4. THE especial Design of the Rule of the Church in its Government is to represent the Holiness, Love, Compassion, Care and Authority of Christ towards his Church. This is the great end of Rule in the Church, and of all the Discipline which is to be exercised by virtue thereof. Whilst this is not attended unto, when the Officers and Rulers of the Church do not endeavour in all the actings of their Power and Office, to set forth these Virtues of Christ; to exemplify that impression of them which he hath left in his Laws and Rule, with the Divine Testimonies which he gives of them in his own person, ⟨p. 168⟩they utterly deviate from the principal end of all Rule in the Church. For Men to act herein in a way of Domination, with a visible Elation of Mind and Spirit above their Brethren, with Anger, Wrath and Passion, by Rules, Order and Laws of their own devising; without the least consideration of what the Lord Christ requires, and what is the frame of his Heart towards all his Disciples, is to reflect the highest Dishonour imaginable upon Christ himself. He who comes into the Courts of the King in Westminster-Hall, when filled with Judges, Grave, Learned and Righteous, most ordinarily be allowed to judge of the King himself, his Wisdom, Justice, Moderation and Clemency, by the Law which they proceed upon, and their manner of the Administration of it. But God forbid that Christians should make a Judgment concerning the Holiness, Wisdom, Love and Compassion of Christ, by the Representation which (as is pretended) is made of him and them in some Courts, wherein Church-Rule and Discipline is Administered. When any had offended of old, their Censure by the Church was called the Bewailing of them, 2 Cor. 12.24. and that because of the Sorrow, Pity and Compassion whereby in that Censure they evidenced the compassion of the Lord Christ towards the Souls of Sinners. This is scarce answered by those pecuniary mulcts and other penalties, which, with indignation and contempt, are inflicted on such as are made Offenders, whether they will or no. Certainly, those who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, and have a due honour for the Gospel, will at one time or another begin to think meet, that this stain of our Religion should be washed away.
4. THE especial Design of the Rule of the Church in its Government is to represent the Holiness, Love, Compassion, Care and Authority of Christ towards his Church. This is the great end of Rule in the Church, and of all the Discipline which is to be exercised by virtue thereof. Whilst this is not attended unto, when the Officers and Rulers of the Church do not endeavour in all the actings of their Power and Office, to set forth these Vertues of Christ; to exemplifie that impression of them which he hath left in his Laws and Rule, with the Divine Testimonies which he gives of them in his own person, ⟨p. 168⟩they utterly deviate from the principal end of all Rule in the Church. For Men to act herein in a way of Domination, with a visible Elation of Mind and Spirit above their Brethren, with Anger, Wrath and Passion, by Rules, Order and Laws of their own devising; without the least consideration of what the Lord Christ requires, and what is the frame of his Heart towards all his Disciples, is to reflect the highest Dishonour imaginable upon Christ himself. He who comes into the Courts of the King in Westminster-Hall, when filled with Judges, Grave, Learned and Righteous, most ordinarily be allowed to judge of the King himself, his Wisdom, Justice, Moderation and Clemency, by the Law which they proceed upon, and their manner of the Administration of it. But God forbid that Christians should make a Judgment concerning the Holiness, Wisdom, Love and Compassion of Christ, by the Representation which (as is pretended) is made of him and them in some Courts, wherein Church-Rule and Discipline is Admistred. When any had offended of old, their Censure by the Church was called the Bewailing of them, 2 Cor. 12.24. and that because of the Sorrow, Pity and Compassion whereby in that Censure they evidenced the compassion of the Lord Christ towards the Souls of Sinners. This is scarce answered by those pecuniary mulcts and other penalties, which, with indignation and contempt, are inflicted on such as are made Offenders, whether they will or no. Certainly, those who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, and have a due honour for the Gospel, will at one time or another begin to think meet, that this stain of our Religion should be washed away.
