THE ORDINANCE OF Excommunication Rightly stated and vindicated From several false Opinions concerning it.  By a Lover of TRUTH and PEACE. 

Feb. 17. 1645.  
Imprimatur.  
John Downame.   

THere hath been much debate about the Ordinance of Excommunication: some say there is no such thing, others say, it is a humane Ordinance, and to be executed by the Magistrate; others hold it to be a divine Ordinance, and yet all the Members of the Church must have equal power in the execution of it: others say it belongeth only to the Eldership, yet not to be done without the consent of the Church, that they may the better preserve the unity of it: and some say, they are to be cast out from all the public Ordinnances: Others say, they are to be cast out only from some of them: And some say, they are to be cast out for ignorance, or at least suspended from the Lords Supper: others say, none but only for scandal. These divisions have hindered our expectation of a settled government; we have waited long, and still Reformation sticks in the place of breaking forth of children, Hos. 13.13. and the mean time the soul of the Church (like the Shunamite) is vexed and grieved within her, and all the Prophets seem to say, Let her alone, for the Lord hath hid it from me, and hath not told it me; 2 King 4.27. They speak not, than I said, I will show mine opinion, the Spirit within me constraineth me, Job. 22.16, 17. because the child of Reformation is come to the birth, and there is no strength to bring forth, Isa. 37.3. therefore we mourn and humble ourselves, that scandalous persons might be taken from among us, 1 Cor. 5.2. and the Ordinances of Christ kept from pollution, that we might offer unto the Lord a pure offering, Mal. 1.11. that the Lord might smell a savour of ●est, and that the glory of the Lord might dwell in our Land, Isa. 8.59.  
The Ordinance of Excommunication may be thus defined, It is a divine censure, inflicted by the E●●ership being Church-Officers) in a ●egall ●a●, upon scandalous persons, that ●ither by the leaven of false Doctrine undermine h● Truth's o● the Gospel, or by the leaven of profaneness, trample it under foot, and the extent of it is to debar them from all the public Ordinances of Christ, till they be ashamed, and upon Reformation and satisfaction to the Church they may here-admitted in again.  
The two first branches of the definition I shall put together, because the proving of one proves the other.  
First, Excommunication is a divine Censure, because both the keys were given to the Ministry, the key of Doctrine, and the key of Discipline: It is not said to the Church, that they shall have the keys, but saith Christ to Peter, I will give thee the keys; Mat. 16.19. and whatsoever the Ministry, or Church-Officers shall bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven, and what they lose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven; Chap. 18.17, 18. and, what sins ye remit, shall be remitted, and what sins ye retain shall be retained, Joh. 20.23.  
Secondly, it is a divine Censure, because it was inflicted only by Church-Officers: Paul saith, I have judged, and do not ye judge those that are within: cast out therefore that wicked person, 1 Cor. 5.12 13. and saith Paul, he that troubleth you, shall have his judgement, whoever he be, Gal. 5.10. and he received of the Lord that which he delivered to them, 1 Cor. 11.23. it was not done by the Minister alone, nor by all the Church, but it was inflicted by many, 2 Cor. 2.6. and this was the Eldership or Church-Officers, because,  
Thirdly, If this divine Censure be not done, the Church-Officers only are blamed for it, the Lord said unto the Angel or Ministry of the Church of Thyatyra, I have some thing against thee, because thou sufferest jezabel to seduce my servants, and the Lord hath something against the Angel or Ministry of the Church of Pergamus, because they had some among them that hold the Doctrine of Balaam, Revel. 2.14, 20.  
Fourthly, Excommunication is a divine Censure, and not a humane Ordinance, because it was in the Christian Church before they had either humane Laws or Magistrates in it: and afterwards, when they had Kings and Einperours in the Church, they have submitted themselves to this Ordinance.  
Fifthly, It is a divine Censure, because the Church is commanded to obey them that have the rule over them, who also have spoken unto them the Word of God, and they watch for their souls, as they that must give an account, Heb. 13.7, 17. as they rule in their family, so they must rule in the Church; for both must obey them, 1 Tim. 3 4 5.  
