The Bloody Tenant of Persecution for the Cause of Conscience, Part 4 · Chapter 92
CHAP. XCII.
Peace.
THe 4. head is, The proper meanes of both these Powers to attaine their ends.
First, the proper meanes whereby the Civill Power may and should attaine its end, are onelyonly Politicall, and principally these Five.
First the erecting and establishing what forme of Civill Government may seeme in wisedome most meet, according to generall rules of the Word, and state of the people.
Secondly, the making, publishing, and establishing of wholesome Civill Lawes, not only such as concerne Civill Justice, but also the free passage of true Religion: for, outward Civill Peace ariseth and is maintained from them both, from the latter as well as from the former:
Civill peace cannot stand intire, where Religion is corrupted, 2 Chron. 15. 3. 5. 6. Iudg. 8. And yet such Lawes, though conversant about Religion, may still be counted Civill Lawes, as on the contrary, an Oath doth still remaine Religious, though conversant about Civill matters.
Thirdly, Election and appointment of Civill officers, to see execution of those Lawes.
Fourthly, Civill Punishments and Rewards, of Transgressors and Observers of these Lawes.
Fifthly, taking up Armes against the Enemies of Civill Peace.
Secondly, the meanes whereby the Church may and should attaine her ends, are only ecclesiasticall, which are chiefly five.
First, setting up that forme of Church Government only, of which Christ hath given them a pattern in his Word.
Secondly, acknowledging and admitting of no Lawgiver in the Church, but Christ, and the publishing of his Lawes.
Thirdly, Electing and ordaining of such officers onelyonly, as Christ hath appointed in his Word.
Fourthly, to receive into their fellowship them that are approved, and in…licting Spirituall censures against them that offend.
Fifthly, Prayer and patience in suffering any evill from them that be without, who disturbe their peace.
So that Magistrates, as Magistrates, have no power of setting up the Forme of Church Government, electing Church officers, punishing with Church censures, but to see that the Church doth her duty herein. And on the other side, the Churches as Churches, have no power (though as members of the Commonweale they may have power) of erecting or altering formes of Civill Government, electing of Civill officers, inflicting Civill punishments (no not on persons excommunicate) as by deposing Magistrates from their Civill Authoritie, or withdrawing the hearts of the people against them, to their Lawes, no more then to discharge wives, or children, or servants, from due obedience to their husbands, parents, or masters: or by taking up armes against their Magistrates, though he persecute them for Conscience: for though members of Churches who are publique officers also of the Civill State, may suppresse by force the violence of Usurpers, as Iehoiada did Athaliah, yet this they doe not as members of the Church, but as officers of the Civill State.
Truth.
Here are divers considerable passages which I shall briefly examine, so far as concernes o…r controversie.
First, whereas they say, that the Civill Power Civill power originally and fundamentally in the people.may erect and establish what forme of civill Government may seeme in wisedome most meet, I acknowledge the proposition to be most true, both in it self, and also considered with the end of it, that a civill Government is an Ordinance of God, to conserve the civill peace of people, so farre as concernes their Bodies and Goods, as formerly hath beene said.
But from this Grant I infer, (as before hath been touched) that the Soveraigne, originall, and foundation of civill power lies in the people, (whom they must needs meane by the civill power distinct from the Government set up.) And if so, that a People may erect and establish what forme of Government seemes to them most meete for their civill condition: It is evident that such Governments as are by them erected and established, have no more power, nor for no longer time, then the civill power or people consenting and agreeing shall betrust them with. This is cleere not only in Reason, but in the experience of all common-weales, where the people are not deprived of their naturall freedome by the power of Tyrants.
And if so, that the Magistrates receive their power of governing the Church,Mr. Cotton and the New-English Ministers give the Government of Christs Church or Spouse into the hands of the people or Commonweale. from the People; undeniably it followes, that a people, as a people, naturally considered (of what Nature or Nation soever in Europe, Asia, Africa or America) have fundamentally and originally, as men, a power to governe the Church, to see her doe her duty, to correct her, to redresse, reforme, establish, &c. And if this be not to pull God and Christ, and Spirit out of Heaven, and subject them unto naturall, sinfull, inconstant men, and so consequently to Sathan himselfe, by whom all peoples naturally are guided, let Heaven and Earth judge.
Peace.
It cannot by their owne Grant be denied, but that the wildest Indians in America ought (and in their kind and severall degrees doe) to agree upon some formes of Government, The very Indian Americans made Governours of the Church by the Authors of these Positions.some more civill, compact in Townes, &c. some lesse. As also that their civill and earthly Governments be as lawfull and true as any Governments in the World, and therefore consequently their Governors are Keepers of the Church or both Tables, (if any Church of Christ should arise or be amongst them:) and therefore lastly, (if Christ have betrusted and charged the civill Power with his Church) they must judge according to their Indian or American consciences, for other consciences it cannot be supposed they should have.