CI93) may force their'S:ibjeds to ufe thofe means which tend to make them Chriftians, as to hear Preaching,. Conference or difputations, or to read convincing books: But with thfe two Cautions. a. That it be but when it is like or hopeful to do more good than harme. a. That it be by wife and moderatemeansof conftreint, and not hang or burn them toconvert them. 2. Accordingly Magifirates, Parents, and Matters, may ufe the like force with their Subjects who are Chriltians, to caute them to ufe the forefaid meanes (of hearing and Reading and conference) for the cure- ingoftheir dangerous errours or finful lives. 3. And !doubt not but Magiftrates may punifh men Corporally for their crime according to the nature of theta, and even for the fame that the 'Church bath excommunicated them. If one be excommuni- cated for Treafon, Murder, Theft, Swearing; Prophaning the Lords day, and holy things &c. it felloweth not that the Magifirate maynot alto meddle with him. 4. And we doubt not but Magifirates may Reftraine falfe Teachers from feducingothers, anddrawing them from God to fin. 5. And the Magiftrate may and oughtto encourage Minifters in the ufe of the Church Keyes, and to preferve them from the violenceof wicked 4acn. 7. And they may make a difference in their favours and rewards, be- tween Chriftians obedient toGod and their Paftors, and Infidels,excom- municate, in penitentones, and Apoftates, by denying honors and prefer- ments and' rewards. to the worfe, which he gii tth to the better fort of men. But yet as to theCafes before denied, efpecially the forcing menby fire, fword, and imprifonment to fay, they believe and repent, and to take the Sacrament andother Church priviledges,and makingthis the ftrength of Church difcipline, I have all this againft it. I. No force fhould be ufed to the hindering anddeflruíion of Chrifls ordinance of difcipline andhis Church Laws. But fuch it would be in the cafe in hand. For Chrïfls fundamental Covenant is, that the true wil- ling penitent and believer (hall be a member of hisChurch, or thofeonly that credibly profefs to be fo (at age) tie that will may freelydrink of the water of life. Nemo invitus fit Chriffiinurs fo that to fay, that any man hash right to themyftical Church priviledges, but Confenters, orany Man ,hath,right to the viableChurch priviledges, but credible Profeffors of con- fent, is to contradié} the very condition of the Covenant of life, which is the`fumof all the Gofpel. Its true,you may compel fouie men to duty, but yon cannot compel them to be happy. But to force them by perpetual ',Imnprifonment, confifcation and the fword, to fay that they are Chriffians, or repent, confnt or are milling, and fo to give them abfolution and Church communion, is to make Chri(ts ordi- nance of none effec`. For true difcipline is tomake thempenitent and mil- C c ling
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