won. If he does not, then two or three witnesses should be taken, and he may be admonished before them a second time. If he yields it is well; if not, the church should hear it. He is brought before her and admonished the third time. If he leaves off his sin the church has won his soul.
"Leonard—Where does the church get its authority?
"John—From Christ's command, given in Matt. xviii. 18; John xx., 23.
"Leonard—By what right may one brother use his authority over another?
"John—By the baptismal vow, which subjects every one to the church and all its members, according to the word of Christ.
"Leonard—Suppose the admonished sinner will not correct his course?
"John—Then the church has the power and right to exclude and excommunicate him, as a perjurer and apostate.
"Leonard—What is excommunication?
"John—It is exclusion and separation to such an extent that no fellowship is held with such a person by Christians, whether in speaking, eating, drinking, grinding, baking, or in any other way, but he is treated as a heathen and a publican, that is, as an offensive, disorderly and venomous man, who is bound and delivered over to Satan. He is to be avoided and shunned, lest the entire visible church be evil spoken of, disgraced and dishonoured by his company, and corrupted by his example, instead of being startled and made afraid by his punishment, so that they will mortify their sins. For as truly as God lives what the church admits or excludes on earth is admitted or excluded above.
