Chap. 1. the. 6. Diuision.
And that this was the meaning of our sauiour Christ in those wordes it may appeare by ye prac∣tise which is set forth in the Epistles to the Corinthians. For it is certaine that S. Paule did both vnderstande and obserue the rule of oure Sauiour Christe. But he communicateth this power of excommunication with the churche, and therefore it must needes bee the meaning of oure Sa∣uiour Christ, that the excommunication should be by many, & not by one, and by the churche and not by the minister of the churche alone. For he biddeth the church of Corinthe twise in the first Epistle,* 1.1 once by a metaphore, another time in plaine wordes, that they should excommunicate the incestuous persone. By metaphore, saying (*) 1.2 purge out your olde leauen, in playne & flat words when he sayth, take away that wicked man from amongst you. And in the second Epistle vnderstanding of the re∣pentāce* 1.3 of that man, he entreateth them that they would receiue him in again, shewing that he was content to release the bond & chaine of his excommunication, so that they would do the same, & ther∣fore considering the absolution or reconciliation of the excommunicate, doth pertayne vnto ye church, it followeth that the excommunication doth in like manner apperteine vnto it.
M. Caluine speaking of the wordes of Christ, Math. 18. wherein I am sure you will haue the same order of gouernmēt to be expressed, that is in this place of Math. 5. doth make great differēce betwixt the order there prescribed by Christ, & that practised by the Apostle. 1. Cor. 5. bicause in that place, Christ committeth the matter to a few, & in this place the Apostle séemeth to commit it to the whole multitude. M. Caluines words be these, A question may be asked what he meaneth by the name of the Churche: for Paule* 1.4 commaundeth the incestuous Corinthian to be excōmunicated not of any chosen number, but of the whole company of the godly: wherfore it is probable that here the iudgement is committed to the whole people: But bicause then as yet there was no church which profes∣sed Christ, neither any such order appointed, and the Lord speaketh according to the vsuall and receiued custome: There is no doubt, but that he alludeth vnto the order of the olde church, as also in other places, he frameth his talke according to the knowen and vsuall man∣ner. So that, that excommunication vsed in the churche of the Corinthians, can in no respect be the practise of the rule of Christ in either of the places, neither yet according vnto it: wherefore you write without iudgement, you wote not what.
S. Paule did publikely excommunicate in the presence of the whole churche, and vsed them as witnesses of his iust dealing: but his wordes be playne that the right & power of excommunication remained in him selfe.
When S. Paule sayth vnto the Corinthians, Expurgate vetus fermentum. &c. purge out the olde leauen, he speaketh not of the incostuous Corinthian, but exhorteth them* 1.5 to newnes of life: you shall heare howe M. Caluine expoundeth that place: Bicause he had borowed a similitude of leauen, he reteyneth it still: although he doth digresse from the* 1.6 matter which he hath in hande vnto a generall doctrine, for he speaketh no more of the in∣cestuous persone, but generally exhorteth them vnto puritie of life. &c.
Lorde howe carelesse you are in peruerting the true sense and meaning of the scrip∣ture, that you may violently drawe them to your purpose.
When he sayth: Put away that wicked man from among you, he doth not will them to excommunicate him, but to shunne and auoyde his company, and not to suffer him to come among them bycause he was excommunicate. And as he in this place moueth them to a detestation of him, so in that place of the second Cor. 2. after his repentance &