TRACTS FOR THE TIMES.
to the Church; they are no part of our sentence; they are altogether in the hands of the civil magistrate. Our sentence is purely spiritual; it is the sentence of Jesus Christ, and only concerns the good of the souls of those He has committed to our care. It is part of that ministry which we received by the imposition of hands, and which we most humbly pray God to enable us to exercise to His glory, to the putting a stop to the growing vices of the age, and to the edification of the Church of Christ, which He has purchased with his blood[1]. Amen.
The Sentence.
It is with great reluctancy, God is our witness, and after many prayers to God for their conversion, that we proceed to this last remedy which Christ has appointed for the conversion of sinners.
But we hope you are not shut out, that you may ever remain out of the Church; but that you may become sensible of your errors, and return with more zeal to your Heavenly Father.
In the mean time we must do our duty, and leave the event to God.
In the name of Jesus Christ, and by the authority which we have received from Him, we separate you from the communion of the Church, which He has purchased with His blood, and which is the society of all faithful people; and you are no longer a member of His Body, or of His kingdom, until you be openly reconciled by penance, and received into the Church by a judge that hath authority so to do.
When Persons excommunicated are received back into the Church.
I, an unworthy minister of Jesus Christ, by the same authority and power, even that of our Lord Jesus Christ; by which for thy obstinacy, and other crimes, thou hast been excluded from the communion of Christ's Holy Church: By the same power,
