Awholefome Caveat Chr;ifts,authority, as being his Ambaffadors, and Pent of him as in; a family, one fervant fhould watch over ano- ther ; but the chief Steward, he is to do it with authority in the aF...fence of his Lord. And hence doth it with more ntajefty and power, and it takes; or fhould take deeper impreffion ; fo it is in Elders of a Church Hence alto, when men (hall cry for liberty to Ipeak, an Elder forbids it; What, may not the Church have liber- ty ? true, but you are not a Church. An t !der reproves, and they will reprove again; What, (hall not the Church have liberty ? An Elder gives reafons ftrong, and unan- fwerable for force thing to be done; a young fellowMall ftep up, and fay, without ground, or flew of it, that's mar light, andmime is otherwife : What, may not the Church have liberty ? Yes, hut you are not the Church ; this is very fad, and hath been a roót ofgreateft fcandall that ever Gods wayes had. If Elders fin openly, 'tis a- nother cafe, and fomewhat all(' is there to be done ; Sub- mit your felves one to another, much more to anEl- ders &c. 3° 3. In the execution oftheir office according to Chrift, they are over the whole Church. Their pertons indeed ase under them, in cafe they fin, and fin in the execution of their office, they are to be fubjeft , nut only to the whole, but to the Taft Member of the Church: Suppole the fin be not onlyfufpehed, or reported, or apprehen- ded byone, but two or three witnefles at leali, as r Tim. 5. rg. but whiles they execute it according to Chrift,rhey are therein above theChurch, and 'tis bound to be fub ?ed therein ; and not to befubjet is to refute to be under Chrifis government. Hence, Heb. 13. Obey them that ruleyou ; he fpeaks to the whole Church, which was not in evil!, but in good thirgs accord to Go,: ; and yet in evil! things , look on them as thole over them. Exempli gratiî, A Minifter in the execution. of his off,ee, let him preach Chritlts eternall truth, deliver it and prove it; What ever humane weakneffès there be in him, what e- ver darkneffe there is in others, yet he is therein above - Churches, Kings or Angels ; and they (hall anfwer it at the great day, that do not fubn it. In regard of my per- fon laid Luther, Ile fall down before any, but in regard of the truth I adminifter, I look on the Kings of the earth as nits, nay dull, 8cc. ad R egemAngl. a in the-power of the Keys in openii g and fh orting out Members;
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