confession of their sinne and amendment of their lives they shall shew tokens of repentance Matth. 18. 16 17 18. 1 Cor. 5. 13. Which places are also alleadged in the Confession of Bohemia Art 8. to prove that the Excommunication of the impenitent and stubborne whose wickednesse is known is commanded of the Lord But if stubborne Heretickes or unclean Persons be not removed or east out from the Church therein doe the Governours of the Church sinne and are found guilty Rev. 2. 14 20. 30. But that all abuse and corruption in Ecclesiasticall Government may be either prevented and avoided or taken away or lest the power of the Church either by the ignorance or unskilfulnesse of some Ministers here and there or also by too much heat and fervour of minde should run out beyond measure or bounds or contrariwise beeing shut up within straiter limits then is fitting should be made unprofitable feeble or of none effect Christ the most wise Law-giver of his Church hath foreseen and made provision to prevent all such evills which he did foresee were to arise and hath prepared and prescribed for them intrinsecall and Ecclesiasticall remedies and those also in their kinde if lawfully and rightly applyed both sufficient and effectuall Some whereof he hath most expresly propounded in his Word and some he hath left to bee drawne from thence by necessary consequence 31. Therefore by reason of the danger of that which is called calvis errans or a wrong key and that it may not bee permitted to particular Churches to erre or sin licentiously and lest any mans cause be overthrown and perish who in a particular Church had perhaps the same men both his adversaries and his judges Also that common businesses which doe belong to many Churches together with the more weighty and difficult controversies the deciding whereof in the consistories of particular Churches is not safe to bee adventured upon may bee handled and determined by a common counsell of Presbyteries Finally that the Governours of particular Churches may impart help mutually one to another against the cunning and subtill enemies of the truth and may joyne their strength together such as it is by an holy combination and that the Church may bee as a camp of an Army well ordered lest while every one striveth singly all of them bee subdued and overcome or lest by reason of the scarcity of prudent and Godly Counsellers in the multitude of whom is safety the Affaires of the Church be undone For all those considerations particular Churches must bee subordinate to Classicall Presbyteries and Synodes 32. Wherefore t is not lawfull to particular Churches or as commonly they are called Parochiall either to decline the authority of Classes or Synodes where they are lawfully setled or may be had much lesse to withdraw themselves from that authority if they have once acknowledged it or to refuse such lawfull Ordinances or Decrees of the Classes or Synodes as being agreeable to the Word of God are with authority imposed upon them acts 15. 2 6 22 23 24 28 29. Acts 16. 4. 33. Although Synodes assemble more seldome Classes and consistories of particular Churches more frequently Yet that Synodes both Provinciall and Nationall assemble at set and ordinary times as well as Classes and Parochiall consistories is very expedient and for the due preservation of Church policie and Discipline necessary Sometime indeed it is expedient they bee assembled occasionally that the urgent necessity of the Church may be the more speedily provided for namely when such a businesse happeneth which without great danger cannot bee put off till the appointed time of the Synode 34. But that besides occasionall Synodes ordinary Synodes be kept at set times is most profitable not onely that they may discusse and determine the more difficult Ecclesiasticall causes coming before them whether by the appeal of some person agrieved or by the hesitation or doubting of inferiour Assemblies for such businesses very often fall out but also that the state of the Churches whereof they have the care beeing more certainly and frequently searched and knowne if there be any thing wanting or amisse in their Doctrine Discipline or Manners or any thing worthy of punishment the slothfull labourers in the Vineyard of the Lord may bee made to shake off the spirit of slumber and slothfulnesse and be stirred up to the attending and fulfilling more diligently their calling and not suffered any longer to sleep and snort in their office the straglers and wanderers may bee reduced to the way the untoward and stiffe-necked which scarce or very hardly suffer the yoke of Discipline as also unquiet persons which devise new and hurtfull things may bee reduced to order Finally whatsoever doth hinder the more quick and efficacious course of the Gospel may be discovered and removed 35. It is too too manifest alas for it that there are which with unwearyed diligence do most carefully labour that they may oppresse the liberties and rights of Synodes and may take away from them all libertie of consulting of things and matters Ecclesiasticall at least of determining thereof for they well know how much the union and harmonie of Churches may make against their designes But so much the more it concerneth the orthodox Churches to know defend and preserve this excellent liberty granted to them by divine right and so to use it that imminent dangers approaching evils urging grievances scandalls growing up schismes rising heresies creeping in errours spreading and strifes waxing hote may be corrected and taken away to the glory of God the edification and peace of the Church 36. Beside Provinciall and National Synodes an Oecumenicall so called from {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} that is from the habitable World or more truely a Generall or if you will an Universall Synode if so be it be free and rightly constituted and no other Commissioners but orthodox Churches bee admitted for what communion is there of light with darknesse of righteousnesse with unrighteousnesse or of the Temple of God with idols Such a Synode is of speciall utility peradventure also such a Synode is to be hoped for surely t is to be wished that for defending the orthodox Faith both against Popery and other Heresies as also for propagating it to those who are without especially the Jews a more strait and more firme consociation may bee entered into For the unanimity of all the Churches as in evill t is of all things most hurtfull so on the contrary side in good it is most pleasant most profitable and most effectuall 37. Unto the Universall Synode also when it may bee had is to bee referred the judgement of controversies not of all but of those which are controversiae juris controversies of right neither yet of all those but of the chief and most weighty controversies of the orthodox faith or of the most hard and unusuall cases of Conscience Of the controversies of fact there is another and different consideration to be
