Question 85

Howe is the kingdome of Heauen shut and opened by Ecclesiastical discipline?

When by the commaundement of Christ, they who are in name Christians, but in doctrine or life shew themselues strangers frō Christ, after they haue bene once or twise admonished, and wil not depart from their errors, or sinfull liuing, are presented to the Church, or to those who are appointed to that office by the Church, and if they obey not their admonition, are by forbidding them the Sacramentes by them shut out from the assemblie of the Church, and by God himselfe from the kingdom of Christ: and againe, and if they possesse amendement, and doo indeed declare it, are receiued as^a members of Christ and of the Church.^b