A trial of the new-church way in New-England and in old ... by that…A tryall of the nevv-church vvay in New-England and in old ... by that…

This may suffice that it is not to be found either in this or any other Text of Scripture, that the people joining in the true Worship of God, with unworthy Ministers, do countenance them in their place thereby. On the contrary, if you will extend this Text to all unworthy Ministers of what sort soever, whom the word of truth doth condemn as not approved Ministers of God, the Scripture teacheth evidently not only that the people by joining do not countenance them in their place and office, but that they must and ought to join with them in the worship of God,¹ and in separating from the Ordinance they shall sin against God, much less then do they in such joining set those Idols and means of worship, which God never appointed in his Word. For the worship is of God, and the Ministry is of God, the person unworthily executing his place, is neither set up by some few private Christians, nor can by them be removed. And warrant to withdraw themselves from the worship of God, because such as ought not, are suffered to intermeddle in the holy things of God, they have none from God. Dumb Dogs, greedy Dogs, Idol-shepherds, false Prophets, Strangers, are unworthy Ministers, but they that communicate with such in the ordinance of worship, are never said to set up Idols or means of worship which God never appointed. The sheep of Christ will not hear strangers in the Lords sense, but outwardly they heard those strangers preach (if the Scribes and Pharisees were such) and by hearing them discovered them to be strangers, i. e. false Prophets; Some strangers at least, of whom our Saviour speaks, were of the true Church, and of Israel, but brought false doctrine tending to kill the soul, such strangers none should hear, that is, believe and follow: but as they be tolerated in the Church, so they may hear them, so long as they bring the truth. Unworthy Ministers are no Ministers for themselves, but they are Ministers for the people of God, that is, so long as they be in the place of Ministers, the acts of their administrations are of force to the faithful, if they observe the form of administration prescribed by Christ; for Christs Ordinances have their efficacy from him, not from them that serve about them, and evil Ministers minister not in their own name, but in Christs and by his Commission.

This may suffice that it is not to be found either in this or any other Text of Scripture, that the people joyning in the true Worship of God, with unworthy Ministers, do countenance them in their place thereby. On the contrary, if you will extend this Text to all unworthy Ministers of what sort soever, whom the word of truth doth condemne as not approved Ministers of God, the Scripture teacheth evidently not onely that the people by joyning do not countenance them in their place and office, but that they must and ought to joyne with them in the worship of God,