CXI propositions concerning the ministry and government of the ChurchCXI propositions concerning the ministerie and government of the Church

69.

For every member of the Church (and so also the faithful and godly Magistrate) ought to refer and order his particular vocation, faculty, ability, power and honour to this end, that the Kingdom of Christ may be propagated and promoted, and the true Religion be cherished and defended: So that the advancement of the Gospel and of all the Ordinances of the Gospel, is indeed the end of the Godly Magistrate, not of a Magistrate simply; or (if ye will rather) tis not the end of the office it self, but of him who doth execute the same piously.

For every member of the Church (and so also the faithfull and godly Magistrate) ought to referre and order his particular vocation, faculty, ability, power and honour to this end, that the Kingdome of Christ may bee propagated and promoted, and the true Religion bee cherished and defended: So that the advancement of the Gospel and of all the Ordinances of the Gospel, is indeed the end of the Godly Magistrate, not of a Magistrate simply; or (if yee will rather) tis not the end of the office it self, but of him who doth execute the same piously.

70.

But the end of Ecclesiastical power, yea the end as well of the Ministry it self, as of the Godly Minister, is, that the Kingdom of Christ may be set forward, that the paths of the Lord be made straight, that his holy mysteries may be kept pure, that stumbling-blocks may be removed out of the Church, lest a little leaven, leaven the whole lump; or lest one sick or scabbed sheep infect the whole flock; that the faithful may so walk as it becometh the Gospel of Christ,