Imágenes de página
PDF
ePub

XXXIII. Of excommunicate Persons, how they are to be avoided.

THAT person, which, aby open denunciation of the church, is rightly cut off from the unity of

. In the church, if it be well ordered, there shall be seen to be observed a certain order and manner of governance, and such a form of ecclesiastical discipline, that it shall not be free for any that abideth in that flock publicly to speak or do any thing wickedly or in heinous sort without punishment, yea, and so that in that congregation of men, all offences, so far as is possible, be avoided. But this discipline since long time past, by little and little decaying, as the manners of men be corrupt and out of right course, specially of the rich and men of power, which will needs have impunity and most free liberty to sin and do wickedly, this grave manner of looking to them and of chastisement can hardly be maintained in churches. Nowell, p. 68.

ance.

In churches well ordered and well mannered, there was, as I said before, ordained and kept a certain form and order of governThere were chosen elders, that is, ecclesiastical magistrates, to hold and keep the discipline of the Church. To these belonged the authority, looking to, and correction, like censors. These calling to them also the pastor, if they knew any that either with false opinions, or troublesome errors, or vain superstitions, or with corrupt and wicked life, brought publicly any great offence to the Church of God, and which might not come without profaning the Lord's supper, did put back such from the communion, and rejected them, and did not admit them again till they had with public penance satisfied the Church. Nowell, p. 115.

We say, that Christ hath given to his ministers power to bind, to loose, to open, to shut. And we say, the office of loosing

If thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him of his fault between thee and him alone; if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be

bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Matt. xviii. 15— 18. It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver such an one unto satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 1 Cor. v. 1-5. I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a

the church, and excommunicated, bought to be taken of the whole multitude of the faithful as

consisteth in this point: that the minister, either by the preaching of the Gospel, offereth the merits of Christ and full pardon to such as have lowly and contrite hearts, and do unfeignedly repent themselves, pronouncing unto the same a sure and undoubted forgiveness of their sins, and hope of everlasting salvation or else that the same minister, when any have offended their brothers' minds with some great offence, or notable and open crime, whereby they have, as it were, banished and made themselves strangers from the common fellowship, and from the body of Christ, then after perfect amendment of such persons, doth reconcile them, and bring them home again, and restore them to the company and unity of the faithful. We say also that the minister doth execute the authority of binding and shutting, as often as he shutteth up the gate of the kingdom of heaven against unbelieving and stubborn persons, denouncing unto them God's vengeance and everlasting punishment: or else when he doth quite'shut them out from the bosom of the Church by open excommunication. Out of doubt, what sentence soever the minister of God shall give in this sort, God himself doth so well allow it, that whatsoever here in earth by their means is loosed and bound, God himself will loose and bind, and confirm the same in heaven. And touching the keys wherewith they may either shut or open the kingdom of heaven, we with Chry"They be the knowledge of Scriptures:" with Tertullian we say, "They be the interpretation of the law :" and with Eusebius we call them, "The word of God." We say that the priest indeed is a judge in this case, but yet hath no manner of right to challenge an authority or power, as saith Ambrose. Jewell.

sostom say,

Q. Is there then no hope of salvation out of the Church? A. Out of it can be nothing but damnation, death, and destruction. For what hope of life can remain to the members, when they are pulled asunder and cut off from the head and body? They, therefore, that seditiously stir up discord in the Church of God, and make division and strife in it, and trouble it with

brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or à drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. 1 Cor. v. 11, 13. Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.. 1 Tim. v. 20. Which some having put away, (a good conscience) concerning faith have made shipwreck:

of whom is Hymeneus and Alexander; whom have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. 1 Tim. i. 20.

b Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. Rom. xvi. 17. If any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no

с

an heathen and publican, until he be openly reconciled by penance, and received into the Church by a judge that hath authority thereunto.

sects, (factionibus,) have all hope of safety by forgiveness of sins cut off from them, till they be reconciled, and return to agreement and favour with the Church.

company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. 2 Thess. iii. 14, 15. A man that is an heretic, after the first and second admonition, reject; knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself. Tit. iii. 10, 11. c Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. So that contrariwise ye

Nowell, p. 69.

ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him. For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also. 2 Cor. ii. 6-10.

B b

b

a

XXXIV. Of the Traditions of the Church. IT is not necessary that traditions and ceremonies be in all places one, or utterly like; for at all times they have been diverse, and may be changed according to the diversity of countries, times, and men's manners, so that nothing be ordained against God's word. Whosoever, through

Of a truth unity and concord do best become religion: yet is not unity the sure and certain mark, whereby to know the Church of God. Jewell.

God's Church ought not, neither may it be so tied to that or any other order now made, or hereafter to be made and devised by the authority of man, but that it may lawfully, for just causes, alter, change, or mitigate those ecclesiastical decrees and orders, yea, recede wholly from them, and break them, when they tend either to superstition, or to impiety; when they draw the people from God, rather than work any edification in them. This authority Christ himself used, and left it to his Church. He used it, I say; for the order or decree made by the elders for washing ofttimes, which was diligently observed of the Jews, yet tending to superstition, our Saviour Christ altered and changed the same in his Church into a profitable sacrament, the sacrament of our regeneration, or new birth. This authority to mitigate laws and decrees ecclesiastical the Apostles practised; when they, writing from Jerusalem unto the congregation that was at Antioch, signified unto them, that they would not lay any further burthen upon them, but these necessaries : that is, "that they should abstain from things offered unto idols, from blood, from that which is strangled, and from fornication," (Acts xv. 29.) notwithstanding that Moses's law required many other observances. -Positive laws made by princes, for conservation of their policy, not repugnant unto God's law, ought of all Christian subjects with reverence of the magistrate to be obeyed: not only for fear of punishment, "but also," as the Apostle saith, "for conscience sake." Conscience, I say, not of the thing, which of its own nature is indifferent, but of our obedience, which by the law of God we owe unto the magistrate, as unto God's minister. By which positive laws, though we subjects, for certain times and days appointed, be restrained from some kinds of meats and drink, which God by his holy word hath left free to be taken and used of all men, with thanksgiving, in all places, and at all times; yet for that

с

his private judgment, willingly and purposely doth openly break the traditions and ceremonies of the Church, which be not repugnant to the word of God, and be ordained and approved of common authority, ought to be rebuked openly, (that other may fear to do the like,) as he that offendeth against the common order of the Church, and hurteth the authority of the magistrate, fand woundeth the consciences of the weak brethren.

such laws of princes and other magistrates are not made to put holiness in one kind of meat and drink more than another, to make one day more holy than another, but are grounded merely upon policy; all subjects are bound in conscience to keep them by God's commandment; who by the Apostle willeth all, without exception, to submit themselves unto the authority of the higher powers. Hom. xvi. 2.

с

Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves. Heb. xiii. 17. Them that sin, rebuke before all, that others also may fear. 1 Tim. v. 20. Warn them that are unruly, (or disorderly.) 1 Thess. v. 14. We hear there are some among you that walk disorderly.- -If any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. 2 Thess. iii. 11, 14.

d Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. 2 Thess. iii. 6. Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence, receiveth us not. Wherefore if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church. 3 John 10. Let all things be done decently, and in order. 1 Cor. xiv.

40. Though I be absent in the flesh, yet am 1 with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order. Col. ii. 5.

e Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake.

1 Pet. ii. 13. Ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. Rom. xiii. 5. Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Eph. v. 21.

f I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences, contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ. Rom. xvi. 17, 18. When ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak consciences, ye sin against Christ. 1 Cor. viii. 12. Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones. Matt. xviii. 10. Let us not judge one another, but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling-block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. Rom. xiv. 13. We that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Rom. xv. 1.

« AnteriorContinuar »