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Nicene and Post-Nicene Church Fathers Series 2 - The Still Small ...

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Without address. Excommunicatory.<br />

Letter CCLXXXVIII. 3248<br />

When public punishment fails to bring a man to his senses, or exclusion from the<br />

prayers of the <strong>Church</strong> to drive him to repentance, it only remains to treat him in accordance<br />

with our Lord’s directions—as it is written, “If thy brother shall trespass against thee….tell<br />

him his fault between thee <strong>and</strong> him;…if he will not hear thee, take with thee another;” “<strong>and</strong><br />

if he shall” then “neglect to hear, tell it unto the <strong>Church</strong>; but if he neglect to hear even the<br />

<strong>Church</strong>, let him be unto thee henceforth as an heathen man, <strong>and</strong> as a publican.” 3249 Now<br />

all this we have done in the case of this fellow. First, he was accused of his fault; then he<br />

was convicted in the presence of one or two witnesses; thirdly, in the presence of the <strong>Church</strong>.<br />

Thus we have made our solemn protest, <strong>and</strong> he has not listened to it. Henceforth let him<br />

be excommunicated.<br />

Further, let proclamation be made throughout the district, that he be excluded from<br />

participation in any of the ordinary relations of life; so that by our withholding ourselves<br />

from all intercourse with him he may become altogether food for the devil. 3250<br />

3248 Placed in the episcopate.<br />

3249 Matt. xviii. 15–17.<br />

3250 Contrast 1 Tim. i. 20.<br />

Without address. Excommunicatory.<br />

857<br />

314

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