Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

278 ST. MATTHEW.
ness. It is not enough for us to do something towards
the salvation of our brother ; we must use all proper
methods to procure it. It is charity and prudence
to take care to prevent his denying his fault, and, at
the same time, not to make it public ourselves.
" 17. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell
it unto the church : but if he neglect to hear the
church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and
a publican."
The third rule of reproof is, zealously to have re-
course to authority, in order to discover the sin,
without intendinop to defame the sinner. The fourth
and last rule, which charity, prudence, and zeal
oblige us to observe in reproving our brethren, is to
exclude the incorrigible person from all society, to
prevent the infection of others, and to hasten his
amendment. Excommunication is the last remedy,
but such as is extraordinary, and reserved for the in-
corrigible in the case of enormous sins. The church
alone has authority to exercise it by the chief pas-
tors, with the presumed consent at least of the whole
body. They who having deserved excommunication
despise it, know not what it is to be in God's sight
no other than a heathen, and to have neither him for
a Father, nor Christ for a Saviour, nor the church
for a mother, nor Christians for brethren.
Sect. V. The Former of the Keys.
" 18. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall
bind on earth shall be bound in heaven : and what-
soever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in
heaven."
How much is the judgment of the church on an