An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

Hence in the third place, The Devil and his instruments have always laboured the ruin of godliness, by making divisions, and using several stratagems to overthrow the harmonious Unity that ought to be in the Church of God, and civil State. In Popery, we see abominable mischief came to Religion by the usurping of the name of the Church; for they excluded the Magistrates and supreme Governors, from any Government therein, and at last pleading exemption from all Obedience and Subjection to the chief powers, though so expressly contrary to Paul, Rom. 13. Thus they make a few only, yea but one, the Pope at last, to be the Church, and then attribute to him a power to dispose of Kingdoms and States, where and to whom he pleaseth, directly and immediately, say some; and those who do most mince it say, indirectè, and in ordine ad spiritualia. On the other side, sometimes the civil State hath been jealous, yea and violently persecuting the Church of God, as if that of Julian were true, A Church and a civil Society could not stand together; as if Christ had commanded such things of his Church, that were inconsistent with, and would utterly overthrow all civil Government. Thus Pilate, he was jealous, because he heard of Christs Kingdom; and although it be known that his Kingdom is not of this world, that Church power is wholly spiritual in order to mens souls, yet how often are the Governors suspicious about it? But these particulars are of large consideration, and handled by learned Authors. I come therefore to show, That a peoples consideration of themselves as a Church, should be preferred above all their civil Glory and Dignity. It ought to be more (as one Emperor said) to be a Member of the Church, then an Emperor of the whole world. The Church of Rome in Pauls time, while pure in the faith, was more admirable, then the City of Rome, which was Queen over the whole world.

Hence in the third place, The Devil and his instruments have alwayes laboured the ruine of godliness, by making divisions, and using several stratagems to overthrow the harmonious Unity that ought to be in the Church of God, and civil State. In Popery, we see abominable mischief came to Religion by the usurping of the name of the Church; for they excluded the Magistrates and supream Governours, from any Government therein, and at last pleading exemption from all Obedience and Subjection to the chief powers, though so expresly contrary to Paul, Rom. 13. Thus they make a few only, yea but one, the Pope at last, to be the Church, and then attribute to him a power to dispose of Kingdoms and States, where and to whom he pleaseth, directly and immediately, say some; and those who do most mince it say, indirectè, and in ordine ad spiritualia. On the other side, sometimes the civil State hath been jealous, yea and violently perscuting the Church of God, as if that of Julian were true, A Church and a civil Society could not stand together; as if Christ had commanded such things of his Church, that were inconsistent with, and would utterly overthrow all civil Government. Thus Pilate, he was jealous, because he heard of Christs Kingdom; and although it be known that his Kingdom is not of this world, that Church power is wholly spiritual in order to mens souls, yet how often are the Governours suspicious about it? But these particulars are of large consideration, and handled by learned Authours. I come therefore to shew, That a peoples consideration of themselves as a Church, should be preferred above all their civil Glory and Dignity. It ought to be more (as one Emperour said) to be a Member of the Church, then an Emperour of the whole world. The Church of Rome in Pauls time, while pure in the faith, was more admirable, then the City of Rome, which was Queen over the whole world.