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A33931 The decision & clearing of the great point now in controversie about the interest of Christ and the civill magistrate in the rule of government in this world stated according to the word of truth and presented to the Parliament of this Common-wealth and to all other powers in the world where it may come, or to any that desire satisfaction in this matter / written by T. Collier. Collier, Thomas, fl. 1691. 1659 (1659) Wing C5276; ESTC R29644 12,984 20

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Protestant-Magistrate walking by this Rule i. e. Authority in Divine things c. doth justifie all others in their practices there being as much rule for the one as the other and so it is the ready way for Magistrates to be contracting the sin and guilt of all the civil Magistrates and of all the blood that hath been shed on this account 7. If Authority in divine things were committed to the Magistrates this would without all controversie put an end to the sufferings of the Saints for if this power were given to men then it would be the Saints duty to submit unto them then whence and to what purpose are all those sayings of Christ in Scripture to strengthen his people against and to comfort them in persecution Matt. 5. Luk. 6. Ioh. 16. If it were true indeed that Magistrates had received this power from above then they do well in exercising of it sutable to their understanding and in punishing those that will not submit and the Lords people do ill and are justly persecuted for not performing their duty how then shall they be blessed in their suffering So then that Principle and Practice that justifieth Magistrates in a way of persecution and condemneth Saints under the notion of Hereticks for their suffering for Christ cannot be of God c. So that from these grounds I undoubtedly conclude That Jesus Christ hath reserved to himself the power of governing and ruling in and over his people in all Divine and Religious concernments and hath not resigned it to any Magisterial power on earth 3. And finally we find it clearly stated in the Scripture that Christ hath committed his Authority in matters relating to VVorship to his Church and not to the Magistrate Hence Christ having stated his own power Matt. 28. 18. He promiseth his presence with his Church to the end of the world ver 20. therefore in case of offence he directs his to tell it to the Church Matt. 18. 17. there being no higher appeal on Earth for Believers in divine things and as the Church so is its Government distinct from the world and the worldly Government so that that Magistrate that assumes this Authority to himself robs the Church of that authority her Lord hath given her and the authority Christ hath left in his church is spiritually to be exercised all church-censures reacheth in the utmost extent to reject and cast out to the world and to Satan from whence they came not to inflict bodily punishments but to endeavour in all the saving of the soul that the flesh might be destroyed and the spirit might be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus And in as much as the Lord knows that his church might err in matter of judgement and censure about divine things therefore he hath communicated a power of judgement to the church to be exercised according to their light faith in divine Record yet hath reserved to himself the power of judging and that even of all the churches judgements and actions to be made manifest in the day of Christ Obj. God having once committed the power of judging and executing of his Divine will in point of worship to the Magistracy of the Jews in the Old-Testament-Ministration why may we not conclude it remains a duty under the gospel in as much as we find no repeal of that Authority Ans God owning them as they were the natural seed of Abraham to be a National church he made that Church State one which is not nor cannot be so in the Gospel because he now owns the spiritual seed in the Gospel Church and Covenant And further as he made that Church and State one so he gave the Judicial and Political Law clear to them and clearly stated the Magistrates duty on that behalf but no such thing under the Gospel 2. The authority of the Magistrate under that Ministration was typical and presented Christ the great Lord and Law-giver in the Gospel-ministration for the annointed Office of Priest and King lead to Christ the annointed one so that when Christ was come and had suffered and conquered in and by his suffering he put an end to that Ministration and repealed Priesthood-government and that whole ministration so that whoever pleads Magistrates authority in Eccclesiastical causes from the Jewish constitution doth consequently deny Christ to be come in the flesh and takes his Government from him so that we rightly understanding the Government of the Old Testament-Magistrates should rightly be informed to whom the Right of Rule in Divine things and Ecclesiastical concernments do now belong namely to Christ into whom the magisterial power of the Old Testament is naturally and properly dissolv'd as the type into the substance q. Is it not the Magistrates duty to see to and take care of the performance of the first table and to see that the will of Christ contained therein be done by the people A. Doubtless it is not any part of his charge or work and that from the Reasons already minded and further I might truly say That as man is a reasonable creature so Gods way of working to Divine undertakings is by the illuminating of his understanding through his Word and Spirit that so he might be able to give a reason of his hope and serve in Divine things in the liberty of the Gospel not having his understanding captivated to the will of another q. Whence should arise this great mistake as doubtless if it be a mistake it is a great and dangerous one A. Ignorance and Pride ushered in this mistake and that is it which still endeavours to keep it on foot 1. Ignorance this ordinarily is the mother of all sin and lyeth at the bottom of all mischiefs Christ was put to death through Ignorance 1 Cor. 2. 8. and it is through Ignorance men put him to death in his Authority and put to death those that own him in his Authority John 16. 2 3. It is saith Christ because they have not known the Father nor me 2. Pride flowing from Ignorance and a desire of self-exaltation Pride of Magistrates and pride of Ministers accompanied sometimes with mistaken zeal and sometimes with enmity and desire of revenge on those who submit not to their wills witness the truth of this That Person or people whoever that concludes it the Magistrates duty to compel to Religion think withall its meet they should be uppermost to be prescribing Laws for others This proclaims it to be a proud selfish principle men while under will not like it but when over will exercise it this is pride and a desire of domination for all sorts of people in the world dislikes with and complaines of a coercive power in matters Spiritual and Divine unless it be when themselves have the ruling power and are gotten uppermost Protestants complain or Papists and Papists of Protestants where they are under and Non-Conformists of both but him that is uppermost will rule q. But what is the evil and