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 spiritual jurisdiction, is a power whereby the Church pronounceth sentence upon obstinate offenders in the Church, and puts the same in execution. And it hath two parts: Excommunication; and absolution. Excommunication is an action of the Church in Christs name, excluding an obstinate offender that is a professor of the Gospel, from all the privileges of the Church, and from the kingdom of heaven. So Paul ^acommandeth the incestuous man to be committed to Satan: that is, not only put out of the kingdom of Christ, but also after a sort made subject unto Satan, to be outwardly afflicted by him. And therefore Christ saith: If ^bhe hear not the Church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man: that is, as one that hath no title to the kingdom of heaven. Here may some say; Can the Church thrust any man out of the kingdom of heaven? Answ. It is Christ only that receiveth men in thither, and it is he alone that must thrust them out: the Church doth not properly either receive men in, or put them out; but only pronounce and declare what Christ doth in this behalf. As if a man that lives in the church be a common drunkard; the Church finding in Gods word, that ^cno drunkard can inherit the kingdom of heaven, which is the sentence of Christ, may pronounce the same against him, and so exclude him from the kingdom of heaven. Object. The true child of God may be excommunicated, but he can never be excluded from the kingdom of heaven. Ans. The true child of God may for a time, and in part be excluded the kingdom of heaven. In part; as a man that hath freedom in an incorporation, may lie in prison for some trespasses, and so want the use of his freedom, though he be a freeman: so the child of God, for committing sin, may want the use of his liberty and freedom which he hath in Gods kingdom; and for a time, while he liveth in sin without repentance, yet wholly and for ever he cannot: but so soon as he repents, he shall be received certainly again: for no man is ⟨p. 181⟩to be barred either from heaven or the Church, any longer then he remaineth impenitent.

This spirituall iurisdiction, is a power whereby the Church pronounceth sentence vpon obstinate offenders in the Church, and puts the same in execution. And it hath two parts: Excommunication; and absolution. Excommunication is an action of the Church in Christs name, excluding an obstinate offender that is a professor of the Gospel, from all the priuildedges of the Church, and from the kingdom of heauen. So Paul