The sum of Christian religion, delivered by Zacharias Ursinus first, by way of catechism,…The summe of Christian religion, delivered by Zacharias Ursinus first, by way of catechism,…

12. They who deny the faith and doctrine of Christ, are to be excluded from the Church, and from the use of the Sacraments: For the Faithful, or Christians are not to be confounded, or mingled with those, who are not members of the Church, or with those, who are professed ungodly persons, blasphemers, revolters to Arianism, Mahumetanisme, and the like. But they that deny, and refuse to repent, deny the faith and doctrine; They profess that they know God, but by works they deny him. And he that denieth the faith,¹ is worse than Infidels: Therefore they who persist in their wickedness, and deny to repent, are to be shut out of the Church; neither are they to be admitted to the use of the Sacraments.

12. They who deny the faith and doctrine of Christ, are to be excluded from the Church, and from the use of the Sacraments: For the Faithfull, or Christians are not to be confounded, or mingled with those, who are not members of the Church, or with those, who are professed ungodly persons, blasphemers, revolters to Arrianisme, Mahumetanisme, and the like. But they that deny, and refuse to repent, deny the faith and doctrine; They professe that they know God, but by workes they deny him. And he that denieth the faith,¹ is worse than Infidels: Therefore they who persist in their wickednes, and deny to repent, are to be shut out of the Church; neither are they to be admitted to the use of the Sacraments.

1. 1Tims 1.16.

13. And here hath place that saying of Christ, Give not that which is holy to dogs. Wherefore, neither to the Sacraments are dogs to be admitted, namely, those which persist in their wickedness, and make a mock of Gods Word. For if Christ speaketh this of his audible Word, to wit, the Word preached, which yet was instituted for the converted and unconverted, or such as were yet to be converted; much more shall this likewise be spoken of his visible Word, namely, of the Sacraments, which were ordained and instituted for the converted only.

13. And here hath place that saying of Christ, Give not that which is holy to dogges. Wherefore, neither to the Sacraments are dogges to be admitted, namely, those which persist in their wickednesse, and make a mocke of Gods Word. For if Christ speaketh this of his audible Word, to wit, the Word preached, which yet was instituted for the converted and unconverted, or such as were yet to be converted; much more shall this likewise be spoken of his visible Word, namely, of the Sacraments, which were ordained and instituted for the converted only.

14. Open Infidels, wicked ones, and blasphemers, ought not to be baptised: For they ⟨p. 485⟩ought not to be baptised, who believe not with their whole heart. Wherefore, Philip saith to the Eunuch, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest be baptised. ¹So John also baptised none but such as confessed their sins. Now if blasphemers and unbelievers are not to be baptised, it followeth that they are to be shut out of the Church, and not to be admitted to the receiving of the Sacraments. They who ought not to be baptised, neither ought they to be admitted unto the Supper: for there is one and the same reason in both.

14. Open Infidels, wicked ones, and blasphemers, ought not to be baptised: For they ⟨p. 485⟩ought not to be baptised, who beleeve not with their whole heart. Wherefore, Philip saith to the Eunuch, If thou beleevest with all thine heart, thou mayest be baptised. ¹So John also baptised none but such as confessed their sins. Now if blasphemers and unbeleevers are not to be baptised, it followeth that they are to be shut out of the Church, and not to be admitted to the receiving of the Sacraments. They who ought not to be baptised, neither ought they to be admitted unto the Supper: for there is one and the same reason in both.

1. 1Acts 8.37. Mat. 3.•.

1. 1

16. Unto whom the promise of grace doth not belong, unto them the sign of grace ought not to be extended: otherwise the Church should deal corruptly, admitting them whom God excludeth, and should be diverse and disagreeing from her self: for she should absolve them by the visible word, whom she condemned by the audible word. Wherefore the wicked and blasphemous, whom God hath rejected, and deprived of his grace, are not to be admitted unto the Sacraments, which are the signs of Gods grace.

16. Ʋnto whom the promise of grace doth not belong, unto them the signe of grace ought not to be extended: otherwise the Church should deale corruptly, admitting them whom God excludeth, and should be diverse and disagreeing from her selfe: for she should absolve them by the visible word, whom she condemned by the audible word. Wherefore the wicked and blasphemous, whom God hath rejected, and deprived of his grace, are not to be admitted unto the Sacraments, which are the signes of Gods grace.

