A77844:40
The magistrates commission from heaven. Declared in a sermon preached in Laurence Jury, London, the…The magistrates commission from heaven. Declared in a sermon preached in Laurencejury, London, the…
The magistrates commission from heaven. Declared in a sermon preached in Laurence Jury, London, the 28. day of Sept. 1644. at the election of the Lord Major. / By Anthony Burgess, sometimes fellow of Immanuel College in Cambridge; now pastor of Sutton Coldfield in Warwick shire, and a member of the Assembly. Imprimatur Thomas Gataker.The magistrates commission from heaven. Declared in a sermon preached in Laurencejury, London, the 28. day of Sept. 1644. at the election of the Lord Major. / By Anthony Burgesse, sometimes fellow of Immanuel Colledge in Cambridge; now pastour of Sutton Coldfield in Warwick shire, and a member of the Assembly. Imprimatur Thomas Gataker.
London: printed by George Miller for Thomas Underhill, 1644London: printed by George Miller for Thomas Vnderhill, 1644
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.
As in the first place, the most proper, and suitable, and genuine way to cure an Error is, to bring Arguments out of the Scripture. Fides est donum Dei non Caesaris, sayes he well; Faith it is not Caesars gift, but it is Gods gift: and so, Fides est suadendo non imperando, many such things are out of Lactantius to that purpose: For certainly if humane persuasion cannot bring a man to believe: Veritas (as Tertullian says well) docendo persuadet, non suadendo docet, Truth persuades a man by teaching, it teaches not a man by persuading: it is much more true then of Threatening, and of outward violence.
As in the first place, the most proper, and sutable, and genuine way to cure an Error is, to bring Arguments out of the Scripture. Fides est donum Dei non Caesaris, sayes he well; Faith it is not Caesars gift, but it is Gods gift: and so, Fides est suadendo non imperando, many such things are out of Lactantius to that purpose: For certainely if humane perswasion cannot bring a man to beleeve: Veritas (as Tertullian sayes well) docendo persuadet, non suadendo docet, Truth perswades a man by teaching, it teaches not a man by perswading: it is much more true then of Threatning, and of outward violence.
But then afterwards, if men still remain refractory, then the Magistrate hath a power to compel to the external means of faith, though the Magistrate cannot ad fidem cogere, compel to believe; and no man doth credere invitus, believe against his will, all this is true, yet notwithstanding he may compel to the external means of faith and of salvation, as you see all the Magistrates in the Old Testament did: and Parents may do it, and ought to do it: and then why should it be denied unto a Magistrate?
But then afterwards, if men still remaine refractory, then the Magistrate hath a power to compell to the externall meanes of faith, though the Magistrate cannot ad fidem cogere, compell to beleeve; and no man doth credere invitus, beleeve against his will, all this is true, yet notwithstanding he may compell to the externall meanes of faith and of salvation, as you see all the Magistrates in the Old Testament did: and Parents may doe it, and ought to doe it: and then why should it be denied unto a Magistrate?