In deed the Church of Rome, as it hath lost the whole use of the holy Communion, so hath it also lost the whole use of Excommunication. For these two words be of contrary natures, and the one of them hath his name of the loosing of the other. In the primitive Church as all the Godly were freely received to the holy Mysteries, so by the authority of the Spirit of God, the apparent wicked and ungodly were removed, and that with great discretion, according to the enormity & quality of the faults: as it is specially noted by Gregorius Naeocaesariensis 1in a Canon touching the same. The greatest offenders were utterly excluded from the Congregation,2 as men not meet to be in the company of the godly. Others were suffered to enter into the temple,3 and to hear the Sermon, but at the beginning of the prayers they were removed, as men not meet to pray with their brethren. Others were suffered to be present at the prayers,4 but at the beginning of the Communion were willed to depart. The rest were the godly that remained still, and heard the Sermon, and continued in prayer, and received the holy Mysteries altogether.5 The order hereof is declared by Cassiodorus out of Socrates. Stant rei, & velut in lamentationibus constituti: & cùm sacra celebratio fuerit adimpleta, Communionem non percipiunt. They stand woefully, and as it were men in lamentation, and in heaviness: and when the holy celebration is ended, they receive not the Communion. It followeth, Constituto verò tempore, velut quoddam debitum exoluentes, cum populo Communionem participant, At the time appointed, as if they had discharged a certain debt, they Communicate together with the people. Thus the ⟨p. 39⟩offenders were put from the Communion, and all the rest received together.6 And therefore it is decreed by the Canons of the Apostles,7 That all Faithful that enter into the Church, and hear the Scriptures, and do not continue out the Prayers, nor receive the Communion, should be excommunicate, as men working the trouble and disorder of the Church. And the people said unto Timotheus being a Bishop of the Arians, and nevertheless a man of mild and gentle nature, and shunning his company for the one, and yet loving him for the other: Although we Communicate not with thee, yet we love thee notwithstanding.
In déede the Churche of Rome, as it hath lost the whole vse of the holy Communion, so hath it also lost ye whole vse of Excommunication. For these twoo woordes be of contrary natures, and the one of them hath his name of the loosinge of the other. In the primitiue Churche as al the Godly were fréely receiued to the holy Mysteries, so by the authoritie of the Spirite of God, the apparent wicked and vngodly were remoued, and that with great discretion, accordinge to the enormitie & qualitie of the faultes: as it is specially noted by Gregorius Naeocaesariensis 1in a Canon touchynge the same. The greatest offenders were vtterly excluded from the Congregation,2 as men not méete to be in the company of the godly. Others were suffred to enter into the temple,3 and to heare the Sermon, but at the beginninge of the praiers they were remoued, as men not méete to praie with their bretherne. Others were suffred to be present at the praiers,4 but at the beginninge of the Communion were willed to departe. The reste were the godly that remained stil, and hearde the Sermon, and continued in praier, and receiued the holy Mysteries altogeather.5 The order hereof is declared by Cassiodorus out of Socrates. Stant rei, & velut in lamentationibus constituti: & cùm sacra celebratio fuerit adimpleta, Communionem non percipiunt. They stande wofully, and as it were men in lamentation, and in heauines: and when the holy celebration is ended, they receiue not the Communion. It followeth, Constituto verò tempore, velut quoddam debitum exoluentes, cum populo Communionem participant, At the time appointed, as if they had discharged a certaine debte, they Communicate togeather with the people. Thus the ⟨p. 39⟩offenders were put from the Communion, and al the reste receiued togeather.6 And therefore it is decréed by ye Canons of ye Apostles,7 That al Faithful that entre into the Churche, and heare the Scriptures, and doo not continue out the Praiers, nor receiue the Communion, should be excommunicate, as men woorkinge the trouble and disorder of the Churche. And the people saide vnto Timotheus beinge a Bishop of the Arrians, and neuerthelesse a man of milde and gentle nature, and shunninge his companie for the one, and yet louinge him for the other: Although we Communicate not with thée, yet wée loue thée notwithstanding.
- 1Gregorius Naeocaesariensis.
- 2Lugentes.
- 3Audientes.
- 4Precantes.
- 5Historia tripar. lib. 9. ca. 35.
- 6Excommunication.Excōmunication.
- 7Canon. Apostol. Canon. 9.
