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and_o teach_v the_o multitude_n so_o that_o the_o disciple_n be_v first_o call_v christian_n at_o antioch_n 25_o after_o that_o this_o church_n be_v visit_v by_o paul_n and_o barnabas_n 35._o who_o continue_v there_o teach_v and_o preach_v the_o word_n of_o god_n with_o many_o other_o also_o and_o may_v we_o not_o think_v that_o this_o church_n do_v quick_o rise_v to_o such_o bigness_n that_o they_o can_v not_o well_o assemble_v in_o one_o congregation_n as_o now_o we_o call_v they_o it_o will_v easy_o be_v credit_v that_o the_o number_n of_o believer_n be_v not_o small_a at_o ephesus_n if_o we_o call_v to_o mind_n that_o when_o paul_n have_v be_v there_o but_o two_o year_n all_o they_o that_o dwell_v in_o asia_n have_v hear_v the_o word_n of_o the_o lord_n both_o jew_n and_o grecian_n 27._o that_o a_o great_a door_n and_o effectual_a be_v open_v to_o he_o at_o ephesus_n 19_o that_o the_o art_n for_o make_v shrine_n and_o diana_n temple_n be_v in_o danger_n to_o be_v set_v at_o 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of_o everlasting_a blessedness_n but_o solemn_o enter_v and_o enrol_v into_o the_o society_n of_o christ_n flock_n and_o acknowledge_v member_n by_o free_a admission_n into_o the_o seal_n of_o the_o covenant_n again_o by_o the_o church_n if_o we_o speak_v of_o ordinary_a call_n must_v not_o be_v understand_v of_o the_o faithful_a alone_o but_o their_o guide_n and_o officer_n together_o with_o they_o who_o be_v to_o go_v before_o the_o rest_n and_o to_o direct_v and_o govern_v they_o in_o their_o choice_n neither_o can_v we_o say_v that_o any_o two_o or_o three_o believer_n link_v together_o in_o society_n do_v make_v such_o a_o church_n as_o to_o who_o the_o call_n of_o the_o minister_n do_v belong_v but_o that_o right_o be_v give_v by_o christ_n to_o such_o church_n as_o be_v gather_v and_o establish_v by_o the_o apostle_n the_o church_n have_v a_o ministry_n of_o call_v one_o who_o christ_n have_v describe_v that_o from_o christ_n he_o may_v have_v power_n of_o office_n give_v he_o 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not_o the_o calling_n itself_o a_o mere_a nullity_n for_o then_o many_o church_n in_o the_o world_n within_o a_o few_o hundred_o year_n after_o christ_n shall_v have_v want_v both_o ministry_n and_o sacrament_n and_o they_o will_v have_v be_v altogether_o destitute_a of_o both_o ministry_n and_o sacrament_n for_o many_o hundred_o year_n the_o four_o that_o all_o those_o who_o desire_v to_o partake_v in_o the_o seal_n be_v bind_v to_o join_v themselves_o together_o in_o church-state_n that_o so_o they_o may_v call_v a_o minister_n to_o dispense_v the_o seal_n unto_o they_o will_v not_o follow_v from_o the_o former_a right_o understand_v we_o deny_v not_o but_o christian_n be_v bind_v to_o join_v themselves_o together_o in_o holy_a fellowship_n if_o god_n give_v they_o opportunity_n but_o they_o must_v partake_v in_o the_o seal_n before_o they_o can_v join_v themselves_o together_o in_o church-state_n and_o such_o as_o for_o lack_v of_o mean_n and_o opportunity_n can_v join_v themselves_o into_o such_o a_o estate_n or_o be_v disperse_v by_o persecution_n or_o be_v destitute_a of_o pastor_n and_o teacher_n may_v for_o a_o time_n desire_n and_o seek_v to_o have_v the_o seal_v dispense_v unto_o they_o by_o the_o pastor_n and_o teacher_n of_o other_o society_n with_o who_o they_o hold_v communion_n in_o the_o faith_n the_o people_n also_o who_o be_v deprive_v of_o right_a and_o liberty_n to_o choose_v their_o pastor_n may_v desire_v and_o seek_v to_o have_v the_o seal_n dispense_v unto_o they_o by_o he_o who_o be_v set_v over_o they_o if_o a_o company_n of_o infidel_n