The cure of church-divisions, or, Directions for weak Christians to keep them from being…

And I shall be bold with confidence to add that in those cases where violent restraint or •oaction is necessary, the Pastor is the unmeetest person to meddle in it. It is the Magistrates work to drive and force (where it must be done) and the Pastors to persuade and draw. The flock of ⟨p. 373⟩Christ is led by himself the Lamb of God, and his Ministers must go before with him, and attend him in the conduct; and the Magistrate must come behind and drive; and it is the hindermost, and not those before that must be driven. Pastors should be so far from calling out for the help of violence (unless it be to keep the peace) that they should rather show their love and tenderness, by seeking as far as they may to mitigate it: And they should desire that no such ungrateful work be at all imposed upon them, as to seem the afflicters of their flocks: because when once they have lost their love, they have lost their opportunity and advantage of edifying them.

And I shall be bold with confidence to add that in those cases where violent restraint or •oaction is necessary, the Pastor is the unmeetest person to meddle in it. It is the Magistrates work to drive and force (where it must be done) and the Pastors to perswade and draw. The flock of ⟨p. 373⟩Christ is led by himself the Lamb of God, and his Ministers must go before with him, and attend him in the conduct; and the Magistrate must come behind and drive; and it is the hindermost, and not those before that must be driven. Pastors should be so far from calling out for the help of violence (unless it be to keep the peace) that they should rather shew their love and tenderness, by seeking as far as they may to mitigate it: And they should desire that no such ungrateful work be at all imposed upon them, as to seem the afflicters of their flocks: because when once they have lost their love, they have lost their opportunity and advantage of edifying them.