A26911:237
The defence of the nonconformists plea for peace, or, An account of the matter…
The defence of the nonconformists plea for peace, or, An account of the matter of their nonconformity against Mr. J. Cheney's answer called The conforming nonconformist, and The nonconforming conformist : to which is added the second part in answer to Mr. Cheney's Five undertakings / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for Benjamin Alsop, 1680
A DEFENCE OF THE NON-CONFORMIST'S Plea for Peace, AGAINST Mr. J. CH… › Chapter 20
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.
XXII. To conclude, If the Minister have power to keep any from the Sacrament for fourteen days, till he prosecute them, they will as members, have all other Communion with that Church even in Prayer, Praise and Thanksgiving, and the Baptizing of his Child, &c. Albaspineus (that great and notable describer of the Churches Customs) tells us, that the Old Excommunication did shut them out of all other Church-Communion, as well as the Sacrament; even their oblations were not accepted.
XXII. To conclude, If the Minister have power to keep any from the Sacrament for fourteen daies, till he prosecute them, they will as members, have all other Communion with that Church even in Prayer, Praise and Thanksgiving, and the Baptizing of his Child, &c. Albaspineus (that great and notable describer of the Churches Customs) tells us, that the Old Excommunication did shut them out of all other Church-Communion, as well as the Sacrament; even their oblations were not accepted.
If I understand the Case of the Parish-Priests, and their Power of Discipline, this is it. And is this the Power of the Keys or Excommunication?
If you ask me, How I would have all this remedied; I have oft enough answered it, and will not here repeat it. Only I would have a Minister have some such freedom as a School-master or Philosopher hath in his School; and not a mere slave or Agent of others, to take in and use, and exclude and say, as strangers to the Flock command him, against his conscience and knowledge of the Case; till it be proved, that it shall justify him at judgment for all such actions, to say, The Law, Bishop or Chancellor commanded me.
If you ask me, How I would have all this remedied; I have oft enough answered it, and will not here repeat it. Only I would have a Minister have some such freedom as a School-master or Philosopher hath in his School; and not a meer slave or Agent of others, to take in and use, and exclude and say, as strangers to the Flock command him, against his conscience and knowledge of the Case; till it be proved, that it shall justifie him at judgment for all such actions, to say, The Law, Bishop or Chancellor commanded me.