shall_v be_v convert_v to_o the_o faith_n they_o must_v desire_v to_o partake_v in_o the_o ordinance_n of_o grace_n before_o they_o can_v join_v together_o in_o a_o churchway_n to_o call_v a_o minister_n of_o their_o own_o who_o may_v administer_v the_o sacrament_n unto_o they_o to_o make_v disciple_n and_o baptize_v be_v join_v together_o and_o if_o these_o proposition_n be_v allow_v for_o current_n 2._o a_o nation_n or_o people_n plunge_v into_o idolatry_n or_o infidelity_n 19_o or_o otherwise_o dischurch_v can_v by_o ordinary_a mean_n recover_v into_o a_o church-estate_n wherein_o they_o may_v lawful_o and_o according_a to_o god_n appointment_n desire_n or_o expect_v that_o the_o seal_n of_o the_o covenant_n shall_v be_v dispense_v to_o they_o the_o five_o proposition_n rise_v beyond_o measure_n that_o no_o christian_n can_v expect_v by_o the_o appointment_n of_o god_n to_o partake_v in_o the_o seal_n till_o he_o have_v join_v himself_o in_o church-fellowship_n and_o the_o call_n of_o the_o minister_n we_o conceive_v you_o will_v not_o say_v that_o child_n and_o woman_n have_v to_o do_v in_o the_o call_n of_o the_o minister_n for_o woman_n they_o be_v debar_v by_o their_o sex_n as_o from_o ordinary_a prophesy_v 35._o so_o from_o any_o other_o deal_v wherein_o they_o take_v authority_n over_o the_o man_n if_o some_o part_n of_o the_o congregation_n do_v not_o consent_v in_o the_o election_n of_o pastor_n or_o teacher_n 12._o have_v they_o not_o right_a to_o expect_v to_o have_v the_o seal_n of_o the_o covenant_n dispense_v to_o themselves_o or_o their_o seed_n 206._o if_o the_o people_n be_v deprive_v of_o that_o liberty_n to_o choose_v or_o call_v their_o minister_n must_v they_o separate_v from_o the_o ordinance_n of_o worship_n there_o dispense_v and_o from_o the_o congregation_n as_o no_o true_a church_n if_o some_o person_n by_o the_o providence_n of_o god_n live_v in_o such_o place_n where_o they_o can_v join_v in_o church-fellowship_n and_o call_v of_o the_o minister_n as_o suppose_v the_o christian_a wife_n child_n or_o servant_n nor_o lawful_o remove_v to_o any_o such_o society_n must_v they_o and_o their_o child_n live_v as_o stranger_n and_o alien_n from_o the_o covenant_n of_o grace_n wherein_o they_o may_v not_o expect_v to_o partake_v of_o the_o seal_n in_o infidel_n be_v convert_v to_o the_o faith_n must_v they_o not_o partake_v in_o the_o seal_n because_o they_o can_v join_v in_o church-fellowship_n and_o call_v of_o the_o minister_n before_o they_o be_v admit_v to_o baptism_n here_o you_o say_v the_o people_n must_v join_v together_o in_o the_o call_n of_o the_o minister_n before_o they_o can_v lawful_o desire_v to_o be_v admit_v to_o the_o seal_n 239._o and_o another_o have_v zealous_o affirm_v it_o be_v a_o presumptuous_a sin_n in_o any_o to_o choose_v a_o officer_n not_o train_v up_o and_o try_v scil_n in_o the_o debate_n discuss_v carry_v and_o contrive_v of_o church-affaire_n as_o also_o in_o admonition_n exhortation_n and_o comfort_n public_o occasion_v and_o so_o manifest_v lay_v these_o two_o together_o and_o let_v it_o be_v consider_v how_o long_o many_o a_o poor_a soul_n convert_v to_o the_o faith_n must_v be_v compel_v to_o want_v the_o comfort_n of_o god_n ordinance_n beside_o if_o a_o people_n be_v join_v
