The sum of the 11. and 12. Reas: is, that this power or liber∣ty of the multitude to judge in Church matters, overthrowes the power, & authority of Christian Magistrates in the Church, to whom the people are commaunded to be subiect both in the old and new testament.* 1.1
And doth not the ill advised man consider that his own opini∣on, making the officers of the Church, alone the Church, and giving them power to judge in Church matters without the rest of the body, doth as much overthrow the authority of Christian Ma∣gistrates, as ours, in making the officers and body with them the Church, having power to judge together? yea much more: for if the ecclesiasticall officers alone be the Church, Math. 18. and so must judge and censure sinnes (which is the thing he pleads for) then •• the civil magistrate simply excluded: where wee reputing the whole body the Church, do necessarily include the Christian Magistrate, as being one of the Church.
Secondly is Mr B. and his brother Bell (whom he quotes in the 〈…〉〈…〉gent) to ignorant, as they cannot distinguish betwixt ci∣vil authority, and judgements in Church matters, and that autho∣rity and those judgements, which are ecclesiasticall? The Christian magistrate, as he is a brother, may be censured ec∣clesiastically by the Church, whereof he is a member: and yet the same person as a magistrate whether of the Church, or not