The second cause was a mis-accident from the Mid-wife, who did half stifle it in the birth, from which did accrue a most dangerous infirmity, of which it could never recover. bRead the preface of Erastus before the Confirmation of his ⟨p. 165⟩Theses; also the close of his sixth Book; put these together, you will find him yield, that all ought not to be admitted promiscuously to the Sacrament, but that such admission be according to the custom and rule observed in the Church of Heidelberg (and what that was, you may find in the Heidelberg Catechism Quaest. 82. & 87. namely a suspension of profane scandalous persons from the Sacrament, and in case of their obstinacy and continuing in their offences, an excommunicating of them.) He yields also that these seven sorts of persons ought not to be esteemed as members of the Church, and that if any such be found in the visible Church, they ought to be cast out. 1. Idolaters. 2. Apostates. 3. Such as do not understand the true Doctrine, that is, Ignorant Persons. 4. Such as do not approve and embrace the true Doctrine, that is, Heretics and Sectaries. 5. Such as desire to receive the Sacrament otherwise then in the right manner, and according to Christs Institution. 6. Such as defend or justify their wickedness. 7. Such as do not confess and acknowledge their sins, and profess sorrow and repentance for them, and a hatred or detestation of them. And thus you see as Erastianism pleadeth for no favour to Sectaries, or whosoever dissent in doctrine, or whose Tenets concerning Christs Institution, or manner of Administration, are contrary to that which is received in the Church where they live: (for cit is content that all such, were they never so peaceable and godly, be cast out of the Church by excommunication. All the favour and forbearance which it pleadeth for, is to the loose and profane) So neither doth it altogether exempt the profane, but such only as do neither deny nor defend their wickedness, but confess their sins, and profess sorrow for them. Let the Erastians of this time observe what their great Master hath yielded touching the Ecclesiastical Censure of profane ones. Which though it is not satisfactory to us, for reasons elsewhere given, yet it can be as little satisfactory to them.
The second cause was a mis-accident from the Mid-wife, who did half stisle it in the birth, from which did accrue a most dangerous infirmity, of which it could never recover. bRead the preface of Erastus before the Confirmation of his ⟨p. 165⟩Theses; also the close of his sixth Book; put these together, you will find him yeeld, that all ought not to be admitted promiseuously to the Sacrament, but that such admission be according to the custome and rule observed in the Church of Heidelberg (and what that was, you may find in the Heidelberg Catechisme Quaest. 82. & 87. namely a suspension of prophane scandalous persons from the Sacrament, and in case of their obstinacy and continuing in their offences, an excommunicating of them.) He yeelds also that these seven sorts of persons ought not to be esteemed as members of the Church, and that if any such be found in the visible Church, they ought to be cast out. 1. Idolaters. 2. Apostates. 3. Such as do not understand the true Doctrine, that is, Ignorant Persons. 4. Such as doe not approve and embrace the true Doctrine, that is, Hereticks and Sectaries. 5. Such as desire to receive the Sacrament otherwise then in the right manner, and according to Christs Institution. 6. Such as defend or justifie their wickednes. 7. Such as doe not confesse and acknowledge their sins, and professe sorrow and repentance for them, and a hatred or detestation of them. And thus you see as Erastianisme pleadeth for no favour to Sectaries, or whosoever dissent in doctrine, or whose Tenents concerning Christs Institution, or manner of Administration, are contrary to that which is received in the Church where they live: (for cit is content that all such, were they never so peaceable and godly, be cast out of the Church by excommunication. All the favour and forbearance which it pleadeth for, is to the loose and prophane) So neither doth it altogether exempt the prophane, but such onely as do neither deny nor defend their wickednesse, but confesse their sins, and professe sorrow for them. Let the Erastians of this time observe what their great Master hath yeelded touching the Ecclesiastical Censure of prophane ones. Which though it is not satisfactory to us, for reasons elsewhere given, yet it can be as little satisfactory to them.
- bErast. praefat. Nos de illis solis loqui peccatoribus qui doctrinam intelligunt, probant amplectuntur: peccata sua see agnoscere vere atque edisse aiunt, & Sacramentis secundum Institutienem Christi uti cupiunt. Et lib. 6. cap. 2. faciunt praelerea nobis injuriam (imo vera calumnia est) cum dicunt nos omnes sine ullo examine veil admitti, quales quales sint ac esse velint. Quippe sic volumus unumquemque admitti, quomodo Ecclesiae nostrae consuetudo & regula jubet. Et intra. Sane ut Idololatram & Apostatam, negamus membrum esse Ecclesiae Christi, sic etiam Nequitiam suam desendentem negamus inter membra Ecclesiae censendum esse. Et quemadmodum illos ex Christiano coetu judicamus exterminandos, sic hos queque putamus in eo coeiu non esse ferendos. Verum neque de bis, neque de illis quaerunt nostrae Theses: sed disputatur in eis, de solis doctrinam amplexantibus, & Sacramentis rite cum Ecclesia uti cupientibus, hoc est poenit entiam eodem modo quo alij profitentibus.Erast. praefat. Nos de illis solis loqui peccatoribus qui doctrinam intelligunt, probant amplectuntur: peccata sua se agnoscere vere atque edisse aiunt, & Sacramentis secundum Institutienem Christi uti cupiunt. Et lib. 6. cap. 2. faciunt praelerea nobis injuriam (imo vera calumnia est) cum dicunt nos omnes sine ullo examine velle admitti, quales quales sint ac esse velint. Quippe sic volumus unumquemque admitti, quomodo Ecclesiae nostrae consuetudo & regula jubet. Et intra. Sane ut Idololatram & Apostatam, negamus membrum esse Ecclesiae Christi, sic etiam Nequitiam suam desendentem negamus inter membra Ecclesiae censendum esse. Et quemadmodum illos ex Christiano coetu judicamus exterminandos, sic hos queque putamus in eo coeiu non esse ferendos. Verum neque de bis, neque de illis quaerunt nostrae Theses: sed disputatur in eis, de solis doctrinam amplexantibus, & Sacramentis rite cum Ecclesia uti cupientibus, hoc est poenit entiam eodem modo quo alij profitentibus.
- cErastus ib. Equidem in Thesibus ab initi• monui, me de sola illa excommunicatione apere, qua aliqui doctrinam intelligentes, probantes, amplexantes, & Sacramentis rectè uti cupientes, quod ad externum usum attinet ab eijsdem propter anteactae vitae turpitu linem a quibusdam Presbyteris repelluntur: quia scilic et non videtur eis serio dolere, qui lapsus fuit, ac sibi dolere id profitetur.