17. The institution of the Sacraments, or the condition, which must be observed in coming to the Sacraments, requireth faith and repentance: Therefore they who show not repentance, ought not to be admitted. This argument followeth by a counterposition; They which have repentance and faith are to be admitted: Therefore they, which have not repentance and faith are not to be admitted.

17. The institution of the Sacraments, or the condition, which must be observed in coming to the Sacraments, requireth faith and repentance: Therefore they who shew not repentance, ought not to be admitted. This argument followeth by a counterposition; They which have repentance and faith are to be admitted: Therefore they, which have not repentance and faith are not to be admitted.

3. To whom the power of the Keys is committed, against whom, and in what order to be used.

3. To whom the power of the Keyes is committed, against whom, and in what order to be used.

Unto whom the declaration and denouncing of Gods Word is committed, to them also is committed the power of the Keys. The denouncing and publishing the anger and favour of God, which is performed in the preaching of the Gospel, is committed unto the Ministers: For the preaching of the Gospel is committed to them alone. But that denouncing, which is exercised in Church discipline, belongeth to the whole Church: For unto the whole Church doth discipline and spiritual jurisdiction belong. Now the denouncing and declaration which is used in the ministry of Gods word, is done after another manner than in the Church discipline. In the ministry of the word, the anger of God the word going before, is by every Pastor alone or Minister of the word privately denounced against all ungodly, unbelieving, and unrepenting persons: namely, that they are exiled from the Kingdom of Christ, as long as they repent not, neither live according to the prescript rule of the Gospel. And again, if they repent, the grace and favour of God, and remission of sins, is by the same Pastors and Ministers signified and declared out of the Word of God unto them.

UNto whom the declaration and denouncing of Gods Word is committed, to them also is committed the power of the Keyes. The denouncing and publishing the anger and favour of God, which is performed in the preaching of the Gospel, is committed unto the Ministers: For the preaching of the Gospel is committed to them alone. But that denouncing, which is exercised in Church discipline, belongeth to the whole Church: For unto the whole Church doth discipline and spirituall jurisdiction belong. Now the denouncing and declaration which is used in the ministery of Gods word, is done after another manner than in the Church discipline. In the ministery of the word, the anger of God the word going before, is by every Pastour alone or Minister of the word privately denounced against all ungodly, unbeleeving, and unrepenting persons: namely, that they are exiled from the Kingdome of Christ, as long as they repent not, neither live according to the prescript rule of the Gospel. And againe, if they repent, the grace and favour of God, and remission of sinnes, is by the same Pastours and Ministers signified and declared out of the Word of God unto them.

¹Object. Then have men power to condemn. Ans. They have ministerial power; that is, the charge and function of denouncing unto men, according to Gods Word, that God remitteth or not remitteth their sins. And this is done two ways: §1First, and in general, when in the preaching of the Gospel they declare, That all believers are saved, and that all unbelievers are condemned. §2Secondly, when as they exercise this function of declaring Gods will privately unto particular men, and towards every one in several: and when remission of sins is promised to some certain person repenting, and ⟨p. 486⟩when likewise the anger and displeasure of God is denounced against any one person not repenting, as long as he continueth in that mind. So Peter said to Simon Magus, ²Thou hast neither part nor fellowship in this business. The same is to be said in particular to every one, as often as need requireth: neither must we do it at our own pleasure, but according to the word of God. And this is the power of the Keys granted unto the Pastors, and annexed unto the Ministry of the word. But to execute this sentence declared, belongeth to God alone. In Ecclesiastical jurisdiction, or Church-judgement, the denouncing of the favour and wrath of God, is not done by any privately, but by the whole Church, or in the name of the whole Church, by such as are deputed thereunto by the common consent of all. And this denouncing is used for some certain causes, and towards some certain persons, having also companying it a debarring and excluding from the use of the Sacraments, when need requireth.

¹Object. Then have men power to condemne. Ans. They have ministeriall power; that is, the charge and function of denouncing unto men, according to Gods Word, that God remitteth or not remitteth their sins. And this is done two waies: §1First, and in generall, when in the preaching of the Gospel they declare, That all beleevers are saved, and that all unbeleevers are condemned. §2

¹Now, Who are to be excommunicated, is known sufficiently by that which hath been said before; namely, such as either deny some Article of faith, or show that they will not repent, or submit not themselves to the will of God, according to his commandments, neither make any doubt of persisting stubbornly in manifest wickedness. All such are not to be admitted into the Church: or, if they have been admitted into the Church in baptism▪ yet we must not go forward in offering them the Lords Supper.

