he chief divines of Zurich and Berne
wanting for the recalling and restoring of the discipline of
excommunication. So Bullinger, upon 1 Cor. v.: "And hitherto (saith he) of
the ecclesiastical chastising of wickedness; but here I would have the
brethren diligently warned, that they watch, and with all diligence take
care that this wholesome medicine, thrown out of the true church, by
occasion of the Pope's avarice, may be reduced; that is, that scandalous
sins be punished; for this is the very end of excommunication, that men's
manners may be well ordered, and the saints flourish, the profane being
restrained, lest wicked men, by their impudence and impiety, increase and
undo all. It is our part, O brethren, with greatest diligence, to take
care of those things; for we see that Paul, in this place, doth stir up
those that were negligent in this business."

107. Aretius agreeth hereunto. _Problem. Theolog._, loc. 33: "Magistrates
do not admit the yoke; they are afraid for their honours; they love
licentiousness," &c. "The common people are too dissolute; the greatest
part is most corrupt," &c. "In the meanwhile, I willingly confess that we
are not to despair, but the age following will peradventure yield more
tractable spirits, more mild hearts than our times have." See also Lavater
agreeing in this, homil. 52, on Nehemiah: "Because the popes of Rome have
abused excommunication, for the establishing of their own tyranny, it
cometh to pass that almost no just discipline can be any more settled in
the church; but unless the wicked be restrained, all things must of
necessity run into the worst condition." See, besides, the opinion of
Fabritius upon Psal. cxlix. 6-9, of spiritual corrections, which he
groundeth upon that text compared with Matt. xvi. 19; xviii. 18; John xx.
23.

108. It can hardly be doubted or called in question, but besides these,
other learned and godly divines of those churches were and are of the same
mind herein with those now cited; and, indeed, the very Confession of
Faith of the churches of Helvetia, chap. 18, may be an evidence hereof:
"But there ought to be, in the meantime, a just discipline amongst
ministers, for the doctrine and life of ministers is diligently to be
inquired of in synods: those that sin are to be rebuked of the elders, and
to be brought again into the way, if they be curable; or to be deposed,
and, like wolves, driven away from the flock of the Lord, if they be
incurable." That