time admonished) will not depart from their errors or wickedness, are made known unto the Church, or to those that are appointed for that purpose by the Church; and if after this they do not obey their admonition, they are, by the same men, by interdiction from the sacraments, shut out from the congregation of the Church, and by God himself, out of the kingdom of heaven. And again, if they im, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. Titus i. 16. And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. Luke xvi. 15. Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone; if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee 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, tell it unto the Church; but if he neglect to hear the Church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a Publican. Verily, I say unto you, Whatso ever ye bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever ye loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven. Matt. xviii. 15-18. And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. 2 Thess. iii. 14, 15. A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject; knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself. Titus iii. 10, 11. I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, 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 an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 1 Cor. v. 3-5. Let such an one think this, that such as we are in profess, and indeed declare an amendment of life, they are received as members of Christ, and of his Church.* word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also indeed when we are present. 2 Cor. x. 11. Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. Rom. xvi. 17. Now we command you, brethren, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. 2 Thess. iii. 6. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed; for he that biddeth him God speed, is partaker of his evil deeds. 2 John 10, 11. With such an one do not eat. 1 Cor. v. 11. Therefore put away from yourselves that wicked person. verse 13. If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maran-atha. 1 Cor. xvi. 22. 2 Cor. vi. 17. * Take heed to yourselves. If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. Luke xvii. 3, 4. Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. Wherefore, I beseech you, that ye would confirm your love toward him. 2 Cor. ii. 6-8. PART III. ON MAN'S GRATITUDE. 86. Q. Since we are delivered from all our sins and miseries, not by any merit of our own, but by the mercy of God only for Christ's sake, why should we do any good works? A. Because, since Christ hath redeemed us by his blood, and reneweth us also by his Spirit to the image of himself, we ought, after receiving such great benefits, to shew ourselves all our life time thankful to God, and to praise and honour him; b Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin; but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness. unto God. Rom. vi. 13. I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. Rom. xii. 1, 2. For ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. 1 Cor. vi. 20. Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 1 Peter ii. 5, 9. b Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matt. Y. 16. Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles; secondly, that each of us may be assured of his faith, by his fruit. And, lastly, that by our own uprightness of conduct, we may win others unto Christ.d 87. Q. Cannot they, then, be saved who are ungrateful, and, remaining still in their sins, are not converted from wickedness unto God? A. By no means. For as the scripture testifieth, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor thieves, nor covetous men, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.e that whereas they speak against you as evil-doers, they may, by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. 1 Pet. ii. 12. • Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit; therefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Matt. vii. 17, 18, 20. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith. Gal. v. 22. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision, nor uncircumcision availeth any thing, but faith which worketh by love. Gal. v. 6. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure; for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall. 2 Pet. i. 10. We do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 1 John ii. 3. d Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles; that whereas they speak against you as evil-doers, they may, by your good works, which they behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. 1 Pet. ii. 12. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. Rom. xiv. 19. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Mat. v. 16. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the 88. Q. What does the conversion of man unto God consist of? A. It consisteth of the mortifying of the old man, and the quickening of the new.f 89. Q. What is the mortifying of the old man? A. To be truly and heartily sorry that you have offended God by your sins, and daily more and more to hate and eschew them.g kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Cor. vi. 9. For because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Eph. v. 5, 6. What shall we say, then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we should walk in newnesss of life; knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. Rom. vi. 1, 2, 4, 6. That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Eph. iv. 22—24. Seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him. Col. iii. 9, 10. Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. 1 Cor. v. 7. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2 Cor. vii. 1. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. Rom. |