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Show f20 The Magiflrates DldJ rPtre in the field, Matt h. r 3. let\ they lhould pluck up the "'heat alfo. But I O,all not here enlarge upon this Subject which woutd asl< a fuller difcourfe. . . . / 'f• In the third place, I believe it the duty of Cbriftzan Magz· f'rrata, by other punilhments proportioned to the offence,to puniJ!' . [nc!J as uach any thing deftrNllive t1 the faitb alfd bnlmejs ofCbriflzaltt. 1 do uot at all qoubt, but if any one !hall teach any thtn~ contrary to what mufl necelfar!ly be b_elieved in _order to Salvati· on or defiru8ive of that hohnefs wtthout whiCh none · can fee G~d; he may be (though not put to death) ye; puni~~d by the Judge, by b•nifhment, in!prifmme~t, (in cafe of mco_mgtblene~s) pecuniary mulch. Thus CoH/Iantme the Great b~m!hed Arnut and bit fix foUowert, and afterwards _the Novatz;nt, v~leitlmz· lint &c. Honori~t and Tbeodofirtt bam!hed Pe/agmt, &c. And thu~ indeed haih been practiced by all Chril\ian Magi~rates; and J doubt not bm the fame Is the Magillrate's duty by the_ Word' of God agair.fi any that !hall drny the Scriptz~ra, whi~h ~re t~ e (oun· datiOit of faith and holin'fi or who-!hall deny Chr1ft or h!S dwzne Natrtre or teach any doctrine openly tending to licentioufnefs ?' All th~fe arguments which Divines bring in the cafe from theM•·· gi(lrates dury to be a terrour to evil work!, . or the na'!'re o! Here[ e as it is a nm"-. of the ficjh ; or from reafon coucer.ntng hts duty to take care of his Subjdrs Salvation, I think are ~h"> far cogenz and no further. For Opinions that are not of thts tend~ncy wh;t•power Gods word hath given the MJgiltrate to :fupprefs, and puni!h the teachers of them, I !hall only fay I do not underfland, and fo I plfs from the Concern oft he CIHiilian_Magifirate, to the Concern of the Gofpel·Minil\er as to th_e T akt_ng of thefc foxts. His work is more clearly defcnbed m Scrrpture, ~nd comprehended in three thin~s :LDiligmc~ i~prta~hmg, 2. Fa~tiJ~ fulneji in rrproving a11d convuwng, 3. R']'llMg afzer adnromuon • and here God hath fer him his bounds. . . 1. It is unquellionably his duty to be diligent and fatthful rn prtaching and openiHg the whole Counfll of God. If Husbandmen did not {Jeep too much, the Enemy could not [ow fo many taw. Blind Guides have been the Equivocal caufe ot falfe Te~chers. It is the Shephe'ids duty to watch over his. flock,. and 1fhe doth ·that the Wolf or the Fox will do no hurt ; but tf the ~hepherd be biind and hath no eyes; if the Dog be dumb, and etther canno~ or will not bark1 it is no wonder i! the flock be made a pre[" ' Itt tq /4/fe Tet~cbers. Jf Minifiers mufi have fuch charges of Souls entrufied to them, as it is impollible (were rhey Angels) they !hould rake care of, (for Angtls can be but in one place at the fame time:) or if they rake no pains in Preaching in fcaf\m, and out of feafon in inl\ruc!ling their people, and fl 1e wing thGm the way of tr~th; it is no wonder if the. Foxes take i-n lt <ad,o~~fbeing taken. • 2. A,nother part of the minilferial work, as to fuch Foxes, !yes in convincing gain {ayfrs rbt refill the truth, Tit, 1. ?·and to this pl>rpofe he mull be able as wdlos[Jtthful, (which two were the old qualifications ofMinifl ers, 2 Tim.2.2. ) This ability lies in a fit! I acquaintance with the S:riptmes: Timothy had it from a Child'. ApoUos was mighty in them, yea a11d give me leave to tell you that ~he gi~csof tonguet being now coaled, a knowkdg of thofe to~gues tn ~htch the Scrrptures were wrote, is alfo neceffary to this abili· ty, 1ffuch as lhould teach people, be not themfelves knowing in the Scriptures, yea and in the fenfc and meaning of them too;, and if theybe,if they will rake no pains to convince gain-layers it is no wonder ifthefe Foxes be not taken. foxes are not carcht by laying fJ/t 011 tbeir t•ylJ (as we ufe to jell with Children ) my m~aning is, n:>t with ray ling, and crying HeretickJ, Hcrctick[, but wtth and by a folid convincing them of their erroneous Doctrine and_ that frc;_~ the word of God; and I fay this requireth both abrlrty and Iarthfulnefs. 'Tis both the leatl and ought to be unquellionably the il~ Duty of a Miniller of the Gofpel,"to ca'l for help from rheMagtllrate;and was never fo much·in ufe as Iince pr:rendcd Minil\ers, could or would do little of their prope; office. · _ The third piece of the Minilteda! wo•k lio in rrjrllin~ afur the firfl dlf{i {<cnnd admmzitiOit : The Apofiical rule Is plai;: An Here~ick ~ftcr the" lirH and fecond admonition reject, Tit. l· 2. By '!''Jellmg, IS u_nquefiionably meant excommrmication, calling out of the commumon pfthe <_:hurch.The Apofile calls it a delrvering up lo S•tan, ~nd prachced tt upon HymentHsand Alex•ntler, 2 Tim. I. to. It ts the work of the Minill<r of the Gofpel and that with the Church,Matt.t S.'tis ridiculous to cafi them atrt'of a communion with whom the Church will have communion. It is no light matter and therefore not to be done fuddainly;but faiththeApol\le, after the firfi and fecond admonition ; and this mufi be leifurably pronounced, no~ ~II a breath, ( Son is are not fo cheap as to be thrown the Devtl m fiiCh hafie, z "lim, 2, z 5· "'he man of God wit A -· - · · merk._ntfi |