Again : the especial nature of this institution doth require an espe- cial frame of mind in its administration, for it is the cutting off of a member of the same body with them, which cannot be without sense and sorrow (to cut off any one from a church who was never a member of it by his own consent, nor doth judge himself so to be, is ridicu- lous) ; hence St Paul calls the execution of this censure, " bewailing," 2 Coi'. xii. 21, denominating the whole action from the frame of mind wherewith it ought to be performed. And he that shall dare
A LETTER CONCEENING EXCOMMUNICATION. 21 7
to decree or denounce this sentence without sorrow and compassion for the sin and on the person of him that is excommunicated, plays a game with things sacred for his advantage, and shall answer for his presumption.
Besides, as was before observed, it is an instituted representation of the Lord Christ and his judgment in and of the church at the last day. If the consideration hereof be once out of the minds of them by whom it is administered, they must unavoidably err in all that they do, — much more if it be never once in them. But this they ought to take on their souls and consciences, that what they do, Christ himself, if present, would do, and will do the same at the last day; for so he will deal with all impenitent sinners, — he will denounce them accursed, and deliver them to Satan. There is undoubtedly required from hence a reverential care and circumspection in all that is done here. To make a false representation of Christ in these things, — that is, his wisdom, authority, holiness, love, and care towards the church, — is the worst and most deformed image that can be set up. What higher indignity can be offered to his gracious holiness than to act and represent him as furious, proud, passionate, unmer- ciful, and delighting in the ruin of those that openly profess faith in him and love unto him? God forbid that we should think that he hath any concern in such ways and proceedings !
Whereas, also, the next end of this censure is not destruction, but edification, or the repentance and recovery of lapsed sinners, it ought to be accompanied with continual fervent prayers for this end. This the nature of the thing itself requireth, this the Scripture directs unto, and such was the practice of the primitive church.
If we are Christians, we are concerned in these things as much as we are in the glory of Christ and the salvation of our own souls. If we only make a pretence of religious duties, if we only erect an image of them for our own advantage, we rtiay despise them, but at our peril. How well these things are observed in the present ex- communications is notorious. Once to mention them is to deserve a second thunderbolt ! An account of them, as to matter of fact, will be given shortl}^ At present I .shall only say, that there is not any transaction of affairs in any kind, amongst men civilized, wherein there is a greater appearance and evidence of turbulent passions, acting themselves in all manner of irregularities, more profaneness of expression, more insolent insultations, more brawling, litigi- ous proceedings, more open mixtures of money demanded in pre- tended administrations of right and equity, than there are in the public proceedings about them. Shall any Christian suppose that the Holy Spirit of God, on whom alone depends the efficacy of all divine ordinances unto their proper end, will immix his holy opera-
218 A LETTER CONCERNING EXCOMMUNICATION.
tions in or with this furious exertion of the lusts of men? If this be looked on as the complement of Christian discipline, or the last and utmost actings of the authority of Christ towards men in this world, it must needs be a temptation unto men of atheistical inclina- tions; certainly greater scandal cannot be given. And it is the in- terest of some, at least for the preservation of a veneration to their office, to dispose of proceedings in this case in such a way and manner as may administer occasion of consideration unto them concerned, and not so as to be carried on, as at present, with laughter, indignation, and confusion; and if dissenters are to be destroyed, it is desirable that the work were left unto the penal statutes, — which, as now pro- secuted and interpreted, are sufficient for it, — rather than that the name of religion and a divine ordinance should, merely for that end, be exposed to contempt.
The last thing that I shall trouble you with at present is, the con- sideration of the persons against whom the present excommunications are blustered, with the pretended causes of them. These are they whom they call Dissenters; concerning whom we may inquire what they are, and the cause of this pretended ecclesiastical severity towards them. And as unto the first part of the inquiry, they are such as believe and make open profession of all the articles of the Christian faith ; they do so as they are declared in the Scripture ; nor is the contrary charged on them. There is nothing determined by the ancient councils to belong unto Christian faith which they dis- believe; nor do they own any doctrine condemned by them. They profess an equal interest of consent in the harmony of protestant confessions with any other Protestants whatever. They own the doctrine of the church of England as established by law, in nothing receding from it ; nor have they any novel or uncatholic opinion of their own.