William  Roye's  Dialogue  between  a  Christian  Father  and  his  stuhhorn  Son.  453

I  well  perceave.  for  Christ  and  his  body  is  one  thynge  wherin
yf  one  once  be  grafted,  in  tyme  requyred  he  bringeth  forthe
tlie  frute  there  of.  wlieare  none  hypocrysy,  nor  outwarde
dissimulacion  can  healpe.  So.  What  is  the  power  and  ma.  xxiij.
authorite  of  this  churche?  Fa.  Paul  declareth  saynge.  The
lorde  hath  geven  me  power  to  edyfy,  and  not  to  ij.  co.  xiij.
destroye.  which  thynge  perteyneth  to  eache  one  of  the  mein-[fol.
  29 b .]  bers  of  this  boddy,  seynge  that  all  thynges  ought  to
be  done  for  the  edificacion  of  the  congr[eg]acion,  and  not  to
the  destruccion.  vnto  the  which  entent  all  spretuall  gyftes
lykwyse  sliulde  be  vsed  and  ministred  amonge  theym.  j.  co.  xij.
Son.  Have  they  whom  menne  call  lordes  of  the  spretualte  non
wotlier  power?  Fa.  Judge  in  thyne  herte  whether  they  be
members  of  this  body  or  not.  Yf  they  were,  they  shulde  also
be  ministers  of  the  congregacion,  and  fulfill  the  office  of  a
trewe  shephearde.  and  nether  soffre  theym  selves  to  be  called
lordes  or  masters.  nor  yet  their  shepe  to  be  devowered  of
wolves,  but  rather  after  Ohristis  example  put  their  owne  j.  cor.  üj.
bodies  in  ieoperdy  for  theym.  Son.  They  make  men  sore  astunuyed
with  theyr  coursse  and  excommunicacion.  Fa.  The  excommunicacion
  of  Christis  congregacion,  is  an  acte  of  gret.  charite,
and  brotherly  love.  Wherby  wotlier  shulde  refrayne  Joau.  x.
theym  silves  from  the  life  and  learnynge  of  hym  which  is
acoursed  or  excommunicate.  ordened  to  the  entent  that  therby
the  wicked  myght  the  better  come  to  the  knowledge  of  hym
sylfe.  and  at  the  last  confounded  and  ashamed  of  his  owne
offence  and  misdede  before  his  brethren,  confesse  hym  silfe
to  be  as  an  infecte  and  rotten  mem-  [fol.  30“.]  bre,  worthy  to
be  reiecte  from  the  whole  body.  and  so  with  amendment  desire
helpe  and  foryevenes  of  Christ  and  his  holy  Company.  So.  Is
this  excommunicacion  nedfull  vnto  the  churche  of  Christ?
Fa.  Ye  surely,  that  Christen  men  cannot  be  without  it.  For
herby  prove  they  all  thynges,  and  kepe  that  gode  is,  and
beleve  not  every  sprete,  but  prove  theym  whether  they  are  off
god  or  nott.  And  herby  syngulerly  beware  of  faulce  j.  Cor.  v .
learnynges.  and  so  exchewe  all  faulce  and  disceatfull  delusions
of  the  wicked.  So.  The  right  coursse  or  excommunicacion  as
they  saye  cannot  be,  except  it  be  declared  in  the  polpet.
Fa.  Loke  howe  moche  the  more  a  manne  perceaveth  j.  tcsa.  v.
Sitzungsber.  d.  phil.-hist.  CI.  LXXV1.  Bd.  III.  Eft.  30