be_v acquaint_v with_o or_o judge_v of_o the_o cause_n of_o every_o particular_a member_n removal_n may_v not_o a_o servant_n remove_v from_o his_o master_n to_o another_o congregation_n or_o the_o father_n bestow_v his_o son_n or_o daughter_n in_o marriage_n to_o one_o of_o another_o congregation_n but_o the_o whole_a church_n must_v be_v call_v to_o counsel_v in_o this_o matter_n if_o the_o assembly_n once_o grow_v to_o be_v populous_a of_o necessity_n they_o must_v be_v negligent_a in_o or_o weary_a of_o such_o a_o heavy_a task_n and_o for_o the_o present_a for_o every_o one_o to_o challenge_v so_o much_o authority_n over_o other_o be_v usurpation_n let_v it_o be_v show_v that_o ever_o by_o divine_a right_n this_o power_n be_v commit_v to_o the_o church_n and_o then_o we_o will_v confess_v it_o to_o be_v expedient_a and_o necessary_a but_o till_o then_o we_o think_v the_o church_n be_v over_o ridge_v in_o exact_v such_o a_o condition_n of_o the_o member_n and_o the_o member_n themselves_o go_v beyond_o their_o measure_n as_o busi-body_n in_o other_o man_n matter_n and_o thing_n whereof_o they_o be_v not_o well_o able_a to_o judge_v many_o time_n if_o they_o arrogate_v such_o power_n unto_o themselves_o we_o allow_v not_o rashness_n or_o precipitancy_n pride_n or_o self-conceitedness_n we_o know_v it_o be_v meet_v that_o weighty_a matter_n shall_v be_v manage_v by_o council_n but_o it_o be_v not_o necessary_a to_o bring_v every_o particular_a thing_n to_o the_o whole_a church_n in_o the_o multitude_n of_o councillor_n there_o be_v peace_n but_o over_o many_o councillor_n oft_o cause_v distraction_n and_o different_a apprehension_n breed_v delay_n the_o nature_n of_o your_o church-covenant_n as_o you_o describe_v it_o infer_v not_o a_o necessity_n of_o bring_v every_o such_o business_n unto_o the_o church_n for_o you_o bind_v yourselves_o mutual_o to_o watch_v over_o one_o another_o and_o in_o love_n to_o admonish_v one_o another_o in_o the_o lord_n to_o 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from_o the_o place_n of_o his_o habitation_n before_o he_o have_v acquaint_v the_o church_n whither_o he_o go_v and_o upon_o what_o occasion_n and_o whether_o the_o place_n be_v dangerous_a where_o he_o be_v likely_a to_o be_v infect_v or_o safe_a where_o he_o may_v be_v edify_v these_o thing_n be_v matter_n of_o weight_n and_o to_o be_v undertake_v with_o advice_n but_o the_o knowledge_n thereof_o belong_v not_o to_o every_o particular_a member_n of_o the_o society_n and_o the_o church_n shall_v burden_v herself_o above_o measure_n if_o she_o take_v upon_o she_o to_o intermeddle_v in_o all_o such_o occasion_n neither_o be_v it_o safe_a to_o commit_v the_o determination_n of_o such_o matter_n ever_o to_o the_o vote_n of_o the_o multitude_n or_o weight_n of_o reason_n as_o they_o shall_v apprehend_v the_o matter_n and_o if_o such_o business_n must_v be_v determine_v on_o the_o lord_n day_n and_o to_o go_v before_o the_o administration_n of_o the_o word_n 230._o sacrament_n and_o alm_n lest_o the_o holy_a thing_n be_v pollute_v by_o notorious_a obstinate_a offender_n we_o fear_v the_o time_n appoint_v for_o the_o exercise_n of_o religion_n shall_v be_v profane_v with_o unseasonable_a dispute_n instance_n may_v be_v allege_v if_o it_o be_v a_o matter_n to_o be_v insist_v upon_o as_o for_o the_o covenant_n itself_o which_o you_o mutual_o enter_v into_o if_o therein_o you_o exact_v nothing_o but_o what_o god_n require_v both_o for_o trial_n and_o stipulation_n far_o be_v it_o that_o we_o shall_v disallow_v it_o but_o if_o you_o constrain_v man_n to_o meddle_v with_o thing_n that_o belong_v not_o to_o they_o and_o wind_v they_o up_o high_a than_o god_n will_v and_o strain_v every_o thing_n to_o the_o pitch_n that_o you_o seem_v here_o to_o do_v in_o this_o branch_n a_o godly_a and_o sober_a mind_n may_v well_o pause_v before_o he_o make_v such_o promise_n all_o member_n of_o the_o church_n be_v not_o equal_o necessary_a to_o the_o preservation_n of_o the_o whole_a body_n &_o if_o to_o the_o removal_n of_o some_o it_o be_v expedient_a to_o have_v the_o consent_n not_o only_o of_o the_o whole_a society_n but_o of_o