not that that vncleanes wherwith they were polluted by doinge ther necessary dewry to ther frendes and neigbours in burying off them shold be so great that they therfore should be forbidden to eate off the Passeouer with the rest off the church But Moses askinge counsell off god what was to be done in this case Aunswer was made that they shold not eate the passeouer with the rest off ther brethren and a lawe made for euer after touchinge that matter That those kinde off vncleane persons shold not eate the passeouer with the rest of Israell in the first monethe but sholde tarie to eate yt in the second moneth Out off which places we haue many thinges to gather which belonge to the discipline off the churche And first off that which is in the xij off Exodus That no vncircumcised person shold be admitted to eate the passeouer no allthoughe they were Iewes and by nature borne heires off the couenaunt and off the promises but that open profession off trew Religion was necessarilie required as well off Iewe as off straunger before they were admitted to eate off the passeouer Off this I saie we learne that now no maÌ„ ought to be admitted to the Lordes table and to the holie communioÌ„ but he that is knowen by his open profession to be off trewe Religion for Asmuche as the body excelleth the shadowe and the Trewth the figure So muche more carefully ought we to take heed that the Sacramentes wherin we haue the truthe and the body it selffe be not communicated with vncircumcised and vncleane persons So that diligent Inquisicion is to be had off euery man what saythe he holdeth and how he serueth God lest we communicate them with any who professe not the same trewe Religion off Christ Which was so well taken heed vnto in the primitiue churche that Eusebius reportethe in his Ecclesiasticall history that a Romaine Emperour named Philippe who fâ—rst became Christian off all the Emperours and fyrst submitted the romaine Empire vnto Christ desyringe to coÌ„municate with the rest off the churche was not admitted therunto by the Bishop off that churche for that he was yet suspected for diuers causes before that he had openly made profession off trewe Religion And in those our daies in these churches which haue receyued the Doctrine off the Gospell and trewe discipline together as in olde tyme no man was suffered to eate off the Passeouer beinge either a straunger or a hyred seruant onlesse he had his part in the lambe So likewise in the holie Communion off the Lordes supper Christ the trewe paschall lambe is communicated onely to suche as farre as men can iudge by there outward profession vnto whome Christ hym selffe belongethe Now theÌ„ seing we haue a lawe touching this matter off no lesse waight then theyrs why do we suffer yt to Remayne in the book off the gospell as in a scabbard and suffer the edge off yt to wax dull now fyften yeeres together why do we communicate the holie Sacramentes with the Papistes and require not before they be admitted a syncere open and franck Confession off trewe Religion The holie Mysteries off God are prophaned The Gentles enter into the Temple off God The holie thinges are indifferently communicated with cleane and vncleane cyrcuncised and vncyrcuncised and yet we sâ—t no porters at the churche dores nor shut vpp the vncleane and polluted together by them selues Therfore Let this so necessary a part off Eclesiasticall discipline be established Let an open profession off trewe ReligioÌ„ be exacted of those who are admitted to the vse off holie thinges aÌ„d Let no longer the heauenly mysteries off God be prophaned by communycating them with the Papistes The next thing which is to be noted out off these places which I haue alledged belongeth vnto those who are in deede heires off the promises and as Saint Peter speaketh in the Actes Sonnes off the Testament and couenant made withe the Fathers but yet for some fault made are for a tyme excluded from the vse off holie thinges And hitherto belongeth that example which I alledged out off the ix off Nombres off those who were put ouer vnto the second monethe before they might eate the Passeouer Touching which kind off punishment all thoughe ther be nothing expressely mencioned and commanded in the gospell yet seing it is commanded in the fift off Matthew that he at whome a brother is offended bringing an offring to the aulter of the lord should leaue his offring there and goo first aÌ„d be recoÌ„câ—led to his brother how muche more ought this to be done wher the Anger hath bene so hote that it hath broken out into reprochefull and contumelious wordes and suche as our Sauiour manifestly declareth to be suche as the Counsell off the churche hath to deale with that is to saie That they be commanded to abstaine from the aulter off the lord vntill they be reconciled with there