LIBRARY OF PRINCETON 
 
 JAN - 7 2003 
 
 THEOLCG'CAJ. SEVINARY 
 
CHURCH DISCIPLINE 
 
 EXPOSITION OF THE SCRIPTURE DOCTRINE OF CHURCH 
 ORDER AND GOVERNJMENT. 
 
 BY 
 
 REV. WARHAM WALKER, 
 
 HOMER, N . Y . 
 
 BOSTON: 
 
 GOULD, KENDALL AND LINCOLN 
 UTICA, N. Y. 
 
 BENNETT, BACKUS AND HAWLEY. 
 
 1844. 
 
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1843, 
 
 By GOULD, KENDALL «fe LINCOLN, 
 
 In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts. 
 
 WEST BROOKFIELD, 
 C. A. MIRICS, PRINTER. 
 
PREFATORY NOTE. 
 
 The following work had its origin in a request of the 
 Ministerial Conference of the Cortland Baptist Associa- 
 tion. The author; having read by appointment before 
 that bod)', an essay, entitled, " Outhne of an Inquiry 
 relative to the Constitution, Government, and Discipline 
 of the Christian Churches," — it was 
 
 " Resolved, That in the opinion of this Conference, 
 Br. Walker would render an important service to the cause 
 of Christ, by writing more fully on the subject of his 
 essay, particularly on the Discipline of the churches, and 
 preparing it for publication." 
 
 Upon mature reflection, the author deemed it his duty 
 to act in conformity to the above suggestion of his breth- 
 ren. The almost entire neglect of Discipline in many 
 churches, and the great variety of practice existing in 
 others, indicating the absence of any well defined and 
 established principles in respect to it. — seemed to him, to 
 render a plain and faithful exhibition of the New Testa- 
 
VI PREFATORY NOTE. 
 
 ment law of church- discipline, a most important and de- 
 sirable object. To what extent he has succeeded in 
 realizing this object, must be left to the decision of others. 
 He is conscious that the work cannot be otherwise than 
 imperfect. Written, as it has been, in the midst of fre- 
 quent interruptions, arising from the duties of a pastoral 
 charge, it would be strange if its imperfections were few. 
 Such as it is, he commends it to the blessing of God, and 
 to the candid consideration of the churches. 
 Homer, Jan. 1, 1844. 
 
PLAN 
 
 CONTENTS OF THE WORK 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Page 
 
 Church ; Definition of the Term, 9 
 
 Constitution of the Churches, 10 
 
 First Christian Church, in its Incipient State, . . 10 
 
 The Church at Jerusalem, 12 
 
 The Church at Antioch, 13 
 
 Organization of the Churches, 15' 
 
 Government of the Churches, 16 
 
 The True Idea of Church Discipline .22 
 
 PART FIRST. 
 
 FORMATIVE CHURCH DISCIPLINE 25 
 
 Terms of Church Membership, 25 
 
 Importance and Necessity of Maintaining Formative Disci- 
 pline, 30 
 
 Formative Measures, 37 
 
Vlll PLAN AND CONTENTS. 
 
 PART SECOND. 
 
 Page 
 
 COKBECTIVE CHURCH DISCIPLINE 54 
 
 Power of the Churches to Maintain Corrective Discipline, . 57 
 
 Limitations of the Power of Discipline, 66 
 
 Obligation of the Churches to Maintain Corrective Disci- 
 pline, 75 
 
 Objects of Corrective Discipline, 82 
 
 Spirit in which Corrective Discipline should be conducted, . 89 
 
 The Law of Corrective Discipline, 97 
 
 Offences demanding Corrective Discipline, 109 
 
 The Process of Corrective Discipline, 125 
 
 The First Admonition, 126 
 
 The Second Admonition, 133 
 
 The Final Act of Discipline, 138 
 
 Treatment of the. Excommunicated, 145 
 
 Restoration of the Penitent, 149 
 
 Conclusion, 153 
 
CHURCH DISCtPttNE. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 In order to prepare the way for a profitable investiga- 
 tion of the subject of church discipline, it may be well 
 to ascertain, in the first place, the scriptural consti- 
 tution, organization, and government of a Christian 
 church. 
 
 ^ 1. CHURCH ; DEFINITION OF THE TERM. 
 
 The Greek word kxy.lijala, usually rendered church 
 in the common English version of the New Testament, 
 signifies any public assembly, or congregation, whether 
 convened for secular or religious purposes. There is 
 nothing essentially sacred in its meaning. 
 
 In the nineteenth chapter of the Acts of the. Apos- 
 tles, it is applied, (ver. 32,) to the mob stirred up at 
 Ephesus by Demetrius the silversmith, as well as, 
 (ver. 39,) to the ordinary lawful assemblies of the peo- 
 ple. It is employed by Paul, (Eph. 1: 22,) and by 
 the writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews, (Chap. 
 12 : 23,) to denote the whole body of the chosen pec- 
 
10 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 pie of God, from the beginning to the end of time. 
 In 1 Tim. 3 : 15, and in Matt. 16 : 18, the term appears 
 to include, generally, such professed believers as hold 
 the Christian faith and practice uncorrupted, through- 
 out the world . 
 
 It is most commonly used, however, in a technical 
 sense, to denote some particular assembly of Chris- 
 tians, united in embracing the doctrines, observing the 
 ordinances, and maintaining the worship of our Lord 
 Jesus Christ. Such, obviously, is its meaning in 
 Matt. 18 : 17, Acts 9 : 31, &c. ; and in those passages 
 which speak of " the church at Jerusalem," " the 
 church of the Thessalonians," "the churches of 
 Galatia," &c. 
 
 § 2. CONSTITUTION OF THE CHURCHES. 
 
 If it be demanded. How is a Christian assembly 
 constituted a church? — it will be found, from a careful 
 examination of the facts connected with the origin of 
 some of the early churches, that the answer to this 
 question is in accordance with the above definition. 
 
 1. FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH, IN ITS INCIPIENT 
 
 STATE. 
 
 The first instance in which a particular body of Chris- 
 tians is denominated a church, occurs in Matt. 18 : 17. 
 Our Lord, in giving his disciples instructions for the 
 regulation of their conduct, in cases of trespass on the 
 part of a brother, or fellow disciple, directed the per- 
 son against whom the trespass should be committed, 
 
CONSTITUTION OF THE CHUflCHES. 11 
 
 after other prescribed means of reclaiming the offender 
 had proved ineffectual, to submit the matter to the 
 judgment of the church, to which both were supposed 
 to belong. Should it be alleged that this rule was 
 given by way of anticipation, and designed only for 
 the members of a church not yet in existence, — it may 
 be replied, that, in this case, the rule would scarcely 
 have been intelligible ; or, if intelligible, that it would 
 have been for the present impracticable ; thus leaving 
 the very persons addressed without a rule in the case 
 supposed.* There can be no reasonable doubt that, 
 by the church, in this passage, our Saviour meant the 
 company of disciples whom he had gathered around 
 him, and who, so far as circumstances would permit, 
 waited upon his ministry. Beside the twelve apos- 
 tles, and the other seventy ordained preachers, it is 
 probable that many others, both men and women, may 
 have been included. 
 
 Some of these had believed under the preaching of 
 John the Baptist ; others, under that of Jesus himself. 
 It should be observed, that John, although he baptized 
 his converts, declined to collect them into a church 
 state. (See John 3:26 — 30.) The design of his 
 ministry w^as simply to make ready a people prepared 
 for the Lord ; and it was reserved for the Messiah to 
 give to his kingdom on earth a visible form and organi- 
 zation. 
 
 The characteristics by which the true subjects of 
 
 * " It would be contrary to all rules of criticism, to suppose that 
 our Lord used this term [church] in a sense wherein it could not 
 then be understood by any one of his hearers." Dr. Campbell. 
 
12 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 that kingdom were distinguished, may be learned from 
 the 18th of Matthew. They were such as had been 
 converted, and had become, in respect to humility, 
 simplicity, and inoffensiveness of character, as little 
 children. (A^er. 3—10. See also 1 Peter 2 : 2, and 
 1 Cor. 14 : 20.) They were such as had been sought 
 out, like lost sheep, and brought back from their wan- 
 derings to the fold of God. (Ver. 11— 14.) They 
 were such as had been forgiven, and as cherished a 
 spirit of forgiveness. (Ver. 15 — 35.) A company of 
 these, united in the common faith which they had 
 learned from the lips of the Great Teacher, and asso- 
 ciated together for the worship of God, and for the 
 promotion of each other's good, under the authority 
 and according to the law of Christ, — were constituted, 
 it would seem, by such union and association, a Chris- 
 tian church. It was not the mere fact that they were 
 disciples, that made them such ; nor the additional cir- 
 cumstance that they were baptized disciples, though 
 both these were necessary ; — ^but it was the fact that 
 they were combined in maintaining the doctrine, wor- 
 ship, and ordinances of the gospel, so far as these had 
 at that time been prescribed. Their organization as a 
 church was, indeed, only partial as yet ; but their ex- 
 istence as a church was already perfect. 
 
 2. THE CHURCH AT JERUSALEM. 
 
 In the first six chapters of the Acts of the Apostles, 
 we have an extended view of the same church, divest- 
 ing itself of the fugitive character which it had hith- 
 
CONSTITUTION OF THE CHURCHES. 13 
 
 erto borne, and passing into a settled state at Jerusa- 
 lem ; rapidly increasing its numbers and influence ; 
 and assuming a more thorough and perfect organiza- 
 tion. The great atoning sacriiice had now been offer- 
 ed ; and in commemoration of that event, the Lord's 
 supper had been instituted and its perpetual observ- 
 ance ordained. The Head of the church, having 
 given to his apostles specific commands for the regula- 
 tion of whatever pertained to his visible kingdom, had 
 ascended to his mediatorial throne. At this time, the 
 church numbered about one hundred and twenty. By 
 these, united supplications were offered ; an apostle 
 was ordained in the place of Judas ; the word was 
 faithfully preached, with the Holy Ghost sent down 
 from heaven ; and thousands, believing, were baptized 
 and added to the church ; — after which " they continu- 
 ed steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, 
 and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." It is 
 observable, that the persons converted on the day of 
 Pentecost were made members of the church, by be- 
 coming united with those who were previously mem- 
 bers, in the Christian doctrine and fellowship, and 
 associated with them in maintaining the Christian ordi- 
 nances and worship. Precisely the same kind of union 
 and association which constituted the original body a 
 church, now constituted these a, part of that church. 
 
 3. THE CHURCH AT ANTIOCH. 
 
 The origin of the church at Antioch is more briefly 
 recorded in Acts 11 : 19 — 26. In regard to the ques- 
 tion before us, a review of that record will furnish 
 2 
 
14 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 substantially the same results as in the case of the 
 church at Jerusalem. It appears that certain disciples, 
 who had fled from the persecution which followed the 
 martyrdom of Stephen, came to Antioch, and address- 
 ed themselves to the Greek inhabitants of that city, 
 " preaching the Lord Jesus." "The hand of the Lord," 
 says the inspired historian, "was with them-, and a 
 great number believed, and turned unto the Lord." 
 Having become united in the faith of Christ, they 
 associated themselves together for the observance of 
 his laws, ordinances, and worship ; and thus became a 
 Christian church. Any thing short of this would 
 not, it is believed, have been recognized in the lan- 
 guage of the New Testament, as a " turning to the 
 Lord." When Barnabas was afterwards sent from 
 Jerusalem to visit these disciples, it would seem that 
 he found nothing defective or irregular in their con- 
 stitution. On the contrary, there was in their state a 
 manifestation of the grace of God, which became to 
 him an occasion of rejoicing. He "was glad, and 
 exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they 
 would cleave unto the Lord," — evidently implying 
 that they should continue as they were. Whether 
 they had at this time a pastor, or deacons, does not 
 appear. But however imperfect their organization 
 may have been, they were distinctly recognized as a 
 church of Christ. (See ver. 26.) 
 
 A farther prosecution of the inquiry, as touching 
 this point, is needless. If the primitive practice is to 
 be our guide, it is evident that Christian churches are 
 constituted, or made such, — not by the decisions of 
 
ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCHES. 15 
 
 councils, or by the authority of any other ecclesiastical 
 body, — but simply by being spiritually united in the 
 truth to one another, and to Christ their Head, and 
 voluntarily associated in obedience to his commands 
 and ordinances, and in the maintenance of his worship. 
 
 § 3. ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCHES. 
 
 The officers necessary to a perfect church organiza- 
 .tion, according to the apostolic model, are bishops, or 
 pastors, and deacons. The former are spiritual over- 
 seers ; and to the latter, as stewards and almoners, 
 are committed the secular interests of the church, 
 especially the care of the poor. To the pastor, in 
 connexion with the ministry of the word, pertain all 
 the duties and all the rights of a presiding officer. He 
 stands at the head of the church, not as an arbitrary 
 ruler, legislator, or judge ; but as its guide and leader, 
 in carrying out the purposes of its constitution, under 
 the authority, and in obedience to the laws of Christ. 
 
 In recurring again to the early history of the church 
 at Jerusalem, we find that when the number of the 
 disciples was multiplied, the distribution of their char- 
 ities to the poor became a task so laborious, as serious- 
 ly to interrupt the apostles in their more appropriate 
 work. To relieve them from this burden, deacons 
 were chosen and ordained, and the pecuniary affairs of 
 the body were confided to their management. (Acts 
 6 : 1 — 6.) The presence of the apostles rendered the 
 election of a pastor, as yet, unnecessary. Subse- 
 quently, it would seem that this office was filled by 
 
16 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 James the son of Alpheus, and thus the organi- 
 zation of the church was complete. (Acts 12 : 17 ; 
 21:18; Gal. 2 : 12.) So far as we are informed 
 in respect to the organization of other churches, they 
 appear to have followed this pattern. (Phil. 1:1; 
 1 Tim. 3 : 1—13. 
 
 The deacons of a. church are, ex officio, its treas- 
 urers ; and upon the pastor would naturally devolve 
 the duties which are ordinarily performed by a church 
 clerk. The discharge of these duties by a distinct 
 officer appointed for that purpose, although nothing is 
 said of it in Scripture, is found to be highly conven- 
 ient ; and in these days of instability in the pastoral 
 relation, could hardly be dispensed with. 
 
 ^ 4. GOVERNMENT OF THE CHURCHES. 
 
 Particular churches, or assemblies of Christians, 
 united and associated as above, are parts of the uni- 
 versal church, of which Jesus Christ is the sole King, 
 Lawgiver, and Judge. They are subject only to his 
 authority ; they owe obedience only to his laws ; they 
 are amenable only to his tribunal. No example occurs 
 in the sacred record of one church claiming a right of 
 jurisdiction over another. Nor is it intimated that 
 such jurisdiction was exercised by any body of churches, 
 or of their representatives, — by any association, pres- 
 bytery, conference, or bench of bishops. The con- 
 ference held at Jerusalem, in relation to the matter 
 submitted to the apostles and elders by the church at 
 Antioch, is no exception to the above remarks. In 
 
GOVERNMENT OF THE CHURCHES. 17 
 
 this case, it was not a judicial sentence, but instruc- 
 tion, that was sought and given. In fact, the decision 
 of the conference contained an explicit disclaimer of 
 any such authority over the brethren at Antioch, as 
 had been assumed by certain men who went out from 
 the church at Jerusalem. (Acts 15 : 24, 28, 29.) 
 
 During the apostoUc age, the churches retained 
 their independence of all human authority. Each 
 managed its own afiairs in its own way ; and each was 
 responsible for its acts, only to Christ, the common 
 Lord of all. Nor was it until the purity and simplici- 
 ty of that age had departed, that their independence 
 was invaded, and their freedom lost. The gradual 
 working of the mystery of iniquity, mentioned by 
 Paul in 2 Thes. 2 : 7, as even then in operation, at 
 length prepared the way for those extended and pow- 
 erful combinations, which, severally, have claimed to 
 be the churches of Jesus Christ ; but which, instead 
 of regarding his mild and equal laws, have set up 
 each a despotism of its own, — a spiritual dominion, 
 originating in corruption and usurpation, and perpet- 
 uated by means of ecclesiastical tribunals unauthor- 
 ized by the word of God. By whatever names these 
 tribunals may be known, or whatever powers they may 
 assume, — whether councils or syndds, conferences, con- 
 sistories or assemblies, — whether employing them- 
 selves exclusively in judicial proceedings, or claiming 
 also the legislative authority, and granting to them- 
 selves the liberty, as Calvin said, "somewhat to change" 
 the ordinances of the great Lawgiver, — they must be 
 regarded as subversive, both of the rights of the King 
 
18 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 in Zion, and of the freedom of his subjects. Nothing- 
 could reasonably have been expected from them, but 
 the very mischief and confusion which they have actu- 
 ally wrought. 
 
 The corruption of the churches in this respect, was 
 not, however, universal. There was still a succes- 
 sion of faithful witnesses, who, without any other 
 ecclesiastical organization than that appointed by 
 Christ himself, maintained, even in the darkest periods, 
 the Christian faith and practice in sometliing like their 
 primitive purity ; and who, therefore, under the oppro- 
 brious epithets of Nazarenes, Novatians, Cathari, Wal- 
 denses, Mennonites, or Anabaptists, were denounced 
 from age to age, as obstinate schismatics and heretics. 
 Among those, now known as Baptists, the original 
 independence of the churches is understood to be still 
 maintained. The decisions of their councils are held 
 to be merely advisory ; and the associations and con- 
 ventions which they have organized for the promotion 
 of Christian fellowship, or for the prosecution of 
 plans of Christian benevolence, are invested with no 
 ecclesiastical authority. Should the Baptist associa- 
 tions of this country, forgetful of the purposes for 
 which they were designed, assume jurisdiction over 
 the churches, it needs not the eye of a prophet to pre- 
 dict the result. It would not be long, probably, before 
 conflicting decisions of different associations would 
 suggest the necessity of an umpire to judge between 
 them. Such an umpire might readily be found in 
 the State conventions ; and if any disagreement should 
 ?irise between these, it might be settled by appeal to 
 
GOVERNMENT OF THE CHURCHES. 19 
 
 the General Convention. Thus the Baptist hierarchy- 
 would be complete. 
 
 In the manag-ement of their internal affairs, the 
 primitive churches were essentially democratic. From 
 1 Cor. 5:4, 5, and 2 Cor. 2 : 7, 8, it is evident that in 
 the expulsion and restoration of offenders, the body act- 
 ed jointly, each member being- entitled to a voice ; nor is 
 there any reason to doubt that the admission of new 
 members was conducted in a similar manner. (Rom. 
 14 : 1 ; Gal. 5 : 10, 12, and 6:1.) The deacons men- 
 tioned in Acts 6:5, 6, were first chosen by "the 
 whole multitude of the disciples" embraced in the 
 church at Jerusalem, and afterwards ordained by the 
 apostles. In the churches of Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, 
 and Antioch in Pisidia, Paul and Barnabas appear to 
 have presided at the election of elders, or pastors ; who 
 were chosen, as the original word, yeiqozovr^GavTeq, 
 implies, by holding up the hand. (Acts 14 : 23.) In 
 2 Cor, 8 : 19, compared with 1 Cor. 16 : 3, we have an 
 example of the transaction of ordinary business in the 
 same way. It is obvious, then, that the pastoral 
 authority could not, without usurpation, be so extend- 
 ed as to infringe upon the democratic character of the 
 churches. 
 
 The strong language employed in some passages to 
 denote that authority, may, perhaps, be thought incom- 
 patible with the views here expressed. But if that 
 language be examined, it will be found susceptible of 
 a milder interpretation than is suggested by the com- 
 mon version. The term, for example, rendered gov- 
 ernments, in 1 Cor. 12 : 28, might with equal propriety 
 
20 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 have been rendered directors, or superintendents. In 
 like manner, the phrase rendered " them that have the 
 rule over you," in Heb. 13 : 7, 17, 24, evidently signi- 
 fies no more than " them that preside over, direct, and 
 lead the way before youy Such, in point of fact, was 
 the office of the primitive bishops. It was their busi- 
 ness, not to rule imperiously, as lords over God's heri- 
 tage ; but, as faithful shepherds, to watch over, in- 
 struct, and guide the flock, and by their own examples 
 to lead the way. " The princes of the Gentiles," said 
 our Lord to his disciples, "exercise dominion over 
 them, and they that are great exercise authority upon 
 them ; but it shall not be so among you ; but whoso- 
 ever will be great among you, let him be your minister, 
 and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be 
 your servant." (Matt. 20 : 25—27.) 
 
 Happy would it have been for the churches, if this 
 injunction had been uniformly obeyed. At an early 
 period, however, encroachments were made upon their 
 rights. "The government was transferred into the 
 hands of the officers, or, more properly speaking, was 
 assumed by them ; and in the second century, some of 
 their number, arrogating to themselves exclusively the 
 title of bishops, acquired a superiority over the other 
 presbyters, — though these, and, in many cases, all the 
 members of the churches, retained some share in the 
 government. The bishops residing in the capitals of 
 provinces soon acquired a superiority over the provin- 
 cial bishops, and were called metropolitans. They, in 
 their turn, became subject to a still higher order, term- 
 ed patriarchs ; and thus a complete aristocratic consti- 
 
GOVERNMENT OF THE CHURCHES. 21 
 
 tution was formed, which continues in the Greek 
 church to this day ; but in the Latin it was speedily- 
 transformed into a Monarchy, centering in the person 
 of the Pope.''* To this it may be added, that the 
 aristocratic principle thus introduced, is still, to a 
 greater or less extent, retained in most of the protes- 
 tant denominations. 
 
 Such an assumption of power on the part of the 
 ministry, and such a distinction in that ministry of 
 bishops from presbyters, as are noticed in the above 
 extract, must be regarded as altogether unscriptural. 
 Both are decidedly rebuked in 1 Peter 5 : 1 — 3, where 
 the terms bishop, or overseer, (in Greek inlanonoc,,) 
 and elder, or presbyter, (in Greek 7iQe<T^TL)TeQog,) are 
 applied indiscriminately to the same class of functiona- 
 ries. "The elders (or presbyters) which are among 
 you, T exhort, who am also an elder, (or presbyter,) 
 and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a 
 partaker of the glory that shall be revealed : feed [as 
 a shepherd , or pastor] the flock of God which is among 
 you, taking the oversight (or episcopacy, i. e. exercis- 
 ing the ofRce of a bishop) thereof, not by constraint, 
 but willingly ; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind ; 
 neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being 
 ensamples to the flock." See also Acts 20:17,28, 
 where the elders (or presbyters) of the cburch at 
 Ephesus are exhorted to take heed to all the flock, 
 over which the Holy Ghost had mads them overseers, 
 (or bishops.) 
 
 * Encyc. Rel. Knowledge, pp. 619—20. 
 
22 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 Rightfully, then, the churches can be subjected to 
 no g-overnment but that of Jesus Christ. So far as 
 human authority is concerned, they are free corpora- 
 tions ; not governed, but acting voluntarily, each mem- 
 ber being entitled to an equal voice. If pastors assume 
 an arbitrary control over the churches, they are usurp- 
 ers ; if, on the contrary, they yield a servile submis- 
 sion to the churches, they are recreants. Their office 
 is one, neither of dominion, nor of vassalage ; but of 
 guardianship, instruction, and guidance. 
 
 The foregoing sketch, the writer is aware, contains 
 but a meagre view of matters so important as the con- 
 stitution, organization, and government of a Christian 
 church, — matters which every Christian, and especial- 
 ly every Baptist, ought thoroughly to understand. A 
 more extended discussion of them here, it was thought, 
 would be out of place. So much, however, was 
 deemed suitable, as introductory to the subject of 
 CHURCH DISCIPLINE, to which we now proceed. 
 
 ^ 5. THE TRUE IDEA OF CHURCH DISCI- 
 PLINE. 
 
 A body of soldiers may be said to be well disciplined, 
 not when the court martial is constantly busy in re- 
 pressing acts of insubordination among them, but 
 when they are so generally observant of the orders of 
 their commander, and of all the military regulations 
 under which they are placed, that there are few such 
 acts to be repressed. In speaking of the discipline of 
 an arnjy, we of course embrace in our meaning the 
 
TRUE IDEA OF CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 23 
 
 correction of military offences. But this is not the 
 whole of our meaning. We include in it, also, that 
 process of military instruction and training, by which 
 soldiers are formed, and fitted for active and efiicient 
 service ; and by which, in performing that service, 
 whether in the camp or the field, they are all brought 
 to regulate their movements by a common rule. 
 
 In like manner, a family may be said to be well dis- 
 ciplined, not when punishment is frequent, but when 
 the parental authority is so habitually regarded that 
 the necessity of punishment is rare. Indeed, the fre- 
 quent recurrence of such a necessity, however prompt- 
 ly it may be met, is an indication of previous negli- 
 gence, in respect to a nobler, if not a more important 
 branch of family discipline. Let children be faithfully 
 trained up, from the first, in the way they should go ; 
 and when they have become accustomed to that way, 
 they will seldom depart from it. The necessity of 
 that corrective discipline which is designed to reclaim 
 them from the ways they should not go, wiU thus, in 
 a great measure, be obviated. If they are formed 
 aright, — if they are made to understand their filial and 
 fraternal obligations, and trained, by exercise, to the 
 proper discharge of these obligations, — there will be 
 little occasion to reform them. And in no other way 
 can the true idea of family discipline be realized. 
 Without this, chastisement may be inflicted, as often 
 as the caprice of the parent may dictate ; but it is not 
 disciphne. 
 
 These examples may aid us in obtaining a clear, 
 and at the same time a sufllciently comprehensive view 
 
24 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 of the subject before us. We may say of a Christian 
 church, that it is well disciplined, not when perpetu- 
 ally engaged in efforts to reclaim offenders, but when 
 there are few offenders to be reclaimed. That notion 
 of church discipline, which regards it as pertaining 
 entirely, or chiefly, to the settlement of difficulties, 
 and the treatment of cases of delinquency, is alto- 
 gether too limited. It takes a far wider range. It 
 embraces such a judicious administration of the laws 
 of Christ in his visible kingdom, and such a training of 
 his subjects to habits of active obedience, that diffi- 
 culties and delinquencies shall scarcely be known. 
 Like military and family discipline, it includes a for- 
 mative, as well as a corrective, or reformative pro- 
 cess. It aims at the security and advancement of 
 those who stand, as well as the recovery of those who 
 have fallen ; and takes in the whole system of meas- 
 ures by which both these objects are to be effected. 
 It implies, in short, nothing less than a full and faith- 
 ful application of those scriptural rules and principles, 
 which were designed to preserve the order of the 
 churches, to promote the purity, harmony, and useful 
 efficiency of their faithful members, and to separate 
 the incorrigibly unfaithful from their communion and 
 fellowship. 
 
 Such, it is conceived, is the true idea of church 
 discipline. It will be seen that the subject naturally 
 divides itself into two branches, or parts, which, for 
 convenience, may be termed, as above, 
 I. Formative ; 
 II. Corrective. 
 
TERMS OF CHURCH MEMBERSHIP. 25 
 
 PART FIRST. 
 
 FORMATIVE CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 Under this head, we may include all the means to 
 be employed for the promotion, in the members of a 
 church, of a healthful, and vigorous piety. It is not 
 the design of the writer, in the present inquiry, to 
 enter into a minute and particular consideration of 
 every thing pertaining to this part of the subject. A 
 few suggestions of a brief and general character, must 
 suffice. 
 
 ^ 6. TERMS OF CHURCH MEMBERSHIP. 
 
 The most perfect system of discipline, when applied 
 to unsuitable subjects, cannot be expected to produce 
 valuable results. A careful adherence, therefore, to 
 the scriptural terms of church membership, if not 
 strictly a part of the formative process under consider- 
 ation, may at least be regarded as essential to its 
 success. 
 
 A military officer, sent out to enlist and train re- 
 cruits, will not receive the crippled, the paralytic, and 
 the blind. He wants perfect and able-bodied men, 
 who are capable of rendering active service, and of 
 enduring hardness as good soldiers. The same prin- 
 ciple is applicable to those who aspire to be numbered 
 with the soldiers of the cross. None are wanted in 
 3 
 
26 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 the Christian army, but such as actually possess, 
 through the enlightening and quickening operations of 
 the Holy Ghost, spiritual perceptions, sensibilities, and 
 capacities. None are wanted but such as have been 
 "born of the Spirit." (John 3:5,6.) Every at- 
 tempt to bring persons of an oppos.ite character under 
 the influence of a salutary formative church discipline, 
 must necessarily prove unavailing. " The natural man 
 receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they 
 are foolishness unto him ; neither can he know them, 
 because they are spiritually discerned." (iCor. 2 : 14.) 
 No government will admit into its military service 
 persons who refuse to acknowledge its supremacy, and 
 who persist in yielding allegiance to a foreign usurper. 
 Upon the same principle, before any can with propriety 
 be enrolled in the sacramental host, they must forsake 
 the armies of the aliens, and be reconciled to their 
 rightful moral sovereign. They must cease to be 
 strangers and foreigners, and be made fellow-citizens 
 with the saints, and of the household of God. (Eph. 
 2 : 11 — 19.) The Lord Jesus wants none as soldiers, 
 who, in the hour of conflict, will desert his standard, 
 and go over to the enemy. Nor can it be doubted that 
 he requires his associated disciples to guar4 with vigi- 
 lance, so far as they may, against the admission of 
 such into the churches to which they themselves be- 
 long. It is not theirs, indeed, to know the hearts of 
 any. This, the great Head of the church has reserved 
 in his own power. His people may be, and often are, 
 imposed upon by a counterfeit piety, where there ex 
 ists no true devotion of the heart to God. (Acts 
 
TERMS OF CHURCH MEMBERSHIP. 27 
 
 5 : 1 — JO ; 8 : 13, 22, &c.) But still he has made it 
 their duty, in relation to such as seek a place in the 
 visible church, faithfully to examine, and impartially 
 to judge ; and to receive within its sacred enclosure 
 those only in whom they find, or believe they find, the 
 distinctive traits of Christian character. 
 
 The essential qualifications for membership in a 
 Christian church, are repentance and faith. (Acts 
 2:38; Mark 16 : 16.) One of the laws of Christ, 
 which his churches are bound inviqlably to maintain, 
 forbids that any should be admitted to membership, 
 ujiless they give evidence of possessing these qualifi- 
 cations. A mere profession of repentance, in words, 
 unsupported by any farther proof of a gracious reno- 
 vation of heart, is not sufficient. Where it truly ex- 
 ists, there will be a brokenness of heart, and a contri- 
 tion and humility of spirit, which in most cases may 
 easily be discovered. (Psalm 51 : 17 ; Isa. 57 : 15 ; 
 66 : 2.) The appropriate fruits of repentance, also, — 
 confession and forsaking of sin, and a cheerful per- 
 formance of the duties of religion, — are of such a na- 
 ture as scarcely to remain invisible. It cannot be 
 right to receive into the churches, persons in whom 
 these tokens and fruits of repentance are wanting. 
 (Matt. 3:8.) 
 
 Nor is it sufficient that they make a mere avowal of 
 their faith. The sincerity and genuineness of this 
 exercise should be made apparent, by a course of ac- 
 tion answerable in some good degree to the nature of 
 the truths believed. At least, there ought to be a 
 manifestation of willingness to enter upon such a 
 
28 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 course. (James 2 : 14 — 26.) It cannot be expected, 
 indeed, and ought not to be demanded, that converts, 
 seeking a home in the churches, should be theologians, 
 capable of passing judgment upon creeds and confes- 
 sions of faith. In many of them, doubtless, there will 
 be found a surprising degree of ignorance, even in 
 relation to those first principles and rudimental truths, 
 which to the experienced Christian are familiar as 
 household words. Still, none who are of a meek and 
 contrite spirit should be rejected, simply because they 
 are unable to give a correct and satisfactory account of 
 Christian doctrine. As well might hardy, vigorous, 
 and patriotic men, offering themselves as military 
 recruits, be rejected, because they are not already 
 masters of the military art. The question for the 
 churches to decide in regard to candidates for member- 
 ship, is not, whether they have an accurate knowledge 
 of Christianity as a system, but whether they have felt 
 its renovating power. If they evidently love the Lord 
 Jesus Christ, and if they are inquiring, like Saul of 
 Tarsus, with an honest purpose to know and obey, 
 " Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" — their faith, 
 however weak, is unquestionably genuine. (John 
 14:23; Acts 9:6.) 
 
