A42763:143
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.
68.
But whereas the Christian Magistrate doth wholly devote himself to the promoting of the Gospel and Kingdom of Christ, and doth direct and bend all the might and strength of his authority to that end: This proceedeth not from the nature of his office or function, which is common to him with an Infidel Magistrate; but from the influence of his common Christian calling into his particular vocation.
But whereas the Christian Magistrate doth wholly devote himself to the promoting of the Gospel and Kingdom of Christ, and doth direct and bend all the might and strength of his authority to that end: This proceedeth not from the nature of his office or function, which is common to him with an Infidell Magistrate; but from the influence of his common Christian calling into his particular vocation.
69.
For every member of the Church (and so also the faithful and godly Magistrate) ought to refer and order his particular vocation, faculty, ability, power and honour to this end, that the Kingdom of Christ may be propagated and promoted, and the true Religion be cherished and defended: So that the advancement of the Gospel and of all the Ordinances of the Gospel, is indeed the end of the Godly Magistrate, not of a Magistrate simply; or (if ye will rather) tis not the end of the office it self, but of him who doth execute the same piously.