§. 14. Lib. 3. c. 4. p. 217. [The use of the Keys differeth from proper jurisdiction in this great thing, that if the Keys be rightly used, they do bind or loose respectively; but if they err they do nothing on the subject; they neither bind nor loose. In proper jurisdiction it is otherwise: for right or wrong if a man be condemned he shall die for it; and if he be hanged he is hanged: But the Church gives nothing but the sentence of God, and tells upon what terms God will or will not pardon. If the Priest minister rightly, and judge according to the will and Laws of God, the subject shall find that sentence made good in heaven by the real events of the other world:—But if the priest be deceived, he is deceived for himself and no body else—He alters nothing of the state of the Soul by his quick absolution or unreasonable binding. The power of remitting sins given to the Church is nothing but an authority to minister that pardon which God gives by Jesus Christ—Ecclesiastical authority is a power of Jurisdiction, just as Excommunication is a Sword. But so is the word of God sharper than a two-edged sword, and so is a severe reproof— But how little there is of proper jurisdiction in excommunication we can demonstrate but by too good an argument (citing many instances of its uneffectualness) —Only the obstinate and incorrigible are to be proceeded against by that extreme remedy: And to them who need that extreme it is no remedy: for they that need it care not for it, and what compulsion then ⟨p. 91⟩can this be?—It must work only by opinion, and can affright them only who are taught to be afraid of it. It can only do effort on them who are willing to be good in the way of the Church; for it is a spiritual punishment, and operates only on the spirit, that is, on the will and understanding which can have no coercion—] That which Ecclesiastics can do, is a suspension of their own act; not any power over the actions of other men: and therefore is but an use of their own liberty, not an exercise of jurisdiction. He doth the same thing in Sacraments which he doth in preaching: In both he declares the guilty person to be out of the way to heaven, to be obnoxious to the Divine anger, to be a debtor of repentance; and refusing to baptize an ill Catechumen, or to Communicate an ill living Christian, does but say the same thing.
§. 14. Lib. 3. c. 4. p. 217. [The use of the Keys differeth from proper jurisdiction in this great thing, that if the Keys be rightly used, they do bind or loose respectively; but if they err they do nothing on the subject; they neither bind nor loose. In proper jurisdiction it is otherwise: for right or wrong if a man be condemned he shall die for it; and if he be hanged he is hanged: But the Church gives nothing but the sentence of God, and tells upon what terms God will or will not pardon. If the Priest minister rightly, and judge according to the will and Laws of God, the subject shall find that sentence made good in heaven by the real events of the other world:—But if the priest be deceived, he is deceived for himself and no body else—He alters nothing of the state of the Soul by his quick absolution or unreasonable binding. The power of remitting sins given to the Church is nothing but an authority to minister that pardon which God gives by Jesus Christ—Ecclesiastical authority is a power of Jurisdiction, just as Excommunication is a Sword. But so is the word of God sharper than a two-edged sword, and so is a severe reproof— But how little there is of proper jurisdiction in excommunication we can demonstrate but by too good an argument (citing many instances of its uneffectualness) —Only the obstinate and incorrigible are to be proceeded against by that extreme remedy: And to them who need that extreme it is no remedy: for they that need it care not for it, and what compulsion then ⟨p. 91⟩can this be?—It must work only by opinion, and can affright them only who are taught to be afraid of it. It can only do effort on them who are willing to be good in the way of the Church; for it is a spiritual punishment, and operates only on the spirit, that is, on the will and understanding which can have no coercion—] That which Ecclesiasticks can do, is a suspension of their own act; not any power over the actions of other men: and therefore is but an use of their own liberty, not an exercise of jurisdiction. He doth the same thing in Sacraments which he doth in preaching: In both he declares the guilty person to be out of the way to heaven, to be obnoxious to the Divine anger, to be a debtor of repentance; and refusing to baptize an ill Catechumen, or to Communicate an ill living Christian, does but say the same thing.
