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A70686 The lawfulnes of the oath of supremacy, and power of the King in ecclesiastical affairs with Queen Elizabeth's admonition, declaring the sence and interpretation of it, confirmed by an act of Parliament, in the 5th year of her reign : together with a vindication of dissenters, proving, that their particular congregations are not inconsistent with the King's supremacy in ecclesiastical affairs : with some account of the nature, constitution, and power of the ecclesiastical courts / by P. Nye ... ; in the epistle to the reader is inserted King James's vindication and explication of the oath of allegiance.; Lawfulnes of the oath of supremacy and power of the King in ecclesiastical affairs Nye, Philip, 1596?-1672. 1683 (1683) Wing N1499; ESTC R22153 63,590 80

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King over them it is so spoken of Solomon The Benefit and Good to the Churches and Saints from the Civil Magistrate may more particularly be judged of in these Considerations 1. Kings and Princes are an Ordinance of God or Medium by which in a more special and peculiar way he communicates his Power Wisdom and Justice for the governing of all Societies of Men. 1 Kings 3.28 All Israel feared the King for they saw that the Wisdom of God was in him to do Judgment So the Power and Justice and the like Attributes of God become visible in this Ordinance of God See Eccles 8.2 Numb 27.20 Prov. 16.10 and 21.1 It is brought as an Argument to Magistrates against Partiality and Bribery 2 Chron. 19.7 There is no Iniquity with the Lord our God nor respects of Persone nor taking of Gifts What is or is not in God should be or not be found in him that is a Magistrate They are therefore termed Gods because a visible Representation of God's Attributes is or ought to be in their Governing And as Christ is said to be present with those Officers in the Church which he hath appointed because there is a special Virtue and Efficacy of Christ manifest in their Ministry So in this great Ordinance of a Magistrate there is said to be a special Presence of God with him 2 Chron. 19.6 From the like Manifestation of God in his Wisdom Power Goodness c. for the Welfare of Societies There is such a Harmony and Neighbourhood between the outward and inward Man that what works upon the one affects the other When therefore the Ministry by Christ's presence works upon a Man's Soul the Man is of a better Behaviour outwardly and to Civil Relations So also being brought into outward Subjection and Conformity by Magistracy the Mind and spiritual part is much the more fitted for Christian Communion Moral Vertues yea Civilities are much pressed upon Church-Members every where in the Epistles as to be kind courteous Rom. 16. humble submiss self-denying Paul spends a whole Chapter in Greetings and Salutes Men and Women that are morose selfish stiff opinionative ill-bred such for the most part are burthensom in all and as much in these spiritual Societies as in any other 2. For Protection Church-Power neither judgeth or restraineth them that are without it is no Fence nor Security against the World The only Hedg about this Vineyard under God is the Sword of the Civil Magistrate Saints and Churches being called and separated out of the World are hated by the World and such a Seed of Enmity in them against the Members of Christ as if there were no higher Power to restrain being the far greater number they would utterly root us out The Church for Weakness and Helplesness is resembled by a Nurse-Child or Infant which needs the Care of those who have more Strength This religious Care and Tenderness is Isa 9.16 or ought to be in the Magistrate who is termed a Nurse The Prophet in this Promise hath an Eye to Gospel-Times and Churches called together amongst the Gentiles In an Age when there would be no Prophets or Apostles or Signs or Wonders or mighty Deeds wrought in the behalf of the Church 2 Cor. 10.12 as was in the Jewish Oeconomy and first Age of Christians It 's promised that Kings and Princes either by a common or saving Change shall become nursing Fathers 1 Sam. 10.6 9. 1 Kings 4.29 nourishing and protecting Christ's feeble Orphant the Church And where the Magistrate is such we ought to pray that all may be such we have the Liberty under them notwithstanding the World's Enmity to lead a quiet and peaceable Life 1 Kings 4.29 and this not only in Honesty but in all Godliness 3. The Judgments of God Sword of the Magistrate and the like external Administrations are helpful to the best of Men who are liable while a Body of Sin to as foul external Acts of Sin as the worst of Men. The spiritual part in us by these means helps it self much in an hour of Temptation especially against the Flesh over-ballancing the Pleasures of Sin from that Shame and Grief Sin brings with it so that Self-love or a higher Principle is hereby strengthened to avert us Servile Fear evil only in defect is good and useful to the best of us while in a mixed Condition and not perfect in our Love to God Joh was eminently godly and righteous yet in both much furthered from the Consideration of Wrath and Judgment Job 31.19 21 with 23. If I have seen saith he any perish for want of Cloathing If I have lift up my Hand