weeCommon wealth, it bath the means ofPrelervatjcjn ofit íj from ruine left in its own hands; or ifthe Common-wealth be dellroyed, the Community bath the Power of felf prefervation, and of forming a Common- wealth again to that end. Thehfe and being of States, fpecially of mens eternal happinefs,is not to hang upon fo Elender a peg as the corrupt will ofa few Supe- riours, and the mutable modes and circurnflances ofGovern- ment; nor a Neeefltary End to be wholly laid upon anuncertain and oft unneceffary means. The children lofe not their Right to Food and Rayment, nor are to be fuffered to famifh , when ever the Steward falls out with them, or falls afleep, or lofeth the Keyes. Another fervant fhould rather breakopen the doors, and more thanks he (hall have ofthe Father of the family, then if he had let them perifh, for fear oftranfgrcfling the bounds of his ,.calling. If inceft ( that capital diforder in procreation ) were no.incel} no crime, but a duty, to the Sons and daugh- ters of .Adam in cafe ofNeceflity (becaufe Order is for the End and thing ordered) then much more is a-difordered preferva- tiorn of the Church and Pavingof fouls and ferving ofGod, adu- ty , and indeed at that time, no diforder at all. Sect. 30. 7. Moreover if the failingof Ordination, fhould deprive the world of the preaching of the word, or theChur- ches of thegreat and necefiary benefits of Church Ordinances and Communion, thenone many <( yea thoufands ) fhould fuf- fer (and that in the greateft matters) for the fin and wilfulnefs of ,others,and mull he down under fuch fu$ering, left he fhould diforderly redr-e's it. But the confequent is againft all Justice and Reafon : Therefore the Antecedent is fo to. Seco. 3 i. 1n a word, it is fohorrid a conclufion, againft Na- ture , :a .d the Gofpel , and Chriflian fence, that the honour of God, the fruits of Redemption, the beingof the Church, the falvationor comfort ofmens fouls muff all be at the Prelates mercy, that a confiderate Chriflian cannot ( when he is him- feif) _believe it : that it íhonldbe in the powerofheretical,ma- licious, or idle Prelates to deny Godhis honour, and ( brill :the fruit ofall his fufferings, and Saints their Comforts, and tanners their falvation,and this when the remedie isbefore us,and that it . is thewill ofGod thatall thefe evils Mould be chofen before the Nilof anunordained Miniftry; this is anutterly incredible thing. Se&.
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