 It may be added, that persons asking membership in 
 the churches should evince a cheerful readiness to give 
 themselves, not only to the Lord, but also to his peo- 
 ple by his will. (2 Cor. 8:5.) There ought to be, 
 on the part of such, a cordial recognition of the 
 authority of Christ, as sole and exclusive, in matters 
 of religious faith and practice ; and a willingness to 
 
TERMS OF CHURCH BIEMBERSHIP. 29 
 
 submit themselves to all the regulations which he has 
 been pleased to establish in his visible kingdom. If 
 they seek to participate in the benefits of church union, 
 they should not be reluctant to contribute to these 
 benefits. If they share equally in all the privileges of 
 the association, it is no more than reasonable that they 
 should bear also an equal share, according to their 
 ability, in all its responsibilities, — its pecuniary bur- 
 dens,* its spiritual labors, and its devotional exercises. 
 
 * 2 Cor. 8 : 12 — 14. " For if there be first a willing mind, it is 
 accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that 
 he hath not. For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye bur- 
 dened ; but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance 
 may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be 
 a supply for your want, that there may be equality." 
 
 In the opinion of the writer, the obligation of each church mem- 
 ber to bear an equal proportion of the necessary pecuniary bur- 
 dens of the church to which he belongs, according to his ability, is 
 a just and fair inference from the above passage. This inference 
 cannot be evaded, by alleging, as some have alleged, that the 
 equality insisted upon had respect, not to church members, but to 
 churches. For if the apostle thought it right that there should be 
 an essential equality between the churches of Achaia and those of 
 Macedonia, even in regard to their religious charities, — it is still 
 more obviously right, that there should be a like equality between 
 different members of the same church, in regard to those necessary 
 expenditures in which they have a common interest. Indeed, the 
 man who seeks to bear less of the pecuniary burdens of the 
 church to which he belongs, than a just and equal average system 
 would lay upon him, — at the same time seeks to impose upon his 
 brethren, more of that burden, by so much, than a just and equal 
 average system would lay upon them. He seeks, in other words, 
 to do that which must be regarded as a violation of one of the 
 plainest principles of common honesty. With a view to cast 
 odium upon the average plan, the disingenuous cry of " Taxation !" 
 is often raised by covetous church'members : or, if the justness of 
 3* 
 
30 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 The obligation to do this, should be distinctly under- 
 stood, and freely admitted, by every applicant for mem- 
 bership ; and he should know that in uniting himself 
 with the disciples of Christ, he becomes pledged with 
 them to the maintenance of the Christian ordinances 
 and worship, to the cultivation of every Christian 
 grace, and to the practice of every Christian virtue. 
 Should any refuse to acknowledge and submit them- 
 selves to a rule so obviously just and salutary, — what- 
 ever may be their standing, wealth, or influence, the 
 church is bound to reject them from her fellowship. 
 She cannot be benefitted by the multiplication of mem- 
 bers who obey no law but their own caprice ; nor is 
 she at liberty to sanction the solemn burial into the 
 likeness of Christ's death, of those who are determin- 
 ed still to live to the world. The house of prayer 
 must not be made a den of thieves. The communion 
 of the faithful must afford no lurking place for wicked 
 and slothful servants. • 
 
 ^ 7. IMPORTANCE AND NECESSITY OF 
 MAINTAINING FORMATIVE DISCIPLINE. 
 
 Whatever advancement the older members of a 
 church may have made in spiritual knowledge and per- 
 
 that plan be acknowledged, it is sometimes captiously alleged that 
 the expenditures of the church are extravagantly large. To avoid 
 these evils, every candidate for membership should admit his obli- 
 gation, not only to be on terms of equality with his brethren in 
 sustaining all necessary expenditures, — but also, in regard to the 
 question what expenditures are necessary, to submit to the judg- 
 ment of the body. 
 
OF MAINTAINING FORMATIVE DISCIPLINE. 31 
 
 sonal holiness, there is still sufficient room for their 
 improvement. At the same time, there will be found 
 in the younger, and especially in the newly converted, 
 a deficiency in these respects, indicating that a forma- 
 tive process, by which the higher traits of Christian 
 character may be developed, is urgently demanded in 
 their case. It will be found that great numbers of this 
 class have only a slight acquaintance even with the 
 simplest elements of the Christian system, and conse- 
 quently, that they are only partially under the influ- 
 ence of Christian principle. Many of them, doubtless, 
 are well informed in regard to secular matters. Some 
 have been trained up in pious families, or taught in 
 Sunday-schools and Bible-classes, and have thus be- 
 come, in a greater or less degree, familiar with the 
 Scriptures. But there are others, — and in a period 
 signalized, like the present, by extensive and powerful 
 revivals of religion, they are not few, but many, — who 
 have been raised up from the depths of mental and 
 moral degradation. They have been compelled to 
 come in from the highways and hedges. They have 
 been gathered from by-places and neglected neighbor- 
 hoods, where ignorance and superstition have combined 
 to form a sort of semi-heathenism, and where the gos- 
 pel has shed but a dim and doubtful light. Some have 
 been rescued from the dominion of the man of sin ; 
 and many, very many, have been snatched from the 
 yawning abyss of infidelity. These have in general 
 but a limited knowledge of religious truth. They 
 have only just begun to make it their study, and have 
 yet, in many instances, to learn its first principles. 
 
32 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 And yet, it ought not to be forgotten, that according 
 to the democratic and scriptural constitution of our 
 churches, every convert admitted to membership is 
 placed at once upon a footing of equality with those 
 who were previously members. Whether wise or un- 
 wise, whether well informed or ignorant, each is enti- 
 tled to an equal voice in every decision of the body. 
 Hence, the action of the body is but the combined 
 action of a majority of the individuals composing it j 
 and the character of the body, in like manner, must 
 correspond to the general character of its members. 
 It will be obvious, therefore, that great accessions to 
 the churches, (especially if many of the converts have 
 but a slight knowledge of the Scriptures,) must have 
 an unfavorable modifying influence upon their charac- 
 ter ; and that the only way to save them from a rapid 
 deterioration, is to instruct the new members faithfully 
 in the doctrine of Christ, and to train them carefully to 
 discharge the duties he has enjoined. 
 
 Persons recently converted always need such in- 
 struction and training. As a mass, they may be 
 regarded as in a state of spiritual infancy, — as children 
 in understanding, unskilful in the word of righteous- 
 ness, and liable to be tossed to and fro, and carried 
 about with every wind of doctrine. They are in their 
 novitiate, — in the incipient stages, so to speak, of the 
 Christian life, from which it is desirable that they 
 should pass on to higher measures of knowledge and 
 grace. The process of enlightenment and sanctifica- 
 tion is, indeed, begun in them, but they need to be 
 taught more perfectly the way of the Lord, and train- 
 
OF MAINTAINING FORMATIVE DISCIPLINE. 33 
 
 ed to conform their hearts and lives more fully to his 
 revealed will. They possess within themselves al- 
 ready, to some extent, the distinguishing traits of 
 Christian character. " The Spirit itself," by the pro- 
 duction of right affections, dispositions, and exercises, 
 " beareth witness with their spirits that they are the 
 children of God ; ' ' but it is essential to their highest 
 happiness, as well as usefulness, that, by a blameless 
 and holy life, in which the controlling power of Chris- 
 tian principle is perpetually manifest, they should bear 
 the same witness before the world . 
 
 A faithful and diligent use of the means by w^hich 
 Christians are to be aided in their advancement to these 
 higher grades of knowledge, piety, and usefulness, is 
 what is intended by formative discipline. The impor- 
 tance of maintaining this branch of discipline will 
 scarcely be denied. At least, it will be denied by 
 none who have made themselves extensively acquainted 
 with the spiritual condition of the churches, and have 
 marked the consequences of its neglect, in the feeble, 
 sickly, and superficial character which belongs to much 
 of the piety, — if indeed it be piety, — of the present 
 age. These need not be told, that the members of 
 churches who actually grow in grace and knowledge, 
 and acquire any considerable eminence as Christians, 
 are comparatively few ; while the many, when they 
 have been baptized and enrolled upon the church book, 
 seem to imagine that they have reached the maximum 
 of Christian attainment. Years pass away, and it is 
 found that instead of making any improvement, they 
 have in fact declined from the freshness and fervor of 
 
34 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 their early love. There is little or no enlargement dis- 
 coverable in their vievv^s of divine truth. There is 
 little or no perceptible increase of their spirituality. 
 They may not be guilty of flagrant immoralities ; but 
 they appear to be governed scarcely less by the max- 
 ims of the world, and scarcely more by the holy and 
 benevolent principles of Christianity, than formerly. 
 In seasons of religious excitement, they may be visited 
 with violent paroxysms of zeal ; but these are of short 
 duration. In general, they exhibit just enough of the 
 form of godliness, — to say nothing of its power, — and 
 perform just enough of the external duties of religion, 
 to retain their standing in the church, and to avoid its 
 censures. It is clear that such members can add 
 nothing to the real strength and efficiency of a church. 
 They may be truly regenerate. It is the part of char- 
 ity to hope the best in their case. But if they are 
 embraced in the spiritual family, it must be confessed 
 that they remain in the dwarfishness of spiritual child- 
 hood. They are still in the condition of undisciplined 
 recruits, who belong, indeed, to the Christian army, 
 and wear the uniform of Christian soldiers ; but who 
 have never been trained, or at least have never learned, 
 to wield the weapons of the Christian warfare, and to 
 move in concert with the embattled hosts of God. 
 
 Such a state of things, wherever it may exist, indi- 
 cates not only the necessity of a more thorough forma- 
 tive discipline, but also the obligation of the churches 
 to maintain it. Upon these rests the responsibility, — 
 if not of the advancement of their members in Chris- 
 tian excellence, — at least, of employing the means by 
 
OF MAINTAINING FORMATIVE DISCIPLINE. 35 
 
 which that advancement is to be promoted. It is not 
 enoug-h, that such as have been made disciples should 
 be baptized, and gathered into the visible kingdom of 
 their Lord : they must be taught to observe all things 
 whatsoever he has commanded. (Matt. 28 : 19, 20.) 
 They should be made familiar vtith the great princi- 
 ples of Christian doctrine and duty ; and instructed so 
 to apply them as to discriminate between truth and 
 error, between right and wrong. As the apostle ex- 
 presses it, they should " have their senses exercised, 
 by reason of use, to discern both good and evil." 
 (Heb. 5 : 14.) It "is thus that the germs of Christian 
 character implanted within them are to be expanded 
 and matured ; until, ceasing to be children, and putting 
 away the things that pertain to childhood, they attain 
 to the full stature, and acquire the full strength, stabil- 
 ity, and firmness of perfect men in Christ ; until, add- 
 ing to their faith, not only knowledge, but virtue, 
 temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, 
 and charity, they exhibit to all observers a living and 
 beautiful illustration of the power of the gospel, to 
 produce whatever is pure, and lovely, and of good re- 
 port. (Eph. 4 : 13, 14 ; 2 Peter 1 • 5—7 ; Phil. 4 : 8.) 
 I have said that the responsibility of employing 
 such measures as are adapted to effect this object, 
 rests upon the churches. It is not intended, by this 
 remark, to exonerate the ministry from obligation. 
 Far from it. On the contrary, the ministry being one 
 of the chief agencies of the church in all her spiritual 
 labors, must of necessity share, in a highly important 
 sense, in all her spiritual responsibilities. Still, it 
 
36 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 should be recollected that the ministry is of the church, 
 and not the church of the ministry ; and farther, that 
 the ministry can have little efficiency, except in so far 
 as it is sustained by the church. Ministers, unques- 
 tionably, are under greater obligations than others, in 
 proportion to the greater influence which their official 
 station, and perhaps their superior talents, may give 
 them ; and their solicitude that they may be instru- 
 mental in "the perfecting of the saints," — their 
 earnest desire to " impart unto them some spiritual gift, 
 to the end that they may be established,'' — should 
 correspond to the strength of their obligations. (Eph. 
 4 : 12 ; Rom. 1:11.) The language of Paul, in res- 
 pect to this feeling of deep solicitude, as it existed in 
 himself, is exceedingly strong. He tells us of toiling 
 even to weariness, of agonizing, as in a conflict, and 
 with more than mortal energy,* — " that he might pre- 
 sent every man perfect in Christ Jesus." (Col. 1: 
 28,29.) Of such as failed to make that progress in 
 the Christian life which he thought desirable, he speaks 
 of "travailing in birth again, until Christ should be 
 formed in them." (Gal. 4 : 19.) He was unwilling 
 that any whose Christian character was formed under 
 his influence, should remain in a state of spiritual in- 
 fancy and pupilage. He was anxious that they should 
 speedily acquire such a measure of discernment and 
 skill, as would not only secure them against the at- 
 tempts of corrupters, but fit them also to teach others 
 the w^ay of truth. Hence, if any who, for the time, 
 
 * Our version of the passage, entirelj' fails to exhibit the strong 
 emphasis of the original. 
 
F0R31ATIVE MEASURES. 37 
 
 ought to have been teachers, needed themselves to be 
 taught the very rudiments of Christianity, he reproved 
 and admonished them. He exhorted them, having 
 laid " the foundation of repentance from dead works, 
 and of faith toward God," and having become settled 
 in respect to the first principles of the gospel, to go on 
 to perfection ; no longer to be children, imposed upon 
 and turned aside by deceivers, but perfect men, evinc- 
 ing the strength and steadfastness of maturity. (Heb, 
 5 : 12 ; 6:1,2, &c.) If there existed, even in the 
 apostolic age, a state of things which rendered such 
 reproofs and exhortations necessary, it cannot be 
 doubted that they are at least equally necessary in our 
 own times. Nor should the spirit which prompted 
 them be found in the ministry alone. It should be the 
 pervading spirit of the churches. 
 
 ^ 8. rORIMATIYE MEASURES. 
 
 1. Among the measures by which the churches 
 should seek to promote in their members a high degree of 
 knowledge and holiness, and thus to fit them for the 
 active and eflBcient prosecution of every good work, — 
 it need scarcely be said that the provision of faithful 
 pastoral instruction is indispensable. The perfecting 
 of the saints, or, in other words, their gradual assimi- 
 lation to the character and will of their Lord, is one 
 important object for which the pastoral office was de- 
 signed, and to which those who sustain that office are 
 bound to devote themselves. (Eph. 4:11 — 16; 1 
 Tim. 4 : 15, 16.) It is theirs to feed the flock of God ; 
 4 
 
38 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 to nourish such as are in a state of spiritual childhood, 
 with the sincere milk of the word ; to make them fa- 
 miliar with the more obvious truths and duties of reli- 
 gion ; and thus, step by step, to lead them onward, 
 until they are able, at length, to contemplate with ad- 
 vantage the sublimest mysteries of the Christian faith, 
 and to attempt with success the loftiest heights of 
 Christian attainment. This, it may be repeated, is 
 one important object for which the pastoral office was 
 designed ; nor can it reasonably be expected that this 
 object will be realized, to any considerable extent, 
 where an agency appointed expressly for its accom- 
 plishment, is neglected, or undervalued. The absence 
 of that agency ui any church, was evidently regarded, 
 by Paul, as a deficiency to be supplied. It was his 
 custom ' ' to ordain elders in every church' ' that had 
 been gathered through his evangelistic labors ; and 
 finding this impracticable, as it would seem, in Crete, 
 he left it in charge with Titus to perform that service, 
 and so to " set in order the things that were wanting." 
 (Acts 14 : 23 ; Titus 1:5.) Hence we may infer the 
 obhgation of every church, to take such measures as 
 may be requisite to fill the pastoral office, when va- 
 cant. 
 
 The writer would by no means assume the place of 
 an instructor of his brethren, in respect to the best 
 modes of discharging the duties of the pastoral rela- 
 tion. Still, he may be allowed to suggest, that the 
 spiritual improvement of the churches will be most 
 effectually secured, when these duties are not only 
 faithfully, but wisely and judiciously performed. It is 
 
FORMATIVE MEASURES. 39 
 
 not enough, that the advancement of all the flock, and 
 especially of the younger and feebler members, be 
 kept distmctly in view, as an important object of pas- 
 toral labor : the question, how that advancement may 
 be realized, should be deeply and carefully pondered. 
 It is not enough that the end be sought : the means 
 employed should be adapted to that end. In short, 
 every pastor should arrange according to his best 
 judgment, and prosecute with unwearied diligence, 
 such a system of formative measures, as he has reason 
 to beheve best calculated to promote the growth of the 
 weaker disciples in sound scriptural knowledge, and 
 practical piety ; and at the same time, to aid such as 
 have already made considerable progress, in their ad- 
 vance to still higher attainments. 
 
 2. Perhaps no one means would be found mpre 
 happily adapted to the end in view, than a thorough, 
 well-managed course of Bible-class instruction, — pro- 
 vided the attendance of those who most need that 
 instruction, could be secured. The pastor, however, 
 who would have his people reap the full benefit of a 
 measure of this kind, must be willing to devote to it 
 the full amount of attention and laborious study which 
 it demands. If he would meet his pupils to any good 
 purpose, he must not be satisfied with a slight and 
 hasty preparation ; he must take nothing upon trust, 
 from commentaries, or systems of divinity; — ^but 
 weigh every expression for himself, marking its con- 
 nexion, and carefully ascertaining its true meaning ; 
 *' searching into the scriptures, digging, with the pa- 
 tient investigating spirit of the miner, into hidden 
 
40 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 treasures of unsearchable riches."* Superficial study- 
 will lead unavoidably to superficial teaching ; and the 
 inejfficiency of such culture will be manifest in its 
 meagre results. To avoid this evil, the portion of 
 Scripture to be considered at any one time, should be 
 so short as to admit of a thorough examination of all 
 its parts, together with a copious illustration of the 
 leading truths, and a suitable enforcement of the prac- 
 tical lessons contained in it. Every point should be 
 stated clearly, and definitely, just as it is ; and what- 
 ever may seem obscure, or doubtful, should be explain- 
 ed, if practicable, by parallel passages, "comparing 
 Scripture with Scripture." Let the method of instruc- 
 tion here indicated, be regularly and perseveringly 
 pursued ; let the facts and principles, the precepts and 
 examples of the New Testament, be contemplated in 
 the order in which they stand, with all their harmoni- 
 ous relations, and mutual dependencies, until some con- 
 siderable portion of the Christian oracles has been 
 thoroughly investigated ; and, through the favor of 
 Him with w^hom it rests to give the increase, the rich- 
 est fruits may be anticipated. The Christian student 
 who receives the word thus dispensed with readiness 
 of mind, and carefully applies it to his own character 
 and life, will grow in grace and knowledge, and ex- 
 emplify in himself the salutary effects of the forma- 
 tive process we are commending. 
 
 It is certainly to be regretted, that this mode of 
 instruction cannot be brought to bear upon the mem- 
 
 * Bridges' Christian Ministry, vol. i. p. 70. 
 
FORMATIVE MEASURES. 41 
 
 bers of the churches generally ; and especially, that 
 such as have profited little by any other, should be the 
 last to appreciate its value. In most cases, the many 
 seem content that the advantages of the Bible-class, 
 whatever they may be, should be enjoyed exclusively 
 by the fevr. Nay, the least intelligent and spiritual 
 are often the most reluctant to avail themselves of this 
 means of increasing their knowledge and piety. 
 Ashamed of their low attainments, averse to the men- 
 tal labor essential to any decided improvement, and im- 
 patient, perhaps, of the spiritual light by which their 
 spiritual delinquencies are reproved, — they satisfy them- 
 selves with waiting merely upon the public ministrations 
 of the sanctuary, and leave the broad field of scriptural 
 research and investigation to be explored by others. 
 
 To secure, in these, such an acquaintance with 
 the sacred oracles as may tend to their edification, 
 and advancement in practical godliness, — something 
 more is requisite than the ordinary method of preach- 
 ing from a single, isolated text, selected at discretion, 
 and frequently used merely as a convenient motto. 
 Let the same kind of instruction usually imparted in 
 Bible-classes, be given in an extended course of famil- 
 iar expository lectures, addressed to the public assem- 
 bly, where no one fears to be questioned, or to have 
 his ignorance exposed; and the good effected, if not 
 .so great in the case of a few individuals, will be far 
 more generally diffused. In this way, the discussion 
 of many important points, both of doctrine and duty, 
 which might otherwise have been overlooked or neg- 
 lected, will be secured ; a rich variety of instruction, 
 *4 
 
42 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 adapted to the wants of all, — not only milk for babes, 
 but strong meat for them that are of full age, — will 
 constantly be supplied ; and it may be hoped that the 
 disciples, thus taught, will evince, by a steady increase 
 in knowledge, holiness, and active zeal, that " all 
 Scripture is profitable, for doctrine, for reproof, for 
 correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the 
 man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto 
 all good works." (2 Tim. 3 : 16, 17.) 
 
 In addition to the above suggestions, it may be sub- 
 mitted, whether recent converts would not be greatly 
 profited, by receiving from the pastor a more private 
 course of instruction and traming, somewhat after the 
 manner of the ancient catechumens. A weekly inter- 
 view with persons professing to belong to this class, 
 whether baptized or not, might contribute essentially 
 to their establishment in the elementary truths, or first 
 principles of the Christian doctrine, as well as to their 
 settled conviction of the imperative claims of Christian 
 duty. It would afibrd opportunity to become acquaint- 
 ed with their religious experience, and spiritual state ; 
 to administer^ as might be needful, either encourage- 
 ment or admonition ; to apprise them of their obliga- 
 tions, as disciples of the Lord Jesus, and as members 
 of his visible church ; and to accustom them, by prac- 
 tice, to the various acts of social worship. At the 
 same time, there would spring up in the converts thus 
 instructed, as one of the fruits of an association so in- 
 timate and sacred, a strong and increasing attachment 
 to each other, and to their spiritual guide. The wri- 
 ter may be permitted to mention his acquaintance with 
 
FORMATIVE MEASURES. 43 
 
 a pastor, who was in the habit of pursuing the course 
 here indicated. The results were such as might have 
 been expected. He stated that the evening devoted to 
 his catechumens, as he called them, was, in his judg- 
 ment, the most profitably employed of any in the week ; 
 that, in general, they held on their way, and grew 
 stronger and stronger, — discharging their duty, not like 
 disorderly militia men, but like trained and practised 
 veterans ; and that some of them were already among the 
 most spiritual, as well as the most active and useful 
 members of the church. 
 
 3. It seems desirable that the formative process un- 
 der consideration, should include a diligent inculcation 
 of just and scriptural views in regard to the nature and 
 design of the Christian ordinances ; and the obligation, 
 based upon the authority of the great Lawgiver, to 
 keep them as they were delivered. Nor is an accu- 
 rate knowledge of the scriptural constitution, govern- 
 ment, and discipline of the churches, less important. 
 The apprehended charge of bigotry, or sectarianism, 
 should not be suffered to deter those who are ' ' set for 
 the defence of the gospel," from declaring, in relation 
 to these matters, the whole counsel of God. In a 
 course of Bible-class instruction, or expository preach- 
 ing, ample opportunities will arise of presenting them 
 in the best and most effective manner. And the 
 deplorable consequences of a departure from the New 
 Testament rule, and from the primitive practice, as 
 developed in almost every page of ecclesiastical his- 
 tory, may furnish conclusive reasons why these oppor- 
 tunities should be faithfully improved. 
 
44 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 An essential part of the formative discipline which 
 should be maintained in every church, is the cultivation, 
 of a brotherly spirit. Each member should be taught 
 to cherish a kind and sympathizing interest in the wel- 
 fare of each ; cheerfully to deny himself for the general 
 good ; and patiently to bear whatever may be borne, 
 consistently with a conscience void of offence, rather 
 than to interrupt the harmony of the body. (Rom. 15 : 
 1—3 ; Gal. 6 : 2 ; Phil. 2 : 2—4, &c.) The obligation 
 of Christians to love one another, and in all their in- 
 tercourse with each other to pursue such a course of 
 action as love would dictate, is largely insisted upon in 
 the New Testament writings. Nor can any pastor be 
 accounted a faithful expositor of these writings, who 
 neglects the frequent and earnest inculcation of a grace, 
 which by the decision of our Lord himself, constitutes 
 the grand proof of Christian character. ' ' By this shall 
 all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love 
 one to another." (John 13 : 35 ; 1 John 3 : 14.) 
 
 The object of this branch of discipline is not fully 
 attained in the churches, until the authority of Christ, 
 whatever may be the subject of his instructions or com- 
 .mands, is held to be supreme. While his disciples re- 
 gird his revealed will as the exclusive standard and 
 rule of every religious institution, and every religious 
 duty, — they should be taught to acknowledge, also, in 
 its full extent, the moral code which he has sanctioned, 
 and promptly to discharge all the relative obligations 
 which it imposes. That code is essentially one of be- 
 nevolence. It demands of every subject of moral gov- 
 ernment, not merely that he should do justly, — this the 
 
FORMATIVE MEASURES. 45 
 
 world itself demands, — but that he should love mercy. 
 It condemns, as murderous, that cold-hearted selfish- 
 ness which heeds not the cry of the benighted and 
 perishing ; which forbears to deliver them that are 
 drawn, either literally, or in a spiritual sense, unto 
 death ; which passes, with averted eye and ear, the 
 bound and bleeding victim, and says,. "Behold, we 
 knew it not." It enjoins the exercise of an impartial 
 and universal philanthropy. Emanating from Him who 
 was the incarnation of good will to man, it requires 
 that all who would approve themselves his followers, 
 should be distinguished by an active imitation of his 
 free mercy ; that by such means as may be in their 
 power, and as he has prescribed, they should attempt 
 the relief of human suffering, in all its varied forms ; 
 and especially that they should strive to convey the 
 blessings of redemption throughout the dominions of 
 ignorance and sin, and thus to cast the salt of divine 
 healing into the very fountains of sorrow. Let the 
 members of the churches be thoroughly instructed in 
 the true principles of Christian benevolence, and train- 
 ed to habits of corresponding action, and it will be found 
 that there are ample resources for every department of 
 the great work of evangelization. To prosecute this 
 work, by a faithful use of the appointed instrumental- 
 ities, — however it may have been neglected, — has ever 
 been, and still is, the chief business which should en- 
 gage the attention and employ the energies of the 
 churches. The command, "Go, disciple all nations," 
 is no less imperative to-day, than it was when it feU 
 from the lips of the ascending Redeemer. And the 
 
46 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 promise, "Lo, I am with you alway," is no less sure 
 to be verified to all who fulfil the condition, than it was 
 to the primitive disciples, who were supported by it in 
 their work of faith and labor of love. The evangelistic 
 spirit, therefore, — ^by which is meant a readiness, ac- 
 cording to the ability which God giveth, and in the sta- 
 tion which God may appoint, actively to participate in 
 the evangelistic work, — is an essential element, both of 
 Christian character, and of moral power. It is the 
 spirit of Christ ; and if any have it not, they are none 
 of his. It is the condition upon which his presence 
 is pledged to his disciples ; and without him they 
 can do nothing. Let the authority of Christ be ac- 
 knowledged, and his commands obeyed, — let every 
 Christian, like the good soldier in a well disciplined 
 army, be at his post, and ready to do his duty, — and no 
 moral or benevolent enterprise will languish for the 
 lack either of laborers, or of means. 
 
 4. In regard to all these matters, and whatever else 
 pertains to the formative discipline of the churches, or, 
 in other words, the just and full development of Chris- 
 tian character in their members, — ^much, unquestion- 
 ably, depends upon pastoral fidelity. It belongs to 
 pastors, as a part of their appropriate work, to instruct 
 the ignorant, to encourage the feeble and desponding, 
 to admonish the delinquent and slothful, and to "take 
 heed to all the flock ;" "watching for their souls, as 
 they that must give account ;" leading them forward 
 in the knowledge of every truth, and the practice of every 
 duty, by which their spirituality or usefulness may be 
 promoted ; and laboring by all means, and unceasingly, 
 
FORMATIVE BIEASURES. 47 
 
 that they may " present every man perfect in Christ 
 Jesus." They are authorized, indeed, in the perform- 
 ance of this work, to claim the co-operation of the 
 members generally, and especially of such as are qual- 
 ified by age and experience to be teachers. (Col. 3 : 
 16 ; Heb. 5 : 12 ; 1 Cor. 16 : 15, 16.) And these, by 
 their mutual exhortations and warnings, their watchful 
 care over each other, and their earnest endeavors to be 
 helpers of each others' faith and joy, may render es- 
 sential service. But still, no such co-operation can 
 relieve pastors from their own peculiar responsibilities. 
 Upon them, as spiritual overseers and guides, the obli- 
 gation is imperative, to preach the word ; to reprove, 
 rebuke, exhort, pubhcly and privately, in season, and 
 out of season ; warning every man, and teaching every 
 man in all wisdom ; pointing each to the path of life ; 
 and by their own examples, leading the way. (2 Tim. 
 4:2; Col. 1 : 28 ; 1 Peter 5 : 3.) 
 
 It should be observed, here, that the duty of in- 
 structing the disciples, with which pastors are charged, 
 implies a corresponding duty on their part, to receive 
 instruction. No church member should be regarded 
 as fulfilling his obligations in this respect, who is not 
 accustomed to attend, so far as providence will permit, 
 upon the word, worship and ordinances of Christ's 
 house. (Heb. 10 : 25.) There is in many a sort of 
 capriciousness in regard to this duty, — a habit of doing 
 as they please, — of most pernicious tendency, and de- 
 serving of most decided rebuke. Whether these law- 
 less ones are found with their brethren, either in the 
 sanctuary, or in their more private occasional meetings 
 
48 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 for business or devotion, depends, not upon any settled 
 principles of action to which they feel themselves 
 bound to adhere, but altogether upon their own incli- 
 nation. They acknowledge no subordination ; they 
 conform to no rule. Such a course, on the part of 
 church members, cannot fail to be injurious, both to 
 their own spiritual interests, and to those of the body 
 to which they belong. It disheartens the pastor, and 
 leaves him to labor in uncertainty, and often in vain. 
 However faithfully and ably he may preach the word, 
 and however carefully his instructions may be adapted 
 to the wants of the flock, it can avail nothing to those 
 who are not there to hear. 
 
 5. The success of any measure, or system of 
 measures, by which the spiritual advancement of the 
 younger members of a church is sought, may be great- 
 ly promoted by the examples of their older brethren. 
 Or, on the other hand, these examples may be such as 
 to exert upon the newly converted, a blighting and 
 withering influence, and actually to retard their growth 
 in grace and knowledge. We are creatures of imita- 
 tion. The ambition of the boy is, that he may be like 
 his father. The mother's image is stamped upon her 
 child. So in spiritual things, the general character 
 and habits of the fathers and mothers in Israel are the 
 models, after which the sons and daughters will be 
 likely to form their own. Pastors are not alone re- 
 sponsible in this matter. It is theirs to instruct the 
 young disciples in all the principles and duties of 
 Christianity ; but it is needful, also, that an exemplifi- 
 cation of these principles and duties should be furnished, 
 
FORMATIVE MEASURES. 49 
 
 in the consistent, blameless, and useful piety of 
 the older members. It belongs to peistors, as subal- 
 terns under the great Captain of salvation, to train the 
 new recruits of the Christian army, to teach them the 
 use of the spiritual weapons, and to explain the rule 
 by which their movements should be regulated ; but it 
 belongs equally to the older members, as practised 
 soldiers of the cross, to set before these new recruits a 
 pattern, both of what they should do, and of what 
 they should become. The uniform exhibition of such 
 a pattern, by a band of Christian disciples, must be 
 highly favorable in its influence upon the converts who, 
 from time to time, may be added to their number. 
 Nor is it less true, that the absence of such a pattern 
 must produce a contrary effect. Example, in this 
 case, whether good or evil, will be found to possess a 
 rapidly assimilating power. 
 
 To illustrate, — Suppose a church of one hundred 
 members receives an accession of forty. The pastor, 
 having baptized the newly discipled, proceeds in ac- 
 cordance with the great commission, to instruct them 
 more perfectly in the way of the Lord, teaching them 
 to obser%'e all things whatsoever he has commanded. 
 (Matt. 28: 19, 20.) As they become familiar with 
 the precepts which define their obligations, as subjects 
 of the King in Zion, they naturally look to the breth- 
 ren who were in Christ before them, for an exemplifi- 
 cation of the duties enjoined. Happily, they do not 
 look in vain. They find themselves associated with a 
 peculiar people, — with men and women of strong 
 faith, and ardent zeal ; prompt in the discharge of 
 5 
 
50 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 every duty ; ready to engage in every good work ; and 
 evincing, by sober, righteous, and godly lives, that 
 they have indeed been redeemed from their vain con- 
 versation. A high degree of spirituality, and of holy 
 consecration to Christ, pervades the body. In the 
 public assembly, in the church conference, and in the 
 business meeting, the members are at their posts, pre- 
 pared to hear or to speak, to pray or to act, as circum- 
 stances may require. The Bible-class, the Sunday- 
 school, and the prayer meeting, are all sustained. 
 None of the interests of the church, either spiritual 
 or temporal, are neglected ; and none of the claims 
 of Christian benevolence are unheeded. It is e\ddent 
 that the brethren love the Lord, and that they delight 
 in his worship, and in his service. And they love 
 each other. Bound together by the ties of fraternal 
 sympathy, pursuing, each in his sphere, a common ob- 
 ject, and participating in a common hope, — they re- 
 joice in each other's joy, and present the lovely and 
 attractive spectacle of a band of brethren dwelling 
 together in unity. 
 
