The due right of presbyteries, or, A peaceable plea for the government of the…

4. He objecteth. That it is senseless, that a Minister may be sent as a Minister, to the hidden number not yet called out, which are also his st•ck potentially, not actually; as Mr. Bernard saith, because it is the property of a good shepherd, to call his own sheep by name. Joh. 20. also it is a logical error, that a man may have a• actual relation to a stock potentially, it is as if a man were a husband because he may have a wife.

4. He objecteth. That it is senseles, that a Minister may be sent as a Minister, to the hidden number not yet called out, which are also his st•ck potentially, not actually; as Mr. Bernard saith, because it is the property of a good shepheard, to call his own sheep by name. Ioh. 20. also it is a logicall error, that a man may have a• actuall relation to a stock potentially, it is as if a man were a husband because he may have a wife.

But I answer; he not only may be, but is a pastor to these that are but potentially members to the invisible Church, though unconverted, except you say, a man hath no relation as a pastor to the flock, to all and every one of a thousand souls, which ⟨p. 178⟩are his flock, except they be all truly converted, and members of the invisible Church, which if you say, I can refute it easily as an Anabaptisticall falsehood; for if they all profess the truth, and choose him for their pastor, he is their pastor, but they are a saved flock potentially, though actually a visible flock having actual relation to him, as to their pastor.

But I answer; he not onely may be, but is a pastor to these that are but potentially members to the invisible Church, though unconverted, except you say, a man hath no relation as a pastor to the flock, to all and every one of a thousand soules, which