A42763:162
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.
78.
Therefore the one sword being put up in the scabbard, it is free and often necessary to draw the other. Neither power is bound to cast out or receive him whom the other doth cast forth or receive: The reason whereof is, because the Ecclesiastical Ministry doth chiefly respect the repentance to salvation, and gaining of the sinners soul; wherefore it also embraceth all kinds of wicked men repenting, and receiveth them into the bosom of the Church: The Magistrate proposeth to himself another and much differing scope; for even repenting offenders are by him punished, both that Justice and the Laws may be satisfied, as also to terrify others; hence it is that absolution from Ecclesiastic censure freeth not at all the Delinquent from civill judgement and the external sword.
Therefore the one sword being put up in the scabbard, it is free and often necessary to draw the other. Neither power is bound to cast out or receive him whom the other doth cast forth or receive: The reason whereof is, because the Ecclesiasticall Ministery doth chiefly respect the repentance to salvation, and gaining of the sinners soul; wherefore it also imbraceth all kindes of wicked men repenting, and receiveth them into the bosome of the Church: The Magistrate proposeth to himself another and much differing scope; for even repenting offenders are by him punished, both that Justice and the Lawes may be satisfied, as also to terrifie others; hence it is that absolution from Ecclesiastick censure freeth not at all the Delinquent from civill judgement and the externall sword.