NOTE 2.--The matter is not to be made public until these three steps have been fully taken, and have failed; and then to be made public only by telling the church, and no others. NOTE 3.--When the case comes before the church, it must not be neglected nor dropped, but judiciously pursued until the difficulty be adjusted, the offense removed, or else the offender be disfellowshipped, and put away. PUBLIC OFFENSES _Public offenses_ are not against any one person more than another, but are such as are supposed to be a dishonor to the church of which the offender is a member, and a reproach to the Christian profession. They constitute a violation of the code of Christian morals, if not of our common worldly morals. The more common causes of this class of offenses are the following: False doctrine (Gal. 1:9, 2 John 10), disregard of authority (Matt. 18:17; 1 Thess. 5:14), contention and strife (Rom. 16:17), immoral conduct (1 Cor. 5:11), disorderly walk (2 Thess. 3:6, 9), covetous spirit (Eph. 5:5; 1 Cor. 5:11), arrogant conduct (3 John 9), going to law (1 Cor. 6:6). The following constitutes a proper and Scriptural course of treatment for such cases: 1. The first member who has knowledge of the offense should, as in the case of private offenses, seek the offender, ascertain the facts, and attempt to reconcile or remove the difficulty. Not till he has done this should he make it public, or bring it before the church. 2. But if no one will, or can, pursue this course of personal effort, or if such a course proves unsuccessful, then any member having knowledge of the facts should confer with the pastor and deacons as to the best course to be pursued. 3. The pastor and deacons should, by the best method they are capable of devising, labor to adjust the matter without bringing it into the church, or otherwise making it public. 4. But if their efforts fail, or if the case be already public, and a reproach and scandal to religion, then they should bring it to the church, and it should direct a proper course of discipline. 5. The church, thus having the case before it, should either appoint a committee to visit the offender, or cite him before the body to answer the charge. He should be allowed to hear the evidence against him, know the witnesses, and be permitted to answer for himself. 6. If the accused disproves the charges, or if he confesses the wrong, makes suitable acknowledgment, and, so far as possible, reparation, with promise of amendment, in all ordinary cases, this should be deemed satisfactory, and the case be dismissed. 7. But if, after patient, deliberate, and prayerful labor, all efforts fail to reclaim the offender, then, however painful the necessity, the church must withdraw its fellowship from him, and put him away from them.