and will of Christ revealed in his Word but as it liketh them and according to their own will and prescript what other thing goe they about to doe then by horrible sacriledge to throw down Christ from his own Throne 5. For our onely Law-giver and Interpreter of his Fathers will Jesus Christ hath prescribed and foreappointed the rule according to which hee would have his Worship and the Government of his owne House to bee ordered To wrest this rule of Christ laid open in his holy Word to the Counsells Wills Manners Devices 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Men is most high impiety But contrarily the Law of Faith commandeth the counsell and purposes of men to bee framed and conformed to this rule and overtuneth all the reasonings of worldly wisdome and bringeth into captivity the thoughts of the proud swelling minde to the obedience of Christ Neither ought the voice of any to take place or bee rested upon in the Church but the voice of Christ alone 6. The same Lord and our Saviour Jesus Christ the only Head of the Church hath ordained in the New Testament not only the Preaching of the Word and Administration of Baptisme and the Lords Supper but also Ecclesiasticall Government distinct and differing from the Civill Government and it is his will that there bee such a Government distinct from the Civill in all his Churches every where as well those which live under Christian as those under infidell Magistrates even untill the end of the World Heb. 13. 7 17. 1 Tim. 5. 17 19. Rom. 12. 8. 1 Cor. 12. 28. 1 Thes. 5. 12. Acts 1. 20 28. Luke 12. 42. 1 Tim. 6. 14. Apoc. 2. 25. 7. This Ecclesiasticall Government distinct from the Civill is from God committed not to the whole body of the Church or Congregation of the faithfull or to bee Exercised both by Officers and People but to the Ministers of Gods Word together with the Elders which are joyned with them for the care and Government of the Church 1 Tim. 5. 17. To these therefore who are over the Church in the Lord belongeth the Authority and Power and it lyeth upon them by their office according to the rule of Gods Word to discerne and judge betwixt the Holy and Prophane to give diligence for amendment of Delinquents and to purge the Church as much as is in them from scandalls and that not only by enquiring inspection warning reproving and more sharply expostulating but also by acting in the further and more severe parts of Ecclesiasticall Discipline or exercising Ecclesiastick jurisdiction 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the greatest and weightiest censures where need is 8. None that is within the Church ought to bee without the reach of Church-law and exempt from Ecclesiastick Censures but Discipline is to be exercised on all the Members of the Church without respect or consideration of those adhering qualities which use to commend a man to other men Such as Power Nobility illustrious Descent and the like for the judgement cannot bee right where men are led and moved with these considerations Wherefore let respect of Persons be farre from all Judges chiefly the Ecclesiasticall And if any in the Church doe so swell in pride that he refuse to be under this Discipline and would have himself to be free and exempt from all tryall and Ecclesiastick judgement this mans disposition is more like the haughtinesse of the Romane Pope then the meeknesse and submissivenesse of Christs Sheep 9. Ecclesiasticall censure moreover is either proper to bee inflicted upon the Ministers and Office-bearers onely or with them common to other Members of the Church The former consisteth in suspension or deposition of Ministers from their Office which in the ancient Canons is called {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} The latter consisteth in the greater and lesser Excommunication as they speak Whatsoever in another Brother deserveth Excommunication The same much more in a Mininister deserveth Excommunication But justly sometimes a Minister is to bee put from his Office and deprived of that Power which by Ordination was given him against whom neverthelesse to draw the sword of Excommunication no reason doth compell 10. Sometime also it happeneth that a Minister having fallen into Heresie or Apostasie or other grievous crimes if hee shew tokens of true repentance may bee justly received into the communion of the Church Whom notwithstanding it is no way expedient to restore into his former place or charge yea perhaps it will not bee found fit to restore such a one to the Ministery in another Congregation as soone as hee is received into the bosome of the Church Which surely is most agreeable as well as to the Word of God 2 King 23. 9. Ezech. 44. 10 11 12 13 14. as to that Ecclesiasticall Discipline which in some ages after the times of the Apostles was in use So true is it that the Ministers of the Church are lyable as well to peculiar as to common censures Or that a Minister of the Church is censured one way and one of the people another way 11. Ecclesiasticall censure which is not proper to Ministers but common to them with other Members of the Church is either suspension from the Lords Supper which by others is called the Publicanes Excommunication or the cutting off of a Member which is commonly called Excommunication The distinction of this twofold censure commonly though not so properly passing under the name of the lesser and greater Excommunication is not onely much approved by the Church of Scotland and the Synode now assembled at Westminster but also by the Reformed Churches of France the Low-countreys and of Pole-land as is to be seen in the book of the Ecclesiastick Discipline of the Reformed Churches in France Chap. 5. Art 9. In the harmonie of the Belgicks Synodes Chap. 14. Art 8. 9. In the Canons of the generall Synode of Torne held in the yeare 1597. 12. That the distinction of that twofold Church censure was allowed also by antiquity it may be sufficiently clear to him who will consult the sixtie one Canon of the sixth generall Synode with the Annotations of Zonaras and Balsamon Also the thirteenth Canon of the eighth Synode which is termed the first and second with the Notes of Zonaras Yea besides even the penitennts also themselves of the fourth degree or {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} that is which were in the consistency were suspended from the Lords Supper though as to other things of the same condition with the faithfull For to the communion also of Prayers and so to all priviledges of Ecclesiasticall society the Eucharist alone excepted they were thought to have right So sacred a thing was the Eucharist esteemed See also beside others Cyprian 1. Book Epist. 11. That Dyanisius the Author of the Ecclesiastick Hierarchie Chap. 3. Part. 3. Basil. Epist. to Amphilochius Can. 4 Ambros. lib. 2. De officiis Chap. 27. Augustine in his book against the Donatists after the conference Cap. 4. Chrysostom Homil. 83. in Matth.
