An account of all the proceedings of the commissioners of both persuasions appointedAn accompt of all the proceedings of the commissioners of both persvvasions appointed

Sect. 4.

[Not Inferiors but Superiors must judge what is convenient and decent;¹ They who must order that all be done decently, must of necessity, first judge what is convenient, and decent to be ordered.]

[Not Inferiours but Superiours must judge what is convenient and decent;¹ They who must order that all be done decently, must of necessity, first judge what is convenient, and decent to be ordered.]

1. 1Answ. Rule 2.

Repl. ¹Your second Rule also is too crudely delivered, and therefore we must add: 1. A Judgement is a Sentence, in order to some Execution; and Judgements are specified from the ends, to which they are such means; When the question is either, [what Law shall be made, or what penalty shall be exercised?] the Magistrate is the only judge, and not the Bishop or other Subject. In the first he exercises his judicium discretionis, in order to a public Act. In the second he exerciseth a public Judgement: When the question is, [what order pro tempore is fittest in Circumstantials for this present Congregation?] the proper Presbyters or Pastors of that Congregation, are the Directive Judges, by Gods appointment. 3. The Magistrate is Ruler of these Pastors, as he is of the Physicians, Philosophers, and other Subjects. He may make them such general Rules, especially for restraint, to go by, as may not destroy the exercise of their own Pastoral power: As he may forbid a Physician to use some dangerous Medicine on his Subjects, and may punish him when he wilfully killeth any of them: But may not on that pretence appoint him what, and how, and when, and to whom he shall administer, and so become Physician himself alone. 4. When the question is, [Who shall be excluded from the Communion of a particular Church?] The Pastors of that Church (or Congregation) are the first proper