there is controversie in the Church Yet is hee questionlesse judge of his own civill act about spirituall things namely of defending them in his own Dominions and of approving or tolerating the same and if in this businesse hee judge and determine according to the wisdome of the flesh and not according to the wisedome which is from above he is to render an account thereof before the supream Tribunall 98. However the Ecclesiasticall Discipline according as it is ordained by Christ whether it bee established and ratified by civill authority or not ought to be retained and exercised in the Society of the faithfull as long as it is free and safe for them to come together in holy Assemblies for the want of civill authority is unto the Church like a ceasing gaine but not like damage or losse ensuing as it superaddeth nothing more so it takes nothing away 99. If it further happen which God forbid that the Magistrate do so farre abuse his authority that hee doth straitly forbid what Christ hath ordained yet the constant and faithfull servants of Christ will resolve and determine with themselves that any extremities are rather to be undergone then that they should obey such things and that wee ought to obey God rather then men yea they will not leave off to performe all the parts of their office being ready in the mean time to render a reason of their practise to every one that demandeth it but specially unto the Magistrate as was said before 100. These things are not to that end and purpose proposed that these functions should be opposed one against another in a hostile posture or in termes of enmity then which nothing is more hurtfull to the Church and Commonwealth nothing more execrable to them who are truely and sincerely zealous for the house of God for they have not so learned Christ but the aime is First and above all that unto the King of Kings and Lord of Lords Jesus Christ the onely Monarch of the Church his own prerogative Royall of which also himself in the World was accused and for his witnessing a good confession thereof before Pontius Pilate was unjustly condemned to death may be fully maintained and defended 101. Next this debate tendeth also to this end that the power as well of Ecclesiasticall censuâ—e as of the civill sword being in force the licentiousnesse of carnall men which desire that there be too slack Ecclesiasticall Discipline or none at all may be bridled and so men may sin lesse and may live more agreeably to the Gospel Another thing here intended is that errours on both sides being overthrowen as well the errour of those who under a fair pretence of maintaining and defending the rights of Magistracie do leave to the Church either no power or that which is too weak as the errour of others who under the vaile of a certaine suppositious and imaginary Christian liberty do turne off the yoke of the Magistrate both powers may enjoy their owne Priviledges adde hereto that both powers being circumscribed with their distinct borders and bounds and also the one underpropped and strengthned by the help of the other a holy concord betweene them may be nourished and they may mutually and friendly imbrace one another 102. Last of all seeing there are not wanting some unhappy men who cease not to pervert the right wayes of the Lord and with all diligence goe about to shake off the yoke of the Ecclesiasticall Discipline where now t is about to bee introduced yea also where it hath been long agoe established and as yet happily remaineth in force it was necessary to obviate their most wicked purposes Which things being so let all which hath been said passe with the good leave and liking of those orthodoxe Churches in which the Discipline of Excommunication is not as yet in use neither can any offence easily arise to them from hence yea if the best conjecture doe not deceive they cannot but rejoyce and congratulate at the defence and vindication of this Discipline 103. For those Churches doe not deny but acknowledge and teach that the Discipline of Excommunication is most agreeable to the Word of God as also that it ought to bee restored and exercised Which also heretofore the most learned Zachary Vrsine in the declaration of his judgement concerning Excommunication exhibited to Prince Frederick the third Count Elector Palatine the title whereof is Judicium de Disciplina Ecclesiastica c. Excommunicatione c. 104. For thus he In other Churches where either no Excommunication is in use or t is not lawfully administred and neverthelesse without all controversie it is confessed and openly taught that it ought justly to bee received and bee of force in the Church and a little after Lest also your Highnesse by this new opinion doe sever your self and your Churches from all other Churches as well those which have not Excommunication as those which have it Forasmuch as all of them doe unanimously confesse and alwayes confessed that there is reason why it ought to bee in use 105. To the same purpose it tendeth which the highly esteemed Philip Melancthon in his Common places chap. of civill Magistrates doth affirme Before sayeth he I warned that civill Places and Powers are to bee distinguished from the adhering confusions which arise