also about the outward businesse or externall things of the Church which are indeed necessary to the Church or profitable as touching the outward man yet not properly and purely spirituall for they doe not reach unto the soul but only to the externall state and condition of the Ministers and Members of the Church 46. For the better understanding whereof t is to bee observed that so farre as the Ministers and Members of the Church are Citizens Subjects or Members of the Commonwealth it is in the power of the Magistrate to judge determine and give sentence concerning the disposing of their bodies or goods As also concerning the maintenance of the poor sick the banished and of others in the Church which are afflicted To regulate so farre as concerneth the civill order Marriages Burials and other circumstances which are common both to holy and also to honest civill societies to affoord places fit for holy Assemblies and other externall helps by which the sacred matters of the Lord may be more safely commodiously and more easily in the Church performed To remove the externall impediments of divine Worship or of Ecclesiasticall Peace and to represse those which exalt themselves against the true Church and her Ministers and doe raise up trouble against them 47. The matter may further bee thus illustrated There is almost the like respect and consideration of the Magistrate as he 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 Commonwealth belong to the conscience It is one thing to governe the Commonwealth 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 governe the Commonwealth and in what manner he ought to use the sword The former is proper 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 48. For to that end also is the holy Scripture profitable to shew which is the best manner of governing a Commonwealth and that the Magistrate as being Gods Minister may by this guiding Starre bee so directed as that he may execute the parts of his office according to the will of God and may perfectly be instructed to every good work yet the Minister is not said properly to treat of civill businesses but of the scandalls which arise about them or of the cases of conscience which occurre in the Administration of the Commonwealth So also the Magistrate is not properly said to be exercised about the spiritual things of the Church but rather about those externall things which adhere unto and accompany the spirituall things 49. And in such externall matters of the Church although all Magistrates will not yet all yea even heathen Magistrates may and ought to aide and help the Church Whence it is that by the command of God Prayers are to be made also for an heathen Magistrate that the faithfull under them may live a quiet life with all godlinesse and honesty 1 Tim. 2. 1 2. 50. Unto the externall things of the Church belongeth not onely the correction of Hereticks and other troublers of the Church but also that civill order and way of convocating and calling together Synodes which is proper to the Magistrate for the Magistrate ought by his authority and power both to establish the Rights and Liberties of Synodes assembling together at times appointed by the knowne and received Law and to indict and gather together Synodes occasionally as often as the necessity of the Church shall require the same Not that all or any power to consult or determine of Ecclesiastick or Spirituall matters doth flow or spring from the Magistrate as Head of the Church under Christ but beecause in those things pertaining to the outward man the Church needeth the Magistrates aid and support 51. So that the Magistrate calleth together Synodes not as touching those things which are proper to Synodes but in respect of the things which are common to Synodes with other meetings and civill publike Assemblies that is not as they are Assemblies in the name of Christ to treat of matters spirituall but as they are publike Assemblies within his territories for to the end that publike conventions may bee kept in any territorie the licence of the Lord of that place ought to be desired In Synodes therefore a respect of order as well Civill as Ecclesiasticall is to bee had And because of this Civill order outward defence better accommodation together with safe accesse and recesse the consent and commandment of him who is appointed to take care of and defend humane order doth interveene 52. Moreover when the Church is rent asunder by unhappy and lamentable schismes while they who have raised the troubles and have given cause of solemne gathering a Synode whether by their Heresie or Schisme or Tyranny or any other fault of others use to place the great strength and safeguard of their cause in declining and fleeing the triall and sentence of a free Synode as being formidable to them Who seeth not that they cannot be drawn to a publike and judiciall tryall nor other disobedient persons be compelled to obedience without the Magistrate publike mandate and helpe 53. The object of Ecclesiasticall power is not the same with the object of the Civill power but much differing from it for the Ecclesiasticall power doth determine and appoint nothing concerning mens bodies goods dignities civill rights but is imployed only about the inward man or the soul not that it can search the hearts or judge of the secrets of the conscience which is in the Power of God alone Yet notwithstanding it hath for its proper object those externalls which are purely spirituall and do belong properly and most nearly to the spirituall good of the soul Which also are tearmed {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} the inward things of the Church 54. Those things then wherein the Ecclesiasticall power is exercised are the Preaching of the Word the Administration of Sacraments publike Prayer and Thanksgiving the Catechising and instructing of children and ignorant persons the examination of those who are to come to the holy Communion the Ecclesiasticall Discipline the Ordination of Ministers and the abdication deposing and degrading of them if they become like unsavory salt the deciding and determining of controversies of Faith and cases of Conscience Canonicall constitutions concerning the treasury of the Church and collections of the Faithfull as also concerning Ecclesiasticall rites or indifferent things which pertaine to the keeping of decency and order in the Church according to the generall rules of Christian love and prudence contained in the Word of God 55. T is true that about the same things the Civill power is occupyed as
â—â—â— PROPOSITIONS Concerning THE MINISTERIE AND GOVERNMENT OF THE CHURCH EDINBURGH Printed by Evan Tyler Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty 1647. Act approving VIII generall Heads of Doctrine against the Tenents of Erastianisme Independencie and Liberty of Conscience asserted in the CXI Propositions which are to be examined against the next Assembly BEing tender of so great an ingagement by Solemn Covenant sincerely really and constantly to endeavour in our Places and Callings the preservation of the Reformed Religion in this Kirk of Scotland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government the Reformation of Religion in the Kingdomes of England and Ireland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government according to the Word of God and the example of the best Reformed Kirks and to endeavour the nearest Conjunction and Uniformity in all these together with the extirpation of Heresie Schisme and whatsoever shall bee found contrary to sound Doctrine And considering withall that one of the speciall meanes which it becometh us in our Places and Callings to use in pursuance of these ends is in zeal for the true Reformed Religion to give our publike testimony against the dangerous Tenents of Erastianisme Independencie and which is falsely called Liberty of Conscience which are not only contrary to sound Doctrine but more speciall lets and hinderances as well to the preservation of our own received Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government as to the Work of Reformation and Uniformity in England and Ireland The Generall Assembly upon these considerations having heard publikely read the CXI following Propositions exhibited and tendered by some Brethren who were appointed to prepare Articles or Propositions for the vindication of the Trueth in these particulars Doth unanimously approve and agree unto these eight generall Heads of Doctrine therein contained and asserted viz. 1. That the Ministery of the Word and the Administration of the Sacraments of the New Testament Baptisme and the Lords Supper are standing Ordinances instituted by God himself to continue in the Church to the end