A86000:87
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.
39.
Furthermore, the Administration of the Ecclesiastic power in Consistories, Classes and Synods, doth not at all tend to weaken in any wise, hurt or minish the authority of the Civill Magistrate, much less to take it away or destroy it; yea rather, by it a most profitable help cometh to the Magistrate, forasmuch as by the bond of Religion mens consciences are more straitly tied unto him. There have been indeed fantastical men who under pretence and cloak of Christian liberty would abolish and cast out Laws and Judgements, Orders also, Degrees and Honours out of the Common-wealth, and have been bold to reckon the function of the Magistrate armed with the Sword, among evil things and unlawful: But the Reformed Churches do renounce and detest those dreams, and do most harmoniously and most willingly confess and acknowledge ⟨p. 18⟩it to be Gods will that the World be governed by Laws and Policy, and that he himself hath appointed the Civill Magistrate, and hath delivered to him the sword, to the protection and praise of good men, but for punishment and revenge on the evil, that by this bridle mens vices and faults may be restrained, whether committed against the first or against the second Table.
Furthermore, the Administration of the Ecclesiastick power in Consistories, Classes and Synods, doth not at all tend to weaken in any wise, hurt or minish the authority of the Civill Magistrate, much lesse to take it away or destroy it; yea rather, by it a most profitable help cometh to the Magistrate, forasmuch as by the bond of Religion mens consciences are more straitly tyed unto him. There have been indeed phantasticall men who under pretence and cloak of Christian liberty would abolish and cast out Lawes and Judgements, Orders also, Degrees and Honours out of the Common-wealth, and have been bold to reckon the function of the Magistrate armed with the Sword, among evill things and unlawfull: But the Reformed Churches doe renounce and detest those dreams, and do most harmoniously and most willingly confesse and acknowledge