The keys of the kingdom of heaven and power thereof according to the word…The keyes of the kingdom of heaven and power thereof according to the word…

Nevertheless, though we willingly acknowledge a power in the Civill Magistrate, to establish and reform Religion, according to the Word of God: yet we would not be so understood, as if we judged it to belong to the civill power, to compel all men to come and sit down at the Lords table, or to enter into the communion of the Church, before they be in some measure prepared of God for such fellowship. For this is not a Reformation, but a Deformation of the Church, and is not according to the Word of God, but against it, as we shall show (God willing) in the sequel, when we come to speak of the disposition or qualification of Church-members.

Neverthelesse, though we willingly acknowledge a power in the Civill Magistrate, to establish and reform Religion, according to the Word of God: yet we would not be so understood, as if we judged it to belong to the civill power, to compell all men to come and sit down at the Lords table, or to enter into the communion of the Church, before they be in some measure prepared of God for such fellowship. For this is not a Reformation, but a Deformation of the Church, and is not according to the Word of God, but against it, as we shall show (God willing) in the sequell, when we come to speak of the disposition or qualification of Church-members.

3. There is a third sort of things which concern the civill peace, wherein the Church is not to refuse subjection to the Civill Magistrate, in the exercise of some public spiritual administrations, which may advance and help forward the public good of Civill State according to God. In time of war, or pestilence, or any public calamity or danger lying upon a Common-wealth, the Magistrate may lawfully proclaim a Fast as Jehoshaphat did, 2 Chron. 20.3. and the Churches ought not to neglect such an administration, upon such a just occasion. Neither doth it impeach the power of the Church to call a Fast, when themselves see God calling them to public humiliation. For as Jehoshaphat called a Fast: so the Prophet Joel stirreth up the Priests to call a Fast in time of a famine threatening the want of holy Sacrifices,