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in_o obedience_n to_o what_o christ_n command_v and_o to_o do_v it_o as_o he_o practise_v it_o who_o can_v doubt_v but_o this_o be_v the_o most_o perfect_a obedience_n and_o you_o know_v when_o our_o saviour_n institute_v this_o bless_a sacrament_n he_o give_v this_o command_n in_o the_o close_a do_v this_o in_o remembrance_n of_o i_o and_o sure_o he_o remember_v our_o saviour_n best_o who_o do_v every_o thing_n as_o he_o do_v both_o in_o substance_n and_o ceremony_n and_o so_o we_o find_v the_o primitive_a christian_n do_v observe_v also_o to_o receive_v it_o at_o supper_n as_o our_o saviour_n do_v but_o when_o this_o grow_v into_o a_o sinful_a abuse_n the_o ceremony_n be_v alter_v to_o preserve_v the_o substance_n in_o more_o purity_n so_o be_v kneel_v abuse_v by_o the_o papist_n and_o turn_v into_o great_a superstition_n why_o not_o therefore_o change_v in_o like_a manner_n but_o you_o kneel_v without_o any_o superstition_n you_o do_v not_o adore_v the_o element_n on_o the_o table_n 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in_o this_o matter_n then_o christ_n require_v of_o his_o disciple_n sure_a christ_n will_v not_o have_v allow_v any_o unfitting_a posture_n be_v not_o over-wise_a nor_o over_o holy_a condemn_v not_o that_o which_o christ_n allow_v god_n be_v so_o infinite_o gracious_a as_o to_o accept_v our_o poor_a devotion_n in_o any_o form_n if_o but_o sincere_a in_o substance_n nay_o though_o weak_a and_o frail_a in_o the_o substantial_a part_n he_o will_v not_o break_v the_o bruise_a reed_n nor_o quench_v the_o smoke_a flax_n his_o tender_a fatherly_a bowel_n yern_v upon_o his_o dear_a child_n come_v to_o he_o afar_o off_o oh_o then_o let_v we_o learn_v to_o be_v like_o mind_a tender_a and_o compassionate_a to_o our_o weak_a brethren_n admit_v they_o into_o cod_n worship_n in_o any_o posture_n if_o
commit_v to_o their_o management_n and_o judicature_n the_o civil_a law_n be_v that_o whereby_o most_o of_o the_o civilise_a world_n be_v govern_v and_o if_o we_o will_v have_v commerce_n with_o they_o it_o be_v fit_a we_o shall_v have_v able_a civilian_n to_o deal_v with_o they_o which_o will_v never_o be_v unelss_o they_o have_v profitable_a and_o honourabl_a place_n to_o encourage_v they_o for_o it_o all_o that_o i_o beg_v of_o they_o be_v that_o they_o will_v contain_v themselves_o within_o their_o own_o sphere_n of_o activity_n and_o not_o intrude_v into_o spiritual_a and_o sacred_a matter_n commit_v by_o christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n to_o the_o priesthood_n and_o so_o i_o beg_v of_o priest_n that_o they_o will_v not_o intermeddle_v in_o lay_v and_o temporol_n officer_n in_o the_o time_n of_o popery_n when_o spiritual_a and_o temporal_a affair_n be_v all_o intermingle_v and_o horrible_o confound_v as_o the_o pope_n take_v upon_o he_o secular_a and_o imperial_a authority_n direct_o contrary_a to_o the_o word_n and_o constitution_n of_o christ_n so_o the_o bishop_n and_o priest_n under_o he_o intermeddle_v in_o all_o secular_a affair_n and_o office_n and_o in_o this_o nation_n bishop_n be_v frequent_o lord_n keeper_n treasurer_n chief_a justice_n viceroy_n what_o not_o which_o be_v strange_o unapostolical_a and_o unlawful_a their_o vocation_n be_v whole_o spiritual_a as_o man_n choose_v out_o of_o the_o world_n shall_v have_v no_o more_o to_o do_v with_o it_o than_o of_o mere_a necessity_n for_o food_n and_o raiment_n wherefore_o to_o take_v upon_o they_o any_o lay-office_n which_o must_v needs_o take_v they_o off_o much_o from_o the_o ministry_n of_o the_o word_n and_o prayer_n be_v doubtless_o very_o sinful_a for_o act_n 6._o we_o find_v the_o apostle_n give_v themselves_o continual_o to_o these_o and_o will_v not_o endure_v to_o have_v these_o interrupt_v by_o that_o charitable_a office_n of_o take_v care_n for_o the_o