Then this is contrary to their now Model, who utterly deny that there is any such Ordinance, and would have the Magistrate to rule in the, Church with regal power, as they rule in the State, but this is to dethrone. Christ of his Kingly Office in the Church, who placed them to rule so in the State only, and not in the Church, by the positive Laws of the Land. But Ministers rule Ministerially by the Word only, and in obedience to Christ and not to men.  
Secondly, This is contrary to them who hold that all the Congregation must rule, judge and censure, but if all should be rulers, who should they rule? and if all should judge and censure, who should they judge and censure? it was the Apostles and Elders, those Church-Officers in that Synod at Jerusalem that made Decrees to be kept, & laid it upon them, they concluded and passed sentence, Acts 15 19, 28, 16, 4, 21, 25 this Censure of Excommunication was not inflicted by all, but by many; see 2 Cor. 2.45, 6.  
Thirdly, This is contrary to those that would have this divine Censure to be but a humane Ordinance, and to be inflicted by the Magistrate saying tell the Church, is to tell the Magistrate, Mat. 18.17 but sure Christ did never intent that brethren should go to law for every small private offence, but rather tell the Officers of the Church, and they would admonish them better: then the true meaning of Christ is this; There was a private offence which one neighbour had done to another, which should have been decided by two swords, but could not; hereupon it was brought to the Eldership, and being a private offence they could not punish him that did the wrong by Excommunicating him, although he was desperate and was neither sorry for what he had done, neither would make satisfaction for the wrong now the Eldership could only admonish him privately, and if that would not reclaim him that did the wrong, from private injuries, the party wronged was to refrain his company, and to esteem of him as a heathen or a Publican, but neither the Church, nor other men must, so esteem of him, till they have the same experience of his injurious dealing with them: for the Church doth not say, we will so esteem of him, but let him be so to thee, than this could not be a civil Court of judicatory, for they had more power in their hands then to admonish him by words, although the offence was private, they might imprison, fine, or correct him for his private offence, in regard he would be neither sorry for his wrong, nor make satisfaction, see Luk. 12.58, 29. Mat. 5.25, 26. but the Eldership could only admonish for a private offence, although they might cast him out for a public scandal, having the consent of the Church, than Excommunication is not a humane Ordinance to be executed by the Civil Magistrate, than this doth directly suit with the Presbyterial way of Government, who refer matters to the Eldership (as the Kingdom doth to the Parliament) and that Government in this point more agrees with the Word of God, than any of the other.  
The next thing in the definition is, that they ought to be legally excommunicated, if a man go on in a way of error, so that he undermines the truth of Doctrine, or Discipline, or by profaneness trample it under foot, than the Minister ought not of himself to keep back such a man from any public Ordinance of Christ; for if this power were in one man's breast it were as bad as the Pope, or any Prelate in his Diocese, it must be inflicted by many, 2 Cor. 2.6. than the people must not urge their Minister no do it, nor be offended with him if he do it not; for he hath no power to keep them back from any Ordinance, nor to keep the Ordinance from them, for necessity is laid upon them, and we be unto them if they preach not the Gospel, 1 Cor. 9.16. and this necessity lies upon them to dispense all the Ordinances of Christ to all in the Church, till they be legally cast out.  
Now the legal way of Excommunication is this; First, there must be a lawful conviction of the party that is to be cast out, by witnesses before the Eldership, how this man by error undermines the truth of the Gospel, or by profaneness tramples it under foot, than the Eldership must admonish him to leave that wicked course of life: this it may be will make him at least promise amendment or Reformation; then they must wait a while upon trial, and it may be he may leave his error, or profane life, but if not, they must call him before them again, and urge him of his promise, and tell him also, if he do not reform, they must proceed to cast him out; this it may be will make him promise more seriously to leave that sinful course, than they ought to forbear, and try him again, to show themselves loath to cut off a member, if it be possible to heal it.  
