Fides Catholica, or, The doctrine of the Catholick Church in eighteen grand ordinances referring to the Word, sacraments and prayer, in purity, number and nature, catholically maintained, and publickly taught against hereticks of all sorts : with the solutions of many proper and profitable questions sutable to to [sic] the nature of each ordinance treated of / by Wil. Annand ...

CHAP. 14. Of Excommunication. (Book 14)

* 1.1This is the effect of rejected Admonition, so desirous is God of mens good, that if they will not amend by wholesome reproof, they should be corrected with the sharper censure of Excommunication; the last refuge of an offended brother, is the Officers of the Church, and if their reproof be not accepted, it ends in this severe cor∣rection; which is, either the lesser or the greater.

• 1. The lesser excommunication, is a keeping back the of∣fending Brother from the Sacrament of the Lords Supper un∣till that satisfaction be given to the Church-Officer, for the sin committed, which is an acknowledgement of his sin be∣fore the Church in general, or the Churches-Officer, and the party offended in particular.
• ...

• 2. The greater Excommunication, is not only a keeping him back that is obstinate against the Churches admonition, from that Sacrament of the Lords Suppet, but a judicial cutting of him off from the body of the Church, which is the Body of Christ, and leaving him as a heathen to be judged at the Lords coming down to judgment: Of this greater ex∣communication we shall speak of these following heads.
  • 1 The nature of it.
  • 2 The ends of it.
  • 3 The form of it.
  • 4 Resolve some Questions.

SECT. I.

The nature of this greater Excommunication will not be unknown to him that considers this description.

It is a judicial casting out of r•• factory stubborne and obsti∣nate offenders, from the Church of Christ, and delivering the n over un••o Sathan, for the preservation of the Churches peace and honour.

1 It is a judicial casting out] It is not to be done out of rash and furious passion, but according to the Law and Rule of God, and that not by every one, but those to whom the power of binding is given, and he not by his own au∣thority, but by the advice, or at least, the knowledge and consent of the most worthy Members of that Church from which the party is to be cast, 1 Cor. 5.45

2. Of stubborn, &c.] this is to be done after all admoni••ions, counsels and reproofs of the Church are slighted and con∣temned. It ought to be the last Act of the offended Church, and all means are to be tryed to reclaim an offended bro∣ther, before this be put in execution and practise an obsti∣••ate

offender is properly the Subject of Excommunication.

The offence is not necessary alwayes to be in matters of fact, Drunkenness, Swearing, Sabbath-breaking, Perjury, Bl••s∣phemy: but it will and ought to be extended to matters of another kind, as Teachers of false Doctrine, Disturbers of the Churches peace, and Infringers or Contemners of her Laws, 1 Tim. 19.20. Tit. 3.10. 2 Thes. 3.6.

3. From the Church of Christ] Not to speak of those kinds of Excommunication which were used against Offenders in the Church of the Iews, proportionable to these now used in the Church of the Christians. It is affirmed, that the par∣ty so judicially cast out is not a member of the Church of Christ, nor was not before, that is, since his refusal to hear the Church in her admonitions; at that time he began to be a Heathen and a Publican, and these are not of the Church of Christ: then he began to be as a Dog and a Swine, unto whom holy things are not to be given, Mat. 7.6. The Church therefore doth but pronounce, the sinner to be what indeed he is, that is, not a member of the Church; by which sentence the Church looks upon him, as cast out, or cut off from their body.

4. And delivering them over unto Sathan] this is the fear∣full issue of Excommunication, and yet no other then the Lords mind against that Corinthian for his sin of incest, 1 Cor. 5.7. And Pauls practise for the Apostacy of Alexander, 1 Tim. 1.20. Out of the Church, is to be out of Christ, and to be cut off from Christs body is to be thrown among the branches to be burned. As a Judge by his sentence by vertue of that Commission given him from the supream Magistrate, gives the Prisoner over unto execution, being dead before in Law, as soon as his fact was committed: so the Church-Officer by vertue of that Commission given him of Christ, Iohn 20.23. assisted by the Church-Members, as Justices, gives the sinner over unto Satan, whose he was as soon as obstinacy appeared in him.

4. For the preservation of the Churches peace and honour] the end of the Church in this act is not the sinners damna∣tion,

but his salvation, Christs honour, and her own peace: but these things fall more properly under the next Section.

SECT. II.

The Church in this her Discipline hath before her eye, and in this judicial sentence, proposeth to herself these ends.

1. The glory and honour of God, that his name might not be abused, nor his worship defiled by such obstinate and refractory persons, 1 Tim. 1.20.

2. For the Honour of the Church, that her enemies should not have occasion to triumph and boast, that she consists of impure and wicked w••etches. Christian religion might suffer through the wickedness of such men; and therefore the Church disowns them, and affirms they are not Christians but hea∣thens, 2 Thes. 3.6.