neighbour_a society_n minister_n especial_o it_o be_v very_o much_o to_o draw_v this_o to_o the_o removal_n or_o abode_n of_o every_o particular_a member_n and_o if_o any_o man_n shall_v not_o intermeddle_v with_o every_o business_n of_o this_o kind_n as_o question_v whether_o it_o do_v belong_v to_o he_o or_o no_o or_o not_o ask_v the_o advice_n of_o the_o whole_a society_n as_o know_v the_o most_o to_o be_v unfit_a to_o counsel_v in_o such_o a_o case_n do_v he_o break_v his_o covenant_n therein_o and_o so_o commit_v a_o sin_n in_o a_o sort_n like_o the_o sin_n of_o ananias_n and_o saphira_n judge_v yourselves_o if_o in_o other_o case_n you_o will_v not_o censure_v this_o to_o be_v a_o high_a encroachment_n upon_o christian_a liberty_n and_o a_o strict_a bind_n of_o man_n conscience_n by_o humane_a constitution_n may_v you_o not_o expect_v to_o hear_v from_o your_o own_o ground_n that_o herein_o you_o have_v devise_v a_o expedient_a or_o necessary_a rite_n or_o custom_n to_o preserve_v the_o unity_n and_o prevent_v the_o dissolution_n of_o the_o body_n which_o never_o come_v into_o the_o mind_n of_o the_o lord_n jesus_n the_o saviour_n of_o the_o church_n and_o that_o in_o so_o do_v if_o your_o exposition_n will_v hold_v good_a you_o break_v the_o second_o commandment_n rite_n and_o custom_n expedient_a to_o prevent_v confusion_n for_o the_o time_n let_v they_o be_v observe_v as_o custom_n expedient_a and_o what_o god_n require_v in_o the_o examination_n or_o admission_n of_o member_n let_v that_o take_v place_n according_a to_o the_o precedent_n give_v in_o the_o scripture_n and_o the_o constant_a practice_n of_o the_o universal_a church_n in_o the_o pure_a time_n but_o to_o press_v custom_n only_o expedient_a for_o the_o time_n as_o stand_v rule_v necessary_a at_o all_o time_n and_o for_o all_o person_n to_o put_v that_o authority_n into_o the_o hand_n of_o man_n which_o god_n never_o put_v upon_o they_o to_o oblige_v man_n to_o intermeddle_v further_o in_o the_o affair_n of_o man_n than_o the_o word_n do_v warrant_v to_o bind_v the_o conscience_n and_o that_o under_o so_o heavy_a a_o penalty_n as_o the_o sin_n of_o ananias_n and_o saphira_n where_o god_n have_v not_o bind_v it_o and_o to_o debar_v know_v and_o approve_a christian_n from_o the_o seal_n of_o the_o covenant_n because_o they_o can_v promise_v as_o settle_a member_n to_o abide_v and_o stay_v in_o the_o society_n unless_o they_o shall_v obtain_v leave_n of_o the_o congregation_n to_o depart_v and_o to_o charge_v they_o in_o the_o mean_a season_n to_o be_v man_n who_o against_o light_n refuse_v subjection_n to_o the_o gospel_n this_o be_v that_o which_o we_o can_v approve_v which_o yet_o we_o suspect_v will_v follow_v from_o your_o judgement_n and_o desire_v to_o be_v resolve_v of_o in_o your_o practice_n and_o here_o we_o entreat_v leave_v to_o put_v you_o in_o mind_n of_o that_o which_o you_o have_v consider_v already_o schil_fw-la that_o the_o church_n and_o every_o member_n thereof_o have_v enter_v into_o covenant_n either_o express_o or_o implicit_o to_o take_v god_n for_o their_o god_n and_o to_o keep_v the_o word_n of_o the_o covenant_n and_o do_v they_o 37._o to_o seek_v the_o lord_n with_o all_o their_o heart_n 7._o and_o to_o walk_v before_o he_o in_o truth_n and_o uprightness_n but_o we_o never_o find_v that_o they_o be_v call_v to_o give_v account_n of_o the_o work_n of_o grace_n wrought_v in_o their_o soul_n or_o that_o the_o whole_a congregation_n be_v appoint_v to_o be_v judge_n thereof_o 8._o you_o stand_v all_o of_o you_o this_o day_n say_v moses_n before_o the_o lord_n your_o god_n 50._o etc._n etc._n that_o thou_o shall_v enter_v into_o covenant_n with_o the_o lord_n thy_o god_n 12._o all_o