And therefore blame not the Presbyterians if they have been jealous of Christ's Interest, and his peoples Comfort, and the life and honour of all the Ordinances performed by the Minister. But yet the peoples Liberties are secured, and the Congregational Brethren may have their desires. For who will deny that the Ministerial Government being not Coercive by external force, the people therefore must consent, or else we cannot govern them. We can lay an Obligation on them from God (e. g. to avoid such a Heretic): but we cannot force them to obey it: And therefore there can be no executive Excommunication, that is, Avoiding of the Offenders, without the peoples consent! But this is their Sin, when they answer not the Command of God, and not their Power to Govern. We grant also that they are not to be blindly led, and take all carelessly upon their Pastor's words; but must have (ordinarily) cognisance of the case before a person be cast out and they obliged to avoid him: So that they have a Judicium Discretionis, as the Pastors have the Judicium Directionis. But yet (as I have showed in Pref. to the Reform▪ Past.) the sinful dissent of the people will not alway disable or excuse the Pastors from their part. If a man be proved an Heretic, and the Major Vote of the people do absolve him, in some cases, it may be the Pastor's Duty, openly to pronounce him a Heretic, and (if impenitent) unfit for the Communion of the Church, and to bind him over to God's Judgment, and charge him to depart, and the Church to avoid him. If the Church will not do their Duty (by consenting) that will not alway excuse me from mine (which is this now described). Yea, and in the execution I will do my part, and leave them in the guilt of omitting theirs: that is, I will avoid familiarity with him, and will not personally give him the Sacrament, and if he intrude and take it, I will openly disclaim him; Otherwise, 1. I must not Preach and apply God's Word, unless the Major Vote consent. For all this is but the Preaching of God's Word about avoiding Heretics (or other Offenders) and applying it to this case (supposing the Matter of Fact past doubt.) 2. And then a Major Vote might warrant me and the Minor part to break the express Commands of God, (and so make a God of a sinning people): For God saith [A man that is an Heretic reject: with such a one Eat not:
And therefore blame not the Presbyterians if they have been jealous of Christ's Interest, and his peoples Comfort, and the life and honour of all the Ordinances performed by the Minister. But yet the peoples Liberties are secured, and the Congregational Brethren may have their desires. For who will deny that the Ministerial Government being not Coercive by external force, the people therefore must consent, or else we cannot govern them. We can lay an Obligation on them from God (e. g. to avoid such a Heretick): but we cannot force them to obey it: And therefore there can be no executive Excommunication, that is, Avoiding of the Offenders, without the peoples consent! But this is their Sin, when they answer not the Command of God, and not their Power to Govern. We grant also that they are not to be blindly led, and take all carelesly upon their Pastor's words; but must have (ordinarily) cognisance of the case before a person be cast out and they obliged to avoid him: So that they have a Iudicium Discretionis, as the Pastors have the Iudicium Directionis. But yet (as I have shewed in Pref. to the Reform▪ Past.) the sinful dissent of the people will not alway disable or excuse the Pastors from their part. If a man be proved an Heretick, and the Major Vote of the people do absolve him, in some cases, it may be the Pastor's Duty, openly to pronounce him a Heretick, and (if impenitent) unfit for the Communion of the Church, and to bind him over to God's Judgment, and charge him to depart, and the Church to avoid him. If the Church will not do their Duty (by consenting) that will not alway excuse me from mine (which is this now described). Yea, and in the execution I will do my part, and leave them in the guilt of omitting theirs: that is, I will avoid familiarity with him, and will not personally give him the Sacrament, and if he intrude and take it, I will openly disclaim him; Otherwise, 1. I must not Preach and apply God's Word, unless the Major Vote consent. For all this is but the Preaching of God's Word about avoiding Hereticks (or other Offenders) and applying it to this case (supposing the Matter of Fact past doubt.) 2. And then a Major Vote might warrant me and the Minor part to break the express Commands of God, (and so make a God of a sinning people): For God saith [A man that is an Heretick reject: with such a one Eat not:
