First, That the Church and Commonwealth, or any civil Society, are two distinct things; the Church is one thing, and the State another thing. In the times of Heathen Magistrates, and while there was outward persecution, by the civil Powers which then ruled, it's plain; for the City of Rome, and the Church of Rome in Paul's time were wholly different. So at Corinth, the civil Magistracy of the Town did not seem to be Christians, the Corporation of the Town was not (as I may say) made a Church. The Christian Religion was not at this time established in Corinth by the City-Laws and Government; only many in Corinth were become believers. So that it's plain, The same Corinthians, as they were a Church, lived by other Laws, and by different principles, then as members of the City of Corinth. As he was a Citizen, so he met in their civil Judicatories, so he acted according to the Laws of the City (provided nothing was against Gods command) but as a member of the Church there, so they meet with others in spiritual communion, for holy and spiritual ends. Thus it is in a State, while they are generally Heathenish. But some have doubted, Whether if a Commonwealth become Christian, then there is any difference there between the Church and such a Christian State? Whether then they are not all one? But certainly by the first Institution, and plantation of Churches, by Christ and the Apostles, Churches were founded and embodied; their Officers, employment, and the end of their Society appointed, without any relation to the civil State and Government where they lived. And therefore a Christian State, doth not civilly govern, nor bear the Sword, punishing with death; neither are there supreme Governors, Lords or Noblemen in it, as a Church; for then these should be Church-officers, and instituted by Christ; a Justice of Peace is not of Christ, as a Pastor in the Church. Neither on the other side are the preaching of the Word, the administration of Sacraments, the exercising of Church-censures, the effects of a Christian State, but as a Church. So that it's necessary by Scripture to acknowledge these two, a Church, and the State, as two distinct Societies, though the same men may be members of the same.
First, That the Church and Commonwealth, or any civil Society, are two distinct things; the Church is one thing, and the State another thing. In the times of Heathen Magistrates, and while there was outward persecution, by the civil Powers which then ruled, it's plain; for the City of Rome, and the Church of Rome in Paul's time were wholly different. So at Corinth, the civil Magistracy of the Town did not seem to be Christians, the Corporation of the Town was not (as I may say) made a Church. The Christian Religion was not at this time established in Corinth by the City-Laws and Government; only many in Corinth were become believers. So that it's plain, The same Corinthians, as they were a Church, lived by other Laws, and by different principles, then as members of the City of Corinth. As he was a Citizen, so he met in their civil Judicatories, so he acted according to the Laws of the City (provided nothing was against Gods command) but as a member of the Church there, so they meet with others in spiritual communion, for holy and spiritual ends. Thus it is in a State, while they are generally Heathenish. But some have doubted, Whether if a Commonwealth become Christian, then there is any difference there between the Church and such a Christian State? Whether then they are not all one? But certainly by the first Institution, and plantation of Churches, by Christ and the Apostles, Churches were founded and imbodied; their Officers, imploiment, and the end of their Society appointed, without any relation to the civil State and Government where they lived. And therefore a Christian State, doth not civilly govern, nor bear the Sword, punishing with death; neither are there supream Governours, Lords or Noblemen in it, as a Church; for then these should be Church-officers, and instituted by Christ; a Justice of Peace is not of Christ, as a Pastor in the Church. Neither on the other side are the preaching of the Word, the administration of Sacraments, the exercising of Church-censures, the effects of a Christian State, but as a Church. So that it's necessary by Scripture to acknowledge these two, a Church, and the State, as two distinct Societies, though the same men may be members of the same.