of the World 2. That such as Administer the Word and Sacraments ought to be duely called and ordained thereunto 3. That some Ecclesiasticall censures are proper and peculiar to be inflicted onely upon such as bear Office in the Kirk Other censures are common and may bee inflicted both on Ministers and other Members of the Kirk 4. That the censure of suspension from the Sacrament of the Lords Supper inflicted because of grosse ignorance or because of a scandalous life and conversation As likewise the censure of Excommunication or casting out of the Kirk flagitious or contumacious offenders both the one censure and the other is warrantable by and grounded upon the Word of God and is necessary in respect of divine institution to be in the Kirk 5. That as the Rights Power and Authority of the Civill Magistrate are to bee maintained according to the Word of God and the Confessions of the Faith of the Reformed Kirks So it is no lesse true and certâ—ine that Jesus Christ the onely Head and onely King of the Kirk hath instituted and appointed a Kirk Government distinct from the Civill Government or Magistracie 6. That the Ecclesiasticall Government is committed and instrusted by Christ to the Assemblies of the Kirk made up of the Ministers of the Word and Ruling Elders 7. That the lesser and inferiour Ecclesiasticall Assemblies ought to bee subordinate and subject unto the greater and superiour Assemblies 8. That notwithstanding hereof the Civill Magistrate may and ought to suppresse by corporall or Civill punishments such as by spreading Errour or Heresie or by fomenting Schisme greatly dishonour God dangerously hurt Religion and disturbe the Peace of the Kirk Which Heads of Doctrine howsoever opposed by the authors and fomenters of the foresaid errours respectively the Generall Assembly doth firmely beleeve own maintaine and commend unto others as Solide True Orthodoxe grounded upon the Word of God consonant to the judgement both of the ancient and the best Reformed Kirks And because this Assembly through the multitude of other necessary and pressing bussinesse cannot now have so much leisure as to examine and consider particularly the foresaid CXI Propositions Therefore a more particular examination thereof is committed and referred to the Theologicall faculties in the four Universities of this Kingdome and the judgement of each of these faculties concerning the same is appointed to bee reported to the next Generall Assembly In the meane while these Propositions shall bee Printed both that Copies thereof may bee sent to Presbyteries and that it may be free for any that pleaseth to peruse them and to make known or send their judgement concerning the same to the said next Assembly A. Ker. CXI PROPOSITIONS Concerning THE MINISTERIE AND GOVERNMENT OF THE CHURCH 1. AS our Lord Jesus Christ doth invisibly teach and governe his Church by the Holy Spirit So in gathering preserving instructing building and saving thereof he useth Ministers as his instruments and hath appointed an order of some to Teach and others to Learne in the Church and that some should be the Flock and others the Pastours 2. For beside these first founders of the Church of Christ extraordinarily sent and furnished with the gift of Miracles whereby they might confirme the Doctrine of the Gospel he appointed also ordinary Pastors and Teachers for the executing of the Ministery even untill his coming againe unto Judgement Eph. 4. 11 12 13. Wherefore also as many as are of the number of Gods People or will bee accounted Christians ought to receive and obey the ordinary Ministers of Gods Word and Sacraments lawfully though mediately called as the Stewards and Ambassadours of Christ himself 3. It is not lawfull for any man how fit soever and how much soever inriched or beautified with excellent gifts to undertake the Administration either of the Word or Sacraments by the will of private persons or others who have not power and right to Call much lesse is it lawfull by their owne judgement or arbitrâ—ment to assume and arrogate the same to themselves But before it bee lawfull to undergoe that Sacred Ministery in Churches constituted a speciall Calling yea beside a lawfull Election which alone is not sufficient a mission or sending or as commonly it is tearmed Ordination is necessarily required and that both for the avoiding of confusion and to bar out or shut the door so far as in us lieth upon impostors as also by reason of divine institution delivered to us in the Holy Scripture Rom. 10. 15. Heb. 5. 4. Tit. 1. 5. 1 Tim. 1. 14. 4. The Church ought to bee governed by no other persons then Ministers and Stewards preferred and placed by Christ and after no other manner then according to the Laws made by him and therefore there is no power on earth which may chalenge to it self Authority or Dominion over the Church But whosoever they are that would have the things of Christ to bee administred not according to the Ordinance
touching the outward man or the outward disposing of divine things in this or that Dominion as was said not as they are Spirituall and Evangelicall Ordinances piercing into the conscience it self But the object of the power Ecclesiasticall is a thing meerly and purely spirituall and in so far as it is spirituall for even that jurisdiction Ecclesiasticall which is exercised in an outward court or judicatory and which inflicteth publike censures forbiddeth from the use of the holy Supper and excludeth from the society of the Church doth properly concerne the inward man or the repentance and salvation of the soul 56. Surely the Faithfull and Godly Ministers although they could doe it unchallenged and uncontrolled and were therein allowed by the Magistrate as in the Prelaticall times it was yet would not usurpe the power of life and death or judge and determine concerning mens honours goods inheritance division of Families or other civill businesses seeing they well know these things to bee heterogeneous to their office But as they ought not to entangle themselves with the judgeing of civill causes so if they should bee negligent and slothfull in their owne office they shall in that bee no lesse culpable 57. To the object also of Ecclesiasticall power belongeth the assembling of Synodes so far as they are spirituall Assemblies proper to the Church and assembled in the holy Ghost for being so considered the governours of Churches after the example of the Apostles and Presbyters Acts 1 5. in a manifest danger of the Church ought to use their owne right of meeting together and conveening that the Churches endangered may be relieved and supported 58. Thirdly Those powers are differenced in respect of their formes and that three wayes For first the Civill power although in respect of God it bee Ministeriall yet in respect of the Subjects it is Lordly and Magisteriall Ecclesiasticall power is indeed furnished with authority yet that authority is liker the Fatherly then the Kingly authority Yea also t is purely Ministeriall much lesse can it bee lawfull to Ministers of the Church to bear dominion over the flock 59. Emperours Kings and other Magistrates are indeed appointed fathers of the Countrey but they are withall Lords of their People and Subjects Not as if it were permitted to them to bear rule and command at their own will and as they list for they are the Ministers of God for the good and profit of the Subjects yet it belongs to their power truely and properly to exercise dominion to hold principality to proceed imperiously It is indeed the duety of Ministers and Rulers of the Church to oversee to feed as shepherds to correct and rectifie to bear the keyes to bee Stewards in the house of Christ but in no wise to bee Lords over the house or to governe as Lords or Lordlike to rule yea in brief this is the difference between the civill Magistrate and the Ecclesiasticall Ministery in respect of those which are committed to their trust that the lot of the former is to bee served or ministred unto the lot of the latter to minister or serve 60. Now we have one onely Lord which governes our souls neither is it competent to man but to God alone to have power and authoriâ—y over consciences But the Lord hath appointed his owne Stewards over his own Family that according to his commandment they may give to every one their allowance or portion and to dispense his mysteries faithfully and to them hee hath delivered the keyes or power of letting in into his house or excluding out of his house those whom hee himself will have let in or shut out Matth. 16. 19. and 18. 18. Luk. 12. 42. 1 Cor. 4. 1. Tit. 1. 7. 