fir a timeofLiberty. nay all Churches, never to enquire at Abel is calling off the Lord, as in eletion of Offices in Church, and Ma- giflrates in the Common - wealth, &c. 2. Hence to receive anyopinion different from all the Elders in the Church, and never 4o much as fpeak, much Idle come to a fad debate about it, is to call offthis yoke, and contrary to covenant, and Elders would never have undertook the care of the Church without it ; and it fads their hearts that they do their work feebly. 3. Hence to propofe a doubtfull queflion to the Church , which may trouble , or bring an offenders fin to the Church without counfell of the Elders, who may encourage them if of God, and ripen it for the Church, or difcourage it if not of God. Chrifl when he writes to the Churches, he fuperfcribes his Epi- flles to the Angels ; and if one man may propofe a doubt- ful! opinion , another may, and a third, and one may fide with another, and fo much confufion will fol- low. 4. Hence when men !hall not take warning of evils to come upon evident grounds, it's g off the Lords yoke ; and when they. come on thee , thou mayeff fay it is becaufe I have refufed to hearken to fn, watchers, they warned me of this, and it may be you will find elf filch evils which the Scripture notes, ac- cording to the word of the Lord by hisfervant Elifha, fo will the Lord make good the words and thrcatnings of his faithfull fervants. 5. They have power of publick reproof of any member of the Church , in cafe of plain, open and publick offences ; others without leave cannot , nor ought not, although others may tell them. Reproofs are part of the power peculiar to the governours in any fociety , where governours are prefent efpecial- ly , and at hand ; as now in a Family, no wife man will fuffer bra wles amongfl his children orfervants, but fayes he, tell me. r Tim. 5. 20. Now this is fad when a man cannot forbear reproof of others, nor hear reproofs of Elders, but turns again, and will be judge in his own caufe though never fo groffe, à fign of an extream fro-" ward high fpirit, Hofea 4. 4. which makes the Lord to take away Elders as loon as any fin is com- mitted , and flop their: mouths. Exod. 2. Who made thee a 2, 3. 5.
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