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

• In the church, if it be well ordered, there shall be seen to be observed a certain order and manner of governance, and such a form of ecclesiastical discipline, that it shall not be free for any that abideth in that flock publicly to speak or do any thing wickedly or in heinous sort without punishment, yea, and so that in that congregation of men, all offences, so far as is pos- sible, be avoided. But this discipline since long time past, by little and little decaying, as the manners of men be corrupt and out of right course, specially of the rich and men of power, which will needs have impunity and most free liberty to sin and do wickedly, this grave manner of looking to them and of chas- tisement can hardly be maintained in churches. Nowell, p. 68.

In churches well ordered and well mannered, there was, as I said before, ordained and kept a certain form and order of govern- ance. There were chosen elders, that is, ecclesiastical magis- trates, to hold and keep the discipline of the Church. To these belonged the authority, looking to, and correction, like censors. These calling to them also the pastor, if they knew any that either with false opinions, or troublesome errors, or vain super- stitions, or with corrupt and wicked life, brought publicly any great offence to the Church of God, and which might not come without profaning the Lord’s supper, did put back such from the communion, and rejected them, and did not admit them again till they had with public penance satisfied the Church. Nowell, p. 115.

We say, that Christ hath given to his ministers power to bind, to loose, to open, to shut. And we say, the office of loosing

• If thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him of his fault between thee and him alone ; if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three every word may be established. And if he shall neg- lect to hear them, tell it unto the church : but if 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 shall be

bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Matt, xviii. IS- IS. It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver such an one unto satan for the de- struction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 1 Cor. v. 1 — 5. I have written unto you not to keep com- pany, if any man that is called a

the church, and excommunicated, b ought to be taken of the whole multitude of the faithful as

consisteth in this point : that the minister, either by the preach- ing of the Gospel, offereth the merits of Christ and full pardon to such as have lowly and contrite hearts, and do unfeignedly repent themselves, pronouncing unto the same a sure and un- doubted forgiveness of their sins, and hope of everlasting sal- vation : or else that the same minister, when any have offended their brothers’ minds with some great offence, or notable and open crime, whereby they have, as it were, banished and made them- selves strangers from the common fellowship, and from the body of Christ, then after perfect amendment of such persons, doth reconcile them, and bring them home again, and restore them to the company and unity of the faithful. We say also that the minister doth execute the authority of binding and shutting, as often as he shutteth up the gate of the kingdom of heaven against unbelieving and stubborn persons, denouncing unto them God’s vengeance and everlasting punishment : or else when he doth quite shut them out from the bosom of the Church by open excommunication. Out of doubt, what sentence soever the minister of God shall give in this sort, God himself doth so well allow it, that whatsoever here in earth by their means is loosed and bound, God himself will loose and bind, and confirm the same in heaven. And touching the keys wherewith they may either shut or open the kingdom of heaven, we with Chry- sostom say, ” They be the knowledge of Scriptures :” with Tertullian we say, ” They be the interpretation of the law :” and with Eusebius we call them, ” The word of God.” We say that the priest indeed is a judge in this case, but yet hath no manner of right to challenge an authority or power, as saith Ambrose. Jewell.

b Q. Ts there then no hope of salvation out of the Church ? A. Out of it can be nothing but damnation, death, and destruc- tion. For what hope of life can remain to the members, when they are pulled asunder and cut off from the head and body ? They, therefore, that seditiously stir up discord in the Church of God, and make division and strife in it, and trouble it with

brother be a fornicator, or covetous, of whom is Hymencus and Alexan-

or an idolater, or a railer, or a der; whom I have delivered unto

drunkard, or an extortioner ; with Satan, that they may learn not to

such an one no not to eat. There- blaspheme. 1 Tim. i. 20.

fore put away from among- your- b Now I beseech you, brethren,

selves that wicked person. 1 Cor. mark them which cause divisions

v. 11, 13. Them that sin rebuke and offences contrary to the doc-

before all, that others also may fear, trine which ye have learned ; and

1 Tim. v. 20. Which some having avoid them. Rom. xvi. 17. If any

put away, (a good conscience) con- man obey not our word by this

cerning faith have made shipwreck i epistle, note that man, and have no

an heathen and publican, c until he be openly re- conciled by penance, and received into the Church by a judge that hath authority thereunto.

sects, (factionibus,) have all hope of safety by forgiveness of sins cut off from them, till they be reconciled, and return to agree- ment and favour with the Church. Nowell, p. 09.

company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not an enemy, but admonish him as a bro- ther. 2 Thess. iii. 14, 15. A man that is an heretic, after the first and second admonition, reject j know- ing1 that he that is such is sub- verted, and sinueth, being con- demned of himself. Tit. iii. 10, 11.

c Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. So that contrariwise ye

ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him. For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also. 2 Cor. ii. 6—10.

i b