A Christian Directory

§. 5. Memorand. 5. Let none persuade you that you are such terrestrial animals that have nothing¹ to do with the Heavenly concernments of your subjects: For if once men think that the end of your office is only the bodily prosperity of the people, and the End of the Ministry is the good of their souls, it will tempt them to prefer a Minister before you as they prefer their souls before their bodies: And they that are taught to contemn these earthly things, will be ready to think they must contemn your office; seeing no means as such can be better than the end. There is no such thing as a temporal Happiness to any people, but what tendeth to the happiness of their souls; and must be thereby measured, and thence be estimated. Though Ministers are more immediately employed about the soul, yet your office is ultimately for the happiness of souls as well as theirs; though bodily things (rewards or punishments) are the means by which you may promote it, which Ministers as such may not meddle with. Therefore you are custodes utriusque tabulae, and must bend the force of all your Government, to the saving of the peoples souls. And as to the objection from Heathen ²Governors, distinguish between the Office, and an Aptitude to exercise it; The Office consisteth, 1. In an Obligation to do the duty, 2. And in Authority to do it: Both these a Heathen Ruler hath (else the omission were a duty and not a sin). But it is the Aptitude to do the duty of his place which ⟨p. 6⟩a Heathen wanteth: and he wanteth it culpably: and therefore the omission is his sin: Even as it is the sin of an insufficient Minister that he doth not Preach; For the Question is of the like nature, and will have the like solution: Whether an ignorant Minister be bound to Preach, who is unable or Heretical? It is Aptitude that he wanteth, and neither Authority nor Obligation if he be really a Minister: But he is obliged in this Order, first to get Abilities and then to Preach: so is it in the present case.

§. 5. Memorand. 5. Let none perswade you that you are such terrestrial animals that have nothing¹ to do with the Heavenly concernments of your subjects: For if once men think that the end of your office is only the bodily prosperity of the people, and the End of the Ministry is the good of their souls, it will tempt them to prefer a Minister before you as they prefer their souls before their bodies: And they that are taught to contemn these earthly things, will be ready to think they must contemn your office; seeing no means as such can be better than the end. There is no such thing as a temporal Happiness to any people, but what tendeth to the happiness of their souls; and must be thereby measured, and thence be estimated. Though Ministers are more immediately employed about the soul, yet your office is ultimately for the happiness of souls as well as theirs; though bodily things (rewards or punishments) are the means by which you may promote it, which Ministers as such may not meddle with. Therefore you are custodes utriusque tabulae, and must bend the force of all your Government, to the saving of the peoples souls. And as to the objection from Heathen