4g5 ) to fearch into the Aâions of another mans office, to trouble themfelves without anycaufe. g. 4. And now 1 intreat all humble Chriflians readily toobey both Magiftrates and Paftors in all Lawful! things ; and tocon- lider, to that end, of thefe Reafons following. Reaf. i. If you will not obey in Lawfull things, you deny authority, or overthow Governmentit felf, which is a great ordinance of God, eftablifhed inthe fifth commandment with promife: And as that commandment refpeâing focieties and common good, is greater then the following commands, as they refpeâ the private good ofour neighbours, or are but particular Means to thatPubltick good, whole foùndation is laid in the fifth com- mandment, foaccordingly the fin againfi this fifth command- ment mull be greater then that againfl the refl. 4.5. Reaf. 2. Indifobeying the lawfull commands ofour fupe- riors,we difobey Chrift,who rulcth by them as his officers. Even as the difobeying a JufticeofPeaceor Judge is a difobeying of the foveraignPower; yea in fome cafes when their fentence is unjuft.Someofthe ancient Doors thought that the,fifth com- mandment was the lafl of the firft Table of the Decaloguei and that the Honouring ofGovernors is part ofour Honour to God, they being mentioned there as his officers, with whom he him- felf is honoured or difhonoured, obeyedor difobeyed.: For it is Gods Authority that the Magiflrate,Parent,and Pallor is endued with, and empowred by to rule thofe thatare;put under them. g, 6. Reaf. 3. What confufion will be brought into the Church ifPaflors benot obeyed in things lawfull? Forinftance Ifthe Pallors appoint the Congregation to Afï'emble at one hour, and the .people will fcraple.the time, and fly, it is un- lawful!, and fo will choofe [Come of them one time, and fome another, what diforderwill herebe ? and worfe, if the Pallors appoint a Place of worfhip, and any of the people fcruple obeying them, and will come to another place, .what.confufi- onwill herein ? People are many, and the Pallors are few and therefore theremay be fome unity,if the people be .Ruled by the Pallors; hut-there can be none,ifthe Pallors mullbe ruledby the peöple,for thepeople will not agree among themfelves : and therefore ifweobey one pare of them, we mull difobey and dif- - Q_qq, 3 , . pleafe
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