Baxter - Houston-Packer Collection BX5151 .B3 1659

Cz93.? feveral circuits, one Lordsday in four, ( whichwas every Lords day among them all ) tohelp their neighbours. §. 28. And if the Invitation of a People, or the Agreement of Paftors maydo this no doubt then but the prudent Govern- ment of a Magilrate may do it. Andhe may appoint Certain Paftors their boundsand Circuits andappoint them to afford convenient affifance to the Paftors and people within chofe bounds. And thus he may make them Vifitors of the Chur= ekes andCountry about them,in which vifitation, theymay Teach and do other Minilerial offices by Confent ; and may by the Magifrares command, take notice whether the Churches be duly Con{litutedandGoverned,and may acquaint theMagiftratehow things are; and may fraternally Reprove the Negligent Paflors andpeople where they come; Andalit mayprovoke them toRe- formation,bothofChurch conftitution andChurchadrniniftrati. ons; And there vifìtors may give notice to the neighbour Churches,of filch Pallors as they find unfit for the Miniflry, that bycontent they maybe difowned by the reft. z9. And though one Pallor have not of himfelf (as a Pao flor) fo much .Power over any of his Brethren, as to require him to cometo him togive him an account of his wayes , yet t. TheAffociated Pallors maydelire him to appear among them togive them fatisfacion when there is matter of offence : ( For one may better travail to many, then many toone.) And a. The Magiftratemay lawfully command Minifters to appear beforefilch Pallors as he bath appointed to be Vífitors ; and then it will be their duty in obedience to the Magiftrates com- mand. §. 3 a. Yet Magiftrates mull take heed that they put not the [word into the handsof Miniflers , nor enable them with coer- cive power, by touchingwens bodies or castes t Wedonot on- ly forbear toclaim fuch a power, but we difclaim ir, yea and humbly and earneftly befeech the Princes and Senates of Chri- flian Common-wealths, that they would keep the fword in their own hands, and not put it into thehands of any Miniflers and then wecould better bear theclaims and ufurpatiöns, not only of Exorbitant or tranfcendentPrelates, but of the Pope himfelf. Let them come unarmed, and have no weapon but fpiritual,the word ofGod,and then we flaall fiefs fear them.The Divifions,and P p 3 tyranny

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