 Can it be doubted that the forty converts will be 
 greatly benefitted by so bright an exhibition of Christian 
 example ? Is it not reasonable to believe that pastoral 
 instruction, thus illustrated, will exert upon them an 
 augmented power? Will they not learn, in the con- 
 templation of that example, to aspire to the same ex- 
 alted measure of Christian excellence ? And will they 
 not be aided by it, in the cultivation of a vigorous and 
 manly piety? 
 Suppose, now, a church of difierent character. In 
 
FORMATIVE MEASURES. 51 
 
 numbers, it is equal to the other ; it has an equally- 
 able and faithful pastor ; and it receives an equal ac- 
 cession of converts, who are equally susceptible of the 
 influence of Christian example. But here, the parallel 
 between the two is at an end. The latter is charac- 
 terized by spiritual feebleness, and inefficiency. Its 
 members are slothful, remiss in duty, and especially 
 reluctant to bear any active part in social worship. 
 Many of them are habitually absent from the Sabbath 
 assembly. Not more than twenty, or twenty-five, can 
 be induced to attend a weekly church conference ; and 
 most of these come together, not as actors, but as 
 spectators. A few formal prayers are offered, and a 
 few heartless exhortations are given, with long inter- 
 vals between, which are painfully occupied by the 
 pastor in urging his brethren to improve the precious 
 time. Some twelve or fifteen of the members appear 
 at the regular church meeting for business. One com- 
 mittee, appointed at a former meeting, has neglect- 
 ed to act ; another is not present to report. The 
 subject of making provision for certain old arrear- 
 ages is taken up, but nothing is effected. Brother A. 
 and brother B., who have long been separated by a 
 mutual coldness and jealousy, come to open conflict. 
 Unchristian words pass between them, and they retire 
 to brood over imaginary wrongs, and to prepare for fu- 
 ture strife. A few of the brethren and sisters are la- 
 boring, in the midst of discouragements arising from 
 the general apathy of the church, to sustain a Sunday- 
 school. But brother C. is, in principle, decidedly 
 opposed to such schools ; and most of the other 
 
 b 
 
iliS CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 members, if they do not embrace his opinions, are 
 with him in practice. The Bible-class is treated with 
 similar neglect ; and when the claims of Christian 
 benevolence are presented, a ready reason why they 
 should be disregarded, and one which is likely to be 
 perpetual, is found in the fact that the church is al- 
 ready in debt for the support of the gospel at home. 
 Then, instead of that fervent charity which consti- 
 tutes the bond of Christian union, there is found 
 among the brethren a spirit of suspicion and distrust, 
 of bitter envying and strife, which will not fail to pro- 
 duce confusion and every evil work. (James 3 : 16.) 
 
 Now, what must be the effect of such a state of 
 things in a church, upon the converts who may become 
 connected with it 1 Will it not tend to repress in them 
 every upward aspiration ? Will it not diminish the influ- 
 ence upon them of pastoral admonition, however faith- 
 ful ? Will it not dispose them to aim at a low standard, 
 and to rest satisfied with a low measure of Christian at- 
 tainment ? Will they not be likely to catch the unlove- 
 ly spirit of their older brethren, to whom they naturally 
 look for examples'? And is it not morally certain, 
 that they will pursue the same erratic courses, and ex- 
 hibit the same repulsive deformities of character ? 
 
 These are not fancy sketches, mere creations of the 
 imagination, having no real existence. The originals 
 are to be seen. The outlines of both, at least in every 
 essential particular, have their counterparts in the ac- 
 tual condition of different churches. And the power 
 of example, both good and evil, may be traced more 
 clearly than words can express it, in the widely dis- 
 
FORMATIVE MEASURES. 53 
 
 similar character and habits of individual Christians, 
 resulting from the dissimilar influences under which 
 they have been trained. How important is it, then, 
 that these influences should be right ! How desirable 
 that every church member should strive, by his own 
 example, not merely to sustain, but to elevate the 
 standard of piety in the body to which he belongs ! 
 And how fearful the responsibility of those who, by 
 the violation of any Christian principle, or the neglect 
 of any Christian duty, are contributing to lower that 
 standard, and giving to a similar violation or neglect 
 on the part of others, the highest sanction in their 
 power ! Such are troublers of Israel, — children that 
 are corrupters, — inflicting an injury upon the younger 
 members of the churches to which they give charac- 
 ter, like that sustained by persons reared up in disor- 
 derly and ill-regulated families. As a general rule, it 
 can scarcely be expected that young converts will sur- 
 pass the models they are accustomed to contemplate. 
 They may be thoroughly taught ; but example is more 
 powerful than precept. The perfect rule of action 
 may be plainly and clearly set before them ; but they 
 will seldom aim at a larger measure of holiness than is 
 actually found in the leading members of the churches 
 to which they belong. In short, while they are fully 
 and faithfully instructed in the theory of Christianity, 
 it is equally necessary that a full and faithful exhibi- 
 tion of its practice should be placed before them. Nor 
 can any system of formative church discipline prove in 
 a high degree eflective, in which the two are not com- 
 bined. 
 
 5* 
 
54 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 PART SECOND. 
 
 ^ 9. CORRECTIVE CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 However vigilantly a church may be guarded against 
 the intrusion of unworthy members, and however 
 faithfully the means of preserving its purity and har- 
 mony may be observed, — still, it must be expected that 
 offences will arise. (Matt. 18:7.) There will be, in 
 spite of every effort to prevent it, an intermingling of 
 tares with the wheat, — of hay, w^ood and stubble, with 
 the gold, and silver, and precious stones of the sanc- 
 tuary. (Matt. 13 : 40—42 ; 1 Cor. 3 : 12.) Worldly 
 men, taking advantage of that charity which belie veth 
 all things, and thinketh no evil, will impose them- 
 selves upon the faithful. Unregenerate persons, 
 either hypocritical pretenders or self-deceivers, will 
 find their way into the churches ; and although their 
 true character may not be known with certainty, save 
 by the Searcher of hearts, until the all-discovering 
 light of eternity shall reveal it, — the working of the 
 corrupt principles by which they are secretly govern- 
 ed, will at times be manifest in their external acts. 
 So it has ever been ; and so, unquestionably, it will 
 continue to b"e^ until the day when " the Son of man 
 shall send forth his angels, and gather out of his king- 
 
CORRECTIVE CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 55 
 
 dom all things that offend, and them which do iniqui- 
 ty." (Matt. 13:41.) 
 
 Indeed, if it were not so, — if it were possible to 
 guard the churches so effectually that none but true 
 Christians should be found in them, — entire purity and 
 harmony would not thereby be secured. The saints 
 of God, in becoming such, do not attain at once to 
 perfection. There is yet a law in their members, 
 warring against the law of their minds, and sometimes 
 bringing them into captivity. (Rom. 7 : 23.) They 
 are exposed to temptation ; they are subject to sinful 
 propensities and passions ; they are liable to prejudice, 
 misconception, error, and wrong. Assailed by a. thou- 
 sand seductive influences, to which their own unsanc- 
 tified affections strongly incline them to yield, — it can 
 scarcely be thought surprising that they should often 
 swerve from the high path of Christian fidelity, and 
 that in some instances they should fall into -flagrant 
 and scandalous crimes. They do thus swerve, and 
 thus fall. Deeply as these proofs of imperfection in 
 the disciples of Jesus may be deplored, it is undenia- 
 ble that they actually exist, — nay, that, to some extent, 
 they existed in the apostles themselves. The mis- 
 guided and presumptuous zeal of Peter in rebuking 
 the Master, his base denial of that Master in the hour 
 of his peril, and the dissimulation by which, at An- 
 tioch, he sought to shun the offence of the cross, are 
 examples in point. And to these may be added the 
 vindictive spirit manifested by James and John towards 
 the Samaritan villages, their ambitious attempt to be 
 the greatest, and the indignation of the other ten 
 
56 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 against the two brothers, for a fault of which they 
 were perhaps equally guilty themselves. (Luke 9 : 
 46 ; 22 : 24.) The same unholy dispositions in which 
 these wrongs originated, — the same selfishness, pride, 
 and readiness to resent injuries, real or imaginary, — 
 still have place in the hearts of the truly regenerate ; 
 and though ordinarily held in check by the restraining 
 power of divine grace, they are often productive of 
 disorders, which can neither safely nor innocently be 
 tolerated in those who have a name and a place with 
 the saints. 
 
 It must needs be, then, in the present imperfect 
 state of the churches, that offences come. Consider- 
 ing the discordant elements of which they are compos- 
 ed, the perverseness of wicked men and seducers 
 under the guise of a hypocritical profession, the insta- 
 bility of self-deceivers, and the liable ness even of sin- 
 cere Christians to be betrayed into error and wrong, — 
 it may be said that causes are in operation, which ren- 
 der it morally certain that there will be offences. 
 (Luke 17:1.) Trespasses will be committed, and 
 strifes engendered ; heresies will be embraced, and 
 divisions fomented ; and not unfrequently gross immo- 
 ralities will be perpetrated. To ascertain, as definite- 
 ly as possible, what ought to be done for the removal 
 of these evils, whenever they are found to exist in the 
 churches, is the object of the present inquiry. The 
 proper treatment of offences, as prescribed by the law 
 of Christ, including the duties both of individual 
 Christians and of churches, is what we term correc- 
 tive, or reformative church discipline. 
 
POWER OF CORRECTIVE DISCIPLINE. 57 
 
 ^ 10. POWER OF THE CHURCHES TO 
 MAINTAIN CORRECTIVE DISCIPLINE. 
 
 1 . The power to maintain and exercise corrective 
 discipline, — in other words, the authority to take cog- 
 nizance of offences, and, after suitable means have been 
 used for the correction of existing evils, and the refor- 
 mation of evil-doers, to separate incorrigible trans- 
 gressors from the communion of the faithful, — appears 
 to be vested, by the law of Christ, in the churches. 
 The existence of this power in the churches, is often 
 distinctly recognized in the New Testament writings ; 
 while, on the other hand, no certain proof of its exis- 
 tence elsewhere can be found. 
 
 A sHght examination of the sacred record will be 
 sufficient to show, that the exercise of this power on 
 the part of the churches is in accordance with the 
 design of our Lord. No.other construction can fairly 
 be put upon his language in Matt. 18: 17. " If he 
 neglect to hear the church, let him be to thee as an 
 heathen man and a publican." The labors enjoined 
 upon individual members of the church, for the recla- 
 mation of the offender, having failed, — the matter was 
 to be submitted to the judgment and final decision of 
 the associated body. At this point, individual action 
 in the case would cease, or be merged in the action of 
 the body. If, then, the offender resisted that action, — 
 if he refused, or neglected to submit himself to the 
 judgment of the church, and to repair the wrong of 
 which he stood convicted, — he was henceforth to be 
 
58 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 regarded "as a heathen man and a publican," — no 
 longer to be recognized as a brother, or accounted a fel- 
 low disciple ; but declared by a solemn act of the body 
 to have forfeited and lost the standing which he had 
 previously held as one of its members. 
 
 That this power was actually exercised by the prim- 
 itive churches, is evident firom 1 Cor. 5 : 3 — 5, 13, com- 
 pared with 2 Cor. 2:6. Allusion is here made to a 
 case of aggravated wickedness, known to exist in the 
 Corinthian church, — in relation to which the apostle 
 holds the following language : " For I verily, as ab- 
 sent 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. — 
 Therefore, put away from among yourselves that wick- 
 ed person." Now it is observable, 1. That the ex- 
 clusion of the offender was expressly enjoined. He 
 was to be " put away." 2. That the act of exclusion 
 was to be the orderly, deUberate, united, and solemn 
 act of the assembled body. They were directed, " in 
 the name of our Lord Jesus Christ," — that is, by the au 
 thority with which, as a church he had invested them,— 
 " when they were gathered together, to deliver such an 
 one unto Satan." Such were the instructions of the 
 apostle, -UTiting as he did in the name and with the 
 power of Christ ; and the passage in his other epistle, 
 above referred to, shows that these instructions were 
 
I 
 
 POWER OF CORRECTIVE DISCIPLINE. 59 
 
 obeyed. " Sufficient to such a man," says he, " is this 
 censure, which was inflicted of many." 
 
 2. There is another point connected with the case 
 of the Corinthian oflfender, which ought not to be 
 overlooked. It would seem that Paul's directions to 
 the church in regard to that case, although communica- 
 ted by letter, were essentially the same that he would 
 have given, had he been present with them in person. 
 "I have judged already," said he, " as though I were 
 present, concerning him that hath so done this deed." 
 He had given them his opinion of the case, and had 
 pointed out the course to be pursued. His letter rep- 
 resented himself, — so that, though absent in body, he 
 was still to all intents and purposes present in spirit. 
 His opinion, his judgment, his authority as an apostle 
 of Jesus Christ, were there as effectually as if he him- 
 self had been there. His personal presence, then, it 
 may be supposed, would have made no difference in 
 respect to the course to be pursued ; for he had judged 
 already, as though he were present. The exclusion of 
 the offender must still have been the act of the 
 church. The censure incurred by such an one, must 
 still have been inflicted of many. They themselves 
 must still have put away from among them that wick- 
 ed person. The apostle, had he been present, would 
 not have done what, being absent, he instructed them 
 to do, as though he were present. At least, he would 
 not have done it, absolutely, and without their voice. 
 Doubtless he would have acted conjointly with the 
 church ; — indeed, he did so act in spirit ; — but with all 
 his power and authority, it can scarcely be supposed 
 
bU CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 that he would assume the right to excommunicate an 
 oifender, independently of the church to which he be- 
 long-ed. Had he possessed that right, his absence 
 would have been no obstacle to its exercise ; for he 
 judged as though he ivere present. 
 
 If these views are correct, they may aid us in judg- 
 ing of the excommunication of Hymeneus and Alex- 
 ander, — " whom," says the apostle, " I have deliver- 
 ed unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme." 
 (1 Tim. 1 : 20.) Did Paul act alone in this matter! 
 ]Si one can say positively that he did not. It is cer- 
 tain that he acted, and that no action on the part of 
 the church is recorded. At the same time, the fact 
 that he forbore to exclude the Corinthian, and distinct- 
 ly recognized the power of exclusion as residing in 
 the church, — may authorize the belief, that he was 
 not so absolute, go entirely alone, in the case under 
 consideration as some have supposed. The act in 
 question may have been performed by the church 
 under his spiritual oversight, instruction, and guidance ; 
 and he maiy speak of it as his own, because he direct- 
 ed, and participated in it. There is no certain proof 
 that it was not so, but on the contrary, a strong proba- 
 bility that it was. Indeed, if it were possible to show 
 that the apostle was alone in the transaction, still, it 
 would farnish no precedent for a simiilar exercise of 
 power by one who is not an apostle. 
 
 Nor is the exercise of such power, by any individu- 
 al, however elevated hi? station, authorized by the lan- 
 guage of Paul to Titus : — " A man that is an heretic, 
 after the first and second admonition, reject." (Titus 
 
TOWER OF CORRECTIVE DISCIPLINE. 61 
 
 3 : 10.) What does the apostle mean by the first and 
 second admonition? Evidently, certain well known 
 and established points in the process of corrective dis- 
 cipline, by which, if they prove ineffectual, the way is 
 prepared for the expulsion of the offender. The ex- 
 pression has reference, doubtless, to the personal labors 
 of individual church members, enjoined by the great 
 law of discipline in Matt. 18 : 15, 16, as well as to the 
 reproof of the associated body. And if the prelimi- 
 nary steps, in the treatment of a case of heresy, must 
 be in conformity to that law, as the passage under ex- 
 amination plainly implies, — so, also, nlust the final de- 
 cision. The whole matter must be laid before the 
 church ; and the rejection of the heretic must be the 
 act of the church. It belonged to Titus, unquestion- 
 ably, as a spiritual overseer, to take the lead. It was 
 his to explain the law of Christ, and to enjoin obedi- 
 ence. But still, the execution of that law, the putting 
 away, the excommunication of the offender, devolved 
 upon the body. 
 
 We have thus seen, that the power to maintain the 
 salutary corrective discipline prescribed by the law of 
 Christ, was originally vested in the churches. We 
 have not seen, nor can it be made to appear from the 
 New Testament, which is our only source of informa- 
 tion on the subject, that this power was ever commit- 
 ted to any man, or body of men, other than the 
 churches. The conclusion, therefore, is unavoidable, 
 that the churches alone can rightfully exercise it. The 
 charter and basis of their prerogative in this respect, 
 is the law of Christ ; and his disciples need no higher 
 6 
 
^3 
 
 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 authority for doing whatever he has commanded. 
 Their right to associate themselves together for the 
 observance of his ordinances and worship, and to 
 assume the form and organization of churches, after 
 the New Testament model ; the privilege of each 
 church, so constituted, to manage its own affairs, and 
 to discipline its own members, according to its best 
 judgment of what the Lord requires ; and the exemp- 
 tion to which each is entitled from foreign interference, 
 supervision or control, either ecclesiastical or civil ; — 
 in short, all the powers and privileges of the churches, 
 rest upon this ground. The law of Christ has con- 
 ferred these powers and privileges, and they may not 
 rightfully be invaded. They belong to the churches ; 
 and rightfully, may be neither delegated nor surren- 
 dered, neither transferred nor alienated. Every other 
 ecclesiastical tribunal, however constituted, — every 
 other body, claiming and exercising disciplinary powers, 
 from the petty church session to the grand consistory, 
 is guilty of usurpation, — exists and acts, lives, moves, 
 and has its being, in violation of the law of Christ, 
 and of the rightsof his people. And every church 
 submitting to such usurpation, and relinquishing its 
 right to be the conservator of its own purity, is 
 recreant to the solemn trust it has received from the 
 Master.* 
 
 3. The Baptist churches, happily, are exempt 
 from the evils which seem to be inseparable from the 
 existence and action of these unscriptural tribunals. 
 
 * Government of the Churches, § 4. 
 
POWER OF CORRECTIVE DISCIFLINE. 63 
 
 To some extent, however, they may be liable to simi- 
 lar evils, resulting from an erroneous theory and prac- 
 tice in relation to the powers of councils. A council 
 has been thought by some to be a kind of ecclesiastical 
 tribunal, or court of appeal, superior to the churches, 
 and competent to revise their decisions. In accord- 
 ance with this theory, councils have sometimes assum- 
 ed, either with or without the consent of the churches 
 at whose call they were convened, those disciplinary 
 powers which, as we have seen, are vested in the 
 churches alone. And churches have sometimes yield- 
 ed these powers. It has happened, in more than one 
 instance, that a church has referred a matter of diffi- 
 culty, involving perhaps, the Christian character and 
 standing of one or more of its members, to the judg- 
 ment of a council, pledging itself beforehand to abide 
 the decision. And it has happened, that a church has 
 submitted an act of exclusion, already passed, to the 
 revision of a council, to be confirmed or reversed, 
 under a similar pledge. Now, it may be demanded, 
 what scriptural warrant has a church to make such a 
 pledge 1 How can it surrender to another body, that 
 authority which Christ has placed in its own hands, 
 and for the proper exercise of which he holds it respon- 
 sible ? What scriptural warrant has a council to as- 
 sume that authority? Can the order which the King 
 himself has appointed, be thus changed, without a 
 presumptuous invasion of his high prerogative? Be- 
 sides, the council is not infalUble. It is liable to error ; 
 it may be influenced by party feehng, or in some other 
 way improperly swayed ; and its decision may be 
 
64 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 wrong. That decision may condemn the innocent, and 
 justify the guilty ; hut still the church stands pledged 
 beforehand to sustain and enforce it. 
 
 The true theory of councils, appears to be that 
 which regards them as merely advisory. In ordinary 
 cases of discipline, involving no doubtful or difficult 
 question, they are not needed. But cases of a differ- 
 ent character may arise. A church may be called to 
 act upon questions of the highest importance, and so 
 complicated and difficult, as to render needful all the 
 wisdom and experience that can be brought to bear 
 upon them. Or, a church may be so divided in opin- 
 ion on questions seriously affecting its vital interests, 
 that no approach to unanimity can reasonably be hoped 
 for, except through the influence of such a council as 
 may command the respect and confidence of the body. 
 Or, the pastor of a church may be guilty of some mis- 
 conduct, involving a forfeiture of his ministerial an'd 
 Christian character. In this last case, although no 
 doubt may be entertained in relation to the course to 
 be pursued, still it is important that the advice of other 
 pastors and able brethren should be obtained. The 
 removal- of one of Zion's watchmen, is a matter of 
 painful interest, not merely to the one church over 
 which he presides, but to many. As a public teacher- 
 of religion, he has had a place in their affectionate 
 regard ; and his fall, like the extinction of a star, is 
 felt by them to be a public calamity. It would seem, 
 therefore, in the case supposed, to be due to the neigh- 
 boring churches, that before any decisive action is had, 
 a council should be called to deliberate upon the whole 
 
POWER QF CORRECTIVE DISCIPLINE. 65 
 
 matter, and say what action in their judgment is ad- 
 visable. The opinion of such a body, although not 
 absolutely binding upon the church, is entitled to its 
 respectful consideration ; and if adopted, must add 
 greatly to the weight of its final decision. 
 
 In this, and in all cases, where the aid of a council 
 is sought, the right of decision rests with the church. 
 It is the province of the council, not to act authorita- 
 tively, but to advise the churches how to act. The 
 advice so given ought by no means to be lightly reject- 
 ed ; but if, in the deliberate judgment of the church, 
 it is contrary to the will of the Master, it cannot be 
 adopted. Where a disagreement of this kind exists, 
 perhaps the most effective means of restoring harmony 
 may be, to have recourse to a second council. Still, 
 the ultimate decision belongs to the church. 
 
 It is supposed by some, that the power of ordination 
 to the Christian ministry resides, not in the church, 
 but in a council, assembled at the call of the church, 
 and acting through a presbytery of its own selection. 
 And this being assumed, it is supposed to follow, that 
 the power to depose from the ministry, which is an 
 act of equal authority with the other, must be lodged 
 in a body similarly constituted. But whence, it may 
 be demanded, does the council, as such, derive its ori- 
 gin and its powers? Evidently, from the church. But 
 for the call of the church it would never have existed. 
 It is the creature of the church, and cannot, without 
 manifest impropriety, exercise an authority superior 
 to that of its creator. Besides, — if a church be in- 
 competent to depose from the ministry, it must also be 
 6* 
 
'66 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 incompetent to exclude a minister, since the former 
 act is virtually included in the latter. The discipline 
 of the church, so far as ministers are concerned, would 
 thus become an empty name. The truth seems to be, 
 that the ordinary power is in the church. Inasmuch, 
 however, as the exercise of that power is an act of 
 public importance and interest, it is due to the neigh- 
 boring churches, that the advice of their pastors and 
 such other members as they may designate for this 
 purpose, should previously be heard. Especially is it 
 due to the presbyters who may be called upon to offi- 
 ciate in that act, that they should have opportunity to 
 satisfy themselves in relation to the character, call to 
 the ministry, and qualifications of the candidate. For 
 these reasons, a council ought always in such cases to 
 be called, — not to ordain, but to advise the church in 
 respect to the expediency of ordination ; nor is it easy 
 to conceive of a case in which it would be expedient 
 for the church to insist upon proceeding, contrary to 
 such advice. Still, the right of decision is in the 
 church ; and the officiating presbytery should be re- 
 garded as acting, not in behalf of the council, but in 
 behalf of the church. 
 
 ^11. LIMITATIONS OF THE POWER OF 
 DISCIPLINE. 
 
 As the law of Christ is the source from which the 
 power of discipline is derived, so it is the measure and 
 rule by which that power is limited. The churches 
 are invested with no absolute authority,— but only 
 
LIMITATIONS OF THE POWER. 67 
 
 with such an authority as the New Testament, the 
 great charter of Christian rights and privileges, has 
 conferred upon them. They are accountable to the 
 Master ; and can have no rightful power to act other- 
 wise than in accordance with his revealed will. To 
 this, as a common rule of action, they are bound to 
 conform. 
 
 1. Now it is obvious, or ought to be, that by the 
 law of Christ, the power of discipline vested in the 
 churches, must be limited to the treatment of offences 
 committed by their own members. In giving to each 
 church this power over its own members, he has vir- 
 tually prohibited the extension of it by any one, over 
 the members of another. The propriety of this re- 
 striction may seem too . evident to require an illustra- 
 tion, — and yet it is not always observed. For exam- 
 ple, — a church receives the complaint of one of its 
 own members against a member of another church, and 
 appoints a committee to investigate the charge, and 
 demand such reparation as may appear to be due. 
 No satisfactory adjustment of the matter is effected ; 
 and the question arises, what farther is to be done ? 
 It is clear that excommunication is impracticable ; for 
 the offender belongs to another body. Shall the case, 
 then, be submitted to that body 1 ' This can only be 
 done by letter, or committee, — and might have been 
 done as well, and with far less inconvenience, by the 
 complainant himself, with " one or two more." (Matt. 
 18:16.) Besides, — the church feels, that thus to 
 solicit judgment at the hands of a sister church, in a 
 case which it has itself assumed to try, would involve 
 
68 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 a compromise of its own dignity ; — while, on the oth- 
 er hand, a demand of such judgment, might justly be 
 regarded by that sister church, as an invasion of her 
 rights. In a matter so complicated, — so difficult, so 
 perplexing, — it is resolved that the wise men and fath- 
 ers of the churches shall be called together in solemn 
 council. And what will the council do ? Why, if it 
 be truly wise, it will advise, first, that all the proceed- 
 ings of the church in the case, be as if they had never 
 been; — secondly, that the aggrieved party go to him 
 that has caused the grief, and " tell him his fault;" 
 if he will not hear, that he " take with him one or two 
 more ;" and if he neglect to hear them, that he " tell 
 it to the church" to which the offender belongs, and 
 which alone has jurisdiction in the case. 
 
 2. Another obvious limitation of the power of disci- 
 pline, has respect to the question. What constitutes an 
 offence 1 The churches have no right to legislate in 
 this matter, or to treat as an offence, that which the 
 law of Christ has not made such. Yet this is some- 
 times done. It was done, even in the apostolic age. 
 " I wrote unto the church ; but Diotrephes, who lov- 
 eth to have the pre-eminence among them, receiveth 
 us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his 
 deeds which he doeth, prating against us with mali- 
 cious words ; — and not content therewith, neither doth 
 he himself receive tlie brethren, and forbiddeth them 
 that would, and casteth them out of the church.^'' 
 (3 John 9, 10.) A similar ambitious, malicious, and re- 
 vengeful spirit, has been known in more modern times 
 to produce similar results, A Diotrephes arises, as- 
 
Lir.IITATIONS OF THE POWER, 69 
 
 piling to the pre-eminence in the church to which he 
 belongs, becomes the leader of a party, and succeeds 
 by intrigue and management in controllirg the body. 
 He finds in his way, however, a Demetrius, — one 
 who " hath good report of all men, and of the truth 
 itself,", (ver. 12,) and through whose influence, as a 
 discerning, judicious, and faithful brother, his plans 
 are sometimes defeated. His anger is kindled against 
 the man who, like Mordecai; neither bows, nor does 
 him reverence ; he " prates against him with malicious 
 words," and awakens the jealousy of the brethren by 
 imputing to him a desire to bear the rule among them, 
 the very fault of which he is himself guilty. Some 
 important decision is swayed by that jealousy, and in- 
 sisted upon, simply because it is contrary to the known 
 opinions of him who is the unconscious object of sus- 
 picion. The act is so obviously wrong, that he feels 
 himself constrained to dissent from, and protest against 
 it. The occasion is eagerly seized by his enemies ; a 
 charge of contumacy is preferred against him ; the 
 forms of discipline are hurried through with indecent 
 haste ; and the good Demetrius is ' ' cast out of the 
 church." Now, this is tyranny, — sheer spiritual 
 tyranny. It is worse. It is a perpetration of flagi- 
 tious WTong, under the sacrilegious pretence of guard- 
 ing the purity of the church. Christ never gave to 
 his churches the power of excommunication, to be 
 thus perverted, and made subservient to the gratifica- 
 tion of their own evil passions. If they abuse it to 
 this end, — ^if, while they profess to administer his dis- 
 cipline, they despise the weakest, or trample upon the 
 
70 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 rights of the least of his disciples, — the Lord is the 
 avenger of all such, and will surely judge and punish 
 their oppressors. 
 
 3. The power of discipline vested in the churches, 
 is farther limited, as it respects the force of their deci- 
 sions. These, whether of excommunication or abso- 
 lution, can neither bind nor loose, in an absolute sense. 
 Whether just or unjust, they cannot change the char- 
 acter or spiritual state of the persons to whom they 
 have reference. They merely express the opinions of 
 the churches, in regard to the title of such persons to 
 church membership. The declaration of our Lord in 
 Matt. 18:18, "Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth 
 shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever ye shall 
 loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven," — was ad- 
 dressed, not to the churches, but to the apostles. It 
 stamps with divine authority the instructions which, 
 as inspired teachers, the apostles have left on record ; 
 but it can be true of the disciplinary action of the 
 churches, only so far as that action is in conformity 
 with those instructions.* If the decisions of a church 
 
 * " Our Lord spoke to the apostles, and to all of them. The ab- 
 solute authority given them was inseparably connected with their 
 immediate inspiration ; and all their successors, pretended or real, 
 from the conclave at Rome to an independent church-meeting, are 
 concerned in the promise, just so far as their decisions, whether 
 they bind or loose, accord to the doctrines, precepts, and rules, 
 transmitted to us from the apostles, — and no farther. Authority to 
 the extent of the words used by our Lord, many have claimed ; 
 but God never gave it to any, except his inspired apostles •• and ia 
 this view, the promise is our Lord's full attestation to all the writ- 
 ings which, by them, and under their inspection, were given to 
 the church and to posterity, as the infallible oracles of God." Dr. 
 Scott. 
 
LIMITATIONS OF THE POWER. 71 
 
 be just, unquestionably they are approved in heaven ; 
 but it is possible, as we have seen, that they may be 
 unjust. Churches may be improperly swayed in their 
 decisions ; they may act under the influence of corrupt 
 motives ; or, with the purest motives, and. best inten- 
 tions, they are liable to mistake. Their decisions may 
 be wrong ; and if so, it is obvious that heaven will 
 not approve them. 
 
 It seems to follow, that there is a limit to the respect 
 due from one church to the disciplinary acts of another. 
 As a general rule, doubtless, the churches are bound 
 to repose confidence in each other's integrity, — and 
 not, without good and sufficient reasons to call in ques- 
 tion the uprightness of each other's decisions. The 
 passing of an act of excommunication by one church, 
 should doubtless, when nothing appears to the contrary, 
 be regarded by its sister churches as evidence of a 
 forfeiture of Christian character on the part of the 
 person excommunicated ; and in their conduct to- 
 wards him, they should govern themselves accordingly. 
 He should no longer be admitted to affectionate and 
 familiar intercourse, as a brother approved ; but in 
 seeking such intercourse, should be made to feel that 
 the members of other churches, as well as of his own, 
 look upon him sorrowfully, as a brother fallen, — as 
 one who, by his unworthiness, has inflicted a wound 
 and a dishonor upon the precious cause which they love. 
 A contrary course, it is evident, must be destructive 
 of the ends of corrective church discipline, and tend 
 seriously to interrupt the fellowship and mutual good 
 feeling which ought ever to subsist between sister 
 
72 
 
 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 churches. But there are exceptions to this general 
 rule. There is a limit to the obligation of one church, 
 to respect the disciplinary action of another. If such 
 action is known to be wrong, — if, for example, a 
 church is known to have passed a sentence of excom- 
 munication upon one of its members unrighteously, — 
 no other church is bound to respect that decision. 
 No other church is even at liberty to respect that deci- 
 sion, knowing it to be wrong; since, to do so, would 
 be to give its sanction to the triumph of church power 
 and church prerogative over right. 
 
 If any are disposed to question the correctness of 
 this position, let them ask themselves whether John, 
 in his treatment of the persons who, through the influ- 
 ence of Diotrephes, were " cast out of the church," 
 not for any fault, but merely for the exercise of Chris- 
 tian hospitality, — was bound to have respect to that 
 act of high-handed oppression. Had these persons 
 presented themselves to a church of which John was 
 the acting pastor, praying for admission to its fellow- 
 ship, on the ground that their excommunication from 
 the other church was without any just cause, — is it 
 probable that their prayer would have been denied ? 
 Would the apostle have felt himself under obligation 
 to advise their rejection from a privilege -^hich they 
 were known to have never forfeited, simply because 
 another church had unreasonably and wickedly so re- 
 jected them 1 No one will undertake to sustain an af- 
 firmative reply to these questions. The truth is, the 
 disciplinary acts of a church are entitled to the respect 
 of its sister churches, just so far as those acts are, or 
 
LI3IITATI0NS OF THE POWER. 73 
 
 may reasonably be supposed to be, right, — and no 
 farther. 
 
