A26897:378
Church concord
Church concord containing I. a dissuasive from unnecessary division and separation, and the real concord of the moderate independents with the Presbyterians, instanced in ten seeming differences, II. by Richard Baxter.Church concord containing I. a disswasive from unnecessary division and separation, and the real concord of the moderate independents with the Presbyterians, instanced in ten seeming differences, II. by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for Tho. Parkhurst, 1691
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Question 5: Q. 5. What is the Magistrates Power and Duty about Religion, and the Churches and Minis…
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
1. All the forcing Power about matters Ecclesiastical, (whether by corporal Penalties or forced Mulcts) belongeth only to the Magistrate: (Besides what Parents and Masters may do). And if any Pastors use it, it must be as Magistrates, receiving it from the Sovereign. And the Sword is so unseemly in a Pastors hand, and so ill taken by the people, and so adverse to the persuasive Loving Government which he must exercise, and hath ever been of such unhappy effects to the World; that it were to be wished that Princes would keep their Sword from the Clergy to themselves, and commit it to such Officers, as have not so much other work to do, and are not so likely to abuse it.
1. All the forcing Power about matters Ecclesiastical, (whether by corporal Penalties or forced Mulcts) belongeth only to the Magistrate: (Besides what Parents and Masters may do). And if any Pastors use it, it must be as Magistrates, receiving it from the Soveraign. And the Sword is so unseemly in a Pastors hand, and so ill taken by the people, and so adverse to the persuasive Loving Government which he must exercise, and hath ever been of such unhappy effects to the World; that it were to be wished that Princes would keep their Sword from the Clergy to themselves, and commit it to such Officers, as have not so much other work to do, and are not so likely to abuse it.
2. If any Pastors will declare that Princes are bound to punish men, merely as Excommunicated by them, without any trial of the Cause before themselves or Officers; and will Excommunicate Magistrates for not Imprisoning, Banishing or Burning, or otherwise afflicting those whom the Clergy have Excommunicated, or judged to be so used; Much more if any will teach and declare that Excommunicate Kings are no Kings, (yea, though a Foreigner that hath no Power over them Excommunicate them); or that they may be killed as Tyrants; or that the Pope or any other, have Power to depose them, and dispose of their Dominions (see the Council at Lateran under Innocent 3d. Can. 3. and the Council at Rome under Gregor. 7.) If such be Subjects, they are injurious to the Civil Power; If they are Foreigners, they are open declared Enemies.