The divine right of church-government and excommunication

IX. Asser. The Christian magistrate must here come under a threefold consideration. 1. As the Object of that high office is merely and purely civill, and positive relating only to a civill end of Peace: as in importing, or exporting of goods, of wool, wax, moneys for the good of the common-wealth, the crying up or crying down of the value of coined Gold or Silver, the making of Laws merely civill; as not to carry Armour in the night in such a City: So in War, Commanders, Captains and Colonels are Magistrates to order the Battle, lay stratagems, the way of besieging Townes, of fortifying Castles, of issuing out mandates for the Navy; The Parliaments power in disposing of Fouling, Fishing, Hunting, Eating of Flesh, or not eating at such a time: all these▪ as the Word of God doth not particularly warrant the one side more then the other, are merely civill and positive▪ It is sure the Magistrate hath a supremacy, and an independency above the Church or Ministers of the Gospel in all these; and as these prescinde from all Morality of the first and second Table, I hold that neither the power nor person of the Magistrate is subordinate to the Church and Church-assemblies, and Ministers of the Gospel should [Greek or Hebrew] and exceed the limits and bounds of their calling, if they ⟨p. 559⟩should meddle with these; as the Church should exceed their bounds, if they should make Canons touching the way of sailing, painting, tilling the earth according to such and such principles of Art, for these are without the sphere of the Churches activity; in this consideration that learned and grave Divine Doctor Andrew Rivetus in Decalo in c. 5. saith well, pag. 204. That as we believe a man well skilled in his own Art, so that his judgement is a supreme rule; so the supreme authority of the Magistrate to us in things positive, is a rule; for indeed it cannot be denied but there be Arcana Imperi• secrets of State that are not to be communicated to Pastors or to any, in which the Rulers have a supremacy. The Magistrate falleth under a second consideration, as he giveth out Laws just or unjust, and executeth judgement in the morning, or suffereth the eyes of the poor, the widow and Orphan to fail for went of justice;

IX. Asser. The Christian magistrate must here come under a threefold consideration. 1. As the Object of that high office is meerly and purely civill, and positive relating only to a civill end of Peace: as in importing, or exporting of goods, of wooll, waxe, moneys for the good of the common-wealth, the crying up or crying downe of the value of coyned Gold or Silver, the making of Lawes meerly civill; as not to carry Armor in the night in such a City: So in Warre, Commanders, Captains and Colonels are Magistrates to order the Battle, lay stratagems, the way of besieging Townes, of fortifying Castles, of issuing out mandates for the Navy; The Parliaments power in disposing of Fouling, Fishing, Hunting, Eating of Flesh, or not eating at such a time: all these as the Word of God doth not particularly warrant the one side more then the other, are meerly civill and positive It is sure the Magistrate hath a supremacy, and an independency above the Church or Ministers of the Gospel in all these; and as these prescinde from all Morality of the first and second Table, I hold that neither the power nor person of the Magistrate is subordinate to the Church and Church-assemblies, and Ministers of the Gospel should and exceed the limits and bounds of their calling, if they