The L I F E of the Par till 146. Difobedience to Tome ofthe fmall EcclefsafticalRules may be punifhed .with'. Mullis, Without abfolute Silencing, efpecially when able Preachers are wanting. Shall the inftruiling of thePeoples Souls fo much depend on everyWord in all there Canons ? But oh, that you would make that good in Pra&ice that [Labouring to ;get.EccleffaJlical Preferment] Should be punifhed, if it were with lets thanDepa- fition : It would bea happy Canon. 147. But (hall the Synod, or Presbytery carry by Vote, or not? 14_9. If every Church- Seffion have this power gf Sufpengon, with power but to fay [ We declare you unfit for Communion of thisparticular till you repent,] it would give me great Satisfa&ion, were I in Scotland. For to peak freely, I take there two Things to beof Divine Appointment. i. That each particular Church have its proper .Pallor, who have the Minifterial Power of Teaching, Worfhip, ( Sacraments, Prayer, Praife) andDifcipline; and I delire no more Difciplinethan you here grant, that is, Sufpenfon from Communion in that particular Church, if alfo the Perron maybe declaredunfit for it till he Repent. z. That thefe Palters hold fach Correfpondency as is necelfary to the 'Union ofthe Churches in Faith and Love. And 3. For all the refs, I take them to he Circumftances of filch prudential Determination, that I would eafily fübmit to the Magifbrates determinationof them, fo they be not delfru&ive tothe Ends and would not have Minifters take toomuch of the troubleof themupon themfelves, without neceflity. 152. But then you feem here to retract the particular Churches Power again: For if 'aMan may be debarred the Communion for oncefinning (by Fornication, Drunkennefs, ,en.) why not muds more for doingagain after Repentance ? I differ more from this than all the refs : Is it not enough that the Partymay Appeal to the Presbytery? And that the SeRons or Paftor be refponfthlefor Male-Adminiftration or Injury, ifproved? This one Canon would driveme outofthe Miniftry inScotland: I wouldnever be a Paftor, where I mull after the Si-ifCrime, ever after give the Sacrament to every flagitious Offender, till the Presbytery fufpend him ; unlefs theydo it very gríckly; whichperhaps theymay neverdo. 153, 154 No doubt but Jure Divino every true particular Church bath the Power of Excommunicating its own Members out of thatparticular Church-Corn- munion : ( Delivering up to Satan is a doubtful Phrare which I Shall not Bandon.) But an Excommunication which (hall bind many Churches to avoid theSinner, mutt be done, or Confented to, by thofe many Churches. Therefore Excommunication Should be diftinguilhed. 156. -Sure fome few EEcclefiafticat Rules and Proceedings] may be fo low as that a Contempt of themmaybe eafilyer punlihed than with this terrible Excommunica- tion. Impenitency mull be joyned withScandalous Sins, or elfe theymake notthePerron Excommunicable, as is implyed in whatfolloweth. 162. No doubt but every Church may abfolve its own Members from that fort of Excommunication whichit felfmay pafs And fo may a Presbytery. But iftheMa- giftrate will have a- more. formidable, Diocefane. or National Excommunication, and an anfwerable Abfolution, thofe Circumftances are to be left to his Prudence, fo be it, he deprive not each particular Paftor and Church, of their proper Power and - Priviledge plainly found in Scripture, and ufed many hundred Years through the CatholickChurch. Honourable Sir, The Copy which you fent megoeth no further than to the Vili- cation ofthe Sick, viz. to Can. 176. And fomuch according as I wasdefired, I have freely and faithfully Animadverted. And in general, here aremanyexcellent Canons, though of many things I cannot Judge, and thofe few Exceptions I humbly offer to your Confideration, cravingyour Pardon for thisboldnefs, which I should not have beenguilty of, if the worthyMeffenger had not toldme, that it wasyour delire. Str, I refs 7uly, 22, 161c. Tour Humble Servant Rich. Baxter. 173. 1
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