Anonymous on Article XXXIII: Of Excommunicate Persons, how they are to be avoided

E. VERY Society challenges a Right to expel their own Mem- 4 bers, when Necessity so requires ; that the rest may be secured in their Duty, and — from the Contagion of bad Examples. And the Church of Christ hath that inherent Power, to admonish, censure, and expel any Christian that behaves himself contumaciously, contrary to the Laws of Christ. This Power is settled by our Lord upon the Governors of it, and is to be used for Edification and Peace. St. Paul, who as an Apostle , was invested with it, under- standing, that one amongst the Corinthians had committed Incest, in having his Father’s Wife, looked upon the Crime to be so scandalous and dangerous, that he judged it necessary, in the Name of God, of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in his Spirit and Power, To deliver such an one unto Satan koꝛ the Destruction of the Flesh, _ the Spirit may be saved in the Day of the Loꝛd Je- Which shews the Foundation that the Thirty Third Article is

grounded upon, which says, * The Person, which by open Denun- ciation of the Church, is rightly cut off from. the Unity of the 4 Church, and excommunicated, ought to be taken of the whole Multitude of the Faithful, as an Heathen and Publican ; until he be openly reconciled by Penance, and received into the Church þy a Judge, that hath Authority thereunto ”, _

I. There is a cutting off from the Unity of the Church by Ex- communication. |

II. When this is pronounced, or the Person is so cut off from the Church, he ought to be look’d upon by the whole Multitude of Christians, as an Heathen and Publican.

III. Though he is fo cut off, there is some Hope left; for upon

his Repentance, he may Berestor’d and receiv’d into the Church,

and his Spirit may be saved in the Day of the Lord.

I. There is a cutting off from the Unity of the Church, by Ex- communication; which that it may be rightly done, we must con- sider the Persons that are liable to be so severely punished, the Me-

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thod of Proceeding in it, whilst there is Hope left of Recovery; Article. and when Obstinacy does make such Severity necessary. XXXIII.

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1. The Persons, that are liable to be so severely punished, are such as are guilty of great Crimes, and either err from the Faith, or allow of scandalous Practices.

First, Such as err from the Faith, and depart from that Form of

found Words, once delivered to the Saints, and not contented with the plain Truths of Christianity, presume to maintain such Doctrines as are contrary to the Gospel : Such are liable to be censur’d ; and if they continue obstinate, to be cut off from the Society of Chri- stians by Excommunication. For they publish Opinions that are not consistent with Salvation, and maintain Principles that are dam- nable ; and for this Reason it 1s better to expel them from the Church, that they may learn not to blaspheme, than to permit them to spread

their Contagion amongst the Faithful, and to endanger others. The Apostles thought it neceflary in their Time to censure those © that

« denied the Father; that said the Resurrection was already past ; „ that brought in damnable Heresies, denying the Lord that bought „ them”. And in Imitation of them, the Church, when she sees

Cause, may exercise the same Power, in censuring and excommuni-

\ cating those, whose Principles are not sound and agreeable to the Truth as it is in Jesus. For we are as much obliged to keep steddily * to the Faith ance delivered unto the Saints, as to lead Holy and « Exemplary Lives”. Holding Faith, and a good Conscience, which

some having put away, concerning Faith have made Shipwreck ;, of 29.

whom is Hymeneus and Alexander, whom I have delivered unto Sa- tan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

Secondly, Such as allow of scandalous Practices, and are guilty of heinous Sins, are obnoxious to be thus severely handled. For the Church must not only guard the Faith, but the Conversations of

1 Tim. 1. 19,

_ Christians : And if any in her Communion live in open Violation

of the Laws of Christ, and hate tobe reform’d, they lie open to be cut off from Christ, and she may proceed to Excommunication : For Christians are bound to live as God commands, and may as well be punished for the Transgression of the Laws of Christ, às for a De- parture from the Faith; there being as much Danger in a vicious Conversation, as in corrupt Principles, and as much Hurt in scanda- lous Vice, as in Heretical Opinions; for Christians may be damned for being wicked and sensual, unclean and impious ;as much as for being Lovers of vain. Opinions, and Admirers of false Doctrine. The Reputa-

tion of Christianity. is thereby obscur’d, the Flock expos’d to Hazards,

and the Name of Christ blasphemed: And therefore when St. Paul heard of the bold and intolerable Behaviour of the incestuous Corin- thian, he made no Scruple to deliver him to Satan ; as knowing that a wicked Life was equally dangerous, as a corrupt Faith: And he was very much concern’d, that the Congregation was no more affe- ted with the Sense of that abeminable Sin, and took no Care to

hum-

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An EXPOSITION of the

Article

1 Cor. 3. 2.

humble themselves for it, in order to prevent the Mischief it would otherwise bring after it. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this Deed might be taken away from among you, The Persons then that may be rightly excommunicated, are such as corrupt the Faith and Morals of Christians.

