Irenicum, to the lovers of truth and peace heart-divisions opened in the causes and…

The Magistrate hath his appellation civil, because the power that he exercises is civill, the things that he do are civill; he cannot do the works of a Church-officer, by all the power he hath, as administer Sacraments, and the like; but this hinders not the use of his civil power, and the doing of external acts upon the outward man, subservient to spiritual good; indeed what he doth, hath not any spiritual efficacy in it, for then it were worship. Though he cannot work in a spiritual way upon mans soul, by his power, it is not an Ordinance set apart by God to that end, yet he may by the exercise of his power upon the outward man, restrain it from the external act of evil, or bring it to an external good; his power still that he exercises is civill, yet ordered to the help of spiritual good, either removendo prohibentia, or applicando media externa, or cohibenda a malo externo; removing outward things that hindered, applying outward means, or keeping from outward evils. Whatsoever Commandment requires any duty, requires us to make use of all things that may help us to the performance of that duty; if there be any civil, natural, spiritual helps, we are bound to make use of all. Only here lies the great doubt, Whether hath God appointed the use of the Magistrates power to be a help to the things of Religion? Hath God made this to be an Ordinance for the spiritual good of people?

The Magistrate hath his appellation civil, because the power that he exercises is civill, the things that he do are civill; he cannot do the works of a Church-officer, by all the power he hath, as administer Sacraments, and the like; but this hinders not the use of his civil power, and the doing of external acts upon the outward man, subservient to spiritual good; indeed what he doth, hath not any spirituall efficacy in it, for then it were worship. Though he cannot work in a spirituall way upon mans soule, by his power, it is not an Ordinance set apart by God to that end, yet he may by the exercise of his power upon the outward man, restrain it from the externall act of evill, or bring it to an externall good; his power still that he exercises is civill, yet ordered to the help of spirituall good, either removendo prohibentia, or applicando media externa, or cohibenda a malo externo; removing outward things that hindered, applying outward means, or keeping from outward evils. Whatsoever Commandement requires any duty, requires us to make use of all things that may help us to the performance of that duty; if there be any civil, naturall, spiritual helps, we are bound to make use of all. Only here lies the great doubt, Whether hath God appointed the use of the Magistrates power to be a helpe to the things of Religion? Hath God made this to be an Ordinance for the spirituall good of people?