132 Congregational Churches alone lets give a real inttance of any one Principle, DoUrine, or PraElice in any of the Churches of Chritt, or any be- longing unto them, that is contrary unto, or inconfittent with the Rights or exercife of their Rule and Govern- ment, and yet thall not only prohibit the doing ofthole things which he bath commanded, merely with refpett unto the Spiritual and Eternal ends of his Kingdom , but thall alto punifh and defiroy thofe whowill not dir own his Authority, and comply with their Prohibitions it doth fcarce anfwer their Intereft and Prudence. For to what purpofe is it , for any to provoke hint who is mightier than they, when they have no appearance of neceffity for their fo doing, nor advantage thereby ? 2. In particular, the Lord Chrifi hath ordained no Power nor Order in his Church, no Office or Duty that lhould hand in need of the Civil Authority, Sanction or force topreferve it, or make it effectual unto its proper ends. It is fufficient to difcharge any thing of a pre- tence to be an appointment of Chrift in his Church, if it be not fufficient unto its own proper End, without the help of the Civil Magif?rate. That Church-hate which is either conflituted by humane Authority, or cannot conftfl without it, is not from him. That Or- dinance which is in its own Nature divine, or is pre- tended fo to be, fo far as it is not effectual unto its end without the aid of Humane Authority ,is not of him, he needs it not; he will not borrow the afliltance of Civil Authority, to rule in and over the Confciences of men, with refpec`,t unto their living to God , and coming unto the enjoyment of himfelf. The way of requiring the sanction of Civil Authority unto Ecclefiallical Orders and Determinations , began with the ufe ofGeneral Councils in the days ofConfian- tine : And when once it was engaged in andapproved, fo
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