3. For the prevention of sin, a little leaven will leaven the whole lump; one notorious sinner being suffered to go with∣out this Church discipline might infect others, which when this is set will not so easily be done; he is punished that others might fear, and be kept pure. One arm may, and in some times must be cut off, not for hatred to it, but being rotten, the whole body is in danger, the like case is here, 1 Cor. 5.6, 7.

4. To bring the sinner to the obedience of Christ, when such a judicial sentence is pronounced, and when the Mem∣bers of the Church withdraw from him, as a leprous person, so far as stands with necessity and order; and knowing what is done on earth is ratified in heaven, the terror of God with him that is not past all sense, will so follow it, and the shame of men will so fill him, that he is brought to his knees craving pardon of the Church for his obstinacy, and desiring to be received again into her body, is absolved and forgiven, and receives the ordinances of the Church, and for the future walks more humbly and holily then before, which was the fruit of the Corinthians excommunicating that incestuous per∣son, 2 Cor. 26.7 8.

But if there be any so pervers••, that this Church-censure will not reduce to obedience, the Laws of all Christian stares takes that sinners case into consideration, that God be not blasphemed, and by them he is punished.

SECT. III.

To let pass the several wayes that the Church useth to re∣claim the sinner, which is different according to the Lawes and customes used in several places, the sentence of Ex∣communication is pronounced by the Minister of that Con∣gregation where the offender lives, in this, or the like form.

* 1.2A. B. Having been lately a Member of this Church, hath con∣tumeliously and obstinately fallen into the sin of — and hath renounced his Fellowship in this Church, having re∣proached the same, and the whole Ministration of Gods or∣dinance therein, of all which he hath been tenderly and ear∣nestly admonished sundry times in private, and hath been publickly called to repent and turn from his sin.

And for as much as the Church finds her tender admonitions to be fruitless towards him, she is compelled, though with great unwillingness and hearty sorrow to vindicate her honour, and provide for the peace and safety of her Members, by ex∣ecuting that severe chastisement on him, which Christ her head and husband hath authorized her to inflict on such re∣bellious Children, who thus do renounce and cast dirt in the face of her that bare them.

For as much then as the said, A. B. doth utterly refuse to hear the Church calling him, with much long suffering and tender love, to returne to the unity and Fellowship and to make a just acknowledgment and renunciation of his sin of — but doth per∣tinaciously declare both by word and deed, his obstinate p••rsist∣ing therein.

Therefore after solemne calling upon God and having his glory before our eyes, the credit of the Gospel, and the prosperity of his Church; I do hereby according to the comman••ment of Christ, and by his authority committed to me as minister of thy Church, and with the consent also of the same, solemnity pronounce and declare in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ, the said, A. B. to be cut off from this Church, and body of ••hrist, as a most obstinate and impenitent — and do leave him to that fearefull judgment and fiery Indignation, denounced against such, and do warne and beseech you to withdraw from him that he may be ashamed, and to lay him aside to be dealt withall when the Lord Iesus Christ shall come, Which sen∣tence is nothing but a declaration of that which the sinner is, before he be judicialy sentenced by the Church.

Yet it is to be noted that this casting out of the Church, is not absolute save as touching external rights and priveledges of the Church, from which Excommunication fully keeps him, but as touching internall right he hath unto the same it is only conditional, that is upon his persisting in his errour, and there∣fore if the excommunicate will leave his wicked deeds, confess his sin, be reconciled to the Church whom he hath offended, signifying this to his minister, he is again to be restored to all the rights and ordinances of the Church, and to be absolved from that sentence passed upon him, that Satan geat no ad∣vantage over him, or left he be swallowed up of too much sor∣row, 2 Cor. 2.7.

The sinnes for which the sinner hath this sentence of Excom∣munication passed on him are not alike in all Churches, for according to the laws and orders established in severall Church∣es, crimes, sins and offences may be different, according to the Constitutions of those Churches, that is of those offences which are made against the laws in those places commanded for the honour of the Church though not directly required by the law of God.

SECT. IV.

• Quest. 1. Whether the Reformed Churches, are legally excommu∣nicated by the Pope.
• Quest. 2. Whether Kings ought or can be Excommuni∣cated.
• Quest. 3. Whether excommunication debarres from all society of the Church.

Quest. 1. Whether the reformed Churches are legally excommunicated by the Pope.

