( 149) what it is indeed than I. know how to build an houfe. : 2. An experienced Miniftcr that liveth upon the place and-knoweth'alhthc perfons and witneffes, bath incomparable advantage above a ftrangc Prelate. 3.. One that is theirfamiliar and ordinary Teacher, whom theyneither con- temn; nor fear with a-carnal awe, for fear of punithment, maydifcern-whether Repentance be credibly: ferious.;- which he that aweth- them by greatnefs and terror (hall never know : Foralmoft all theverielt beafts will there profefs Re- pentance; thoughthey come home with redoubled malice againft the perfons that would have reformed them : Only a man that belicveth he is in the right will incur the Bithops wrath.for not confiding that he is in the wrong. 4. But yet our Caution is far greater than the Bithops ; For becaufe this rea quireth fo much skill and faitbfulnefr, we would have no tine Man trufted with - it ( except in a cafeofneceflity, when a Church can have no more) For in the multitude of Counfellers is fafety : We wouldhave every Church-have a, Con- feffus of Presbyters ( and ifone be a Bifhop we contend not againft it) And we would have itdonein the pretence of the Seniors of the flock, who know the perfons ; that £o- ifone thotd ae a. < of alor-truttinefs, he might be helpt by others, or hindred from doing wrong. And if all this will- not-do, we would have the next Synod of neighbour Paltors to have a final audience of thecafe. And now let-any thingexcept utterly blinding Pride and Partiality be judge-; WHETHER A CONSESSVSOFMINISTERS IN THEPRESENCEOF THE.SENIORS OF THE FLOCK, WHO -ALLKNOW THE 'PERSONS, be not liker to JUDGERIGHTLY IN ONE PARISH, where alto a neigh- bour Synod may review the cafe, than ONE STRANGE PRELATE or CHANCELLOR FO,R A DIOCESE OFMANY CHURCHES, WHERE HE KNOWETHNOTTHE PERSONS : Efpecially when this Chancellor and all the Proátors and Officers of the Courts do live ;in wealth) upon the:Trade, and therefore mutt manage it asa trade: When in the way that we defire, no Presbyter; nor Synod, fhould haveonefarthing for all his pains, but hiscomfort in obeyingGod, and endea- vouring the Churches good and mens-falvation. Alas Lord, How long thallChrifts enemiebe the Iraftors ofhis flocks ?and ' the feed of the ferpent be the great inftruments that mull break the ferpents head, and the lovers of fin be they that mutt be the fuppreffers of it, andthole employed to teach men knowledge, who themfelves will not know, andto preachuphand'swho cannotendure it?To willingmindsthere things areplain. Church Difcipline bath its effeét on theConfciences ofmen, and thefe things take as they comewith fpiritual life,light and love. We fee inour Preaching, how muchall work is loft, which is done proudly, unskilfully and marred in the manner. And true Pattoral difcipline mull work, ju(t as Preachingmutt do,,ít being but-amore particular applicationof the fame word,to perfons and caufes. Athanafto Patriarcha Confl-antinop. in his fifth Epi(tlefor the refidenceofBi(hops . ( Bibf.Patr. T. 3. p. 1-59.)faith of confiant preaching[ Hersaleclique debent far- guli Paflore-s gregibue fait inculcare,qu-e tam necefraria funs, quam eft refjiirare ani- masti: Neceffarium- inquam.omnia ludicia & teflimonia Deidenunciase ; itaut ab hoc
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