A Christian instruction, containing the law and the Gospel Also a summary of the…

Of the force of lawful excommunication, and of the power of the keys given to the church.

Of the force of laufull excommunication, and of the povver of the keys giuen to the church.

M. They are not then shut forth from the communion of the Sacraments of the Church, to the end they should always remain out of the Church.

M. THey are not then shut foorth from the communion of the Sacramentes of the Churche, to the ende they shoulde alwayes remayne oute of the Churche.

Math. Excommunication is not then a matter of small consequence: but is much more to be feared than is a corporal punishment.

Math. Excommunication is not then a matter of small censequence: but is much more to be feared than is a corporall punishement.

Peter. It is certain, if it be lawfully done, for so much as Jesus Christ hath given to his Church the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, ⟨p. 368⟩with such power, as what so ever she should loose or bind in earth, according to his word, should be also bound or unbound in heaven.

Peter. It is certaine, if it bée lawfullye doone, for so muche as Iesus Chryste hathe giuen to hys Churche the keyes of the Kyngdome of Heauen, ⟨p. 368⟩with suche power, as what so euer shée should loose or bynd in earth, according to his word, shuld be also bound or vnboūd in heauen.

M. But if the sinner acknowledge his fault, and yield a true sign of repentance, and desire to be reconciled and at one with the Church: it is granted unto him?

M. But if the sinner acknowledge his faulte, and yelde a true signe of repentaunce, and desire to be reconciled and at one with the Churche: it is granted vnto him?

Pe. Even as the Church hath power to bind the obstinate, so hath she power to loose the penitent, and ever according to the word of God, provided that they accomplish that which true repentance and the true discipline of the Church do require.

Pe. Euen as the Churche hath power to bind the obstinate, so hath she power to loose the penitent, and euer according to the worde of God, prouided that they accomplishe that whiche true repentaunce and the true discipline of the Churche doe require.

M. And when the Church hath in such sort either bound or loosed any one, by the censure of excommunication, wilt thou conclude that God also holdeth him for bound or loose?

M. And when the Churche hath in such sort either boūd or loosed any one, by the censure of excō munication, wilt thou conclude that God also holdeth him for bounde or loose?

P. Even as the Sacraments are not plays for little Children, nor plays feigned of pleasure, but are ordinances and testimonies of God which represent by exterior ceremonies the spiritual things which in deed are communicated to the faithful by them. So is not excommunication a vain ceremony as a juggling, but a sure testimony of God, which he hath ordained, ⟨p. 369⟩to signify and declare which they be that he avoweth for members of his Church, or else that he holdeth for rotten members, cut of and cast out of the same, and consequently from the kingdom of heaven into the which none may enter except he be in deed first a member of the Church, and by the mean of the same.

P. Euen as the Sacraments are not playes for little Children, nor playes fained of pleasure, but are ordinances and testimonyes of God which represent by exterior ceremonies the spiritual things which in déede are communicated to the faithfull by them. So is not excommunication a vayne ceremonie as a iuggling, but a sure testimony of God, which he hath ordained, ⟨p. 369⟩to signifie and declare which they be that he auoweth for members of hys Church, or els that he holdeth for rotten members, cut of and cast out of the same, and consequently from the kingdome of heauen into the which none maye enter excepte he bée in déede first a member of the Churche, and by the meane of the same.

If excommunication may extend further than to the disobedient.

If excommunication may extende further than to the disobedient.

M. Seeing then that excommunication belongeth properly to the disobedient, may they then excommunicate those which acknowledge their fault, how great so ever it be, and do give testimony evident enough of their repentance before they be excommunicated?

M. SEeing then that excommunication belōgeth properly to the disobediēt, may they then excōmunicate those which acknowledge their fault, how great so euer it be, and do giue testimonie euident inough of their repentance before they be excommunicated?

P. Thou must understand that all disobedience deserveth excommunication, and chiefly when a man hath been admonished three times (according to the order given by Jesus Christ concerning the same) and doth not amend his faults, when they be offensive and of evil example, and that they be not only little infirmities and ignorances, the ⟨p. 370⟩which men may not as easily correct as they would, but are great offences.

P. Thou must vnderstande that all disobedience deserueth excommunication, and chéefly when a man hath bene admonished thrée times (according to the order giuen by Iesus Christe concerning the same) and doth not amēd his faults, when they be offensiue and of euill example, and that they be not onely little infirmities and ignoraunces, the ⟨p. 370⟩which men may not as easily correct as they would, but are great offences.

M. I do well grant thee that, fo• rebellion and contempt of admonitions and warnings, is a very great fault, and a very evil example in the Church of God, which ought not there to be endured.

M. I do well graunte thée that, fo• rebellion and contempt of admonitions and warnings, is a very great fault, and a very euill exāple in the Church of God, which ought not there to be endured.

P. Thou hast also to note, that albeit a sinner do acknowledge his fault at the first or second admonition and warning that shall be given him, yet for all that, it may be such, that for example the sinner may deserve to be at the least suspended from the communion of the sacraments for a time.

P. Thou hast also to note, that albeit a sinner doe acknowledge his faulte at the first or second admonition and warning that shall be giuen him, yet for all that, it may be suche, that for example the sinner may deserue to be at the least suspended from the communion of the sacraments for a time.

M. Why so, if there be no manifest rebellion?