Page:The Acts and Monuments of John Foxe Volume 3.djvu/90

66

As concerning the first point, it is pre-supposed, that the preaching of the word of God is commanded unto the apostles and their followers, as it appeareth in Matt, x., where it is said, "Jesus sent his twelve disciples, commanding them and saying, Go and preach that the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Also in the last of Matthew, and the tenth of Luke. Whereupon Peter, the apostle of Christ, acknowledging this precept and commandment for himself, and for the other apostles and successors, in Acts x., saith thus: "He commanded us to preach and testify, that it is he which is ordained of God, the judge both of the quick and the dead." This commandment, also, the other apostles did acknowledge, and especially the chosen vessel, pronouncing under a great threatening, [ 1 Cor. ix.] "Wo be unto me if I do not preach the gospel." And pope Nicholas, considering that great threatening in the forty-third distinction, saith: "The dispensation and distribution of the heavenly seed is commanded and enjoined unto us; wo be unto us if we do not sow it abroad, or if we hold our peace." Which thing when the vessel of election did fear and cry out upon, how much more ought all other inferiors to fear and dread the same! To the same purpose doth St. Gregory write, in his Pastoral, in the distinction, "Sit rector." It is also evident by many other doctors and holy men, as by St. Augustine, Jerome, Isidore, Bernard, whose words it were too long here to rehearse.

As touching the second point, That the hearing of the word and law of God is commanded unto the people, it is evident both by the old and new law; for it is said in Proverbs [chap, xxviii.], "He that turneth away his ear, and will not hear the law of God, his prayer shall be cursed." And our Saviour, rebuking the Scribes and Pharisees, concludeth thus in John viii., saying, "He that is of God, heareth God's word; but forasmuch as you are not of God, therefore you hear not his word." Thirdly, It is to be noted that excommunication is a separation from the communion, 11 quest. 3 par., "Nihil;" et cap. "Canonica;" and 27 quest. 1 par., "Viduas;" 34 quest. 3 par., "Cum sacerdos." And this excommunication is double, that is to say, either secret or manifest. The secret excommunication is, whereby a man is separated from the mystical body of Christ, and so from God through sin, according unto the 59th of Isaiah, "Your iniquities have made separation between your God and you." And with this excommunication doth the apostle excommunicate every man who doth not love the Lord Jesus Christ; saying in the firsth epistle to the Corinthians, and the last chapter, "If any man do not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed." The manifest and apert excommunication may be divided into a manifest excommunication by God, which is spoken of in Matt, xxv., "Go, ye cursed," &c., and oftentimes else in the law of God: also into a manifest excommunication by men, whereby the prelate doth either justly or unjustly cast out any man from the participation of the communion of the church; whereof this shall suffice at this present.

Then, as touching the first part of the article, it is thus argued, &c.

Whosoever forsake or leave the commandments of God undone, they are excommunicate of God. But the priests who leave off the preaching of the word of God, for fear of the unjust excommunication of men, do leave the commandment of God undone. Ergo, those priests who do leave off preaching of the word, are excommunicated of God.

The first part of this article is true: the major appeareth by the Psalm, "Cursed be they which do decline and swerve from thy precepts." The minor is evident by the first proposition, which proveth that the preaching of the word of God is the commandment of God enjoined unto those priests and ministers. Whereupon the saying of our Saviour [Matt, xv.] is spoken unto them: "Wherefore do you transgress the commandments of God for your own traditions?" leaving off the preaching of the word of God for fear of unjust excommunication; and so dishonouring the father Christ, and the mother the holy church.

It is thus confirmed: All they who do omit or let slip any manner of work, principally and straitly enjoined them by the Lord Jesu Christ, under the cloak and colour of grace, for fear of any excommunication of men, are already excommunicate. But priests, and especially curates, admonished by the Spirit of God, leaving off the preaching of the word of God for fear of the excommunication of men, omit and leave off, for fear of the same excommunication, a work principally