Thetimebetweentheascensionandthegeneralresurrectioniscalled，notareigning，butaregeneration；thatis，apreparationofmenforthesecondandgloriouscomingofChristatthedayofjudgement，asappearethbythewordsofourSaviour，“Youthathavefollowedmeintheregeneration，whentheSonofmanshallsitinthethroneofhisglory，youshallalsositupontwelvethrones“；*andofSt。Paul，“Havingyourfeetshodwiththepreparationofthegospelofpeace“；*2andiscomparedbyourSaviourtofishing；thatis，towinningmentoobedience，notbycoercionandpunishing，butbypersuasion。AndthereforehesaidnottohisApostleshewouldmakethemsomanyNimrods，huntersofmen；butfishersofmen。Itiscomparedalsotoleaven，tosowingofseed，andtothemultiplicationofagrainofmustard-seed；byallwhichcompulsionisexcluded；andconsequentlytherecaninthattimebenoactualreigning。TheworkofChrist’sministersisevangelization；thatis，aproclamationofChrist，andapreparationforhissecondcoming；astheevangelizationofJohntheBaptistwasapreparationtohisfirstcoming。
Again，theofficeofChrist’sministersinthisworldistomakemenbelieveandhavefaithinChrist：butfaithhathnorelationto，nordependenceatallupon，compulsionorcommandment；butonlyuponcertainty，orprobabilityofargumentsdrawnfromreason，orfromsomethingmenbelievealready。ThereforetheministersofChristinthisworldhavenopowerbythattitletopunishanymanfornotbelievingorforcontradictingwhattheysay：theyhave，Isay，nopowerbythattitleofChrist’sministerstopunishsuch；butiftheyhavesovereigncivilpower，bypoliticinstitution，thentheymayindeedlawfullypunishanycontradictiontotheirlawswhatsoever：andSt。Paul，ofhimselfandotherthethenpreachersoftheGospel，saithinexpresswords，“Wehavenodominionoveryourfaith，butarehelpersofyourjoy。“*
Anotherargument，thattheministersofChristinthispresentworldhavenorightofcommanding，maybedrawnfromthelawfulauthoritywhichChristhathlefttoallprinces，aswellChristiansasinfidels。
St。Paulsaith，“Children，obeyyourparentsinallthings；forthisiswellpleasingtotheLord。“*And，“Servants，obeyinallthingsyourmastersaccordingtotheflesh，notwitheye-service，asmen-pleasers，butinsinglenessofheart，asfearingtheLord“：*2
thisisspokentothemwhosemasterswereinfidels；andyettheyarebiddentoobeytheminallthings。Andagain，concerningobediencetoprinces，exhorting“tobesubjecttothehigherpowers，“hesaith，“thatallpowerisordainedofGod“；and“thatweoughttosubjecttothemnotonlyfor“fearofincurringtheir“wrath，butalsoforconsciencesake。“*3AndSt。Peter，“Submityourselvestoeveryordinanceofman，fortheLord’ssake，whetheritbetotheking，assupreme，oruntogovernors，astothemthatbesentbyhimforthepunishmentofevildoers，andforthepraiseofthemthatdowell；