34

               8

  To the suffering of profane or scandalous livers to continue in

ye [?], fellowship & partake in the Sacram^ts is doubtlesse

a great sinne in those that have power in their hands to

redresse it, and do it not. Neverthelesse, inasmuch as ch^t

and his Apostles in their tymes, & the Pphets & other godly

in theirs did lawfully ptake of the Lords commanded Ordi=

nances in the Jewish church, & neither taught nor practiced

Separacion from the same, though unworthy ones were

pmitted therein; and inasmuch as the faithfull in the

church ^^{at Corinth} wherein were many unworthy psons & practices^(a),

were never commanded to absent themselves from y^e Sacram^ts

because of the same, Therefore the godly in like cases are

not presently to separate. (a) 1 Cor.6.      & 1 Cor.11.   &2 Cor.12.20,

9

  As Separacion from such a church wherein profane & Scanadolous

livers are tolerated, is not p^rsently necessary, so for the

members thereof otherwise worthy, hereupon to abstayne from

communicating w^th such a church in the pticipacion of the

Sacram^ts, is unlawfull. For as it were unreasonable for

an innocent pson to be punished for the faults of others,

wherein he hath no hand & whereunto he gave no consent,

so it is more unreasonable that a godly man should neglect

duty & punish himselfe in not coming for his porcion

in the blessing of the Seales, as he ought, because others

are suffered to come that ought not. Especially considering

that himselfe doth neither consent to their sinne, nor to

their approaching to the ordinance in their sinne, nor to

y^e neglect of others, who should put them away, & do not,

but on the contrary doth heartily mourne for these things,

& modestly & seasonably stirre up others to do their duty.

If the church can not be reformed, they may use their

liberty, as is exercised, chapt.13.§4.  But this all the

godly are bound unto, even everyone to do his Endevo^r,

according to his power & place, that the unworthy