A free disputation against pretended liberty of conscience tending to resolve doubts moved

For this judgement authoritative as it is in the head of the Church (Christ) as in the fountain and only Law-giver, so it is Ministerially only and by way of office in the Elders, as the will and mind of the King is in the inferior Judge, the Ambassador or Herald, not in the people. And the people are obliged ⟨p. 27⟩to obey those that are over them in the Lord, who watch for their souls, as those who must give an account. But there is no ground to say the shepherds are obliged to stand to and obey the ministerial and official judgement of the people: and of this it is said, he that heareth you (Ministers of the Gospel, not the people) heareth me, he that despiseth you despiseth me. And this is more then a privilege of order and honour, which one Christian hath above another in regard of eminency of graces, gifts, and of wisdom, experience, and age, it is a privilege of office to speak in the name of the Lord, and yet it is inferior to a privilege of law, because the Lord only imposeth laws upon the Conscience, for it is a middle judgement less then Legislative, Supreme and absolute over the Conscience, this is in none save only in the King and head of the Church, and is Royal and Princely; Yet is it more (I say not more excellent, it not being saving of it self as in believers) than a privilege of mere honour and order, for though it lay no more bands on the Conscience to obtain faith because it is holden forth by men, it having no influence on the Conscience because of men, whose word is not the formal object of faith, yet hath it an official authority from Pastors (which is not merely titulary) so as they may ministerially and officially command obedience to their judgement as far as it agrees with the mind of Christ, no farther: and when it is disobeyed may inflict censures, which private Christians cannot do, and putteth these who disobey under another guiltiness, then if private Christians did speak the same word, to wit not only in a case of disobedience to the second command, but in a state of disobedience to the fifth command formally, as not honouring father and mother where as to disobey that same word by way of Counsel in the mouth of a brother, though it be the breach of the fifth command also, Yet not in such a manner as when we refuse to hear the messenger of the Lord of Hosts;

For this judgement authoritative as it is in the head of the Church (Christ) as in the fountaine and onely Law-giver, so it is Ministerially onely and by way of office in the Elders, as the will and mind of the King is in the inferiour Judge, the Ambassadour or Herauld, not in the people. And the people are obleiged