(192) had] efficacy, and theirs hath none, what do they but dire&1y calI us to fcek the alteration which we are required to abjure ? io. Laftly by this objcotion they thew thetnfelves too ignorant of the nature of Church, and diJipline, arid Sacrament and Minifter : Or elfe they would better know how far Volunteersare proper objeas of Church difcipline, and .have 'the right to theprivileges and Communion ofthe Church. II. The 'Me -rater Sword will not fern infield of Church difei- pline. r. Elfe Chrift would not have inituted another office for it. 2. Elfe it might ferve alto inflead of Minitlry; Preaching and Sa- craments. 3. Thenatureofit tendeth not direltly to convince men of Errours to lead them into truth, to move them by heavenly motions, and to bring them to true repentance and godlynefs. But this will be fuller proved under the next and is confeffed by all fave the Eraftianr. "III.. Toe Magiflrates Sword fhould not be ufed too forwardly or too much to fecond or enforce Church difeipline ; -much lefs to be its. life and ftrength, and infeparably'twifted withit. I mean, r. No unbeliever thould be forced to fay he is a Reliever, and to profeffe the Chriflian faith. 2. None upon fuch profcflion fbould be forced to. be Baptiz- ed. 3. None that hath no right to Church Communion in the Sacrament fhouid be forced to receive-it. 4. None that Apofiatizeth from Chrifi thould be forced falfly to pro- feffe'that he is ltill a'Chriftian. 5. None that are at age should be forced to flay in the Churchby lo- cal prefence or relation as a member of it, who is not willing, and the prad`ficeof the Papifis who force no Heathens to be Chriftians, but af- terward force Chriftians by fire and Sword , and burn them" that were Hereticks, Schifmaticks, or Apofiates is Pelf contradifting and fell condemning; God having left man as much unto his own choice for continuing as for Entring into the Church : And as for Obedience to Rul- ers, Infidels may owe it to Chrifiian Kings, aswell as Chriftians : And nonebut ivfagiltrates can ufe the Sword to punifh either. 6. No Magiftrate fhoúld punifh a Mans body, meerly- b_caufe he is Excommunicate, and fo punifhed already. Nor thould ' he be made a meer executioner to the Bishop without-hearing, trying and judging the Caufe himfelf, in order tohis own execution. 7. No Magistrate thould force an Impenitent 'firmer to lie and fay, he doth repent, that thereby he maybe admitted to the Church Cornmúnion and Sacrament but it is the forceofGods word that mutt try his Repen tance: But yet I acknowledge. r. ThatMagiftrates and Parents and Mailers may
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=