¹Now, Who are to be excommunicated, is known sufficiently by that which hath been said before; namely, such as either deny some Article of faith, or shew that they will not repent, or submit not themselves to the will of God, according to his commandements, neither make any doubt of persisting stubbornly in manifest wickednesse. All such are not to be admitted into the Church: or, if they have been admitted into the Church in baptisme▪ yet wee must not goe forward in offering them the Lords Supper.

1. 1The persons who are to be excommunicated.

¹That Order is to be observed in executing the office of the Keys which Christ himself, Matth. 18. hath set down. §1When a man hath committed some private trespass, he must first be courteously admonished by one, according to the commandment of Christ:² §2If thy brother trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between him and thee alone: if he hear thee, thou hast won thy brother. Moreover, if being admonished by one, he doth not yet repent, he must be again privately admonished by thee, taking one or two with thee. And such admonitions must be done according to Gods word, and with signification of good will towards the offender; and that not but for causes just, weighty, and necessary. And if neither so admonished by one or two he repent, he is to be corrected by the whole Church. Which also Christ hath commanded.§3 If he will not vouchsafe to hear them, tell it unto the Church. Now, if a man transgress publicly by offending of the whole Church, he must also publicly be corrected by the Church, according as his trespass is. §4If neither yet he will repent, being admonished and chastised by the Church, whether it be he that committed a private trespass, or he that committed a public offence, at length excommunication must be inflicted by the Church, as the extreme and last remedy to correct men obstinate and impenitent: even as also Christ himself commandeth in these words next following the place before alleged, If he refuse to hear the Church also, let him be unto thee as an Heathen man, and a Publican. In these words Christ expressly commandeth all, whosoever, being after this sort admonished by the Church, will not repent, to be by the common consent of the Church excommunicated, until they repent. This then is the lawful course of reclaiming such as go aside, and refractary persons in Christs Church, if the degrees prescribed be observed in the execution. The degrees prescribed are four: 1. A brotherly private admonition. 2. An admonition by many. 3. An admonition by the Church, 4. The public decree and sentence of the Church. The first and second degree take place in private offences; the third, in notorious and grievous public crimes or scandals; the fourth, in a case of contumacy, in which only the Church proceedeth to excommunication, reputing the obstinate party for an Heathen and Publican;

that is, for an alien and stranger from the Church and Kingdom of God, until he repent. Wherefore necessarily before excommunication first goeth a knowledge of some slip or error, and a knowledge of obstinacy or stubbornness. If then any man become a Papist, or an Arian, or a Davidian, or an Apostate in any other kind, he must not be reputed a member of the Church, though himself profess that he is, and desire to continue therein, unless he abjure and detest his error, and live according to the doctrine of the Gospel. The reason is, because God will have his Church separated from all other Sects ⟨p. 487⟩and limbs of the Devil: but they, who reverse their oath made in Baptism, are limbs of the Devil: Therefore they are to be exiled the Church; yea, though they profess themselves Christians. For, in deeds they deny what they profess in words: and therefore it is evident, that they lye and dissemble; seeing faith and a Christian life cannot be dis-joined; and they who separate them, mock God and his Church. Now, an Apostate is not such an one as sometimes,¹ or oftentimes offendeth in life and doctrine, and repenteth again; but such an one, as who being apparently convicted of open errors and out-rages, refuseth to desist from them. Howbeit, if any profess repentance, and make outward show thereof, though inwardly he be an hypocrite, the Church is bound to admit such an one, until he bewray himself. For the Church may not judge of things secret and hidden.

that is, for an aliant and stranger from the Church and Kingdom of God, untill he repent. Wherefore necessarily before excommunication first goeth a knowledge of some slip or errour, and a knowledge of obstinacy or stubbornesse. If then any man become a Papist, or an Arrian, or a Davidian, or an Apostata in any other kind, he must not be reputed a member of the Church, though himselfe professe that hee is, and desire to continue therein, unlesse he abjure and detest his errour, and live according to the doctrine of the Gospel. The reason is, because God will have his Church separated from all other Sects ⟨p. 487⟩and limbes of the Divell: but they, who reverse their oath made in Baptisme, are limbes of the Divell: Therefore they are to be exiled the Church; yea, though they professe themselves Christians. For, in deeds they deny what they professe in words: and therefore it is evident, that they lye and dissemble; seeing faith and a Christian life cannot be dis-joyned; and they who separate them, mocke God and his Church. Now, an Apostata is not such an one as sometimes,

