A26975:278
Of national churches their description, institution, use, preservation, danger, maladies and cure, partly applied…
Of national churches their description, institution, use, preservation, danger, maladies and cure, partly applied to England / written by Richard Baxter for promoting peace ... and for the fuller explication of the Treaty for Concord in 1660 and 1661, and of the Kings gracious declaration about ecclesiastical affairs ... and for further explication of his treatise of episcopacy ...
London: printed by T. Snowden for Thomas Parkhurst, 1691
Chapter 8: How far this Confederacy and Concord bindeth the Members of a National Church to Confor…
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.
None can force a man to be King, or Pastor against his Will. And Government is a state of great care and great danger to Soul and Body: And will any man in his Wits undertake it without security to his own interest? The Kings distinct and separate interest, is 1. His own Life, to be secured against Treason. 2. His Honour as Gods chief Officer, and in a sort representer, which is therefore Gods own Honour in him. This is made distinct and Physically separate (tho not opposite) in the Fifth Commandment. And the doubt whether that Commandment be part of the first or second Table, or rather partly of each as the Cardo utrinsque, doth make it a hard question, what interest is the highest: Of which Michael Hudson hath subtly treated.
None can force a man to be King, or Pastor against his Will. And Government is a state of great care and great danger to Soul and Body: And will any man in his Wits undertake it without security to his own interest? The Kings distinct and separate interest, is 1. His own Life, to be secured against Treason. 2. His Honour as Gods chief Officer, and in a sort representer, which is therefore Gods own Honour in him. This is made distinct and Physically separate (tho not opposite) in the Fifth Commandment. And the doubt whether that Commandement be part of the first or second Table, or rather partly of each as the Cardo utrinsque, doth make it a hard question, what interest is the highest: Of which Michael Hudson hath subtilly treated.
The King also hath a distinct interest 3. In his Family and Personal Estate. 4. And in such necessary aid of Men and Tribute, as may enable him to Govern and Defend the Land: Tho the Subjects may as Proprietors make limiting Contracts to secure their own Propriety and Interest.
And the Peoples right is in general the common good and safety, and particularly to be defended, and their contracted form of Government not overthrown; nor the Kingdom to be given up to a Foreign Power, or any Usurper, much more that none that will execute such Papal Tyranny as is determined of in the General Council at Lateran sub Innoc. 3. to destroy or exterminate the Kingdom unless they would Damn their Souls by forsaking sound Religion; I say that no such be their King, or Potent Governor. Because regere and perdere are inconsistent: And they who design it and profess their subjection to any Power or Law or Religion that obligeth to it, are to be supposed to be doing it: Especially if their preparations show their purposes, and Magistrates be set in Power that are under the same Obligations: And though a party or person must fly or suffer rather than Embroil the Kingdom in War or Rebellion for their defence; Yet a whole Kingdom, cannot be deprived