 The writer would by no means be understood, in the 
 foregoing remarks, to advocate the hasty reception, by 
 one church, of persons excluded from another. On the 
 contrary, he believes that such reception ought never to 
 take place, ^vithout a full investigation of the facts in 
 the case, and satisfactory proof, either that the act of 
 exclusion was wrong, — or, if right, that the offender 
 has evinced his penitence, by confession, and such rep- 
 aration as might reasonably be demanded. Nor even 
 then, does he think the excluded person should be so 
 received, until suitable efforts on his part to be restored 
 to the church from which he was cast out, have been 
 found unavailing. The point insisted upon, is, that 
 prerogative should not be sustained at the expense of 
 right, — that when a sentence of excommunication is 
 known to be unrighteous, and is obstinately persisted 
 in, the excommunicated person should not be compelled 
 to lie under that bond forever, — that Christ has never 
 invested any church with a power so tremendous, that 
 under the influence of some ambitious and vindictive 
 Diotrephes, it may plant its foot upon the neck of a 
 faithful Demetrius, and keep it there, — in a word, 
 that if a brother be cast out of a church for no wrong, 
 or kept out after he has made full reparation of his 
 wrong, another church may rightfully receive him. It 
 would seem, however, to be the part of wisdom in that 
 other church, before acting decisively in the case, to 
 propose to the body from which the brother was exclu- 
 ded, a reference of the whole matter to a mutual coun- 
 7 
 
74 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 cil ; and if the proposal be rejected, to call a council 
 on its own responsibility. In • no case of the kind, it 
 is believed, would it be either prudent, or fight, for a 
 church to proceed without such council. The imputa- 
 tion of rashness would thus be avoided, and the advice 
 of judicious brethren of other churches would give 
 weight to its ultimate decision. 
 
 4. A further limitation of the power of corrective 
 discipline, has respect to the manner of its exercise. 
 This, as will be more fully shown in another part of 
 the present inquiry, is definitely prescribed, and every 
 step in. the process, from beginning to end, clearly 
 pointed out by the great Head of the church, * who 
 cannot err. His explicit directions may not- innocent- 
 ly be disregarded. If the churches presume to sub- 
 stitute other modes of discipline for that which he has 
 appointed, they transcend their rightful powers. They 
 impeach his wisdom. They cast contempt upon his 
 authority. They practically deny him the right of 
 supremacy in his own kingdom, and practically claim 
 that supremacy for themselves. His- law is the rule 
 of discipline, and that rule is imperative. In all their 
 disciplinary acts, therefore, they should have an eye 
 to his instructions, and carefully, adhere to them. So 
 long as they act in accordance with his revealed will, 
 and no longer, may they confidently hope for his 
 approbation and sanction. 
 
OBLIGATION OF THE CHURCHES. 75 
 
 § 12. OBLIGATION OF THE CHURCHES TO 
 MAINTAIN CORRECTIVE DISCIPLINE. 
 
 It cannot be doubted that He who "loved the 
 church, and gave himself for it, that he might sancti- 
 fy and cleanse it," still feels a deep interest in its 
 pu:rity. Accordingly, he has not only invested each, 
 particular branch of that church with such disciplma- 
 ry powers as are needful, to purge itself from cor- 
 ruption ; .but has laid each under the most solemn 
 obligation, when the occasion requires it, to exercise 
 these powers. While he demands that every one 
 who names his sacred name should depart from 
 iniquity, — it is equally his will, that his people, in 
 their associated capacity, should aim, by such means 
 as he himself has appointed, to secure a compliance 
 with that demand. He requires that they should 
 watch over each other in love ; that offenders should 
 be kindly, yet faithfully admonished ; and that such 
 as obstinately persist in flagrant sin, should be reject- 
 ed from the fellowship of the churches. 
 
 A practical acknowledgment of the authority of 
 Christ in respect to these matters, on the part of his 
 churches, — or, in other words, a diligent observance of 
 whatever pertains to the salutary corrective disci- 
 plme which he has been pleased to ordain, — is essen- 
 tial to their own best interests, as well as to their 
 useful efficiency in the promotion of his cause. If 
 they disregard his command, — if, instead of reprov- 
 ing, they have fellowship with the unfruitful works of 
 darkness which are perpetrated in their midst, — if 
 
76 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 they spare the sin for the sake of the sinner, and so 
 tacitly connive at wrongs against which their solemn 
 and united testimony should be recorded, — they must 
 subject themselves, in so doing, to his terrific frown. 
 He whose eyes are as a flame of fire, is represented, 
 as walking in the midst of the golden candlesticks, 
 closely observant of the evil, as well as of the good. 
 He knows the works of all his churches ; and while 
 he assures such as " cannot bear them that are evil," 
 of his gracious regard and protection, he declares his 
 determination, on the other hand, to fight against 
 such as tolerate iniquity, with the sword of his mouth. 
 It is impossible that a church in which corrective 
 discipline is neglected, should be a prosperous church. 
 Aside from the forfeiture of the divine favor, which is 
 incurred by such neglect, and which must prove fatal 
 to all true prosperity, — the allowance of sin, uncen- 
 sured, in church members, has a direct natural ten- 
 dency to disastrous results. A pernicious and rapid- 
 ly corrupting example is thereby introduced into the 
 body. If one member may transgress, unquestioned 
 and uncondemned, so may another, and another ; and. 
 the evil will extend itself, until the entire church is 
 pervaded. " A little leaven leaveneth the whole 
 lump." A little root of bitterness, if it be suffered to 
 grow and spread, will defile many. A slight gan- 
 grenous affection, if its progress be not stayed, will 
 speedily pass through the whole body, prostrating its 
 energies, and turning its comeliness into corruption. 
 In like manner, offences committed by church members, 
 
OBLIGATION OF THE CHURCHES. 77 
 
 if tolerated, " will increase unto more ungodliness." 
 (1 Cor. 5:6; Heb. 12 : 15 ; 2 Tim. 2 : 16, 17.) 
 
 Farther, — the neglect of corrective discipline, where 
 there is manifest occasion for its exercise, will be 
 likely to exert a repulsive rather than an attractive 
 influence upon persons of genuine piety, to whom the 
 church should ever be an inviting home. These may 
 well decline to associate themselves with such as pro- 
 fess that they know God, but in works deny him. 
 They may well shrink back, with feelings of strong 
 repugnance, from all connexion with a body which is 
 evidently full of disorder, and festering in its own 
 corruption ; and seek a place in a purer church, where 
 they may hope to profit by the faithful admonitions 
 and holy examples of their brethren. If a church in 
 which the legitimate consequences of this neglect are 
 in any considerable degree apparent, presents any 
 attraction, it must be to persons of a different charac- 
 ter. ■ It may, indeed, be attractive to men who wish 
 only to assume a form of godliness. It may become 
 a favorite lurking place of designing hypocrites, who 
 choose to cloak their unholy practices under a religious 
 profession ; but there is little reason to expect its 
 enlargement by the accession of truly pious and valua- 
 ble members. 
 
 The existence in churches of palpable wrongs, un- 
 corrected- and unreproved, must be destructive, also, in 
 a great measure, of their usefulness. It must divest 
 them, at least in part, of that salutary moral power 
 which the Saviour intended they should wield over the 
 unconverted around them, — but which must always be 
 
78 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 proportioned to their purity. He calls his people 
 " the salt of the earth," and " the light of the world." 
 It was his will, that by their conservative and purify- 
 ing influence, they should counteract the moral corrup- 
 tion which every where prevails ; that by their instruc- 
 tive testimony and example, they should reclaim from 
 the error of their ways the children of darkness ; that 
 in their visible organization they should stand forth, a 
 conspicuous object, — "the pillar and ground of the 
 truth," — " a city set upon a hill that could not be hid/' 
 a living illustration, in the view of all men, of the pure 
 and holy principles of the gospel. (Matt. 5 : 13 — 16 ; 
 1 Tim. 3 : 15.) The world is looking to them for an 
 exemplification of the power of those principles, and 
 judging of the efficacy or inefficacy of Christianity 
 itself, by what is seen in its professed votaries and ad- 
 vocates. And is it not obvious, that the toleration of 
 any flagrant misconduct in church members, must have 
 an unfavorable effect upon that judgment? Pledged 
 as they are, by their profession, to seek the reforma- 
 tion of others, — if they themselves are found to be 
 corrupt, and especially, if the churches to which they 
 belong permit their wrongs to pass uncensured, — will 
 not such a state of things tend to prejudice the minds 
 of the unconverted against the truth I Will it not 
 confirm them in error, and strengthen them in sin ? 
 
 To such inquiries, no inteUigent and discerning 
 Christian can be at a loss how to reply. Indeed, our 
 Lord himself has supplied an answer. He foresaw 
 the mighty influence, for good or for evil, which his 
 professed disciples were destined to exert upon the 
 
OBLIGATION OF THE CHURCHES. 79 
 
 world ; and predicted the deplorable consequences to 
 the world, of a perversion of that influence. He 
 knew that offences, committed by such as bear the 
 Christian name, would become occasions of stumbling ; 
 that the wicked would thus be led to harden themselves 
 in impiety ; and that the danger of their final perdition 
 would thus be fearfully augmented. It was in view 
 of these pernicious effects of divisions, contentions, 
 and scandalous violations of Christian principle among 
 his people, that he exclaimed, " Woe unto the world 
 because of offences I Woe to that man by whom the 
 offence cometh ! ' ' And it was to provide for the 
 prompt removal of the causes from which such effects 
 might be apprehended, that the great law of corrective 
 discipline was subsequently given. (Matt. 18 : 8, 
 15—17.) 
 
 Instances in which the above named evils have re- 
 sulted from a neglect of that law, are by no means 
 rare. One such instance may be briefly stated. 
 
 A B , a man of large property, and pos- 
 sessing much of that kind of consideration and influ- 
 ence which property secures, became connected, dur- 
 ing a season of revival, with the church in C . 
 
 Others were baptized about the same time ; but they 
 were persons of httle note in the world ; and it was a 
 common remark among that portion of the members 
 upon whom the pecuniary burdens of the church had 
 chiefly rested, that the addition of one such man as 
 
 Judge B , was in reality worth more to the body, 
 
 than that of all the rest. He was accordingly treated 
 with great deference, and almost immediately found 
 
80 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 himself able to control the action of the. church. It 
 soon appeared, however, that the love of gain, which 
 had been the grand fault of his character before his 
 conversion, remained unsubdued ; and that he was still 
 accustomed, as he had been in former years, to over- 
 reach and defraud the unwary, whenever he could do 
 so without exposing himself to the civil law. For a 
 while, the brethren, unwilling to provoke his hostility, 
 and perhaps equally unwilling to deprive themselves of 
 his aid in sustaining the expenses of the church, — 
 winked' at his delinquencies. But at -length, one of 
 them who had himself suffered wrong at his hands, 
 had the boldness to commence a course of disciplinary 
 labor, and ultimately to lay his complaint before the 
 church. It was obvious, from a reluctant and partial 
 investigation of the case, that a fraud had been perpe- 
 trated, but so artfully as to involve no violation of the 
 statute ; and a majority of the members present, avail- 
 ing themselves of this latter circumstance, and judg- 
 ing according to CjEsar's law instead of Christ's, de- 
 cided that no reparation w^as due, and that no censure 
 was demanded. The pastor and a few others protest- 
 ed against both the decision and the principle upon 
 which it was based. Those, on the other hand, who 
 had committed themselves in favor of that principle, 
 determined not to recede from it. Parties were form- 
 ed, and strove together, — but that of the judge was in 
 the ascendant ; the pastor was dismissed ; and most of 
 his adherents were excommunicated. In the mean 
 time, the church had become literally a by-word, and 
 a hissingr. Infidels and wicked men sneered at the 
 
OBLIGATION OF THE CHURCHES. 81 
 
 morality which, as they said, tolerated any iniquity 
 not punishahle by law. The more conscientious mem- 
 bers of the church gradually withdrew themselves 
 from its communion, and members of other churches, 
 coming to reside in the neighborhood, refused to con- 
 nect themselves with a body which had made itself 
 infamous, and which was evidently withering under 
 the frown of God. These, in view of the moral deso- 
 lations around them, at length conceived it to be their 
 duty to unite together in the organization of a new 
 church. Providence smiled upon and prospered the 
 effort ; and the old organization, after languishing a 
 few years longer, became extinct. 
 
 Now, if the law of corrective discipline were less 
 explicit than it is, or even if it had never been giv- 
 en, — still, the fact that such consequences naturally 
 result from the neglect of that discipline, would im- 
 pose upon the churches an obligation to maintain it. 
 They could not innocently pursue a policy, which, in 
 the very nature of things, must prove fatal, both to 
 their own spiritual prosperity, and to the salutary 
 moral influence which they are bound to exert upon 
 the world. But we have a higher ground of obliga- 
 tion, — the law of Christ. The duty of the churches 
 to be vigilant in guarding against corruption, and 
 prompt in seeking its removal where it exists, is en- 
 joined by the positive enactment of him who has *' all 
 power in heaven and in earth." He has prescribed 
 the reformative measures to be employed, and pointed 
 out the alternative to be resorted to, if these measures 
 prove unavailing. The expression of his will, as we 
 
82 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 have seen, is imperative. And if his chucches disre- 
 gard the obligations thus laid upon' them, — if his as- 
 sociated disciples permit offences to exist among them,' 
 unnoticed and unrebuked, and so become partakers of 
 other men's sins, — ^they must expect to share also in the 
 woe which he has denounced upon the man by whom 
 the offence cometh. 
 
 ^ 13. OBJECTS OF CORRECTIVE DISCI- 
 PLINE. 
 
 It seems essential to the proper discharge of the 
 duties pertaining to corrective church discipline, that 
 the great objects for which it was designed should be 
 kept distinctly in view, and exclusively sought. The 
 intentions of all who bear any part in the execution of 
 the law of discipline, should correspond with the inten- 
 tions of Him who enacted it. They should aim at the 
 accomplishment of the very purposes which the law 
 contemplates, and of no others. If they have recourse 
 to disciplinary action, as a means of securing the suc- 
 cess of their own plans, the elevation of their own 
 party, or the gratification of their own passions, — 
 however strictly that action may be conformed to the 
 letter of the law, it is not obedience, and cannot re- 
 ceive the approbation of the Lawgiver. If their pre- 
 tended zeal for the Lord, like that of Jehu, be in fact 
 only a zeal for themselves, — they are offenders in his 
 sight, no less than those against whom that zeal is di- 
 rected. (2 Kings 10 : 16, 31.) 
 
 1. From what has been said of the obligation of the 
 
OBJECTS OF CORRECTIVE DISCIPLINE. 83 
 
 churches to maintain corrective disciphne, it is suffi- 
 ciently, clear, that one important end of its appointment 
 is to preserve the purity of the churches, or to restore 
 it when lost, and to prevent those evils which n9,tu- 
 rally result from their corruption. The disastrous 
 consequences to be apprehended from the toleration of 
 flagrant WTongs in a church, have already been noticed, 
 and need not be again described. Every church mem- 
 ber should bear in mind, that the real prosperity of the 
 body to which he belongs, as well as its usefulness, 
 must depend upon the fidelity with which its purity is 
 guarded, and be ready, whenever any offence may arise, 
 to perform his part in such, disciphnary" acts as the 
 church may deem necessary, to " approve itself to be 
 clear in the matter." (2 Cor. 7 : 11.) 
 
 2. Another object, is to vindicate the honor of God, 
 and of the churches, — either in the recovery of offen- 
 ders, or, if they prove incorrigible, in their' expulsion 
 from the ranks of the faithful. The man who, in 
 taking upon him the Christian name, has solemnly 
 pledged himself .to live in accordance with the holy 
 principles of the gospel, and who yet deliberately and 
 intentionally violates those principles, — is guilty of 
 casting dishonor ypon God. He gives occasion to the 
 enemies of God, to blaspheme his name and doctrine, 
 and to speak evil of the way of truth. (Rom. 2 : 23, 
 24.; 1 Tim. 6:1; 2 Peter 2:2.) Nor can the 
 church in which such an offender is found, allow his 
 iniquity to pass uncensured, without becoming justly 
 liable to the charge of a participation in his guilt. If 
 the partiality of personal friends, or the influence of 
 
84 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 family connexions, or any thing else be suffered to shield 
 him from deserved rebuke, — the church which has thus 
 failed to discharge its high responsibilities, will no 
 longer be able to shield itself from th$ contempt of the 
 world. To prevent, or to remove all occasion of re- 
 proach and blasphemy on the part of them that are 
 without, is one important purpose of corrective church 
 discipline. And that purpose, by the faithful use of 
 corrective measures, is equally attained, whether the 
 offender be, or be not reclaimed. Let it be seen, in 
 every case of flagrant wrong committed by a church 
 member, that his brethren regard that wrong, as they 
 ought, with decided disapprobation, — let them practi- 
 cally bear testimony against it, by doing promptly 
 whatever the law of discipline requires to be done, — 
 and no reproachful imputation can lie upon them. If 
 the wrong doer be recovered and saved, the happy 
 effect of Christian fidelity is thus exemplified ; and if 
 it be necessary to cast him off, still the honor of God, 
 of his cause, and of his people, is preserved. 
 
 3. Farther, — the whole process of corrective disci- 
 pline, from first to last, is evidently designed to effect 
 the reformation of the offender. The first thing en- 
 joined, is to "go and tiBll him his fault;" or, as the 
 original word elsyxoi seems to imply, by reasoning 
 the case with him, to convince him of his wrong, that 
 he may forsake it. This is the end to be sought in 
 the individual labor prescribed ; and accordingly, if the 
 effort succeed, nothing further is requisite. " If he 
 hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother." But if the 
 repeated admonitions of individual brethren, and the 
 
OBJECTS OF CORRECTIVE DISCIPLINE. 85 
 
 voice of the church itself, be unheeded, so that his 
 separation from the body becomes necessary, — still, 
 the object of this ultimate and decisive act is the same. 
 It is to be regarded, not as a penal, but as a reformative 
 measure, — as a merciful, (and it should be hoped, a 
 temporary) privation of the rights and privileges of 
 church membership, by which the offender may be 
 made sensible of his wrong. (Matt. 18 : 15—7, comp. 
 2 Thess. 3 : 6 — 15.) "Observe, he doth not say, 
 'Let him be to thee as a devil, or damned spirit, as one 
 whose case is desperate ; ' but ' as a heathen and a 
 publican, as one in a capacity of being restored, and 
 received in again. Count him not as an enemy, but 
 admonish him as a brother.' "* In perfect harmony 
 with this view, the object for which the Corinthian 
 offender was to be delivered unto Satan, was the des- 
 truction of the flesh, — ^that is, the mortification of the 
 sinful appetites and passions, — that the spirit might be 
 saved in the day of the Lord Jesus ; and upon his 
 subsequent repentance, his brethren were instructed to 
 restore and confirm their love to him. (1 Cor. 5:5; 
 2 Cor. 2 : 7, 8.) 
 
 These, then, in brief, are the true ends of correc- 
 tive church discipline ; and it becomes all who under- 
 take so important a work, as they would approve 
 themselves to the Master, carefully to keep these ends 
 in view. 
 
 To illustrate, let it be supposed that in a certain 
 church there are two brethren, possessed of many ex- 
 cellent qualities, and deservedly held in high estima- 
 
 * Matthew Henry. 
 8 
 
86 CHrRCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 tion, but unhappily cherishing a secret wish to be the 
 greatest. Neither of them, it may be, is distinctly 
 conscious of aspiring to the pre-eminence, like Diot- 
 rephes ; yet each is ambitious of a measure of influ- 
 ence which only one can enjoy ; and each beholds in 
 the other an obstacle to the attainment of his purpose. 
 A rivalry springs up between them, which gradually 
 ripens into a mutual dislike. At this juncture, one of 
 the two brethren is overtaken in a fault, — not merely 
 a slight indiscretion, but a glaring impropriety, involv- 
 ing a trespass, against the other, and making it the 
 duty of the latter to enter upon a process of disciplina- 
 ry labor. Highly exasperated, and yet secretly 
 pleased with the hope of removing so formidable an 
 adversary, he resolves,' bitterly and vindictively, to do 
 all that may rightfully be done to procure his expul- 
 sion. In proceeding, he is careful to adhere to the 
 letter of the law ; but what is the object he has in 
 view ? To be revenged upon an enemy, — to punish a 
 transgressor, — to cast out of the church, and deliver 
 unto Satan, one who stands in his way. 
 
 It must be obvious that these are not the legitimate 
 ends of corrective church discipline. That discipline 
 was not designed for the gratification of personal 
 resentment, or private revenge. " Dearly beloved, 
 avenge not yourselves ; — for it is written, vengeance is 
 mine ; I will repay, saith the Lord." (Rom. 12 : 19.) 
 Its object is not the infliction of deserved punishment. 
 As we have seen, it is not penal, but corrective. It 
 seeks the reformation of the oflfender ; and failing in 
 this, leaves him to the righteous judgment of God, 
 
OBJECTS OF CORRECTIVE DISCIPLINE. 87 
 
 who has reserved m his own hands, (at least in such 
 cases,) the right to punish. Should the language of 
 Paul, in 2 Cor. 2:6, " Sufficient to such a man is this 
 punishment, which was inflicted of many," be thought 
 to authorize a different opinion, — it may be replied that 
 iniTifiLa should have been rendered rebuke, or cen- 
 sure, as in the margin. That rebuke, though the 
 highest which the "church could administer, was not of 
 a punitive character, but designed for the offender's 
 good, — " that his spirit might be saved in the day of 
 the Lord Jesus." (1 Cor. 5:5.) Nor was it intend- 
 ed that the discipline of the churches should be used 
 as an instrument to promote the ambitious schemes of 
 any individual, or the selfish purposes of any party. 
 " With respect to its object, it must carefully be ob- 
 served, that it is not to pander to human domination, 
 or to subserve the political interests of any party ; to 
 coerce the judgment or conscience of men ; or to 
 avenge any public or private injury ; but it is designed 
 to effect the observance of those means by. which the 
 holiness, comfort, and usefulness of Christians may be 
 preserved and improved ; to exhibit the influence of the 
 Christian religion in producing all that is excellent, 
 amiable, and beneficial ; to secure the fulfilment of all 
 the relative obligations of church union ; to attra,ct 
 into such union , persons whose minds and characters 
 are governed by evangelical truth and undissembled 
 piety ; and to remove from the visible ranks of the 
 faithful, such as prove themselves to be unworthy of a 
 place among the followers of Christ."* 
 
 Encyc. Rel. Knowledge, p. 464. 
 
88 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 But, to return to the case of the two brethren : — 
 Let it be supposed that, when the oifence is committed, 
 the aggrieved party, instead of brooding over and 
 magnifying the injury which he himself has suffered, 
 is deeply grieved in view of the dishonor that has been 
 cast upon God, and his cause, and deeply impressed 
 with the necessity of vindicating that cause from re- 
 proach. His affliction is heightened by the reflection, 
 that, possibly, something wrong in his own deportment 
 or conduct has been the occasion of his brother's fall. 
 He retires to his closet, and humbles himself before his 
 Maker ; weeps over that unhallowed ambition by which 
 he has caused one to offend for whom he has reason to 
 believe Christ died ; and resolves to do whatever may 
 be done, consistently with a regard to righteousness, 
 to "restore such an one in the spirit of meekness." 
 (Gal. 6:1.) He goes to the offender and tells him 
 his fault, — ^but first confesses his own ; he strives, by 
 every means in his power, to reclaim him from his 
 wrong ; and if it be necessary at last to reject him 
 from the fellowship of the church, he participates in 
 the act with a sorrowful heart, and only because fideli- 
 ty to God demands it. 
 
 The different ends now sought, give to the whole 
 transaction a widely different character and aspect. 
 And that these are the true ends, is too cleaj to be 
 questioned for a moment. We feel, instinctively, that 
 he has done right. The course he has pursued com- 
 mends itself at once to our approbation ; and we hesi- 
 tate not to say, that in what he has done to maintain 
 the salutary discipline of the church, he has aimed at, 
 
THE PROPER SPIRIT. 89 
 
 and effected, the very objects for which that discipline 
 was designed. 
 
 ^ 14. SPIRIT IN WHICH CORRECTIVE DIS- 
 CIPLINE SHOULD BE CONDUCTED. 
 
 The view taken above of the nature and objects of 
 corrective church discipline, may seem, perhaps, to 
 indicate with sufficient clearness the spirit in which it 
 should be conducted. A few additional suggestions, 
 however, in relation to a point of such importance, 
 will not be deemed out of place. 
 
 . 1. And, first, it may be observed, that a negligent, 
 and dilatory spirit, in cases demanding disciplinary ac- 
 tion, ought carefully to be avoided. Such action, 
 whenever it is found to be necessary, should be prompt- 
 ly commenced, and prosecuted with as much diligence 
 and dispatch as the nature of the case, and a suitable 
 regard to all the ends of corrective discipline, will ad- 
 mit. A delay to do what the law of Christ requires 
 to be done, when an offence has been committed, must 
 inevitably produce, to some extent, the same evils 
 which would follow if it were left entirely undone. 
 
 For example, — a church member is so regardless of 
 his word, so habitually inattentive to the fulfilment of 
 his promises, and so accustomed to make exaggerated, 
 and even utterly unfounded statements, that those who 
 ' know him best have ceased to rely upon him as a man 
 of truth. Many of his brethren are acquainted with 
 his habits ; but no one is disposed to move in a matter 
 in which all are equally concerned ; and he passes on, 
 8* . 
 
90 CHURCH DISCIPLINL', 
 
 unquestioned and unrebuked. Nor is the church at 
 length aroused, until it finds itself lying under the 
 reproach of harboring and holding in its communion a 
 common liar. A committee is then appointed to visit 
 and admonish the delinquent ; but still, through the re- 
 missness of the brethren selected, that duty is not per- 
 formed. Several church meetings pass before a report 
 is received ; and the final disposition of the case is 
 deferred from time to time, until months, and it may 
 be years, have gone by. 
 
 Now it is clear that the objects of corrective disci- 
 pline cannot thus be attained. That discipline, in 
 order to be effective, must be prompt. If disorders 
 exist, the appointed remedies must speedily be applied. 
 If improperly delayed, — if disciplinary action be neg- 
 lected until the odium of such neglect can no longer 
 be borne, and at last only reluctantly and partially per- 
 formed, — it needs "little sagacity to perceive that the 
 prosperity of the church in which this state of things 
 is found, is at an end, until another spirit shall pre- 
 vail in its counsels. (1 Cor. 5:2; Rev. 2 : 14—16, 20.) 
 
 2. In seeking to avoid this evil, however, the oppo- 
 site extreme should also be avoided, and with equal 
 care. The indulgence of a rash, impetuous, hasty 
 spirit, in the performance of disciplinary action, is in 
 all respects unfavorable to a happy result. Such ac- 
 tion should be cool and deliberate. There should be 
 a patient investigation of every case of alleged wrong, 
 a careful weighing of evidence, and a dispassionate 
 consideration of such circumstances as may seem either 
 to extenuate the offence, or to place it in an aggravated 
 
THE PROPER SPIRIT. 91 
 
 light. Otherwise, a righteous decision is scarcely to 
 be expected ; and an intelligent one is impossible. 
 Churches are sometimes unduly sensitive to the dis- 
 honor which they suppose is resting upon them in con- 
 sequence of alleged misconduct in their members, 
 and so impatient to wipe off the reproach by a speedy 
 act of exclusion, that they scarcely wait to inquire 
 whether that high censure has been deserved. They 
 cannot brook the delay inseparable from a thorough 
 investigation ; they pause not to ascertain the nature 
 and extent of the moral disease with which a member 
 is thought to be infected, with a view, if possible, to 
 avoid the last dreadful extremity ; but hasten to apply 
 the amputating knife, lest it should be too late. These 
 things ought not to be. The disciples of Christ should 
 have so much confidence in the wisdom of the correc- 
 tive measures by him appointed, as not to dream of 
 substituting a more summary process. They should 
 execute these measures fully ; and at the same time 
 calmly, collectedly, and without any anxious forebod- 
 ings as to the result. While they are careful not to 
 incur the imputation of tardiness, in neglecting to com- 
 mence any disciplinary movement that may seem 
 necessary, — they should be equally upon their guard 
 against precipitancy, in pushing that movement to a 
 hurried and premature conclusion. Nothing which 
 the law of Christ enjoins, should be omitted ; and all 
 should be done in an orderly and becoming manner. 
 The time thus occupied, is not lost ; nor need it be 
 apprehended that the honor of the churches or of the 
 cause will suffer from the delay thus occasioned. 
 
92 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 3. Farther, — Every disciplinary movement should 
 be characterized by a spirit of faithfulness. No respect 
 of persons is allowable, — no partiality, — no indul- 
 gence of wrongs, in the affluent or influential, which 
 in persons of humbler station would be regarded as 
 deserving of censure. Whatever differences in respect 
 to external condition, or earthly elevation, may exist 
 among the professed disciples of Christ, — they occupy, 
 in respect to religious and moral obligation, a common 
 level. They are bound by a common rule ; and no 
 departure from that rule, demanding disciplinary 
 action, should, through sympathy with the offender, 
 an unhallowed deference to his high standing, or a. 
 cowardly fear of provoking his hostility, be suffered 
 to pass without rebuke. • Nor should that rebuke be 
 disarmed of its power, by any attempt on the part of 
 those who administer it to palliate the wrong against 
 which it is directed ; or by any ill-timed and injudi- 
 cious show of tenderness towards the wrong-doer, as 
 if he were more unfortunate than guilty, — " more 
 sinned against than sinning." Individuals and 
 churches, in the treatment of ofiences, should remem- 
 ber that they are acting for God, and are not at liberty 
 in the least to compromise his claims ; that the law of 
 Christ is imperative, and that they may not shrink ■ 
 .from the discharge of any duty which he has enjoined, 
 however painful ; that the welfare of' the church, its 
 purity, harmony, and efficiency, and even the best in- 
 terests of the offender himself, are intimately connect- 
 ed with the course they may pursue, and will be most 
 
THE PROPER SPIRIT. 93 
 
 effectually promoted by their fidelity. (James 2 : 1 — 9 ; 
 2 Cor. 13:1, 2.) 
 
 4. Still farther, — Every step in the process of cor- 
 rective discipline, from first to last, should be charac- 
 terized by a spirit of kindness. Individual church 
 members, in admonishing their brethren who have 
 fallen into sin, — and churches, in dealing with offend- 
 ers who have been found irreclaimable by private ad- 
 monition, — should beware that they indulge in no re- 
 sentful or vindictive feeling, and that they exhibit 
 nothing like harshness or severity of manner. While 
 they are faithful to execute the law of Christ, they 
 should do so in a spirit of benevolence and commisera- 
 tion ; of gentleness, patience, and forbearance ; in 
 sorrow rather than in anger ; seeking the good of him 
 who has been overtaken in a fault, and aiming, if pos- 
 sible, to effect his restoration. Let it be remembered, 
 that one great object of corrective discipline is the re- 
 covery of the offender, and not his punishment, — his 
 edification, and not his destruction, — and it will be ob- 
 vious that those who conduct it should put away from 
 them all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, 
 and evil speaking, with all malice. (Eph. 4:31.) 
 Every spirit begets its like ; and it is clear that the 
 malignant and hateful dispositions above named, in- 
 stead of exerting upon a fallen brother a softening and 
 subduing influence, must tend to exasperate and hard- 
 en. It is love alone that will effectually conquer. 
 Whoever, therefore, would be successful in such refor- 
 mative efforts as he may think it his duty to put forth, 
 must see to it that those efforts are dictated by love. 
 
94 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 If he would reclaim them that 'are out of the way, 
 he must have compassion upon them. He must be 
 pitiful, courteous, — not rendering evil for evil, or rail- 
 ing- for railing. (1 Pet. 3:8,9.). He must canvass 
 their acts without prejudice, and candidly give them 
 the most favorable construction they will bear. He 
 must put on that fervent charity which hopeth all 
 things, and thinketh no evil, farther than as it actually 
 appears. (1 Cor. 13 : 4 — 7.) He must not be overcome 
 of evil, but seek to overcome evil with good. (Rom. 
 12 : 21.) And finally, he- must do all under the influ- 
 ence of an humbling consciousness that he is himself 
 liable to be tempted, and that nothing but grace can 
 keep him'from falling. (Gal. 6:1.) 
 
