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.

XLVII.

Therefore this command doth not belong un∣to all men say ye, but to them that live under an impious Magistrate. I answer, That the first part thereof to use means to be reconcil'd before they come before a Judge, doth belong to all Christians: but the last part thereof hath only power, when godly men live under a Magistrate that is no Christian; therefore the Apostle Paul likewise exhorts the Corinthians, that they would choose some amongst themselves, which should deside their controversies, lest they should be compel'd to go to suit before a prophane Magi∣strate: who doubteth but that it was lawfull for the Corinthians, if there were any, who would not stand to the Sentence of these Arbitrators, or of the injurious persons was nothing better for their Sentence, at last to come to the Roman and Heathen Magistrates? indeed Paul when he saw himself unjustly pressed with the Jews, did appeal to Caesar, Acts 25. which fact he did declare, Acts the last, that he might excuse himself to the Jews that lived at Rome: He shall understand and see all these things more clearly and plainly, that will take the pains to conferre diligently, Lev. 19. Eccles. 9. and 1 Cor. 6. with this Chapter of Mat∣thew,

and he shall observe how fittle all things shall answer one another: chiefly he that shall intentively marke the words of Paul and Christ concerning the last part, which because they had not place under Moses and the Ecclesiasticks, be∣cause the Jews then did not so obey any former Prince as they did afterwards the Romans, there∣fore these men were deservedly omitted by both.