a_o treatise_n of_o excommunication_n wherein_o it_o be_v full_o learned_o and_o modest_o demonstrate_v that_o there_o be_v no_o warrant_n precept_n or_o precedent_n either_o in_o the_o old_a or_o new_a testament_n for_o excommunicate_v any_o person_n or_o debar_v they_o the_o sacrament_n whilst_o they_o make_v a_o outward_a profession_n of_o the_o true_a christian_n faith_n write_a original_o in_o latin_a by_o the_o famous_a and_o pious_a thomas_n erastus_n doctor_n in_o physic_n about_o the_o year_n 1568._o brethren_n you_o have_v be_v call_v unto_o liberty_n only_o use_v not_o liberty_n for_o a_o occasion_n to_o the_o flesh_n but_o by_o love_n serve_v one_o another_o gal._n 5._o v._n 13._o london_n print_v for_o l._n curtis_n 1682._o to_o the_o pious_a reader_n and_o such_o as_o be_v studious_a of_o truth_n thomas_n erastus_n a_o physician_n send_v greeting_n je_v any_o light_v upon_o this_o treatise_n shall_v wonder_v what_o motive_n or_o provocation_n make_v i_o busy_a myself_o in_o this_o controversy_n about_o excommunication_n i_o shall_v as_o concise_o as_o true_o acquaint_v the_o world_n with_o the_o rise_n and_o occasion_n of_o it_o it_o be_v now_o much_o about_o sixteen_o year_n since_o some_o man_n have_v fall_v into_o a_o kind_n of_o excommunicate_a frenzy_n under_o the_o specious_a title_n of_o ecclesiastical_a discipline_n and_o as_o they_o contend_v sacred_a in_o itself_o and_o enjoin_v the_o church_n by_o god_n and_o fain_o will_v they_o have_v the_o whole_a church_n taint_v with_o the_o like_a that_o the_o manner_n of_o it_o they_o propose_v shall_v be_v thus_o that_o a_o select_a number_n of_o elder_n shall_v sit_v in_o the_o name_n of_o the_o whole_a church_n and_o judge_v who_o be_v fit_a and_o who_o unfit_a to_o be_v admit_v to_o the_o lord_n supper_n i_o can_v not_o but_o wonder_v to_o see_v they_o consult_v of_o such_o matter_n at_o such_o a_o time_n when_o we_o have_v neither_o fit_a person_n to_o excommunicate_v or_o to_o be_v excommunicate_v for_o scarce_o a_o thirteen_o part_n of_o the_o people_n understand_v and_o approve_v of_o the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o reformation_n which_o be_v then_o but_o bloom_a the_o residue_n be_v our_o profess_a enemy_n so_o that_o no_o man_n who_o have_v his_o wit_n about_o he_o but_o must_v needs_o see_v that_o such_o a_o matter_n must_v unavoidable_o introduee_v dangerous_a division_n among_o we_o and_o therefore_o i_o think_v it_o not_o then_o so_o proper_a a_o enquiry_n how_o some_o may_v be_v shut_v out_o of_o the_o church_n as_o how_o more_o may_v be_v bring_v in_o and_o that_o the_o best_a thing_n we_o can_v apply_v ourselves_o to_o will_v be_v the_o propagate_a save_a truth_n beside_o they_o who_o be_v to_o be_v the_o supervisor_n be_v not_o so_o much_o superior_a to_o the_o other_o in_o age_n experience_n part_n judgement_n virtue_n or_o eminency_n that_o they_o can_v manage_v so_o weighty_a a_o matter_n with_o that_o port_n and_o dignity_n that_o be_v requisite_a 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be_v discrepant_a from_o and_o what_o agreeable_a unto_o the_o common_o receive_v opinion_n and_o true_o it_o be_v no_o ordinary_a assistance_n to_o i_o in_o this_o matter_n to_o take_v a_o survey_n with_o myself_o of_o the_o state_n of_o the_o jewish_a church_n and_o government_n for_o thus_o think_v i_o with_o myself_o god_n in_o the_o four_o chapter_n of_o deut._n v._n 6_o 7_o 8._o bear_n witness_n to_o their_o law_n that_o there_o be_v no_o nation_n that_o have_v statute_n and_o judgement_n so_o righteous_a and_o that_o for_o their_o law_n sake_n it_o shall_v be_v say_v of_o they_o sure_o this_o great_a nation_n be_v a_o wise_a and_o understand_a