2. When the Persons that deserve this Severity, are found out, we are directed by our Lord to proceed with great Wariness, Consi- deration, and Charity; that the Person may not be surpriz’d with the

Censures of the Church, or precipitated or hastened into Ruin b

unadvised Proceedings. Such therefore are to be admonished pri- vately with a great deal of Love, to be rebuked with all Gentleness

and Goodness, that if Kindness can work upon them, they may be reclaimed without Excommunication. |

First, When any fall into scandalous Errors or Crimes, the Go- vernors of the Church, or private Persons, are to admonish them

_ privately of their Error or Sin, and to direct them better. And this

is to be done twice or oftner, at several Times, that the offending

Party may have Opportunity to recollect himself, to consider how

true the Accusation is, and how reasonable the Admonition and Ad- vice. And if he out-faces this private and friendly Reproof, we

may take Two or Three with us the next Time, and admonish him

before Witnesses, that he may have nothing to say in his own De-

fence, but may be self: condemned, when such plain Things in the

Presence of his Brethren are laid to his Charge, and prov’d upon

him. Our Lord enjoins us to use this private and free Admonition ,

b Matt 18-15,

that if there be any Modesty and Shame left in the Offender, he may come to himself, before any farther Steps are taken. If thy Brother shall trespass against thee, go, and tell him his Fault between thee and him alone; if be shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy Bro- ther : But i be will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the Mouth of two or three Witnesses, every Word may

be established.

Secondly, All this is to be transacted with a great deal of Gentleness and Goodness, that the Offender may not be en-

raged by Reflections and Provocations ; but may fee that ye

aim at his Safety and Welfare, and say no more than what is true, with brotherly Love and Affection. This recommends an Admoni- tion to his calmer ‘Thoughts, applies a Reproof with Kindness, and launces the Tumour with the sincerest Goodness : And if the Heart

1s not hardened, and the Man is not too far gone in his Error or Sin,

may soonest work upon him, shew him his Mistake, and bring him to à sound Mind. For Love softens all those Expressions, which

otherwise might inflame ; and Meekness and Gentleness wins upon

the Man : So that he knows not how to take that unkindly, which comes with so much Temper and Affection. We may be the sooner induc’d to be thus careful and good natured in our Admonitions, if we consider, that the Offender is a Brother, one for whom Christ

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died, who 1s appointed to be an Heir of Salvation, and who by such good, courteous, and affe&ionate Usage, may be brought back to his Duty, to his Lord’s Favour, and to the Hope of Glory. I/ any Man obey not our Word by this Episile, note that Man, and bave no Company with him, that he may be « cr , Yet count him not as an Enemy, but admonish him as a Brother.

Thirdly, If this kind Application makes no Impression, then we may make it . Publick ; acquaint the whole Congregation with it, tell it to the Church, and leave it to the Governors thereof, to ad- monish, censure, or punish, as they shall judge best, as the Case may require, and our Allegations prove necessary. Our Lord ex- pressly f Ss, If he negle& to hear (before Witnesses), then tell it * unto the Church. The Cafe then lies fairly before the proper Judges, who are the Governors; who thereupon, after a full and impartial Hearing of the Evidence, have Authority to rebuke him before all, and to proceed, if he continue obstinate, to Excomniu- nication. Thus St. Paul dire&s Timothy to deal with notorious Sin- ners ; and as Timothy was a Bishop and Governor of the Church, other Bishops are obliged to imitate him. Them that fin, rebuke „before all, that others also may fear. And if this makes no Impression, and does not succeed, the Offender is to be excommuni- cated. First, he is to be barred from the Communion of the Church; and if still he continues refractory, he is next to be de- livered unto Satan, and to be cut off from the Unity of the Church, from Christ the Head, and is to be consign’d over to the Power of Satan, as if he was no longer under the Protection of Jesus. This was the Practice of the Primitive Church, when God was pleas’d, in a miraculous Manner, to concur with the just Censures of it: For he withdrew his Prote&ion from those that were Excommunicated, and the Devil took visible Possession of them, and tormented their Bodies with noisome Diseases, to the Destruction of the Flesh, © that < the Spirit might be saved in the Day of the Lord”. But since it hath pleased him to withdraw his miraculous Concurrence with the Censures of the Church, the Secular Powers have been made use of in punishing those that are under Excommunication ; for still the Obligation is upon us. Put away from your selves that wicked Per-

son.

