A26923:174
An end of doctrinal controversies which have lately troubled the churches
An end of doctrinal controversies which have lately troubled the churches by reconciling explication without much disputing. Written by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for John Salusbury, 1691
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.
And therefore the Church hath ever used Suspension as a thing different from a full or proper Excommunication. Suspension and some disciplinary restraints, have been called Excommunicatio minor, which doth not cut off a man from the Church: When the proper Excommunication called major, is but an Authoritative Declaring that a man hath cut off himself, by Apostasy at least from some essential part of Christian Faith or Duty: without which self-abs•ision, other mens hath no place, and is but a Slander of the innocent. God hath not given others Power to unchristen, cut off or damn the guiltless.
And therefore the Church hath ever used Suspension as a thing different from a full or proper Excommunication. Suspension and some disciplinary restraints, have been called Excommunicatio minor, which doth not cut off a man from the Church: When the proper Excommunication called major, is but an Authoritative Declaring that a man hath cut off himself, by Apostasie at least from some essential part of Christian Faith or Duty: without which self-abs•ision, other mens hath no place, and is but a Slander of the innocent. God hath not given others Power to unchristen, cut off or damn the guiltless.
§. 10. It's one thing to be cut off from the Church or Christ, 2. and another to be under trial and suspense o• actual Communion, till Repentance prove mens Right. 3. And it's another to be at present only denied Communion (not with the Church wholly, but) in some comfortable Ordinances, till the removing of a Scandal have made the person capable, by satisfying the scandalized. 4. And its another thing to be cast down from a higher to a lower station, and denied Dignities, Preferments, and special Honour. Confound not these.
§. 10. It's one thing to be cut off from the Church or Christ, 2. and another to be under tryal and suspense o• actual Communion, till Repentance prove mens Right. 3. And it's another to be at present only denyed Communion (not with the Church wholly, but) in some comfortable Ordinances, till the removing of a Scandal have made the person capable, by satisfying the scandalized. 4. And its another thing to be cast down from a higher to a lower station, and denyed Dignities, Preferments, and special Honour. Confound not these.