A godly and learned exposition or commentary upon the three first chapters of the…A godly and learned exposition or commentarie vpon the three first chapters of the…

This doctrine is the truth of God, & ought to be practised of Gods church. Whereby we may see a common fault in the most congregations among us: wherein all that will are admitted not only to the hearing of the word, but also unto the Lords table, hand over head without restraint, as though every man were a good & sound christian: Whereas experience showeth, that many be ignorant, many contemners of the Gospel, many Sabbath breakers, drunkards and blasphemers, ⟨p. 75⟩all which ought to be barred from the sacraments: and in that respect severed from the church as burdens.

This doctrine is the truth of God, & ought to be practised of Gods church. Whereby we may see a common fault in the most cōgregations among vs: wherin all that will are admitted not onely to the hearing of the word, but also vnto the Lords table, hand ouer head without restraint, as though euerie man were a good & sound christian: Whereas experience sheweth, that many be ignorant, many contemners of the Gospell, many Saboath breakers, drunkards and blasphemers, ⟨p. 75⟩all which ought to bee barred from the sacraments: and in that respect seuered from the church as burdens.

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 mn, 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