the Prophets and Apostles exercised pastoral acts over many who made not choice of their Ministry, yea they preached to them against their will, and Paul preached as a Pastor to many in Corinth, against their will, and a faithful Pastor may preach to many, who never made choice of him for their Pastor, and to whom the word is the savour of death unto death, and to whom he hath vengeance ⟨p. 129⟩in readiness. 5. There is no liberty purchased to us by Christ, but such as is regulated by Gods Word, and found reason, a liberty of sole will in embracing or refusing a Minister, is licence, not liberty: now in Christ, we are called to liberty, not to licence, and if some of a congregation wanting the spirit of discerning upon prejudice, refuse a called pastor, to be their pastor; yet if the most part of the congregation elect him, he is a pastor to all, and to those who refused him, as Christ doth reign in the word and Ministry, over hypocrites, in a congregation, who say in their hearts we will not have this man to reign over us; yet here is a Ministerial charge which a pastor hath lawfully over such, as are not willing to submit to that ministry: the power of electing a pastor is not infallible; what if they or most of them, upon sole groundless prejudice, refuse such a man to be their pastor, is he not their pastor because all consent not? are we to think that Christ purchased a liberty in his blood of refusing a called pastor? nor can we think these who taught the doctrine of the Nicolaitans in Pergamus, and these who held the doctrine of Balaam, or that the woman Jezebel which called her self a prophetess in Thyatira, and seduced the people of God to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to Idols, were received in Pergamus and Thyatira by a Church covenant; nor hath it colour of truth, that the faithful there were satisfied in conscience, with the conversion of Jezebel, and such as held the doctrine of Balaam, and that they consented, and did choose the Angel of the congregation of Pergamus, and Thyatira (as our brethren speak) for their pastor, and yet the pastors and Church are rebuked for not executing the censures of the Church over the followers of Balaam, Revel. 2. 14, 15. and upon Jezebel the false prophetess;
the Prophets and Apostles exercised pastorall acts over many who made not choise of their Ministery, yea they preached to them against their will, and Paul preached as a Pastor to many in Corinth, against their will, and a faithfull Pastor may preach to many, who never made choise of him for their Pastor, and to whom the word is the savour of death unto death, and to whom he hath vengeance ⟨p. 129⟩in readinesse. 5. There is no liberty purchased to us by Christ, but such as is regulated by Gods Word, and found reason, a liberty of sole will in embracing or refusing a Minister, is licence, not liberty: now in Christ, we are called to liberty, not to licence, and if some of a congregation wanting the spirit of discerning upon prejudice, refuse a called pastor, to be their pastor; yet if the most part of the congregation elect him, he is a pastor to all, and to those who refused him, as Christ doth reigne in the word and Ministery, over hypocrites, in a congregation, who say in their hearts we will not have this man to reigne over us; yet here is a Ministeriall charge which a pastor hath lawfully over such, as are not willing to submit to that ministery: the power of electing a pastor is not infallible; what if they or most of them, upon sole groundlesse prejudice, refuse such a man to be their pastor, is he not their pastor because all consent not? are we to thinke that Christ purchased a liberty in his bloud of refusing a called pastor? nor can we thinke these who taught the doctrine of the Nicolaitans in Pergamus, and these who held the doctrine of Balaam, or that the woman Jezebel which called her selfe a prophetesse in Thyatira, and seduced the people of God to commit fornication, and to eate things sacrificed to Idols, were received in Pergamus and Thyatira by a Church covenant; nor hath it colour of truth, that the faithfull there were satisfied in conscience, with the conversion of I•zabel, and such as held the doctrine of Balaam, and that they consented, and did choose the Angell of the congregation of Pergamus, and Thyatira (as our brethren speake) for their pastor, and yet the pastors and Church are rebuked for not executing the censures of the Church over the followers of Balaam, Revel. 2. 14, 15. and upon Iezabel the false prophetesse;