61. Next the civill power is indued with authority of compelling But it belongs not to the Ministery to compell the disobedient If any compulsion bee in or about Ecclesiasticall matters t is adventitious from without to wit from the help and assistance of the Magistrate not from the nature of Ecclesiasticall power from which it is very heterogeneous and therefore if any Suspended or Excommunicate person should be found who shall be so stiffe-necked and so impudent that at once he cast off all shame and make no account at all of those censures but scorne and contemne the same or peradventure shall insolently or proudly engyre and obtrude himself upon the Sacrament or being also filled with devillish malice do more and more contradict and blaspheme the Ecclesiasticall Ministery in such cases hath nothing more to do by way of jurisdiction But the Magistrate hath in readinesse a compelling jurisdiction and externall force whereby such stubborne rebellious and undaunted pride may bee externally repressed 62. Last of all the power of the Magistrate worketh onely politically or civilly according to the nature of the Scepter or Sword maketh and guardeth civill Lawes which sometimes also he changeth or repealeth and other things of that kinde hee effecteth with a secular power But the Ecclesiasticall power dealeth spiritually and onely in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ and by authority entrusted or received from him alone neither is it exercised without Prayer or calling on the Name of God nor lastly doth it use any other then spirituall weapons 63. The same sinne therefore in the same man may be punished one way by the civill another way by the Ecclesiasticall power by the civill power under the formality of a crime with corporall or pecuniary punishment By the Ecclesiasticall power under the notion and nature of scandall with a spirituall censure even as also the same civill question is one way deliberate upon and handled by the Magistrate in the Senate or place of Judgement another way by the Minister of the Church in the Presbytery or Synode by the Magistrate so farre as it pertaineth to the Government of the Common-wealth by the Minister so far as it respects the conscience for the Ecclesiasticall Ministery also is exercised about civill things spiritually in so far as it teacheth and admonisheth the Magistrate out of the Word of God what is best and most acceptable unto Gods or as it reproveth freely unjust judgements unjust warres and the like and out of the Scripture threatneth the wrath of God to be revealed against all unrighteousnesse of men So also is the Magistrate said to bee occupied civilly about spirituall things 64. Therefore all the actions of the civill Magistrate even when hee is imployed about Ecclesiasticall matters are of their own nature and essentially civill he punisheth externally Idolaters Blasphemers Sacrilegious persons Hereticks Prophaners of holy things and according to the nature and measure of the sinne hee condemneth to death or banishment forfeiture of goods or imprisonment he guardeth and underproppeth Ecclesiasticall Cannons with civill authority giveth a place of habitation to the Church in his territorie restraineth or expelleth the insolent and untamed disturbers of the Church 65. Hee taketh care also for maintaining the
Ministers and Schools and supplieth the temporall necessities of Gods Servants by his command assembleth Synodes when there is need of them and summoneth calleth out and drawes to triall the unwilling which without the Magistrates strength and authority cannot be done as hath been alreadie said he maketh Synodes also safe and secure and in a civill way presideth or moderateth in them if it so seem good to him either by himself or by a substitute Commissioner In all which the power of the Magistrate though occupied about spirituall things is not for all that spirituall but civill 66. Fourthly they differ in the end The immediate nearest end of civill power is that the good of the Commonwealth may bee provided for and procured whether it be in time of Peace according to the rules of Law and counsell of Judges or in time of Warre according to the rules of Militarie prudence and so the temporall safety of the Subjects may bee procured and that externall Peace and civill Liberty may bee preserved and being lost may be againe restored 67. But the chiefest and last end of civill Government is the glory of God the Creator namely that those which do evil being by a superiour Power restrained or punished those which doe good getting praise of the same the Subjects so much the more may shun impiety and injustice and that Vertue Justice and the Morall Law of God as touching those eternall dueties of both Tables unto which all the posterity of Adam are oblieged may remain in strength and flourish 68. But whereas the Christian Magistrate doth wholly devote himself to the promoting of the Gospel and Kingdom of Christ and doth direct and bend all the might and strength of his authority to that end This proceedeth not from the nature of his office or function which is common to him with an Infidell Magistrate but from the influence of his common Christian calling into his particular vocation 69. For every member of the Church and so also the faithfull and godly Magistrate ought to referre and order his particular vocation faculty ability power and honour to this end that the Kingdome of Christ may bee propagated and promoted and the true Religion bee cherished and defended So that the advancement of the Gospel and of all the Ordinances of the Gospel is indeed the end of the Godly Magistrate not of a Magistrate simply or if yee will rather t is not the end of the office it self but of him who doth execute the same piously 70. But the end of Ecclesiasticall power yea the end as well of the Ministery it self as of the Godly Minister is that the Kingdome of Christ may bee set forward that the pathes of the Lord bee made straight that his holy mysteries may bee kept pure that stumbling-blocks may bee removed out of the Church lest a little leaven leaven the whole lump or lest one sick or scabbed sheep infect the whole flock that the faithfull may so walk as it becometh the Gospel of Christ and that the wandering sheep of Christ may be converted and brought back to the sheepfold 71. And seeing this power is given of the Lord not to destruction but to edification Therefore this same scope is propounded in Excommunication which is the greatest and last of Ecclesiasticall censures namely that the soul of an offending brother may be gained to Christ and that being stricken with fear and the stubborne sinner filled with shame may by the grace of God be humbled and may as a brand plucked out of the fire bee snatched out of the snare of the devill and may repent unto salvation at least the rest may turne away from those which are branded with such a censure lest the soul infection do creep and spread further 72. Fifthly they are distinguished by the effect The effect of civill power is either proper or by way of redundance The proper effect is the safety temporall of the Common-wealth externall tranquillity the fruition of civill Liberty and of all things which are necessary to the civill Society of men The effect by way of redundance is the good of the Church to wit in so far as by execution of Justice and good Lawes some impediments that usually hinder and disturbe the course of the Gospel are avoided or taken away 73. For by how much the more faithfully the Magistrate executeth his office in punishing the wicked and cherishing and encouraging good men taking away those things which withstand the Gospel and punishing or driving away the troublers and subverters of the Church so much the more the orthodox Faith and Godlinesse are reverenced and had in estimation sinnes are hated and feared Finally all the subjects contained as much as concerneth the outward man within the lists of Gods Law whence also by consequence it happeneth by Gods blessing that the Church is defiled with fewer scandals and doth obtaine the more freedome and Peace 74. But the proper effect of the Ecclesiasticall power or keyes of the Kingdome of heaven is wholly spirituall for the act of binding and loosing of retaining and remitting sins doth reach to the soul and conscience it self which cannot be said of the act of the civill power And as unjust Excommunication is void So Ecclesiasticall censure being inflicted by the Ministers of Christ and his Stewards according to his will is ratified in heaven Matth. 18. 18. and therefore ought to be esteemed and acknowledged in like manner as inflicted by Christ himself 75. Sixthly they are also differenced in respect of the subject The politick power is committed sometimes to one sometimes to more sometime by right of election sometime by right of succession But the Ecclesiasticall power is competent to none under the New Testament by the right of succession but he who hath it must be called by God and the Church to it neither was it given by Christ to one either Pastor or Elder much lesse to a Prelate but to the Church that is to the consistory of Presbyters T is confessed indeed and who can bee ignorant of it that the power as they call it of order doth belong to particular Ministers and is by each of them apart lawfully exercised But that power which is commonly called of jurisdiction is committed not to one but to the unity that is to a consistory therefore Ecclesiasticall censure ought not to be inflicted but by many 2 Cor. 2. 6. 76. Seventhly they differ as touching the correlative God hath commanded that unto the civill power every soul or all Members of the Commonwealth of what condition and estate soever be subject for what have wee to doe with the Papists who will have them whom they call the Clergy or Ecclesiasticall persons to bee free from the yoke of the civill Magistrate The Ecclesiasticall power extends it self to none other subjects then unto those which are called Brethren or Members of the Church 77. Eighthly there remaineth another difference in respect of the distinct and
