2. When we teach, that the Pastor or Pastors of every particular Church and Congregation, with the Elders of the same, being met together, have power to bind and loose, we understand this, only of such places wherein a competent number of understanding and qualified men, may be had to make up an Eldership: otherwise let there be one Eldership made up of two or three of the next adjacent Parishes, according as was ordained by the Church of Scotland, in the seventh Chapter of the second book of Discipline. Sine totius, &c. Without the consent of some whole Church saith gZanchius, no man ought to be excommunicate. Yea I add, if it be a small Church, and not consisting of many learned and skilful men, Excommunication ought not to be done, except the neighbour Churches be asked counsel of. And as touching the Pastors part, hCalvin saith well, Nunquam, &c. I never thought it expedient, that the liberty of excommunicating should be permitted to every Pastor. The fear of great inconveniences, which he thought likely to follow upon such a custom, if once it were permitted, makes him profess in that Epistle, that he durst not advise Liserus, to excommunicate any man, without taking counsel of other Pastors. Now I much marvel what Butt iD. Forbesse shot at, when he entitleth one of his Chapters, De potestate Excommunicandi, and then in the body of the Chapter doth no more at all, but only quote those two Testimonies of Zanchius and Calvin: Both of which, do utterly condemn the usurpation of Bishops, who appropriate to themselves the power of Excommunication, & ascribe this power to the Consistory of Pastors and Elders in every particular Church: and in the forequoted places, do only (for preventing of abuses) set some bounds to the execution of their power: which bounds we also think good to be kept, Viz. that if a Church be so small, that it hath not so many well qualified men, as may be sufficient to assist the Pastor in the government thereof, then let one common Eldership be made up out of it, and some other neighbour Churches: By which means it shall moreover come to pass, (which is the other caution to be given) that not every Pastor (no not with the Elders of his Congregation) shall be permitted to have full liberty of binding and loosing, but shall in those matters receive counsel and advice from other Pastors.
2. When we teach, that the Pastor or Pastors of every particular Church and Congregation, with the Elders of the same, being met togither, have power to binde and loose, we understand this, only of such places wherein a competent number of understanding and qualified men, may be had to make up an Eldership: otherwise let there be one Eldership made up of two or three of the next adjacent Parishes, according as was ordained by the Church of Scotland, in the seaventh Chapter of the second booke of Discipline. Sine totius, &c. Without the consent of some whole Church saith gZanchius, no man ought to be excommunicat. Yea I adde, if it be a small Church, and not consisting of many learned and skillfull men, Excommunication ought not to bee done, except the nighbour Churches be asked counsell of. And as touching the Pastors part, hCalvine saith well, Nunquam, &c. I never thought it expedient, that the liberty of excommunicating should be permitted to every Pastor. The feare of great inconveniences, which he thought likely to follow upon such a custome, if once it were permitted, makes him professe in that Epistle, that he durst not advise Liserus, to excommunicate any man, without taking counsell of other Pastors. Now I much marvell what Butt iD. Forbesse shot at, when he entitleth one of his Chapters, De potestate Excommunicandi, and then in the body of the Chapter doth no more at all, but only quote those two Testimonies of Zanchius and Calvine: Both of which, doe utterly condemne the usurpation of Bishops, who appropriat to themselves the power of Excommunication, & ascribe this power to the Consistory of Pastors and Elders in every particular Church: and in the forequotted places, doe only (for preventing of abuses) set some bounds to the execution of their power: which bounds we also think good to be kept, Viz. that if a Church be so small, that it hath not so many well qualified men, as may be sufficient to assist the Pastor in the governement thereof, then let one commone Eldership be made up out of it, and some other nighbour Churches: By which meanes it shall moreover come to passe, (which is the other caution to be given) that not every Pastor (no not with the Elders of his Congregation) shall be permitted to have full liberty of binding and loosing, but shall in those matters receive counsell and advice from other Pastors.
- gIn. 4. praec. col. 756.
- hlib. epistolar. col. 180.
- iIren. lib. 2. cap. 12.
