2. But as the case now stands with the Ministers of England, they are disabled from doing that which belongs to their Office, and therefore you cannot now cast your work on them. I will instance but in two things. First, It belongs to their Office to govern the Church, and to teach with authority, and great and small are commanded to obey them, Heb. 3.7.17. &c. But now this is unknown, and Hearers look on themselves as free men, that may obey or not, at their own pleasure: A Parents teaching which is with authority, will take more, then ones that is taken to have none; People think we have authority to speak to them when they please to hear, and no more. Nay, few of the godly themselves do understand the authority that their Teachers have over them from Christ: They know how to value a Ministers gifts, but not how they are bound to learn of him and obey him, because of his Office. Not that they should obey him in evil, nor that he should be a final decider of all controversies, nor should exercise his authority in things of no moment: But as a Schoolmaster ⟨p. 541⟩may command his Scholars when to come to School, and what Book to read, and what form to be of; and as they ought to obey him, and to learn of him, and not to set their wits against his, but to take his word, and believe him as their Teacher, till they understand as well as he, and are ready to leave his School: Just so are people bound to obey and learn of their Teachers, and to take their words, while they are learners, in that which is beyond their present capacity, till they are able to see things in their proper evidence. Now this Ministerial Authority is unknown, and so Ministers are the less capable of doing their Work, which comes to pass, first, From the pride of mans nature, especially Novices, which makes men impatient of the Reins of Guidance and Command; secondly, From the Popish error of implicit Faith; to avoid which we are driven as far into the contrary extreme: thirdly, From the usurpation of the late Prelates, who took almost all the Government from the Ministers, and thereby overthrew the very essence of the Office, by robbing it of that part which is as essential, at least, as preaching; fourthly▪ And from the modesty of Ministers, that are loth to show their Commission, and make known their Authority, lest they should be thought proud:
2. But as the case now stands with the Ministers of England, they are disabled from doing that which belongs to their Office, and therefore you cannot now cast your work on them. I will instance but in two things. First, It belongs to their Office to govern the Church, and to teach with authority, and great and small are commanded to obey them, Heb. 3.7.17. &c. But now this is unknown, and Hearers look on themselves as free men, that may obey or not, at their own pleasure: A Parents teaching which is with authority, wil take more, then ones that is taken to have none; People think we have authority to speak to them when they please to hear, and no more. Nay, few of the godly themselves do understand the authority that their Teachers have over them from Christ: They know how to value a Ministers gifts, but not how they are bound to learn of him and obey him, because of his Office. Not that they should obey him in evil, nor that he should be a final decider of all controversies, nor should exercise his authority in things of no moment: But as a Schoolmaster ⟨p. 541⟩may command his Scholars when to come to School, and what Book to read, and what form to be of; and as they ought to obey him, and to learn of him, and not to set their wits against his, but to take his word, and beleeve him as their Teacher, till they understand as well as he, and are ready to leave his School: Just so are people bound to obey and learn of their Teachers, and to take their words, while they are learners, in that which is beyond their present capacity, till they are able to see things in their proper evidence. Now this Ministerial Authoritie is unknown, and so Ministers are the less capable of doing their Work, which comes to pass, first, From the pride of mans nature, especially Novices, which makes men impatient of the Reins of Guidance and Command; secondly, From the Popish error of implicite Faith; to avoid which we are driven as far into the contrary extream: thirdly, From the usurpation of the late Prelates, who took almost all the Government from the Ministers, and thereby overthrew the very essence of the Office, by robbing it of that part which is as essential, at least, as preaching; fourthly▪ And from the modesty of Ministers, that are loth to shew their Commission, and make known their Authoritie, lest they should be thought proud:
