The True Form of Church Government, Chapter 19
CHAP. XIX.
WHen neither admonition, nor suspention will serve to reclaim the offender, but that it doth appeare, that he abideth in impenitency, and is incorrigible, the Eldership, after mature deliberation, and commending of the party unto the prayers of the Church (he yet remaining obstinate) is to proceed to excommunication: which containeth these propositions in question betwixt us and the Bb.
1. It may not be done, but upon great and waightie occasion.
2. It may not be done by any one man, but by the Eldership, the whole Church consenting thereunto.
The former is holden by us, T. C. 1 Book, pag. 183. Discip. Eccles. 130. and denied by them in their practice, that send it out (many times) for not paying of six pence. But our assertion is thus proved, and their godlesse practice disproved.
The proofe of the first proposition.1. That which Christ hath ordained for the last remedy against sinne, and onelyonly to be used when neither admonition, reprehension, nor separation from the externall communion of the Saints for a time will serve; that same is not to be used, but upon great extremitie: But such is excommunication, as appeareth, Matth. 18.15. Therefore it may not be used, but upon most waightie occasion, that is, in the case (onelyonly) of extremitie, when no other meanes will serve the turne.
2. That which cutteth a man off from the Church of God, and giveth him over unto Satan, as one in a desperate case, that same may not be used, but in greatest extremitie: But such is excommunication, being used according as God hath left it unto his Church, 1 Cor. 5.5. Therefore it may not be used, but in greatest extremitie.
3. That which a man will do 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 try all other wayes, and will never cut off his hand or his foote, untill he see it incurable, and ready to infect the other parts of his body: Therefore excommunication may not be used, but in case of greatest extremitie.
4. That which is contrary to naturall affection, and worketh that which a loving heart doth tremble to thinke of; that same may not be done, but in greatest extremitie: But such is the excommunication, for it depriveth the party excommunicated of our love, and throweth him into the most wretched case, that can be fall unto man in this life: Therefore it may not be done, but in cases of greatest extremitie.
Therefore, if excommunication be ordained of Christ, as a remedy, onelyonly when all other helpes will not serve;The Conclusion. if it cut the partie from Gods Church, and give him over unto Satan; if it must …e proceeded unto, … a man doth …o the cutting off of his hand … …oote; lastly, if it be a worke contrary unto the naturall affection of man, and … that which a loving heart doth tremble to thinke upon: then must it needs follow, that it is to be proceeded unto, onelyonly in the cases of greatest extremitie, and af… that all other meanes have beene us…d▪ and doe appeare not to ….
The latter point (which is,The proofe of the second proposition. that excommunication may not … done by one man, but by the Eldership, the whole Church consenting thereunto) is holde… … as, T.C. book 1. pag. 183. Discip. Ecclesiast. 130. &c. and denied by them, Whitgift, pag. 662. and their continuall practise; But our a…e…tion is th… proved, and their opinion and practice, found to be erroneous and ungodly.
1. That which Christ command…d to be done by the Church, may not be done by one man, unlesse you take my L. Grace for the Church, … Whitgift doth, pag. 662. which needeth … confutation▪ But Christ commended that excommunication should … done by the Church, Matth. 18.15. Therefore it may not be done by one man.
2. That which Paul enjoyned the Church, when they were met together, to doe, may not be done by one man: But he commanded them … the incestuous person, when they were met together, 1 Cor. 5.5. Therefore it may not … done by one man.
3. That which hath need of greatest advice, and greatest authoritie, may no 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 beleeve, and being the waightiest point of discipline: Therefore it may not be done by one man.
4. Those must excommunicate, that are to deale in the other parts of discipline, as shall appeare in the Reasons following, and (a… I thinke) no man will deny: But the other parts of discipline are exercised not by one, but by the church, as hath beene proved: Therefore not one, but the Church is to excommunicate.
5. As it was ministred among the Jewes, so must it be in the Church forever; which appeareth by this, that it is translated unto us from them (as the Greeke word Synedri…n, 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, Joh. 9.22. Therefore the Church is to excommunicate, and not one man.
Cyprian lib. 3. epist. 10.6. Saith, he would never doe any thing in his charge, without the counsell of his Elders, and consent of the people.
7. The Elders, and other Church-officers, have as well power to absolve,Epist. 14. as the Bishop.
Epist. 19.8 For so much as absolution belongeth unto all, I alone dare not doe it.
Tertul. Apol. cap. 39.9. If there be any that have committed such a fault, that he is to be put away from the partaking of the prayers of the Church, &c. There doe beare rule, certaine of the most approved Ancients or Elders of the Church, which have obteined this honour, not by money, but by good report.
August lib. 3. cont. epist. per….10. It helpeth much to make the party more ashamed, that he be excommunicated by the whole Church: also in his Books of Baptisme, against the Donatists often.
