The right method for a settled peace of conscience, and spiritual comfort in 32…

4. Some Ministers are over-modest, and and think it to be unfit to desire people to open their secrets to them; in confessing their sins and corrupt inclinations, and opening their wants: And indeed any ingenuous man will be backward to pry into the secrets of others. But when God hath made it our office under Christ to be Physicians to the ⟨p. 521⟩souls of our People, it is but bloody cruelty to connive at their Pride and Carnal Bashfulness, or Hypocritical Covering of their sins, and to let them dye of their disease rather then we will urge them to disclose it.

5. Some Ministers are loth to tell People of their duty in this, lest it should confirm the world in their malicious conceit, that we would be Masters of Mens Consciences, and would lord it over them. This is as much folly and cruelty, as if the Master and Pilot of the Ship should let the Mariners govern the Ship by the Major Vote, and run all on shelves, and drown themselves and him, and all for fear of being thought Lordly and Tyrannical in taking the Government of the Ship upon himself, and telling the Mariners that it is their duty to obey him.

6. Most godly Ministers do tell People in General of the Necessity of such a Dependence on their Teachers, as Learners in the School of Christ should have on them that are Ushers under him the chief Master; and they do gladly give advice to those that do seek to them: But they do not so particularly and plainly acquaint People with their duty in opening to them the particular sores of their souls.

6. Most godly Ministers do tell People in General of the Necessity of such a Dependance on their Teachers, as Learners in the School of Christ should have on them that are Ushers under him the chief Master; and they do gladly give advice to those that do seek to them: But they do not so particularly and plainly acquaint People with their duty in opening to them the particular sores of their souls.