brother who is offended For otherwise If without reconciliacion they offer ther gift the offringe is prophaned and they that doe such thinges are giltye off great offence and for a small fauit that was made before haue nowe coÌ„mitted a great aÌ„d a hainous trespasse For so the lawe threateneth to that vncleane person that durst touche the holie fleshe aÌ„d eate of the sacrifices that he should surely pay for it aÌ„d that no other sacrifice sholde serue to take away his sinÌ„e but eueÌ„ his owne blud As also our Sauiour Christ threatneth in the gospell that they which reconcile not them selues shall surely paie for it euen to the vttermost farthing And S Paule saithe that they that drincke and eate the Lordes body vnworthely eate and drinck there owne damnation Seing theÌ„ it is so aÌ„d that the lord is so greuously displeased with the neglectinge off these dewties and prophanation off his holie misteries Seing also that those men theÌ„ selues who do thus boldly prophane them doe make them selues gilty by this meanes of more greuous iudgement and condenmnatioÌ„ this part off discipline also being no lesse necessary then the other which we want nowe to loÌ„ge time is to be restored againe and the keepinge off it to be as muche esteemed as we esteme aÌ„d set by the heauy iudgemeÌ„ts of god and his wrathe punishinge and reueÌ„ginge the prophanatioÌ„ of his holie misteries For let no man here obiect vnto me the Bishops Consistory and the Officiall and CoÌ„missarie geuinge charge from the Bishop to be recoÌ„cyled aÌ„d punishinge by the purse suche as do offend as if we wanted not those thinges that I saie we waÌ„t for all those are but toyes and trifles which seing it hath abolished the lawfull manÌ„er of taking awaie off offences apointed by our Sauiour Christ to be kept in his churche what hope can we looke for to haue any holesome remedie by these meanes off so daungerous diseases Therfore Let ther be a lawfull Counsell establyshed in the churche and Let them vse that authoritie
remaine Then we should not haue had at this day so great coÌ„tencion for ther filthy garmentes But it hathe come to passe by the ignoraunce off the priestes when they wer nor able to Iudge according to the lawe what wer cleane and what were vncleane and thought that the leprosy had not spred it selffe vppon the garmentes that they haue not condemned them to be burned but to be washed only the filthe wheroff no art or conninge off the fuller is able to washe away But this in the way off digression yet I trust not vnprofitablie Now let vs retourne to our purpose and conclude that for suche causes as haue bene alledged we ought to obey the Apostles decree touching thes Novices and grene kinghtes and not admit them to ministerie off the word And thes are thos thinges which are required off a fit Bishopp and which especially the posers and examiners ought to haue respect vnto For wheras the old CanoÌ„s require that he be off a certen age surely the choosers ought wisely to consider off it for it is not allmost possible but by the singuler and especiall grace off off god that youthe should be so well ordered and gouerned that the want off yeeres appere not in some youthfull trick or â—oy that may dishonest the sacred office notwithstandinge seing the Apostle geueth no precept nor commandement touchinge age yea rather forbiddethe any man to condemne and despise Tymothi and Titus for ther youthe godly and lerned yonge men are not to be kept back from this office For somtymes thes first fruites are consecrated to god and then comonly they are more holie then the rest off the lompe And as the Poeth saithe Some tymes on yong mens heades doth grow the hoary heare Before by nature yt be tyme for them such crowne to weare That is to sey They haue hoarie heares off godlines and holines yea and somtimes also hoary knewledge as it appereth in certen notable examples off Daniel Thimothy and Titus and some other which are worthie examples for yonge men to follow often times also they are more inflamed and set on fire with that heauenly fire off the zeale off god then other And I know not howe but thes first fruties off the spirit are oftentimes more holie and thes first begotten guiftes off the holie ghost are more stronge and mightie And thus muche off the particuler election off bishoppes and ministers Now let vs beginne a newe and speake of ther ordinatioÌ„ I said before that all the offices of the churche are to be ordeined and apointed to certen places and persons wher and amoÌ„ges whom ther may exercise ther office But the orderinge off bishopes hathe this thiÌ„g particuler in our times for wheras in times past this was coÌ„mon to them with the rest off the ancieÌ„tes that was for a singuler respect aÌ„d especiall occasioÌ„ off that time that off ther apointinge and ordinacion