divided exercise of authority For either power ceasing from its duty or remitting punishment that doth not surely it ought not prejudice the exercise of the other power namely if the Magistrate cease to do his duty or do neglect to punish with secular punishment those malefactors which by profession are Church Members Neverthelesse it is in the power of the Governours of the Church by the bridle of Ecclesiasticall Discipline to curb such men yea also by vertue of their office they are bound to doe it and on the other part the Magistrate may and ought to punish in life and limme honours or goods notwithstanding of the offenders repentance or reconciliation with the Church 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 Ecclesiasticall Ministery doth chiefly respect the repentance to salvation and gaining of the sinners soul wherefore it also imbraceth all kindes 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 Lawes may be satisfied as also to terrifie others hence it is that absolution from Ecclesiastick censure freeth not at all the Delinquent from civill judgement and the externall sword 79. Seeing then there are so many and so great differences of both Offices and seeing also that the function of Ministers and Elders of the Church is not at all contained in the office of the Magistrate neither on the other part this is comprehended within that Magistrates shall no lesse sin in usurping Ecclesiasticall power ministring holy things ordaining Ministers or exercising Discipline Ecclesiasticall then Ministers should sin in rushing into the borders of the Magistrate and in thrusting themselves into his calling 80. Neither are those powers more mingled one with other or lesse distinguished where the Magistrate is a Christian then where he is an Infidell For as in a beleeving Father and in an Infidell Father the rights of a Father are the same so in a Christian Magistrate and in an Infidell Magistrate the rights of Magistrates are the same So that to the Magistrate converted to the Christian Faith there is no accession of new right or increase of civill power although being indued with true Faith and Piety he is made more fit and willing to the undergoing of his office and the doing of his duety 81. So then the Word of God and the Law of Christ which by so evident difference separateth and distinguisheth Ecclesiasticall Government from the Civill forbiddeth the Christian Magistrate to enter upon or usurpe the Ministery of the Word and Sacraments or the juridicall dispensing of the keyes of the Kingdome of Heaven to invade the Church-Government or to chalenge to himself the right of both swords spirituall and corporall But if any Magistrate which God forbid should dare to arrogate to himself so much and to enlarge his skirts so far the Church shall then straightway be constrained to complaine justly and cry out that though the Pope is changed yet Popedome remaineth still 82. It is unlawfull moreover to a Christian Magistrate to withstand the practise and execution of Ecclesiasticall Discipline whether it be that which belongs to a particular Church or the matter be carried to a Classe or Synode Now the Magistrate withstandeth the Ecclesiastick Discipline either by prohibitions and unjust Lawes or by his evill example stirring up and inciting others to the contempt thereof or to the trampling it under foot 83. Surely the Christian Magistrate if at any time hee give any grievous scandall to the Church seeing he also is a member of the Church ought no wayes disdaine to submit himself to the power of the keyes Neither is this to be marvelled at for even as the office of the Minister of the Church is no wayes subordinate and subjected to the civill power but the person of the Minister as he is a member of the Common wealth is subject thereto So the civill power it self or the Magistrate as a Magistrate is not subjected to Ecclesiastick power yet that man who is a Magistrate ought as hee is a member of the Church to be under the Churches censure of his manners after the example of the Emperour Theodosius unlesse he will despise and set at nought Ecclesiastick Discipline and indulge the swelling pride of the flesh 84. If any man should again object that the Magistrate is not indeed to resist Ecclesiasticall Government yet that the abuses thereof are to be corrected and taken away by him The answer is ready in the worst and troublesome times or in the decayed and troubled estate of things when the ordinance of God in the Church is violently turned into tyranny to the treading down of true Religion and to the oppressing of the Professors thereof and when nothing almost is found or whole divers things are yeelded to be lawfull to godly Magistrates which are not ordinarily lawfull for them that so to extraordinary diseases extraordinary remedies may be applyed So also the Magistrate abusing his power unto tyranny and making havock of all t is lawfull to resist him by some extraordinary wayes and meanes which are not ordinarily to bee allowed 85. Yet ordinarily and by common or known Law and right in settled Churches if any man have recourse to the Magistrate to complain that through abuse of Ecclesiastick Discipline injury is done to him or if any sentence of the Pastors and Elders of the Church whether concerning Faith or Discipline do displease or seem unjust unto the Magistrate himself it is not for that cause lawfull to draw those Ecclesiasticall causes to a civill tribunall or to bring in a kinde of politicall or civill Popedome 86. What then Shall it be lawfull ordinarily for Ministers and Elders to do what they list or shall the Governours in the Churches glorying in the Law by their transgression dishonour God God forbid For first if they shall trespasse in any thing against the Magistrate or municipall Lawes whether by intermedling in judging of civill causes or otherwise disturbing the peace and order of the Common-wealth they are lyable to civill tryall and judgements and it is in the power of the Magistrate to restrain and punish them 87. Again it hath been before shewed that to Ecclesiasticall evils Ecclesiasticall remedies are appointed and sitted for the Church is no lesse then the Common-wealth through the grace of God sufficient to it self in reference unto her own end and as in the Common-wealth so in the Church the errour of inferior judgements and Assemblies or their evil Government is to bee corrected by superior Judgements and Assemblies and so still by them of the same order lest one order be confounded with another or one Government bee intermingled with