against the Fatherless c. ver 23. For Destruction from God was a Terror to me The Magistrates Ecclesiastical Power had the like effect to restrain Impiety in him as vers 26 27 28. If I beheld the Sun and my Heart hath been secretly enticed or my Mouth hath kissed my Hand this were an Iniquity to be punished by the Judg. The Apostle Paul though constrained by Love vers 14. Such was his Affection to Christ yet moved also to Duty from the Consideration of Judgment and Terror 2 Cor. 10.11 If it be thus with the best of the Saints much more will Churches stand in need of such an external Help against Corruptions There being not only a mixture of Flesh and Spirit in those that are Members indeed but a mixture with them of Hypocrites and such as are Members only in shew We find in the Churches planted by the Apostles a use not only of Spiritual Censures 1 Cor. 5. but also outward and bodily Afflictions Sickness Weakness c. for Church-Miscarriages and it 's said to be for the Salvation of their Souls 1 Cor. 11. Chap. 5. ver 5. with Chap. 11. ver 32. So that Severity of the Lord on Ananias and Saphira was for a Church-Fault and it 's said Vers 11. Great Fear came upon all the Church Rom. 13. It was an eminent Church before whom Paul shakes the Magistrate's Sword and tells them if they do that which is evil they have cause to be afraid for he beareth not the Sword in vain Afflictions that are from a more immediate Hand of God either in an ordinary or an extraordinary way those also that the Lord chastiseth us with by the Hand of the Magistrate I difference not each being to the same purpose and as an external Discipline For where there are no Magistrates or negligent ones God in a providential way and more immediately judgeth and afflicts Evil-doers even as where Church-Discipline is wanting or neglected God himself excommunicates as it were and gives Men up to Terror and Anguish of Soul for their evil Deeds If we should draw in here Instances from the Jewish Church and how the Lord disciplined them by the Civil Magistrate and afflicting the outward Man there can be nothing more evident than this an undoubted Usefulness of such Dispensations
to be exercised in Causes and over Persons Ecclesiastical or Spiritual the one placed in the Princes the other in the Churches of Christ 1. The difference betwixt these two Powers 2. The Necessity if the Civil Power in Ecclesiastial Matters notwithstanding Church-Power § 2. What is common to both and wherein each of these Powers differ from the other shall briefly be shewed 1. They are Powers both a Subordination or Policy in the Church as well as in the Common-weal and an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Jurisdiction exercised in each You read of Authority or Jurisdiction not only in Civil Assemblies as Rom. 13. John 19.11 but also in Churches 2 Cor. 10.8 and 13.10 the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in both places 2. They are both from God and the Ordinance of God and ought to be submitted to for Conscience sake and are for Encouragement to those that are Good and for Wrath upon him that doth Evil and he that resisteth this Power in either resists the Ordinance of God and they that resist receive to themselves Damnation as the Apostle speaks as well in respect to the one as the other And both being from God they are also both Powers under God that is under his Designment and Limits as also his Direction and Guidance for his Glory as the ultimate and the good of Mankind as the penultimate end of both 3. This Power of Princes is termed spiritual Ratione objecti because it hath to do with Spiritual Persons and Causes In such like a sense and manner of Speech if it had the stamp of vulgar Use the Church-Power may be termed Civil or Temporal because all sorts of Persons and Causes without Difference are under the Power of it That as the secular Power is Custos utriusque Tabulae matters of Holiness and what 's opposite to it Blasphemy Heresy Perjury c. as well as Righteousness so Church-Power is Custos utriusque Tabulae Righteousness and second-Table-Duties and what is opposite as Rebellion Sedition Lying Stealing if any Man that is called a Brother be a Fornicator or a Drunkard or an Extortioner c. In all these and such Cases the Church-Power is applied in an Ecclesiastical or Spiritual way as in a Civil and Secular way the Magistrate deals with what are Duties of the first Table The Powers do mutually further each other and so ordained by God from whom they are both originally as they sweetly comply and agree being kept in their just Bounds each with other as Moses and Aaron David and Nathan Zerubbabel the Son Shealtiel and Joshua the Son of Josedech Jungamus Gladios said the Emperor to his Bishop let us joyn our Forces and purge the Land of Wickedness And our Senators in Parliament speak thus of these Stat. 20. Hen 8. c. 12. Both Authorities and Jurisdictions joyn together and the one helps the other § 3. Their Differences are in these Particulars 1. Though both have in their respective way to do with both Tables yet the Civil Magistrates Work lyeth most over Persons with respect to the Duties of the second Table as in matters of Justice and Righteousness in the managing whereof the very being of a Common-wealth principally