to a certen place and flock which they ought diligently to defend and loke vnto certen profit and coÌ„modities do depend wherof they may liue and wherby they may be susteined and norished wheroff I shall need to speake more at large that all men may vnderstaÌ„d that they are bound by the coÌ„mandement off god to performe this dewty to ther bishoppes and ministers and that I may represse the couetones of some meÌ„ which haue neuer enoughe And first off all we must remeÌ„bre here that which was proued before that bishops that is so say ministers ought to geue theÌ„ selues continuallie to praier and to the administracion off the word and not suffer them selues to be called from doing that ther dewty by any office be it neuer so honorable either in the church or in the coÌ„mon wealthe For thes idle bellies that wildo none of ther dewty ought also to haue no dewty done to theÌ„ againe but they are rather to be delt with as Paule coÌ„mandeth the Thessalonians to deale with thos that liue disorderly that is say that They that labor not shold not eate But and if they be suche as do ther dewtie and refuse to deale with the affaires off the coÌ„mon welche the handlung wher off might be honorable vnto theÌ„ for the churches cause how great wrong wer it to suffer suche men to be pore an needie and compelled â—o seeke ther liuinge by some haÌ„die crafft or occupatioÌ„ wherby they should be no lesse hindred froÌ„ doing ther duties then by the honorable charges of the coÌ„mon welthe And seiÌ„ge they ar day aÌ„d night carefull for the churche and setting all other thinges a side wholie thinck how they may defend it and promote the saluacioÌ„ theroff what can be more iust or equall then that they againe should not be neglected off those for whose cause they take so great paynes For who did euer as S. Paule notably handlethe this matter to the CorinthiaÌ„s goe to warfare of his owne charges who plaÌ„tethe a vineiard and eatethe not of the fruit therof or who feedeth a flocke and eatethe non off the milck off it But the churche hathe many mortall enemyes and continuall warre with them without any peace or truce and the bishops be they that take vpon them and susteine thes enmyties for the churches cause and striue to ther very great daunger for the saluacion theroff with most mighty princes and potentares as S. Paule callethe them and the monarche and prince off this world For how often thinck we euen for this cause are they assaulted because ther defend the churche how many dauÌ„gers do they put them selues into and with what fiercnes thinck we dothe the enemies pursue theÌ„ knowing that many ar preserued by there life Therfore they that wold suffer this ther souldier or captaine to die for hunger were they not worthie to fall into the handes off ther enemies And what vineiard is ther so painfully trimmed and dressed off the husband man as the churches are dressed of there husbaÌ„d meÌ„ how carefull are they in plantinge what paines take they in pruninge and culting oft aÌ„d other suche like toile and labor if theÌ„ being so well dressed it should not norishe the husbaÌ„d maÌ„ that dressed it might they not worthelie coÌ„plaine off it as the lord by the prophet Esay after an other sorte complainethe off his vine Seinge also ther is nothinge more reasonable then that the shepherd should feede off the milke of his flock should not those shepeherdes be fedde which the milke and clothed with the flece aÌ„d wolle of there flockes who susteine for the flockes cause the assaultes of most greeuous wolues and watch fortheÌ„ day and night suffring the parching heate and chillinge cold for ther cause who feede theÌ„ ouersee theÌ„ and seeke theÌ„ and often tymes put ther life in extreame danger to defend them Nether are these thinges spoken and grounded only vpon humaine and naturall reason or handled according to mans Iudgment only but this is Goddes ordinaunce and appointment and groundeth
continency frugalitie and all moderacion off life but only that I would haue them receiued as the embassadores off Christ for the honor off ther master honestly aÌ„d liberally that we put not theÌ„ downe to the meany to eate with the shepherdes and hired seruantes nor forget those that labor in the Lordes worck as Moses gaue the Iewes warniÌ„ge towchinge the Leuites seing we sit all of vs by the blessinge of the Lord quietly and in peace euerie man vnder his Oliue tree and vnder his vine aÌ„d gather in our hauest and our vintage seinge I say we enioy thes coÌ„modities we ought not to deale couetously sparingly and niggardly with them but louingly liberally and bountifully that they may liue honestly and coÌ„modiously off ther labors that they may norishe and mainteine ther house and familie that they may prouide them selues suche necessary helps as they stand in need off for