Five disputations of church-government and worship

Sect. 5. And 2. For the Magistrate, there is great reason that he have his part also in the work: For the honour of God must be his End; the Law of God his chiefest Rule; •he Church of Christ his chiefest subjects; and the work of Christ, his chiefest care and business. And seeing he Ruleth from Christ, and by Christ, and for Christ, it is necessary that he take care of the quality, and entrance, and carriage of Ministers, on whom Christs work and honour doth so much depend.

Sect. 5. And 2. For the Magistrate, there is great reason that he have his part also in the work: For the honour of God must be his End; the Law of God his chiefest Rule; •he Church of Christ his chiefest subjects; and the work of Christ, his chifest care and business. And seeing he Ruleth from Christ, and by Christ, and for Christ, it is necessary that he take care of the quality, and enterance, and carriage of Ministers, on whom Christs work and honour doth so much depend.

Sect. 6. Yet is there here a special difference between the works of these several parties in admitting men into the Ministry. The proper or necessary work of the people, is but to discern and consent: Whether they be the first Electors, is a matter of indifferency in it self, & is sometime fit, and sometime unfit. The Magistrates work is not to Ordain Ministers; but carefully to Oversee the Ordainers and the People, that they put in none but worthy men: And if he find that they miscarry, he is not (ordinarily at least) to take the work upon him, and Ordain fitter men himself: but to correct them to whom the work belongs, for their male-administration, and restrain them from misdoing, and urge them by due means to do it better, or cause them to be displaced that ⟨p. 255⟩are unreformable, that better may be chosen in their stead, that will be faithful.

Sect. 6. Yet is there here a special difference between the works of these several parties in admitting men into the Ministry. The proper or necessary work of the people, is but to discern and consent: Whether they be the first Electors, is a matter of indifferency in it self, & is sometime fit, and sometime unfit. The Magistrates work is not to Ordain Ministers; but carefully to Oversee the Ordainers and the People, that they put in none but worthy men: And if he find that they miscarry, he is not (ordinarily at least) to take the work upon him, and Ordain fitter men himself: but to correct them to whom the work belongs, for their male-administration, and restrain them from misdoing, and urge them by due means to do it better, or cause them to be displaced that