Institutions of Christian religion framed out of Gods word, and the writings of the best diuines, methodically handled by questions and answers, fit for all such as desire to know, or practise the will of God. Written in Latin by William Bucanus Professor of Diuinitie in the Vniuersitie of Lausanna. And published in English by Robert Hill, Bachelor in Diuinitie, and Fellow of Saint Iohns Colledge in Cambridge, for the benefit of our English nation, to which is added in the end the practise of papists against Protestant princes.

What is the scope and end of excommunication?

1. That wicked men bee corrected, scandals be taken away, and the Church kept pure, as it is when the Sacraments, so farre as pos∣sibly may bee, remaine vndefiled, and it is not defamed by the contumelie of God, and the offence of many, as if it were a re∣ceptacle of vncleane persons.c 1.1

2. That no contagion bee deriued to other citizens of the Church: for as it is commonly said;

Morbida facta pecus totum corrumpit ••uile, Ne perdat reliquas, est separanda grege. One scabbed sheepe infects the rest, Such to remoue I thinke it best.

And a little leuen doth leuen the whole lumpe. 1. Cor: 5.6. Gal. 5.9.

3. That the partie excommunicated being, at the least some∣what ashamed, may returne home againe, repent, and desist from

euill, and to be saued. This Paule calleth, to deliuer to Sathan for the mortification of the flesh, that his soule may bee safe, that is this punishment being inflicted on him, such sorrow and contrition, such a remorse & shame being begun in him, that the flesh or old man, which led him headlong into this sin may be tamed, cruci∣fied, and killed: and the soule, that is the inward man, or new man which altogether seemed to yeeld in the combate, may reuiue, raise vp it selfe, goe on and increase, and so bee saued: that so the sinne may die and the man may liue, saith Augustine, Sermon 32. v∣pon the words of the Apostlea 1.2; according to the prouerbe, after correction insumeth amendmentb 1.3: and so hee that repenteth may be saued, as it is expounded 2. Tim. 2.25. 26. that hee recouering soundnesse of iudgement, may passe out of the Diuels snare, wherein hee was captiuated and 1. Pet. 4. that his flesh beeing mor∣tified, hee may liue vnto God, that is in spirit, and may dy to sinne, and liue to righteousnesse.

4. That other citizens of the Church may feare, and be kept in order.

5. That the punishments which for the sinnes of the Church are threatned by God, may be auoided.

Notes

• c 1.1

  Mat. 7, 6 Rom. 2.2.••4 1 Cor. 5, 12
• a 1.2

  1 Cor. 5.5 1 Tim. 1.20,
• b 1.3

  2 Thess. 3, 14,