Irenicum, to the lovers of truth and peace heart-divisions opened in the causes and…

First, The Officers of the Common-wealth can do nothing §1by their power, but that which the Common-wealth may do without them, if they were not; they might have kept their Government in a Democracy, and if they had pleased, done any act of power by a major vote: But it is not so in the Church; if the Church be without Officers, they cannot do that which belongs to Officers to do, they can have no Sacraments amongst them, neither can they have any spiritual jurisdiction exercised amongst them; only brotherly admonition, and with-drawing from such as walk disorderly, for their own preservation.

First, The Officers of the Common-wealth can do nothing §1by their power, but that which the Common-wealth may do without them, if they were not; they might have kept their Government in a Democracy, and if they had pleased, done any act of power by a major vote: But it is not so in the Church; if the Church be without Officers, they cannot doe that which belongs to Officers to do, they can have no Sacraments amongst them, neither can they have any spirituall jurisdiction exercised amongst them; only brotherly admonition, and with-drawing from such as walk disorderly, for their own preservation.

2ly. The members of the Church cannot limit the power §2of their Officers, so as the Common-wealth may the power of their•: but if once a man be chosen to be an Officer in the Church, all that power that ever any in that Office had since Christs time, in any Church in all the christian world, or ever can have to the coming of Christ again, falls upon him: If a man be chosen a Pastor, he hath as full power as ever any Pastor had upon the face of the earth, or can have by any Pastoral power: The Church cannot limit him, and say, You shall be a Pastor for such ends and purposes, but no further: The same may be said of the ruling, none upon earth ever had, or can have more power of ruling, then this man who is chosen into that Office. It is not thus in the State, all Kings have not the like power; in some Countries Kingly power reacheth so far, in others further, according to the variety of the Laws of the Countries, the agreements between them and the people: all Dukes, all States, all Parliaments have not the same power.