登陆注册
15516500000027

第27章 Chap. XVII(13)

But the effect in regard to secular matters, that being excommunicated, they should not onely be prohibited all Congregations, or Churches, and the participation of the mysteries, but as being contagious they should be avoided by all other Christians, even more then Heathen: for the Apostle allowed to accompany with Heathen, but with these not so much as to eate, 1 Cor. 5. ver. 10, II. Seeing then the effect of Excommunication is such, it is manifest in the first place, that a Christian city cannot be excommunicated. For a Christian City is a Christian Church, as hath been declar'd above in the 21. Art. and of the same extension. But a Church cannot be excommunicated; For either she must excommunicate her selfe, which is impossible; or she must be excommunicated by some other Church, and this, either universall, or particular. But seeing an Universall Church is no Person, (as hath been prov'd in the 22. Artic.) and therefore neither acts, nor does any thing, it cannot excommunicate any man. And a particular church by excommunicating another Church doth nothing; for where there is not one common Congregation, there cannot be any Excommunication. Neither if some one Church (suppose that of Jerusalem) should have excommunicated an other (suppose that of Rome) would it any more have excommunicated this, then her selfe: for he that deprives another of his Communion, deprives himselfe also of the Communion of that other. Secondly, No man can excommunicate the subjects of any absolute government all at once, or forbid them the use of their Temples, or their publique worship of God. For they cannot be excommunicated by a Church which themselves doe constitute; for if they could, there would not onely not remain a Church, but not so much as a common-weale, and they would be dissolved of themselves; and this were not to be excommunicated, or prohibited. But if they be excommunicated by some other Church, that church is to esteem them as Heathen.

But no christian Church by the doctrine of Christ, can forbid the Heathen to gather together, and Communicate among themselves, as it shall seem good to their Cities, especially if they meet to worship Christ, although it be done in a singular custome, and manner: therefore also not the excommunicated, who are to be dealt with as Heathen. Thirdly, a Prince who hath the Soveraign Power, cannot be excommunicated. For by the doctrine of Christ, neither one, nor many subjects together can interdict their Prince any publique, or private places, or deny him entrance into any Assembly whatsoever, or prohibit him the doing of what hee will within his own jurisdiction. For it is Treason among all Cities, for any one, or many subjects joyntly to arrogate to themselves any authority over the whole City; but they who arrogate to themselves an authority over him who hath the supreme power of the City, doe arrogate the same authority over the City it selfe. Besides, a Soveraign Prince, if he be a Christian, hath this farther advantage, that the City whose Will is contained in His, is that very thing which we call a Church; the Church therefore excommunicates no man, but whom it excommunicates by the authority of the Prince: but the Prince excommunicates not himselfe, his subjects therefore cannot doe it. It may be indeed that an Assembly of rebellious Citizens or Traytors, may pronounce the sentence of excommunication against their Prince, but not by Right. Much lesse can one Prince be excommunicated by another, for this would prove not an excommunication, but a provocation to Warre by the way of affront. For since that is not one church which is made up of Citizens belonging to two absolute Cities, for want of power of lawfully assembling them, (as hath been declar'd before in the 22. Art.) they who are of one Church are not bound to obey an other, and therefore cannot be excommunicated for their disobedience. Now, what some may say, that Princes, being they are members of the Universall church, may also by the authority of the Universall church be excommunicated, signifies nothing: because the Universall church (as hath beene shewed in the 22. Art.) is not one Person, of whom it may be said that shee acted, decreed, determin'd, excommunicated, absolv'd, and the like personall attributes; neither hath she any Governour upon Earth at whose command she may assemble, and deliberate: For to be guide of the Universall church, and to have the power of assembling her, is the same thing as to be Governour, and Lord over all the Christians in the world, which is granted to none, but God onely.