 It needs no argument or illustration, to show that 
 the spirit here commended is the true ; spirit in which 
 corrective discipline should be conducted, — that kind- 
 ness and faithfulness should alike be maintained, and 
 that tardiness and precipitancy should alike be avoid- 
 ed. And yet, a widely different spirit is often found 
 in the churches. Such violations of Christian princi- 
 ple as involve no outra-ge upon the moral sense even 
 of worldly men, — covetousness, for example, or ha- 
 bitual negligence of the- special duties of religion, — 
 are suffered to pass unnoticed, or treated with unjusti- 
 fiable levity ; while drunkenness, a departure from the 
 law of chastity, and other similar offences, which the 
 world itself condemns, in many instances are hastily 
 disposed of, and with little attention to the forms 
 of discipline. In cases of personal injury, there is 
 frequently a failure on the part of the aggrieved broth- 
 
THE PROPER SPIRIT. 95 
 
 er to exhibit all the kindness and gentleness which the 
 gospel requires. He allows himself to be excited and 
 angry ; and instead of mildly expostulating with the 
 aggressor, gives vent to his passion in wrathful and 
 reproachful words. . Of course the offender is not re- 
 claimed, — for the wrath of man worketh not the right- 
 eousness of God. (James 1 :20.) But suppose the 
 aggrieved party is of a more noble and generous spirit. 
 The danger in this case, is, that he may be unfaithful. 
 He feels no resentment ; he is ready to forgive ; in- 
 deed, he has already forgiven ; — and it would not be 
 strange, if he were reluctant to assume an attitude 
 which must inevitably give pain to the offender, and 
 which may perhaps subject himself to the charge of 
 censoriousness. Still, the fact that he holds no quar- 
 rel against his erring brother, cannot release him from 
 the obligation to go and tell that brother his fault, and 
 endeavor to gain from him such proofs of penitence, 
 as may restore between them the fellowship which 
 had begun to be marred. A silent withdrawal of his 
 confidence from him who has done the wrong, with- 
 out an effort to reclaim him, is consistent neither with 
 kindness nor with fidelity. While it leaves the of- 
 fender in his sin, it will involve his own soul in guilt, 
 and introduce into the body a source of perpetual dis- 
 union. He is not even at liberty to accept, as satis- 
 factory, any offer of reparation which evidently falls 
 short of what the law of Christ requires ; but must 
 insist, with uncompromising faithfulness, that the de- 
 mands of that law be fully met. 
 
 The following extract from Andrew Fuller's circu- 
 
96 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 lar letter on the discipline of the primitive churches, 
 exhibits in his peculiarly happy style, the true spirit 
 by which every disciplinary movement should be di- 
 rected : 
 
 " If these ends, (the good of the party, and the 
 honor of God,) be kept in view, they will preserve 
 us from much error ; particularly, from the two great 
 evils into which churches are in danger of falling, — 
 false lenity, and unchristian severity. There is often 
 a party found in a community, who, under the name 
 of tenderness, are for neglecting all wholesome dis- 
 cipline ; or if this cannot be accomplished, for delay- 
 ing it to the utmost. Such persons are commonly 
 the advocates for disorderly walkers, especially if they 
 be their particular friends or relations. Their lan- 
 guage is, ' He that is without sin, let him cast the first 
 stone. My brother has fallen to-day, and I may fall to- 
 morrow.' This spirit, though it exist only in individu- 
 als, provided they be persons of any weight or influence, 
 is frequently known to impede the due execution of 
 the laws of Christ ; and if it pervade the community, 
 it will soon reduce it to the lowest state of degeneracy. 
 Such for a time was the spirit of the Corinthians ; 
 but when brought to a proper sense of things, what 
 carefulness it wrought in them, yea, what clearing of 
 themselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, 
 what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what re- 
 venge. In opposing the extreme of false tenderness, 
 others are in danger of falling into unfeeling severity. 
 This spirit will make the worst of every thing, and lead 
 men to convert the censures of the church into weapons 
 
THE LAW OF CORRECTIVE DISCIPLINE. 97 
 
 of private revenge. Persons of this description know 
 not of what manner of spirit they are. They lose 
 sight of the good of the offender. It is not love that 
 operates in them ; for love worketh no evil. The 
 true medium between these extremes is a union of 
 mercy and truth. Genuine mercy is combined with 
 faithfulness, and genuine faithfulness with mercy ; 
 and this is the only spirit that is likely to purge iniqui- 
 ty. (Prov. 16 : 6.) Connivance will produce indiffer- 
 ence ; and undue severity will arm the offender with 
 prejudice, and harden him in sin ; but the love of 
 God and of our brother's soul is adapted to answer 
 every good end. If we love God, — like Levi, we 
 shall know no man after the flesh, nor acknowledge 
 our nearest kindred ; but shall observe his word, 
 and keep his covenant. And if we love the soul of 
 our brother, we shall say, ' He is fallen to-day, and I 
 will reprove him for his good : I may fall to-morrow, 
 and then let him deal the same with me.' Love is the 
 grand secret of church discipline, and will do more 
 than all other things put together, towards insuring 
 success."* 
 
 § 15. THE LAW OF CORRECTIVE DISCI- 
 PLINE. 
 
 The way is now prepared, to enter upon a more di- 
 rect and particular examination of the law of correc- 
 tive discipline. It will be found that the treatment of 
 
 Fuller's work, vol. ii. p. 463. 
 9 
 
98 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 offences prescribed by that law, is of the simplest, and 
 yet of the most effective kind. It involves no spiritual 
 domination. It imposes no restraints upon the judg- 
 ment or conscience. It inflicts neither pains nor pen- 
 alties. It admits of no personal revenge. It consists, 
 first, in a kind and faithful effort to reclaim offenders ; 
 and secondly, in a withdrawal from such as refuse to 
 be reclaimed. The first step in the process, is obhga- 
 tory upon every Christian who is apprised of flagrant 
 wrong in his brother ; the second, upon every church, 
 or congregation of baptized believers, among whom 
 an incorrigible offender is found. Beyond this, our 
 Lord has delegated no authority to his churches, and 
 he allows them to submit to none. Beyond this, they 
 have neither legislative nor judicial power, — but are 
 bound simply to obey his enactments, and to abide by 
 his decisions. 
 
 The truth of these positions, already shown in part, 
 will be still more obvious from an investigation of the 
 law itself. Different portions of that law are scattered 
 through the New Testament writings ; but the largest 
 and fullest statement of it, including the spirit of what- 
 ever is said elsewhere, is found in Matt. 18 : 15 — 17. 
 
 " Moreover, if thy brother shall trespass 
 
 AGAINST thee, GO AND TELL HIM HIS FAULT BE- 
 TWEEN 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 ESTAB- 
 
THE LAW OF CORRECTIVE DISCIPLINE. 99 
 
 LisHED. And if he shall neglect to hear 
 
 THEM, TELL IT UNTO THE CHURCH : BUT IF HE NEG- 
 LECT TO HEAR THE CHURCH, LET HIM BE UNTO ■ 
 THEE AS AN HEATHEN MAN AND A PUBLICAN." 
 
 1. The first thing obsen'able here, is, that church 
 members, and none else, are properly subject to correc- 
 tive church discipline. The offender, in the case sup- 
 posed, is a brother, or fellow disciple. It may be, and 
 unquestionably is, in frequent instances, the duty of 
 Christians to administer reproof to them that are with- 
 out. Where such reproof is evidently needed, and 
 where there is reason to hope that it will be candidly 
 received, it should not be withheld. " Thou shalt in 
 any wise rebuke thy neighbor, and not suffer sin upon 
 him." (Lev. 19: 17.) This, however, is an individ- 
 ual obligation, with which the churches, in their asso- 
 ciated capacity, have no concern. " For what have I 
 to do to judge them also that are without ? Do not ye 
 judge them that are within ? But them that are with- 
 out, God judgeth." (1 Cor. 5: 12,13.) The rule 
 before us, in its full extent, is applicable only to per- 
 sons who hold a standing in some Christian congrega- 
 tion. These, in becoming members of the body, have 
 voluntarily made themselves amenable to the body, 
 under the law of Christ its Head. 
 
 2. The next point demanding attention, is the in- 
 quiry, how far the rule under consideration extends. 
 Was it designed by our Lord merely for one particular 
 class of offences, or for all? May it rightfully be dis- 
 pensed with, except in cases of personal injury, 
 
100 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 or is it to be regarded as strictly imperative in every 
 case 1 It will readily be seen that these are questions 
 of great practical importance ; since upon their decis- 
 ion it must depend, vt^hether by far the larger number 
 of wrongs committed by church members shall be 
 treated in accordance with a regular and uniform meth- 
 od, or left to the ever varying judgment of the chur- 
 ches. Let it be understood that the obligation to com- 
 ply with the rule, in all its details, reaches only to a 
 single class of offences, those committed specially 
 against individuals, — and there is reason to apprehend 
 that it will scarcely be complied with at all. Even in 
 respect to those cases which belong most strictly and 
 obviously to the class designated, the law, in very 
 numerous instances, will be evaded. 
 
 The following example of such evasion, is one of 
 many that have fallen under the writer's observation : 
 
 At a business meeting of the church in A , Brother 
 
 B arose, and remarked that he thought it his duty 
 
 to bring to the notice of the body, the case of Br. 
 C , with whom he had. had some difficulty in a re- 
 cent business transaction, and whom he proceeded to 
 charge with gross dishonesty, and a palpable violation 
 
 of his word. He was interrupted by Br. D , who 
 
 wished to inquire whether the case had been regularly 
 matured for the action of the church, by the perfor- 
 mance of the preliminary labors prescribed in the 18th 
 
 of Matthew. In reply, Br. B stated that he had 
 
 performed no such labors, nor did he deem them ne- 
 cessary. He regarded the case as by no means coming 
 within the rule referred to. It was true, he had suffer- 
 
THE LAW OF CORRECTIVE DISCIPLINE. 101 
 
 ed personal injury, but this was not the subject of his 
 complaint. He chose to pass it by in silence. What 
 
 he charged upon Br. C , was the simple fact that 
 
 he had wickedly and dishonestly refused to fulfil certain 
 business engagements. The rule in the 18th of Mat- 
 thew, he thought, contemplated only such offences as 
 were strictly personal; but this, he contended, was 
 
 clearly a case of flagrant immorality. Br. D , with 
 
 one or two others, objected to this view of the subject ; 
 but the church practically sustained it, by receiving the 
 complaint. It then become a question, whether the 
 matter should be investigated in open church meeting, 
 or referred to a committee, to examine into the merits 
 of the case, and report. The brethren found them- 
 selves unable to agree upon either course ; and at 
 length resolved that the difficulty should be settled 
 by arbitration, each of the parties selecting an umpire, 
 and these tw^o a third. 
 
 In the whole of this strange movement, there was 
 not a single trace of such disciplinary action as the 
 law of Christ requires. Allowing the complaint to 
 have been just, the offence was strictly personal. The 
 fact that it involved immorality could make no differ- 
 ence. All personal offences involve immorality. The 
 
 case, therefore, according to Br. B 's own view of 
 
 the rule in the 18th of Matthew, ought to have been 
 treated as that rule prescribes. He had no right to 
 bring his complaint to the church, until in the true 
 spirit of the rule, he had performed the preliminary 
 labors enjoined. The church had no right, without 
 evidence of such labors having been performed, to en- 
 9* 
 
102 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 tertain it, — or, having entertained it, to turn it over 
 for decision to the arbitration of a few individuals, 
 vi^ho might, or might not be ilien of sound judgment 
 and tried integrity. Yet all this was actually done. 
 JVor is the above, by any means, a solitary instance of 
 departure from the rule in similar cases. The writer 
 once sat in council with other pastors and brethren, 
 upon an old, inveterate, and complicated difficulty 
 between two church members and their families, dur- 
 ing the investigation of which, it became necessary to 
 refer to certain by-laws, or rules, of order and disci- 
 pline, by which the church was understood to regu- 
 late its proceedings. For cases of personal offence, 
 or difficulty, this singular document pointed out three 
 distinct modes of treatment, either of which it was 
 at the option of the aggrieved party to pursue. 
 Whether the scriptural mode was included as one of 
 the three, is not now recollected. In respect to other 
 offences, as might have been supposed, a still wider 
 latitude was given. 
 
 But to return to the question ; — Is it true, that the 
 rule under examination contemplates such offences 
 only as are strictly personal? The phrase, " if thy 
 brother shall trespass against thee,^^ has been thought 
 by many to favor this conclusion. Such appears to have 
 been Fuller's opinion ; for while he suggests that, in 
 some other cases, love would dictate a course based 
 upon the principle of the rule, — he speaks of the rule 
 itself, as if it were designed especially and emphati- 
 cally for cases of personal injury. " In all cases of 
 personal offence,''' he says, " the rule laid down by our 
 
LAW OF CORRECTIVE DISCIPLINE. 103 
 
 Lord in the eighteenth chapter of Matthew, ought to 
 be attended to ; and no such offence ought to be ad- 
 mitted before a church, till the precept of Christ has 
 been first complied with, by the party or parties con- 
 cerned."* It is here supposed, that the obligation to 
 attend strictly to the rule, is limited to the particular 
 class of offences named. As this opinion prevails 
 somewhat extensively, and as it seems to give a tacit 
 sanction to almost auy irregularity in the treatment of 
 offences not belonging to the specified class, — it may 
 be necessary to exhibit briefly the evidences that the 
 rule was designed for universal application. 
 
 (a) It is important to observe, in the first place, 
 that our Lord, when he gave the rule in question, was 
 speaking of axufddliov, scandals, or occasions of 
 stumbling, — including not only personal aggressions, 
 but all such offences, of whatever kind, as might cause 
 others to offend, or fall into sin. (Matt. 18 : 7, &c.) 
 Having solemnly warned his disciples against thus 
 offending, or being offended, he proceeds, (v. 15 — 17,) 
 to give them explicit instructions in relation to the 
 treatment of offences committed by their fellow disci- 
 ples. From the obvious fact that these instructions 
 are closely and intimately connected with what pre- 
 cedes them, as a part of the same unbroken discourse, 
 the general subject of which remains unchanged, — 
 it seems but reasonable to conclude, that the rule, thus 
 furnished, was intended by our Lord for such offences 
 as he had previously named, — that is, for whatever is 
 
 * Works, vol. ii. p. 464. 
 
104 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 embraced in the general term, scandal. At least, be- 
 before it can rightfully be restricted in its application, 
 to a single class of those oiFences, it ought to be shown 
 conclusively that something in the phraseology of the 
 rule itself demands such restriction. This, it is believ- 
 ed, cannot be shown. Allowing the phrase, "if thy 
 brother shall trespass against thee,''^ to be a correct 
 rendering, and a case of personal offence to be specially 
 intended, — still, it does not follow that the application 
 of the rule to other offences would be contrary to the 
 will of our Lord. A special direction is found in 
 Titus 3 : 10, that, after the first and second admoni- 
 tion, a man that is an heretic should be rejected ; but 
 does it therefore follow that no other offender should 
 be rejected? Besides, — the disciples of Christ are 
 bound to regard every offence against him, as in some 
 sense conmiitted against themselves ; so that the phrase 
 in question, instead of limiting the rule, makes it in 
 fact universal. "The offence is a trespass against 
 thee ; if thy brother do any thing which is offensive to 
 thee as a Christian. Note, Christ and believers have 
 common interests ; what is done against them, Christ 
 takes as done against himself; and what is done 
 against him, they cannot but take as done against 
 themselves. The reproaches of them that reproached 
 thee, are fallen upon me. Ps. 69 : 9."* 
 
 {h) A farther argument for the universal appKca- 
 tion of the rule in question, may be drawn from its 
 universal fitness. It is obviously capable of being ex- 
 
 * Matthew Henry. 
 
LAW OF CORRECTIVE DISCIPLINE. 105 
 
 tended, without restriction or limitation, to all offences; 
 nor would it be an easy' matter, to show wherein it is 
 less wisely adapted to such as are public and general, 
 than to such as are private and personal. There is no 
 apparent reason, why, in cases of the former kind, as 
 in those of the latter, the same happy results may not 
 be confidently anticipated from its strict and faithful 
 observance, and the same pernicious consequences 
 justly apprehended from its neglect. If it be admit- 
 ted, (as it must be,) that in cases of personal offence, 
 the rule prescribes the very measures best calculated 
 to accomplish the object it contemplates, — that is, the 
 recovery of the offender to repentance, or, if this can- 
 not be effected, his removal by an orderly and harmo- 
 .nious act from the fellowship of the body, — then, 
 certainly, the restricted interpretation of the rule ought 
 not to be adopted, without satisfactory proof that, in 
 cases of misconduct involving no personal aggression, 
 the same object can be better accomplished by other 
 means. But whence is such proof to be derived? If, 
 in cases belonging to the latter class, the rule be dis- 
 pensed with, by v^rhat rule, it may be demanded, are 
 they to be treated 1 Neither Christ nor his apostles 
 have pointed out any other mode of disciplinary action ; 
 and every wrong not committed directly against an 
 individual, by this limitation of the rule, is left to be 
 treated as the discretion of individuals or of churches 
 may dictate. 
 
 (c) But farther, — The spirit of Christianity itself 
 would demand, that in all cases of flagrant wrong, 
 whether personal or general, a course of treatment 
 
106 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 should be adopted, not differing essentially from that 
 which the rule prescribes. He who loves his offend- 
 ing- brother, and would do him good, — whatever the 
 offence may be, will be slow to proclaim it to others. 
 The compassionate regard which he feels towards his 
 erring fellow disciple, will incline him, in the first 
 place, to attempt his reclamation in a private interview, 
 agreeably to the direction, " Go and tell him his fault 
 between thee and him alone ;" and not to disclose it to 
 the church, until a repetition of that attempt, aided by 
 *' one or two more" judicious brethren, has been found 
 unavailing. Indeed, a church member, becoming 
 aware that one of his brethren has committed a fault 
 requiring discipline, cannot proceed at once to bring 
 the matter to the notice of the body, without a viola- 
 tion of the great law of the Master, " Whatsoever ye 
 would that men should do to you, do ye even so to 
 them." It is not thus that he would be treated, under 
 similar circumstances. Let him imagine himself the 
 offender, — and inquire whether a full exposure of his 
 wrong in open church meeting, or a private effort to 
 win him back to duty, would indicate most clearly a 
 kind and brotherly desire to do him good, or be most 
 likely to melt his heart, and to awaken in him an 
 ingenuous sorrow for his sin ? The answer will show 
 him what is his own duty towards one who has been 
 overtaken in a fault. There is, therefore, no room for 
 the contemplated limitation of the rule. It matters 
 not what the wrong may be, — whether personal or 
 general, whether private or public ; — the law, unless 
 
LAW OF CORRECTIVE DISCIPLINE. 107 
 
 its divine Author has himself made an exception to it, 
 is universal. 
 
 In fact, Fuller himself had well nigh attained to the 
 same conclusion. "In many cases," he remarks, 
 ' ' u^here faults are not committed immediately against 
 us, but which are unknown except to a few individuals, 
 love will lead us to endeavor to reclaim the party, if pos- 
 sible, without any farther exposure. A just man will 
 not be wilhng, unnecessarily, to make his brother a 
 public example. — In cases of evil report, where things 
 are said of a brother in our hearing, which, if true, 
 must affect his character, and the purity of the church, 
 it cannot be right to go on to report it. Love will not 
 lead to this. — No time, therefore, should be lost, ere 
 we inquire at the hand of our brother," &c.* He 
 saw clearly the beauty and excellency of the rule, 
 and was evidently conscious that it might be extended 
 with advantage somewhat beyond those offences which 
 were strictly personal ; but he seems to have had no 
 distinct perception of the authority for its unlimited ex- 
 tension. Hence, the extreme caution with which he 
 suggests the partial application of that rule to faults 
 " not committed immediately against us," — and his 
 care to include in the suggestion, only those offences 
 " which are unknown except to a few individuals." In 
 regard to this last point, it should be remarked, that 
 a church member has nothing to do with the question, 
 whether an offence committed by a brother be known 
 to few, or many. The fact that he himself knows it, 
 whatever others may know, lays him under an obliga- 
 
 * Works, vol. ii. p. 464. 
 
108 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 tion which he may not innocently seek to evade, to 
 attempt the recovery of the offender by such means as 
 the law prescribes. 
 
 (d) The opinion that the rule was designed, not 
 merely for personal offences, but for all, is confirmed by 
 several passages in the epistles, which evidently con- 
 template its. application to wrongs of a general charac- 
 ter. One of these passages is that, in Titus 3 : 10; to 
 which we have already had repeated occasion to allude. 
 *' A man that is an heretic, (or one guilty of afactigus 
 departure from some fundamental point of the Chris- 
 tian, faith or practice, as, according to New Testament 
 usage, the original word, algertxav implies,) after the 
 first and second admonition, reject. ' ' The offence here 
 supposed is not personal ; yet, in regard to its treat- 
 ment, the apostle refers familiarly to the first and 
 second admonition, as preliminary stages in a well 
 known process of corrective discipline. As these steps 
 are expressly enjoined in the rule of our Lord, and 
 ROt elsewhere, the conclusion is unavoidable that he 
 must have had that rule in view. Again, " If any of 
 you do err from the truth, (or turn aside in any man- 
 ner from the path of uprightness,) and one convert 
 him, — let him know that he which converteth the sin- 
 ner from the error of his way, (or from his wandering,) 
 shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude 
 of sins." (James 5 : 19, 20.) Here, also, the writer 
 commends the same individual effort to reclaim a wan- 
 dering brother, which Christ had directed in the rule, — 
 and urges it upon the same ground. " If one convert 
 him, he shall save a soul from death." " If he shall 
 
OFFENCES DEMANDING DISCIPLINE. 109 
 
 hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother." Still far- 
 ther, " If a man be overtaken in a fault, (that is, if 
 he fall inadvertently into sin,) ye which are spiritual 
 restore {KaxaQilQeze, recover,) such an one in the 
 spirit of meekness ; considering thyself, lest thou also 
 be tempted." (Gal. 6:1.) The passage contemplates 
 individual action, and corresponds vrith the injunction 
 in the rule, " Go and tell him his fault," or, rather, 
 convince him of his sin. None of the wrongs here 
 named are supposed to be committed against individ- 
 uals ; yet, in every case, the duty of individuals to 
 apply such corrective measures as the rule prescribes, 
 is distinctly recognized. 
 
 But, enough ; — the point under consideration is be- 
 lieved to be made out. No farther argument is deemed 
 necessary, to establish the position, that the great law 
 enacted by Jesus Christ, and recorded in the passage 
 before us, is the universal law of corrective church 
 discipline ; and that all offences, requiring disciplinary 
 action, are to be treated in accordance with its provis- 
 ions. 
 
 ^ 16. OFFENCES DEMANDING CORREC- 
 TIVE DISCIPLINE. 
 
 The inquiry next arises. What constitutes a disciplin- 
 able offence ?* , What kinds, and what degrees of wrong, 
 
 * High crimes and misdemeanors are not disciplinable. In such 
 cases, the offender is ordinarily either in the custody of the law, 
 or a fugitive from justice, so that the application of the rule is im- 
 practicable. The church, therefore, to which he belongs, has 
 10 
 
110 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 in a church member, should be regarded as demanding 
 the appUcation of the rule 1 For, as Fuller justly ob- 
 serves, " We are not to suppose that no irregularity 
 or imperfection whatever, is an object of forbearance. 
 If uniformity be required in such a degree as that every 
 difference in judgment or practice shall occasion a sepa- 
 ration, the churches may be always dividing into par- 
 ties, which we are persuaded was never encouraged 
 by the apostles of our Lord, and cannot be justified in 
 trivial or ordinary cases. A contrary practice is ex- 
 pressly taught us in the epistle to the Romans, (chap. 
 14,) and the cases in which it is to be exercised are 
 there pointed out. An object of forbearance, however, 
 must be one that may exist without being an occasion 
 of dispute and WTangling in the church. It must not 
 be to doubtful disputations, (v. 1.) It must also re- 
 spect things which do not enter into the essence of God's 
 kingdom, the leading principles of which are righteous- 
 ness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost, (v. 16, 17.) 
 That which does not subvert the gospel of the king- 
 dom, nor set aside the authority of the king, though it 
 be an imperfection, is yet to be borne with. Finally, 
 it must be something which does not destroy the work 
 of God, or which is not inconsistent with the progress 
 of vital religion in the church, or in one's own soul, 
 (v. 20.) In all such cases we are not to judge one 
 
 nothing to do but to " clear itself," by a public act of disfellowship, 
 from all appearance of conniving at his sin. A similar course is to 
 be pursued in all cases, where the offender is absolutely beyond the 
 reach of the church. 
 
OFFENCES DEMANDING DISCIPLINE. Ill 
 
 another, but every man's conscience is to be his judge. 
 (v. 23.)"* 
 
 In the present state of things, it is not to be ex- 
 pected that church members will be entirely faultless. 
 Even in those whose general deportment and conduct 
 are such as to render their piety unquestionable, there 
 may be found a thousand imperfections, and weaknesses, 
 and blemishes of Christian character, so slight as 
 not to demand a strict application of the rule. The 
 correction of these minor and comparatively trifling 
 evils, is to be sought, not by those decisive disciplina- 
 ry measures which, in cases of more flagrant miscon- 
 duct, are indispensable, — but by kind and brotherly 
 suggestions, counsels, and admonitions ; and if these 
 gentler methods prove unavailing, it would seem to be 
 the part of charity, patiently to endure what it has 
 failed to remove. They that are strong ought to bear 
 the infirmities of the w^eak, and not to please them- 
 selves. (Rom. 15: 1.) It is the deadly moral gan- 
 grene, which, when proved to be incurable, demands the 
 excision of a member ; and not the mere spots and 
 wrinkles, which, though they mar somewhat the beau- 
 ty of the church, yet threaten no fatal consequences. 
 The law of corrective church discipline was designed 
 for wrongs, so malignant in their nature and tendency, 
 that they cannot be tolerated without endangering the 
 purity, harmony, and efficiency of the body in which 
 they are found ; for evils so glaring, that they cannot 
 innocently be overlooked, or suffered to pass uncensur- 
 
 * Works, voi. ii. p. 463. 
 
112 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 ed ; for offences so rank, that, if persisted in, they 
 must involve a forfeiture of Christian character. 
 
 1. One class of offences, to w^hich the corrective 
 measures enjoined in the rule should promptly be ap- 
 plied, may be embraced under the general term, here- 
 sies. He who is guilty of a factious denial of the 
 truth, or who embraces and seeks to disseminate error, 
 in relation to any fundamental point of Christian doc- 
 trine or duty, is, in the scriptural sense of the term, 
 a heretic ; and, as we have seen, if, after the first and 
 second admonition, he still persist in his wrong, he is 
 to be rejected. (Titus 3 : 10.) It was not intended, 
 however, that this direction should be applied to such 
 as are only weak in the faith. (Rom. 14 : 1.) A fail- 
 ure, through the want of mental power, or mental 
 culture, to grasp the sublimer mysteries of the Chris- 
 tian system, is not to be imputed as a fault. It is the 
 man who pertinaciously adheres to unscriptural dog- 
 mas, whether originating with himself or • others, — 
 who captiously rejects whatever he is unable to com- 
 prehend, or unwilling to admit, though distinctly re- 
 vealed in the volume of inspiration, — who gives him- 
 self to perverse disputings, and refuses his assent to 
 the doctrine which is according to godliness, — that is 
 to be reckoned guilty of heresy. (1 Tim. 6 : 3 — 5.) 
 From such as continue, after the appointed means 
 have been tried to reclaim them, to bear this character, 
 the churches are instructed to withdraw themselves. 
 " I would," says Paul, " they were even cut off that 
 trouble you." (Gal. 5: 12, comp. 1 : 6, 7. See also 
 Rev. 2 : 14, 15.) Persons of this description cannot 
 
OFFENCES DEMANDING DISCIPLINE. 113 
 
 safely be permitted to retain a standing as members of 
 the churches. He that is such is subverted, and will 
 be a ready instrument of the subversion of others. 
 He sinneth, being condemned of himself; and the 
 contagion of his corrupting example should at once be 
 removed. (Titus 3:11.) To hold him longer in fel- 
 lowship is utterly impracticable ; since he sets himself 
 against the truth upon which the church is based, 
 and which she is bound to defend, — nay, upon the 
 maintenance of which her very existence depends. 
 " If the foundations be destroyed, what can the right- 
 eous do?" (Ps. 11 :3.) 
 
 Under the term, heresy, — implying, as it does, a 
 departure in some essential particular, either from the 
 doctrine of Christ, or from the practice he has enjoin- 
 ed, — must be included those erroneous views of the 
 positive institutions appointed for the perpetual observ- 
 ance of the churches, which lead to their rejection, or 
 to any material change in them. Baptism and the 
 eucharist are emblematical, — this of the passion of 
 our Lord, and that of his triumphant resurrection from 
 the grave. They were designed to keep in memo- 
 ry, by a visible and public representation, the two 
 cardinal facts of the Christian system, — first, " how 
 that Christ died for our sins according to the Scrip- 
 tures ;" and secondly, " that he was buried, and that 
 he rose again the third day according to the Scrip- 
 tures." (1 Cor. 15:3,4; 11:26; Rom. 6 : 3,— 5.) 
 It is obvious, therefore, that the full significancy of 
 these ordinances must depend upon their being kept 
 as they were delivered. That they be so kept, is 
 10* 
 
114 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 essential, — not, indeed, to salvation, for none but the 
 saved can rightfully participate in either, — but to Chris- 
 tian obedience, and to the accomplishment of the im- 
 portant purposes for which they were designed. He 
 who rejects the true doctrine of the eucharist, and 
 embraces the error which affirms the real presence, 
 and forbids the cup to the laity, is no less really a 
 heretic, than he who denies the atonement. In like 
 manner, he who rejects the true doctrine of baptism, 
 and embraces the error which substitutes in its place 
 a totally different rite, and extends that rite to others 
 than professed believers, is no less really a heretic, 
 than he who says that there is no resurrection, and that 
 Christ is not risen. It follows, that members of Bap- 
 tist churches, adopting Pedobaptist views, and wish- 
 ing to become connected with Pedobaptist cengrega- 
 tions, cannot consistently be dismissed as in good and 
 regular standing. Christian courtesy would indeed 
 seem to demand, that certificates of moral character 
 should be furnished them, if requested ; yet, in all 
 such cases, the law requires that the fellowship of the 
 churches from which they thus go out, should be with- 
 drawn.* 
 
 It has been denied by many, and especially by such 
 as have been excommunicated for heretical opinions or 
 practices, that a difference of views in respect to reli- 
 
 * A distinction should be made between Christian fellowship, 
 and church fellowship. We cannot withhold the former from any, 
 whatever may be their errors, who give evidence of genuine piety. 
 We cannot extend the latter to any, whatever may be their piety, 
 who embrace errors subversive of the Christian doctrine or ordi- 
 nances. 
 
OFFENCES DEMANDING DISCIPLINE. 115 
 
 gious truth is properly an occasion of disciplinary ac- 
 tion. To make it so, they have contended, is an in- 
 vasion of the right of private judgment, — an act of 
 spiritual tyranny, on the part of those who have no 
 better authority to decide what is, and what is not 
 heresy, than they themselves. Hence, they have 
 generally affected to look upon themselves as the vic- 
 tims of persecution, and to demand that the sympa- 
 thies of the public should be extended to them, as 
 sufferers in the cause of human rights. To all this, 
 plausible as it may appear, a sufficient reply is found 
 in the scriptural injunctions, "From such withdraw 
 thyself, — I would they were even cut off, — A man 
 that is an heretic, reject." A compliance with these 
 injunctions is not persecution. The rejection from a 
 church's fellowship of one who is believed to have de- 
 parted from the faith, is no invasion of his right of 
 judgment ; — it is only the vindication and exercise of 
 an equal right of judgment in the church itself. " To 
 suppose it impossible," says Fuller, " to judge what 
 heresy is, or to deny that the power of so deciding 
 rests in a Christian church, is to charge the apostolic 
 precept with impertinence. It is true, the judgment 
 of a church may be erroneous as well as that of an 
 individual ; and it becomes them in their decisions to 
 consider that they will all be revised at the great day ; 
 but the same may be said of all human judgment, 
 civil or judicial, to which no one is so void of reason, 
 as on this account to object."* 
 
 * Works, vol. ii. p. 466. 
 
