The true and only way of concord of all the Christian churches the desirableness…

§. 21. 4. Princes and other Magistrates may not make themselves the Lictors or executioners to the ⟨p. 257⟩Clergy, to punish men with fines, imprisonment, banishment or death eo nomine because they stand excommunicate by the Clergy, without trying whether it was rightly or wrongfully done, and whether the crime be such as should be so punished by them. Excommunication if just is it self a dreadful punishment, & no man is to be punished for being punished. If it be for not repenting, 1. He must first be sure that it was a crime: 2. And that God hath appointed this way to force men to repentance: 3. And that such forced repentance must go for true.

§. 21. 4. Princes and other Magistrates may not make themselves the Lictors or executioners to the ⟨p. 257⟩Clergie, to punish men with fines, imprisonment, banishment or death eo nomine because they stand excommunicate by the Clergy, without trying whether it was rightly or wrongfully done, and whether the crime be such as should be so punished by them. Excommunication if just is it self a dreadful punishment, & no man is to be punished for being punished. If it be for not repenting, 1. He must first be sure that it was a crime: 2. And that God hath appointed this way to force men to repentance: 3. And that such forced repentance must go for true.

But when the excommunication is unjust, the Magistrate must not second it with oppression: It is enough to be so much wronged by the Clergy, more should not be added for that cause, nor must the Magistrate suppose the Clergy to be unerring, and so lay by the person of a Judge himself and become the blind executioner of their sentence.