The nullity of church-censures: or A dispute written by that illustrious philosopher, expert physician, and pious divine Dr Thomas Erastus, publick professor in the University of Heidelbertge, and Basil. Wherein is proved by the holy Scriptures, and sound reason; that excommunication, and church-senates or members, exercising the same, are not of divine institution; but a meere humane invention.

XVII.

I answer, first, That indeed it is very unlike∣ly, that God should command any thing in clear words, and yet at the same time should again forbid the same figuratively. He commandeth clearly in a mandate sometimes repeated, that every Male (except these that were unclean, and were on the way) should celebrate the Passover. He would not then by the figure of Leaven af∣fright any others therefrom. There were then enough of evill Men present, that it was not need∣full they should be figured by Leaven. Neither did the wicked Men less appear to the senses, then Leaven it self. Wherefore seeing figures are not propos'd of those things that are present, and that as fully represented themselves to the senses, (chiefly if the things figured be more known and frequent them the figures themselves) a figure here is sought after in vain. Again, Moses doth not command him to be debarr'd the eating of the

Paschall, that had eate Leaven: but command∣eth him to be killed. Wherefore wicked men are not to be debarr'd from the Supper, but are to be put to death: which consequence I shall not unfreely admit: and I heartily wish it may be done: for I desire nothing more, then that a most severe Discipline concerning manners may be observed in the Church: but I would wish it such as God hath appointed, and not Man fained. Thirdly, It was lawfull for the Jews to eat Lea∣ven all the year over, except on these seaven daies of Unleavened-Bread which they begin with eat∣ing of the Passover. If you do apply this unto the Lords Supper, you must concede, that men may live impurely all the year long; only they must abstaine from wickedness, in the time of celebra∣tion of the Lords Supper. Fourthly, Moses speaketh here only of the Paschall, not of the o∣ther Sacraments. Then wicked men should be debarred only from the Lords Supper, but not from Baptism. Fifthly, The Apostle doth not compare the Feast of the Jews with the Supper of the Lord, but with our whole life. He saith we are Unleavened, as being men which are throw∣ly purged from all Leaven by the Blood of Christ. Therefore he saith it is fitting, that we should live in the Unleaven of truth and sincerity, and not in the Leaven of malice. There is a vast dif∣ference betwixt Leaven simply so termed: and the Leaven of malice or verity; for Leaven be∣ing so put or taken, is known by all to be figura∣tively taken. The Analogick or figurative sense, as the School-Men affirm, is not Argumentative.

Certainly whatsoever we shall understand by Leaven, yet Excommunication cannot hence be held up and established against the clear com∣mand of God.