Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Corinthians 5:11

11 But now 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 a one no not to eat .

Of late there have been some disputes what eating is here intended, whether at the Lords Table, or at our common Tables. Intimacy of communion is that which undoubtedly is here signified by Eating; and the Apostles meaning is, that the Members of this Church should forbear any unnecessary fellowship and communion with any persons that went under the name of Christians, and yet indulged themselves in any notorious and scandalous courses of life; of which he reckoneth up several sorts. 1. Vnclean persons noted for any kind of uncleanness. [illegible: 1 letter]. Covetous persons, by which he understands all such as ou[illegible: 1 letter] of their too great love of money, either scandalously sought to add to their heap, or to detain what was others just due. 3. Idolaters, by which he understands such as out of fear, or to gain favour with the Heathen amongst whom they lived, would frequent and perform Divine Worship in the Idols Temple. 4. Railers, such as used their tongues intemperately and scandalously to the prejudice of others reputation. 5. Drunkards, under which notion he comprehends all such as drank hot liquors intemperately, whether they had such an effect upon them, as to deprive them of the use of their reason or no. 6. Extortioners, viz. such as being in any place exacted more than was their due of those that were under their power. But yet by this interpretation the argument is not lost against Eating with such at the Table of the Lord, which is no more necessary Communion with them, than civil Eating is; for neither hath God spread that Table for any such, neither ought any Church to endure any such persons in its Communion: no[illegible: 1 letter] are any Christians bound for ever to abide in the Communion of that Church, which shall wilfully neglect the purging out of such old leaven. Admitting this precept prohibitive of a civil intimacy with scandalous persons, though they be called Brethren, it holds à [illegible: 1 letter]ortiori, as a stronger argument against Religio[illegible: 1 letter]s Communion with such in Ordinances, to which apparently they have no proximate right.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word]. 1[illegible: 1 letter].17. [illegible: 1 word] 16.17. [illegible: 1 word] 10.