confession of their sinne and amendment of their lives they shall shew tokens of repentance Matth. 18. 16 17 18. 1 Cor. 5. 13. Which places are also alleadged in the Confession of Bohemia Art 8. to prove that the Excommunication of the impenitent and stubborne whose wickednesse is known is commanded of the Lord But if stubborne Heretickes or unclean Persons be not removed or east out from the Church therein doe the Governours of the Church sinne and are found guilty Rev. 2. 14 20. 30. But that all abuse and corruption in Ecclesiasticall Government may be either prevented and avoided or taken away or lest the power of the Church either by the ignorance or unskilfulnesse of some Ministers here and there or also by too much heat and fervour of minde should run out beyond measure or bounds or contrariwise beeing shut up within straiter limits then is fitting should be made unprofitable feeble or of none effect Christ the most wise Law-giver of his Church hath foreseen and made provision to prevent all such evills which he did foresee were to arise and hath prepared and prescribed for them intrinsecall and Ecclesiasticall remedies and those also in their kinde if lawfully and rightly applyed both sufficient and effectuall Some whereof he hath most expresly propounded in his Word and some he hath left to bee drawne from thence by necessary consequence 31. Therefore by reason of the danger of that which is called calvis errans or a wrong key and that it may not bee permitted to particular Churches to erre or sin licentiously and lest any mans cause be overthrown and perish who in a particular Church had perhaps the same men both his adversaries and his judges Also that common businesses which doe belong to many Churches together with the more weighty and difficult controversies the deciding whereof in the consistories of particular Churches is not safe to bee adventured upon may bee handled and determined by a common counsell of Presbyteries Finally that the Governours of particular Churches may impart help mutually one to another against the cunning and subtill enemies of the truth and may joyne their strength together such as it is by an holy combination and that the Church may bee as a camp of an Army well ordered lest while every one striveth singly all of them bee subdued and overcome or lest by reason of the scarcity of prudent and Godly Counsellers in the multitude of whom is safety the Affaires of the Church be undone For all those considerations particular Churches must bee subordinate to Classicall Presbyteries and Synodes 32. Wherefore t is not lawfull to particular Churches or as commonly they are called Parochiall either to decline the authority of Classes or Synodes where they are lawfully setled or may be had much lesse to withdraw themselves from that authority if they have once acknowledged it or to refuse such lawfull Ordinances or Decrees of the Classes or Synodes as being agreeable to the Word of God are with authority imposed upon them acts 15. 2 6 22 23 24 28 29. Acts 16. 4. 33. Although Synodes assemble more seldome Classes and consistories of particular Churches more frequently Yet that Synodes both Provinciall and Nationall assemble at set and ordinary times as well as Classes and Parochiall consistories is very expedient and for the due preservation of Church policie and Discipline necessary Sometime indeed it is expedient they bee assembled occasionally that the urgent necessity of the Church may be the more speedily provided for namely when such a businesse happeneth which without great danger cannot bee put off till the appointed time of the Synode 34. But that besides occasionall Synodes ordinary Synodes be kept at set times is most profitable not onely that they may discusse and determine the more difficult Ecclesiasticall causes coming before them whether by the appeal of some person agrieved or by the hesitation or doubting of inferiour Assemblies for such businesses very often fall out but also that the state of the Churches whereof they have the care beeing more certainly and frequently searched and knowne if there be any thing wanting or amisse in their Doctrine Discipline or Manners or any thing worthy of punishment the slothfull labourers in the Vineyard of the Lord may bee made to shake off the spirit of slumber and slothfulnesse and be stirred up to the attending and fulfilling more diligently their calling and not suffered any longer to sleep and snort in their office the straglers and wanderers may bee reduced to the way the untoward and stiffe-necked which scarce or very hardly suffer the yoke of Discipline as also unquiet persons which devise new and hurtfull things may bee reduced to order Finally whatsoever doth hinder the more quick and efficacious course of the Gospel may be discovered and removed 35. It is too too manifest alas for it that there are which with unwearyed diligence do most carefully labour that they may oppresse the liberties and rights of Synodes and may take away from them all libertie of consulting of things and matters Ecclesiasticall at least of determining thereof for they well know how much the union and harmonie of Churches may make against their designes But so much the more it concerneth the orthodox Churches to know defend and preserve this excellent liberty granted to them by divine right and so to use it that imminent dangers approaching evils urging grievances scandalls growing up schismes rising heresies creeping in errours spreading and strifes waxing hote may be corrected and taken away to the glory of God the edification and peace of the Church 36. Beside Provinciall and National Synodes an Oecumenicall so called from {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} that is from the habitable World or more truely a Generall or if you will an Universall Synode if so be it be free and rightly constituted and no other Commissioners but orthodox Churches bee admitted for what communion is there of light with darknesse of righteousnesse with unrighteousnesse or of the Temple of God with idols Such a Synode is of speciall utility peradventure also such a Synode is to be hoped for surely t is to be wished that for defending the orthodox Faith both against Popery and other Heresies as also for propagating it to those who are without especially the Jews a more strait and more firme consociation may bee entered into For the unanimity of all the Churches as in evill t is of all things most hurtfull so on the contrary side in good it is most pleasant most profitable and most effectuall 37. Unto the Universall Synode also when it may bee had is to bee referred the judgement of controversies not of all but of those which are controversiae juris controversies of right neither yet of all those but of the chief and most weighty controversies of the orthodox faith or of the most hard and unusuall cases of Conscience Of the controversies of fact there is another and different consideration to be
had for besides that it would be a great inconvenience that plaintifes persons accused and witnesses bee drawne from the most remote Churches to the generall or universall Councell the visible communion it self of all the Churches on which the universal Counsel is built and whereupon as on a foundation it leaneth is not so much of company fellowship or conversation as of Religion and Doctrine All true Churches of the World doe indeed professe the same true Religion and faith but there is beside this a certaine commixture and conjunction of the Churches of the same Nation as to a more near fellowship and some acquaintance conversing and companying together which cannot be said of all the Churches throughout the habitable World 38. And for this cause as in doctrinall controversies which are handled by Theologues and Casuists and in those which belong to the common State of the orthodoxe Churches the Nationall Synode is subo dinate and subjected to the universall lawfully constituted Synode and from the Nationall to the Oecumenicall Synode when there is a just and weighty cause an appeal is open So there is no need that the appeals of them who complaine of injurie done to them through the exercise of Discipline in this or that Church should goe beyond the bounds of the Nationall Synode But t is most agreeable to reason that they should rest and acquiesce within those bounds and borders And that the ultimate judgement of such matters bee in the Nationall Synode unlesse the thing it selfe be so hard and of so great moment that the knot be justly thought worthy of a greater decider In which case the controversie which is carried to the universall Synode is rather of an abstract generall Theologicall proposition then of the particular or individuall case 39. Furthermore the Administration of the Ecclesiastick power in Consistories Classes and Synodes doth not at all tend to weaken in any wise hurt or minish the authority of the civil 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 hath 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 commonwealth 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 dreames and do most harmoniously and most-willingly confesse and acknowledge it to be Gods will that the World bee governed by Lawes and Policy and that hee 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 evill that by this bridle mens vices and faults may be restrained whether committed against the first or against the second Table 40. The Reformed Churches beleeve also and openly confesse the power and authority of Emperours over their Empires of Kings over their Kingdomes of Princes and Dukes over their Dominions and of other Magistrates or States