The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

THE Power of the Church towards its Members (for it hath nothing to do with them that are without) may be referred unto Three Heads, (1.) The Admission of Members into its Society. (2.) The Rule and Edification of them that belong unto it. (3.) The Exclusion out of its Society of such as obstinately refuse to live and walk according unto the Laws and Rules of it. And these things belong essentially and inseparably unto every free Society, and are comprehensive of all Church-Power whatever.

THE Second of these hath been treated of in the Discourse concerning Church Offices and Rule. And all that belongs unto the first of them, is fully declared in the Chapters of the Essential Constituent parts of Gospel Churches, namely their Matter and Form. The Third must be now spoken, unto which is the Power of Excommunication.

THERE is nothing in Christian Religion, about which the contest of Opinions hath been more fierce than this of Excommunication, most of them proceeding evidently from false Presumptions and secular Interests. And no greater instance can be given of what the Serpentine wits of Men engaged by the desire of Domination and Wealth, and assisted by opportunities may attain unto. For whereas, as we shall see immediately, there is nothing more plain, simple, and more exposed unto the common understanding of all Christians, yea of all ⟨p. 191⟩Mankind, than is this Institution of Christ; both as unto its Nature, Form and Manner of Administration, nothing more wholesome nor useful unto the Souls of Men; nothing more remote from giving the least disturbance or prejudice to Civil Society, to Magistrates or Rulers, unto the Personal or Political Rights or Concernments of any one individual in the World: It hath been Metamorphosed into an hideous Monster; an Engine of Priestly Domination and Tyranny, for the Deposition or Assassination of Kings and Princes, the Wasting of Nations with bloody Wars, the Terror of the Souls of Men, and the destruction of their Lives, with all their Earthly Concerns, unto the Erection of a Tyrannical Empire, no less pernicious unto the Christian World, than those of the Saracens or the Turks. He is a stranger unto all that hath passed in the World for near a Thousand Years, who knows not the Truth of these things. And to this very day the greatest part of them that are called Christians are so supinely Ignorant and Doting, or so infatuated and blinded by their Prejudices and Corrupt Interests, as to suppose, or to say, That if the Pope of Rome do Excommunicate Kings or Princes, they may be lawfully deposed from their Rule, and in some cases killed; and that other persons being rightly Excommunicated according unto certain Laws, Rules, and Processes, that some have framed, ought to be Fined, Punished, Imprisoned, and so Destroyed. And about these things there are many Disputes and Contests; when if Men were awakened out of their Lethargy they would be laughed at, as the most ridiculous and contemptible Mormo's that ever appeared in the World; though they are no laughing matter at present, unto them that are concerned in them.