Baxter - BV669 B3 1681

partly undertake themfelves. And verily I take it tobe much more in- ingenuous to let the Magiftrate do what he can, and to pretend to no more difcipiinti,than to talk for it, and never ufe it. 2. A Man may be a true man though he have the Palfie, Dropfie, Gout or Stone, or be difinembred. And are thefe thefebre indifferent things ? 3. Whetherdifcipline be needful judge after thefe Reafons. r. Other- wife PiJhop.r are not needful to exercife it, nor any otherPa(fors, but bare Preachers. Why fhould Lordfhips, wealth and honours, be allowed Bi- fhops forthat which is not needful ? 2. Ifit be needfultobe exercifedon Miniffers, why not on the People alfo? And if not on Minifters, why have there fo great numbers been filenced, fufpended, and troubled ? Sure fomebody thinketh, that our filencing is needful. 3. Ifit be not need- ful, why did the univerfal Church :de it, andthat fo ftricfly from thebe- ginning? And why do they that fay this, pretend a reverence to the Anci- ent Churches, to the Councils, the Canons, and theBithops ofthofe times, who went ten times further in theirSeverities than we do. 4. It is need- ful by Precept and Divine Canon as may be feen, Lev. 19.17. Matth. 18. 15, 16, 17, 18. t Car. 5. Tit. i.13. and 2. 15. and 3. I o. 1 Tim. 3.5.15. and 5.19, 2o, 21. 2 2,24. 2 Tim. 3.5. and 4. 2. 2 Thar. 3,6, I+ 5. It is needful to the honour of God, our Creator, Redeemer, andSanaifier, that he may be declared Holy in the Holynefs of his Church, and not by our allowed wickednefs be reprefented as an unholy friend to fin. 6. It is needful to the Churches honour, that it be not as a very fiie and fink of wickednefs as the Infidel World. 7. It is needful to the Churches beauty, fafety, and felicity, that Godmay delight in it, and not forfake it, as he bath done motiof the Eaft, nor make them miferable by his judg- ments. 8. It is needful to the Honour ofHolinefs it felt, which will be vilified ifwe difference not the precious from the vile. 9. It is needful to the Conviction and Converfionof Mahometanr, and other Infidels and Heathens, whonow are kept in their Infidelity, by feeing that Chriflians as are bad or worfe than themfelves; and wouldbe more drawn toChrift, if the holy Lives of Chriffians, and holy State of Churches did invite them. Io. It is needful to the comfortable CommunionofSaints, as it is proleffed by us in our Creed. 1 r. It is needful to prevent the infection of the Church, and the increafe of fin; feeing a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump, and he that toucheth pitch will be defiled by it. 12. It is needful to encourage and flrengthen the Faithful, when they fee by this prejudiciumfuturi judicii, as Tertulliencalleth it, the difference that God himfelf will make. 13. It is an Effential part of the Paftoral Office to have the Power of Difcipline : And what is the Powerfor but theWork,? yea Power and Obligation are effential tohis Office. 14. It is .needful to the Holy Adminiffration of Sacraments, and other parts of Divine Worfhip, that Holy things be not given to Dogs. 4415. It is needful to convince the ordinary carelcfs fanners among us, that feeing a differenceput between Bb 2

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