A86000:103
A form for Church government and ordination of ministers, contained in CXI propositions, propounded…
A form for Church government and ordination of ministers, contained in CXI propositions, propounded to the late General Assembly at Edinburgh, 1647. Together with an Act concerning Erastianism, independency, and liberty of conscience. Published by authority.A form for Church government and ordination of ministers, contained in CXI propositions, propounded to the late Generall Assembly at Edinburgh, 1647. Together with an Act concerning Erastianisme, independencie, and liberty of conscience. Published by authority.
London: printed for Robert Bostock, 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.
47
The matter may further be thus illustrated: There is almost the like respect and consideration of the Magistrate as he ⟨p. 21⟩is occupied about the outward things of the church, and of the Ecclesiastic Ministry as it is occupied about the inward or spiritual part of civill Government, that is about those things which in the government of the common-wealth belong to the conscience. It is one thing to govern the common-wealth, and to make political and civill Laws; another thing to interpret the Word of God, and out of it to show to the Magistrate his duty, to wit, how he ought to govern the common-wealth, and in what manner he ought to use the sword. The former is proper and peculiar to the Magistrate (neither doth the Ministry intermeddle or entangle it self into such businesses,) But the latter is contained within the office of the Ministers.
The matter may further be thus illustrated: There is almost the like respect and confideration of the Magistrate as he ⟨p. 21⟩is occupied about the outward things of the church, and of the Ecclesiastick Ministery as it is occupied about the inward or spirituall part of civill Government, that is about those things which in the government of the common-wealth belong to the conscience. It is one thing to governe the common-wealth, and to make politicall and civill Lawes; another thing to interpret the Word of God, and out of it to shew to the Magistrate his duty, to wit, how he ought to govern the common-wealth, and in what manner he ought to use the sword. The former is propr and peculiar to the Magistrate (neither doth the Ministery intermeddle or intangle it self into such businesses,) But the latter is contained within the office of the Ministers.