Before we lay down the grounds of this, take notice, ⟨p. 4⟩that it lieth as a duty upon Magistrates, to attend to the reformation of all corruptions that creep into the Church, as well as to redress the abuses in a state: Only concerning his power herein, there is a two-fold extremity by way of error; first, of Popery, who do not well approve, that the Magistrate should meddle in matters of Religion; but would have him altogether bound up in the determinations of the Pope and his Bishops; and especially they abhor this doctrine, when it extendeth to the reformation of the Ecclesiastical persons; But we see in the Scripture, the godly Magistrates, Hezekiah, Josiah and others, demolishing the Altars, encouraging the Priests that taught the good knowledge of God, and punishing Baals Priests; and where these things have not been done, there we find the Magistrates reproved: on the other side, the error may be extreme, when we give them an unlimited power in establishing matters of Religion; as if they were not to be regulated by Scripture, or to take the advice and counsel of those that are Spiritual governors in the Church: Thus Constantius is branded, who when he would have counselled the Orthodox to Arianism, he uttered that speech full of pride, quod ego volo, pro canone sit; what I will, shall stand for a rule: Thus also we go too far, when we confound Civill power and Ecclesiastic, making the former wholly to devour the latter: Hence Calvin speaking of the duty of Kings and all in authority, to use the sword for the defence of Religion and the worship of God; yet addeth, that there are inconsiderati homines, &c. some rash and indiscreet men, who go beyond their bounds in setting up the Magistrates power, so that they do abolere omne spiritual regimen, abolish all spiritual government. By this briefly it may be seen, that it is the Magistrate's duty, to establish the ⟨p. 5⟩worship of God, to reform corruptions in the Church; yet with some rules and grounds. I come therefore to the reasons, why Governors ought to lay to heart, and to be affected with Church matters, as well as those of the state.
Before we lay down the grounds of this, take notice, ⟨p. 4⟩that it lyeth as a duty upon Magistrates, to attend to the reformation of all corruptions that creep into the Church, as well as to redresse the abuses in a state: Only concerning his power herein, there is a two-fold extremity by way of errour; first, of Popery, who do not well approve, that the Magistrate should meddle in matters of Religion; but would have him altogether bound up in the determinations of the Pope and his Bishops; and especially they abhorre this doctrine, when it extendeth to the reformation of the Ecclesiasticall persons; But we see in the Scripture, the godly Magistrates, Hezekiah, Josiah and others, demolishing the Altars, incouraging the Priests that taught the good knowledge of God, and punishing Baals Priests; and where these things have not been done, there we finde the Magistrates reproved: on the other side, the errour may be extreme, when we give them an unlimited power in establishing matters of Religion; as if they were not to be regulated by Scripture, or to take the advice and counsell of those that are Spirituall governours in the Church: Thus Constantius is branded, who when he would have counselled the Orthodox to Arianisme, he uttered that speech full of pride, quod ego volo, pro canone sit; what I will, shall stand for a rule: Thus also we go too farre, when we confound Civill power and Ecclesiastique, making the former wholly to devoure the latter: Hence Calvin speaking of the duty of Kings and all in authority, to use the sword for the defence of Religion and the worship of God; yet addeth, that there are inconsiderati homines, &c. some rash and indiscreet men, who go beyond their bounds in setting up the Magistrates power, so that they do abolere omne spirituale regimen, abolish all spirituall government. By this briefly it may be seen, that it is the Migistrates duty, to establish the ⟨p. 5⟩worship of God, to reforme corruptions in the Church; yet with some rules and grounds. I come therefore to the reasons, why Governours ought to lay to heart, and to be affected with Church matters, as well as those of the state.
