Five disputations of church-government and worship

§. 31. It seemeth a course that suiteth with the state of the present Churches among us, to have in every County, three or four such able, faithful Pastors to be by the Magistrate made Visitors of the rest, not giving them any power of meddling with mens bodies or estates, but joining with them a Magistrate as a Justice or Commissioner, that one may persuade, and the other constrain, as far as the Sovereign Power shall think fit. This is not to set up any New office or the least part of an office in the Church. As it is merely accidental to the Being of a Physician, whether he be tied to a City, or to an Hospital, or to a County, or to no place, but practice as he findeth opportunity; these being but the various modes of using the same ^*Office and works; so may we truly say of the Ministry.

§. 31. It seemeth a course that suiteth with the state of the present Churches among us, to have in every County, three or four such able, faithfull Pastors to be by the Magistrate made Visitors of the rest, not giving them any power of medling with mens bodies or estates, but joining with them a Magistrate as a Justice or Commissioner, that one may perswade, and the other constrain, as far as the Soveraign Power shall think fit. This is not to set up any New office or the least part of an office in the Church. As it is meerly accidental to the Being of a Physitian, whether he be tyed to a City, or to an Hospital, or to a County, or to no place, but practice as he findeth opportunity; these being but the various modes of using the same ^*Office and works; so may we truly say of the Ministry.

1. *The Jesuits and Friars do not take the Generals or Governors of their Orders to be men of another Order, though they have a Power of Ruling, and that Tyrannically.The Jesuits and Fryars do not take the Generals or Governors of their Orders to be men of another Order, though they have a Power of Ruling, and that Tyrannically.