The Bishop of Rome in regard of the separation made from him, by the professors of the religion called the Reformed, hath passed his sentence of excommunication, upon them as Heretical but unjustly. Fo••;

• 1 They are not Hereticks but Orthodox professors] they have left that upon which their souls could have no sure hold. There is no point that ever Christ taught, or the Apostles preched, or the primitive Church knew that is denied by the reformed.
• 2 He hath no power to exclude them out of the Church, who himself is scarce a member of it] he is in the Church only as Antichrist in the temple of God, and in as much as he exalts himself above all that is called God 2 Thes. 2.4. (viz. all Kings and ma••itrates) in which regard in some measure his Church∣ship might be denyed.
• 3 The Church of Rome her self is most hereticall] if that be Heresy, to preach down what God commands, to blot out what he hath written, to adde to what he hath spoken, and dispence with what he hath enjoyned, the Church of Rome can∣not

• be found, they ought first to cast the beame out of their own eyes, and then they can see the better to pull the mote out of ours.
• 4 The Pope or Bishop of Rome hath no authoritative power over the Churches of other countries] The power of excom∣munication ought to proceed from one who hath authority over that Church from which the party is excommunicated▪ now the Pope what ever power as another Bishop he hath in his own Diocesse, there is no power he can in the least lay claim to, over other places. They being by God put under the goverment of others over whom the Pope or Bishop of Rome hath no power, and therefore cannot excommunicate.

Quest. 2. Whether kings ought or can be excom∣municated.

Untill the days of Gregory the seventh Bishop of Rome, the Imperial Crown was never touched with the thunder of excom∣munication, of him it is written, hic primus Imperatorem ex∣communicavit, & potestatem constituendi Imperatorem sibi. arrogavit, and indeed after him it was the usual practise of the Romish Bishops to extinguish the light of Imperial Majesty by disobliging subjects from their duty and allegiance to their lawfull princes by letters of excommunication. Queen Eilz••beth of blessed memory was excommunicated by three Popes successively (viz) by Pius the fifth, Gregory the thirteenth and Septus the fifth, but that is no great wonder; for her Father, Henry the eight was so sentenced before her, with all his prote∣stant Children.

Yet of late, the Popes mouth is something stopped, that he seldome doomes, and his arme in some measure dryed up that he cannot draw out this sword so often as formerly: not because he wants will, but because he wants no wit, knowing that now the world is grown so wise as not to regard his threat∣nings.

* 1.3However there is a generation, known by the name of Pres∣byters, or Guiless whose doctrine joyns to the popes in this, touching the excommunication of Kings.

My ••oul never knew Treason but as our Saviour knew sin, (viz.) by speculation only. I am affrayd to see the word King and the word excommunication stand together; lets alter phrase, and speake of the magistrate, and in our discourse we shall un••e stand the chei•• Magistrate of Genevah, since it is mantained by the Patriarch of that see.

It seemes neither Christian nor rational to bring magistrates under this censure. For,

• 1 Grant that the supreme magistrate might be excommu∣nicated for any cause, we should find him sentenced for no cause. As ••t was a custome of the Bishop of Rome to censure Kings and Emperours at every time he took distate, so these Guisels (as they stand in opposition to Episcopacy haveing passion and spleen as natural to them, as the faculty of breathing) should at the fi••st supposed offence, (and they will ever be offended except they be highest) divest majesty of its grandeur by their citations, irreverent admonitions, and frequent yea causeless Excommunications.
• 2 It may open a doore for Treason, and rebellion and coun∣tenance it by law, to make the supreme magistrate by law no better then a Heathen, and the Christian Governour, no other in his dominion then the gerat Turke in his, may pro∣voke Spirits to attempt that which at this time we will not name.

  They distinguish that they may not be mistaken, that they excommunicate, not the magistrate but ••he Christian (cunning gamesters) may not another say he kills not or rebells not a∣gainst the Prince but an excommunicated person, (cunning executioners) we have seen the sad events of such distincti∣ons, and the ob••erver of them deserves to be civily excom∣municated or banished, or delivered over to the Executioner, rather then he should have any opportunity of performing his desires, or of uttering his mind in this particular; seeing it is so destructive to all peace and order.

• ...

• 3 The Church never could be bettered, by magistrats ex∣communication, this ordinance is appointed for the preserve∣ing of the Church in peace, and for the honour of the Gospel, which ends we may know shall never be obtained by this. How the Excommunications of the Emperour by the Bishops of Rome did make for these ends, both the Emperours and the Popes know; what quarrels, underminings, scandals to religon, would be between the incensed King, and the furious Guisel is easy to be foreseen.
• 4 The arguments brought to defend this Papal practise, are such as have no strength in them. Is it not, think you, a neat knack of a Guisel that he can deliver the magistrate over unto Satan, cast him out of the Church as a rotten member, and all his subjects must be made behold him no better then a meere Heathen, and yet not hurt the magistrate at all, nor rob him of that majesty which officially is in him. The story of King Uz∣ziah is brought in to Justify their practise, mentioned, 2 Chro. 26.18. but when the sequele of that History is ob∣served, they will find it farre different from Judicial ex∣communication; his being cut off from the house of the Lord, was for his leprosie, no leper being admitted thereunto, and indeed by this Instance it is discovered what was said before, for by reason of his naturall leprosie he was not only debar∣red the house of the Lord, but also deposed from his throne, which act, indeed the Pref. might, and we have cause to suspect, would do, when they have judicially excommunicated the magistrates, so that by this meanes they would procure to themselves the power of pulling down one and setting up another. That passage of Ambrose toward the Em∣perour Thedosius is much talked of, but when all parts of it are considered, it was nothing lesse then Pres. Ex∣communication.

