A26914:4
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.
READER
THE first Epistle is now written upon the sight of Jugulum Causae: The other with the Propositions was written about a year and half ago, upon the sight of Papa ultrajectinus, &c. and the Paraenesis contra Aedificatores Imperii in Imperio: And the design of all is, to show how little or nothing at all the sober moderate Protestants, called Episcopal, Presbyterian, Independent, and Political or Erastian are disagreed in all this business, whilst I name you near a hundred Propositions in which they commonly consent: That Princes and all Magistrates may see, that they have no cause to be offended at the Christian and Protestant Doctrine, or to judge the true Religion of any of these parties, as such, to be contrary to their interest; when in very truth they are in that all one: But that among all Sects and Parties, there will be still some injudicious, intemperate and unpeaceable men; especially those whose Interest in the world is Great, and cannot be upheld, without encroaching on the rights of others: As Great Trees must have much room, and suffer ⟨image 2⟩⟨image 3⟩nothing to prosper under them, but Weeds and Briars. And it is to tell Politicians, that the true Pastoral Power (being a Power to labour and suffer in patient self-denial for the Church of Christ and the souls of men) is past all doubt of Christs appointment: And to diminish that Power, is but to diminish our obligation to labour and suffer, and to gratify our sloth and fleshly interest. But to diminish that Secular Church-power which Clergy men claim as of Divine Right, is but for Princes to be Princes, whether the Clergy will or no.
THE first Epistle is now written upon the sight of Jugulum Causae: The other with the Propositions was written about a year and half ago, upon the sight of Papa ultrajectinus, &c. and the Paraenesis contra Aedificatores Imperii in Imperio: And the design of all is, to shew how little or nothing at all the sober moderate Protestants, called Episcopal, Presbyterian, Independent, and Political or Erastian are disagreed in all this business, whilst I name you near a hundred Propositions in which they commonly consent: That Princes and all Magistrates may see, that they have no cause to be offended at the Christian and Protestant Doctrine, or to judge the true Religion of any of these parties, as such, to be contrary to their interest; when in very truth they are in that all one: But that among all Sects and Parties, there will be still some injudicious, intemperate and unpeaceable men; especially those whose Interest in the world is Great, and cannot be upheld, without encroaching on the rights of others: As Great Trees must have much room, and suffer