The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

2. IT is required that a Society, by voluntary consent vested with the Right and Power mentioned, do neither give nor take away any Right, Privilege or Advantage, to, or from any Members of the Society which belong unto them Naturally or Politically; but their Power is confined unto those things alone, wherein Men may be benefited and advantaged by the Society. And this is the foundation of all political Societies. Men, for the sake and benefit of them, may and ought to forego many particular Advantages, which, without them, they might make unto themselves. But they cannot forego any of those Rights, which in their several Relations are inseparably annexed unto them by the Law of Nature, nor give power over themselves in such things unto the Society. So is it with Churches; the power of expulsion out of their Society, extends only unto the Benefits and Advantages which the Society, as such, doth afford and communicate. Now these are only things Spiritual if Churches be an institution of him, whose ⟨p. 196⟩Kingdom is not of this World. The power then that is in Churches, by virtue of their being what they are, extends not it self unto any outward concernments of Men, as unto their Lives, Liberties, Natural or Political Privileges, Estates or Possessions; unless we shall say, that Men hold and possess these things by virtue of their Relation unto the Church, which is to overthrow all Natural and Humane Right in the World. De facto, Men are now compelled whether they will or no, to be esteemed to be of this or that Church, and to be dealt withal accordingly. But if they had not been divested of their natural Liberty, they know not how, without their own consent, and should be taught, that by entering into a Church, they must come under a new Tenure of their Lives, Liberties and Estates, at the Will of the Lords of the Society according to the Customs of their Courts, there would not be so many Wise Men in Churches, as now there are thought to be.

BUT this is the true State of things in the Church of Rome, and among others also. Christians are esteemed to be of them, and belong unto them, whether they will or no. Immediately hereon all the Rights, Liberties, Privileges, Possessions which they enjoy by the Law of God and Nature, and by the just Laws and Constitutions of Men in Civil Governments, under which they live, come to depend upon, and be subject unto the especial Laws and Rules of the Society which they are adjudged to belong unto. For upon expulsion out of that Society by Excommunication, according unto the Laws and Rules which it hath framed unto it self, all their Rights and Titles, and Liberties and Enjoyments are forfeited and exposed to Ruin. Some indeed do earnestly and learnedly contend that the Pope of Rome hath not Power to Excommunicate Sovereign Kings and Princes; and that if he do, they make no forfeiture of Life or Dignity thereby. And there are good Reasons why they do so. But in the mean time, they deal with other poor Men after the same manner. For if a poor Man be Excommunicated, immediately he loseth the free Tenure of his Life, Liberty and Goods, by the Law of the Church and the Land, and is Committed to the Gaol without Bail or Mainprize. So