over their Commonwealths and Cities to be the Ordinances of God himself appointed as well to the manifestation of his owne glory as to the singular profit of mankinde And withall that by reason of the will of God himself revealed in his Word wee must not onely suffer and be content that those doe rule which are set over their own territories whether by hereditary or by elective right but also to love them fear them and with all reverenee and honour imbrace them as the Ambassadours and Ministers of the most high and good God being in his stead and preferred for the good of their Subjects to powre out Prayers for them to pay tributes to them and in all businesse of the Commonwealth which are not against the Word of God to obey their lawes and edicts 41. The orthodoxe Churches beleeve also and doe willingly acknowledge that every lawfull Magistrate being by God himself constituted the keeper and defender of both Tables of the Law may and ought first and chiefly to take care of Gods glory and according to his place or in his manner and way to preserve Religion when pure and to restore it when decayed and corrupted And also to provide a learned and Godly Ministery Schools also and Synodes as likewise to restraine and punish as well Atheists Blasphemers Hereticks and Schismaticks as the violaters of Justice and Civill Peace 42. Wherefore the opinion of those Sectaries of this age is altogether to be disallowed who though otherwise insinuating themselves craftily into the Magistrates favour doe deny unto him the authority and right of restraining Hereticks and Schismaticks and do hold and maintaine that such persons how much soever hurtfull and pernicious enemies to true Religion and to the Church yet are to bee tolerated by the Magistrate if so bee he conceive them to bee such as no way violate the Laws of the Commonwealth and in no wise disturbe the civill Peace 43. Yet the civill Power and the Ecclesiasticall ought not by any meanes to be confounded or mixed together Both powers are indeed from God and ordained for his Glory and both to be guided by his Word and both are comprehended under that precept Honour thy father and thy mother So that men ought to obey both civill Magistrates and Ecclesiasticall governours in the Lord To both powers their proper dignity and authority is to be maintained and preserved in force To both also is some way entrusted the keeping of both Tables of the Law also both the one and the other doth exercise some jurisdiction and giveth sentence of judgement in an externall court or judicatory But these and other things of like sort in which they agree notwithstanding yet by marvellous vaste differences are they distinguished the one from the other and the rights of both remaine distinct and that eight manner of wayes which it shall not bee amisse here to adde that unto each of these Administrations its own set bounds may bee the better maintained 44. First of all therefore they are differenced the one from the other in respect of the very foundation and the institution For the politicall or civill power is grounded upon the Law of nature it selfe and for that cause it is common to Infidels with Christians The power Ecclesiasticall dependeth immediatly upon the positive Law of Christ alone that beer longeth to the Universall Dominion of God the Creator oveall Nations but this unto the speciall and Oeconomicall King dome of Christ the Mediator which hee exerciseth in the Church alone and which is not of this World 45. The second differences in the object or matter about which The power politick or civill is occupied about the outward man and civill or earthly things about Warre Peace conservation of Justice and good order in the Commonwealth
there is controversie in the Church Yet is hee questionlesse judge of his own civill act about spirituall things namely of defending them in his own Dominions and of approving or tolerating the same and if in this businesse hee judge and determine according to the wisdome of the flesh and not according to the wisedome which is from above he is to render an account thereof before the supream Tribunall 98. However the Ecclesiasticall Discipline according as it is ordained by Christ whether it bee established and ratified by civill authority or not ought to be retained and exercised in the Society of the faithfull as long as it is free and safe for them to come together in holy Assemblies for the want of civill authority is unto the Church like a ceasing gaine but not like damage or losse ensuing as it superaddeth nothing more so it takes nothing away 99. If it further happen which God forbid that the Magistrate do so farre abuse his authority that hee doth straitly forbid what Christ hath ordained yet the constant and faithfull servants of Christ will resolve and determine with themselves that any extremities are rather to be undergone then that they should obey such things and that wee ought to obey God rather then men yea they will not leave off to performe all the parts of their office being ready in the mean time to render a reason of their practise to every one that demandeth it but specially unto the Magistrate as was said before 100. These things are not to that end and purpose proposed that these functions should be opposed one against another in a hostile posture or in termes of enmity then which nothing is more hurtfull to the Church and Commonwealth nothing more execrable to them who are truely and sincerely zealous for the house of God for they have not so learned Christ but the aime is First and above all that unto the King of Kings and Lord of Lords Jesus Christ the onely Monarch of the Church his own prerogative Royall of which also himself in the World was accused and for his witnessing a good confession thereof before Pontius Pilate was unjustly condemned to death may be fully maintained and defended 101. Next this debate tendeth also to this end that the power as well of Ecclesiasticall censuâ—e as of the civill sword being in force the licentiousnesse of carnall men which desire that there be too slack Ecclesiasticall Discipline or none at all may be bridled and so men may sin lesse and may live more agreeably to the Gospel Another thing here intended is that errours on both sides being overthrowen as well the errour of those who under a fair pretence of maintaining and defending the rights of Magistracie do leave to the Church either no power or that which is too weak as the errour of others who under the vaile of a certaine suppositious and imaginary Christian liberty do turne off the yoke of the Magistrate both powers may enjoy their owne Priviledges adde hereto that both powers being circumscribed with their distinct borders and bounds and also the one underpropped and strengthned by the help of the other a holy concord betweene them may be nourished and they may mutually and friendly imbrace one another 102. Last of all seeing there are not wanting some unhappy men who cease not to pervert the right wayes of the Lord and with all diligence goe about to shake off the yoke of the Ecclesiasticall Discipline where now t is about to bee introduced yea also where it hath been long agoe established and as yet happily remaineth in force it was necessary to obviate their most wicked purposes Which things being so let all which hath been said passe with the good leave and liking of those orthodoxe Churches in which the Discipline of Excommunication is not as yet in use neither can any offence easily arise to them from hence yea if the best conjecture doe not deceive they cannot but rejoyce and congratulate at the defence and vindication of this Discipline 103. For those Churches doe not deny but acknowledge and teach that the Discipline of Excommunication is most agreeable to the Word of God as also that it ought to bee restored and exercised Which also heretofore the most learned Zachary Vrsine in the declaration of his judgement concerning Excommunication exhibited to Prince Frederick the third Count Elector Palatine the title whereof is Judicium de Disciplina Ecclesiastica c. Excommunicatione c. 104. For thus he In other Churches where either no Excommunication is in use or t is not lawfully administred and neverthelesse without all controversie it is confessed and openly taught that it ought justly to bee received and bee of force in the Church and a little after Lest also your Highnesse by this new opinion doe sever your self and your Churches from all other Churches as well those which have not Excommunication as those which have it Forasmuch as all of them doe unanimously confesse and alwayes confessed that there is reason why it ought to bee in use 105. To the same purpose it tendeth which the highly esteemed Philip