8. See also that he be one that is of a truly Catholic spirit; not addicted to a Sect, nor to Divisions in the Church, nor one that liveth in a separation or distance from the generality of the godly sober Ministers▪ For you take him not ⟨p. 135⟩for your Guide, as separated from the Catholic Church, but as united to it, and a Member of it; as valuing the Judgment of all the Church above the judgment of any one Pastor, and knowing that you are your selves to be kept in the unity of the Church, and not seduced into a Sect; and that the Pastors are to be the bonds and ligaments of the body, that by their help it may grow up in love and unity, and not the dividers of the body, Eph. 4.13, 14, 15, 16. As Captains and inferior Officers in an Army, that are to conduct each Soldier in Unity with the Army, and not to separate, and make every Troop or Regiment an Army by it self, that they may be the petty Generals, In a word, read some good Visitation Sermons, which tell you what a Minister must be, and choose, if possible, to live under such a Minister; I say, if possible; for I know to many it is not possible. Wives, and Children, and Servants, (while they are bound) cannot leave their Husbands, Parents, or Masters: and strong Christians who are called to do good to others, must prefer that before such advantages to themselves, and many other impediments may deny men such a blessing: But yet I say, undervalue not so great a mercy, and neglect it not where lawfully it may be had, and prefer nothing before it (as a just impediment) which is not really more worth. And remember that Divines do commonly resolve the case of the Infidel Nations of the World, that they are unexcusable in their Infidelity, because when they hear that other Nations profess to know the way to Heaven, they do not in so great a case go over Sea and Land to enquire after the Doctrine which we profess. And ⟨p. 136⟩if the Tartarians, Indians, and other Nations are bound to send to Christian nations, for Preachers of the Gospel, I only leave you proportionably to measure your case by theirs (allowing for the disproportion): And to consider how far you should deny your worldly profit in removing your habitations, for such helps as your own necessities require.
8. See also that he be one that is of a truly Catholick spirit; not addicted to a Sect, nor to Divisions in the Church, nor one that liveth in a separation or distance from the generality of the godly sober Ministers▪ For you take him not ⟨p. 135⟩for your Guide, as separated from the Catholick Church, but as united to it, and a Member of it; as valuing the Judgment of all the Church above the judgment of any one Pastor, and knowing that you are your selves to be kept in the unity of the Church, and not seduced into a Sect; and that the Pastors are to be the bonds and ligaments of the body, that by their help it may grow up in love and unity, and not the dividers of the body, Eph. 4.13, 14, 15, 16. As Captains and inferior Officers in an Army, that are to conduct each Souldier in Vnity with the Army, and not to separate, and make every Troop or Regiment an Army by it self, that they may be the petty Generals, In a word, read some good Visitation Sermons, which tell you what a Minister must be, and choose, if possible, to live under such a Minister; I say, if possible; for I know to many it is not possible. Wives, and Children, and Servants, (while they are bound) cannot leave their Husbands, Parents, or Masters: and strong Christians who are called to do good to others, must prefer that before such advantages to themselves, and many other impediments may deny men such a blessing: But yet I say, undervalue not so great a mercy, and neglect it not where lawfully it may be had, and prefer nothing before it (as a just impediment) which is not really more worth. And remember that Divines do commonly resolve the case of the Infidel Nations of the World, that they are unexcusable in their Infidelity, because when they hear that other Nations profess to know the way to Heaven, they do not in so great a case go over Sea and Land to enquire after the Doctrine which we profess. And ⟨p. 136⟩if the Tartarians, Indians, and other Nations are bound to send to Christian nations, for Preachers of the Gospel, I only leave you proportionably to measure your case by theirs (allowing for the disproportion): And to consider how far you should deny your worldly profit in removeing your habitations, for such helps as your own necessities require.
