A86000:165
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.
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 kind 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 Judgment, and that 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 Ecclesiastical Ministry doth chiefly respect the repentance to salvation, and gaining of the sinners soul; wherefore it also imbraceth all kind 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 Laws may be satisfied, as also to terrifie others; hence it is, that absolution from Ecclesiastick censure, freeth not at all the Delinquent, from civill Judgment, and that external sword.