When public punishment fails to
bring a man to his senses, or exclusion from the prayers of the Church
to drive him to repentance, it only remains to treat him in accordance
with our Lord’s directions—as it is written, “If thy
brother shall trespass against thee….tell him his fault between
thee and him;…if he will not hear thee, take with thee
another;” “and if he shall” then “neglect to
hear, tell it unto the
Church; but if he neglect to hear even the Church, let him be unto thee
henceforth as an heathen man, and as a publican.”
Matt. xviii.
15–17. Now all this we have done in the case
of this fellow. First, he was accused of his fault; then he was
convicted in the presence of one or two witnesses; thirdly, in the
presence of the Church. Thus we have made our solemn protest, and
he has not listened to it. Henceforth let him be
excommunicated.