Divine Punishment
1. After applying compresses, the ointment of encouragement,
2. the medicine of divine Scripture,
3. and finally the cauterizing iron of excommunication
4. and strokes of the rod
5. if then their earnest efforts are unavailing, let them apply an even better remedy: they and all the family members should pray for them so that God, who can do all things, may bring about the health of the sick one.
6. Yet if even this procedure does not heal the erring one, then finally, the leader must use the knife and amputate.
For the apostle says: “Banish the evil one from your midst” (1 Cor. 5:13); and again, “If the unbeliever departs, let that one depart” (1 Cor. 7:15), “lest one diseased sheep infect the whole flock.
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