A26914:147
The difference between the power of magistrates and church-pastors and the Roman kingdom &…
The difference between the power of magistrates and church-pastors and the Roman kingdom & magistracy under the name of a church & church-government usurped by the Pope, or liberally given him by popish princes opened by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for Nevil Simmons, 1671
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.
65. He that desireth the Communion of the Church, doth take it for a grievous punishment to be cast out of it. And he that doth not desire it, is unfit for it. Therefore he that cannot feel the penalty of an Excommunication alone (but only of a Mulct or Prison) may be fit enough for further punishment, but is unfit for the Communion of the Church.
66. Yet is the Magistrate the Protector of the Church, a Keeper of her Peace and Privileges and of both Tables; and must use his power to promote Religion.
66. Yet is the Magistrate the Protector of the Church, a Keeper of her Peace and Priviledges and of both Tables; and must use his power to promote Religion.
67. To which end he may prudently by moderate means constrain some that neglect their own salvation to hear Gods Word, and confer with such as can instruct them, and use those means, which God hath made universally necessary, to bring the ignorant to knowledge; and may restrain them from actual open sin, and from scorn and opposition of the means that should convert them, and from hindering others from the means of salvation, and from open seducing them from God, or Christianity, or from a godly, righteous, or sober life: In all this, moderate penalties may be used; and men may be thus far constrained, and restrained: But not constrained to profess that ⟨p. 43⟩which they do not believe, nor to take the privileges which God forbiddeth them to take. So that there are fitter means left, for the Magistrate to help the Church by.
67. To which end he may prudently by moderate means constrain some that neglect their own salvation to hear Gods Word, and confer with such as can instruct them, and use those means, which God hath made universally necessary, to bring the ignorant to knowledge; and may restrain them from actual open sin, and from scorn and opposition of the means that should convert them, and from hindering others from the means of salvation, and from open seducing them from God, or Christianity, or from a godly, righteous, or sober life: In all this, moderate penalties may be used; and men may be thus far constrained, and restrained: But not constrained to profess that