A26897:379
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.
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.
2. If any Pastors will declare that Princes are bound to punish men, meerly as Excommunicated by them, without any tryal 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 kill'd 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.
3. The Office and Power of Kings and other Magistrates is from God; and their lawful Commands are to be obeyed for Conscience sake; and not to avoid their Punishments only.
4. Their Office is to promote Obedience to God and to his Laws, by making Subordinate Laws of their own, and to be a terror to Evil-doers, and a Praise and Encouragement to them that do well.