And by this means these hypocrites ruin the Church it self (as an enemies Soldiers in an Army): And nominal Christians and Pastors, that are heartily enemies to Christ, do him more wrong, and cause more divisions and ruins in the Church, than they could have done, if they had staid without.
9. It destroyeth most of the hopes or the success of those Pastors, as to the converting and saving of mens souls: Because when the Magistrate is made but their executioner, the people take all their sufferings as from them: And they will bear that from a Magistrate, which they will not bear from a Minister, whose Office is to Rule them by Reason and by Love: And so such Pastors are usually feared and hated by the people, whereby they are disabled to do them that saving good, which can be done on none against his will, 1 Cor. 8. 13. & 9. 22. 1 Tim. 4. 16.
10. And hereby a Church-tyranny is set and kept up in the world, by which persecutions and divisions have been maintained for many hundred years; and the Ministers of Christ have been forbidden to preach his Gospel, to the unspeakable injury of souls; and the lives of many hundred thousands, have been a Sacrifice, to the Pride, and Avarice, and Cruelty of the Clergy; to the great dishonour of the Christian Name.
11. And hereby Princes have had a power set over them, to the diminution of their proper power, and part of their dominion subjugated to others, under the false name of Ecclesiastical Authority; yea, and their own standing made troublesome and unsafe, and multitudes dethroned, and Wars raised against them by the Clergies pretended power, or instigation; of which all the Wars between the ⟨p. 42⟩•erman Emperors and the Papalines are full proof, recorded in all the Histories collected by Freherus, Ruberus, and Pistorius, in Sabbellicus, Nauclerus, and multitudes of other Historians; and our English Histories, by Ingulphus, Matthew Paris, Hoveden, &c. And the Italian by Guicciardine and many others: Nay, what Country is there, where the Papal and Tyrannical Clergy have not overtopped or troubled the State.
12. And when all this is done, they would deceive the Princes themselves into a Consent, and so into the guilt of their own disturbance, and their peoples misery: And cast all the odium upon them, and say, we do but deliver you into the hands of the Secular Power, it is they that do the execution on you:
And by this means these hypocrites ruine the Church it self (as an enemies Souldiers in an Army): And nominal Christians and Pastors, that are heartily enemies to Christ, do him more wrong, and cause more divisions and ruines in the Church, than they could have done, if they had staid without.
9. It destroyeth most of the hopes or the success of those Pastors, as to the converting and saving of mens souls: Because when the Magistrate is made but their executioner, the people take all their sufferings as from them: And they will bear that from a Magistrate, which they will not bear from a Minister, whose Office is to Rule them by Reason and by Love: And so such Pastors are usually feared and hated by the people, whereby they are disabled to do them that saving good, which can be done on none against his will, 1 Cor. 8. 13. & 9. 22. 1 Tim. 4. 16.
10. And hereby a Church-tyranny is set and kept up in the world, by which persecutions and divisions have been maintained for many hundred years; and the Ministers of Christ have been forbidden to preach his Gospel, to the unspeakable injury of souls; and the lives of many hundred thousands, have been a Sacrifice, to the Pride, and Avarice, and Cruelty of the Clergy; to the great dishonour of the Christian Name.
11. And hereby Princes have had a power set over them, to the diminution of their proper power, and part of their dominion subjugated to others, under the false name of Ecclesiastical Authority; yea, and their own standing made troublesome and unsafe, and multitudes dethroned, and Wars raised against them by the Clergies pretended power, or instigation; of which all the Wars between the ⟨p. 42⟩•erman Emperours and the Papalines are full proof, recorded in all the Histories collected by Freherus, Ruberus, and Pistorius, in Sabbellicus, Nauclerus, and multitudes of other Historians; and our English Histories, by Ingulphus, Matthew Paris, Hoveden, &c. And the Italian by Guicciardine and many others: Nay, what Countrey is there, where the Papal and Tyrannical Clergy have not overtopt or troubled the State.
12. And when all this is done, they would deceive the Princes themselves into a Consent, and so into the guilt of their own disturbance, and their peoples misery: And cast all the odium upon them, and say, we do but deliver you into the hands of the Secular Power, it is they that do the execution on you:
