Letter 288

288. Without superscription, on church-advocates

Those whom the common penalties do not bring to their senses, and whom exclusion from the prayers does not lead to repentance, must of necessity be made subject to the canons given by the Lord. For it is written: If your brother sins, reprove him between you and him alone; if he will not hear you, take another with you; and if he will not hear even so, tell it to the Church; and if he refuses to hear the Church also, let him be to you henceforth as a heathen and a tax-collector. This is just what has happened in his case. Once he was charged; before one and then a second witness he was convicted; a third time before the Church. Since, then, we have testified to him, and he has not accepted it, let him henceforth be cast out by public proclamation. And let it be announced to the whole village that he is to be admitted to no fellowship in the common dealings of life, so that, from our refusal to mix with him, he may become wholly the prey of the devil.