ther vocation and callinge yea and furder that they may be able to releiue and succor the pore and â—eedy for this is the right waie to preserue the ministerie that bothe it become not vile and conteÌ„ptible thorowghe poueâ—â—y and misery neither that it wax wanton an prophane by great excesse and abundance For as it is a shame for the churches to see ther minister in miserie thoroughe neede aÌ„d necessitie so it is to be feared leste they wax wantoÌ„ by to great pleÌ„ty aÌ„d riches For surely it was a right heauenly voyce and spoken as an Oracle off the maner off gouerninge the church which the story of the primitiue church reherseth was hard from heauen in the time off Constantine the great that godly Emperor that is to say that the churche was poisoned with riches For so it came to passe that they fell froÌ„ labor to idlenes from teÌ„perancie to excesse and wantonnes from the meane estate off bishopes and ministers to affect and desire to imitate aÌ„d follow the magnificence and maiesty off lordes and princes hereof come the ther siluer aÌ„d gilted Crosiers wherby they imitated the sceptres off kinges heroff they got them myters as kinges haue ther crownes hereoff also because the noble men kept great traines of seruaÌ„ts that they might be the beter able to serue the comon wealthe in tyme off need they wold also haue ther traines and began to be delighted and to take pleasure in an vnprofitable nomber off seruantes and waitinge men to adorne and set out ther cuphordes with siluer vessell and plate off gold to array theÌ„selues in costly apparell for now a dais a man may see them that weare soft apparell not only in kiÌ„ges courtes as our Sauior Christe saide but eueÌ„ in the church to be called honorable lords to sit at the right hand off kinges and princes to send them giftes and presentes to bid theÌ„ to ther bancketes and bothe seeke and mainteine ther honor and estimation by a certen courtly pompe and shewe This condicion I not only wishe not to our Bishoppes but iudge it and esteeme it alltogether intollerable and by no meanes to be suffered as a meanes to hindre there labor and diligence in ther office as a meanes to make them wanton lascyuious and proud and agreathe not with that meane estate that ought to appere in Bishopps but is most contrary bothe to the ordinance and also to the examples off Christ our Sauior and off his Apostles Neither in my Iudgmenâ— may any church be esteemed well enoughe reformed that euen in this behalffe doth not obey to the expresse commandement off god and take away all this vaine pompe and shewe and make the Bishoppes be content with the meane estate off ther place and callinge making them able to bidde the pore to ther table and the banished for Christs sake but not to bidd kinges and princes calling them the seruantes and Ministers off Christ and not honorable lordes beinge carefull that they may be suche as may shine in godlines learninge modesty temperaunce continencie and all example of good life not with gold and siluer with traines and trompes off meÌ„ and lordly port and courtly state off honor Thes are the right ornamentes off Bishoppee wherby they may procure to theÌ„ selues an honest report with credite aÌ„d authority in the church off god to there ministerie wherbie also they mvy preserue and mayntene the same Therfore let vs not take to muche pleasure in the outward beautie and faire shewe off this pompe and glory but let vs see iff ther be any vse and proffit off it desyre rather that which is proffitable for others then that which seruethe only for avaine shewe For as the Poet saithe Seeke not the thing that faire is to eye But rather that the cyty may liue by But the church liueth not by this pompe and shewe nor hathe no neede off it but off godlines lerninge symplicitie and modesty by which thinges Christ would haue his kingdome enlarged And I pray yow how do this moue the mindes off men to goe to the church with a great traine off men before him and after him as the Bishoppe that Eusebius speaketh off in the seuenth boke off his ecclesiasticall historie to goe to the pulpit with officers afore him makinge Roume for my lorde to preache in a Rochet and a faire square cappe leaninge opon a quishion off clothe off gold Thes thinges may delight the eyes for a tyme and the outward senses take pleasure in this vaine shewe but I see not how the miÌ„d is more easilie taught beaten downe or raised vp againe by this meanes For it must be a certen heauenly power ioyned with a pure lerned and simple interpretation off the scriptures which must work thes thinges which are Iewells more meet to shyne in a pulpit than siluer or gold Plinie shewinge the cause off the fruitfulnes off the Roman feeldes in times past more elegantly in deed then truly Then saithe he when the fieldes wer tilled by