A76157:561
Confirmation and restoration the necessary means of reformation, and reconciliation; for the healing of…Confirmation and restauration the necessary means of reformation, and reconciliation; for the healing of…
Confirmation and restoration the necessary means of reformation, and reconciliation; for the healing of the corruptions and divisions of the churches: submissively, but earnestly tendered to the consideration of the sovereign powers, magistrates, ministers, and people, that they may awake, and be up and doing in the execution of so much, as appeareth to be necessary as they are true to Christ, his Church and Gospel, and to their own and others souls, and to the peace and welfare of the nations; and as they will answer the neglect to Christ, at their peril. / By Richard Baxter, an unworthy minister of Christ, that longeth to see the healing of the churches.Confirmation and restauration the necessary means of reformation, and reconciliation; for the healing of the corruptions and divisions of the churches: submissively, but earnestly tendered to the consideration of the soveraigne powers, magistrates, ministers, and people, that they may awake, and be up and doing in the execution of so much, as appeareth to be necessary as they are true to Christ, his Church and Gospel, and to their own and others souls, and to the peace and wellfare of the nations; and as they will answer the neglect to Christ, at their peril. / By Richard Baxter, an unworthy minister of Christ, that longeth to see the healing of the churches.
London: printed by A.M. for Nevil Simmons book-seller, 1658
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.
But when I say that Infidelity, Impiety, Heresy, do cut off or cast out, I mean it but Meritoriously. Either these crimes are private and unknown, or provable If not provable, then they merit this, and more Coram Deo, but not Ecclesiâ judice, that is, though there be guilt or demerits, yet we are no capable judges of it. But if the crime be provable, then it is either such, as needs a judgment or not▪ If it need a judgement, the person is only de jur• cast out before the sentence (which is terminus diminuens and is no• actual casting out) and he is actually cast out by the sentence, and the execution: so that his sin cast him out Meritoriously, the Law Obligatorily, the Pastors of the Church Sententially, and the whole Church, Pastors and People, Executively in avoiding him. But if there need no judgement, then he is excommunicate actually ipso jure, by the Law alone without a Judge, which may be in many a cas•• A• if he be a notorious Infidel, Atheist, Blasphemer, or notoriously beyond all doubt and controversy one of those, that the Law commands us to avoid; we must execute this Law, though there be no sentence pronounced. The want of a mans sentence ⟨image 182⟩will not excuse us from obeying Gods Laws. And where there is no controversy through the notoriousness of the case, there needs no Judge.
But when I say that Infidelity, Impiety, Heresie, do cut off or cast out, I meane it but Meritoriously. Either these crimes are private and unknown, or provable If not provable, then they merit this, and more Coram Deo, but not Ecclesiâ judice, that is, though there be guilt or demerits, yet we are no capable judges of it. But if the crime be provable, then it is either such, as needs a judgment or not▪ If it need a judgement, the person is only de jur• cast out before the sentence (which is terminus diminuens and is no• actuall casting out) and he is actually cast out by the sentence, and the execution: so that his sin cast him out Meritoriously, the Law Obligatorily, the Paflors of the Church Sententially, and the whole Church, Pastors and People, Executively in avoiding him. But if there need no judgement, then he is excommunicate actually ipso jure, by the Law alone without a Judge, which may be in many a cas A if he be a notorious Infidell, Atheist, Blaspheamer, or notoriously beyond all doubt and controversie one of those, that the Law commands us to avoid; we must execute this Law, though there be no sentence pronounced. The want of a mans sentence