(441) preisa Geffure, veflureor fuch Ceremonie, when I fee it tender/ And therèf re to the deftru&ion of my flock ? Muft I needs deny the Lords when I faid Supper to all my flock, if they darenot receive it in this or that before that in efture (let it be or kneeling,) and all beeaufe I am corn.- cafe ofNecef g fitting g illy I would manded to do fo ? rather Kneel, $. 5. Suppofe it here granted that the thing being lawfull, then not Corn- it is the peoples finful weaknefs that caufeth them to refufe municare, yet it ; and that the power commandingme no ocherwife todeliver th r at Ï od ld it, is fuch as in things lawful I am bound to obey t yet is it not Fo all that a:thing lawfull to punifh the peop`.es infirmity in a circumíiance rather be Ina fo feverely as with an excommunication, or a denying them the prifoned or communion ofthe Church in the Lords fupper.in fuch a cafemy fecwt first duty is,to tell theMagiffrate that fuch a Law is finfuliy cruel titan cailo4t and deftrue ive to the Churches peace. If that will no; prevail of the Chur- with him to repeat or fufpend fuch an unrighteous law,my next ches Connmu- duty is,yet to perfwade the people to obey him: (for we fuppofe dare nocthat the gettare or ceremony commanded now to be lawfull ,) But kneel or con- if I can neither prevail with the Magiftrate to forbear his ittpo- form In fuch a. iition, nor with the people to obey him ; my next duty is to circumíiance: forbear the execution ofhis unrighteous penalty : [dare not be And yet this his executioner, in excluding all Chrifts fervants from his houfe {leis t} e or holy Communion, that dare not do every circumflantial commanded aftion that is impofed on them For the penalty is flat contrary on great pe- to the Commands ofChrifl. Yet would I not refit the Magi- nalties to do, ftrate, but lay downmy office, if the Churches neceflìty did not forbid me to lay it down : but if it did, I would do my office, and Puffer what the Magiftrate fhould infliât uponme. $. 6. And indeed, i might elfe be obliged by a Magiflrate to excommunicate or deny Communion to all t_ hrifliarts within my reach : For all Chriffians are imper a ; and there is not one but is liable to error in a greater matter then a geflure or circumflance,fuch as we have now before us : no nor one but doth ativally err in as great a matter : and therefore one as well as another, on this account may be cart out : But Chrifl would not have this dealing inhis Church. y . 7. How tender are his own expreffions, his pra&ife and his laws towards thofe that are infirm l He came to preach the Gofpel to the poor,and heal the broken - hearted, and lay upon them an caller yoak and lighter burden. He will not break the L 1I bruited
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