an Heathen or Publican, as cast out from the Society of Christians, and fallen back into his State of Nature, and having at present no more Right to, or Interest in the Mercies of the Gospel, than an Heathen or Publican. If indeed he is not rightly cut off, and an unjust Sentence is pronounc’d upon him , he loses not the F avour of God in Christ, but only the Communion with Christian Society, which expelled him; and he must in Meekness and Patience refer the Cognizance of his Case to the Great Day, when the just Judge will rectify all the Mistakes of fallible Men. But if there is no Mistake in the Censure, and the Keys were duly employ’d in shutting him

A - […] out,

II. When any Person is so cut off, he ought to be look d upon as

Article — 2 Thel. 3.

14, 15.

1 Tim, 5. 20.

1 Cor. 5. 13.

224 An EXPOSITION if the

Article

Matt. 18. 17,

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out, he is without ali doubt to be accounted as an Heathen or Pub- lican. But because we know not the Hearts of Men, and cannot be so well assured, that there was no Error in the Excommunication, we must acquiesce in the Judgment of the Church, as we are private Men, and count him as a: Heathen or a Publican, till he hath: made his Peace by an unfeigned Repentance and Reformation, and given good Proof of his Sincerity therein. F he neglect to hear the Church, let him be unto thee as an heathen Man, and a Publican. Verily, I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall bind on Earth, sball be bound in Heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on Earth, shall be loosed in Heaven. | f

III. Though he be thus cut off, there is some Hope left for him; upon his Repentance he may be restored and received into the Church, by a Judge that hath Authority thereunto.

1. He may be reconciled by Penance, or by true Repentance, which the Penance he is to perform, is to testify and manifest to the Church. Not that any Fenance’can satisfy God for Sin committed,

or merit Forgiveness, or a Pardon: For the whole Life spent in Sor-

row and Lamentation; is too little, and insufficient to purchase such an Advantage; but Penance is enjoined for the Punishment and Cor- re&ion of the Sinner, that he may smart for what he hath done, and be more careful for the future ; for the Terror of others, who lock on, that they may shun such heinous: Sins, and keep themselves upright before God ; and for the Satisfaction of the Church; that good Proof may be given to her, of Humiliation and Amendment. And it was for this Reason that the Primitive Church enjoin’d Fast- ing and Prayer, and would not allow the Excommunicate to approach their Holy Service, till they had gone through the Task, which

was set them for their Trial. And however of late, whether by ill

Management, or ill Principle, Excommunication is despised, and those that are cut off by it, cast Contempt upon it; It was usual in those Days for them to wait at the Church Doors, with dejected Looks, and sorrowful Hearts, with Sighs and Tears, with Prayers and Entreaties, that they might be admitted to the Peace of the

Church, and enjoy the Blessings of its Communion: And we can expect no general Reformation, till Men are sensible of God’s Wrath for Sin, and the Advantage of mutual Prayers, to procure the Par-

don of it; till they dread the Cenfures of the Church, and esteem

de reconciled unto God; till they o

1 Tim. 5. 17.

their Reconciliation with it, the 245 nary Step that can be taken, to ey them that are ser over them

in the Lord, as those that watch for their Souls, and must give an Account. Were this Christian Temper revived, Excommunication managed with Care, and the Censures of the Church reverenced, we might fee Religion prosper, and Heresy and Sin retreat with Con- fusion and Shame. Let the Elders that rule well; be counted worthy o double Honour, especially they who labour in the Word and Do- rine. ä «pl eee | oh