Melancthon in his Common places chap. of civill Magistrates doth affirme Before sayeth he I warned that civill Places and Powers are to bee distinguished from the adhering confusions which arise from other causes partly from the malice of the devill partly from the malice of men partly from the common infirmity of men as it cometh to passe in other kindes of life and Government ordained of God No man doubteth that Ecclesiasticall Government is ordained of God and yet how many and great disorders grow in it from other causes Where he mentioneth a Church Government distinct from the civill and that jure divino as a thing uncontroverted 106. Neither were the wishes of the chief Divines of Zurick and Berne wanting for the recalling and restoring of the discipline of Excommunication So Bullinger upon 1 Cor. 5. And hitherto faith he of the of the Ecclesiasticall chastising of wickednesse but here I would have the brethren diligently warned that they watch and with all diligence take care that this wholesome medicine thrown out of the true Church by occasion of the Popes avarice may be reduced that is that scandalous sins bee punished for this is the very end of Excommunication that mens manners may be well ordered and the Saints flourish the prophane being restrained lest wicked men by their impudencie and impiety increase and undoe all It is our part ô brethren with greatest diligence to take care of these things for we see that Paul in this place doth stirre up those that were negligent in this businesse 107. Aretius agreeth hereunto Problem Theolog. loc. 33. Magistrates doe not admit the yoke they are afraid for their honours they love licentiousnesse c. The common people is too dissolute the greatest part is most corrupt c. In the mean while I willingly confesse that wee are not to despaire but
another Government What shall now the adversaries of Ecclesiasticall power object here which those who admit not the yoke of the Magistrate may not bee ready in like manner to transferre against the civill Judicatories and Government of the Common-wealth Seeing it happeneth sometimes that the Common-wealth is no lesse ill Governed then the Church 88. If any man shall prosecute the argument and say that yet no remedy is here shewed which may bee applyed to the injustice or errour of a Nationall Synode surely he stumbleth against the same stone seeing he weigheth not the matter with an equall balance for the same may in like sort fall back and be cast upon Parliaments or any supreme Senate of a Common-wealth for who seeth not the judgement of the supreme civill Senate to be nothing more infallible yea also in matters of Faith and Ecclesiasticall Discipline more apt and prone to errour as being lesse accustomed to sacred Studies then the judgement of the Nationall Synode What medicines then or what soveraigne plaisters shall be had which may be fit for the curing and healing of the errors and miscariages of the supreme Magistrates and Senate The very like and beside all this other and more effectuall medicines by which the errors of Nationall Synods may bee healed are possible to be had 89. There wanteth not a Divine Medicine and soveraigne Balme in Gilead for although the Popish opinion of the infallibility of Counsels be worthily rejected and exploded yet t is not in vaine that Christ hath promised he shall be present with an Assembly which indeed and in truth meeteth together in his Name with such an Assembly verily he useth to be present by a spirituall aide and assistance of his own Spirit to uphold the falling or to raise up the fallen Whence it is that divers times the errors of former Synods are discovered and amended by the latter sometimes also the second or after thoughts of one and the same Synode are the wiser and the better 90. Furthermore the line of Ecclesiasticall subordination is longer and further stretched then the line of civill subordination for a Nationall Synode must be subordinate and subject to an universall Synode in the manner aforesaid whereas yet there is no Oecumenicall Parliament or generall civill Court acknowledged unto which the supreme civill Senate in this or that Nation should bee subject Finally neither is the Church altogether destitute of nearer remedies whether an universall counsell may be had or not 91. For the Nationall Synode ought to declare and that with greatest reverence to the Magistrate the grounds of their sentence and the reasons of their proceedings when hee demandeth or enquireth into the same and desireth to bee satisfied but if the Magistrate neverthelesse do dissent or cannot by contrary reasons which may be brought if hee please move the Synode to alter their judgement yet may he require and procure that the matter be again debated and canvassed in another Nationall Synode and so the reasons of both sides being throughly weighed may be lawfully determined in an Ecclesiasticall way 92. But as there is much indeed to be given to the demand of the Magistrate so is there here a two-fold caution to be used for first notwithstanding of a future revision it is necessary that the former sentence of the Synode whether concerning the administration of Ecclesiastick Discipline or against any heresie be forthwith put in execution lest by lingering and making of delayes the evil of the Church take deeper root and the gangrene spread and creep further and lest violence be done to the consciences of Ministers if they be constrained to impart the signes and seales of the Covenant of Grace to dogs and swine that is to unclean persons wallowing in the mire of ungodlinesse and lest subtile men abuse such interims or intervals so as that Ecclesiasticall Discipline altogether decay and the very decrees of Synods be accounted as cobwebs which none feareth to break down 93. Next it may be granted that the matter may be put under a further examination yet upon condition that when it is come to the revision of the former sentence regard may be had of the weaker which are found willing to bee taught though they doubt but that unto the wicked and contentious tempters which do mainly strive to oppresse our liberty which we have in Christ and to bring us into bondage we do not for a moment give place by subjecting our selves for what else seek they or wait for then that under the pretence of a revising and of new debate they cast in lets and impediments ever and anone and that by cunning lyings in wait they may betray the liberty of the Church and in processe of time may by open violence more forceably breake in upon it or at least constrain the Ministers of the Church to weave Penelope's web which they can never bring to an end 94. Moreover the Christian Magistrate hath then only discharged his office in reference to Ecclesiasticall Discipline when not onely he withdraweth nothing from it and maketh no impedient to it but also affordeth speciall furtherance and help to it according to the Prophecie Isa. 49. 23. And Kings shall be thy nursing fathers and Queens thy nursing mothers 95. For Christian Magistrates and Princes embracing Christ and sincerely giving their names to him doe not only serve him as men but also use their office to his glory and the good of the Church they defend stand for and take care to propagate the true Faith and Godlinesse they afford places of habitation to the Church and furnish necessary helps and supports turne away injuries done to it restraine false Religion and cherish underprop and defend the Rights and Liberties of the Church so farre they are from diminishing changing or restraining those Rights for so the condition of the Church were in that respect worse and the Liberty thereof more cut short under the Christian Magistrate then under the infidell or heathen 96. Wherefore seeing these nursing fathers favourers and defenders can doe nothing against the Trueth but for the Trueth nor have any right against the Gospel but for the Gospel and their power in respect of the Church whereof they bear the care being not privative or destructive but cumulative and auxiliary thereby it is sufficiently cleare that they ought to cherish and by their authority ought to establish the Ecclesiasticall Discipline but yet not with implicite faith or blinde obedience For the Reformed Churches doe not deny to any of the faithfull much lesse to the Magistrate the judgement of Christian prudence and discretion concerning those things which are decreed or determined by the Church 97. Therefore as to each Member of the Church respectively so unto the Magistrate belongeth the judgement of such things both to apprehend and to judge of them for although the Magistrate is not ordained and preferred of God that he should be a judge of matters and causes spirituall of which