from other causes partly from the malice of the devill partly from the malice of men partly from the common infirmity of men as it cometh to passe in other kindes of life and Government ordained of God No man doubteth that Ecclesiasticall Government is ordained of God and yet how many and great disorders grow in it from other causes Where he mentioneth a Church Government distinct from the civill and that jure divino as a thing uncontroverted 106. Neither were the wishes of the chief Divines of Zurick and Berne wanting for the recalling and restoring of the discipline of Excommunication So Bullinger upon 1 Cor. 5. And hitherto faith he of the of the Ecclesiasticall chastising of wickednesse but here I would have the brethren diligently warned that they watch and with all diligence take care that this wholesome medicine thrown out of the true Church by occasion of the Popes avarice may be reduced that is that scandalous sins bee punished for this is the very end of Excommunication that mens manners may be well ordered and the Saints flourish the prophane being restrained lest wicked men by their impudencie and impiety increase and undoe all It is our part ô brethren with greatest diligence to take care of these things for we see that Paul in this place doth stirre up those that were negligent in this businesse 107. Aretius agreeth hereunto Problem Theolog. loc. 33. Magistrates doe not admit the yoke they are afraid for their honours they love licentiousnesse c. The common people is too dissolute the greatest part is most corrupt c. In the mean while I willingly confesse that wee are not to despaire but
the age following will peradventure yeeld more tractable spirits more milde hearts then our times have See also Lavater agreeing in this Homil. 52. on Nehem. Because the Popes of Rome have abused Excommunication for the establishing of their owne tyrannie it cometh to passe that almost no just Discipline can be any more settled in the Church but unlesse the wicked bee restrained all things must of necessitie runne into the worst condition See besides the opinion of Fabritius upon Psal. 149 6 7 8 9. of spirituall corrections which hee groundeth upon that Text compared with Matthew 16. 19. and 18. 18. John 20. 23. 108. It can hardly bee doubted or called in question but besides these other learned and Godly Divines of those Churches were and are of the same minde herein with those now cited and indeed the very Confession of Faith of the Churches of Helvetia Chap. 18. may bee an evidence hereof But there ought to bee in the mean time a just Discipline amongst Ministers for the doctrine and life of Ministers is diligently to be enquired of in Synodes Those that sinne are to be rebuked of the Elders and to be brought againe into the way if they bee curable or to be deposed and like wolves driven away from the flock of the Lord if they bee incurable That this manner of Synodicall censure namely of deposing Ministers from their office for some great scandall is used in the republike of Zurick Lavater is witnesse in his book of the Rites and Ordinances of the Church of Zurick Chap. 23. Surely they could not be of that minde that Ecclesiasticall Discipline ought to bee exercised upon Delinquent Ministers onely and not also upon other rotten Members of the Church 109. Yea the Helvetian Confession in the place now cited doth so taxe the inordinate zeal of the Donatists and Anabaptists which are so bent upon the rooting out of the tares out of the Lords field that they take not heed of the danger of plucking up the wheat that withall it doth not obscurely commend the Ecclesiasticall forensicall Discipline as distinct from the civill Power and seeing say they t is altogether necessary that there bee in the Church a Discipline and among the Ancients in times past Excommunication hath been usuall and Ecclesiasticall courts have been among the People of God among whom this Discipline was exercised by prudent and Godly men It belongeth also to Ministers according to the case of the times the publike estate and necessitie to moderate this Discipline Where this rule is ever to be held that all ought to be done to edification decently honestly without tyrannie and sedition The Apostle also witnesseth 2 Cor. 13. that to himself was given of God a Power unto edification and not unto destruction 110. And now what resteth but that God bee intreated with continuall and ardent Prayers both that hee would put into the hearts of all Magistrates zeal and care to cherish defend and guard the Ecclesiastick Discipline together with the rest of Christs Ordinances and to stop their eares against the importunate suites of whatsoever claw-backs which would stirre them up against the Church and that also all Governours and Rulers of Churches being every where furnished and helped with the strength of the holy Spirit may diligently and faithfully execute this part also of their function as it becometh the trustie servants of Christ which study to please their owne Lord and Master more then men 111. Finally all those who are more averse from Ecclesiastick Discipline or ill affected against it are to be admonished and intreated through our Lord Jesus Christ that they bee no longer entangled and enveagled with carnall prejudice to give place in this thing to humane affections and to measure by their owne corrupt reason spirituall Discipline but that they doe seriously think with themselves and consider in their mindes how much better it were that the lusts of the flesh were as with a bridle tamed and that the repentance amendment and gaining of vicious men unto salvation may be sought then that sinners bee left to their own disposition and bee permitted to follow their owne lusts without controllment and by their evill example to draw others headlong into ruine with themselves and seeing either the keyes of Discipline must take no ruste or the manners of Christians will certainly contract much ruste what is here to be chosen and what is to bee shunned let the Wise and Godly who alone take to heart the safety of the Church judge FINIS