That distinction of the Magistrates being but a man, is worthily to be delivered over unto Satan, he is more then a man. We read that he is worth ten thousand m••n, 2. Sam. 18.3. and when in Scripture it can be produced that 2 wicked Saul, and idolattous Iereboam, a Murthe••ous Ma∣nasseth, or ungodly Iehoahaz, undergoing the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the Church of the Iewes they shall have liberty 〈◊〉〈◊〉 against wicked magistrates, the Church of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 otherwise the distinction of good and bad 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a∣mounts to nothing, Saul was a wicked Prince, but we ought to look upon him as the Lords annoynted, and in that re∣gard fear to touch his person, or smite him with the tongues Saul must be untouched because he is King must be reviled, made a Heathen, nay possibly murthered because he is Saul say, rebells. Now which shall we follow God or man.

It is true excommunication is an ordinance of God, so is the shedding of the blood of them who hath shed blood, Gen. 9.6. Why was not Saul put to death then slaying the Lords Priests Kings are in Scripture looked upon with a watchfull, eye by God that none harm them, is not Saul a prophane wretch, a notorious murtherer, one forsaken of God. Yet who can stretch forth there hand against him and be guiltlesse, 2 Sam. 26.9. And though they should deserve stripes, yet they are not to be stricken for equity, Prov. 17.26. for against him there is no rising up. Prov. 30.31. yea who ought to say what doest thou, Eccle. 8.4. not excluding a just reproof or admonition, for so John the Baptist reproved Herod, and Elijah Ahab, and severall o∣thers, but Kings being Gods immediate deputies upon earth who call them in question though rage universal as to punish him for this faults, or correct him for his crimes, who first even the Pope upon the one hand and Guisel upon the other. These two, though at odds between themselves,

yet ever agree, and goe and in hand for the takeing a∣way of that honour annexed by the King of Kings, to his vicegerents upon this inferiour world: before which be done let them goe about day by day and grudge that they be not satisfied.

That distinction of the moderate and rigid Presbyterians may be by this time may come into the readers mind, a distin∣ction that hides many an ugly face, and treacherous heart, possibly the moderate Pre••. will with more gravity, and de∣liberation, pronounce the sentence of excommunication against the chief magistrate, then the other, and comes to it with more sorrow of heart, through the greatnesse of the crime then the other, but yet he will do it, being a princi∣ple with the Pres. (that is the factious one, or the Antiepisco∣pal on, for otherwise Pres. is an honorable title and catholical) as such; and touching the distinction it is as a just one and grounded on nature, there being as great difference be∣twixt these two, as there is between staring and stark mad, the one drives like Iehu furiously, the other like the Spaniard is more grave, stayed, slye and cunning.

Quest. 2. Whether excommunication debarres from all society of the Church

In regard that we are exacted to withdraw our selves from such, and not so much as to eare with them, thi•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 on is not to be passed over, It is said then that ex••o••mu∣nication hinders not.

• 1 The practise of those dut••s that are grounded on the Laws of nature; as the duties of Husbands and Wives, Fa∣thers and Children, Masters and Servants, Princes and People.
• 2 Nor the practise of those dutys that are grounded on the law of nations, as traffique and commerce. An Excommuni∣cated person must be to us as an Heathen, and with these we may have trade.
• 3 Nor the practise of such that are grounded upon the law of Common charity. For we are bound to feed the hungry, cloath the naked, though they be, or should be, as Heathens.
• 4 It debars not but in some cases from the hearing of the word. Unlesse they be scoffers (it being the meanes for conver∣ting of very heathens) they are admitted to it and ought to be exorted to it, but in no other ordinance do they enjoy any so∣ciety with the Church, and in no familiar or unnecessary deal∣ing have we any thing to do with them, but are bound to avoyd them, that they may be ashamed and returne to the Church by repentance, from which they were cast out through ob∣stinacy.

Notes

• * 1.1

  That ad•• monition which re∣spects ex∣communi∣cation must not be for sins of infirmity, but of a deeper dye, and colour.
• * 1.2

  Forma ex∣com ab Imerto Au∣thoriae.
• * 1.3

  The Datch word for a pres. as he is Antiepico∣pall. Gal. Instit. l. 4. c. 12. S. 7.