Discipline Which Christ Hath Prescribed for the Government of His Church, Chapter 19
CHAP. 19.
WHen neyther admonition, nor suspention will serue to reclaym the offender, but that it doth appeare, that he abydeth in impenitencie, and is incorrigible, the Eldership, after mature deliberation, and commending of the party vntounto the prayers of the Churche (hee yet remaining obstinate) is to proceed to excommunication: which containeth these propositions in question betwixt vsus and the BB.
1 It may not be done, but vponupon great and vvayghtie occasion.
2 It may not be done by any one man, but by the Eldership, the vvhole Church consenting therevnto.
The former is holden by vsus, T. C. 1. book, pag 183. Discipl. Eccles. 130. and denied by them in their practize, that send it out (many times) for not paying of sixe pence. But our assertion is thus prooued, and their godlesse practize disprooued.
1 That which Christ hath ordayned for theThe proofe of the 1. proposition. last remedie against sinne, and onelyonly to be vsed when neyther admonition, reprehension, nor separation from the externall communion of the saynts for a time will serue; that same is not to be vsed, but vponupon great extremitie: But such is excommunication, as appeareth, Math. 18. 15. Therefore it may not be vsed, but vppon most wayghtie occasion, that is in the case (onelyonly) of extremitie, when no other meanes will serue the turne.
2 That whiche cutteth a man of from the Church of God, and giueth him ouer vntounto Satan, as one in a desperate case, that same may not be vsed but in greatest extremitie: But such is excommunication, being vsed according as God hath left it vntounto his Churche, 1. Cor. 5. 5. Therefore it may not bee vsed, but in greatest extremitie.
3 That which a man will doe in the cutting off, of his hand or his foote, that same must the Church doe, in excommunication; for it is the cutting off, of a member: But a man will trie all other wayes, and will neuer cut of his hande or his foote, vntill he see it incurable, and ready to infect the other parts of his bodie: Therefore excommunication may not be vsed, but in case of greatest extremitie.
4 That which is contrary to naturall affection, and worketh that whiche a louing heart doth tremble to thinke of; that same may not be done but in greatest extremitie: But such is the excommunication, for it depriueth the party excommunicated of our louelove, and throweth him into the most wretched case, that can befall vntounto man in this life: Therefore it may not be done, but in cases of greatest extremity.
Therefore if excommunication be ordained of Christe,The Conclusion as a remedie, onelyonly when all other helpes will not serue; if it cut the partie from Gods Churche, and giuegive him ouer vntounto Satan; if it must be proceeded vntounto, as a man doth to the cutting off of his hand or foote; lastly, if it be a worke contrary vntounto the naturall affection of man, & effecteth that which a louing hart doth tremble to think vponupon: then must it needs follow, that it is to be proceeded vntounto, only in the cases of greatest extremitie, & after that all other meanes hauehave bene vsed, and do appeare not to preuaile.
The latter poynt (which is, that excommunication may not be done by one man,The proofe of the 2. proposiion. but by the Eldership, the whole Church consenting therevnto) is holden by vsus, T. C. booke 1. page 183. Discipl. Ecclesiast: 130. &c. and denyed by them, VVhitgift, page 662. and their continuall practise; But our assertion is thus proued▪ and their opinion and practize, founde to be …rroneous and vngodly.
1 That which Christ commanded to be done by the Church, may not be done by one man, vnles you take my L. Grace for the Churche, as VVhitgifte doth, page, 662. which needeth no confutation: But Christe commanded that excommunication should be done by the church, Matth. 18. 15. Therefore it may not be done by one man.
2 That which Paule enioyned the Churche, when they were met together, to doe, may not be done by one man: But he commanded them to excommunicate the incestuous person, whē they were met together, 1. Cor. 5. 5. Therefore it may not be done by one man.
3 That which hath need of greatest aduice, and greatest authority, may not be done by one man: But such is the matter of excommunication, being the denouncing of that against a man, which he will most hardly beleeue, & being the wayghtiest poynt of discipline: Therefore it may not be done by one man.
4 Those must excommunicate, that are to deale in the other partes of discipline, as shall appear in the resons following, and (as I think) no man will denie: But the other partes of discipline are exercized not by one, but by the Church, as hath bene prooued: Therefore not one, but the Church is to excommunicate.
5 As it was ministred among the Iewes, so must it be in the Church for euer; which appeareth by this, that it is translated vntounto vsus from them (as the Greeke word Synedrion, being by a corrupt imitation, called Sanedrim, by the Rabbins, doth import) and had nothing ceremoniall in it: But it was executed among them by the Church, and not any one, Iohn 9. 22. Therefore the Church is to excommunicate, and not one man.
6 Sayth,Cyprian lib. 3. epist. 10. he would neuer do any thing in his charge, without the counsell of his Elders, and consent of the people.
7 The elders,Epist. 14. & other church-officers, ha…e as wel power to obsolue, as the byshop.
8 For so much as absolution belongeth vntounto all,Epist. 19. I alone dare not do it.
9 If there be any that hauehave committed such a fault,Tertul. Apol cap. 39. that he is to be put away from the partaking of the prayers of the Church, &c. There do be are rule, certayne of the most approoued auncients or elders of the Church, which hauehave obtayned this honour, not by money, but by good report.
10 It helpeth much to make the party more ashamed,August. lib. 3. cont. epist pe… men. that he be excommunicated by the whole Church: also in his bookes of Bapti…me, against the Donatists often.
11 The Elders hauehave interest in other censures of the Church,Ierom ad Demetriad. Epist. 1. and the Church it selfe in excommunication.
12 S. Paule accuseth the Corinthians,Bucer de regn… Bhristi lib. 1. cap. 9. for that the whole Church had not excommunicated the incestuous person.