Jerom. ad Demetriad. Epist. 1. Bucer de regro Christi lib. 1. cap. 5….11. The Elders have interest in other censur…s of the Church, and the Church it selfe in excommunication.
12. S. Paul accuseth the Corinthians ▪ for that the whole Church had not excommunicated the incestuous person.
13. The Elders had the government in excommunication.P. Martyr in 1 Cor. 5.
14. It is very dangerous to permit so weightie a matter to one man, and therefore that tyranny may be avoyded,The same upon the same place. and this censure executed with greater fruit and gravitie, the order that the Apostle there useth, is still to be observed.
15. He sheweth that it pertaineth not to one man,Calvin Instit. lib 4 cap. 11. sect. 6. that it is a wicked fact that one should take the authoritie to himselfe, that is common to others; that it openeth a way to tyranny; taketh from the Church their right, and abrogateth the Ecclesiasticall Senate, ordained by Jesus Christ.
16. The Bishops,Chap. 12. sec… ▪ 6 when they excommunicated of themselves alone, did it ambitiously, contrary to the decrees of godly Cannons: See Bucer against Gropper, and upon Ephes. 4. De animi C…ra, also Zuinglius in Ecclesiast.
17. It is plentifully forbidden (even) by that filthy puddle, the cannon law,See Abstract. pag. 165. and therefore it must needs be a hainous sinne, when it findeth fault with it.
Therefore,The Conclusion. if excommunication be to be executed (by the commandement of Christ) of the Church; if S. Paul enjoyned it unto the Church; if it have need of greatest advice and authoritie; if it belong to them that may execute the other parts of Discipline; if it was so executed among the Jewes; if to absolve, be as well in the Elders power, as the Bishops; if Cyprian durst not doe it alone; if it was the action (in Tertullians time) of the most approved Elders; if to be by the whole Church, helpeth much to make the partie more ashamed, if the whole Church have interest in it; if the whole Church at Corinth was reproved, for not doing it; if it be too waightie a matter for one man; if the executing of it by one, overturneth the order appointed by Christ; bringeth in tyranny; maintaineth ambition; and lastly, be forbidden by the cannon law it selfe. Then must it needs follow, that it belongeth not unto one man to excommunicate, but unto the Eldership, and that with the consent of the whole Church.
Their Objections hereunto in defence of their owne practice, be these:
1. Objection. The right of excommunication, was in S. Paul, and not in the rest.
Answer. He gave onelyonly direction in that, as in all other matters, which he wrote of unto them, but if they had not throwne out the incestuous person, he had remained still unexcommunicated, for all that which S. Paul had said unto them.
2. Objection. Christ gave Peter and every Apostle power to binde and loose in earth and in heaven, which Interpreters expound by Matth. 18.15.
A…wer. That power was of denouncing Gods judgements▪ or pronouncing his mercy in preaching, and not of this action: they are expounded one by another, because of the ratifying of them both in heaven alike.
3. Objection. Paul did excommunicate Hymeneus and Philetus.
Answer. That is, being moderator of the action, he pronounced it, not that he did it alone; The same answer, is to be made unto the Fathers, as Ambrose, &c. who are said to excommunicate.
The Conclusi…n of the w…le b…ke.Therefore, upon these grounds of Scriptures, Fathers, Councels, Emperours, Lawes, Histories, new Writers, and cleare light of reason. I conclude, that aChap. ….Christ hath prescribed unto us an exact, and perfect platforme of governing his Church at all times, and in all places; which is this, bChap. 1…. & 11.that there ought to be no Ministers of the Word, but pastors and teachers, which are to be cChap. 4.called by the people, and dChap 7.ordained by the Eldership, are of eChap 10.equall authoritie in their severall Congregations, must fChap. 10.with all faithfull diligence imploy themselves, in the Ministery of the Word and Sacraments, gChap. 12.that there are to be in every Congregation certaine Elders, whose office is to oversee the behaviour of the people, and assist their Pastour, in the government of the Church; hChap. 13.also Deacons, who are to be imployed onelyonly in receiving, and bestowing the liberalitie and goods of the Church to the reliefe of the poore▪ and other necess…ry uses: iChap. 14Lastly, that there must be in Congregation an Eldership of pastour, teacher (if they can have any) and Elders, who are in common, to see that the Church be well governed, not onelyonly in maintaining the profession and practise of the Word in generall, kChap. 17.but also in admonishing, reprehending, or lChap. 18.separating from the Lords Supper, them that walke offensively; …nd mChap. 1….lastly, in excommunicating them, that by no other meanes can be reclaimed. So that all and every government, contrary or besides this, whether in part or in whole, swarveth from that order, which Christ hath set downe in his Word, and therefore is unlawfull.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Udall, The True Form of Church Government (1642)