If it be asked, Whether any further duty be required1 from a Minister towards such a person after the Sentence is past? Answ. He is not then properly under pastoral charge since he is no member of Christs visible Church, at least, in that respect, as members fall under common and ordinary actual inspection. Yet we conceive, 1. That the Minister is to continue to deal with God for him (at least in private) if so be he may be recovered out of this snare, because he is under the last cure, which will either prove life or death; Gods blessing therefore to it▪ is to be sought; and it becometh well the natural care of a kindly Minister, that is thirsting for the blessing, to deal with God for it. 2. Although there be not actual access to any thing; yet ought there to be a lying at the wait to observe any opportunity which may be for his good, and when it offereth, it would be carefully improved. And therefore, 3. for that end, whatever indignation be shown against a mans ways or errors, to make these loathsome to others, yet still there would be evidence of tender respect to the persons, and, if need be, means used to supply them, especially if they come to any strait, although in all this they would keep such a distance as may keep up the weight of the Sentence, both to them and others: ⟨p. 240⟩But, by this way, their suspicious mistakes of Ministers, carnalnesse against their persons, are best removed, and access is thereby made to be edifying unto them, Some examples whereof are recorded in the life of Musculus▪ as to his tenderness to most desperately deluded persons, when they were in affliction, and discountenanced exceedingly by Magistrates, which God blessed in the end for their recovery; this is suitable, severity in Magistrates, and tenderness in Ministers. And amongst other ills and snares that that cruel indulgency (which is indeed cruel to the poor souls, to whom it becometh a snare) hath following it, this is one▪ That the Magistrate is accounted merciful, and the zealous Minister cruel, whereby they are put in an incapacity to be edified by the one, and in a capacity, as it were, to miscarry as they will, by the indulgence of the other.
If it be asked, Whether any further duty be required1 from a Minister towards such a person after the Sentence is past? Answ. He is not then properly under pastorall charge since he is no member of Christs visible Church, at least, in that respect, as members fall under common and ordinary actuall inspection. Yet we conceive, 1. That the Minister is to continue to deal with God for him (at least in private) if so be he may be recovered out of this snare, because he is under the last cure, which will either prove life or death; Gods blessing therefore to it▪ is to be sought; and it becometh well the naturall care of a kindly Minister, that is thirsting for the blessing, to deal with God for it. 2. Although there be not actuall accesse to any thing; yet ought there to be a lying at the wait to observe any opportunity which may be for his good, and when it offereth, it would be carefully improven. And therefore, 3. for that end, whatever indignation beshown against a mans wayes or errours, to make these loathsome to others, yet still there would be evidence of tender respect to the persons, and, if need be, means used to supply them, especially if they come to any strait, although in all this they would keep such a distance as may keep up the weight of the Sentence, both to them and others: ⟨p. 240⟩But, by this way, their suspicious mistakes of Ministers, carnalnesse against their persons, are best removed, and accesse is thereby made to be edifying unto them, Some examples whereof are recorded in the life of Musculus▪ as to his tendernesse to most desperately deluded persons, when they were in affliction, and discountenanced exceedingly by Magistrates, which God blessed in the end for their recovery; this is suitable, severity in Magistrates, and tendernesse in Ministers. And amongst other ills and snares that that cruell indulgencie (which is indeed cruell to the poor souls, to whom it becometh a snare) hath following it, this is one▪ That the Magistrate is accounted mercifull, and the zealous Minister cruell, whereby they are put in an incapacity to be edified by the one, and in a capacity, as it were, to miscarry as they will, by the indulgence of the other.
- 1Whether any thing be required of Ministers towards heretic that are rejectedWhether any thing be required of Ministers towards heretick that are rejected
