The Remains of John Corbet, Section 25
§ 25. Of the Magiſtrates Power in Eccleſiaſtical Affairs.
MAgiſtratical and Eccleſiaſtical power are in their nature wholly divers; and they are not ſubordinate but collateral powers; yet Miniſters are ſubject to Magiſtrates, and Magiſtrates to Miniſters in divers reſpects, according to the nature of the power that is ſeated in either of them.
The Magiſtratical power is Imperial, the Eccleſiaſtical is miniſterial; and ſo the paſtor is under the magiſtrate as his Ruler by the ſword, not only in civil, but in ſacred things; and the magiſtrate is under the paſtor as his Ruler by the word, or his authoritative teacher.
The paſtors power over the magiſtrate is no dimunution to his right, for it takes away none of his authoritty, nor doth it hinder the exerciſe and efficacy of it, but it is his benefit, becauſe it is an authoritative adminiſtring to him the mercies of the Goſpel in Chriſts Name; and if he be not under that authoritative adminiſtration, he is not under the bleſſing of the Goſpel. Howbeit the paſtoral diſcipline may not be ſo exerciſed towards the ſupream magiſtrate, as by diſhonouring him to make him leſs capable of improving his office to the common good, which the excommunicating of him would do; but if magiſtrates, whether of higher or lower rank, be excommunicated, nevertheleſs they muſt be obeyed.
The magiſtrates power over the paſtor is no diminution to his ſpiritual authority, for it is not given to hinder but to further the efficacy and exerciſe thereof: So that both powers are mutually preſervative and accumulative, not deſtructive or diminutive.
The Church is Chriſts family, and the magiſtrate is not the Lord, but a member of it, and cannot govern it at his pleaſure, but only as the Lord himſelf hath allowed, and the ſtate thereof requires. In ſhort, the magiſtrate as well as the miniſter hath received his authority for ediſication, not for deſtruction.
The magiſtrate cannot make any new eſſential or integral part of religion either Doctrine of Faith or Divine Worſhip: but he is as much bound up to the religion that is of Gods making, as the meaneſt of his Subjects; for he and they are Gods Subjects both alike: But by his civil ſanctions▪ he may ſtrengthen the true religion, and enforce the obſervance of the Divine Laws, ſo far as it is meet they ſhould be inforced by Humane Laws; and this is the moſt noble part of his work in matters of Religion.
The Magiſtrate may and muſt take care that ſacred things be duly adminiſtred by ſacred or ſpiritual officers, and he may and muſt puniſh them for mal-adminiſtration. He may and muſt reſtrain perſons of impious principles from venting their wicked errors, and from any open impious practice, by a power formally civil, tho objectively eccleſiaſtical. He may convocate ſynods or councils of eccleſiaſtical perſons to adviſe and conclude according to the Word of God, how the Church being corrupt, is to be reformed, and how to be guided and governed when reformed: And he ought to uſe his own judgment of diſcretion concerning the decrees and judgments of eccleſiaſtical perſons in reference to his own act of political ratifying the ſame.
The Magiſtrate cannot ma…e any new kind of ſacred or ſpiritual office, bec…uſe he cannot inſtitute any new ſacred work, and the work that Chriſt hath inſtituted …ath an officer of his own inſtitution, already appointed for it; alſo becauſe a ſpiritual office is to be adminiſtred not in the Magiſtrates, but in Chriſts Name; yet he may make new offices for civil ſervice about ſacred things.
He cannot appoint any thing in religion, that is forbidden by the divine laws, nor forbid any thing appointed by the divine laws. All his authority being from God, cannot be againſt him: And therefore ſuch injunctions and prohibitions can lay no obligations of obedience upon the ſubject. Hereupon he cannot forbid the preaching of the Goſpel, or the adminiſtring of Sacraments; for then it were at his pleaſure, whether Chriſt ſhould have a Church or Kingdom upon earth. He cannot take one part of the Paſtors office from him, while he continues him the exerciſe of the other, for that were to maim and marr the office. He cannot deprive a Paſtor of his Paſtoral office, or diſcharge him from fulfilling his Miniſtry, becauſe it is held from Chriſt, and not from him. He may not compel aminiſter to give the Sacraments to whom he pleaſes, nor may he compel any to profeſs either in word or deed wha they believe not, or to take that which God hath made the ſpecia priviledg of Believers.
The accidental parts, modes, and circumſtances of Religion which are neceſſary in general, and left undetermined of God in particular, the Magiſtrate hath power to determine according to the general rules of Gods Word.
Foraſmuch as the Divine Law doth conſtitute more particulars, and leaves leſs to humane liberty, and God is more jealous and conſcience more ſcrupulous in ſacred than in common things, it behoves the Magiſtrate to be wary, humble, and ſober in his determinations about theſe matters. He may regulate the preaching of the Goſpel, provided that regulation be for the furtherance, not the hinderance thereof: And that can be no part of due ordering, that cauſeth the deſtruction, or dangerous detriment of the thing ordered.
The Magiſtrate may not appoint that which is not ſimply forbidden of God, if it be ſcandalous, or miſchievous in the conſequents; nor may he forbid that which God hath not appointed, but left indifferent, if the omiſſion of it be ſcandalous, or miſchievous in the conſequents; becauſe in ſuch caſes, God hath forbidden the former and required the latter by his general command; and becauſe the Magiſtrate hath his authority (as was ſaid) for edification, not for deſtruction.