John — Chapter 9

*As for the cause of thrusting this poore man and such other out of the Synagogue, and excommunicating Heretikes, there is as great oddes as betwixt Heauen and hel: he being vsed so for folowing Christ and his Church these for forsaking Christ and his Church. Some more agreement there is between that corrupt sentence of the Iewes against the followers of Christ, and the pretended excommunication executed against Catholike men by our Heretikes: although in truth there is no great resemblance. For, the Iewes though they abused their power sometimes, yet had they authoritie indeed by Gods law so to punish contemners of their Law, and therfore it was feared and respected euen of good men. But the excommunication vsed by heretikes against Catholikes or any offenders, is not to be respected at al, being no more but a ridiculous vsurpation of the Churches right and fashion of the same. For, out of their Synagogues al faithful men ought to flye, and not tarie to be thrust out: according to the warning giuen against Core and Dathan: **Be ye separated from their tabernacles, lest you be wrapped in their sinnes. *See in the Annot. Mt. 18,17. **Num. 16.

6. Made clay.) External ceremonies. Christ that could haue cured this man by his only wil or word, yet vsed certaine creatures as his instruments in working, and diuers circumstances and ceremonies, clay, water, anoynting, washing, &c. No maruel then that he and his Church vse such diuersities of Sacraments and ceremonies external in curing our soules.

22. Put out of the Synagogue.) Heretical translation. The Heretikes vntruly translate here (& v. 35.) Excommunicate: to make the simple conceaue the Churches Excommunication to be no other, or no better, or no more rightly vsed against them, then this casting out of the Synagogue of such as confessed our Sauiour. Casting out of the Synagogue. They might as wel haue Translated for Synagogue, Church: for the old Testament, the new: for Law, grace: for flesh, spirit: for Moyses, Christ. For no lesse difference is there between casting out of the Synagogue, and Excommunication. Besides that, not euery one which was not of the Iewes Synagogue, was therfore out of the communion of the Faithful, many true beleeuers being in other partes of the world not subiect to the Iewes Synagogue, Law, nor Sacraments. The Churches Excommunication. And therfore it was not al one to be out of the Synagogue, and to be excommunicated, as now, whosoeuer is out of the Churches communion, either by his owne wil, or for his iust deserts thrust out of it by the spiritual Magistrate, he is quite abandoned out of al the societie of Saints in Heauen and earth, so long as he so continueth. *As for the cause of thrusting this poore man and such other out of the Synagogue, and excommunicating Heretikes, there is as great oddes as betwixt Heauen and hel: he being vsed so for folowing Christ and his Church these for forsaking Christ and his Church. Some more agreement there is between that corrupt sentence of the Iewes against the followers of Christ, and the pretended excommunication executed against Catholike men by our Heretikes: although in truth there is no great resemblance. For, the Iewes though they abused their power sometimes, yet had they authoritie indeed by Gods law so to punish contemners of their Law, and therfore it was feared and respected euen of good men. But the excommunication vsed by heretikes against Catholikes or any offenders, is not to be respected at al, being no more but a ridiculous vsurpation of the Churches right and fashion of the same. For, out of their Synagogues al faithful men ought to flye, and not tarie to be thrust out: according to the warning giuen against Core and Dathan: **Be ye separated from their tabernacles, lest you be wrapped in their sinnes. *See in the Annot. Mt. 18,17. **Num. 16.