Emperors it is like that the earthe reioysed to be plowed with a share bearing a lawrell garlond vpon it and to be tilled off such a plow man who had before triumphed More pretilie I say then truly for that it is better for tilliÌ„ge off the earthe that the ploughe share be sharpe then that it be crowned with a laurel garlond and that the ploughe man be diligent rather then suche a one as had entred the citie in greate pompe and triumphe Which also the same Author correctinge him selffe addeth after in the same place sayinge Or ells this might haue beene the cause off the fruitfulnes off the feeldes theÌ„ That thos worthie Captaines and Emperors handled ther seedes as carefully as ther battelles and were as diligent ouer ther fieldes as ouer ther tentes Or ells this That all thinges speede more happilie which are done by them who are honest and vertuous because they be also done more painfully and with greater trauell which surely me thincketh is the very cause off the fruitfulnes off the lordes field And that then
Paule making oure whole life to answer to those 7. dayes off the Passeouer and Christ to be our Paschall Lambe the house to be the Assembly and Companye off Communicantes as also some off the Hebrew interpretors expound yt Sweate bread to be synceritie and trew the and Leauen to be maliciousnes and wikednes seemeth he not I say to ground and gather herevppon that that same Corinthian who in the tyme off the feast off our trewe Passeouer had that leauen found in his house that is to saye had so greuously synned after the profession off Christian Religion was to be cast out off the church And hauinge chaunged a litle the manner off Speakyng he addeth in the same place that this olde leauen was to be purged out from the church off God which he calleth a newe Lumpe and Sweete or vnleauened bread Herebye therfore as I think yt is plainly proued bothe that the vse offexcommunication hathe bene at all tymes necessarie in the churche and also that is was fyrst translated vnto vs from he Iewes by Lord hym selffe And that yt was afterwardes vsed by the Apostles and synce the Apostles tyme euen vnto this age in the churche off God Allthoughe myserablye depraued and corrupted in this later age wheruppon I conclude that it ought to be vsed in Christian churches when tyme and occasion doth serue Furder it hathe bene declared hereby what excommunication is and what the force and nature off it is namely that yt cutteth off from the church that is to saie that company which professeth the trewe seruice off god the party against whom suche a sentence is geuen and depriueth hym from the blessed hope â—ff the children off God and waiting for the promises togither with the signes and seales theroff which both promises Sacraments are geuen to the churche alone So that by this as it was in that most greuous sentence and condemnacion off the Romaines spoken off before all the rightes priuiledges and freedomes off a citezin off the cyty off God are cleane lost and taken away and so muche the more greuous is this sentence to be esteemed that wheras he that had lost his fredom in Rome might haue bene denyzed into some other free towne or place but he that loseth the freedome off this cytie can not be receiued as Denison into any other free state or common welthe but being cast oute off the kingdome off god is delyuered to the kingdome off darcknes and to extreame bondage seing ther is no meane but that he who is not off the one kingdome must be off the other as doth appeere in the example to the Colossians Therfore our Sauiour Christ declareth that by this senteÌ„ce a man is pronounced to be an ethnick and a publycaÌ„ which being spoken in respect off the Iewes is as asmuche as one should say nowe in respect off the Christians a Panym a Saracene or a Turcke And Saint Paule declareth it to be a delyuering to Sathan wherupon also we are commaÌ„ded in the Epistle to the Thessalonians that we haue not to doe with theÌ„ who are suche which Sentence the more greuous yt is and how much more terrible this sword is then that the Angell shaked before Adam to feare hym with all So muche the more care and heede is to be taken here against whom we pronounce suche a sentence against whom we draw out so sharpe â—n edged sword lest that iff it be against and Innocent or one that is not giltie off some haynous offence and vnrepentant we make our selues by prophaninge the most holie and sacred Iustice off god gyltie off his heauy iudgement and displeasure Therfore this sword is to be handled and ruled by the word and commandement off the highe Iudge and to be drauen out onlie against them against whom he shall commaund it to be drauen neither is so sharpe a kinde off surgerie to be vsed to the curing off the rest off the body except yt euidently appere that some member