A treatise of the nature of a minister in all its offices to which is annexed an answer to Doctor Forbes concerning the necessity of bishops to ordain, which is an answer to a question, proposed in these late unhappy times, to the author, What is a minister?

SECT. II. How Excommunication doth extirpate Bap∣tisme.

I Apply my self then to the first Instance of an Excommunica∣ted man, in which case I would have wished he had brought some reasons to have proved they were not of the Church; but he not doing it, I will undertake the question against such Oppo∣sition as I can find elsewhere. The Question is, whether an Excommunicate man be a visible member of Christs visible Church? I put the Terms as strict as I can, because I will avoid all future Cavilling, and I answer affirmatively, he is; he brings no proof to the contrary: So we are upon even Terms, if I should say no more, only the difference will be in the Autho∣rity of the Speaker, in which I think he will prevail; and there∣fore I will examine it by reason, and as well as I can satisfie the Objections made by some Jesuites against it.

To understand this: Consider that any part continues so long a member of its body, as it is united to it, and so long it is united to it, as it can receive influence from the head, and be active and operative in its proper works, by the fountains and originals of those motions, assisted any way, by any outward applications or inward medicines; the members of a mans body (as it haps out in some Palsies) may be utterly unactive, so that they can∣not stirre or move, no not feel or be sensible of any hurt, and yet these parts remain members of the body still, and it may be by Physicians directions be restored to former vivacity, and be quickened by spirits as before coming from the same foun∣tain, and this is a Sign it is a member still of this body. That which is a member of another body, canot by any Act be made a member of this, nor that which is an entire body of it self; so that when physick can restore a member, though it appear to our Senses never so dead, yet it is still a mem∣ber.

Again, Consider for the other Term of distinction, That if a baptized man though excommunicate be a member by his

Baptism, he is likewise a visible member by the same Baptism, for Baptism is a visible sign of the Effect it produceth, and is as visible in the Excommunicated man, as in him that Communi∣cates.

Thirdly, Consider that many parts of the body are by ob∣structions hindred from that influence of blood and spirits which would enable them to do their duties, which yet, that obstructi∣on removed, hold the same Commerce and Society, with giving and receiving mutual correspondence in their several offices a∣gain with both head and members. These things premised, as I think apparent Truth, I now addresse my self to the bu∣sinesse.