Chap. XXXVI. Point XXXIII. Of the Excommunication of the three last Canons.
THe quality of the rest of the Canons resolve me, that it is unlawful for me, if commanded, to publish an Ex∣communication against any upon the three last.
What ••e the three last?
The 139th is [
Whosoever shall hereafter affirm, that the Sacred Synod of this Nation in the Name of Christ, and by the King's Authority assembled, is not the true Church of Eng∣land by Representation, let him be Excommunicate, and not restored till he repent and publickly revoke this his wicked Error.
What fault can you find with this?
1. No Man can tell what is the Church representative, till they know which is the Church real. And this they tell us not, either as to Matter or Form. 1. Whether the Church real be only the Clergy, or also the Laity? Whether the King and Par∣liament, Nobles, Gentry and Commons, be all Represented in the Convocation? If yea, by what Law or Power? And may we say that King and Parliament do what these do? What need they then after to confirm their Canons? And they that hold the Church Laws bind in Conscience as such before King and Parlia∣ment confirm them, will bring King and Parliament under their Obedience, if not Excommunication. But if they pretend not to represent the King and Laity, they falsly exclude them from being part of the Church.
2. They are utterly disagreed de Forma what the Church of England is: either it hath an Ecclesiastical constitutive Soveraign