2. He

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2. He may be restored and received into the Church, by a Judge Article that hath Authority thereunto, who is to absolve him, and admit XXXIII. him to Communion with it. This Judge, according to Primitive wv — Christianity, is the Bishop of every Diocese, or his Official in Holy Orders authoriz’d and intrusted by him to do it. As the People have no Power to excommunicate, they can have no Power to ab- solve : The Authority to bind and loose, to cast out of the Church, and to receive into it, was not given unto them, nor exercised b them. It was to the Apostles that our Lord said, **Whosesoever Sins < yeremit, they are remitted ; and whosesoever Sins ye retain, they « are retained ”” : And no other than their Successors, the Bishops

and Presbyters of the Church, can succeed them in that Power, or exercise it aright, Our Church therefore proceeds upon the best and safest Grounds in this great and weighty Concern, and hath the + Concurrence of Scripture and Antiquity to warrant that Excommu- nication she rightly pronounces, or that Absolution which she gives, And if Excommunication was as solemnly managed, with as much Caution and Care, as we have Truth to maintain the Reality of it; if when Necessity requires, that tremendous Sentence was pronounc’d by proper Persons, upon scandalous and notorious Offenders ; if it never was employ’d to gratify Revenge, to humour passionate Resent- ments, or to give Uneasiness to the truly Pious upon slight and trivial Occasions ; if the worst of Principles were always censured by it, and the worst of Vices condemned, it might rife in its Reputation once more, recover its Terrors, and we our selves should not lie fo much exposed to the Obloquy and Reproach of our Enemies: And as it was fo solemn at first, that nothing but a frivolous Use of it could bring it into Contempt; it 1s in it self so solemn still in the Opi- mon of the Learned and truly Christian, that nothing but the so- lemn Application of it, can rescue it from Slight, retrieve its Ho- nour, and restore it once more to be the Terrible Denunciation of Wrath and Judgment. The Grant 1s very great, which our Lord | after his Resurrection, confirms to the Apostles ; Whosesvever Sins ye Joh. 20. 23. remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosesoever Sins ye retain, _ They are retained. 8 þ |

From this Discourse I must tell you, That the Dissenters subscribe this Article. That if their Abuse of the Power does not scandalize them, why should the same, if abused, (as is pretended) scandalize us? That it is pity the notorious Sinners, when excommunicated,

were not look’d upon as Publicans and Sinners; and that if we do well, there is no Danger of Excommunication, or of the Loss of the Favour of God, e |

1. The Dissenters subscribe this Article, and acknowledge the Truth of it. So that it is not the Power they deny, but the Church, and the Persons that use it. For all of them in their Places own Ex-

communication, as consistent with the Laws of the Gospel, and pro- per for the Preservation of the Church, and use it in their several Fraternities, as they see Occasion. So that by their Confession, we are no Criminals in owning of the rows, but in challenging it. But A i

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Rom. 13. 3.

Rom. 13. 4.

1 Pet. 2. 15.

Failings amongst us, as they do amongst themselves. But if after

all, it is found that our Church is the most primitive, the Power de- volves solely upon us; they usurp in challenging it, and do worse in using it, and the Power they own by Subscription, will arise against them. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the Power > do that which is good, and thou shalt have Praise of the same. © | FT

2. It is pity that when notorious Sinners are Excommunicated by us, they are not looked upon (as our Saviour/ commands) as Hea- thens and Publicans, For if they were snunn’d by all, they might the sooner be reclaimed : But we shew no Dislike to them, but rather en-

courage them to despise the Excommunication ; for we live amongst those that are as obnoxious, upon the Account of corrupt Principles,

to be excommunicated, as others for a wicked Life: And fome are content, that the Censure may be vilified, that they may flight it when under it. There seems to be an Agreement in Sentiments and Opinions, in running down the Danger of an Excommunication, and exposing of those that use it; that all Sorts may get beyond the Dread of it, laugh at it in their Turns, and tread the Power of the Church under Foot. But though this may be done with Con-

Tent, to lessen the Power of the Keys, tis pity that scandalous Prin-

ciples and Practices under that Judgment, were not abhorr’d, and

their Persons shunn’d, that Virtue and Truth may be kept up in Re putation, and Vice punished. For in the End the sad Effects of In-

demnity will be felt, when it will be perhaps beyond our Power to-

prevent them. For the Magistrate © is h Mimfler of God, a Re- venger to execute Wrath upon him that doth evil, 1

3. If we profess the Truth and do good, we need not fear any Ex-

communication. For it reaches not any that are in their Duty, and

can in Reason affect none that hold the Faith and lead Holy Lives. If we therefore take heed to our Hearts and Lives, the Power of the Church will rather encourage than mjure us, rather strengthen and support us, than frighten us. We need not then be concerned at Ex-

communications, but take Care we never deserve them. For so is the

Will of God, that with well. doing ye may put to silence the Ignorance of foolish Men: as free; and not using your Liberty for a Cloak of Maliciousness, bit as the Servants of God. e

ARTt-

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