poor_a certain_o than_o they_o will_v have_v much_o less_o endure_v yea_o abominate_v to_o be_v take_v off_o by_o temporal_a and_o worldly_a office_n and_o on_o this_o occasion_n let_v i_o speak_v a_o word_n to_o those_o of_o the_o inferior_a clergy_n who_o take_v upon_o they_o to_o study_v and_o practice_n physic_n for_o hire_n this_o must_v needs_o be_v likewise_o sinful_a as_o take_v they_o off_o from_o their_o spiritual_a employment_n have_v they_o study_v physic_n before_o they_o enter_v holy_a order_n and_o will_v after_o make_v use_n of_o their_o skill_n among_o their_o poor_a neighbour_n out_o of_o charity_n this_o be_v commendable_a but_o be_v enter_v on_o a_o spiritual_a and_o pastoral_a charge_n which_o require_v the_o whole_a man_n and_o more_o to_o spend_v their_o time_n in_o this_o or_o any_o other_o study_v not_o spiritual_a be_v contrary_a to_o their_o vocation_n and_o consequent_o sinful_a and_o to_o do_v it_o for_o gain_n be_v sordid_a and_o unworthy_a their_o high_a and_o holy_a call_v but_o necessitas_fw-la cogit_fw-la ad_fw-la turpia_fw-la the_o maintenance_n of_o many_o minister_n be_v so_o small_a as_o it_o force_v they_o even_o for_o food_n and_o raiment_n to_o seek_v it_o by_o other_o employment_n which_o may_v in_o some_o measure_n excuse_v they_o but_o mighty_o condemn_v those_o who_o shall_v provide_v better_o for_o they_o whether_o this_o belong_v not_o to_o king_n and_o parliament_n i_o must_v humble_o beseech_v they_o in_o christ_n name_n serious_o to_o consider_v i_o crave_v pardon_n for_o this_o i_o hope_v useful_a digression_n and_o return_v to_o the_o business_n of_o excommunication_n this_o sacred_a authority_n of_o excommunication_n be_v commit_v by_o christ_n to_o the_o apostle_n by_o they_o to_o their_o successor_n be_v use_v in_o weighty_a and_o very_a scandalous_a matter_n very_o few_o example_n of_o it_o in_o scripture_n the_o incestuous_a corinthian_a hymenus_fw-la and_o alexander_n scarce_o another_o clear_o express_v the_o apostle_n be_v full_o guide_v by_o the_o holy_a ghost_n in_o all_o thing_n do_v exercise_v this_o power_n single_o themselves_o but_o the_o succeed_a bishop_n have_v not_o the_o spirit_n of_o that_o full_a measure_n use_v the_o assistance_n of_o the_o principal_a clergy_n in_o their_o diocese_n that_o the_o act_n may_v be_v more_o solemn_a and_o authentic_a the_o person_n excommunicate_v if_o he_o conceive_v the_o act_n injurious_a appeal_v to_o one_o or_o more_o neighbour_a bishop_n who_o assemble_v together_o and_o discuss_v the_o matter_n either_o confirm_v or_o reverse_v the_o act_n as_o they_o find_v cause_n and_o sometime_o the_o matter_n proceed_v so_o far_o as_o to_o cause_v a_o assembly_n of_o the_o whole_a province_n but_o each_o bishop_n or_o praepositus_fw-la as_o st._n cyprian_n call_v he_o and_o declare_v that_o he_o be_v absolute_a in_o his_o own_o diocese_n to_o exercise_v his_o power_n and_o none_o condemn_v for_o use_v it_o but_o only_o for_o abuse_v it_o contrary_a to_o reason_n and_o conscience_n there_o be_v the_o only_a rule_n they_o proceed_v by_o at_o first_o afterward_o when_o bishop_n on_o this_o or_o other_o occasion_n meet_v in_o assembly_n provincial_a or_o general_n they_o make_v it_o divers_a canon_n which_o pass_v for_o rule_n and_o law_n to_o govern_v the_o church_n by_o which_o doubtless_o be_v very_o good_a help_n to_o bridle_v the_o extravagant_a passion_n of_o particular_a man_n very_o apt_a in_o this_o corrupt_a age_n to_o prevaricate_v yet_o i_o can_v conceive_v they_o so_o far_o oblige_v but_o new_a emergent_a circumstance_n may_v just_o cause_v new_a and_o different_a decree_n yet_o so_o as_o every_o particular_a bishop_n be_v oblige_v for_o peace_n sake_n to_o submit_v to_o or_o at_o least_o to_o acquiesce_v in_o the_o general_n decree_n of_o that_o nation_n where_o he_o live_v i_o say_v they_o be_v not_o bind_v entire_o