3. What are the ends of the Ecclesiastical discipline, and what abuses are therein to be avoided.

3. What are the ends of the Ecclesiasticall discipline, and what abuses are therein to be avoided.

Christ hath given to his Church the power of Excommunication, not for the destruction of the sinner which is to be excommunicated, but for his edification and salvation. Wherefore the end of this discipline is not to establish the sovereignty and tyranny of the Ministers: The Kings of the Gentiles reign over them; ¹but ye shall not be so. The Ministers themselves must most of all be subject to this discipline, and with this bridle they are specially contained within the bounds of their vocation; because the Keys belong not to Ministers alone, but to the whole Church. Much less is this the end of Ecclesiastical discipline, that wretched sinners should be vexed, oppressed,² and driven to desperation (these are the slanders of the enemies of this discipline) but the true ends are those which the Apostle delivereth and showeth: §11. That the rebellious, by this means disgraced and terrified, may bethink themselves and repent, Let such a man be delivered unto Satan,³ for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. §22. Lest other Christians, by the example and conversation of wicked ones, should be corrupted. For, one scabbed sheep, unless he be cured or excluded, may infect the whole flock; and a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. Your rejoicing is not good: ⁴know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? §33. That others may be put in fear of offending; Them that sin, rebuke openly, that the rest may fear. §4⁵4. That the Church be not defaced with scandals, and to avoid the profanation of the Sacraments, and Gods anger consequent thereon: Purge out therefore the old leaven,⁶ that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened: For Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us. These then are the ends and uses of Ecclesiastical discipline or excommunication.

The abuses that are to be avoided in Excommunication, are; 1. That the degrees of admonition be not neglected,¹ and that we begin not preposterously from the last, but from the first. §1First therefore let private admonition take place, and let him be gently and courteously admonished, which hath offended; and let the admonition be a detecting and reproof of his error out of Gods Word, and an exhortation to amendment. §22. Let it be done in such sort as it ought; that is, according to Gods Word, with signification of our brotherly love, and desire of succouring them that err, and that to their salvation. For, God will not execute another's sentence, but his own: Therefore our offending brother must not presently be reckoned for an enemy, or alien from the Church, but be admonished as a brother; according to that of the Apostle: Yet count him not as an enemy, ²but admonish him as a brother. §33. Let it be done on just, weighty, and necessary causes, and not on wrong, doubtful, and causes of no importance. We may not proceed on every suspicion to Excommunication, but upon urgent necessity, as Physicians, who come not to lancing, until mere necessity enforce them. Now, this necessity is then, when errors against the foundation of faith, and open out rages are obstinately maintained, and the whole congregation, or some parties thereof are endangered. §44. The cause must with circumspection be weighed by all the Elders, the decision and judgement approved of the whole Church; ⟨p. 488⟩it may not be managed by any several mans private authority, or swayed by the Minister alone. For this power is not appropriated by Christ to some few, or to the Ministers only (howsoever the execution be devolved by the Church to a few, or to the Minister alone) but to the whole Church, If he will not vouchsafe to hear them and others tell it unto the Church. ³The Kings of the Gentiles reign over them; but ye shall not be so. Wherefore the consent and decree of the Church is to be expected; 1. Because of Gods express commandment to this purpose. 2. That no man be injured. 3. That the process may be better authorised. 4. That the Ministry of the Church grow not unto an Oligarchy, or a Papistical sovereignty of some few persons.

That we kindle no schisms, not give occasion of scandal and offence in the Church, whilst good men see many at variance between themselves, that grievous evils follow one another on the head, and that the Church is divided: These evils, if the Ministers see, or fear, they may not proceed, but warn and exhort both privately and publicly. If they profit nothing hereby, they are held excused: Blessed are they which hunger and thirst after righteousness; ¹for they shall be filled: Others shall give an account of their obstinacy.

That we kindle no schismes, not give occasion of scandall and offence in the Church, whilst good men see many at variance between themselves, that grievous evils follow one another on the head, and that the Church is divided: These evils, if the Ministers see, or feare, they may not proceed, but warne and exhort both privately and publikely. If they profit nothing hereby, they are held excused: Blessed are they which hunger and thirst after righteousnesse; ¹for they shall be filled: Others shall give an account of their obstinacy.

1. 1Mat. 5.6.