CXI propositions concerning the ministry and government of the ChurchCXI propositions concerning the ministerie and government of the Church

47.

The matter may further be thus illustrated: There is almost the like respect and consideration of the Magistrate as he ⟨p. 21⟩is occupied about the outward things of the Church, and of the Ecclesiastic Ministry as it is occupied about the inward or spiritual part of civill Government, that is, about those things which in the Government of the Commonwealth belong to the conscience. It is one thing to govern the Commonwealth, and to make political and civill Laws; another thing to interpret the Word of God, and out of it to show to the Magistrate his duty, to wit, how he ought to govern the Commonwealth, and in what manner he ought to use the sword. The former is proper and peculiar to the Magistrate (neither doth the Ministry intermeddle or entangle it self into such businesses,) but the latter is contained within the office of the Ministers.

The matter may further bee thus illustrated: There is almost the like respect and consideration of the Magistrate as he ⟨p. 21⟩is occupied about the outward things of the Church, and of the Ecclesiastick Ministery as it is occupied about the inward or spirituall part of civill Government, that is, about those things which in the Government of the Commonwealth belong to the conscience. It is one thing to governe the Commonwealth, and to make politicall and civill Lawes; another thing to interpret the Word of God, and out of it to shew to the Magistrate his duty, to wit, how he ought to governe the Commonwealth, and in what manner he ought to use the sword. The former is proper and peculiar to the Magistrate (neither doth the Ministery intermeddle or intangle it self into such businesses,) but the latter is contained within the office of the Ministers.