people_n therefore_o it_o seem_v necessary_a with_o i_o that_o to_o have_v a_o church_n glorious_o and_o wise_o model_v it_o must_v make_v near_o approach_n to_o the_o judaical_a form_n but_o certain_a it_o be_v that_o in_o this_o jewish_a church_n thing_n be_v never_o so_o institute_v by_o god_n as_o that_o there_o shall_v be_v distinct_a procedure_v in_o the_o punish_a immorality_n one_o by_o the_o civil_a and_o another_o by_o the_o ecclesiastical_a power_n what_o hinder_v then_o but_o that_o even_o now_o too_o that_o that_o church_n which_o god_n have_v bless_v with_o a_o christian_a magistracy_n may_v sit_v down_o content_v under_o one_o form_n of_o government_n i_o then_o communicate_v my_o thought_n to_o learned_a good_a and_o pious_a man_n so_o far_o as_o that_o i_o press_v they_o not_o to_o consider_v the_o matter_n slight_o and_o cursory_o for_o i_o can_v not_o but_o deem_v it_o very_o unnecessary_a that_o there_o shall_v be_v two_o head_n of_o the_o visible_a church_n where_o the_o body_n be_v but_o one_o and_o that_o their_o mandate_n injunction_n decretal_n and_o all_o the_o act_n of_o a_o govern_v authority_n shall_v be_v distinct_a as_o hitherto_o they_o have_v be_v so_o that_o the_o government_n of_o one_o shall_v not_o be_v subject_a to_o the_o inspection_n or_o control_v of_o the_o other_o but_o both_o 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judge_n or_o any_o other_o the_o king_n or_o when_o govern_v by_o the_o optimacy_n have_v we_o any_o footstep_n of_o two_o so_o distinct_a judicature_n over_o man_n action_n and_o manner_n nature_n say_v musculus_fw-la allow_v not_o two_o absolute_a and_o independent_a government_n without_o any_o subordinacy_n of_o one_o to_o the_o other_o to_o lord_n it_o over_o the_o same_o people_n i_o must_v confess_v i_o receive_v great_a aid_n and_o improvement_n of_o these_o my_o thought_n from_o the_o person_n with_o who_o i_o confer_v they_o for_o in_o some_o thing_n their_o observation_n outgo_v my_o own_o and_o where_o they_o do_v not_o they_o furnish_v i_o many_o material_a hint_n to_o mend_v they_o by_o but_o still_o i_o keep_v myself_o quiet_a from_o any_o public_a contest_v in_o this_o affair_n and_o enter_v not_o into_o any_o debate_n about_o it_o where_o i_o be_v
not_o provoke_v and_o then_o too_o i_o use_v the_o utmost_a moderation_n in_o the_o manage_n they_o esteem_v it_o as_o disadvantageous_a as_o needless_a to_o trouble_v our_o church_n with_o this_o dispute_n when_o it_o do_v not_o yet_o appear_v that_o any_o body_n have_v impose_v such_o a_o form_n of_o discipline_n upon_o they_o but_o other_o who_o think_v the_o relish_n of_o government_n more_o sweet_a and_o pleasant_a than_o that_o of_o obedience_n can_v not_o so_o temper_v their_o mouth_n but_o by_o all_o the_o art_n and_o insinuation_n that_o they_o think_v may_v work_v our_o most_o pious_a prince_n to_o their_o design_n they_o labour_v as_o i_o afterward_o understand_v to_o introduce_v something_o very_o like_o this_o into_o our_o church_n and_o have_v not_o other_o rub_v thwart_v they_o god_n know_v how_o far_o they_o may_v have_v prevail_v beside_o how_o do_v they_o lie_v at_o i_o all_o this_o while_n what_o dirt_n do_v they_o throw_v upon_o i_o only_o for_o that_o they_o know_v how_o averse_a i_o be_v to_o their_o purpose_n and_o that_o i_o shall_v not_o be_v want_v according_a to_o my_o best_a endeavour_n to_o frustrate_v they_o but_o this_o i_o need_v not_o here_o enlarge_v upon_o it_o happen_v about_o the_o same_o time_n that_o a_o englishman_n who_o be_v then_o say_v to_o have_v leave_v his_o country_n because_o he_o can_v not_o brook_v a_o surplice_n and_o suchlike_a formality_n then_o enjoin_v desire_v to_o commence_v