13 The Elders had the gouernement in excommunication.P. Martyr in 1. Cor. 5.
14 It is very dangerous to permit so weightie a matter to one man,The same vponupon the same place. and therefore that tyrannie may be auoyded, and this censure executed with greater fruite and grauitie, the order that the Apostle there vseth, is still to bee obserued.
15 Hee sheweth that it pertayneth not to one man, that it is a wicked fact that one should take the authoritie to himselfe,Caluin Institut. lib. 4. cap. 11. sect. 6. that is common to others; that it openeth a way to tyrannie; taketh from the Church their right, and abrogateth the Ecclesiasticall senate, ordayned by Iesus Christ.
16 The byshops,Chap. 12. sect. 6. when they excommunicated of themselues alone, did it ambitiously, contrary to the decrees of godly cannons: See Bucer against Groppet, and vponupon Ephes. 4. De animi Cura, also Zuinglius in Ecclesiast.
17 It is plentifully forbidden (euen) by that filthie puddle,See Abstract page 165. the cannon law, and therefore it must needs be a haynous sinne, when it findeth fault with it.
Therefore if excommunication be to be executed (by the commaundement of Christe) of the Churche;The Conclusion if S. Paule enioyned it vntounto the Church; if it hauehave need of greatest aduice and authoritie; if it belong to them that may execute the other partes of Discipline; if it was so executed among the Iewes; if to absolue, be as well in the Elders power, as the Byshops; if Cyprian durst not do it alone; if it was the action (in Tertulians time) of the most approoued Elders; if to be by the whole Churche, helpeth much to make the partie more ashamed; if the whole Churche hauehave interest in it; if the whole Church at Corinth was reprooued, for not doing it; if it be too weighty a matter for one man; if the executing of it by one, ouerturneth the order appoynted by Christ; bringeth in tyrannie; maintayneth ambition; and lastly, be forbidden by the cannon law it selfe. Then must it needes followe, that it belongeth not vntounto one man to excommunicate, but vntounto the Eldershipp, and that with the consent of the whole Church.
Their obiections herevnto in defence of their owne practize be these.
1 Obiection The right of excommunication, was in S. Paule and not in the rest.
Ansvvere He gaue onelyonly direction in that, as in all other matters, whiche hee wrote of vntounto them, but if they had not throwne out the incestuous person, he had remayned still vnexcommunicated, for all that which S. Paule had sayd vntounto them.
2 Obiection Christ gaue Peter and eueryevery Apostle power to binde, and lose in earth and in heauen, which interpreters expound by Matth. 18. 15.
Ansvvere That power was of denouncinge Gods iudgements, or pronouncing his merciemercy in preaching, and not of this action: they are expounded one by another, because of the ratifying of them both in heauen alike.
3 Obiection Paule did excommunicate Hymeneus and Philetus.
Ansvvere That is, beeing moderator of the action, he pronounced it, not that he did it alone; The same answere, is to be made vntounto the fathers, as Ambrose, &c. who are said to excommunicate.
Therefore vponupon these grounds of Scriptures,The Conclusion of the whole booke. Fathers, Councels, Emperours, Lawes, Histories, newe writers, and cleare light of reason. I conclude, thataChap. 1. Christ hath prescribed vntounto vsus an exacte, and perfect platforme of gouerning his church at all times, and in all places; which is this,bChap. 10. & 11 that there ought to be no ministers of the the word, but pastors and teachers, whiche are to becChap. 4. called by the people, anddChap. 7. ordained by the Eldership, are ofeChap. 10. equall authoritie in their seuerall congregations, mustefChap. 10. with all faythfull diligence imploye themselues, in the ministery of the worde and sacramentes,gChap. 12. that there are to be in eueryevery congregation certaine elders, whose office is to ouersee the behauiour of the people, and assist their pastour, in the gouernment of the church;hChap. 13. also Deacons, who are to be imployed onelyonly in receiuing, and bestowing the liberallity and goods of the church to the reliefe of the poore, and other necessary vses:iChap. 14 Lastly, that there must be in eueryevery congregation an eldershipp of pastour, teacher (if they can hauehave any) and elders, who are in common, to see that the church be well gouerned, not onelyonly in maintayning the profession and practize of the worde in generall,kChap. 17. but also in admonishing, reprehending, orlChap. 18. seperating frō the Lords supper, them that walke offensiuely, andmChap. 19. lastly in excommunicating them, that by no other meanes can be reclaimed. So that all and eueryevery gouernement, contrary or besides this, whether in part or in whol, swarueth from that order, which Christ hath set downe in his word, and therefore is vnlawfull.
FINIS.
ERRATA.
Page 1. line 21. for 14. read 84. p. 4. l. 16. for Sa…edori… read Sanedrim, p. 9. l. 11. for 43. read 43 8. l. 20 for ministerie, read ministers, p. 15. l. 3. blot out also, p. 17. in the margent, for Nepolitan read Nepotian, pag. 22. l. 16. for Damascus read Damasus and so pag. 27. l. 24. pa. 23. l. 18. for the, these, p. 25. l. 2 for & 6. read 26. p. 27. margent, for Nicene Nicen, for Theordoret Theodoret, & for dis. 50. dis. 51. p. 30. l. 21. blot out d. pa. 32, l. 16. for 12. read 22 p. 47. l. 24. for practise, read practisers, p. 49. the marg. l. 7. blot out 8. p. 52. l. 6. for Solicus read Soticus, in the marg. for dist. 50. read dist. 80. pa. 53. l. 18. for do, doth & 20. after (Apostles) add doth. pa. 60. l. 17 for approued read appointed. pag. 80. line 6. red abdication. p. 81. l. 8. for Luk 6. read 9.
End of the text · John Udall, Discipline Which Christ Hath Prescribed for the Government of His Church (1588)