consists its wel-being only as he hath to do in Spiritual or Ecclesiastical Causes So the Church-Power is chiefly and principally exercised in the ordering of Persons with respect to the first-Table-Duties and which appertains to Piety Wherein is the Being and constant Employment of Churches The other that is matters of Righteousness Justice Sobriety and the like are occasionally only and in ordine ad spiritualia under Church-Power and Censures 2. The Power of Churches is not only spiritual Ratione objecti because it s over spiritual Persons and Causes but ex natura rei a spiritual Power having Spirituality and its Denomination from more intrinsick Considerations as the Matter Form Subject Rule End c. and not from the Object only as that other Power which though it be in spiritual things yet it is not properly spiritual Power the Sword which it bears is not the Sword of the Spirit Rev. 1.16 Ephes 6. which is the Word of God and this Word is eternal not temporal it endureth for ever the Power and Soveraignty of it is from Christ out of his Mouth went a sharp two-edged Sword his Sword and Power being spiritual it pierceth runs deep Heb. 4. even betwixt the Soul and the Spirit there comes no such Sword or Law from Civil Authority that Power in its greatest Efficacy reacheth not the Inner-Man though to be submitted unto for Conscience sake Indeed this Power is over spiritual Persons but not immediately and directly over their spiritual part By these Powers we are given up to a Prison to Banishment to Death but not to Satan It is not for cruciating the Souls and perplexing the Consciences of Men as is Church-Power where there is Cause 3. That of Secular Magistrates even in Spiritual Affairs and having to do primarily with the outward Man is more Authoritative it is Jurisdictio propriè dicta Legislative Coercive and in all respects the same as in Civil Matters what he doth in his own Name And truly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Church-Power is not properly Jurisdiction or Authority as in the Church but as in Christ the Head of the Church as seated in the Church or Caetus fidelium it is only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ministerium not Deminium and acts all in the Name or Authority of Christ 4. They differ in Extension in respect to both Persons and Causes 1. Church-Power is limited to a particular Congregation as Family-Power to those of our own Houshold But this other Ecclesiastical Power seated in the same Person or Persons extends it self throughout a whole Kingdom yea sometimes to more than one But in some one Province or Kingdom you read in Scripture of many Churches This cometh to pass from another Difference between these Powers The Manage of Ecclesiastical Affairs as in Civil Magistrates may be delegated to other hands by way of Commission or Deputation they may ordain under them subordinate Thrones and inferior Powers acting in their Names which is Lordly and full of Honour and State But Churches may not do so by delegation of Power Representatives or any other Method or Way to stretch forth the Wing of their Authority like that of the Civil over all the Churches of a Nation or over more Congregations than one or a greater than ordinarily partake of all other Ordinances together is not at all suitable to a Church-Condition which is Ministerial not Lordly So Mr. Bradshaw as the Opinion of the Nonconformists We confine and bound all Ecclesiastical Power within the Limits only of one particular Congregation holding that the greatest Ecclesiastical Power ought not to stretch beyond the same And that it is an arrogating of Princely Supremacy for any Ecclesiastical Person or Persons whatsoever to take upon themselves Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction
even to the Churches of Christ And although it should not be a good reasoning to argue from what Power the Princes of Israel exercised in respect of its Extent in Particulars a Chron. 8 14. many of them being Prophets as well as Princes yet the Benefit and Usefulness of such Power may be the same unto us as unto them both in respect of Terror to Evil-Doers and Praise to them that do well Though an Argument from Circumcision applied to Infants will not weigh with some because they deny Baptism to be a Sacrament of that Nature Yet this cannot be denied by them that if an Infant be capable of Benefit by an Ordinance it understands not Infants may as lawfully in that respect be baptised whille Infants as they were then circumcised The Arguments brought from Ecclesiastical Power exercised by Magistrates in the Jewish Government will argue at least that there is a Capacity in Men now to receive Benent and Good thereby even in spiritual Matters as they did then which is all that is aimed at 4. As it is the Duty of each Person Col 2. so of Churches to walk wisely towards them that are without that their Order may be looked upon not only with Rejoycing by Neighbour-Churches but such as may appear amiable and comely in the Eyes of all Men. There are many things common to all Societies which Nature and civil Customs instruct us in and are especially to be heeded by Churches For as the things Moral and Lovely in the Eyes of Men being neglected by Professors the Gospel will suffer so much more if