Whilst, in the Lord’s Supper, believers hold fellowship with Christ, they also maintain and exhibit their communion with each other.  “We, being many,” says Paul, “are one bread and one body, for we are all partakers of that one bread.” [222:2] Those who joined together in the observance of this holy institution were thereby pledged to mutual love; but every one who acted in such a way as to bring reproach upon the Christian name, was no longer admitted to the sacred table.  Paul, doubtless, refers to exclusion from this ordinance, as well as from intimate civil intercourse, when he says to the Corinthians—­“I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.” [222:3]

In the synagogue all cases of discipline were decided by the bench of elders; [222:4] and it is plain, from the New Testament, that those who occupied a corresponding position in the Christian Church, also exercised similar authority.  They are described as having the oversight of the flock, [222:5] as bearing rule, [223:1] as watching for souls, [223:2] and as taking care of the Church of God. [223:3] They are instructed how to deal with offenders, [223:4] and they are said to be entitled to obedience. [223:5] Such representations obviously imply that they were intrusted with the administration of ecclesiastical discipline.

This account of the functions of the spiritual rulers has been supposed by some to be inconsistent with several statements in the apostolic epistles.  It has been alleged that, according to these letters, the administration of discipline was vested in the whole body of the people; and that originally the members of the Church, in their collective capacity, exercised the right of excommunication.  The language of Paul, in reference to a case of scandal which had occurred among the Christians of Corinth, has been often quoted in proof of the democratic character of their ecclesiastical constitution.  “It is reported commonly,” says the apostle, “that there is fornication, among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.....  Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.” [223:6] The admonition was obeyed, and the application of discipline seems to have produced a most salutary impression upon the mind of the offender.  In his next letter the apostle accordingly alludes to this circumstance, and observes—­“Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.” [223:7] These words have been frequently adduced to shew that the government of the Corinthian Church was administered by the whole body of the communicants.