The difference between the power of magistrates and church-pastors and the Roman kingdom &…

64. The undoing of the Church of Christ (in those Countries where Popery and Church-tyranny prevail) hath long been by the Magistrates annexing their executions to the sentence of the Church (as it is called) and becoming the mere Executioners of the judgement of other men. No Magistrate should be debased, so as to be made the Churches Executioner. If the Magistrate will punish a man, it must not be merely quatenus excommunicate, that is, as punished already; but for the fault for which he was excommunicate. And if so, then he must try and judge him for that fault at his own bar, and not punish him unheard, because the Church hath sentenced him: And if Rulers would more leave the Church to the exercise of its proper power, and let excommunication do what it can of it self, (unless the nature of the crime require a distinct Secular judgement and punishment) it would do much to heal all the divisions and perturbations in the Christian world. For which course I have these Reasons following to urge.

64. The undoing of the Church of Christ (in those Countreys where Popery and Church-tyranny prevail) hath long been by the Magistrates annexing their executions to the sentence of the Church (as it is called) and becoming the meer Executioners of the judgement of other men. No Magistrate should be debased, so as to be made the Churches Executioner. If the Magistrate will punish a man, it must not be meerly quatenus excommunicate, that is, as punished already; but for the fault for which he was excommunicate. And if so, then he must try and judge him for that fault at his own barr, and not punish him unheard, because the Church hath sentenced him: And if Rulers would more leave the Church to the exercise of its proper power, and let excommunication do what it can of it self, (unless the nature of the crime require a distinct Secular judgement and punishment) it would do much to heal all the divisions and perturbations in the Christian world. For which course I have these Reasons following to urge.

1. It is a great contempt and reproach to Christs institution of discipline, to tell the world, that it is a powerless uneffectual thing of it self, unless the Secular Sword do enforce it. Such Pastors vilify their own power also, which is so useless. 2. It is a corrupting of Christs discipline, and destroying the use of it: For it cannot be known now, what the Keys do of themselves, when the Sword goeth with them: No man knoweth when Repentance professed is credibly real and moved by divine Motives; and when it is dissembled for avoiding of the Secular punishment. 3. It must leave the Pastors conscience unsatisfied in his administrations; and bind him to abuse Christ; when he must say to men, [If you had but rather say that you repent, than lye in a Gaol, I absolve you, and give you the Sacraments, and pronounce you pardoned by Christ.] Who can administer on these terms? 4. It is a dangerous deluding of the sinners soul, that seemeth intimated by this way. 5. It is a wilful corrupting and confounding of the Church; when men shall be forced to be its members, though they be Infidels, Heathens, or most impious, if they had but rather say they are Christians than lye in Gaol. And by this means it is, that no man can know, who are really of the Church of Rome, or of any tyrannical Church, but only who had rather say they are of the Church, than be undone: which any Infidel and Atheist will soon do. Therefore let not Rome boast of the number of her members which are unknown. 6. It is a changing of Christs terms of Covenant, Christianity, Communion and Absolution: when Christ saith, [He that from his heart believeth and repenteth, and forsaketh the flesh and the world for me, shall be my Disciple and be pardoned; and he that credibly professeth thus much, shall be taken into the Church (which are truly Christs terms) now cometh the Church-tyrant and saith [He that will say, that he believeth and repenteth rather than he will forsake the flesh and the world, and will choose the Church before a Gaol, shall be pardoned, and have communion with the