Five disputations of church-government and worship

Sect. 32. Reas. 16. It is natural for man to be Partial in his own Cause: insomuch as no law or equity will allow men to be witnesses or judges for themselves in the smallest civil controversy: and shall they be judges of themselves in so great a cause? Are not others more impartial?

Sect. 32. Reas. 16. It is natural for man to be Partial in his own Cause: insomuch as no law or equity will allow men to be witnesses or judges for themselves in the smallest civil controversie: and shall they be judges of themselves in so great a cause? Are not others more impartial?

Sect. 33. Reas. 17. You cast away your own encouragement ⟨p. 264⟩and support, and create vexation to your own Consciences. There are so many difficulties to be conquered in this work, and so many sufferings to be endured, that if a man be not clear that his Call was good, he is like to be left to great discomforts. We have exceeding great labours to undergo: we have abundance of enemies and impediments to strive with: we have many a scorn and unthankful return, and perhaps imprisonment or death to undergo: we are our selves, alas, too weak and insufficient, and must depend on God for daily helps. And with what confidence can you expect his help, if you Call your selves, and enter not by his Approbation? And how will you ever go through all this, and suffer so much with Christian comfort, when you cannot say that you are sent of God, and have nothing but your own overweening conceits of it? Could you but say, [I entered by the way that God appointed, and was not my own Judge] you might have some more boldness and confidence of Gods assistance.

Sect. 33. Reas. 17. You cast away your own encouragement ⟨p. 264⟩and support, and create vexation to your own Consciences. There are so many difficulties to be conquered in this work, and so many sufferings to be endured, that if a man be not clear that his Call was good, he is like to be left to great discomforts. We have exceedig great labours to undergo: we have abundance of enemies and impediments to strive with: we have many a scorn and unthankful return, and perhaps imprisonment or death to undergo: we are our selves, alas, too weak and insufficient, and must depend on God for daily helps. And with what confidence can you expect his help, if you Call your selves, and enter not by his Approbation? And how will you ever go through all this, and suffer so much with Christian comfort, when you cannot say that you are sent of God, and have nothing but your own overweening conceits of it? Could you but say, [I entered by the way that God appointed, and was not my own Judge] you might have some more boldness and confidence of Gods assistance.