A27054:778
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.
§. 16. 5. All men then must by the Magistrate be used as men according to their natures, and not as brutes, and therefore must be instructed and ruled by laws of reason, and led towards Christianity and the hopes of future felicity: And if they sin against the Laws of humanity, they so far forfeit the privileges of humanity; or are to be punished as the ends of the society require.
§. 16. 5. All men then must by the Magistrate be used as men according to their natures, and not as bruits, and therefore must be instructed and ruled by laws of reason, and led towards Christianity and the hopes of future felicity: And if they sin against the Laws of humanity, they so far forfeit the priviledges of humanity; or are to be punished as the ends of the society require.
§. 17. III. To the third question, how Magistracy (or the sword or forcing power) is to ⟨p. 256⟩be used, for Christ and for his Church, and on Christians as such, who is to be rewarded, punished or tolerated for the Churches Unity and edification and preservation. I answer, I. In general; Men should be used as men; Christians as Christians: The weak as weak; The strong as strong, and the eminently wise and good as such: The criminal as criminal. And all this with chief respect to the laws of God and the common good.
§. 17. III. To the third question, how Magigistracie (or the sword or forcing power) is to ⟨p. 256⟩be used, for Christ and for his Church, and on Christians as such, who is to be rewarded, punished or tolerated for the Churches Vnity and edification and preservation. I answer, I. In general; Men should be used as men; Christians as Christians: The weak as weak; The strong as strong, and the eminently wise and good as such: The criminal as criminal. And all this with chief respect to the laws of God and the common good.