A key for Catholics, to open the juggling of the Jesuits, and satisfy all…A key for Catholicks, to open the jugling of the Jesuits, and satisfie all…

Thus far I hope we are Agreed: This much I am sure we hold our selves: But now the difference followeth.

We hold that this Universal Church (which is one in Christ their Head, as the world is one Kingdom in God the absolute Sovereign King) is by Christ distributed into many Congregations, dispersed over the face of the Earth, and that these as several Corporations in one Kingdom, have all their particular Governors and Order. All forcible Government we ascribe to the Magistrate, and deny it to the Pastors of the Church. And that teaching and Guidance which is called Ecclesiastic Government, we suppose is the work of every Pastor in his flock, and the Ordering of the communion of Churches, by Canons, Agreements (and their execution in part) is the work of Synods. And as in this Kingdom, all the Free-schools are governed by the Schoolmasters, who are all under the Prince and Laws, without any General Schoolmasters to Teach, or Oversee, and Rule the rest, (and without Synods too, though they may ⟨p. 401⟩meet when their mutual Edification requires it,) and yet all the Schools in England are in Peace, because no Archscoolmasters presume to rob the Magistrate of his power: Even so we judge, that if Pastors do but Teach and Guide their several flocks, and the Magistrate keep and use his power of forcible Government, that is, in seeing that they do their Offices faithfully, and no Archpastors presume to take the power of the Magistrates out of their hands, the Churches may have quietness and peace: (still allowing a greater Necessity of Communion, and so of Synods, among Churches then among Schools, and reserving the rod to the secular power.) And we conceive, that most of the stir that Popes and Popish Prelates have made about Church Government, hath been but to rob the Magistrate of his due, and to become themselves the Church-Magistrates through the world.

We hold that this Universal Church (which is one in Christ their Head, as the world is one Kingdom in God the absolute Soveraign King) is by Christ distributed into many Congregations, dispersed over the face of the Earth, and that these as several Corporations in one Kingdom, have all their particular Governours and Order. All forcible Government we ascribe to the Magistrate, and deny it to the Pastors of the Church. And that teaching and Guidance which is called Ecclesiastick Government, we suppose is the work of every Pastor in his flock, and the Ordering of the communion of Churches, by Canons, Agreements (and their execution in part) is the work of Synods. And as in this Kingdom, all the Free-schools are governed by the Schoolmasters, who are all under the Prince and Laws, without any General Schoolmasters to Teach, or Oversee, and Rule the rest, (and without Synods too, though they may