A53732:682
The true nature of a Gospel church and its government
The true nature of a Gospel church and its government ... by the late pious and learned minister of the Gospel, John Owen ...
London: printed for William Marshall, 1689
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Chapter 10: Of EXCOMMUNICATION.Chapter 10: Of EXCOMMVNICATION.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
7. YET on the other side, unto the formal completeness of this Sentence, an Authoritative Act of Office-Power is required. For, (1.) There is in it such an Act of Rule, as is in the hands of the Elders only. (2.) The Executive Power of the Keys in binding and loosing, so far as it compriseth ⟨p. 219⟩Authority to be acted in the Name of Christ, is entrusted with them only.
7. YET on the other side, unto the formal compleatness of this Sentence, an Authoritative Act of Office-Power is required. For, (1.) There is in it such an Act of Rule, as is in the hands of the Elders only. (2.) The Executive Power of the Keys in binding and loosing, so far as it comprizeth ⟨p. 219⟩Authority to be acted in the Name of Christ, is entrusted with them only.
8. WHEREFORE I shall say no more in answer unto this Enquiry; but that Excommunication is an act of Church-Power in its Officers and Brethren, acting according unto their respective Rights, Interests, and Duties particularly prescribed unto them. The Officers of the Church act in it as Officers with Authority, the Brethren or the Body of the Church with Power; yet so, as that the Officers are no way excluded from their Power, Consent and Suffrage in the acting of the Church, but have the same Interest therein with all other Members of the Church; but the Community of the Church have no Interest in those Authoritative actings of the Officers which are peculiar unto them. Where either of these is wanting, the whole Duty is vitiated, and the sense of the Sentence rendered ineffectual.
8. WHEREFORE I shall say no more in answer unto this Enquiry; but that Excommunication is an act of Church-Power in its Officers and Brethren, acting according unto their respective Rights, Interests, and Duties particularly prescribed unto them. The Officers of the Church act in it as Officers with Authority, the Brethren or the Body of the Church with Power; yet so, as that the Officers are no way excluded from their Power, Consent and Suffrage in the acting of the Church, but have the same Interest therein with all other Members of the Church; but the Community of the Church have no Interest in those Authoritative actings of the Officers which are peculiar unto them. Where either of these is wanting, the whole Duty is vitiated, and the sence of the Sentence rendred ineffectual.