An answer to Mr. Dodwell and Dr. Sherlock, confuting an universal humane church-supremacy aristocratical…An answer to Mr. Dodwell and Dr. Sherlocke, confuting an universal humane church-supremacy aristocratical…

§. 42. His next recollections run all upon such intimated or expressed untruths merely forged by him contrary to my copious Explications, and against the rules of common honesty, that I will not lose my own and the Readers time in particular answers to them. He would persuade the Readers that I affirm that power immediately results from gifts, who never had such a thought, but say it neither resulteth from them, mediately nor immediately. This dealing is so grossly false, that it is neither credit to his cause nor him. Would he make men think that I take him to have most authority or power, that hath the best gifts? As if the wisest and best man had right to the Crown or Church-power? If copious discourses to the contrary will not hinder such busy disputers from such inhumane slanders, are they meet to be disputed with? I have over and over said that, 1. Gifts, or the best abilities. 2. And due election or approbation of the Ordainers. 3. And the peoples election and consent, all set together, do but make up the Qualification or Receptive disposition of the Recipient. 4. Yea, and his consent conjoined; and that where all these in the necessary degree concur, the power resulteth to that capable person from none of them all, but immediately from God Law, which is his instrument giving power to persons so qualified. And that besides all these, Ministerial Investiture for Orders sake, when it may be had, should introduce him into possession; yea, and the Magistrate must be judg whom he will countenance, protect or tolerate. But the case of Ordination and Investiture are necessary only where they may be had lawfully, and without crossing their end; as sacrifice was compared with mercy, and the Rest of the Sabbath compared to works of charity and necessity.

§. 42. His next recollections run all upon such intimated or expressed untruths meerly forged by him contrary to my copious Explications, and against the rules of common honesty, that I will not lose my own and the Readers time in particular answers to them. He would perswade the Readers that I affirm that power immediately results from gifts, who never had such a thought, but say it neither resulteth from them, mediately nor immediately. This dealing is so grosly false, that it is neither credit to his cause nor him. Would he make men think that I take him to have most authority or power, that hath the best gifts? As if the wisest and best man had right to the Crown or Church-power? If copious discourses to the contrary will not hinder such busie disputers from such inhumane slanders, are they meet to be disputed with? I have over and over said that, 1. Gifts, or the best abilities. 2. And due election or approbation of the Ordainers. 3. And the peoples election and consent, all set together, do but make up the Qualification or Receptive disposition of the Recipient. 4. Yea, and his consent conjoined; and that where all these in the necessary degree concur, the power resulteth to that capble person from none of them all, but immediately from God Law, which is his instrument giving power to persons so qualified. And that besides all these, Ministerial Investiture for Orders sake, when it may be had, should introduce him into possession; yea, and the Magistrate must be judg whom he will countenance, protect or tolerate. But the case of Ordination and Investiture are necessary only where they may be had lawfully, and without crossing their end; as sacrifice was compared with mercy, and the Rest of the Sabbath compared to works of charity and necessity.