A09952:52
The judgement of a most reverend and learned man from beyond the seas concerning…The iudgement of a most reuerend and learned man from beyond the seas concerning…
The judgement of a most reverend and learned man from beyond the seas concerning a threefold order of bishops, with a declaration of certain other weighty points, concerning the discipline and government of the Church.The iudgement of a most reuerend and learned man from beyond the seas concerning a threefold order of bishops, with a declaration of certaine other waightie points, concerning the discipline and gouernement of the Church.
London: printed by Robert Waldegrave, 1585
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
To the fourth question.
We see not what sword of excommunication may be drawn out against those men, who though they were set into the church by no vain baptism: yet never entered into the fellowship of the pure church. Yea the doors are always to stand open that they may come to hear the word of God, and they are carefully to be allured thither, if at any time (as the Apostle saith) they may repent and get out of the snare of the devil, of whom they are holden captive. But if any shall be thought to sin in an open contempt, our judgement is, that it ought wholly to be put over to the christian magistrate. We think that it beseemeth a Christian magistrate to deal much by lenity in the matter of religion towards his subjects, not being troublesome sectaries, & such as of knowledge blaspheme.
We see not what sword of excommunication may be drawen out against those men, who though they were set into the church by no vaine baptisme: yet neuer entred into the fellowship of the pure church. Yea the doores are alwayes to stand opē that they may come to heare the word of God, and they are carefully to be allured thether, if at any tyme (as the Apostle saith) they may repent and get out of the snare of the deuill, of whom they are holden captiue. But if any shalbe thought to sinne in an open contempt, our iudgement is, that it ought wholy to bee put ouer to the christiā magistrate. We thinke that it beseemeth a Christian magistrate to deale much by lenitie in the matter of religiō towards his subiects, not being troublesome sectaries, & such as of knowledge blaspheme.