But we must not leave this so neither. It is true, there may be a notorious abuse of both these, and it is exceeding hard for a people to understand their liberty without abusing of it,1 either against the Church or against the Officers of a Church. This power may be abused in people very much in too much pride, arrogancy, malapertness, a spirit of contention in some, taking a delight in contradiction. There are many people I say that are of such a humour that it is their very delight to be in a way of contradiction, & they think they are no body except they have somewhat to say against their officers or against what is delivered, and upon that very ground will go quarrelling, not out of mere conscience, but that it may appear to others that for their parts they have a further reach than other men; It is true, such things are delivered, generally they are received: yea, but men must know that they look into things further then others do: And if they be in a community, they conceive ⟨p. 160⟩that every one would think them no body if they stand still and say nothing, therefore that they may appear to be some-body, they will speak, they will have somewhat to find fault withal, though they scarce understand what they say, or whereof they affirm, and show it they will in a virulent spirit, in a domineering way, and brave it to the faces of those that God hath set over them. Certainly this is a gross and abominable thing giving it may be reproachful terms to such: Whereas the Rule of Christ is, Rebuke not an Elder, (1 Tim. 5. 1.) but entreat him as a Father, do not you think presently that because you may plead with them, that Gods cause may not suffer by your silence; that therefore you may rebuke them in an undecent and unseemly manner. You may indeed in an humble way go as acknowledging the distance betwixt you and him, he being an Officer, and so entreat him as a Father. Do many of you so when you go and reason the case with a Minister, whom you your selves will acknowledge to be Officers of Christ, yet it may be sometime through bitterness of spirit you will be casting them off from being Officers of Christ before you have sufficient warrant for it: and therefore the Apostle saith in the same Chapter ver. 19. Against an Elder receive not an accusation but before two or three witnesses;
But we must not leave this so neither. It is true, there may be a notorious abuse of both these, and it is exceeding hard for a people to understand their liberty without abusing of it,1 either against the Church or against the Officers of a Church. This power may be abused in people very much in too much pride, arrogancy, mallapertness, a spirit of contention in some, taking a delight in contradiction. There are many people I say that are of such a humor that it is their very delight to be in a way of contradiction, & they think they are no body except they have somewhat to say against their officers or against what is delivered, and upon that very ground will go quarrelling, not out of meere conscience, but that it may appear to others that for their parts they have a further reach than other men; It is true, such things are delivered, generally they are received: yea, but men must know that they look into things further then others doe: And if they be in a community, they conceive ⟨p. 160⟩that every one would think them no body if they stand still and say nothing, therefore that they may appeare to be some-body, they will speake, they will have somewhat to finde fault withall, though they scarce understand what they say, or whereof they affirme, and shew it they will in a virulent spirit, in a domineering way, and brave it to the faces of those that God hath set over them. Certainly this is a grosse and abominable thing giving it may be reproachfull tearmes to such: Whereas the Rule of Christ is, Rehuke not an Elder, (1 Tim. 5. 1.) but intreate him as a Father, do not you think presently that because you may pleade with them, that Gods cause may not suffer by your silence; that therefore you may rebuke them in an undecent and unseemly manner. You may indeed in an humble way goe as acknowledging the distance betwixt you and him, hee being an Officer, and so inEreat him as a Father. Doe many of you so when you go and reason the case with a Minister, whom you your selves will acknowledge to be Officers of Christ, yet it may be sometime through bitternesse of spirit you will be casting them off from being Officers of Christ before you have sufficient warrant for it: and therefore the Apostle saith in the same Chapter ver. 19. Against an Elder receive not an accusation but before two or three witnesses;
- 1Private people must take heed they abuse not their liberty.