116 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 2. Another class of wrongs, which cannot be safe- 
 ly tolerated in a church, includes whatever has a ten- 
 dency to interrupt the harmony of its members, — to 
 banish that reciprocal confidence and affection which 
 ought ever to subsist among them, and thus to destroy 
 or weaken the bond of union so essential to the integ- 
 rity of the body. " Now I beseech you, brethren," 
 says an apostle, " mark them which cause divisions, 
 and offences, contrary to the doctrine which ye 
 have learned ; and avoid them. For they that are 
 such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own 
 belly ; and by good words and fair speeches deceive 
 the hearts of the simple." (Rom. 16:17,18.) If 
 any who have found their way into a Christian church, 
 evince a contentious spirit ; if they take a malignant 
 pleasure in fomenting discord and dissension among 
 their brethren ; if they contumaciously set themselves 
 against the authority of the body ; or if they seek, by 
 insinuating and artful pretences, to gather a party of 
 their own, which shall resist or control its decisions ; — 
 they should no longer be recognized as servants of our 
 Lord Jesus Christ, but are to be marked and avoided 
 as his enemies. They have sufficiently manifested 
 their indifference to his cause, (and it should be recol- 
 lected that, in this case, indifference is equivalent to 
 hostility, — Matt. 12 : 30,) by their readiness to sacrifice 
 its dearest interests to the promotion of their own self- 
 ish purposes. They have not hesitated, for the grati- 
 fication of their unholy passions, to break the unity of 
 the Spirit, and the bond of peace. They have aimed, 
 by separating the members of the church into hostile 
 
OFFENCES DEMANDING DISCIPLINE. 117 
 
 and opposing parties, to introduce a schism into the 
 body of Christ. It is obviously impossible for a. 
 church in which such things are allowed, to enjoy a 
 high measure of prosperity. The well known axiom, 
 that " union is strength," is no less true of the visible 
 kingdom of the Redeemer, and of every particular 
 branch of that kingdom, than it is of worldly combina- 
 tions. Of this, the great enemy of all righteousness 
 is perfectly aware ; and accordingly, he has ever acted 
 in the spirit of the maxim, "Divide, and conquer." 
 It is his favorite policy to induce those who bear the 
 Christian name, instead of turning their combined en- 
 ergies against the common foe, to employ their re- 
 sources in efforts to annoy each other ; and the disas- 
 trous consequences of his success are recorded upon 
 the pages of ecclesiastical history, in characters of 
 blood. In the language of the prophet, " the people 
 that did know their God have fallen by the sword, 
 and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many 
 days," — until millions on millions of Christian mar- 
 t)n:s have been slaughtered, in the name of Christ ! 
 Of the church in general, and of particular associa- 
 tions of Christians, it may be said with equal truth, 
 that they can be happy and prosperous, only when 
 united harmoniously together in the same mind and 
 the same judgment. It follows, therefore, that each 
 separate church is bound by a suitable regard to its 
 own welfare, to place upon whatever has a tendency 
 to interrupt this harmonious union of its members, the 
 mark of its decided disapprobation. 
 
 And yet, the simple fact that an individual church 
 
]18 
 
 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 member may deem it his duty to dissent from some act 
 of the body, ought not to subject him to censure. He 
 is not to be blamed because he may conscientiously 
 differ in opinion from his brethren ; for, as Fuller says, 
 " the judgment of a church may be erroneous, as well 
 as that of an individual." In all such cases, the 
 brother objecting to a measure, either under considera- 
 tion, or already passed, should be patiently heard ; the 
 reasons he may urge should be calmly and dispassion- 
 ately examined in the light of Scripture , and the full 
 weight to which they are entitled should be cheerfully 
 given them. The churches are deliberative, demo- 
 cratic bodies, charged with the execution of the laws 
 of Christ, and deciding by majorities upon such meas- 
 ures as, in their judgment, may be best adapted to 
 carry into effect the Master's will. In the discussion 
 of these measures, each member has a right freely to 
 avow his own opinions, and as freely to canvass the 
 opinions avowed by others ; and the exercise of this 
 right, if a Christian temper be maintained, instead of 
 weakening, tends actually to strengthen the bond of 
 Christian union. It is not the man who merely claims 
 the rights of a man, and who " gives place by sub- 
 jection, no, not for an hour," to any who would invade 
 these rights, that is to be marked and avoided as a 
 schismatic ; but he who seeks to divide that he may 
 rule ; who selfishly prefers his own interests to the 
 peace of the church, and who employs arts worthy 
 only of a political demagogue, to impose upon the 
 weak-minded, and bend them to his will. 
 
 3. A third class of offences demanding disciplinary 
 
OFFENCES DEMANDING DISCIPLINE. 119 
 
 action, may be comprehended under the general name 
 of ungodliness, or irreligion, — embracmg, as it does, 
 whatever involves a direct refusal to comply with reli- 
 gious obligations, or to perform those duties which we 
 owe specially to God. Many assume a form of godli- 
 ness, who afterwards evince, by a series of flagrant 
 delinquencies, that they know nothing of its power. 
 The seeming fervor of their first love rapidly declines ; 
 they become habitually negligent of the Christian or- 
 dinances and worship ; devotional exercises are aban- 
 doned for worldly pursuits and amusements ; and they 
 seek happiness in worldly associations, rather than in 
 the assembhes of the saints. They desert the high- 
 way of holiness, cast up for the ransomed of the Lord, 
 and are found walking in the counsel of the ungodly, 
 standing in the way of sinners, and ultimately, per- 
 haps, sitting in the seat of the scornful. (Ps. 1:1.) 
 Now it is evident that the churches were never design- 
 ed to afford shelter to such as these. If they cannot 
 be recovered from the course of declension upon which 
 they have entered, they should be separated from the 
 communion of the faithful, before the corrupting influ- 
 ence of their example has extended itself through the 
 body to which they belong. No time should be lost, 
 when a church member is known to have become ha- 
 bitually negligent of the public ordinances, or private 
 duties of religion, in appl}dng the salutary corrective 
 measures indicated in the great law of discipline ; and 
 if suitable efforts to reclaim him prove unavailing, the 
 fellowship of the church should be withdrawn. These 
 remarks have no reference to those truly conscientious, 
 
120 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 but, perhaps, weak-minded disciples, who, under an 
 overwhelming conviction of their own deep vileness, 
 sometimes shrink for a season from a personal partici- 
 pation in the more awful services of religion, — deem- 
 ing it sacrilege for such as they to handle and taste 
 the consecrated symbols of the Saviour's passion, and 
 trembling at the thought even of approaching the 
 mercy-seat. Instead of being cast off, these fearful 
 ones should be encouraged ; and their painful hesitancy 
 in respect to religious duties, arising from feebleness 
 of faith, or an over-scrupulous conscience, though it 
 may be a trial to their brethren, should be charitably 
 borne. They should be treated with the same kind- 
 ness, and gentleness, which appeared in the reply of 
 Jesus to one who exclaimed, in astonishment and terror 
 at the manifestation of his divine glory, " Depart 
 from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." (Luke 5 : 
 8, 10.) There can be little difficulty in making a 
 proper distinction between persons of this description, 
 and those who forsake the sanctuary from aversion to 
 its holy services, and who shun the society of Chris- 
 tians, that, Uke Demas, they may indulge themselves 
 without restraint in the love of this present world. 
 
 Covetousness, in all its varied modes of develope- 
 ment, belongs to the class of evils under considera- 
 tion. The voice of inspiration has pronounced it idol- 
 atry, and ranked it with crimes of the most detestable 
 character. (Col. 3 : 5 ; 1 Cor. 5:11.) It is a mother 
 sin, — "the root of all evil," — the occasion of every 
 species of ungodliness, — the broadest and the most 
 frequented gate-way that leads to destruction and 
 
OFFENCES DEMANDING DISCIPLINE. 121 
 
 perdition. (1 Tim. 6 : 5, 9, 10.) It is odious in the 
 sight of God, and will not fail .to bring down his wrath 
 upon the man, whatever may be Ids pretensions to 
 piety, who bears upon him this mark of the children of 
 disobedience. (Col. 3:6.) The churches are therefore 
 directed to " put away from among themselves that . 
 wicked person." Whether" his .covetousness be mani- 
 fested in some flagrant act of dishonesty, fraud, or ex- 
 tortion, or in a refusal to bear his proportion of the 
 necessary expenditures of the church to which he be- 
 longs, — they are conmianded "not to keep company 
 with such an one, no, not to eat." (1 Cor. 5 : 11, 13.)* 
 Precisely similar are the instructions of the apostle, 
 in respect to those church members who go to the op- 
 posite extreme, — arid who, instead of exhibiting an 
 excessive and idolatrous love of gain, are criminally 
 regardless of their obligations to provide, by a course 
 of honest industry, for their own wants, and the wants 
 of their famihes. • A delinquency of this kind involves 
 a practical denial of the faith, and is worse even than 
 theoretical infidelity. (1 Tim.. 5 : 8.) It is not only, 
 in itself a disorder, which the churches are forbidden 
 to tolerate ; but it tends to prepare the way for still 
 greater improprieties. He who is thus idle, and neg- 
 ligent of his own concerns, will generally be found 
 sufficiently busy in other men's matters. (1 Peter 4 : 
 15 ; 1 Tim. 5 : 13.) The law in regard to oflfenders of 
 this description, is full, and explicit. " Now we com- 
 mand you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus 
 
 * See the note under § 6. 
 11 
 
122 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother 
 that walketh disorderly, and not after the traditions 
 which ye received of us. For even when we were 
 with you, this we commanded you, that if any would 
 not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that 
 there are some which walk among you disorderly, work- 
 ing not at all, but are busy-bodies. Now them that are 
 such, we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, 
 that vdth quietness they work, and eat their own bread. 
 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 ad- 
 monish him as a brother." (2 Thess. 3 : 6, 10 — 15.) 
 It is somewhat singular, that Fuller finds in this 
 passage, "no mention made of exclusion, either im- 
 mediate or ultimate." Such an opinion can scarcely 
 be reconciled with the positive directions, " Withdraw 
 yourselves from every brother that walketh disor- 
 derly," — " Note that man, and have no company with 
 him. ' ' The withdrawal here enjoined upon the church, 
 is certainly equivalent to an act of exclusion. If this 
 be denied, then with equal reason may it be denied 
 that the persons mentioned in 1 Tim. 6 : 3 — 5, and 2 
 Tim. 3 : 2 — 5, were to be excluded. The other ex- 
 pression corresponds with that in Rom. 16 : 17, " Mark 
 them which cause divisions and offences, and avoid 
 them," and is identical with that in 1 Cor. 5:11, 
 " Keep no company with such an one, no, not to eat." 
 It prescribes the course to be pursued towards persons 
 lying under the censure of the church. "If," says 
 Fuller, " they still continue in a state of impenitence, 
 
OFFENCES DEMANDING DISCIPLINE. 123 
 
 persist in their sin, or be irreconciled to the church's 
 proceedings with them, it is of the utmost consequence 
 that every member should act a uniform part towards 
 them. We may, it is true, continue our ordinary and 
 necessary intercourse with them as men, in the con- 
 cerns of this life : but there must be no familiarity, no 
 social interchange, no ^^5itings to them, nor receiving 
 visits from them, nothing in short that is expressive of 
 connivance at their conduct. If individual members 
 act contrary to this rule, and carry it freely towards an 
 offender, as if nothing had taken place, it will render 
 the censure of the church of none effect."* These 
 remarks are doubtless just ; yet, in connexion vnth. 
 them, it is important to observe, that the excommuni- 
 cated person is by no means to be abandoned as irre- 
 claimable. Instead of being harshly repelled, as an 
 enemy, he should stiU be admonished from time to 
 time, as a fallen brother, whose recovery would be 
 hailed as an occasion of joy. 
 
 4. Still another class of offences may include all 
 such as are personal. " If thy brother grieve, affront, 
 contemn, or abuse thee ; if he blemish thy good name, 
 encroach on thy rights, or injure thee in thy estate ; if 
 he transgress the laws of justice, charity, or relative 
 duties ; — these are trespasses against us, and often 
 happen among Christ's disciples, and sometimes, for 
 want of prudence, are of very mischievous conse- 
 quence."! It wiU be conceded that wrongs of this 
 description, if evidently premeditated and designed, 
 
 * Works, vol. it pp. 464—5. t Matthew Henry. 
 
124 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 demand the prompt application of the rule. Christian 
 charity would, indeed, forbid that a man should be 
 made an offender for a word rashly spoken, or for an 
 unintentional injury ; but if it be obvious that the inju- 
 rious word or act has its origin in a malignant purpose, . 
 charity itself would require that the corrective meas- 
 ures enjoined in the law should be carried uito effe.ct. 
 
 5. The grosser immoralities-, including offences 
 against the law of chastity, intemperance, prbfaneness, 
 falsehood, and other scandalous vices and crimes, con- 
 stitute another class of wrongs, which it is sufficient 
 merely to mention in this enumeration. No argument . 
 is necessary, to prove that the churches cannot, con- 
 sistently with their own purity and honor, have fellow- 
 ship with these deeds of darkness ; and that the guilty 
 perpetrators, whenever their true character becomes 
 known, should speedily be put away from among 
 them. In short, whatever involves a denial of any 
 fundamental doctrine of the Christian faith, or a viola- 
 tion of any fundamental principle of Christian duty ; 
 whatever is incompatible with the habitual exercise t)f 
 love to God, and love to man ; whatever contravenes 
 the claims of justice or of mercy, or is inconsistent 
 with an humble, holy walking with God, must be 
 regarded as an offence against the law of Christ, 
 and, if committed by one who has a name and a place 
 among his professed disciples, as demanding the salu- 
 tary discipline which that law prescribes. Slight im- 
 perfections of character may, indeed, be charitably 
 overlooked. Nay, they must be, according to the 
 principle that " the strong ought to bear the infirmi- 
 
PROCESS OF CORRECTIVE -DISCIPLINE. 125 
 
 ties of the weak." But when these darker and more 
 malignant evils appear in church members, the reform- 
 ative measures ordained by the great Head of the 
 church, become solemnly imperative, and may not 
 innocently be neglected. 
 
 ^ 17. THE PROCESS OF CORRECTIVE DIS- 
 CIPLINE. 
 
 In the process of corrective discipline, as indicated 
 by our Lord, the first thing to be done is privately to 
 admonish the offender. This admonition should be 
 administered by a single individual ; and, if necessary, 
 it must be repeated by the same individual, with one 
 or two more whom he may call to his aid. These 
 individual labors constitute, it is believed, what the 
 apostle calls the first admonition. In the next place, 
 if the offender be not already reclaimed, it devolves 
 upon the church to which he belongs, having heard 
 the case, and ascertained by a full and fair investiga- 
 tion that the alleged wrong has actually been commit- 
 ted, to administer a second admonition. And lastly, 
 if it be found, after the offender has had suitable time 
 for reflection, that the united remonstrance of his 
 brethren has failed to produce the desired effect upon 
 him, he should be rejected by a solemn act of the body 
 from their fellowship. It may be well, for the purpose 
 of exhibiting more largely these several steps in the 
 process, to present a brief exposition of the law in 
 which they are enjoined. 
 11* 
 
126 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 1. THE FIRST ADMONITION. 
 
 . "Moreover, if thy brother shall trespass against 
 thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him 
 alone." The question whether offences in general, or 
 only those belonging to a particular class, are to be 
 treated in accordance with this tule, has already been 
 discussed under ^15. It was there shown, that the 
 rule is capable of universal application ; that there is 
 nothing in its language, necessarily restricting it to 
 personal injuries ; that its extension to wrongs of a, 
 different character, is evidently contemplated in several 
 passages of the epistles; that a virtual adherence to 
 it, in all cases, is demanded by the great law of love ; 
 and, in fact, that, beside this, no other rule of correc- 
 tive discipline is to be found in the New Testament. 
 Whatever the offence may be, therefore, whether pri- 
 vate or public, whether personal or general, the course 
 to be pursued is essentially the same. In the first 
 place, a private interview must be had with the offend- 
 er, and a private admonition must be administered. 
 
 (a) If the offence be personal, and if it be known 
 only to the individual against whom it is committed, 
 the duty of private admonition belongs, primarily, to 
 that individual. He is not at liberty to proclaim the 
 wrong he has suffered. It is to be told, not to others, 
 but to the offender himself; and to remain, for the 
 present, between his reprover and him alone. A pre- 
 mature disclosure of the matter may inflict a needless 
 injury upon the reputation of the wrong-doer, and 
 
PROCESS OF CORRECTIVE DISCIPLINE. 127 
 
 bring a needless reproach upon the Christian name. 
 It must be whispered, therefore, to no mortal car, save 
 that of the trespasser, until the law of Christ requires 
 it ; and then, only in the manner which that law pre- 
 scribes. 
 
 (b) If a personal offence be known, not only to the 
 injured party, but to .others also, still, neither he nor 
 they can be justifiable in giving it greater pubhcity. 
 In this case, as in the preceding, (a) the duty of pri- 
 vate admonition is obviously binding upon the individ- 
 ual against whom the offence is committed. At the 
 same time, however, it is equally binding upon the 
 other brethren, severally, who may be apprised of the 
 wrong. ' This is clearly in accordance with the princi- 
 ple, that •" if one member suffer, all the members suf- 
 fer with it." (1 Cor. 12:26.) Each is bound to 
 sympathize with his injured brother, and to act in the 
 spirit of the apostle, when he said, " Who is offend- 
 ed, and I burn not?" (2 Cor. 11:29.) Let the 
 offender, real or supposed, be thus faithfully reproved, 
 by one, and another, and another of his brethren, each 
 acting alone and independently of the rest, and all 
 evincing a brotherly solicitude to reclaim him from his 
 wrong; — and if his heart be not broken, it must be 
 because he is either fearfully hardened in sin, or firm 
 in the consciousness of integrity. 
 
 (c) If a personal offence be unknown to the injured 
 party, but known to others, the duty of private admo- 
 nition rests alike upon each of the latter. For exam- 
 ple, Peter, James, and John have no right to inform 
 Andrew that a slanderous report, highly injurious to 
 
128 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 his character, has been put in circulation by Thomas. 
 If such be the fact, and if they are aware of it, — their 
 first business, severally, is with Thomas. Each is 
 bound by the law to go to him, and tell him his fault ; 
 but, as yet they are not at liberty to tell it elsewhere. 
 There is no necessity that Andrew should know any 
 thing- of the matter, until he learns it from the confes- 
 sion of Thomas ; or until, in the regular course of dis- 
 cipline, one of the other three is prepared to bring a 
 complaint to the church. Should Andrew, however, 
 be apprised of it by other means, and at an earlier pe- 
 riod, the case loses its distinctive character, and be- 
 comes identical with that which precedes it. (b) 
 
 (d) In the foregoing cases, all the parties are sup- 
 posed to be church members. If the individual against 
 whom a personal offence is committed, be not a church 
 member, the duty of private admonition falls upon each 
 of the brethren of the offender, who may have knowl- 
 edge of the case. 
 
 (e) In respect to offences which are not personal, 
 heresies, schisms, scandals, &c. the rule is the same. 
 The duty of private admonition rests upon that church 
 member, whoever he may be, who first knows that 
 such an offence has been committed by a brother. If 
 many know it, the obligation to perform this service is 
 binding alike upon each ; nor can any one neglect it, 
 without himself becoming justly liable to the charge 
 of criminal delinquency. 
 
 The law evidently contemplates the recovery of the 
 offender, and carefully guards his reputation from all 
 unnecessary injury. So should he who undertakes 
 
PROCESS OF CORRECTIVE DISCIPLINE. 129 
 
 to execute the law. When he perceives in his brother 
 a wrong, demanding- disciplinary measures, it cannot 
 be right that he should publish and blaze abroad the 
 matter, — ^that he should repeat it from house to house, — 
 that he should proclaim it in the church meeting, and 
 require that it be investigated by a church committee. 
 This is not the course that love would dictate. - It. is 
 not what the law directs. It is not the way to reclaim 
 a wandering brother. Such a wanton and wicked 
 exposure of his wrongs will only exasperate his feel- 
 ings, and throw an obstacle in the way of his recovery 
 which will not be easily overcome. And yet, there 
 are many in the churches, who hesitate not to pursue 
 this very course, — and who boldly undertake to justify 
 themselves in so doing, on the ground, as- they allege, 
 that the rule has respect only to private and personal of- • 
 fences. These are themselves transgressors, and need 
 to be reclaimed. He who would raise a fallen brother, 
 must not begin by reporting his wrong, either to the 
 church or to the world. "If thou wouldst convince 
 him, do not expose him. Let the reproof be private, 
 that it may appear you seek not his reproach, but his 
 repentance. It is a good rule, not to speak of our 
 brethren's faults to others, till we have first spoken of 
 them to themselves. This would make less reproach- 
 ing, and more reproving ; less, sin committed, and more 
 duty done. It will be Ukely to work on an offender, 
 when he sees his reprover concerned not only for his 
 salvation, in telling him his fault ; but for- his reputa- 
 tion, in telhng him of it privately."* " Debate thy 
 * Matthew Henry. 
 
130 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 cause with thy neighbor himself; and discover not a 
 secret to another." (Prov. 25 : 9.) "Go and tell him 
 his fault between thee and him alone." 
 
 In performing this duty, the complainant should 
 make a statement of the facts in the case, — pointing 
 out distinctly the offensive act, but not assuming to 
 judge the offender's motives. He should invite the 
 attention of his sinning brother to the law he has trans- 
 gressed, explain its true spirit and meaning, and show 
 wherein it has been violated ; listen to any explanation, 
 defence, or confession that may be offered ; and strive, 
 by reasoning the matter with him, to bring him to a 
 proper sense of his wrong, and to induce him to make 
 such reparation as the nature of the case may demand. 
 
 " If he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother." 
 The object to be sought in this private admonition, is 
 here distinctly presented to view. It is to gain a 
 brother. It is not to wound him, with harsh and bitter 
 upbraidings ; but if possible, by kind yet earnest re- 
 monstrance, to reclaim him from his wrong. Whoever 
 would prosecute such a work successfully, must divest 
 himself of prejudice and personal resentment. He 
 must speak the truth in love ; prepared, on the one 
 hand, to meet a rude repulse with patience and forbear- 
 ance, — or, on the other, to hail the first tokens of con- 
 trition, and to restore the penitent offender in the 
 spirit of meekness. (Gal. 6 : 1.) "If thy brother 
 trespass against thee, rebuke him ; and if he repent, 
 forgive him." (Luke 17 : 3.) A mere profession of 
 repentance, however, which is obviously insincere, is 
 not to be received as satisfactory. If that repentance 
 
PROCESS OF CORRECTIVE DISCIPLINE. 131 
 
 be genuine, it will manifest itself in appropriate acts. 
 Reproof will be submissively and thankfully received ; 
 the offence will be confessed and forsaken ; and the 
 offender will promptly and voluntarily make such repa- 
 ration as may be in his power. He will say with the 
 Psalmist, practically at least, " Let the righteous smite 
 me ; it shall be a kindness : and let him reprove me ; it 
 shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my 
 head." (Ps. 141 : 5.) These are fruits meet for re- 
 pentance ; and in ordinary cases, they are all that can 
 be required. If they appear, it is well. The offend- 
 ing brother is gained, — a sinner is converted from the 
 error of his ways, — and his faithful reprover finds his 
 reward in the assurance that he has been the honored 
 instrument of saving a soul from death, and of hiding 
 a multitude of sins. (James 5 : 20.) 
 
 " 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." If the 
 offender will not heed the admonition of an individ- 
 ual, — if he justify himself, and refuse to confess or 
 repair his wrong, — the effort to reclaim him must be 
 repeated, with the assistance of one or two more. 
 These must be brethren, — not unbelievers, but fellow 
 disciples; and if practicable, it seems desirable that 
 they should be members of the same church with the 
 offender. (iCor. 6: 1 — 7.) For obvious reasons, 
 the persons selected for a service of this kind, should 
 be men of known probity, experience, and sound judg- 
 ment. This remark is fully sustained by the language 
 of Paul, in 1 Cor. 6 : 5, " Is it so, that there is not a 
 
132 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 wise man among you 1 no, not one that shall be able 
 to judge between his brethren ? " If you are destined 
 to participate in the judgment of the world, and of 
 angels, (v. 2," 3,) can it be that there is none among 
 you, competent to determine those smaller matters 
 which pertain to this life 1 The expression in the pre- 
 ceding verse, ' Set them to judge, who are least esteem- 
 ed in the church,' is to be understood as a delicate 
 irony, — as if he had said, Do so, if you can think it 
 right ; but if your own sense of propriety forbid this, 
 how much more will it forbid that brother should go to 
 law with brother before the unbelievers ! The duty of 
 the complainant, with one or two more, is essentially 
 the same that he had previously performed alone. The 
 assistant brethren should patiently hear both. the com- 
 plaint and the defence ; carefully investigate the whole 
 matter ; and in the fear of God, judge between their 
 brethren. If they find the accusation unsustained, 
 they should advise that it be withdrawn. If they per- 
 ceive, in either of the parties, an unchristian temper, 
 a disposition to cast injurious reflections, or to engage 
 in angry disputation, they should promptly rebuke it. 
 They should permit themselves to be swayed by no 
 prejudice, or party feeling ; but act impartially, for 
 God, and the right. It becomes their duty to aid the 
 aggrieved party in his efforts to convince and reclaim 
 the offender ; and if the latter persist in his wrong, to 
 appear as witnesses against him in the ultimate appeal 
 to the church. 
 
PROCESS OF CORRECTIVE DISCIPLINE. 133 
 
 2. THE SECOND ADMONITION. 
 
 " And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto 
 the church." Before this last act of individual labor 
 is performed, the complainant should apprise the of- 
 fender of his intention, that he may be present to an- 
 swer. The brethren who have aided him in the pre- 
 vious labor should also be apprised of it, that they 
 may be present to testify. And if there be other 
 witnesses, whose testimony is necessary to a full un- 
 derstanding of the case, measures should be taken to 
 secure their attendance. The church to which the of- 
 fender belongs, having met together by previous ap- 
 pointment, and being informed that an offence has 
 been committed by one of its members, and that the 
 matter has been regularly matured for the action of 
 the body, in the manner prescribed by the Christian 
 law of discipline, — should proceed, without any unne- 
 cessary delay, to hear and judge the case. 
 
 No complaint, however, should be received, until it 
 has been ascertained from the testimony of the breth- 
 ren who have assisted in the private admonition, that 
 this law has been faithfully complied with. If the 
 complainant has failed to do what the law requires, he 
 should be instructed in his duty, and have time to per- 
 form it. Or, if there has been a similar failure on the 
 part of the one or two associated with him, the church 
 should positively decline to act, until the preliminary 
 process is completed. The point here insisted upon, 
 is, in the estimation of the writer, one of very great 
 12 
 
134 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 importance. Although, from the manner in which 
 many churches conduct their disciphne, it is evident 
 that they do not so regard it, — he believes it essential 
 to the full attainment of the objects for which the law 
 of discipline was enacted. It is at least essential to 
 Christian obedience, that the whole procedure, from 
 beginning to end, should be in strict conformity to the 
 rule. And yet, how often is the criminal delinquency 
 of a complainant, in respect to the duty of private admo- 
 nition, passed over as a mere informality ! And how 
 often is the complaint, thus preferred, entertained and 
 immediately acted upon, — though the church is per- 
 fectly aware that the preparatory labors enjoined by 
 our Lord, have been either entirely neglected, or only 
 partially performed ! It is scarcely reasonable to ex- 
 pect that offenders will be reclaimed, where the means 
 which infinite wisdom has ordained for their reclama- 
 tion, are thus disregarded. 
 
 If private admonition, faithfully administered ac- 
 cording to the rule, be found to produce no satisfacto- 
 ry result, — it devolves upon the brother w^ho has taken 
 the lead in this preliminary process, to bring the whole 
 matter to the notice of the body. If the trespasser will 
 hear, neither hun alone, nor one or two more associat- 
 ed with him, he must " tell it unto the church." In 
 discharging this duty, the complainant should look 
 upon himself as sustaining the character, not of a 
 public prosecutor, whose business it is to secure a 
 conviction if he can, — but of a witness, who is bound 
 by the most solemn oUigatiQns to exhibit the simple 
 truth. He should therefore confine himself strictly 
 to the facts in the case. The offence charged, should 
 
PROCESS OF CORRECTIVE DISCIPLINE. 135 
 
 be clearly and plainly stated ; the Christian law sup- 
 posed to be violated, should be cited ; and the very 
 act in which the offence is supposed to consist, should 
 be distinctly specified. If that act be denied, it should 
 be proved by the testimony of at least on 3 witness be- 
 sides the complainant. A full statement should be made, 
 also, of the previous labor, and of the manner in 
 which it was received ; and this statement should be 
 confirmed by the testimony of the one or two who 
 have been associated with the complainant in such 
 labor. 
 
 The injunction, " Tell it unto the church," implies 
 an obligation on the part of the church to hear, both the 
 complaint, and the testimony by which it is sustained. 
 A simple statement of facts, however, is all that should 
 be heard. No bitter and reproachful comments upon 
 these facts, no attempt to give them a false coloring, 
 or in any way to excite indignation against the sup- 
 posed offender, should for a moment be tolerated ; nor, 
 on the other hand, should any disorderly interruption 
 be allowed, on the part of the accused or his friends. 
 Those angry controversies which sometimes arise in 
 church meetings, cannot be otherwise than evil in their 
 consequences ; and it is the duty of the pastor, or 
 other presiding oflScer, to check, in its earliest begin- 
 nings, whatever has a tendency to produce them. 
 The complaint having been presented, the accus- 
 ed, if he wish it, should also be heard, and have 
 full opportunity of offering such testimony as he may 
 deem necessary to a fair and impartial view of the 
 case. In a word, it should be the object of the church, 
 by deliberate, thorough investigation, to get at the 
 
136 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 truth of the matter in question, and so to render equal 
 justice both to the accuser and to the accused. No pro- 
 posal to stifle inquiry, by permitting the latter silently 
 to withdraw himself from the church, or dropping him 
 from fellowship at his own request, to avoid the ex- 
 posure of a public investigation, should be entertained. 
 No unworthy church member should be separated 
 from the body to which he belongs, otherwise than by 
 a formal act of excommunication ; and no such act 
 should be passed, until satisfactory proof of guilt is 
 openly laid before the church. "Few churches," 
 says Fuller, " would suffer a grossly immoral or liti- 
 gious character to continue amongst them unnoticed : 
 but if, instead of a calm, impartial and decided proce- 
 dure, we enter into pusillanimous compromises with 
 the oflfender, consenting that he should withdraw of 
 his own accord ; if the crimes of rich men be either 
 entirely overlooked, or but slightly touched, lest the 
 cause should suffer from their being offended ; or if 
 the misconduct of poor men be disregarded, on the 
 ground of their being persons of little or no account, — 
 
 are we not carnal, and w^alk as men"? Such things 
 
 ought not to be. The private withdrawment of an 
 individual, if it be without good reason, may justify a 
 church in admonishing him, and, if he cannot be re- 
 claimed, in excluding him ; but it cannot of itself dis- 
 solve the relation. Till such exclusion has taken 
 place, he is a member, and his conduct affects their 
 reputation as much as that of any other member."* 
 
 It belongs to the church, after proper investigation, 
 to decide by vote whether the charge is, or is not sus- 
 
 * Works, vol. ii. p. 465. 
 
PROCESS OF CORRECTIVE DISCIPLINE. 137 
 
 tained. If the accused brother be found not guilty, 
 the complainant must cheerfully acquiesce in the decis- 
 ion. He is not at liberty to oppose his individual 
 judgment to the united judgment of the body, or of a 
 majority ; nor may he innocently cease to hold com- 
 munion with" his brethren in the Christian worship and 
 ordinances, because they have not yielded their own 
 opinions to his. He may sincerely believe them to be 
 in error ; but until they are guilty of wrongs so fla- 
 grant as no longer to sustain the character of a Chris- 
 tian church, he has no right to separate himself from" 
 their fellowship. If, on the contrary, it be decided 
 by the church that the charge is sustained, the of- 
 fender, by a solemn act of the body, should he admon- 
 ished to repent, and to make such reparation as may 
 be due. If he be present, this second admonition 
 should be administered by the pastor, or presiding of- 
 ficer, in behalf of the church, and in open church 
 meeting. "Them that sin," says the apostle, "re- 
 buke before all, that others also may fear." (1 Tim. 
 5 : 20.) Should the offender, though residing in the 
 neighborhood, decline to be present, the admonition of 
 the church may be conveyed to him by a judicious 
 committee appointed . specially to that service ; or, 
 should his residence be so distant as to render this im- 
 practicable, it may be forwarded by letter. This last 
 method should be resorted to only in case of necessity, 
 for the plain reason that the voice of a living reprover 
 will be far more likely to prove effective ; nor should 
 letters of admonition ever be sent, until they have re- 
 ceived the approbation of the body. 
 12* 
 
138 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 6. THE FINAL ACT OF DISCIPLINE. 
 
