A97353:438
The second part of The nonconformists plea for peace being an account of their…
The second part of The nonconformists plea for peace being an account of their principles about civil and ecclesiastical authority and obedience ... : mostly written many years past, and now published to save our lives and the kingdoms peace, from the false and bloody plotters ... / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for John Hancock, 1680
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.
§. 19. P. 258. [It is certainly unlawful to excommunicate any man for not paying the fees of Courts: For contumacy there is an offence against the Civil power, and he hath a sword of his own to avenge that. But excommunication is a sword to avenge the contumacy of them who stubbornly offend against the discipline of the Church in that wherein Christ hath given her authority; and that is in the matters of Salvation and damnation immediate; in such things where there is no secular interest; where there can be no dispute; where the offender doth not sin by consequence and interpretation, but directly and without excuse.
§. 20. I add one thing of great use and consideration, and that is, That when a Law is made that whoever shall commit such a fact shall be ipso facto excommunicate, it must never be understood of the Greater and proper excommunication: for if it be, it is unlawful, and it is ridiculous: for the abscission from the Church is not to be used but after all other remedies; when the Crime is delated and notorious, and when he hath been admonished and reproved and called to repentance, if after all he refuseth and rebels, then he is to be cut off, else not: And therefore no man is cut off ipso facto—If it be enquired whether all such sentences in Law which declare a man in certain ⟨p. 95⟩cases ipso facto excommunicate, be unlawful, the Arch-Bishop of Spalato (Lib. 5. de Rep. Eccles. c. 9. n. 23, 24.) who is fierce against them,1 answers affirmatively and confidently, and disputes well against them.
- 1Honest Dr. you made not our Canons which ipso facto excommunicate the professed Nonconformists: Yet I will venture to give one exception: viz. He that openly and deliberately renounceth God or Christ or any essential part of his Baptismal Covenant, or Christianity, thereby ipso facto cuts off himself; And therefore the Law may justly say that he is ipso facto excommunicate, and declare him so. Doubtless our Canon meaneth the proper excommunication, when it addeth, let him not be restored but by the Archbishop, and till he publicly repent & renounce his wicked error.