by Churches The outward Beauty of these Christian Assemblies consists very much in what is requisite and comely in all human Societies as Unity Love Peace brotherly Forbearance c. Let all things saith the Apostle Phil. 2. be done without murmuring or disputing Paul charged the Church of Corinth with this that there were Debates Envyings Wrath Strifes Back-bitings Whisperings Swellings Tumults 2 Cor. 12.20 and the like amongst them There may be Wrongs and Oppressions in Churches as in other Assemblies Innocent Persons impeached and censured as Schismatiks Seditious and Disturbers of the Peace and no Remedy but from the Civil Magistrate Paul appeals from the Church to Caesar a Secular Prince expecting from him though a Heathen more Justice then from his Brethren being Parties and in their own Cause For where Parties are Judges the Sentence is passed before the Cause is heard As a Church may be offended so they may 1 Cor. 10 32. and oft-times do give Offence as well as single Persons It 's part of a Christian Magistrate's Care and as a Magistrate to punish open Offenderrs whither single Persons or Assemblies And the Truth is if such Assemblies that is Churches be not under the Magistrates Jurisdiction they are under none and will be at a loss in respect of all those Advantages before mentioned The Vsefulness of this Power being declared so fully it will not be difficult to evince the Necessity if it that is to the well-being of Churches For whatsoever thing is useful in Spiritual Affairs is in the same degree necessary I argue thus If the Ruling and Coercive Power in a Church extends it self no further than its own Members if one particular Church cannot suspend excommunicate or exercise any the like Jurisdiction over another it will then follow vvhatsoever benefit or advantage Churches or their Members are supposed to have and reap by being under any external Ruling Power here on Earth this may and ought to be expected from the Magistrates Ecclesiastical Power and no other His being the only Power that is of such an Extension and Compass as to be over all Persons and Societies without his Dominion For the further Explication and Confirming of what is asserted I shall lay down some Considerations and then answer Objections Purposely enlarging upon this Argument as tending much to a distinct understanding of Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction both as it is in Church and Magistrate The Considerations are these Consid 1 There is no Power or Authority either in Church or Magistrate that doth directly and immediately compel or enforce the Soul Pains Penalties Restraints bodily Punishments or what comes nearer and is more spiritual as Admonition Suspension Excommunication or the like ' When Persons in any of these ways are judged and censured by the Church or Magistrate or both it hath its Fruit and effect in respect of Morals only in a more remote and circular way as by working upon the Judgment and Affections for there is no created Power can reach the Soul to put upon it any immediate Force or Restraint further than by applying such means discovered by the Scripture or Light of Reason as are apt and sutable to set the Soul and Conscience of a Man to work upon it self We term it Coercive in difference from what is only directive and perswasive for according as the Lord hath appointed means to this or that end accordingly he works and so we ought to judg and speak Now besides means appointed for Instruction and Perswasion God also hath added Discipline a means morally coercive which hath Pain and Shame it 's a Punishment 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and for the Destruction of the Flesh therefore a means morally Compulsive and more than meerly perswasive the Rod and Reproof is more than a single Reproof 1 Cor. 4 21. Prov. 29.15 Prov. 29.19 it is a Correction which is compulsive a Servant will not be corrected with Words To make all but directive is to confound the Keys The Reverend Author should not judg or speak of an Ordinnce according to the Reception of a carnal Heart Mr. B. in his first Dispute p. 6. but according to what is designed by the Lord as his ordinary Drift and Scope in such an Appointment There is the Word read Gospel preached and visible Seals we are to judg a greater and more effectual Exhibition of Christ in the one than in the other yet all alike to a carnal and unbelieving Soul Consid 2 2. There are two great and Catholick Bodies or Kingdoms immediately and invifibly governed by the Lord and his Christ The World and the Church made up each of lesser Corporations as Cities Families particular Churches c. I say invibly and immediately for as God is invisible so what he acts immediately he acts invisibly As the Church is distinguished into visible and invisible so is the Power by which it is governed Invisible as in a secret and mysterious way and immediately from the Lord And thus are all Kingdoms Nations Tongues and Languages united as in one even the great bulk of Mankind as also the Catholick Church that great Body of Saints they are all thus governed by the Lord and by the Lord alone and not by Man Visible as where these great Bodies of Men and Christians come to be cantoned parcelled and formed into Political Bodies governed by Men