Baxter - BX5202 B291 1679

[295] for my charge as Chriftians, that renounce fucti a relation, or will not own it ; 'a Paífor is not a free man, nor hath any power ofthe Church-Keys,but is as an irrational Slave, a Cryer, or Executioner, that muff but execute another mans commands. 2. But if there be need ofappeals, and Our own actions muff not be free, why Will not the Synods of Neighbour -Paftors met only for Count1, and Concord (and not to command the Paftors) fu ice for 'filch perlons to appeal to ? And what if I t'ürn a fervant out of my houle, or from his mear, and he may take another Mater when he will, mutt there be an univerfal Judge of all family cafes, that (hall force me to keep my fervant againff my will ? Is it not enough that I know why I am un- willing to keep him, who am no way more bound to him than to others, but by my own content ? What if (as Nazianzen left Safinis, Co..JL'antinopld, and Naz.i.anuon at Taft) I (hould give upmy whole Charge and Bifhoprick, and lay, I will be a Paftor to none of them any more, (upon fufÿicient rea- fons, as Latimer did :) Is it not better for the people to take another,than to accule me at Rome, or Canterbury, as wronging them ? 3. -Bit ifall this fèrve not (neither the lufTicien- cy ofPaftors for one Engle Parifh, nor yet the Counfè) of all the Neighbour-Paftors or Bishops,) what is there more to be done, which the autho- rity of Princes tend Magifirates may not do ? All Chriftians confefs (almoft) that no B.^nops or Pa-; ¡fors, as fuch, have fromChrift any forcing power over the flocks; that belongeth to the Magii}rates only; And they are to keep peace, and force us to our certain duty. And I would ask the contrary- minded, whether if Biihops,, Patriarchs and Coon- ` V oils

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