A42763:123
CXI propositions concerning the ministry and government of the ChurchCXI propositions concerning the ministerie and government of the Church
Edinburgh: printed by Evan Tyler, 1647
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
58.
Thirdly, Those powers are differenced in respect of their forms, and that three ways: For first the Civill power, although in respect of God it be Ministerial, yet in respect of the Subjects it is Lordly and Magisterial. Ecclesiastical power is indeed furnished with authority, yet that authority is liker the Fatherly then the Kingly authority; Yea also tis purely Ministerial, much less can it be lawful to Ministers of the Church to bear dominion over the flock.
Thirdly, Those powers are differenced in respect of their formes, and that three wayes: For first the Civill power, although in respect of God it bee Ministeriall, yet in respect of the Subjects it is Lordly and Magisteriall. Ecclesiasticall power is indeed furnished with authority, yet that authority is liker the Fatherly then the Kingly authority; Yea also tis purely Ministeriall, much lesse can it bee lawfull to Ministers of the Church to bear dominion over the flock.
59.
Emperors, Kings, and other Magistrates are indeed appointed fathers of the Country, but they are withal Lords of their People and Subjects; Not as if it were permitted to them to bear rule and command at their own will and as they list (for they are the Ministers of God for the good and profit of the Subjects) yet it belongs to their power truly and properly to exercise dominion, to hold principality, to proceed imperiously. It is indeed the duty of Ministers and Rulers of the Church to oversee, to feed as shepherds, to correct and rectify, to bear the keys, to be Stewards in the house of Christ, but in no wise to be Lords over the house, or to govern as Lords, or Lordlike to rule; yea in brief, this is the difference between the civill Magistrate and the Ecclesiastical Ministry, in respect of those which are committed to their trust, that the lot of the former is to be served or ministered unto, the lot of the latter to minister or serve.