But if he have passed the first and second admonition without Reformation, they must proceed against him, and conclude that he deserves to be cast out, as Paul saith, A man that is an heretic alter the first and second admonition, reject, Tit. 3.10. yet although they have passed their private censure among themselves, that he deserves to be cast out, rather than the Ordinance of Christ should be polluted, as Paul did; and it is likely there was more with him when he said, I have judged already though absent, that he who hath done this deed may be taken from among you, 1 Cor. 5.2, 3. yet he was not to be actually and solemnly cast out, till they were gathered together in the Name of Christ, and with the power of the Lord jesus Christ, Verse. 4. and to keep the unity of the Church, they must inform them how they have proceeded against this man by way of admonition, and still he goes on in his scandalous life, either undermining, or trampling the Ordinances of Christ under feet, and if the Church be willing they shall proceed to censure and cast him out: but in case there be more in the Church against it then for it, then for the peace of the Church they must forbear and try him again by admonition, and if he go on still, make it again known to the whole Church, and it may be they will consent to have him cast out; but if they will not, the Eldership must forbear upon further trial by admonition, lest they make a breach in the Church, and so the remedy will be worse than the disease. Thus using the means of admonition, no doubt in time the man will either be reclaimed, or the Church will give consent to cast him out, and the peace of it still preserved.  
The next thing in the Definition is, to show who must be excommunicated.  
I answer: Only scandalous persons, and they are of two sorts; either such as by the leaven of false doctrine undermine the truths of the Gospel: Or secondly, such as by the leaven of a profane life trample the Gospel under foot, both these must be kept out of the Christian Church, or they will be the mine of it.  
First, if any man shall broach and maintain any error, or heresy, against the truths of christ, and by that means seek to destroy the doctrine, or discipline of the Christian Religion, this is the leaven of the pharisees and Sadduces, Matth. 16.10, 11. and so long as they hold such errors, John would not admit them into the Christian Church, because like Vipers they would have eaten out the bewels of the Christian Church: See Mat. 3 7. And for such errors (saith Paul) they must becast out; for a little of this leaven will leaven the whole lump: therefore (saith he) I have confidence in you, in the Lord Jesus Christ, that you will be none otherwise minded; but he that troubleth you shall have his judgement, whose ever he be, Galat. 5.9 10. If any cause grief to the Church, sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. 2 Cor. 2.6.  
Secondly, this divine censure must be inflicted upon such as have the leaven of a profane life, else they will make the Lords people abhor the offerings of the Lord, 1 Sam. 2.17, 22, 24. And Paul hearing of the incestuous man, judgeth him worthy to be cast out, and saith; Do not ye judge those that are within, purge out therefore the old leaven, that you may be a new lump; and if that man will not repent, refrain his company; and if that will not reclaim him, cast out from among yourselves that wicked person, 1 Cor. 5. For as the leaven of error will eat out both the truth of Doctrine and Discipline, like a canker, as did the words of Himineus and Phile●us, 2 Tim. 3.17. so profaneness casts filth upon Religion, and the Professors of it, and makes both to be despised.  
