DEERING. monies, or government, but that only which the Lord in his word, commandeth ? Such ceremonies as do not necessarily appertain to the gospel of Christ, may be changed ; observing always that which St. Paul hathcommanded, Phil. iv. 8., 1 Cor. xiv. 6. 6. Ought every particular church or parish in England, of necessity, and by the order of God's word, to have its own pastor, elder, and deacons, chosen by the people of that parish ; and they only to have the whole government of that particular church, in matters ecclesiastical ? Wherever this government hath been, the choice hath, been by certain persons, with the allowance of the people, so far as I ever read. But what is most requisite at the present time, I leave to those whom God hath set in authority. 7. Should there be an equality among all the ministers of this realm, as well in government and jurisdiction, as in the ministration of the word and sacraments ? That all ministers are called to the preaching of the word, and the ministration of the sacraments, no man, I think, will deny. Touching government or governors, the Holy Ghost calleth them fellow-ministers, fellow-elders, fellow-officers, fellow-soldiers, fellow-labourers, fellow-ser- vants : and St. Peter expressly forbids them being lords over God's heritage. St. John evidently condemneth the lordly dominion of Diotrephes, in commanding and excommuni- cating by his own authority, Our Lordhimself, refused to exercise any lordly dominion ; and when his disciples strove for superiority, he expressly forbad them, and reproved them for aspiring after it. Though ministers are worthy of double honour, singular love, great reverence, and all humble duty, I dare, by no means, make them lords in the ministry, nor give to any one of them authority above the rest. 8. Are the patrimonies of the church, such as bishops' lands, the lands belonging to cathedral churches, the glebe lands, and tithes, by right, and God's word, to be taken from them ? Render unto Ccesar, the things which are Cwsar's ; and 'unto God, the things that are God's, is a rule always binding. Every prince who feareth the King of kings, must make sufficient provision for the ministry, then ter the poor, then for schools and the universities, in such a degree as may supply the wants of the ministry; with-
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=