doctor_n propose_v in_o his_o thesis_n dispute_n concern_v indifferent_a matter_n and_o religious_a habit_n now_o our_o divine_n will_v not_o admit_v of_o this_o man_n to_o his_o doctorship_n for_o fear_v of_o give_v distaste_n to_o the_o english_a clergy_n though_o in_o the_o latter_a of_o his_o thesis_n something_a be_v propose_v too_o relate_v to_o this_o matter_n but_o it_o seem_v they_o think_v the_o peace_n and_o tranquillity_n of_o our_o own_o church_n a_o trifle_n not_o worth_a the_o regard_n and_o therefore_o among_o his_o other_o 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for_o other_o who_o i_o see_v ready_a to_o take_v up_o the_o cudgel_n i_o advise_v they_o to_o have_v a_o great_a regard_n to_o the_o church_n tranquillity_n than_o to_o the_o folly_n of_o a_o few_o yet_o some_o dispute_v the_o point_n with_o they_o but_o it_o may_v have_v prove_v no_o more_o than_o a_o disputation_n of_o course_n have_v they_o not_o call_v as_o well_v they_o as_o i_o profane_a satanical_a devilish_a makebate_n enemy_n to_o religion_n and_o holiness_n fanatic_n and_o what_o not_o true_o for_o myself_o i_o can_v religious_o say_v it_o never_o enter_v into_o my_o thought_n to_o set_v pen_n to_o paper_n in_o this_o matter_n till_o i_o both_o hear_v and_o see_v with_o what_o intemperateness_n they_o comport_v themselves_o both_o public_o and_o private_o so_o that_o i_o think_v a_o long_a silence_n but_o a_o betray_v the_o truth_n but_o as_o i_o be_v then_o more_o than_o ordinary_o employ_v by_o reason_n of_o the_o sick_a soldier_n who_o return_v from_o france_n with_o casimire_n in_o the_o year_n 1568._o i_o set_v down_o my_o thought_n but_o break_o as_o in_o the_o interval_n of_o my_o employ_v thing_n from_o time_n to_o time_n occur_v to_o my_o mind_n which_o when_o i_o have_v amass_v a_o pretty_a deal_n though_o confuse_o and_o immethodical_o together_o i_o distribute_v and_o submit_v they_o to_o the_o censure_n of_o other_o entreat_v they_o withal_o that_o if_o they_o observe_v any_o thing_n false_a or_o but_o weak_o maintain_v they_o will_v answer_v the_o one_o and_o strengthen_v the_o other_o with_o better_a reason_n and_o i_o hope_v to_o gain_v this_o if_o nothing_o else_o thereby_o that_o those_o of_o contrary_a sentiment_n will_v become_v more_o calm_a and_o moderate_a upon_o the_o perusal_n of_o what_o i_o have_v write_v and_o not_o differ_v from_o we_o far_o than_o they_o have_v argument_n to_o bear_v they_o out_o one_o of_o the_o two_o person_n with_o who_o i_o think_v of_o confer_v most_o particular_o see_v and_o read_v three_o part_n of_o four_o before_o the_o whole_a be_v transcribe_v and_o be_v then_o ask_v what_o be_v his_o judgement_n of_o it_o he_o promise_v to_o give_v it_o when_o he_o shall_v have_v peruse_v the_o whole_a but_o something_o i_o know_v not_o what_o he_o say_v by_o the_o by_o of_o leaven_n and_o that_o he_o think_v the_o consent_n of_o the_o ancient_a church_n be_v to_o be_v very_o much_o esteem_v of_o and_o in_o fine_a some_o other_o thing_n do_v he_o let_v fall_v whereby_o it_o be_v easy_a for_o i_o to_o make_v a_o judgement_n of_o his_o opinion_n in_o the_o case_n and_o i_o learn_v quick_o after_o that_o the_o very_a same_o person_n have_v write_v a_o tract_n about_o excommunication_n in_o maintenance_n of_o the_o vulgar_a opinion_n which_o make_v i_o no_o longer-doubt_n what_o answer_n i_o shall_v meet_v with_o from_o he_o for_o i_o know_v he_o to_o be_v one_o who_o be_v not_o easy_o bring_v to_o retract_v what_o he_o have_v once_o assert_v therefore_o since_o i_o have_v in_o the_o latter_a 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position_n that_o i_o may_v the_o better_o communicate_v it_o into_o