A LETTER
CONCEMING THE MATTER OF THE PRESENT EXCOMMUNICATIONS.
Sir, You judge aright, that at my last being in London I did consider the unusual hurry of excommunications against those called Dissen- ters; and, because of the novelty of the proceedings therein, I did, moreover, endeavour my own satisfaction as unto the design, causes, and ends of them ; and I find it a thing easily attainable, without difficulty or curiosity of inquiry: for, whereas there is no covering of religion, nor any thing appertaining thereunto, save only a name or title cast upon them, they openly discover themselves of what sort they are, and what they belong unto; and among many other inde- cencies wherewith they are accompanied, one seemed to me to be very notable, and this is, the collection of whole droves together by summons and citations, then dealing with them in such a clamor- ous manner as makes a representation of a public market or fair for chaffering about souls. But that, I found, which did jirincipally affect the minds of men was the event which these proceedings do tend unto and will produce ; and they generally concluded that they would be highly prejudicial, if not ruinous, unto all trust and trade among the peaceable subjects of the kingdom. For they said that if the commissaries would do as in the old Roman proscriptions in the time of Sylla, and of the triumvirate afterward, and set up the names of all that were to be proceeded against in public tables, to be ex- posed to the view of all, those concerned might shift for themselves as well as they could, and the residue of mankind might be at liberty to follow their own occasions; but whilst they retain an unreasonable reserve in their own breasts, as unto persons to be ruined by them, so as that they know not whose names, their own or of those with whom they are concerned, they shall see the next day affixed on the church-doors in order unto excommunication, it deprives them of all repose in the law of the land or public justice, and breaks all their measures about the disposal of their affairs. How far this is already come to pass, you, that are in the place, know better than I; but sure I am that the very rumour of it gives a general discomposure unto the minds of men.
212 A LETTER CONCERNING EXCOMMUNICATION.
Hearing no other discourse of these things, I was somewhat sur- prised with your letter, wherein you required my thoughts what in- fluence these excommunications may have on the consciences of them who are so excommunicated; for I did not think there would have been any question made about it : but since you are pleased to make the inquiry, I shall, for the satisfaction of my respects unto you (though as unto any other end I judge it needless), give you a brief account of my judgment concerning these proceedings ; which is the same, for the substance of it, with that of all sober persons with whom I ever conversed.
Excommunication is the name of a divine institution of Christ, wherein, and in whose due and just administration, the consciences of Christians are, or ought to be, highly concerned ; and this, as for other causes, so principally because it is the only sure representation of the future judgment of Christ himself: he did appoint it for this end, that so it might be. Providential dispensations are various, and no certain judgment can be made on them, as unto the final and eternal determination of things and causes: " No man knoweth love or hatred by the things" of that nature "that are before him." But this is ordained by the law of Christ, to be a just representation of his future judgment, with a recognition of the cause which he will proceed upon Therefore it is divinely instructive in what he him- self will do in the great day : it is " futuri judicii prasjudicium." But he will scarcely be thought well advised who shall send men to Doctors' Commons to learn the way and manner of Christ's judg- ment of his church, with the causes which he will proceed upon. He himself giveth another account of it, Matt. xxv. 31 unto the end of the chapter. Of what he there declares, there is neither name nor thing found among men of those practices which we treat about. The mentioning of them would be looked on as a sedition against their authority, or else make them ashamed, as a thief when he is found. But for any sort of persons to undertake the administration and execution of the sentence of excommunication against others, not m^aking it their design to represent the judgment of Christ to- wards impenitent sinners, is to bid defiance to him and his gospel. Wherefore no person whatever, wise or unwise, good or bad, can be concerned in the excommunication in conscience, or on a religious account. I speak not only of them who are forced to suffer hy them, but of them also by whom they are administered and denounced ; for it is impossible that men should be so far forsaken of all under- standing as to imagine that the proceedings therein do belong unto the gospel or Christian religion any otherwise but as a debasement and corruption of it : neither is any man ever the less of the com- munioa of the church of England by these excommunications, though