But some would have ignorance to be a sufficient cause of casting out, or at least to keep them from the Sacrament of the Lords Supper; but I can find no such Text, for all came to the Passover without exception, unless they were legally unclean, and so cast out; and all those young Converts came to the Lords Supper without any exception, Acts 2.46. and 20.7. If they were baptised, they were not debarred the other Sacrament; and they baptised multitudes together, Matth. 3. and some of them knew not that there was any Holy Ghost, neither did they know Jesus Christ, till Paul had taught them, Acts 19.1, 2, 3, 4. Yet here is no encouragement for ignorant persons to rush upon the holy things of God, for they sin fearfully, unless they know God in his names and Attributes, his works of Creation, works of Grace and Providence, and Jesus Christ as Mediator in his two Natures, and his Offices, and himself in the state of innocence, and in the state of corruption, and restored by Christ to grace here, and to glory in the soul after death, and in the body after the day of judgement; for, the sinle without knowledge is not good, Prov. 19.2. See the danger of it, Isa. 5.13. Hos. 4.1. 2 Thess. 1 8. not discerning the Lords body, they drink judgement: Mark. not the Minister, but to himself, 1 Cor. 11.29. Then if a faithful Minister hath showed them the danger, in coming without knowledge, and laboured to teach them, and still they are willingly ignorant, he may say, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, for my work is with my God Isa. 49.4, 5. Here is a sweet savour to Christ in them that are saved, and in them that perish, 2 Cor. 2.15. This (I say) may comfort him, when they will neither learn knowledge, nor yet abstain from the Sacrament, and the Church hath no power to keep them back, nor cast them out, unless they oppose the Truth by profaneness or error.  
The next thing in the Definition, is the extent of it, from what must they be excommunicated?  
I answer: From all the public Ordinances of Christ in the Church, Miriam for sedition against Moses was smitten with leprosy, and the Lord commanded to shut her out from the camp seven days, Num. 12.8.14. And Vzza for burning incense, was smitten with leprosy, and dwelled in a several house till the day of his death, he was cut off from the house of the Lord 2 Chron. 26.19 21. And saith Paul, Put away from among yourselves that wicked person; and saith he, I would they were even cut off which trouble you, Gal. 5.12. By this it is plain, that they were cut off from all public Ordinances, which is contrary to those that would have them debarred from the Lords Supper only, and yet freely enjoy all other Ordinances, which is no excommunication at all, neither can any sound reason be given, why they should be kept from one ordinance, when as they may freely enjoy all the rest.  
The last thing in the Definition is, the time how long they are to stand excommunicated? I answer: Till they be ashamed, and by repentance and reformation give satisfaction to the Church, and then they may again be readmitted: the Lord said, that she may be ashamed, shut her out of the camp seven days, and after that receive her in again, Numb. 12 14. And saith Paul, Have no company with him that he may be ashamed, 2 Thess. 3.14. But although Miriam being a good woman, was ashamed, and repent, yet Vzziah was cut off from the house of the Lord all the days of his life, because he repent not, to give the Church satisfaction, they are cast out of the Church's protection into Satan's hands, to correct them with shame and sorrow, using the very Devil for the health of the the soul, as Physicians use poison for the health of the body; but when they (through grief and sorrow) are ashamed, and repent, and promise reformation, they ought to be again admitted, lest Satan get advantage, and lest they be swallowed up of overmuch sorrow, 2 Cor. 2.6.7.11. for their end must be, when they deliver them to Satan to be corrected, that their spirits may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus, 1 Cor. 5.5. Neither doth excommunication cut off their right to the Ordinances altogether, only for the present their souls are desperately sick, and no easy physic will cure them: saith Paul, Himineus and Alexander I have delivered to Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme, 1 Tim. 1.20 I suppose there was more with Paul, when he did this, although they are not expressed; but they were not given into Satan's to dispose of them at his pleasure; but as the Lord delivered Job into his hands to correct him, to humble him for his good, so doth the Church deliver them to Satan for shame and sorrow, to make them leave blaspheming, that their spirits may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus; but they have not cast them out of their prayers, admonitions, exhortations, 2 Thess. 