many_o hand_n so_o that_o hereby_o i_o quick_o get_v the_o opinion_n of_o the_o most_o eminent_a german_a divine_n and_o other_o who_o have_v refuse_v the_o read_n of_o it_o at_o my_o request_n be_v at_o last_o thus_o draw_v into_o it_o unaware_o but_o that_o it_o may_v appear_v to_o the_o world_n that_o i_o seek_v after_o nothing_o but_o the_o naked_a truth_n i_o prefix_v a_o preface_n to_o it_o wherein_o i_o request_v two_o thing_n first_o that_o all_o man_n will_v be_v please_v diligent_o to_o examine_v every_o point_n and_o weigh_v it_o by_o the_o scale_n of_o holy_a writ_n and_o if_o they_o see_v i_o in_o a_o error_n will_v endeavour_v to_o set_v i_o right_n again_o that_o i_o may_v be_v contributory_a to_o set_v other_o to_o right_n i_o promise_v from_o the_o bottom_n of_o my_o heart_n god_n the_o searcher_n of_o heart_n be_v my_o witness_n that_o i_o will_v thank_v he_o both_o before_o god_n and_o man_n whoever_o shall_v show_v i_o my_o error_n and_o because_o i_o foresee_v what_o after_o come_v to_o pass_v my_o second_o request_n be_v that_o if_o they_o find_v fault_n with_o any_o thing_n that_o they_o will_v so_o do_v it_o that_o i_o may_v have_v a_o just_a liberty_n of_o explain_v myself_o and_o of_o just_o defend_v any_o thing_n they_o shall_v undeserved_o condemn_v for_o though_o i_o have_v approve_v myself_o a_o friend_n to_o they_o in_o all_o good_a turn_n i_o can_v scarce_o expect_v like_o measure_n again_o by_o what_o i_o have_v before_o experience_v nor_o be_v i_o deceive_v for_o the_o very_a man_n who_o i_o have_v so_o fond_o conceive_v to_o have_v be_v my_o best_a friend_n turn_v sudden_o my_o enemy_n and_o will_v not_o so_o much_o
as_o speak_v to_o i_o though_o i_o have_v never_o through_o all_o my_o life_n injure_v they_o in_o word_n or_o deed_n but_o always_o do_v and_o still_o will_v study_v to_o oblige_v they_o but_o however_o i_o thank_v god_n that_o i_o experience_v their_o constancy_n and_o good_a will_n to_o i_o rather_o in_o a_o concern_n of_o this_o than_o of_o any_o other_o nature_n but_o restless_a be_v they_o and_o since_o they_o have_v vain_o attempt_v by_o the_o help_n of_o the_o magistrate_n to_o call_v in_o these_o thesis_n out_o of_o the_o hand_n where_o they_o have_v be_v disperse_v they_o go_v another_o way_n to_o work_v and_o desire_v under_o the_o pretext_n of_o law_n which_o be_v never_o yet_o hear_v of_o that_o as_o divine_n be_v not_o to_o meddle_v with_o the_o opinion_n and_o right_n of_o other_o profession_n that_o it_o may_v be_v enact_v and_o enjoin_v that_o all_o of_o other_o profession_n may_v be_v restrain_v from_o enter_v into_o their_o divinity-school_n have_v this_o be_v ask_v threescore_o year_n ago_o it_o may_v have_v pass_v well_o enough_o but_o how_o it_o will_v go_v down_o now_o let_v other_o judge_n be_v the_o precept_n to_o search_v the_o scripture_n joh._n 5._o 39_o and_o 1_o joh._n 4._o 1._o try_v the_o spirit_n whether_o they_o be_v of_o god_n and_o 1_o thess_n 5._o 21._o prove_v all_o thing_n hold_v fast_o that_o which_o be_v good_a and_o the_o like_a precept_n which_o be_v give_v to_o none_o but_o those_o who_o teach_v divinity_n for_o hire_n i_o have_v think_v that_o christian_a divinity_n have_v be_v a_o doctrine_n common_a to_o all_o man_n and_o be_v therefore_o to_o be_v teach_v every_o where_o but_o what_o be_v it_o they_o ask_v when_o they_o will_v have_v we_o keep_v from_o their_o school_n do_v they_o mean_v as_o they_o concern_v not_o themselves_o in_o any_o other_o faculty_n sure_o they_o will_v not_o have_v we_o not_o to_o hear_v their_o lecture_n or_o that_o we_o shall_v not_o come_v thither_o to_o learn_v who_o i_o pray_v ever_o 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