A27054:758
The true and only way of concord of all the Christian churches the desirableness…
The true and only way of concord of all the Christian churches the desirableness of it, and the detection of false dividing terms / opened by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for John Hancock, 1680
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.
CHAP. VIII.
VI. What is necessary to the Civil Peace and concord of Christians, and what is the part of the Christian Magistrate about Religion, as to his promoting or tolerating mens doctrines or practices therein.
§. 1. The contentions of the world here call us to resolve these several doubts, 1. Who it is that should have the power of the sword or Magistracy? 2. How it is to be used towards all men as men in society? 3. How it is to be used for the service of Christ and good of the Church? in encouraging some and tolerating others, and keeping peace among them all?
§. 1. THe contentions of the world here call us to resolve these several doubts, 1. Who it is that should have the power of the sword or Magistracy? 2. How it is to be used towards all men as men in society? 3. How it is to be used for the service of Christ and good of the Church? in encouraging some and tolerating others, and keeping peace among them all?
§. 2. It is here supposed that the subject is understood, and that we are agreed what the Magistrates power is, at least de re, though not de definitione vel de nomine: that is, it is the power of Governing by the sword, that is, of making Laws, and judging according to them, and executing them by outward force on mens bodies or estates. And so it is contradistinguished from the power called Ministerial, Pastoral, Priestly or Ecclesiastical; which is the gathering and guiding of Christian Churches by Gods word preached, expounded and applied. The nature of each and their differences I have formerly opened in a small treatise written purposely on that subject to end the Erastian controversy. (And Bishop Bilson fully openeth them in his excellent book of Christian Obedience &c.) The Magistrate