A53732:712
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.
IF Repentance be evidenced unto the Consciences of the Rulers of the Church to be sincere, and proportionable unto the Offence in its outward Demonstration, according unto the ⟨p. 224⟩Rule of the Gospel, so as that they are obliged to judge in Charity, that the Person sinning is pardoned and accepted with Christ, as all sincerely penitent Sinners are undoubtedly; the Church cannot proceed unto the Excommunication of such an Offender. For,
1. IT would be publicly to reject them whom they acknowledge that Christ doth receive. This nothing can warrant them to do; yea, so to do is to set up themselves against Christ, or at least to make use of his Authority against his Mind and Will. Yea, such a Sentence would destroy it self; for it is a Declaration that Christ doth disapprove them, whom he doth approve.
1. IT would be publickly to reject them whom they acknowledge that Christ doth receive. This nothing can warrant them to do; yea, so to do is to set up themselves against Christ, or at least to make use of his Authority against his Mind and Will. Yea, such a Sentence would destroy it self; for it is a Declaration that Christ doth disapprove them, whom he doth approve.
2. THEIR so doing would make a misrepresentation of the Gospel, and of the Lord Christ therein. For, whereas the principal design of the Gospel, and of the Representation that is made therein of Christ Jesus, is to evidence that all sincerely Penitent Sinners, that Repent according unto the Rule of it, are and shall be Pardoned and Accepted; by the Rejection of such a Person in the face of his sincere Repentance, there is an open contradiction thereunto. Especially it would give an undue sense of the Heart, Mind, and Will of Christ towards Repenting Sinners; such as may be dangerous unto the Faith of Believers, so far as the Execution of this Sentence is Doctrinal: For such it is, and declarative of the Mind of Christ according unto the judgment of the Church. The Image therefore of this Excommunication, which is set up in some Churches, wherein the Sentence of it is denounced without any regard unto the Mind of Christ, as unto his Acceptance or Disapprobation of those whom they Excommunicate, is a Teacher of Lies.