an act of discipline much used in the ancient Church: the first step toward the recovery or expulsion of delinquents. In case of private offenses it was performed, according to the evangelical rule, privately; in case of public offense, openly before the Church. If either of these sufficed for the recovery of the fallen person, all further proceedings in a way of censure ceased; if they did not, recourse was then had to excommunication (Titus 3:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:14; Ephesians 3:4; Matthew 3:18). Bingham, Orig. Eccl. bk. 16, ch. 2, 6. It is still exercised in the Methodist Episcopal Church (Discipline of M. E. Church, pt. 3, ch. 1, 5).