoug yourselves that wicked Person. And Matth. xvii. 17. If be neglect io hear the Church, let him be unto Thee as an Heathen Nan, and a Pablican, See also St. Cybrian. © Depart, & T befeech you, from such Persons, and acquiesce in the & Advice you have had from Us.”

By a Judge that hath Authority] That is, by a Bishop, or at least” by a Person to whom this Episcopal Power is rightly delegated, See Potter of Ch. Government, Ch. 5. SeR 8. Whitgift’s Defence, Tract 18. Field of the Church, MM lr

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of the Church of ENGLAND,