to_o submit_v to_o the_o decree_n of_o former_a council_n either_o provincial_a or_o general_n because_o as_o i_o have_v show_v before_o all_o their_o decree_n be_v humane_a not_o divine_a and_o all_o humane_a ecclesiastical_a law_n be_v alterable_a according_a to_o the_o time_n and_o occasion_n by_o other_o general_a council_n as_o to_o the_o bound_n of_o each_o bishop_n diocese_n they_o be_v occasion_v several_a way_n the_o apostle_n for_o the_o better_a spread_v of_o the_o gospel_n preach_v it_o first_o in_o the_o principal_a city_n which_o general_o have_v great_a influence_n upon_o the_o adjacent_a part_n by_o reason_n that_o the_o occasion_n of_o most_o call_v they_o thither_o and_o in_o these_o city_n they_o settle_v the_o chief_a pastor_n of_o the_o church_n with_o power_n to_o ordain_v presbyter_n and_o pastor_n in_o other_o lesser_a city_n and_o town_n round_o about_o as_o the_o congregation_n of_o the_o faithful_a increase_v and_o all_o those_o church_n that_o be_v erect_v and_o pastor_n establish_v in_o they_o by_o these_o apostolic_a man_n in_o the_o chief_a city_n i_o humble_o conceive_v in_o reverence_n of_o their_o worth_n and_o apostolic_a authority_n be_v free_o observant_a and_o subject_a to_o they_o which_o afterward_o out_o of_o custom_n grow_v into_o a_o kind_n of_o right_n challenge_v by_o their_o successor_n sometime_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o pastor_n or_o bishop_n of_o a_o city_n be_v enlarge_v according_a to_o the_o temporal_a authority_n of_o the_o same_o it_o be_v the_o metropolitan_a of_o this_o or_o that_o country_n for_o so_o we_o find_v in_o the_o council_n of_o nice_a and_o other_o council_n the_o chief_a and_o large_a authority_n give_v to_o the_o bishop_n of_o old_a rome_n because_o it_o be_v the_o first_o imperial_a city_n to_o constantinople_n as_o the_o second_o imperial_a city_n to_o alexandria_n as_o the_o chief_a city_n of_o that_o part_n of_o africa_n to_o antioch_n jerusalem_n ephesus_n corinth_n phillipi_n etc._n etc._n where_o you_o see_v that_o though_o jerusalem_n be_v the_o first_o city_n from_o whence_o the_o gospel_n issue_v forth_o antioch_n the_o second_o city_n where_o the_o gospel_n be_v plant_v and_o where_o the_o faithful_a be_v first_o call_v christian_n yet_o rome_n constantinople_n and_o alexandria_n be_v prefer_v before_o they_o and_o have_v far_o large_a jurisdiction_n so_o that_o it_o be_v a_o mere_a humane_a temporal_a matter_n and_o man_n have_v no_o far_o obligation_n to_o it_o in_o conscience_n than_o for_o peace_n sake_n and_o order_n which_o in_o like_a manner_n oblige_v every_o man_n to_o be_v subject_a to_o all_o magistrate_n within_o their_o respective_a jurisdiction_n there_o be_v yet_o two_o thing_n more_o to_o be_v consider_v in_o this_o business_n first_o where_o the_o apostle_n first_o plant_v the_o gospel_n in_o city_n with_o authority_n over_o the_o adjacent_a part_n it_o be_v in_o rich_a populous_a country_n where_o city_n be_v much_o near_o together_o than_o in_o these_o northern_a part_n and_o the_o circuit_n of_o each_o city_n be_v much_o less_o in_o compass_n so_o that_o the_o bishop_n may_v well_o have_v the_o inspection_n
religion_n or_o reason_n be_v it_o not_o apparent_o wilfulness_n and_o faction_n i_o beseech_v you_o my_o brethren_n take_v heed_n of_o thus_o dissemble_v with_o god_n and_o the_o world_n or_o take_v heed_n of_o give_v yourselves_o up_o to_o these_o delusion_n of_o a_o mistake_a spirit_n humility_n and_o obedience_n be_v evident_a mark_n of_o the_o spirit_n learn_v of_o i_o say_v christ_n math._n 11._o 29._o for_o i_o be_o meek_a and_o lowly_a in_o heart_n god_n resist_v the_o proud_a and_o give_v grace_n to_o the_o humble_a wherefore_o i_o ay_o beseech_v you_o first_o put_v on_o the_o lord_n jesus_n with_o all_o humility_n that_o he_o may_v give_v you_o the_o grace_n of_o his_o holy_a spirit_n