the command of our Lord, we have kindly told him his fault, both alone and in the presence of one or two witnesses; we have warned him of the end of his heinous offences against God and the Church, and admonished him to repent. But it is with deep sorrow of heart we announce to you, that thus far we have received no evidence of true repentance and refor mation of life. On the contrary, he has hardened his heart, and daily increases his guilt by continuing in stubborness and disobedience.

Wherefore, in order that this corrupt member may not endanger the whole body, and that the name of God be not blasphemed among us through him, we are now in duty bound, by the command of our Lord, to proceed to the use of the last remedy, and cut him off from the communion of the Church.

We, therefore, the Minister and Elders of this church, assembled in the name and by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, do hereby announce to you all that N. N., because he will not forsake his sin, is excommunicated from the Church of God; he is separated and cut off from the communion of saints, and from the use of the Sacraments, so long as he continues impenitent.

Moreover, we admonish you, dearly beloved, that you hold no fellowship with this person, so that he may be led to a deep sense of his fall and separation from the Church of Christ. We beseech you, however, not to treat him as an enemy; but admonish him and pray for him, that he may be brought to repentance, and restored to the communion of the Church. Remember also that ye yourselves are be

set by temptation; and let the fall of this man be an example unto you, and a warning of your danger.

Ye have seen how he began to depart from the ways of truth and righteousness, and by degrees fell away more and more into error and sin, until Satan led him captive at his will. Observe, therefore, how cunning the great adversary of souls is, in leading men to destruction. The Devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. Where

fore, let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. Be sober; watch and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. Let every one be truly sorrowful for his sins, that God may not humble us again by the fall of any other member of this church. Beloved brethren, let your fellowship be with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ; and be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.

Let us pray.

O RIGHTEOUS GOD, most merciful Father, we bewail our sins before Thy most high Majesty, and confess that we have deserved the sorrow and pain which we have felt in the separation of a member from Thy Church. For Christ's sake, be Thou gracious unte us; forgive our iniquities, over which we mourn; and work in our hearts a godly sorrow for sin, that we may fear the judgments which Thou dost send upon the stiff-necked and rebellious. And as Thou hast no pleasure in the death of the sinner, but wilt have all men to be converted and live; and as the door of Thy Church is always open to those who return to Thee with true penitence; we pray, O most merciful Father,

for grace to walk before Thee in all holiness, and with humility and love to admonish him, upon whom this judgment has now come, that through Thy good Spirit,

he may be brought to repentance, and restored to Thy favor. May we soon have cause to rejoice over him for whom we now have sorrow of heart, that Thy name may be praised, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

RESTORATION.

asks to be restored

When an exco imunicated pera ⚫ the communion of the Church, the Minister and Elders shall make diligent in. quiry into his state of mind and manner of life; and if he give sufficient evidence of being truly penitent, the Minister shall make the following announcement to the Congregation, at least one week before the time appointed for his restoration.

BELOVED IN THE LORD: It is my privilege to announce to you to-day, that N. N., who was cut off from our communion, has, by this remedy, as also by good admonitions and your Christian prayers, come so far, that, being ashamed of his sins, he now desires to be restored to the fellowship of the Church.

We have made diligent inquiry into his spiritual state and manner of life, and have good reason to believe that he has forsaken his wickedness, and turns to the Lord with a broken and a contrite heart. Since then, we are in duty bound, by the command of God, to receive such persons with joy, and yet it is necessary to procced herein according to good order, we do hereby make known to you that we propose, on [Here the Minister shall name the time,] to loose him from the bond of excommunication, and restore him to the fellowship of the Church; except any one of you may know any just cause why this ought not to be done;

in which case it will be your duty to give us notice thereof in due time. Meanwhile, let every one thank the Lord for the mercy shown to this erring brother, and beseech Him to perfect His work in him to his eternal salvation. Amen.

At the appointed time, if no impediment be alleged, the Penitent coming forward, shall kneel before the altar, aud the Minister, standing in company with the Elders, shall say to the Congregation:

BELOVED BRETHREN: We have, on a previous occasion, informed you of the repentance of N. N., who was cut off from our communion, in order, that with your knowledge and approval, he might be restored to the fellowship of the Church. And inasmuch as no one has, in the meantime, brought any charge against him, we now proceed to his formal and solemn restoration.

Our Lord Jesus Christ declares that whatsoever His ministers shall loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven; whereby He gives us to understand that, when any person is excommunicated from the Church, he is not at once cut off thereby from all hope of being saved, but may again be loosed from the bord of condemnation. And as God declares in His word, that He has no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live, the Church always hopes for the conversion of her backslidden children, and keeps her bosom open for those who truly repent. Accordingly, the holy Apostle Paul commands that the Corinthian offender, who by his direction had been cut off from the Church, should be again received and comforted, lest perhaps