To make these things yet more evident, and to show how remote the present Excommunications are, from all possibility of affecting the Consciences of any, I shall briefly pass through the consideration of these things, which principally belong unto them, and whereunto all their efficacy is resolved; and that which first offereth it self, is the Persons by whom they are administered: The truth is, there is such a variety of Scenes in this Tragedy, and such different Actors in it, from Apparitor, with whom it begins, unto the Jailer with whom it ends, that it seems not easy, whom to ascribe the animating power and authority that is in it, unto: But yet on a little consideration the matter is plain enough. The Ministers of the Parishes ⟨p. 8⟩wherein the Excommunicated persons are supposed to dwell, by whom the sentence of Excommunication is rehearsed out of a Paper from the Court, have no concernment herein; for they know nothing of the causes, or reasons of it, nor of the process therein, nor do pretend unto any Right, for the cognizance of them; nor do for the most part know the persons at all, on whose qualifications alone, the validity or invalidity of the sentence doth depend; nor can give an account to God or man of what is done, as to right and equity; and therefore I no way doubt, but that these who are learned and pious among them, do hardly bear the yoke of being made such properties those acts and duties which appertain unto their Ministerial function; but it is known who they are, who begin the work, and carry on the process of it unto its final execution; and I shall say no more concerning them, but this alone, That how meet soever they may be for the transaction of Civil Affairs, or for the skilful managing of that work herein, which they suppose committed unto them; yet as unto any ⟨p. 9⟩thing wherein conscience may be affected with the Authority of Jesus Christ, they can be of no consideration in it. If any man can but pretend to believe, that our Lord Jesus by any Act, Grant, Law or Institution of his, by any signification of his Mind or Will hath committed, or doth commit, the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, the power of binding and loosing, of expelling out of, and admitting into his Church, unto these or such persons, he hath assuredly confidence enough to pretend unto a persuasion of whatever he pleases. They do not believe it themselves;
To make these things yet more evident, and to show how remote the present Excommunications are, from all possibility of affecting the Consciences of any, I shall briefly pass through the consideration of these things, which principally belong unto them, and whereunto all their efficacy is resolved; and that which first offereth it self, is the Persons by whom they are administred: The truth is, there is such a variety of Scenes in this Tragedy, and such different Actors in it, from Apparitor, with whom it begins, unto the Jailor with whom it ends, that it seems not easie, whom to ascribe the animating power and authority that is in it, unto: But yet on a little consideration the matter is plain enough. The Ministers of the Parishes ⟨p. 8⟩wherein the Excommunicated persons are supposed to dwell, by whom the sentence of Excommunication is rehearsed out of a Paper from the Court, have no coneernment herein; for they know nothing of the causes, or reasons of it, nor of the process therein, nor do pretend unto any Right, for the cognizance of them; nor do for the most part know the persons at all, on whose qualifications alone, the validity or invalidity of the sentence doth depend; nor can give an account to God or man of what is done, as to right and equity; and therefore I no way doubt, but that these who are learned and pious among them, do hardly bear the yoke of being made such properties those acts and duties which appertain unto their Ministerial function; but it is known who they are, who begin the work, and carry on the process of it unto its final execution; and I shall say no more concerning them, but this alone, That how meet soever they may be for the transaction of Civil Affairs, or for the skilful managing of that work herein, which they suppose committed unto them; yet as unto any ⟨p. 9⟩thing wherein conscience may be affected with the Authority of Jesus Christ, they can be of no consideration in it. If any man can but pretend to believe, that our Lord Jesus by any Act, Grant, Law or Institution of his, by any signification of his Mind or Will hath committed, or doth commit, the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, the power of binding and loosing, of expelling out of, and admitting into his Church, unto these or such persons, he hath assuredly confidence enough to pretend unto a perswasion of whatever he pleases. They do not believe it themselves;