be cleane rotten and putrified Wherin lest we should offend by any error certen expresse rules are geuen vs which do fully sett out all the ordre whereby we ought to proceede in this case For our Sauiour Christ declareth generallie that euery one who shal be disobedient vnto the churche exhorting him to acknowledge and bewaile his offences shold be holden as an ethnick and a publican And Saint Paule more particulerly declarethe an heretick is be excommunicated A schismatike a Blasphemer an Idolater or he that offendethe so greuously in maÌ„ners that he is an incestuous person or a fornicator or giltie off any of thos crymes which are rehersed in the first Epistle to the Corinthes the v. chap. and the xj verse and to the Thessalonie in the ij Epistle the iij. chap. and ij verse For allthoughe as our Sauiour Christ most wisely and worthelie handleth this matter in the xviij off Math. yt be better that one member be cut off then that all the bodie do perishe yet wher the case is concerninge the cutting off off some part off our bodie or off pulling out the eie we ought to considre first diligently yff there be any hope to recouer yt againe yff there be any medicine that may do yt good yff the publique fast off the churche as a certene spirituall diet off the whole bodie may remedy it fynally wither yt be alltogether putrified and rotten so that the part must needes be plucked awaie or cut of that the rest of the the bodie may be preserued before we suffer yt to be pulled out or cut off from the bodie Yea futhermore allthoughe it plainly appeerethe to be putrified and that the sore be alltogether desperate and past hope of remedie yet notwithstandinge we ought not to mayme the bodye or put out the eye althoughe that part and membre be become vnproffitable nay althoughe yt be hurtfull and and noysome to the rest without great griefe and sorowe off the whole bodye nor without sence and feelinge and naturall compassion off so great a myserie In which behalffe as the Papistes were wont most greuously to offend when as for euery light cause and euen for not payinge the Officiall or some Officer off his court some shillinge or two or other dewties men that were otherwise very honest and godlie had bothe other sentences and euen this most greuous emonges all geuen against them So that to this daye this notable corruption off this deuyne Iustice is not corrected nor amended But euen as yt was wont to be in tyme off darknes matters off lest waight and importance are punyshed with those greuous and fearefull sentences But seing that the Edge both off the other sentences and also off this which is most greeuous is the commanndement off god aÌ„d that not only one off the Bishopps officers but all men alyue are not able to cut off from the churche whom Christ from heauen doth quicken which his spirit as a membre off his bodie
ther is no cause why any man should feare that sentence as yf it were this thunderbolt which I haue described But as there hath bene fault into muche lightnes and rashenes and pronouncinge so heauy sentences without iust cause so ther hath bene no lesse fault in this that by negligence this wholesome seuerytie when iust cause and occusion requireth is not executed For that meanes being taken awaye which the Lord would haue exercised in his church and wherby offences are to be prouided for and the whole authoritie translated from the consistorye and company off the Elders to the Bishop and his court where the Pastor must come to pleade yff he will hart from the coÌ„munion suche as are to be put back by the word off god the holie mysteries off god are with great lycence and without any punishement daily prophaned the holie thinges are prostituted and set open to Adulterers fornicators drunckerds and all kinde off vicious and sinfull liuers and which our Sauiour forbiddethe precious stoÌ„nes are cast before hogges and swine And the holie mysteries not only prophaned by taking awaie off this means wherby they might be kept from thes pollutions and propanacioÌ„s but the churche also is brought into an vndoubted dauÌ„ger For asmuche as it is to feared lest that the rest off the body be infected with the same contagion and euen they them selues who be suche heape and doble their condeÌ„nacion for that they dare take in hand to be so bold tho come in suche sort vnto the lords table For besides that the worship and seruice off god is preserued and kept chast pure and vndefiled by this seueritie the whole churche also and euen the parties them selues who are giltie are best by this meanes prouided for And that the church is thus preserued the Apostle plaiÌ„ly sheweth wheras willing them to cast out the leauen he geueth them warninge that the whole lumpe is sone sowred with a litle leauen And that this also doth apperteine to the benefit