Secondly, hence we may gather, that Christ hath given to his church a power judicial, to suspend evil men from the sacraments, and to excommunicate them from the outward fellowship of the church: for else he would not have commended this minister with his church for the execution of this power. The reasons alleged to the contrary, are of no force. I. Say they, the parable, Matth. 13.30. alloweth the growing together of tares and wheat till harvest: and therefore evil men must be suffered in the church without separation. Answ. In that parable Christ speaketh not of any particular purging of the church by Ecclesiastical jurisdiction: but of the universal purging of his whole church by his holy Angels in the end of the world: for there the field doth not signify any particular church, but the whole world: and the servants are not m•n, but Angels▪ that must gather together all both good and bad in the end of the world, to the last judgement. Again they allege, Luk▪ 14.23, Compel them in the high ways to come into the supper. Here (say they) all must be brought in, but none must be excluded the society of the church. Ans. Christ speaketh not of compelling men unto the sacraments, but unto the ministry of the word, whereto men must be caused to subject themselves: which hindereth nothing why the ungodly should not be debarred from the sacraments, which are the seal of Gods mercy in Christ, ordained only for such as repent and believe. Qu. Seeing this separation must be made, how far forth may we converse with those that are openly evil & offensive either for life or doctrine? Ans. Evil men must be considered divers ways: first, as they be members of some commonwealth, of some city or incorporation: secondly, as they are members of some particular church by toleration. In the first regard, it is lawful for us to converse with them, I. for outward dealings and civil affairs, as bargaining, buying and selling, &c. II. we may maintain outward civil peace with them. So Paul commandeth the Romans 1to have peace with all men so much as in them lay: that is, so far as it would stand with faith & good conscience. III. In this civil conversing with the wicked we must perform all duties of outward courtesy and love unto them, so far forth as it doth not dishonour God, or hinder the good of the church.
Secondly, hence we may gather, that Christ hath giuen to his church a power iudiciall, to suspend euill men from the sacraments, and to excommunicate them from the outward fellowship of the church: for els he would not haue commended this minister with his church for the execution of this power. The reasons alledged to the contrarie, are of no force. I. Say they, the parable, Matth. 13.30. alloweth the growing together of tares and wheate till haruest: and therefore euill men must bee suffered in the church without seperation. Answ. In that parable Christ speaketh not of any particular purging of the church by Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction: but of the vniuersall purging of his whole church by his holy Angels in the end of the world: for there the field doth not signifie any particular church, but the whole world: and the seruants are not m•n, but Angels▪ that must gather together all both good and bad in the end of the world, to the last iudgement. Againe they alledge, Luk▪ 14.23, Compell them in the high wayes to come into the supper. Here (say they) all must bee brought in, but none must bee excluded the society of the church. Ans. Christ speaketh not of compelling men vnto the sacraments, but vnto the ministerie of the word, wherto men must be caused to subiect themselues: which hindereth nothing why the vngodly should not be debarred from the sacraments, which are the seale of Gods mercy in Christ, ordained onely for such as repent and beleeue. Qu. Seeing this separation must be made, how farre forth may wee conuerse with those that are openly euill & offensiue either for life or doctrine? Ans. Euill men must be considered diuers waies: first, as they be members of some commonwealth, of some citie or incorporation: secondly, as they are members of some particular church by tolleration. In the first regard, it is lawfull for vs to conuerse with thē, I. for outward dealings and ciuile affairs, as bargaining, buying and selling, &c. II. we may maintaine outward ciuile peace with them. So Paule commandeth the Romans 1to haue peace with al men so much as in them lay: that is, so far as it would stand with faith & good conscience. III. In this ciuile conuersing with the wicked we must perform all duties of outward courtesie and loue vnto them, so far forth as it doth not dishonor God, or hinder the good of the church.
- 1Rom. 12.18