to_o discern_v clear_a truth_n from_o conceit_a fanciful_a error_n second_o i_o beseech_v you_o consider_v whether_o of_o the_o two_o it_o be_v not_o safe_a to_o err_v in_o the_o way_n of_o humility_n then_o to_o err_v in_o the_o way_n of_o pride_n which_o make_v it_o double_o damnable_a void_a of_o all_o excuse_n i_o say_v this_o because_o you_o think_v or_o pretend_v to_o think_v our_o way_n erroneous_a not_o that_o i_o have_v any_o such_o thought_n or_o doubt_n whereas_o the_o humble_a soul_n have_v great_a excuse_n to_o plead_v and_o if_o charity_n cover_v a_o multitude_n of_o sin_n sure_a humility_n will_v cover_v some_o a_o soul_n clothe_v with_o humility_n can_v easy_o be_v displease_v to_o our_o humble_a saviour_n but_o clothe_v with_o pride_n can_v scarce_o be_v acceptable_a but_o rather_o hateful_a like_o the_o proud_a pharisee_fw-mi with_o all_o his_o enumerated_a virtue_n and_o my_o brethren_n it_o be_v most_o evident_a your_o spirit_n savour_v somewhat_o of_o the_o pharisee_fw-mi magnify_v your_o own_o holiness_n and_o despise_v all_o other_o as_o publican_n and_o sinner_n and_o refuse_v all_o communion_n with_o they_o whereas_o the_o holy_a of_o holies_n our_o lord_n jesus_n choose_v chief_o to_o converse_v with_o such_o real_o i_o can_v but_o think_v your_o case_n very_o dangerous_a on_o this_o account_n only_o be_v there_o no_o more_o to_o accuse_v you_o of_o three_o i_o beseech_v you_o to_o consider_v the_o great_a mischief_n you_o bring_v upon_o this_o church_n and_o nation_n by_o your_o separation_n from_o the_o church_n you_o pretend_v to_o be_v the_o great_a zelots_n against_o popery_n and_o yet_o give_v i_o leave_v to_o say_v your_o indiscreet_a disobedient_a zeal_n main_o bring_v it_o in_o your_o separation_n and_o many_o follow_a division_n have_v cause_v many_o to_o abhor_v our_o church_n and_o turn_v to_o popery_n and_o doubtless_o you_o be_v to_o give_v a_o account_n to_o god_n for_o the_o ruin_n of_o those_o soul_n for_o i_o can_v never_o yield_v that_o you_o have_v any_o reasonable_a and_o true_a conscientious_a cause_n of_o separation_n but_o mere_o mistaken-reason_n and_o conscience_n which_o i_o much_o pity_n but_o no_o way_n approve_v and_o therefore_o i_o must_v lay_v the_o advance_v of_o popery_n to_o your_o charge_n to_o your_o separation_n for_o i_o be_o sure_a it_o be_v the_o main_a snare_n wherewith_o they_o catch_v unstable_a soul_n persuade_v they_o our_o church_n be_v not_o guide_v by_o the_o spirit_n of_o truth_n see_v it_o be_v confound_v by_o the_o spirit_n of_o division_n it_o can_v be_v of_o god_n who_o be_v both_o verity_n and_o unity_n now_o though_o it_o be_v well_o know_v to_o the_o learned_a that_o their_o church_n have_v neither_o verity_n nor_o unity_n yet_o this_o be_v not_o discernible_a to_o weak_a soul_n especial_o here_o in_o this_o country_n where_o their_o church_n be_v under_o a_o cloud_n and_o therefore_o their_o foul_a spot_n nothing_o so_o visible_a as_o abroad_o where_o it_o walk_v barefaced_a but_o be_v here_o by_o their_o priest_n either_o with_o great_a confidence_n deny_v or_o with_o great_a cunning_n disguise_v wherefore_o again_o i_o most_o earnest_o and_o most_o humble_o beseech_v you_o for_o jesus_n sake_n put_v on_o our_o lord_n jesus_n in_o all_o humility_n and_o obedience_n submit_v yourselves_o to_o the_o ordinance_n of_o those_o superior_n and_o power_n which_o god_n have_v set_v over_o you_o and_o if_o out_o of_o mere_a humility_n and_o obedience_n you_o conform_v though_o you_o be_v guilty_a of_o some_o error_n therein_o i_o be_o confident_a there_o be_v none_o yet_o be_v it_o so_o my_o soul_n for_o you_o that_o guilt_n shall_v never_o be_v lay_v to_o your_o charge_n by_o our_o most_o gracious_a saviour_n and_o most_o mereiful_a judge_n christ_n jesus_n our_o lord_n to_o who_o be_v all_o honour_n and_o glory_n for_o ever_o amen_n finis_fw-la