The True Form of Church Government, Chapter 15
CHAP. XV.
THe office of the Church-government, is meere Ecclesiasticall, and therefore the Governours of the Church may not meddle, but onelyonly in Church-matters; as for example, vocation, and abdication, deciding of controversies, in doctrine and manners, so far as appertaineth to conscience, and the Church censures, T.C. book 1. pag. 206. Discip. Eccle. 126. but they thinke that Church-governours, may also meddle in civill causes: Whitegift pag. 749. and their practice, that take upon them to be Councellers of state, to judge civilly, as punish with imprisonment, &c. But this is disproved, and so the former proved by these reasons.
1. That which our Saviour Christ refused, because it belonged not unto him, ruling and teaching the Church, that same is not lawfull for any Ecclesiast. person to doe: But Christ refused to divide the inheritance, Luk. 12.14. onelyonly because he came to build a spirituall kingdome▪ for otherwise he being God, had authoritie over all things: Therefore it is not lawfull for Ecclesiasticall persons to be Judges of civill causes.
2. That which was forbidden the Apostles, is unlawfull for every Ecclesiasticall Officer, for they were the chiefe under Christ, and had (after a sort) all offices in themselves, untill they could plant them in others: But such dominion was forbidden them, as the Kings of the nations, and other civill Magistrates have, Luk. 22.28 which is, to rule civilly: Therefore they may not exercise any civill authoritie.
3. If necessary duties are to be left, rather than our duties to the Church should not be thorowly discharged, then may not a Church Officer deale in civill jurisdiction, which is lesse necessary unto him: But the former is true, as appeareth by the words of Christ, to him that would have buried his father, Luke 9.59.60. Therefore they may not exercise any civill authoritie.
4 If he that hath an office must attend upon it, then may he not meddle in another, for he cannot attend them both at once: But the former is true, Rom. 12.7. Therefore may no Church-officer, meddle with temporall jurisdiction.
5 As the Souldier is in his warfare, so are Church officers, in the ruling of Gods Church: But the Souldier entangleth not himself in the things of this life, because they are of another nature to his warfare; which place Cyprian alledgeth against a Minister, that became an Executor to his friends Will: Therefore Church-officers may not meddle with Civill-officers, because they are of another nature, then his calling.
6 Those things that in themselves are of contrarie qualitie, cannot concur in one subject: But the governments of the Church and common-wealth be such, not onelyonly in this, that they are the next speciall members of one generall, but also, in that the one is spirituall, and the other temporall, the one respecteth the soul, and the other the body. Therefore they cannot be in one man together, and consequently, &c.
7 If the government of the Church, both in every particular mans office, and in the generall Eldership, be a matter of great weight, and the ability of man, very small in every good action, then may not a Church-officer meddle in another calling, whereby he is made lesse able to discharge his dutie: But the former is true, as all men may see, that look into the Word of God, what is required of such men, and know by the same Word, the manifold infirmities and untowardnesse of man: Therefore the latter must needs be true also.
8 If the Apostles (who were the most able of all others) found themselves unfit for two offices, which were both Ecclesiastical; then is the best Church-governour unfit for two, which be of more difference one from another, as be the government of the Church and commonwealth: But the former is true, as appeareth, Act. 6.2. Therefore the latter must needs be true also.
9 That which we justly reprove in the Papists, must needs (if we do like) be found more unlawfull and intolerable in our selves: But we justly reprove the Papists, for having in their hands both the swords, that is, the Ecclesiasticall and civill jurisdiction: Therefore it is more intolerable being found in any of us.
10 If it be lawfull for an Ecclesiasticall person, to exercise the office of the civill Magistrate, then (on the contrary) it is lawfull for the civill Magistrate, to exercise the offices of Ecclesiasticall persons, for there is as good reason for the one, as the other▪ But the latter is unlawfull; for who would like of any L. Major, to step into the Pulpit and preach, &c. Therefore the first is unlawfull also.
11 They may not intangle themselves with worldly offices,Canon. Apost. cap. 80. but attend upon their Ecclesiasticall affairs.
12 None of the Clarks or Clergie,Concil. Calced· cap. 3. & 7. shall receive any charge of those which are under age▪ the cause of that decree, is there said to be, for that there were certain Ministers, that were Stewards to Noblemen; and in the 7. Canon, that none of them should receive any secular honours.
13 The Bb. shall onelyonly attend unto prayer,4. Concil. Carth. ca. 20. reading and preaching.
14 He bringeth divers reasons to prove,Calvin. Instit. li. 4. ca. 11. sect 9. Beza. confes…. ca. 5. sect. 32. & 42. that Bb. may neither usurpe, nor take (being offered unto them) any civill office.
15 He sheweth how the offices are to be distinguished, and in what sort it is said, that the Fathers dealt in the things of this life, and how the corporall punishments by the Apostles were particular and extraordinarie.
16 When both the offices meet in one man,P. Martyr upon Rom. 1…. the one hindreth the other, so that he that exerciseth the one, cannot minister the other.
17 There is no man so wise and holy, which is able to exercise both the Civill, and Ecclesiasticall power,Bucer upon Matth. 5. and therefore he that will exercise the one, must leave the other.
Therefore, if Christ refused to judge in temporall causes, because it belonged not to his office;The Conclusion. if civill dominion was forbidden the Apostles; if necessarie duties are rather to be left undone, then our diligence in the matters of the Church should be lessened; if he that hath an office, must attend upon it; if we may not be intangled with any hindrance; if the Civill and Ecclesiasticall functions, be of contrary natures; if every office in the Church, be more then any one can perfectly discharge; if the Apostles found themselves unfit for two offices of like nature; if we justly reprove the Papists for their two swords; if a Magistrate may not preach; if they may not meddle with worldly offices, nor be tutors to Orphans, but attend onelyonly unto the ministery of the word, &c. if they may neither usurpe, nor take (being offered) any civill office; if they be to be distinguished to severall persons, or else one hindreth the other; lastly, if none be able to execute both, then must it needs follow, that Ecclesiasticall officers may not bear civill offices: and consequently the office of the Church-government, is meer Ecclesiasticall.
Their objections hereunto be these.
1 Objection. It countenanceth and maintaineth Religion, to have civill authoritie.Objections for Ciuill offices in Ecclesiasticall persons.
Answ. It is (in deed) the Papists reason for their two swords, which M. Calvin confuteth: Instit. book 4. cap. 11. sect. 9.
2 Obj…ction. It is good to punish vice by corporall punishment, that Gods Word may be the better obeyed.
Ans. It is good to preach Gods Word to men that they may obey their Prince for conscience sake; may the Magistrate therfore preach? we may not do every thing that is good, but onelyonly that which is agreeable to our callings.
3 Object. Eli and Samuel, were both Priests and Judges.
Answ. They were extraordinary (for God separated those two offices in Moses, and gave the one unto Aaron) and so was Eliahs killing of the false Prophets▪ and Christs whipping of the buyers and sellers out of the temple.
4 Object. Peter killed Ananias, therefore Bb. may have prisone.
Ans. It was by his word onelyonly, and not by any civill punishment, if they can do the like▪ Peters example will serve their tu…n…, if not, then must it be (with the former) extraordinarie.