 " But if he neglect to hear the church, let hhn be 
 unto thee as an heathen man and a publican . " To 
 hear the church, is to heed her admonition. If the 
 fault of which the oifender stands convicted, be not of 
 a highly aggravated character ; if it appear that it 
 was unpremeditated, or that he was overtaken in it 
 through sudden or powerful temptation ; if he receive 
 the rebuke of the church with meekness ; and es- 
 pecially, if he give satisfactory proof of penitence, by 
 hastening to repair his wrong, — it is all that his breth- 
 ren can demand. They are bound to retain him in their 
 fellowship, and to treat him with the same brotherly 
 kindness and consideration, that would have been due 
 to him if he had never fallen. But if, after suitable 
 time for reflection, he persist in disregarding the ad- 
 monition of the church, — though his sin be not of the 
 most flagrant kind, the fellowship of the body should 
 be withdrawn from him. To avoid, if possible, a re- 
 sult so painful, or, if impossible, to secure harmony in 
 this ultimate and final act of discipline, — it seems 
 proper that any brother, desirous of making a still far- 
 ther ejffort to reclaim and save the wrong-doer, should 
 be allowed a reasonable time to do so. It scarcely 
 needs to be added, that the whole process should be 
 conducted under a solemn conviction on the part of 
 each, of personal responsibility ; and that wisdom 
 from above should be unitedly sought, in earnest, fer- 
 vent prayer. (James 1:5; Matt. 18 : 19.) In- short, 
 all should be done in the name of our Lord Jesus 
 
PROCESS OF CORRECTIVE DISCIPLINE. 139 
 
 Christ, with special reference to his revealed will, and 
 in such a manner as may be expected to receive his 
 approbation. (1 Cor. 5 : 4, 5 ; Matt. 18 : 18, 20.) 
 
 The above remarks have respect to such offences as 
 are not premeditated, habitual, or of a highly aggravat- 
 ed character. If the wrong perpetrated be one of 
 peculiar flagrancy, like that of the Corinthian offend- 
 er; (1 Cor. 5:1,) — if it be committed deliberately, 
 and in accordance with a previous design, like that of 
 Ananias and Sapphira ; (Acts 5 : 9,) — or, if it be 
 secreth'- practised, and persisted in until it can no 
 longer be concealed ; (Jude 4,) — a, more summary 
 process is required. In such cases, the admonition 
 of the church, and the excommunication of the offend- 
 er, should go together. Evidence of the crimmal act be- 
 ing laid before the body, in the manner prescribed by 
 the rule, — the brethren should not hesitate to put 
 away from among them, at once, the wicked person 
 who perpetrated it. (1 Cor. 5:4, 5, 13.) No profes- 
 sion of penitence on his part, should prevent his im- 
 mediate separation from the body ; because no such 
 profession can be deemed credible, until corroborated 
 by his subsequent conduct. To delay the act of ex- 
 cision, therefore, would be to expose the Christian 
 name to odium and contempt. The opinion entertain- 
 ed by many, and sustained, as they think, by our 
 Lord, in Luke 17:4, that all disciplinary action must 
 be arrested if the offender do but say, he repents, — 
 is evidently erroneous. It derives, in fact, no support 
 from the passage to which they refer. " And if he 
 trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven 
 times in a day turn again unto thee, saying, I repent ; 
 
140 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 thou shalt forgive him." According to this, there 
 must be, not only a profession of repentance, but an 
 actual "turning again,"* — a practical proof that re- 
 pentance truly exists. If such proof be given, and 
 if it be of such a character as to be unquestionable, 
 sincere disciplinary proceedings should cease, because 
 the object of discipline is already accomplished. But 
 in many cases, it is manifestly impossible that satisfac- 
 tory proof of penitence should at once be given. It 
 must be sought and found, if found at all, in the sub- 
 sequent life of the offender. 
 
 If a church member come to his brethren, and vol- 
 untarily discloses to them the fact, till then unknown, 
 that on a certain occasion, months or years before, he 
 was betrayed into some flagrant sin, — for example, 
 that of adultery ; if, impelled by the power of con- 
 science, and overwhelmed witb a sense of the great- 
 ness of his wrong, he yield himself up to their dis- 
 posal, earnestly desiring them to do with him what, in 
 their judgment, the honor of the cause demands, — it 
 can scarcely be doubted, even by the most uncharita- 
 ble, that his repentance is genuine. The world itself, 
 under such circumstances, will give him credit for 
 deep and heart-felt contrition ; and his brethren, if 
 they deem a temporary exclusion necessary to the 
 "clearing of themselves," will speedily remove the 
 censure, and confirm their love to such an one, lest he 
 should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. (2 
 
 * True, STticnoiiprj is to be understood in the physical sense, as 
 in Acts 16: 18; yet the act of turning and saying, I repent, must 
 be sincere ; and of this, there must be satisfactory evidence. 
 
PROCESS OF CORRECTIVE DISCIPLINE. 141 
 
 Cor. 2 : 7, 8.) But suppose this same church mem- 
 ber, after living for years in the habitual practice of 
 adultery, until at length his sin is providentially de- 
 tected, comes to the church with professions of repent- 
 ance, and claims, on the ground of that repentance, 
 to be forgiven- Can it be believed that he is sincere ? 
 Or can the church withhold its censures, without pro- 
 claiming to the world that its discipline is a contempti- 
 ble mockery, and that, of whatever misconduct its 
 members may be guilty, a word viiU. atone for all ? 
 
 Upon this subject, the following paragraph, from 
 Fuller's circular, is worthy of the grave consideration 
 of the churches. " We cannot but consider it as an 
 error in the discipline of some churches, where per- 
 sons have been detected in gross and aggravated wick- 
 edness, that their exclusion has been suspended, and in 
 many cases omitted, on the ground of their professed 
 repentance. While the evil was a secret, it was per- 
 sisted in ; but when exposed by a public detection, 
 then repentance is brought forward, as it were, in 
 arrest of judgment. But can that repentance be gen- 
 uine, which is pleaded for the purpose of warding off 
 the censures of a Christian church ? We are persuad- 
 ed it cannot. The eye of a true penitent will be 
 fixed on the greatness of his sin ; and he will be the 
 last to discern or talk of his repentance for it. So far 
 from pleading it in order to evade censure, he will cen- 
 sure himself, and desire nothing more than that testi- 
 mony may be borne against his conduct for the honor 
 of Christ. But aUowing that repentance in such cases 
 is sincere, still it is not of such account as to set aside 
 the necessity of exclusion. The end to be answered 
 
142 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 by this measure is not merely the good of the party, 
 but the clearing of a Christian church from the very 
 appearance of conniving at immorality ; which cannot 
 be accomplished by repentance only. Though Miriam 
 might be truly sorry for her sin in having spoken 
 against Moses, and though she might be healed of her 
 leprosy, — yet the Lord said unto Moses, " If her father 
 had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed 
 seven days? Let her be shut out from the camp seven 
 days ; and after that, let her be received in again. 
 (Numbers 12: 14.)"* 
 
 A full record of the proceedings in every case of 
 discipline coming before a church, should be entered 
 upon the church book for future reference ; and if it 
 result in an act of excommunication, the grounds upon 
 vv'hich that act was passed should be distinctly stated. 
 It is submitted, whether, in case of the excommunica- 
 tion of a member, the fact should not be announced in 
 the public congregation, — not only that the church 
 may be vindicated from the suspicion of conniving at 
 the wrong against which she thus bears her testimony, 
 but also that she may not be held responsible for any 
 future delinquency of which the offender may be guilty. 
 
 Such is the process of corrective discipline, as pre- 
 scribed by the Christian law. Such is the rule which 
 Christ himself has ordained, for the treatment of of- 
 fences among his professed disciples, and upon the 
 strict and faithful observance of which the purity and 
 peace of his churches will be found greatly to depend. 
 It is a universal rule, — applicable alike to all disciplin- 
 
 * Works, vol. ii. p. 466. 
 
 J 
 
PROCESS OF CORRECTIVE DISCIPLINE. 143 
 
 able offences, whether private or public, whether per- 
 sonal or general. It is an impartial rule, — pointing 
 out one mode of treatment for every offending church 
 member, whether he occupy a private or an official 
 station. The direction, "Against an elder receive 
 not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses," 
 (1 Tim. .5 : 19,) has indeed been thought to imply, 
 that in the case of one who is not an elder, a less 
 amount of testimony may be sufficient. But the rule 
 demands, in all cases, "that in the mouth of two or 
 three witnesses every word should be established." 
 Not only the original charge, but the additional one, 
 of having disregarded the first or private admonition, 
 must be thus supported. The passage quoted from 
 the epistle to Timothy, seems to have been intended, 
 not to secure to the elders a peculiar privilege, but to 
 guard against encroachment, in their case, a right 
 which they possessed in common with others. It 
 might, perhaps, have, been inferred by Timothy, from 
 the high grade of Christian excellence required in the 
 officers of the churches, (see chap. 3,) as well as from 
 the obvious importance of their maintaining an unblem- 
 ished reputation, — that the accusation of a single indi- 
 vidual, though unsustained by other proof, w^ould be a 
 sufficient reason for proceeding against them. With a 
 view, it may be, to prevent such an inference, and to 
 secure to those who, from their very elevation, were 
 peculiarly exposed to malicious assaults, an impartial 
 and righteous judgment, — the apostle expressly forbids 
 that a charge should be entertained against them, un- 
 less supported by the full amount of testimony requir- 
 ed in every case by the rule. 
 
144 
 
 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 In concluding this section, it should be observed, 
 that no church member who is conscious of having 
 committed a disciplinable offence, can rightfully receive 
 the Lord's supper, or bear an active part in any public 
 religious service, until he has confessed, and, if prac- 
 ticable, repaired his wrong. "Therefore," says our 
 Lord, "if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there 
 rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee, 
 leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way ; 
 first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and 
 offer thy gift." (Matt. 5 : 23, 24.) This injunction 
 is binding upon the secret, as well as upon the open 
 offender. Though his brethren be not grieved or 
 offended, yet if he have given them occasion of grief 
 or offence, he must not omit to offer satisfaction. 
 Though they may not hold aught against him, yet if 
 he remember that they have aught against him, he is 
 under obligation to take it out of the way. Nor can 
 he reasonably hope for acceptance with his Maker, 
 until, in this respect, he is ready to comply with his 
 righteous demands. The same rule is applicable to 
 the supposed offender, in whose case a process of dis- 
 cipline is pending, even though he may be conscious 
 of innocence. If his brethren have aught against him, 
 though it be without just occasion, he ought to abstain 
 &om all active participation in the public services of 
 religion, until the matter is satisfactorily arranged. 
 Nothing, however, should be omitted on his part, to 
 effect such an arrangement with the least possible 
 delay. In the mean time, the brother against whom 
 the trespass is committed, or, if it be not a personal 
 offence, who feels himself aggrieved by it, is not 
 
PROCESS OF CORRECTIVE DISCIPLINE. 145 
 
 bound by this rule. The wrong of another can neither 
 alienate his privilege, nor discharge him from his duty. 
 It is not the offended, but the offender, — not the inno- 
 cent, but the guilty, — who, until his sin is confessed 
 and forsaken, is disqualified for communion with God 
 in the ordinances of his house. To decline, therefore, 
 as many do, a participation in the Lord's supper, be- 
 cause they may be apprised of some evil in a brother, 
 is to pursue a course which the Scriptures nowhere 
 authorize, and which, if generally adopted, must often 
 lead to an entire suspension of that service. Church 
 members Mho resort to this method of expressing their 
 dissatisfaction, should be instructed in their duty ; and 
 if they refuse to perform it, they should themselves be 
 dealt with as transgressors of the Christian law. 
 
 § 18. TREATMENT OF THE EXCOMMUNI- 
 CATED. 
 
 The course to be pursued towards those who have 
 forfeited their standing as church members, and upon 
 whom the sentence of excommunication has been 
 passed, is indicated in such Scriptures as the follow- 
 ing : ' ' Let him be unto the as an heathen man and a 
 publican." '(Matt. 18:17.) "Mark, and avoid 
 them." (Rom. 16:17.) "Keep no company with 
 such an one, no, not to eat." (1 Cor. 5 : 11.) " 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. 3 : 14, 15.) 
 13 
 
146 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. ; 
 
 The first of the above passages evidently contem- 
 plates the mildest treatment which, in such cases, is 
 allowable. Whatever the wrong may be, for which 
 a church member is excluded, the efiect of that exclu- 
 sion is the same. The peculiar relation previously 
 existing between him and his brethren, is from that 
 moment dissolved. He ceases to be to them any thing 
 more than an impenitent man, and an unbeliever ; and 
 they are bound, in their future intercourse with him, 
 to evince by their conduct that they regard him as be- 
 longing, not to the church, but to the world. They 
 are not, indeed, to treat him with coldness, and haugh- 
 ty reserve. They should show him kindness, but not 
 complacency. They should manifest towards him 
 the tokens of benevolent regard, but not of approba- 
 tion. In short, he should be in no way distinguished, 
 as having once belonged to the church, from the un- 
 converted in general. If such a distinction be made 
 at all, it should be for other reasons, hereafter to be 
 noticed. It is exceedingly important, as a means of 
 securing the happiest effect of an act of excommuni- 
 cation, that all the members of the church should un- 
 derstand their duty towards the excommunicated, and 
 act accordingly. If any of them treat him with the 
 same frankness and cordiality of manner as before ; 
 if they manifest towards him a fraternal and com- 
 placent regard ; or if, in any way, they seem to ad- 
 mit a claim on his part still to be recognized as a 
 Christian disciple, — the evil tendencies of a course so 
 injudicious will speedily be apparent. Encouraged by 
 their ill-timed countenance and sympathy, he will be 
 likely to persist in his wrong, to conceive a prejudice 
 
TREATMENT OF THE EXCOMMUNICATED. 147 
 
 against such of the brethren as maintain a more be- 
 coming reserve, and to hold in contempt the censure 
 pronounced by the united voice of the body.* 
 
 The injunction, "Mark, and avoid them," has 
 special reference to that peculiarly malignant and dan- 
 gerous class of offenders, who have not only forfeited 
 and lost by their misconduct the fellowship of their 
 former brethren ; but who, from hostility to the truth, 
 or a desire to promote their own selfish purposes, are 
 still aiming to cause divisions and offences among them, 
 contrary to the doctrine of Christ. f Persons of this 
 description, in the treatment they receive at the hands 
 of Christians, should be distinguished from common 
 sinners, by more decided -and special tokens of disap- 
 probation. Every church member should, if possible, 
 shun them as he would the pestilence ; or if associa- 
 tion with them, to some extent, be unavoidable, it 
 should be manifest that he is apprised of the peril of 
 listening to their insidious and artful sophistries, and 
 vigilantly guarded against their corrupting influence. 
 
 For similar reasons, the Christian is forbidden to be 
 on terms of familiar intercourse with such excomuni- 
 cated persons as are habitually guilty of the grosser 
 immoralities. " I have written unto you," says the 
 apostle, " if any man that is called a brother be a for- 
 nicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a 
 drunkard, or an extortioner, — not to keep company 
 with such an one, no, not to eat." No church mem- 
 ber can admit such persons to his intimacy, or min- 
 gle freely and with evident pleasure in their society, 
 
 * See Fuller, as cited under § 16, 3. t See § 16, 2. 
 
148 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 without seeming to give countenance to their evil 
 deeds. To some, it may seem surprising that so com- 
 mon and so reputable a sin as covetousness should be 
 included in the above enumeration ; but whoever reflects 
 upon its pernicious character and tendency, as " the 
 root of all e\il," will perceive that the apostle had the 
 best of reasons for placing it upon a level with the 
 most detestable crimes. The same course of conduct, 
 substantially, is to be observed towards persons ex- 
 cluded for loose and disorderly conduct, — idlers, busy- 
 bodies, in a word, such as addict themselves to low 
 and disreputable habits. So long as they continue to 
 bear this worthless character, Christians are directed 
 to " note them, and have no company with them, that 
 they may be ashamed." 
 
 At the same time, they are not to be cast off, and 
 utterly abandoned, as if they had fallen into a state of 
 confirmed and irreconcilable enmity against God. In 
 this respect, they are to be regarded as occupying a 
 common level with all the unconverted ; as living in 
 sin, yet susceptible of being recovered to holiness ; 
 as remaining in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond 
 of iniquity, yet not excluded from the hope of forgive- 
 ness. At every convenient opportunity, therefore, 
 so long as they will candidly listen to reproof, they 
 should be affectionately and solemnly admonished to 
 repentance. " Yet, count him not as an enemy, but 
 admonish him as a brother." It is not here implied, 
 that the excommunicated person should be recognized 
 as a Christian brother. What is intended is, that, as 
 a brother man, he should be embraced in our benevo- 
 lent sympathies and concern for his salvation. 
 
RESTORATION OF THE PENITENT. 149 
 
 The rule, then, for the treatment of the excommuni- 
 cated, may be thus briefly stated : While it should 
 be such, in all cases, as to evince a spirit of kindness, 
 and a desire to do them good, — that desire should 
 not lead us to such an intimacy with those who are 
 seeking, by good words and fair speeches, to deceive 
 the hearts of the simple, that they may do us hurt ; 
 that kindness should be mingled with such a degree of 
 reserve, that it may not be mistaken for complacency, 
 or in any way prevent the salutary influence which 
 might otherwise be exerted by the censure of the 
 church. 
 
 ^ 19. RESTORATION OF THE PENITENT. 
 
 We have seen that every part of the process of dis- 
 cipline, as prescribed in the rule of our Lord, is design- 
 ed to be reformative. Even the final act of exclusion 
 is to be regarded, not as a penal, but a corrective meas- 
 ure. The offender is to be delivered unto Satan, for 
 the mortification of his fleshly propensities, that his 
 spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. Though 
 strictly a vindicative act, so far as it concerns the purity 
 and honor of the church, it was not intended to be a 
 vindictive one, and should never be performed with 
 vindictive feelings. One of the objects contemplated 
 in it, should always be the offender's good ; and it 
 should be accompanied with earnest prayer that it may 
 be sanctified to that end.* 
 
 * See § 13, 3. 
 13* 
 
150 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 If the act of excommunication be thus passed, and 
 if the treatment of the excommunicated be such as is 
 suggested above, — it may confidently be hoped that, 
 in many instances, they will come again to the church, 
 seeking, like the returning prodigal, a readmission to 
 their Father's house. In such cases, if they give sat- 
 isfactory proof of penitence, the church is bound to 
 restore them to her fellowship. No movement of this 
 kind, however, should be rashly ventured upon. To 
 receive, in an ordinary business church meeting, the 
 confession of an excluded person, and immediately to 
 pass an act of restoration, while perhaps a majority of 
 the members are absent, and know nothing of the mat- 
 ter, — cannot be otherwise than injudicious, and will 
 seldom fail to disturb the harmony of the body. A 
 widely different method of procedure should therefore 
 be adopted. The whole church should have opportu- 
 nity to hear the professed penitent ; and when they act 
 upon the case, it should be with the utmost coolness 
 and dehberation. It should first be decided by vote, 
 whether such proofs of penitence as appear, ought to 
 be received as satisfactory. If any considerable num- 
 ber of the brethren are of opinion that they ought not 
 to be so received, the question of restoration must of 
 necessity be deferred. If, on the contrary, all are sat- 
 isfied, or, if afterwards they become so, that question 
 may then be acted upon without farther delay. 
 
 In the decision of cases of this nature, great caution 
 is requisite. The disciples are called upon to judge, 
 whether the confession presented flows from a broken 
 heart and a contrite spirit, or whether it is a mere 
 
RESTORATION OF THE PENITENT. 151 
 
 expedient, by which the offender hopes to regain his 
 standing in the church. Each should feel the difficulty 
 of his position, and seek wisdom from above. It 
 should be the purpose of each to judge righteous judg- 
 ment. While, on the one hand, he should strive to 
 divest himself of prejudice, and to put on that charity 
 which hopeth all things, — he should entertain, on the 
 other, so profound a regard to the honor of God and 
 his cause, as not to be moved by tears and protesta- 
 tions of sorrow. Remembering "that nothing dries 
 more quickly than a tear," he should be satisfied only 
 with those unequivocal tokens of genuine repentance, 
 which consist in ceasing to do evil, and in learning to 
 do well. If these tokens appear ; if the oflfender have 
 confessed, forsaken, and repaired, so far as this was 
 practicable, his past wrongs ; and if it be manifest that 
 he is now aiming, by the help of God, to do rigbt, — 
 the censure inflicted by many has accomplished the 
 purpose for which it was designed. They may remove 
 it, and confirm their love to him. But so long as there 
 remains a reasonable doubt that this object is effected, 
 the act of absolution should not be passed. Xo injuri- 
 ous consequences need be apprehended from delay. 
 The offender, if truly humbled and penitent, will be 
 the last to complain, or to wish for a favorable decision 
 in his case until the brethren are impelled to it by a 
 sober conviction of duty. 
 
 Capricious and unreasonable objections to the resto- 
 ration of a penitent offender, on the part of one or 
 more individual members, should not be allowed to 
 prevent such restoration, if, in the opinion of the body, 
 
152 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 it ought to take place. The objectors should be pa- 
 tiently heard and answered ; after which, if they still 
 differ from their brethren, they should be required to 
 yield their judgment to that of the church. 
 
 The act of restoration should be regarded as having 
 respect merely to the common church relation. The 
 person restored is reinstated by that act in all the 
 rights and privileges of membership in the body, but 
 not in any official station which he may have occupied 
 previous to his exclusion. He can have no right to 
 resume such station, or to exercise any of its func- 
 tions, except through the suffrages of his brethren, 
 subsequently given. 
 
 Should it be found, in any case, that through false 
 accusation, or misapprehension, a church member has 
 been wrongfully excluded, the church should be prompt 
 to acknowledge and correct the error. No body of 
 men, though acting with the best intentions, can claim 
 infallibility in its decisions ; and it seems proper that 
 an excommunicated person, respectfully representing 
 to the church from which he was expelled, that his 
 case has been misunderstood, and that he is now able, 
 by new testimony, to give it an entirely different as- 
 pect, — should be allowed a re-hearing. If he succeed 
 in establishing his innocence, it is due to him that he 
 be received again into fellowship, not by an act of res- 
 toration, but by a rescinding of the act of excommuni- 
 cation. Forgiveness, in this case, is insufficient to an- 
 swer the demands of justice. He has a right to claim 
 a sentence of full justification, and honorable acquittal ; 
 and that claim should be cheerfully granted. 
 
CONCLUSION. 153 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 In bringing this little work to a close, the writer 
 would by no means conceal his anxiety that the prin- 
 ciples which he has sought to illustrate and enforce, 
 should obtain the candid consideration and favorable 
 regard of the churches. Firmly believing these prin- 
 ciples to be scriptural, he cannot doubt that a faithful 
 observance of them, by any church, would be found 
 highly conducive to its true prosperity ; and, on the 
 other hand, that their violation must be fraught with 
 peril. While, therefore, he is happy to know that, to 
 a considerable extent, they are already admitted, and 
 at least partially acted upon, — he may be permitted to 
 suggest to such as are accustomed to regulate their 
 disciplinary movements by no rule, save their own dis- 
 cretion, some of the advantages to be derived from a 
 strict conformity to the Christian law. 
 
 One of these advantages will be realized, in the di- 
 minished number of cases of discipline, demanding 
 the action of the churches. The first or private ad- 
 monition, if the rule be closely followed, in spirit as 
 well as in form, will seldom fail to reclaim a deUnquent 
 member, unless there be in him some decided moral ob- 
 liquity. The necessity of occupying the attention of 
 the body, with matters which, if not unfriendly to its 
 spirituality, must at least be exceedingly painful, will 
 thus in a great measure be obviated. 
 
 The discipline of a church, if it be conducted accor- 
 ding to the law of Christ, will be characterized by 
 harmony, simplicity, and regularity. That law leaves 
 
154 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 nothing doubtful, in respect either to the mode of dis- 
 cipUnary action, or to the spirit in which it should be 
 performed. It points out distinctly, and in its natural 
 order, whatever is to be done, together with the most 
 direct and easy method of doing it. Nothing complex 
 or confused is contained in it, or can result from it. 
 "While it is understood, and its authority acknowledged, 
 no difficulty need be apprehended. There can be little 
 occasion of disagreement among those who have only 
 to obey ; little room for disorder, where every move- 
 ment is prescribed by a fixed rule. But suppose that 
 rule to be disregarded, and every thing to be left to 
 discretion. The discretion of a church, is the discre- 
 tion of all its members. These will be likely to differ 
 widely in their views of the expediency and propriety 
 of any proposed measure. Some, perhaps, will give 
 the preference to a method of proceeding, which, in 
 the apprehension of others, must lead to most disas- 
 trous consequences. Complicated and difficult ques- 
 tions may arise, and lead to unprofitable strifes. Thus 
 divided in judgment, and contending for the mastery, 
 there is reason to fear that the decisions of the body 
 may be swayed by party zeal, rather than by a consci- 
 entious regard to truth and righteousness. 
 
 In proportion to the strictness with which the disci- 
 pline of a church is conformed to the Christian law, 
 will be its effectiveness. That law prescribes the 
 method which our Lord himself has judged most hap- 
 pily adapted to accomplish the ends in view. Who, 
 then, will presume to say that his judgment was erro- 
 neous, and that some other method will answer equally 
 
CONCLUSION. 155 
 
 well? Those who adopt another method, practically 
 say this. Those who neglect to observe the rule, are 
 guilty of this presumption. But, aside from the adap- 
 tation of the measures enjoined by the law, to effect 
 the objects which it contemplates, — the fact that the 
 disciplinary acts of a church are performed in strict 
 obedience to that law, will give a force to its admoni- 
 tions, and a weight to its censures, which it can derive 
 from no other source. The church will feel a confi- 
 dence in so acting, which could not otherwise be felt. 
 A consciousness that, in what they do, they are sus- 
 tained by divine authority, will relieve the disciples 
 from that hesitancy and indecision, which they may 
 well manifest in pursuing a different course from that 
 indicated in the rule. At the same time, the offender 
 cannot but regard what is done in strict accordance 
 with Christ's instructions, as having received already 
 the highest possible sanction, — in fact, as being done, 
 in some sense, by Christ himself. 
 
 Among the advantages resulting from a faithful ob- 
 servance of the Christian law of discipline, the happy 
 reflex influence, exerted upon all -C^ho have occasion to 
 bear an active part in such discipline, ought not to be 
 overlooked. Though they may be justly grieved, 
 perhaps deeply injured, they can scarcely entertain a 
 feeling of resentment towards the offender, while en- 
 gaged in earnest and repeated efforts to promote his 
 highest good. A service so godlike is utterly incom- 
 patible with the indulgence of malevolent passions. 
 In the due performance of that service, these passions 
 must be restrained and held in check : and he who is 
 
156 CHURCH DISCIPLINE. 
 
 thus acquiring the power to rule his own spirit, is at 
 the same time attaining to a higher measure of great- 
 ness than he who taketh a city. (Prov. 16 : 32.} 
 
 In short, a band of Christian disciples, yielding a 
 consistent and uniform obedience to the foregoing 
 rules, exhibits the most attractive combination of moral 
 strength and moral beauty that this world can afford. 
 Such a church is like a well-trained and victorious 
 army. Skilled in the use of the spiritual armor, and 
 accustomed to act in concert, — its members, at the bid- 
 ding of the Captain of their salvation, move forward 
 in one unbroken phalanx to the conflict with the powers 
 of darkness. In the name of Jehovah they set up 
 their banners, and the weapons of their warfare are 
 mighty, through God, to the pulling down of strong 
 holds. Negligence, on the other hand, of the salutary 
 rules of discipline ordained by Christ for the observ- 
 ance of his people, must inevitably be productive of 
 disastrous results. By introducing corruption, disor- 
 der, and dissension into the churches, it will mar their 
 beauty, and sap their strength ; until, rendered incapa- 
 ble of united, vigorlhis, and well directed action, they 
 are prepared to fall an easy prey to their enemies. 
 
MEMOIR OF 
 
 GEORGE DANA BOARDMAN. 
 
 Late Missionary to Burmah, containing much intelligence relative to 
 
 the Burman Mission. By Rev. Alonzo King. A New Edition. 
 
 With an Introductory Essay, by a distinguished Clergyman. 
 
 Embellished with a Likeness; a beautiful Vignette, 
 
 representing the baptismal scene just before 
 
 hia death; and a drawing of his Tomb, 
 
 taken by Rev. H. Malcom. 
 
 tCI^In noticing the lamented death of Mr. Boardman, Mr. Judson, in 
 one of his letters, thus speaks of his late worthy coworker on the field 
 of Burmah: "One of the brightest luminaries of Burmah is extinguished, 
 — dear brother Boardman is gone to his eternal rest. He fell gloriously at 
 the head of his troops, in the arms of victory,— thirty-eight wild Karens 
 having been brought into the camp of king Jesus since the beginning of 
 the year, besides the thirty-two that were brought in during the two 
 preceding years. Disabled by wounds, he was obliged, through the whole 
 last expedition, to be carried on a litter; but his presence was a host, 
 and the Holy Spirit accompanied his dying whispers with almighty in- 
 fluence. Such a death, ne'xt to that of martyrdom, must be glorious in 
 the eyes of heaven. Well may he rest, assured, that a triumphal crown 
 awaits him on the great day, and 'Well done, good and faithful Board- 
 man, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.'" 
 
 From Rev. Baron Stow. 
 "No one can read the INIemoir of Boardman, without feeling that the 
 religion of Christ is suited to purify the affections, exalt the purposes, and 
 give energy to the character. Mr. Boardman was a'man of rare excellence, 
 and his biographer, by a just exhibition of that excellence, has rendered 
 an important service, not only to the cause of Christian missions, but to 
 the interest of personal godliness. Baron Stow." 
 
 "The author had a fine opportunity for making an interesting book; and 
 in the execution he has done ample justice, alike to himself and to his in- 
 teresting subject. This memoir belongs to that class of books, which may 
 be read with interest and profit by every one. It comprises so much of 
 interesting history, so much of simple and pathetic narrative, so true to 
 nature, and so much of correct moral and religious sentiment, that it can- 
 not fail to interest persons of all ages and of every variety of taste. It 
 should have a place in every family library, and especially in all Sabbath 
 school libraries." — Christian Watchman. 
 
 MALCOM'S TRAVELS IN SOUTH-EASTERN ASIA, 
 
 Embracing Hi ndustan, Malaya.Siam, and China ; with notices of numerous 
 
 missionary stations; and a full account of the Burman Empire; 
 
 with Dissertations, Tables, &c. In two volumes, 
 
 beautifully illustrated. Sixth edition. 
 
 By Rev. How^ard Malcom. 
 
 53= The work has received the highest commendation from the press; 
 and the best proof of the estimation in which it is regarded, is in the un- 
 exampled sale of the work. Near four thousand copies were sold within 
 one year from its first appearance. In its mechanical execution it sur- 
 passes any similar work ever attempted in this country. 
 3 25 
 
THE KAREN APOSTLE; 
 
 Or, Memoir of Ko Thah-BtUj the first Karen convert, with notices 
 
 concerning liis Nation. With maps and plates. By the 
 
 Rev. Francis Mason, Missionary. American 
 
 edition. Edited by Prof. H. J. Ripley, 
 
 of Newton Theol. Institutiun. 
 
 Second Thousand. 
 
 D3~ This is a work of thrilling interest, containing the history of a 
 remarkable man, and giving, also, much information respecting the 
 Karen Mission, heretofore unknown in this country. It must be sought 
 for, and read with avidity by those interested in this most interesting 
 Mission. It gives an account, which must be attractive from its novel- 
 ty, of a people that have been but little known and visited by mission- 
 aries, till within a few years. The baptism of KoThah Byu, in 182S, 
 was the beginning of the mission, and at the end of these twelve years, 
 twelve hundred and seventy Karens are officially reported as members of 
 the churches, in good standing. The mission has been carried on pre- 
 eminently by the Karens themselves, and there is no doubt, from much 
 touching evidence contained in this volume, that they are a people pe- 
 culiarly susceptible to religious impressions. The account of Mr. Mason 
 must be interesting to every one. 
 
 "Perhaps no nation , recently discovered, has attracted or deserved more 
 general interest than the Karen. All will be delighted to read the memoir 
 of one, who united with the common characteristics of his countrymen 
 such an extraordinary degree of zeal, ef perseverance, and success, in the 
 propagation of the gospel which he himself first received in faith and in 
 love." — Baptist Advocate. 
 
 "It is a valuable addition to the volumes now multiplying, which bear 
 testimony to the valuable character and results of the missionary work." 
 — Christian Intelligencer. 
 