同类推荐
  • 昭公

    昭公

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 外科十法

    外科十法

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 忍经

    忍经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 钓矶立谈

    钓矶立谈

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 幼真先生服内元炁诀

    幼真先生服内元炁诀

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 末世之黄昏

    末世之黄昏

    丧尸爆发,人性泯灭,过往的一切,都已不复存在!兄弟之情,男女之爱,在末日面前,显得那么的苍白无力!黄昏已经来临,黎明的曙光,何时才会到来?
  • 帅比我嫁了

    帅比我嫁了

    【片段1】“帅比,你还记得大明湖畔的夏紫薇吗?”画如晴逮着帅比就追的念头一把抓住画宰相的胳膊。“三儿,夏紫薇是谁?”画中郎一脸迷茫。“不好意思,台词搞错了。我重新念。帅比,你还记得大明湖畔的夏雨荷吗?这样你是不是会想起来?”画如晴闪烁着亮晶晶的大眼睛激动的再次询问。“叫太医叫太医,我家三儿脑子有点烧了。”画中郎急切的冲出外面喊道。【片段2】“皇上,我嫁!这么帅的帅比怎么能不嫁!皇上择日不如撞日,不如今晚成亲。从此我们和单身就是路人!”众人扑倒!要不要爱这么直白!今晚成婚?要不要这么着急?
  • 无尽混沌之旅

    无尽混沌之旅

    无尽的混沌世界,嗜血残忍的异族,散播恐怖的魔神,夹缝中生存的弱小人类,外域入侵的威胁,我们的主角将如何在这个世界生存下去,甚至成为世界上又一个恐惧源头………
  • 碑定混沌

    碑定混沌

    因为一滴血,少年,背负大陆的命运,踏上征程,没有人能阻我!挡我者,死!
  • 再来一次可好

    再来一次可好

    “师父,这一切都是小雨的错,求求你放过云哥哥,即使要我魂飞魄散,用不超生,我也绝无怨言”
  • 豪门蜜恋:暖心总裁独宠妻

    豪门蜜恋:暖心总裁独宠妻

    他是顾家大少,表面听从父母,暗里执掌黑白两道。不近女色,心狠手辣。她,是平凡人家的普通女孩,因为一场车祸不得不嫁入豪门。从此,她变成他家的专属仆人,供他使唤。为了养母的心愿,她在管家那学习商业技能,将连锁店越做越大。某日,他醉酒将她扑倒,她便成了他的心头肉。“女人,你知道自己是谁吗?”他渐渐爱上她,她的身份也随之揭开。当知道这一切的时候,她已经有了两个月的身孕。她知道自己配不上他,打算带着孩子悄悄离开,哪想还没踏出大门,就被拦住。“怀了本少的种,你还想去哪?”他邪魅一笑,脱去衬衫将她扑到。【宠文男女主身心干净】
  • 我们都是农村的孩子

    我们都是农村的孩子

    我是一个农村的孩子,从小就在苦人堆里长大,或许有很多人,特别是城里的孩子都没有体会过这种,人与人的隔膜,我是一个在意别人对自己有其他不好看法的人,但我的青春都是在有别人有色眼光里渡,想知道别人是怎么看我的吗?想知道你是否也精力过这些吗?快来一起分享人生吧,我写作并不是为了赚钱,只是我喜欢文学的表现。
  • 异界最强败家子

    异界最强败家子

    救人身死,重生穿越到异界,成为一代武王之子,从此开启异界之中最强败家子之路!
  • 美战同人之红颜为君泪

    美战同人之红颜为君泪

    一个是拥有特殊体制的银千年国家的公主,注定不能接近凡人。一个是金色山庄少庄主安迪米欧,注定是一个平凡的人,两个人无意的相识,带来一段可歌可泣的绝美爱情。
  • 弃女控天命

    弃女控天命

    我命由我不由天;天命由我不由己雪儿说:殿下假如你有能力就换下这片天空,换成属于你的天空竹馨说:没有一个母亲舍得丢弃自己的孩子,世界没有绝对的对错,只有你有能力哪怕是错的,别人也只会说对;假如你没有能力对的依旧是错的他说:我愿意陪你每天看夕阳,数星星。无论什么时候我都在你身旁