and safety off the gilty parties S. Paule sheweth noting this to be the end off deliueringe the incestuous man vnto Satan that his sowle might be saued in the daie off the Lord. And againe where he saith that they ougt to be contented with that correction which had bene done lest that peradueÌ„tur the partie should be swallowed vp with to muche greefe Wherby we see that this a medicine rather then a deadly punishement a sharpe aÌ„d bitter medicine in deede But we must remember that no remedy is so greuous as that which is most healthfull and holesome Seinge therfore excoÌ„munication hath so profitable necessarie â—od holesome vses in the churche let it be restored to vs agayne and established in suche sort as ys described by the word off God Let the holie Sacramentes off god be carefully kept from all pollucion and and prophanacion Let the leauen be purged and cast out off the churche that we may be a newe lump as we are vnleauened and sweet breade as the Apostle witnesseth Let vs procure diligently the helth off those membres which be in daunger that we enter not lame and maimed but whole into that life which by the word off God we hope for Let the Angell off God therfore be set at the gate off Eden that with his sharpe and glistering sword he may keepe back all polluted and vncleane persons from tastinge or touching off the tree off life Let the safety off the churche be procured and sought for by this kind of purgation and the amendemeÌ„t off suche as goe astray by these remedies sharpe in deed and vnpleasant but holesome notwithstanding and proffitable Thus in those two kindes or sortes all manner off kindes off Ecclesiasticall discipline aÌ„d remedyinge off offences is conteined onles some man think good that that execration be added which S. Paule denounceth and threatneth in the first to the Corinthians and the last chap. against all those who loue not the Lord Iesus and to the Galathians against suche as preache any other Gospell which S. Iude oute off Enoch semeth to thunder against all the wicked Which iff any man so take and referr to excommunication Saint Iohn seemeth to allude to the necessary vse off excoÌ„munication in the church were as it semeth out off Zachary who had prophesyed that in the kingdome of Christ ther should no more be any Cananite in the Land he declareth that in this cyty which he describeth in the xxij chap. ther should no more be any accursed thing as also in the xxj chap. and xxvij ver and the 22. chap. the 25. ver he alludeth to the same thing wheras he say that no prophane or abhominable thing no doggs inchaunters fornicators â—c shall enter into the cyty But that semeth to be more then a Medicine and to be rather a sentence off deathe and a threatning off the last Iudgement without hope off forgyuennes And some think yt agreeth rather to the vices them selues then to any certen persons as also the Apostle denounceth theÌ„ not against certeÌ„ men but generally against the wicked and reprobate Althoughe the primitiue churche pronounced this sentence euen against certeÌ„ meÌ„ as Socrates declareth in his history that Nestorius was accursed by the churche men which curse saith he we Christianes are wont to call the sentence that is pronounced against a blasphemer when as iff it were grauen vpon some pilleâ— we publishe this sentence to all the world Which iff we take in this sense yt semeth so to answer to excommunication as Destruction Which the Hebrews call Abaddon doth answer to that excision and cutting of whiche they call careth Which hath bene spoken off before Touching which Destruction the Hebrew interpretours confesse that they knowe not certenly what it is yet they do proue plainly that it is an other kind off punyshement distinguished from the other and off more greeuous and certen destruction And let thus much suffise to haue bene spokeÌ„ of the chiefe and soueraigne authority off the Assembly off the Elders in the gouernment off the churche wherby we may see by which of the three states of lawfull gouernmeÌ„t which are wher one is soueraigne or more or all the churche is gouerned For asmuche as the state and kind off gouernment is esteemed off the soueraigne whither he be one moo or the commynaltie Therfore for asmuch as all thinges are ordered and gouerned by the authority off certen chosen men who are cheife in the congregation in godlines and vertewe we may call the gouernment off the churche Aristocratie that is that gouernment and state wherin a fewe off the best do beare the rule or rather Theocratie that is the gouernment off god seing that they haue no authoritie to do any thing but by the word and commandement off god But these chosen aÌ„d picked out meÌ„ do so exercise this authoritie that they do well vnderstaÌ„d they execute no ciuill nor politique gouernment but that they so