 "This work will be read with interest, showing, as it does, the power of 
 the gospel upon a degraded people, and the rich blessings it confers upon 
 the heathen, both as it respects this life and the life to come. What can 
 be more interesting to a Christian mind, than to see the darkness which, 
 by nature, brcods over the human mind, dispelled by the light of the 
 gospel, and a benighted spirit guided to a world of eternal day. A strik- 
 ing instance of this, the memoir presents. It also shows how the gospel 
 can raise up an individual from the depths of wretchedness and crime, 
 and make him, though possessed of small natural abilities, a rich blessing 
 to his {e\low-mea."— Vermont Chronicle. 
 
 "It is an interesting little volume, and gives a vivid picture of the 
 influence of the Christian religion in taming, subduing, and elevating a 
 rough and darkened mind. The historical notices of the Karen people we 
 have read with pleasure."— .Ba^ig-or Courier. 
 
 "This volume abounds in that kind of interest which belongs to per- 
 sonal narrative; and the effect of good teaching upon 'new minds,' is ad- 
 mirably iliuitt&ied."— Philadelphia U. S. Gazette. 
 86 
 
"A CHURCH WITHOUT A BISHOP." 
 
 THE 
 
 APOSTOLICAL AND PRIMITIVE CHURCH; 
 
 Popular in its Form of Goyerrimenl, and Simple in its Mode of 
 
 "Worship. By Lyman Coleman, of Andover, Author of 
 
 " Christian Antiquities." With an Introductory 
 
 Essay, by Dr. Augustus Neander, 
 
 Berlin, Germany. 1 vol. 12mo. 
 
 D3" An important and very interesting work. Just published. 
 
 ANTIOCH; 
 
 OR, INCREASE OF MORAL POWER IN THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. 
 
 By Rev. P. Church. With an Introductory 
 
 Essay, by Rev. Baron Stow. 
 
 "Here is a volume which will make a greater stir than any didactic 
 work that has been issued for many a day. It is a book of close and con- 
 secutive thought, and treats of subjects which are of the deepest inter- 
 est, at the present time, to tlie churches of this country. The author is 
 favorably known to the religious public, as an original thinker, and a 
 forcible writer, — his style is lucid and vigorous. The Introduction, by 
 Mr.Stow, adds much to the value and attractions of the volume."— CAr. 
 Reflector. 
 
 " By some this book will be condemned, by many it will be read with 
 pleasure, because it analyzes and renders tangible, principles that have 
 been vaguely conceived in many minds, reluctantly promulgated and hesi- 
 tatingly believed. We advise our brethren to read the book, and judge 
 for themselves." — Baptist Record. 
 
 "It is the work of an original thinker, on a subject of great practical 
 interest to the church. It is replete with suggestions, which, in our 
 view, are eminently worthy of consideration." — Phil. Chr. Obserrer. 
 
 "This is a philosophical essay, denoting depth of thinking, and great 
 originality. * * * He does not doubt. bu\ asserts, and carries along the 
 matter with his argument, until the difference of opinion with which the 
 reader started with the writer is forgotten by the former, in admiration of 
 the warmth and truthfulness of the latter." — Phil. U. S. Gazette. 
 
 PENTECOST. 
 
 OR, THE SOLE EFFICIENCY OF CONVERTING THE WORLD. 
 By Rev. P. Church, author of "Antioch." 
 
 Contents — Evangelical Enterprise— Scale on which to graduate Man's 
 Efficiency in it. Pan 1. Nature of the Energy which the Believer is to 
 expect from Christ Part 2. The Forms under which this Heavenly En- 
 ergy manifests itself Part 3. Means of securing enlarged Measures of 
 this Energy upon ourselves. 
 
 "One desire in the writer predominates overall others; that Christians, 
 generally, may rise to a just appreciation of the unspeakable blessings 
 treasured up for them in Christ; that all men may see the riches of the 
 glory of hie inheritance in the saints." 
 27 
 
CHURCH discipline; 
 
 The Scripture Doctrine of Cliurch Order and Government. 
 
 By Rev. Warham Walker, Homer, N. Y. 
 
 One volume. 18mo. Cloth. 
 
 tCjT' A timely and very useful work. 
 
 Contents — Introduction. — Church, definition of the term — Constitu- 
 tion of the Churches— First Christian Church, in its incipient State — 
 The Church at Jerusalem — The Church at Antioch — Organization of the 
 Churches— Government of the Churches— The True Idea of Church Disci- 
 pline. Part 1. Formative Church Discipline.— Terms of Church Mem- 
 bership — Importance and necessity of Maintaining Formative Discipline 
 — Formative Measures. Part 2. Corrective Church Discipline — Power 
 of the Churches to Maintain Corrective Discipline — Limitations of the 
 Power of Discipline — Obligation of the Churches to Maintain Corrective 
 Discipline — Objects of Corrective Discipline — Spirit in which Corrective 
 Discipline should be conducted — The Law of Corrective Discipline — 
 Offences demanding Corrective Discipline — The Process of Corrective 
 Discipline — The First Admonition — The Second Admonition — The Final 
 Act of Discipline — Treatment of the Excommunicated — Restoration of the 
 Penitent— Conclusion. 
 
 The following recommendatory notes from individuals residing in the 
 vicinity of the Author, were received by the Publishers with the manu- 
 script of the work. 
 
 From the Professors in Hamilton Literary and TheoL Institution. 
 
 "We have carefully perused the most important parts of the manu- 
 script, and the result has been highly gratifymg. The work is charac- 
 terized by great sobriety and caution. We believe the views it presents 
 to be scriptural; and that where they are not supported by the direct and 
 and positive declaration of the word of God, they are, at least, sustained 
 by the general spirit of the teachings of Christ and his apostles. Such a 
 work as this, we think, is greatly needed; it is well adapted to promote 
 correct views and uniformity of practice in relation to the subject of 
 which it treats. We cordially recommend it to the careful perusal of the 
 members of our churches. J. S. Maginnis, 
 
 Hamilton, Nov. 6, ISIS. T. J. Conant, 
 
 A. C. Kendrick." 
 
 From the Editor of the N. Y. Baptist Register. 
 "I have just had the privilege of hearing the principal part of Professor 
 Warham Walker's work on Church Discipline. The subject is presented 
 in a clear and beautiful style, and in accordance with the sacred oracles; 
 and the instruction conveyed is much needed at the present time, when 
 youn? converts are so numerous and so imperfectly acquainted with duty 
 in this matter, and with the proper manner of discharging it. The author 
 is well known in this State, as a writer of great force and elegance, and 
 any thing he undertakes is done with fidelity and effect. 
 
 Utica^ Nov. 7, 1843. Yours, truly, A. M. Beebee." 
 
 "We are truly gratified at the issue of this publication. A work of this 
 kind has been greatly needed in our churches, and its appearance will be 
 warmly welcomed, we believe, by thousands. The subject is one involv- 
 ing many difficult and debateable questions, and it will be strange indeed 
 if it satisfies all parties, in the execution, equally well. But from looking 
 at the general plan, and reading several pages, we are inclined to believe 
 that it will meet with great favor. The work originated in an essay read 
 at a Ministerial Conference, and was completed and published by the re- 
 quest of the brethren composing that conference. It is issued in a neat 
 style;— a volume of one hundred and fifty-six page3.""CAr. Re^fiector. 
 S8 
 
THE PSALMIST: 
 
 A INTEW COLLECTION OF HYMNS FOR THE USE OF 
 THE BAPTIST CHURCHES. 
 
 BY BARON STOW AND S. F. SMITH. 
 
 This work contains nearly ttcehe hundred Hymns, original and select' 
 ed, together with a collection of Chants and Selections for Chanting. 
 
 Surprising as it may appear to those who are aware of the great diversity 
 of opinion and tastes every where existing in reference to hymns best 
 suited to public worship, this new collection meefs with almost universal 
 favor. Its rapid introduction into churches in various parts of the coun- 
 try; the numerous testimonials of approval and high commendation daily 
 received, in connection with the acknowledged ability of the editors; the 
 uncommon facilities enjoyed by them, of drawing from the best sources in 
 this and other countries; the great care wit h which the compilation has been 
 made; the new, convenient, and systematic plan of arrangement adopted, 
 give the publishers full confidence in the superior merits of the work. 
 
 In addition to the protracted labor of the editors, the proof sheets hare 
 all been submitted to a Committee, composed of clergymen of high stand- 
 ing, in different parts of the Union, by whose critical examinations and 
 important suggestions the value of the work has been greatly enhanced. 
 
 All of Watts's Hymns, possessing lyrical spirit, and suited to the wor- 
 ship of a Christian assembly, are inserted; and a large number of hymns 
 heretofore unknown in this country have been introduced. The distinc- 
 tion of psalms and hymns, usually made in oiher collections, has been 
 avoided in this, and all have been arranged together, under their appro- 
 priate heads, and numbered in regular, unbroken succession. There are 
 four valuable Indexes. — a 'General Index' of subjects, a 'Particular In- 
 dex,' an 'Index of First Lines,' and an extended 'Scripture Index.' 
 
 Notice of the Am. Bap. Publication and S. S. Society, Philadelphia, 
 
 The Board of Directors of the A,B P. and S. S. Society, induced by the 
 numerous and urgent calls which, for along time, have been made from 
 various sections of the country, for a new collection of Hymns that should 
 be adapted to the wants of the churches generally, resolved, in the year 
 1841, to take immediate measures for the accomplishment of this object. 
 With this view, a committee, consisting of Rev. W. T. Brantly, D. D., of 
 South Carolina, Rev. J. L. Daeg, of Alabama. Rev. R B. C. Howell, of 
 Tennessee. Rev S W. Lynd. D. D., of Ohio, Rev. J. B. Taylor, of Virginia, 
 Rev. S. P. Hill, of Maryland, Rev. G. B. Ide and R. W. Griswold, of Penn- 
 sylvania, and Rev. W. R. Williams, D. D.. of New York, was appointed 
 to prepare and superintend the proposed selection. It was, however, sub- 
 sequently ascertained that a siniilar work had been undertaken by Messrs. 
 Gould, Kendall & Lincoln, Publishers, of Boston; and that Rev. B. Stow 
 and Rev. S. F. Smith, whose services they had engaged, had already com- 
 menced their labor. From the well-known ability of these gentlemen, 
 there seemed good reason to expect a valuable collection, and one that 
 would fully meet the end which the Board contemplated. In order, there- 
 fore, to avoid the unnecessary multiplication of Hymn Books, it was 
 deemed expedient by the Board to unite, if possible, with the above- 
 mentioned Publishers. Accordingly, the manuscript of Messrs. Stow and 
 Smith having been examined, and found quite satisfactory, arrangements 
 were made to have the proof sheets, as they were issued from the press, 
 submitted to the committee of the Board, with the understanding, that if, 
 after such alterations and improvements as might be suggested, it should 
 meet their approval, the Board would adopt it as theiVown. This ap- 
 proval having been obtained, the Board voted, unanimously, to adopt and 
 publish the work, and have negotiated with Gould, Kendall & Lincoln, to 
 that effect. Signed by order and on behalf of the Board, 
 
 J. M. Pbck, Cor. Sec. Am. Pub. S. S. Sac. 
 3* 29 
 
Certificate of the Committee appointed by the Am. Baptist Publication 
 
 and Sunday School Society. 
 The undersigned, having been requested by the Board of Directors of 
 the Am. Bap. Publication and S. S. Society to examine the prooof-sheets 
 of "The Psalmist," edited by Rev. B. Stow and Rev, S. F. Smith, and to 
 suggest such emendations as might seem expedient to render the work 
 more acceptable to the churches throughout the country, hereby certify, 
 that they have performed the service assigned them, and unite in recom- 
 mending the work as one well adapted to the purpose for which it was 
 designed. William R. Williams, James B. Taylor, 
 
 George B. Ide, Jno. L. Dacg, 
 
 RuFtTS W. Griswold, W. T. Brantly, 
 Stephen P. Hill, R. B. C. Howell, 
 
 Samuel W. Lynd. 
 United Testimony of Pastors of Bap. Churches in Boston and vicinity. 
 Messrs GotxLD, Kendall & Lincoln, — Permit us to take this method 
 of expressing our great satisfaction with the Collection of Hymns, which 
 you have of late published for the use of the Baptist denomination. As 
 Pastors, we have long felt the need of some book different from any which 
 could be obtained, and we have looked forward with interest to the time 
 when your proposed work should be issued from the press. The work is 
 now completed, and before the public; and from an attentive and careful 
 examination of its pages, we are prepared to give it a hearty recommenda- 
 tion. It is clear in its arrangement, sound in doctrine, rich in senti- 
 ment, sweet and beautiful in its poetry, and, in our opinion, most admirably 
 adapted to the wants of the denomination. We cannot but hope, there- 
 fore, that it will soon be adopted by all oiir churches. 
 
 Daniel Sharp, T. F. Caldicott, Nicholas Medbery, 
 
 R. W. CusHMAN, W. H. Shailer, J. W. Parker, 
 R. H. Neale, H. K. Green, Bradley Miner, 
 
 William Hague, Silas B. Randall, J. W. Oi.mstead, 
 Robert TuRNBULL, Thomas Driver, Joseph Banvard, 
 Nath'l Colver, Duncan Dunbar, Thos. D. Anderson. 
 From the Professors in Newton Theological Institution. 
 Union of judgment in regard to all the principles which should regulate 
 the preparation of a Hymn Book, both as to the character of the hymns, 
 and as to the omission and alterations in the case of selected hymns that 
 have long been in use, is not to be expected. We are free, however, to 
 say, that in copiousness of subject, in adaptation to the various occasions 
 of worship, in devout and poetic character, and in general excellence, we 
 regard the work as eminently superior to collections now in common use. 
 Barnas Sears. Pres. and Prof. Christian Theology. 
 Irah Chase, Prof Ecclesiastical History. 
 H. J. Ripley, Prof . Sacred Rhetoric and Pastoral Duties. 
 H. B. Hackett, Prof Bib. Literature and Interpretation. 
 Testimony of a Commillee of the Faculty of Hamilton Literary and 
 Theological Institution. 
 Messrs. Gould, Kendall & Lincoln,— The undersigned have been ap- 
 pointed, by the Faculty of our Institution a Committee to examine the 
 Hymn Book, entitled ''The Psalmist," recently published by you, and 
 edited by Rev. B. Stow and Rev. S. F. Smith. It gives us pleasure to 
 state, as the result of our examination, that we consider the work decided- 
 ly superior to any similar collection with which we are acquainted. Its 
 materials are drawn from the best sources of sacred lyrical poetry in our 
 language ; the arrangement is eminently happy; and the variety of its se- 
 lections adapts it to almost every occasion. We think the adoption of 
 the work in the Baptist churches of our country would be calculated greatly 
 to elevate that interesting branch of worship with reference to which it is 
 prepared. A. C. Kendrick, Prof. Greek Lan. and Literature. 
 J. S. Maginnis, Prof Biblical Theology. 
 T. J. Conant, Prof. Heb. &• Bib. Crit. ^ Interpretation. 
 J. H.Raymond, tut.Intel.^Mor.Philos.^ Belles-lettres. 
 30 
 
United Teetimony of tha Pastors of Baptist Churches in Philadelphia 
 and vicinity. 
 We, the undersigned, Pastors of the Baptist Churches in the city of 
 Philadelphia, and its vicinity, having examined ''Tlie Psalmist," a new 
 Hymn Book for the use of the Baptist Churches, edited by Kev. Messrs. 
 B. Stow and S. F. Smith, published by the Am. Bap. Pub. S. S. Society, 
 and Gould, Kendall & Lincoln, Boston, most cordially express our con- 
 viction that it is decidedly superior to any other Hymn Book with which 
 we are acquainted. In arrangement, it is very natural ; in doctrine, it is 
 sound and peculiarly evangelical; in its selection of hymns upon every 
 important subject, it is very copious and judicious; while there is a va- 
 riety that characterizes no other. Its lyrical excellence places it far 
 abuve all other compilations, and makes it a delightful companion for.the 
 Christian, in private and domestic, as well as public worship. We shall 
 regard that as a happy era in the churches of our denomination, when it 
 shall be universally adopted by them. 
 
 Geokge B. Ide, Horatio G. Jones, 
 
 J. Lansing Burrows, Thos. O. Lincoln, 
 A. D. Gillette, F. Ketcham. 
 
 RECOMMENDATIONS OF ASSOCIATIONS AND CONVENTIONS. 
 
 Boston Baptist Association, 1843. 
 
 AVhereas, for some time past, we have felt the need of a new 
 collection of hymns, for the use of our churches in their public 
 worship ; and whereas, the new work entitled ' The Psalmist,' 
 edited by two brethren connected with this body, supplies this 
 need, and answers admirably the end for which it was designed, 
 therefore Resolved, That in our opinion, The Psalmist is worthy the 
 patronage of the Baptist denomination, and we cordially recom- 
 mend its adoption in all our churches. 
 
 3Jiami (Ohio), Baptist Association, 1843. 
 
 The Committee appointed to report upon a Hymn Book, have 
 attended to the duty assigned them, and report the following as 
 their views. For several reasons, the Committee recommend to 
 the attention of the churches, the new work called ' The Psalmist,' 
 as worthy of special patronage. 1. It is exceedingly desirable that 
 our whole denomination should use in the praises of the sanctuary 
 the same psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. To secure uniform- 
 ity, we prefer ' The Psalmist,' because it is strictly, and from the 
 foundation designed for the use of Baptist churches, — is not sur- 
 passed by any Hymn Book in the world, — and the proprietorship 
 is wholly Baptist, by which the greatest facilities can be furnished 
 for its introduction to the churches, and the perpetuity of its pub- 
 lication. 2. It has been prepared with the greatest care. In no 
 instance has a Hymn Book gone through so thorough a revision j 
 and the influence which is rationally exerted in its favor by the 
 Committee of revision, — by the known qualification of the editors, 
 by the popularity of the Boston publishers, and by the fact that it 
 is connected with the series of the Am. Bap. Pub. Society, — will 
 necessarily give it an ultimate circulation greater than that of any 
 other similar work in the churches. 3. It is a book of very supe- 
 rior merits, and probably will not need any important emendation 
 for a long period to come. The Committee therefore recommend 
 to the churches the adoption of this work as well calculated to ele- 
 vate the taste and the devotion of the denomination. 
 
 All of which is respectfully submitted. 
 
 S. W. Lynd, Chairman. 
 31 
 
Philadelphia Baptist Association, 1843. 
 Resolved, That we request the attention of the churches to The 
 Psalmist, a hymn book, approved by a large committee of distin- 
 guished Baptist ministers, in various parts of the United States. 
 
 Portsmouth {N. H.), Baptist Association, 1843. 
 
 Resolved, That we highly approve of The Psalmist, prepared by 
 Brethren Stow and Smith, and recommend its adoption in all our 
 churches. 
 
 Illinois Baptist State Convention, 1843. 
 
 Resolved, That, after an examination of the Hymn Book com- 
 piled by Messrs. Baron Stow and S. F. Smith, we can cheerfully 
 recommend it to the denomination as being superior to any other 
 work of the kind ever before published, and advise its adoption and 
 use among the churches. 
 
 Huron {Ohio), Baptist Association, 1843. 
 Among the resolutions adopted, was one recommending the new 
 Hymn Book published by the Am. Baptist Publication Society, 
 Philadelphia, and Gould, Kendall & Lincoln, Boston. 
 
 Munroe (N. Y.), Baptist Association, 1843. 
 Resolved, That we recommend to the several churches of this 
 Association, for their adoption, the Hymn Book recently prepared 
 by brethren Baron Stow and S. F. Smith, called " The Psalmist," 
 as being in our estimation the choicest selection of hymns extant, 
 and well adapted to promote the objects of Christian worship. 
 
 Bethel {Tenn.), Baptist Association, 1843. 
 The committee on Hymn Books reported as their choice, " The 
 Psalmist." The report having been received, the Hymn Book 
 was adopted, and recommended to the churches. 
 
 Kennebec (Me.), Baptist Association, 1843. 
 Voted, That we recommend to those churches who are intend- 
 ing to supply themselves with new Hymn Books, to purchase ' The 
 Psalmist,' recently prepared by Rev. Baron Stow and Rev. S. F. 
 Smith J this, in the estimation of those who have examined it, being 
 the best Hymn Book in the English language. 
 
 EDITORIAL NOTICES AND REVIEWS. 
 
 From an extended notice in the Christian Review. 
 
 The Psalmist was originated under circumstances, and from a 
 source, which give it a claim to our respect and attention. Both 
 the editors and publishers of the book are so well and favorably 
 known to the religious community, that their motives in this under- 
 taking will not be called in question. We hazard little in saying, 
 that it is the best collection of hymns ever published in the English 
 language. They have been drawn from the best sources, and 
 probably, from a greater number of authors than those in any 
 other hymn book extant. 
 
 The Psalmist contains 1180 hymns, besides doxologies and 
 chants. Of the hymns, 303 are by Dr. Watts, or about one quarter 
 
->f the whole collection. Next to Watts, are Doddridge, 57 hymns j 
 Mrs. Steele, 52; Beddome, 41 ; Montgomery, 33 5 S. F. Smith, 26 ; 
 Kelly, 17; John Newton, 16 ; Charles Wesley, 12; Toplady, Sten- 
 lett and Cowper, 10 each ; Heber, 8 ; CoUyer and Heginbotham, 7 
 each ; Bowring, Airs Barbauld, Dwight, Fawcett, and Mrs. Sigour- 
 ley, 6 each; Hart,Hawes, Needham, and Scott, 5 each; Addison, 
 Bathurst, Fellows, Gibbons, Hemans, Kippis, Tappan, Reed, and 
 H. K. White, 4 each ; Conder, Edmeston, Judson, T. Moore, Noel, 
 Raffles, Swain, and Wrangham, 3 each ; thirty-two other authors, 2 
 each; and ninety, 1 each. The hymns are by 161 writers, besides 
 pieces credited to fifty collections of hymns or other works, the 
 authorship of which is unknown. Forty -five are anonymous, being 
 traced neither to author nor collections. 
 
 The order of the book is clear and natural, a due respect being 
 paid to the several subjects of religious worship. We question 
 whether it would be possible to arrange a collection of hymns in 
 better order. The numerous objects of Christian benevolence 
 have created a necessity for a much greater variety of hymns than 
 was formerly needed ; and of which no book in use furnished the 
 requisite number. The Psalmist meets this deficiency, particularly 
 in hymns upon the subject of missions, the number of which is 76. 
 
 The hymns in The Psalmist are of convenient length; most of 
 them containing four, and some, but two or three verses. The 
 preacher using this book, will seldom find it necessaiy to abridge 
 a hymn, — a service always unpleasant to him, and disagreeable to 
 the congregation. The variety of metres is good; we do not see 
 how it could be improved. 
 
 As a specimenof book-manufacturing. The Psalmist is deserving 
 of great praise. It is printed with beautiful type, on clear, white 
 paper, is strongly bound, opens easily, and may be read with com- 
 fort, by old and young. It would be not less gratifying than ad- 
 vantageous for the churches of this country, could they unite in 
 adopting the same hymn book for public worship. 
 
 The editors have accomplished a noble work, for which they 
 deserve not only the thanks of our own churches, but of all lovers 
 of true devotional psalmody. 
 
 From the Christian Reflector, Boston. 
 We have before referred to the new hymn book, entitled " The 
 Psalmist." We have since given it a more careful examination, 
 and we cannot withhold from it our unqualified praise. Winchell's 
 Watts has a great many excellent hymns, and will, doubtless, con- 
 tinue to be used by many churches ; but the volume contains many 
 hymns that cannot be given out to be sung, with any propriety 
 whatever; and these are in the way, and embarrass a minister in 
 making his selections. We have other compilations in use which 
 contain many of the best hymns extant. The Psalmist surpasses 
 them all, in the select character of all its hymns. Not one can be 
 regarded as inappropriate to public worship. The good old hymns 
 are all there, and many most beautiful new ones. Those from the 
 pen of S. F. Smith, are surpassingly excellent. The book is ad- 
 mirably arranged, neatly printed, and well bound. It cannot fail 
 of becoming, sooner or later, the standai'd hymn book of the de- 
 nomination. It is to be introduced into all parts of the United 
 States. 
 
 as 
 
From the Christian l^atchman, Boston. 
 
 This volume impresses us as being very complete. The editors 
 seem to have been more solicitous to make a good book, than a 
 new book. The reader will find that a majority of the pieces are 
 such as have long been familiar to his ear in our devotional assem- 
 blies. We should have been sorry to have found it otherwise. 
 The hymns of Dr. Watts take the lead. All his pieces are inserted 
 "which possess lyrical spirit, and are suited to a Christian assembly. 
 
 We need say nothing upon the need of a new hymn book. Had 
 Winchell's Watts, which has now been in use in these parts near- 
 ly a quarter of a century, been made as perfect as it were possible 
 at the time to make it, we should at this period need a new book. 
 
 From the Musical Visiter, Boston. 
 
 "The Psalmist," a new collection of Hymns, is just out, in a 
 beautiful style, on good paper, and handsomely bound. It has four 
 Indexes, one of the first lines, one general and one particular index 
 of subjects, and a Scripture index. Having examined the book, we 
 are satisfied that besides many more, it has three great excellences, 
 viz., the hymns are generally short, having about four verses, very 
 many three, and about as many of two as of six, and a few of five 
 verses. Another excellence is, the variety of subjects, well adapted 
 to these last days. Another is, the highly literary, and yet plain 
 and beautiful style of the language. This is truly a literary gem, 
 besides being a sweet ' Psalmist ' for the church of Christ. 
 
 From the Christian Secretary, Hartford. 
 
 We are no great sticklers for changes and innovations in the 
 church, by the introduction of new books, new instruments of 
 music, &c., it having ever been more congenial to our taste to 
 walk in the " old paths." We must say, that The Psalmist, just 
 published, presents claims to the denomination not to be found in 
 any other work of the kind. There is one merit in this hymn book 
 which we are glad to find, viz., it is not divided into parts, as in the 
 case with Winchell's Watts. Another is, that the hymns are of a 
 suitable length for Divine worship, few of them exceeding six 
 verses, and in most cases not exceeding four. 
 
 After a somewhat careful examination, we have been led to the 
 conclusion, that this Hymn Book possesses qualities over every 
 other of the kind that we are acquainted with, which entitle it to 
 a place in every Baptist pulpit in the country. 
 
 From the Religious Herald, Richmond, Va. 
 It has evidently been compiled with much care, and comprises 
 a suificient variety of hymns for all the purposes of worship. The 
 missionary department is very full, containing some original hymns, 
 and others which have not heretofore appeared in our hymn books. 
 Throughout the book, original compositions, with hymns not here- 
 tofore met with in our selections, and of modern origin, are inter- 
 spersed with those long known and familiar to the public. The 
 work deserves high praise for its purity of style and expression. 
 It has great and deserved merit, and as a whole is not only well 
 adapted to the object aimed at, but superior to its predecessors. 
 34 
 
From the New York Baptist Register. ^ 
 
 The Psalmist is one of the most delightful and complete books 
 of the kind we ever had the privilege of examining. It is the very 
 book v/anted. The poetry is choice and beautiful, the sentiments 
 are scriptural, expressed with peculiar felicity and force, and 
 adapted to every variety of condition, — there is something for 
 every body and every occasion. If it could be introduced into 
 our churches, they could want nothing better. 
 
 From the Alabama Baptist. 
 This work is intended to be the Baptist Hynm Book 5 and, after a 
 careful and critical examination, we are fully prepared to say, that 
 it really deserves to be adopted as such, by the denomination. We 
 think it decidedly superior to any collection of Psalms and Hymns 
 ever before issued from the American press. The compilers, 
 themselves, are men of the purest taste, refined by familiar con- 
 verse with the most elegant writings of ancient and modern times, 
 and sanctified by the influences of the Holy Spirit. We earnestly 
 commend The Psalmist to the attention of pastors and churches. 
 We believe it will be introduced into the churches throughout the 
 United States. The preparation of this work may be regarded as 
 the act of the entire denomination, and if it be universally adopted, 
 will greatly tend to produce uniformity of doctrine, and chxirch 
 order and discipline, through all the churches. 
 
 From the Zion's Advocate, Portland, Me. 
 It is sometimes said, that editors are induced to commend books 
 by the donation that is usually made to them of a copy of the work. 
 But it cannot be so in this case, since we have, by some means, 
 failed of receiving a copy. Yet we are willing to do the publishers 
 a service, and our readers a greater service, by cordially recom- 
 mending this to those who are purchasing new books We do not 
 know any other equal to it. 
 
 From Graham's Magazine, Philadelphia. 
 The Psalmist is, in our opinion, decidedly the best compilation of 
 sacred lyric poeirv ever published in this country. Its editors are 
 distingnished clergymen of the Baptist church, and one of them is 
 himself a poet of no mean reputation. Mr. Smith's Missionary 
 Hymn, commencing, ''Yes, my native land, I love thee," is nearly 
 as well known as the celebrated lyric of Heber, ''From Greenland's 
 icy mountains," etc., and a large number of his pieces, on a variety 
 of subjects, rank highamong the best of their kind in the language. 
 
 From The Macedonian, Boston. 
 It has been prepared with the most critical regard to the laws of 
 language and poetry, and to the wants of the church of the present 
 age. It is designed for use throughout the United States, and was * 
 accordingly examined in the proof-sheets, by gentlemen of known 
 ability and scholarship, in diff'erent parts of the country. We refer 
 to it chiefly to express our gratification at the extensive and ad- 
 mirable collection of missionary hymns which it contains. One of 
 these we select, entitled " The Missionary Angel," was written by 
 Rev. S. F. Smith. 
 
 35 
 
EXTRACT OK LETTERS FROM CLEROYMEN. 
 
 From Rev. Geo. B. Ide, Philadelphia. 
 
 At the risk of appearing intrusive, I have taken my pen to let you 
 know the emotion which your new Hymn Book, in its beautiful 
 dress, has excited in my mind. My expectations were very highly 
 raised ; but the result has more than answered them. Such another 
 collection of hymns for public worship, so beautiful in its execution, 
 so natural, clear, and perfect in its arrangement, so varied, copious, 
 and appropriate in its list of subjects, so lyrical in its structure, so 
 devotional in its spirit^ so scriptural in its sentiments, so sweet, 
 pure, and elevated in its poetry, I do not believe the world can 
 furnish, and I am certain the English language cannot. It is a 
 work, in every respect, of such surpassing excellence, as to leave 
 nothing in its department to be desired. All here, who have seen 
 it, are delighted with it. If there be any true taste in our churches, 
 it must speedily come into universal use. Our own denomination, 
 and the Christian public generally, are under great obligations to 
 the gifted brethren who have so successfully performed their task, 
 and to the liberal and enterprising publishers, by whom they were 
 employed. You will, I am confident, receive an ample remunera- 
 tion for all your expense and outlay And 1 trust, that both you 
 and they will enjoy the far higher, richer reward, of knowing that 
 through your united labors, the public praises of God have been 
 improved, chastened, and rendered more edifying and refreshing; 
 and that, upon the return of each holy Sabbath, millions of sainta 
 on earth are chanting the hallowed and inspiring strains with which 
 you have supplied them ; and thus preparing to join the blissful 
 choir and the eternal anthems of the upper sanctuary. 
 
 Philadelphia, June, 1843. George B. Ide. 
 
 From Rev. John Dowling, Providence, R. I. 
 About six years ago, the lamented James D. Knowles, at the 
 close of a valuable editorial article upon Church Psalmody, in the 
 Christian Review, remarked as follows : " We repeat the expression 
 of our hope, that the time may soon arrive, when a compilation 
 shall be prepared, worthy, in its sentiments and poetical character, 
 to be adopted by the Baptist denomination throughout this extend- 
 ed republic." Had this gifted brother lived to examine the Psalm- 
 ist, I cannot doubt that he would have agreed with the writer of 
 these remarks, that the present is just such a work, and that that 
 hope is completely realized. If 1 were to enumerate the excellences 
 by which The Psalmist is distinguished above every other hymn 
 book with which I am acquainted, in use among the Baptist de 
 nomination, I should say, 1. There are no hymns, so far as I can 
 discover, offensive to a correct taste, and most of them possess a 
 high degree of poetic excellence. 2. Every hymn may be read 
 with propriety from the pulpit. 3. All the hymns are adapted to 
 be sung, being properly lyrical in their character, and not historical 
 or didactici 4. Most of the hymns are of a suitable length ; the 
 greater number consisting of not more than four verses. 5. The 
 unmeaning division into psalms and hymns is avoided, and the 
 numbering of the hymns is continuous, thus avoiding the difficulty 
 sometimes experienced, especially by strangers, in finding the 
 hynui that is announced. J. Dowling. 
 
 36 
 
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