3.14. And it was to keep the Ordinances from pollution, both for theirs and the Churches good; but then, if after all this, he shall upon self malice oppose Christ and the Gospel, as Julian the Emperor did, and the Church discern him to commit that unpardonable fin, they may declare this, and so leave him to his final estate, and cease to pray for him, being a sin unto death, and not to be prayed for, 1 Joh. 5.16. and rather pray for justice upon him, than for any mercy to him, as Paul did for Alexander the Coppersmith, when he did him much evil, 2 Tim. 4.14. If they bear malicious hatred to the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema maranatha, 1 Cor. 16.22. And if in malice to Christ, they teach any other Gospel, let them be accursed; yea, I say, let them be accursed, Gal. 1.7.8, 9 If they blaspheme against the Holy Ghost, they shall never be forgiven, because they say he hath an unclean spirit, Mark. 3.29, 30. Such as tread under foot the blood of the Covenant, whereby they should be sanctified, and do despite unto the Spirit of Grace, Heb. 10.29. Such as these indeed the Church is to rid their hands of, and leave them to their final estate; but such a case as this we hear of none but Julian since the Apostles days; but yet the Ordinance of Excommunication may be inflicted in much mercy to the soul of him that is cast out, and in love to the Ordinances of Christ, when they seek to keep them from pollution. And this was the cause why this Ordinance was given to the Church, to keep the Ordinances from pollution by heretics and profane persons, the Church having no humane power to defend it from pollution by the enemies of it in Doctrine and Discipline: But now whole Kingdoms have received the Christian Faith, and Kings and Magistrates do assist it, and they make such positive Laws, as may suppress both error and profaneness, and they are as a Guard about the Church, although they may not rule as Kings in it, yet they are to see their own Laws observed for the good of the Church, as nursing fathers to it, and to punish the disturbers of it, Ezra 7.25, 26. And when Church-Officers declare to them, how error eats out the Truth, and profaneness makes it to be despised, and the Magistrates will not punish it according to their positive Law, than the Church hath this power to cast them out from the Ordinances of Christ, and not suffer them to be undermined by heretics, nor trampled upon by profane persons.  
But in case the Magistrates be faithful in their places, to punish error and profaneness, when it is discovered and complained of, according to their positive Laws; then the Church-Officers need not to excommunicate any for many years together; for this remedy was given to the Church when they had neither humane Laws nor Magistrates in it, to keep the Ordinances of Christ from pollution, and it is still to be used, in case the Magistrates be negligent in their places: As the greater Presbytery is in little use in the Church, it the lesser Eldership be well governed; but in case that be negligent, the greater Presbyt … hath the more trouble: For if Magistrates be faithful, they will much ease them both. But in case they be nor, than (I say) God hath provided this help for the Church, to keep his Ordinances from pollution.  
Now that Church-Officers may be able to discover error and profaneness, the Officers must all be proved before they be put into ani● office, 1 Tim. 3.10. If Deacons must be so proved, much more should ruling and teaching Elders, they must be known to have discerning eyes, to foresee the first rise of error, and of a holy life, to contradict profaneness; when as the chief Magistrate comes to his place by inheritance, and sometimes is a woman, a child, or weak in wits, if not profane and careless; and subordinate Magistrates sometimes are ignorant or careless, and must have Lawyers to make known, who offend against the Laws of the Land: So the Church had need to have those that are well skilled in God's Law, to make known who offends against it, and to judge of those offences, and will labour to have them redressed, or their persons punished, that undermine God's Law by error, or heresy, or that trample upon it by profaneness.  
Now if profane or erroneous persons shall excommunicate themselves from the public Ordinances of Christ, either by negligence, or going a whoring after any Sects, or Schisms, and say their conscience must be free to do so, than the Magistrate by his positive Laws, must fetch them in, and command obedience to those public Ordinances in the Church, as the Kings of Judah did, 2 Chro. 17.6, 19, 10, 11, 31, 4, 35, 16. and if they will not obey the Law of God and the Law of the King, let judgement be speedily executed upon them, either to death or banishment, confiscation of goods, or imprisonment, Ezra 7.26. and for their conscience it may be as free as they will to the public Ordinances of Christ, and the command of man cannot hinder it, unless they despise obedience to God, for the very hatred they bear to the Magistrate for commanding it: but by this it appears, that they labour only to have their consciences free to evil, for they may be free to as much good as they will, and none will hinder them.  
THOMAS BAKEWELL.    

Printed for Henry Shepherd at the Bible in Tower Street, and William Ley at Paul's Chain near Doctor's Commons. 1646.