The lavves and statutes of Geneua as well concerning ecclesiastical discipline, as ciuill regiment, with certeine proclamations duly executed, whereby Gods religion is most purelie mainteined, and their common wealth quietli gouerned: translated out of Frenche into Englishe by Robert Fills.

❧Here foloweth the persons whom the elders or commyssyoners oughte to admonyshe, and howe they oughte to procede.

IF there be anye whych teacheth straūge or false opinions agaynst y^e doctrine receyued, that he be called to conferre with them. And if he be cō∣formable they shall suffer hym to de∣parte withoute defame or slaunder, & if he be obstinate, yet they shall admo∣nyshe him certayne tymes vntill they see that greter seueriite be nedefull: and then to forbid him the communiō letting it be knowen to y^e magistrate.

If anie be negligent in comming to churche, so that there be perceyued in him a notable contempte of the com∣munion of the faithful, or if ani shewe hym selfe a contemner of the order ecclesiasticall, that they admonishe him. And yf he render him selfe obe∣dient, y^t they sende him awaye gent∣ly. But yf he doe perseuer from euell to worse, after they haue aduertysed hym three tymes, that then they shal seperate him from the churche and de∣clare him to the Seniorye.

As concerning the lyues & the cor∣rection of their faultes whyche shall happen, it is necessarye to procede ac∣cordinge to the order whyche Christ commaunded.

That is to saye for secreate fautes they shall reproue secreatly. Also that none bring his neighbour before the churche for to accuse him of any faute the which is not notoriouse or slaun∣derouse, excepte he fynde hym stub∣borne and contempteouse.

Moreouer those y^t be contempners of particuler admonytyons of their neyghbours, shalbe warned by the churche, and if they wyll in no waies come to reformaciō nor acknowledge their faute when they shalbe conuin∣ced, that then they commaunde them to absteyne from the communion vn∣till the time they be better disposed.

As concerning notorious and pub∣licke offences, the churche may in no case wincke at thē or passe them ouer, but if they be fautes whiche deserue onely admonityon, the office of the Commyssyoners or elders shalbe to call them before them w^c be culpable,

exhortinge them amiablie that they may amende: and if they see amende∣ment, no further to moleste them, but if they perseuer further in their euel, againe to be admonished: & at length if they profyte not, then to denounce them as contempners of god, and so to absteyne from the communion vn∣tyll they see in them a change of lyfe.

As concerning crimes whiche de∣serue not onelye declaracion and ad∣uertisemēt by wordes but correction with chastisement: yf anye be faulen, according as y^e case shall require, they shall denounce that he absteyne from the communion for a certayne tyme, humbling him selfe before god, & bet∣ter to knowe his faulte.

If anye by contumacye or rebelli∣on wil presume or preace in contrarie to that is commaunded, and for byd∣den him, the office of y^e mynister shal∣be to put him backe, for it is not law∣full to receyue such a one to the com∣munion: and neuertheles that it be so moderated that there appeare no ri∣goure, by the which any person shulde be greued or offended, namely suche

corrections be but medicines to bring the sinners vnto god.

Item that all this be done in suche sorte that the mynisters take not vp∣on them anye Ciuil Iurisdiction, and that this consistorie be in no case any derogaciō to the auctoritie of the Se∣niorie, nor to ordinarye Iustice: but y^t the Ciuill power continue in his full efficacye, and namely where it shalbe nede of punishement or compulciō of the parties, but the ministers wyth y^e consistorie hauing hearde the parties and declared with suche admonitiōs, as shalbe nedeful, then to iudge therī according to y^e weightinesse of y^e case.

Item that this pollicye be not one∣lie for y^e towne, but also for y^e villages perteyning to the Seniorie.