BY this means many Pastors have been very great causes of schisms and separations. Some of them are so carnal and selfish, that they make the Ministry but a trade for their benefice and honour: And therefore for fear left the people should encroach upon their advantages, they drive them as far off as they can, and care not how ignorant they are, so that thereby they may but lock up the mystery of their trade securely for themselves; and keep the people in a blindfold reverence, dependence and obedience: How ordinarily the Roman Clergy practise this iniquity, the nations that are kept in darkness by them, are doleful testimonies. Like the great dog that will not endure the little one to come near his carrion or his bone. And some are so excessively fearful of schism, that they dare not endure the people to pray together, or repeat a sermon, or search the scripture, and exhort one another daily, in that manner which God requireth private men to do, for fear lest they should go further, and grow proud of their own gifts and doings, and despise their Pastors, and set up for themselves! When as this very inordinate jealousy is the likely and the common ⟨p. 383⟩way to bring them, to the evil that is so much feared. While peoples care of their salvation is cherished and stirred up, and the Pastors do provoke them to pray and search the scriptures and help each other in the way to heaven, they are honoured and loved by the faithful of their flocks, as men that indeed are true to their great trust, and have a love and care for the peoples souls: And then those Pastors who further the people in such religious exercises, may usually as fathers rule them in it, and keep them from usurping any thing that is proper to the officers of Christ, and from errors, and factions and divisions; and may easily suppress any arrogance when it appeareth. And that honest desire which religious persons have to do good to others, is thus satisfied by such sober exercises as belong to them: And so Pastor and people do peaceably, lovingly and successfully concur to carry on the work of Christ, whilst each one moveth in his proper place. I speak this, through the great mercy of God, from very great and long experience:
BY this means many Pastors have been very great causes of schisms and separations. Some of them are so carnal and selfish, that they make the Ministery but a trade for their benefice and honour: And therefore for fear left the people should encroach upon their advantages, they drive them as far off as they can, and care not how ignorant they are, so that thereby they may but lock up the mystery of their trade securely for themselves; and keep the people in a blindfold reverence, dependance and obedience: How ordinarily the Roman Clergy practise this iniquity, the nations that are kept in darkness by them, are doleful testimonies. Like the great dog that will not endure the little one to come near his carrion or his bone. And some are so excessively fearful of schism, that they dare not endure the people to pray together, or repeat a sermon, or search the scripture, and exhort one another daily, in that manner which God requireth private men to do, for fear lest they should go further, and grow proud of their own gifts and doings, and despise their Pastors, and set up for themselves! When as this very inordinate jealousie is the likely and the commo• ⟨p. 383⟩way to bring them, to the evil that is so much feared. While peoples care of their salvation is cherished and stirred up, and the Pastors do provoke them to pray and search the scriptures and help each other in the way to heaven, they are honoured and loved by the faithful of their flocks, as men that indeed are true to their great trust, and have a love and care for the peoples souls: And then those Pastors who further the people in such religious exercises, may usually as fathers rule them in it, and keep them from usurping any thing that is proper to the officers of Christ, and from errours, and factions and divisions; and may easily suppress any arrogancie when it appeareth. And that honest desire which religious persons have to do good to others, is thus satisfied by such sober exercises as belong to them: And so Pastor and people do peaceably, lovingly and successfully concur to carry on the work of Christ, whilest each one moveth in his proper place. I speak this, through the great me•cy of God, from very great and long experience:
