determined by the Civil Laws of the Magistrate And for Persons and Causes Spiritual or Ecclesiastical that are properly and indeed such as first-Table-Duties which contain matters of Faith and Holiness and what conduceth to the eternal Wellfare of Mens Souls an Interest and Duty there is in the Civil Magistrate more suo to give Commands and exercise lawful Jurisdiction about things of that nature And for Persons there is no Man for his Graces so spiritual or in respect of his Gifts and Office so eminent but he is under the Government of the Civil Powers in the Place where he lives as much in all respects as any other Subject CHAP. III. 1. Of Power its rise and original 2. Two sorts of Power in Ecclesiastical or Spiritual Things 3. Their Agreement and 4. Difference of the one from the other §. 1 THere is a difference between Potentia and Potestas Potentia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Strength Force Robustness Such a Power is found not only in Men particular Persons as Sampson Goliah c. but in other inferior Creatures Potestas 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jurisdiction Authority Job 40.18 this is peculiar to rational Creatures and as they are a Commonalty and in Society one with another Though Force and Strength as in singular Persons be sufficient for publick Actions yet without Authority we act not lawfully and having Authority if we have not Power and Strength sufficient we cannot act effectually therefore joyned together in a King Dan. 2.37 All Men by Nature are equal yet in the first forming of Man a Capacity is found in him with some remote Disposition to rule and obey as 1. A Sociableness let us make Man in our Image Vs and Our a Trinity in One his Creator Hence in each Man's Constitution a Propension and natural bent to Union This God himself observes It is not good for Man to be alone the Woman is created not only for a Companion but that Men and Women might increase and be multiplied 2. Multitudes of Men if not reduced into Subordination and Order having lost their original Righteousness will be a greater Evil than if each were alone by himself One Man will exalt himself over others and according to that brutish Force and Strength wherein he excelleth rob oppress murther and pillage others 3. Hence a necessity of Republicks and Commonweals that some Rules and Laws may be provided not only for Direction but for Correction if need be 4. Such Laws imply Authority and a Supremacy also in it for such Authority or Jurisdiction only is Legislative Man consists of Soul and Body This Principle of Civility or Sociableness whence Authority hath its Original and Rise is placed primarily in the Soul Society and Republicks are for the moral Good of Mens Souls therefore and not to accommodate the Body only The Powers also that are being ordained of God Rom. 13. who is the Father of Spirits ought to be managed and directed to Matters wherein our Souls and Spirits are concerned The Good and Evil for which these Powers are ordained is not limited to the Body or outward Man The Power of Parents and Masters in the Family it is civil not sacred yet ordained for the bringing up Children and Servants in the Nurture of the Lord. Ephes 6.4 There being a new Creation in and through the Lord Jesus Christ These Persons created of God partake of a Divine Nature and thence the like Propension to Union and a holy Fellowship with those whom Christ hath redeemed out of the World Therefore a special Provision is made by the Lord Jesus for such to joyn together in particular Societies or Churches Himself being appointed by his Father to be their King and Law-giver who hath left them Rules and Laws for managing the Affairs of these spiritual Corporations or Brotherhoods as the Scripture terms them Power also and Authority for putting these Laws in execution is given unto Churches So that there is a twofold Power or Authority 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 Both Authorities and Jurisdictions joyn together and the one helps the other Stat. 20. Hen 8. c. 12. §. 3 Their Differences are in these Particulars 1. Though both have in their respective way to do with
Pet. 2. Church-Power and Government being spiritual hath all particulars for substance both in respect of Persons and Administrations for matter and manner appointed by Jesus Christ and in all Nations to be the same Civil Power even in Ecclesiastical Matters in many things for substance is left to the Prudence of the State in which it is exercised and in the Forms of it various according to the manner of the Nation As for Instance Inspection into Religious Assemblies visiting and observing their Demeanour receiving Complaints by reason of Wrongs Disorders c. These things may be done by the Civil Magistrate in his own Person or by Persons authorized from him these Persons may be many or but one in a Division these Divisions of larger or less Compass And for the manner of Procedure it 's various as Ecclesiastical Courts differ in their manner of Process from Civil or of a Method or Way of handling Causes different from each be established by Law it is equally warrantable There are particular Directions left by Christ according to which the Officers and Persons more especially entrusted with this Power are designed to and invested in their Places and Charge as Election Ordination c. with Fasting and Prayer The other Powers are setled upon and claimed in such ways as the respective Law of Nations design as by Birth Lot Victory Donation or the like as well as Election insomuch as a Woman or Child may have a rightful Claim to this Supreme Trust and the Management of it by themselves or others as shall be appointed CHAP. IV. §. 1 Of the Necessity and Vsefulness of a Jurisdiction over Persons and in Causes Ecclesiastical besides what is in Churches §. 2 This Power is placed in Kings and such as are the Supreme Governors in a Common-Wealth §1 FOr the second we shall shew how necessary and useful Civil Power is even in Ecclesiastical or Spiritual Matters notwithstanding the other It is not to be denied that Souls were converted and Churches established and kept up when there was no Assistance but rather Opposition from the Princes of the Earth as in the Apostolick and Primitive Times The Benefit we have now by Christian Mgistrates was then more abundantly supplied the Infancy of Christianity requiring more by the Miracles wrought and the constant Direction and Care of Apostolick and extraordinary Persons who were gifted by Christ for that purpose All the ordinary Helps that now we have by external and more sensual or carnal Means contributing any thing to these great Works is only a pious and Christian Magistracy where a Nation is blessed with it The Benefit hereof is much in a spiritual respect both to the World as likewise to the Church 1. It is tho remote a great Help to bring Men out of their natural Condition unto Life and Salvation We are exhorted to pray for Kings and such as are in Authority 1 Tim. 2. The reason v. 4. For God will have all Men to be saved and to come to the knowledg of the Truth As the Knowledg of the Truth is a means to bring a Soul into a saving State so is the Magistrate being enlightned himself a great Means to bring us to the knowledg of the Truth Those Men were in a great Distance from God in a Rage against Christ and Religion Psal 2.1 they did combine against the strict Ways of the Gospel these poor Heathens being notwithstanding given to Christ by Election v. 8. David useth a twofold Method for reducing them The first is a representing their wretched and miserable Condition while in this State of Enmity ver 9. Then 2. deals with their Princes and Rulers to be forthwith instructed and serve the Lord i.e. as Kings and Magistrates in their publick Capacity But must not the People be instructed also Such Magistrates will speedily provide and take care for their People that they may be brought to the knowledg of the Truth and therefore it needs not to be mentioned The Magistratical Power conduceth to this Work divers ways 1. By setting up and protecting a Gospel-Ministry He only can subserve Providence by sending or giving way to others to send forth fit Persons and enforce a Maintenance for their Encouragement in this Worâ—… By such a Woâ—d of Providence it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we come to hear and by hearing we believe Rom. 10.17 He can urge his People to come to the Means and outwardly conform to the same and so bring them to the Knowledg of the Truth the very Knowledg whereof tho not saving is a means at least to restrain our inbred Corruption and to work preparatively to Conversion bringing Men into a Condition not far from the Kingdom of Heaven as Christ speaks 2 Pet. 2.20 2. The Civil Magistrate hath Power to punish and reward and so to work upon the Passions of Fear Desire Hope c. Man even in his Natural Estate hath free Will in Moral Actions if it be excited and drawn forth The Passions are so seated betwixt the Will and Senses that outward and sensual Objects work effectually upon it the Motions of the Will in this our State of Corruption depending more upon the visions of what is sensual than what is a rational Good or Evil. The most commanding and stirring Passion and with most â—…fe and vigour in a natural Man is Self or Self-Love it is the first Principle usually that God excites in us towards Conversion as in the Parable of the Prodigal and divers other Scriptures Sickness Poverty and the like Occurrence of Providences Punishments for Sin being sanctified by the Lord work much upon us so Miseries inflicted upon the more obstinate from Magistrates in Justice for evil-doing have the same Operation and by reason hereof gross Corruptions are kept in and restrained whereby the Habits of Sin decrease and become less rank in the Soul Hominem etsi timore poenae fugiat peccatum paulatim affectum animum ad illud amittere è contrario concipere odium â—…tus ideoque etiam vitare peccatum Aâ—iag de Leg. Disp 13. §. 9 It is a hedging our Way with Thorns as the Prophet speaks Hos 2.6 A great part of the World lies without the Pale of the Church and the severity of its Judicature reacheth them not This Power is exercised only on Church-Members 1 Cor. 5.12,13 we have nothing to do to judg them that are without tho they be Fornicators or Covetous or Idolaters or Drunkards or Extortioners Churches in respect of Censures and Punishment leave them to God by the Magistrate or the like Providential way to judg them vers 13. 3. Impedimenta removendo he removes corrupt Teachers that slay Mens Souls by crying Peace prophesying of Wine c. Mich. 2.11 indulging Sinners in their Security and such as by Errors and false Doctrine poyson Mens Souls to their eternal perdition by restaining Stage-Plays not permitting Brothel-Houses and the like Fomenters of Sin Now