Cut it down. But how? How can the Minister be said to cut down a barren soul? Some may conceive here a reference to Excommunication: Whether the Greater, which deprives a man of all benefit by the Churches public Prayers, and the Society of Christians. 1Which St. Paul calls, Trader Satana, to deliver unto Satan: so himself Excommunicated Hymencus and Alexander, 2delivering them unto Satan: a miserable condition, to be subjected to a slave, to a dog, a drudge; but then especially fearful, when God grants unto Satan a Writ or faculty, Pro excommunicato cap•endo. The ignominy of ignominy; besides the peril: For as Christ protecteth all the Trees in his Vineyard; so if any be transplanted to the wild desert, they are under the god of this world. Or the Less; which is indeed, no other properly, then an Act of the Churches Discipline, whereby she corrects her unruly children: that smarting with the absence of wonted comforts, they may be humbled by repentance, and so recover their pristine state. This censure may be either too cruel, ⟨p. 43⟩or to trivial. 3The Church of Rome grants Excommunications for things lost: a man hath lost his horse, he may have an Excommunication against him that detains him: so the Father may hap to Excommunicate his own Son, and for the body of a Jade, hazard the soul of his Child. Yea, which is worse, they publish Excommunications for sins not yet committed: The Lord of a Manor hath set a row of young Elms, he may have an Excommunication against all those that shall do them any harm. This is to hang a man, before he hath done the fact that deserves it. These in rite, forceless, bugbear Excommunications, the ridiculous affordments of a mercenary Power, are not unlike those old night spells, which blind people had from mongrel Witches, to set about their Orchards and Houses, antidotes and charms against thieving; wherein distrusting the providence of God, they made themselves beholding to the Devil for safety. Creditors, that would be paid in their moneys, may procure an Excommunication against their Debtors, if they pay not by such a day. This were an excellent project for you Citizens, a rounder course then arrests and tedious trials at Law. But it is to be doubted, that your Debtors would fear the Popes Parchment less then the Scriveners, and an ⟨p. 44⟩Excommunication far less then an Outlawry.
Cut it downe. But how? How can the Minister be said to cut downe a barren soule? Some may conceiue here a reference to Excommunication: Whether the Greater, which depriues a man of all benefit by the Churches publike Prayers, and the Societie of Christians. 1Which St. Paul calls, Tradere Satana, to deliuer vnto Satan: so himselfe Excommunicated Hymencus and Alexander, 2deliuering them vnto Satan: a miserable condition, to be subiected to a slaue, to a dogge, a drudge; but then especially fearefull, when God grants vnto Satan a Writ or facultie, Pro excommunicato cap•endo. The ignominy of ignominy; besides the perill: For as Christ protecteth all the Trees in his Vineyard; so if any be transplanted to the wilde desart, they are vnder the god of this world. Or the Lesse; which is indeed, no other properly, then an Act of the Churches Discipline, whereby she corrects her vnruly children: that smarting with the absence of wonted comforts, they may be humbled by repentance, and so recouer their pristine state. This censure may bee either too cruell, ⟨p. 43⟩or to triuial. 3The Church of Rome grants Excommunications for things lost: a man hath lost his horse, he may haue an Excommunication against him that detaines him: so the Father may hap to Excommunicate his owne Sonne, and for the body of a Iade, hazard the soule of his Child. Yea, which is worse, they publish Excommunications for sinnes not yet committed: The Lord of a Mannor hath set a rowe of young Elmes, he may haue an Excommunication against all those that shall do them any harme. This is to hang a man, before he hath done the fact that deferues it. These in rite, forcelesse, bugbeare Excommunications, the ridiculous affordments of a mercenary Power, are not vnlike those old night spels, which blind people had from mungrel Witches, to set about their Orchards and Houses, antidotes and charmes against theeuing; wherein distrusting the prouidence of God, they made themselues beholding to the Diuell for safetie. Creditors, that would bee paid in their moneys, may procure an Excommunication against their Debtors, if they pay not by such a day. This were an excellent proiect for you Citizens, a rounder course then arrests and tedious trialls at Law. But it is to bee doubted, that your Debtors would feare the Popes Parchment lesse then the Scriueners, and an ⟨p. 44⟩Excommunication farre lesse then an Outlary.
- 11 Cor. 5.
- 21. Tim. 1.20.
- 3Approved by the Counc. of Trent. Sess 26.Approued by the Counc. of Trent. Sess 26.
