2 Sam. xi. 2.

Gen. iii. 6.

Matt. xxvi. 41,

75.

Heb. xii. 28.

1 Cor. ix. 9, 25, 26, 27.

of God, to do so no more: but to walk more watchfully, as before the Lord. And I desire all that are ungodly, that they think never the worse of the laws, or ways, or servants of the Lord, for my 1 Cor. x. 11, 12. misdoings: for if I had been ruled by God, and by his servants, I had never done as I have done. There is nothing in religion that befriendeth sin; there is nothing so contrary to it, as God and his holy laws, which I should have obeyed. Rather let all take warning by me, and avoid temptations, and live not carelessly, and hearken not to the inclinations or reasonings of the flesh, nor trust (not) their weak and sinful hearts; but live in godly fear and watchfulness, and keep under the flesh, and keep close to God, and hearken to the faithful counsel of his servants. And I intreat your prayers* to God, that I may be strengthened by his grace, that I may sin thus no more, lest worse befal me.

2 Chron. xxv.

16.

Eph. iii. 16.

John v. 14.

A Form of Prayer for a Sinner impenitent, after Public
Admonition.

MOST gracious God, according to thy command

The original reads, "and intreat their prayers:" Calamy, "and intreat your prayers." The present emendation is on conjecture.-P.H ̧

2 Cor. v. 11.

we have warned this sinner, and told him of thy threatenings, and foretold him of thy certain terrible judgments, that he might Matt. iii. 7. flee from the wrath to come. But, alas, we perceive not that he repenteth or relenteth, but Prov. xxix .l . hardeneth his heart against reproof; as if he were able to contend with thee, and overcome 1 Cor. x. 22. thy power. O let us prevail with thee for grace, that we may prevail with him for peni- Luke xxiii. 24. tent confession and reformation. O pity a miserable sinner; so miserable, as that he layeth not to heart his misery, nor pitieth himself. O Acts viii. 22, 23. save him from the gall of bitterness, and from the bonds of his iniquity: give him repent Acts xi. 18. ance unto life, that he may recover 2 Tim. ii. 25, 26. himself out of the snare of the devil, who is taken captive by him at his will. Give him 1 Tim. iv. 2. not up to a blind mind, to a seared conscience, a heart that is past feeling; nor to walk in his own counsels, and after his own lusts. him no longer despise the riches of Psal. lxxxi. 12. thy goodness and forbearance, and Rom. ii. 4, 5, 6. longsuffering: nor with a hardened, impenitent heart, treasure up wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of thy righteous judgment,

Eph. iv. 19.

Let

ii. 3.

who wilt render to every man according to his deeds; even to them that are contentious, and obey not the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon Rom. viii. 9; every soul of man that doeth evil. Let him be sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them that commit such things; and let him not think in his impenitency Deut. xxix. 19, to escape thy judgment. O suffer him not, when he heareth the threatnings of thy word, to bless himself in his heart, and say, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imaginations of my heart, and add sin to sin; lest thy anger and jealousy smoke against him, and thou wilt not Deut. ix. 14. spare him, but blot out his name from under heaven, and all thy curses lie upon him, and thou separate him to evil, even to the

20, 21.

Mark ix. 44.

Matt. i. 21.

worm that dieth not, and to the fire that is not quenched. O save him from his sins, from his impenitency, and the pride and stubbornProv. xxviii. 14. ness of his heart. O save him from the everlasting flames, and from thy 2 Cor. vi. 2. wrath, which he is the more in danger of, because he feeleth not, and feareth not his danger. Let him know how hard it is for him to kick

Luke xix. 41,

42.

Acts ix. 5.

Isa. xlv. 9. tears and Joel ii. 12, 13.

Lam. v. 16.

Psal. li.

Gal. vi. 1.

against the pricks, and how woful to strive against his Maker. Lay him at thy footstool in sackcloth and ashes, in lamentation, crying out, Woe unto me that I have sinned; and humbling his soul in true contrition, and loathing himself, and begging thy pardoning and healing grace, and begging the prayers and communion of thy Church, and resolving to sin wilfully no more, but to live before thee in uprightness and obedience all his days. O let us prevail with thee for the conversion of this impenitent sinner, and so for the saving of his soul from death, and the hiding and pardoning of his sins: that he that is lost may be found, and he that is dead John xi. 44. may be alive; and the angels of heaven, Luke xv. 27, 10. and we thy unworthy servants here may rejoice at his repenting. Let us see him restored by thy grace, that we may joyfully receive him into our communion, and thou mayest receive him at last into thy heavenly kingdom, and Satan may be 2 Tim. ii. 26. disappointed of his prey; for thy mercy' sake, through Jesus Christ, our Lord and only Saviour. Amen.

Jas. v. 20.

on earth,

Ezek. xxxiii.

14, 16.

A Form of Rejection from the Communion of the Church.

Luke xix. 27.
Mic. iv. 2.

Matt. xviii. 15,
16, 17.

JESUS Christ, the King and Lawgiver of the Church, hath commanded, that if a brother trespass against us, we go and tell him his fault between him and us alone; and if he will not hear us, we shall then take with us one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established; and if

Tit. iii. 10. he shall neglect to hear them, that we* tell it to the church; and if he neglect to hear the church, that he be to us as a heathen man, and a

14, 15.

1 Cor. v. 11. publican. And that we keep no company, if any that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. 2 Thes. iii. 6, And that we withdraw ourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and note him, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. According to these laws of Christ, we have admonished this offending brother, 2 Sam. xii. 14. who hath greatly sinned against God, Acts viii. 24. and grieved and injured the Church :

Both the old editions read, he.-P. H.