The Bloody Tenant of Persecution for the Cause of Conscience, Part 4 · Chapter 86
CHAP. LXXXVI.
The third head concerns the End of both these Powers.
FIrst the common and last end of both is Gods glory, and Mans eternall felicitie.
Secondly, the proper ends:
First of Commonwealth, is the procuring, preserving, increasing of externall and temporall peace and felicitie of the State in all Godlines and Honestie, 1 Tim. 2. 1, 2.
Secondly, of the Church, a begetting, preserving, increasing of internall and spirituall peace and felicity of the Church, in all godlinesse and honesty, Esay 2. 3, 4. and 9. 7. So that Magistrates have power given them from Christ in matters of Religion, because they are bound to see that ou…ward peace be preserved, not in all ungodlinesse and dishonesty (For such peace is Satanicall) but in all godlinesse and honesty, for such peace God aymes at. And hence the Magistrate is custos of both the Tables of godlinesse, in the first of Honesty, in the second for Peace sake. Hee must see that honesty be preserved within his jurisdiction, or else the subject will not be bonus Cives. Ch…mer. de Ec. l…s. p. 376. Park. part. polit. lib. 1. cap. 1Hee must see that godlinesse as well as honesty be preserved, else the subject will not be bonus vir, who is the best bonus cives. Hee must see that godlinesse and honesty be preserved, or else himselfe will not bee bonus Magistratus.
Truth.
In this passage here are divers particulars affirmed marvellous destructive both to godlinesse and honesty, though under a faire ma…ke and colour of both.
First, it will appeare that in spirituall things they make the Garden and the Wildernesse (as often I have intimated) I say the Garden and the Wildernesse, the Church and the World are all one:The G…rden of the Church and the Wildernesse of the World ma…e all one. for thus,
If the Powers of the World or Civill State, are bound to propose externall Peace in all godlinesse for their end, and the end of the Church be to preserve internall Peace in all godlinesse, I demand if their end (godlinesse… bee the same, is not their power and state the same also, unlesse they make the Church subordinate to the Commonwealths and, or the Commonweale subordinate to the Churches end, which (being the governour and setter up of it, and so consequently the Iudges of it) it cannot be?
Now i… godlinesse bee the worshipping and walking with God in Christ, The Commonweale more charged by these Authors with the W…sh…p and Ordinances, then the Church.is not the Magistrate and Commonweale charged more by this tenent with the worship and Ordinances of God, then the Church, for the Magistrate they charge with the externall peace in godlinesse, and the Church but with the internall.
I aske further, what is this internall peace in all godlinesse? whether intend they internall within the Soule, which onelyonly the eye of God can see, opposed to externall or visible, which man also can discerne? or else whether they meane internall, that is spirituall soule matters, ma…ters of Gods Worship, and then I say that peace (to wit, of godlinesse or Gods worship) they had before granted to the civill State?
Peace.
The Truth is, (as I now perceive) the best and most godly of that judgement declare themselves never to have seene a true difference betweene the Church and the World, The authors of these Position… never yet s…w a true d…fference betweene …he Church of Ch…t …nd the world, in po…t of worsh…p.and the Spirituall and Civill State; and how…oever these worthy Authours seeme to make a kinde of separation from the World, and professe that the Church must consist of spirituall and living Stones, Saints, Regenerate persons, and so make some peculiar inclosed Ordinances, as the Supper of the Lord, (which none, say they, but godly persons must taste of) yet by compelling all within their Iurisdiction to an outward conformity of the Church worship, of the Word and Prayer, and maintenance of the Ministry thereof, they evidently declare that they still lodge and dwell in the confused mixtures of the uncleane and cleane, of the flock of Christ, and Herds of the World together, I meane in spirituall and religious worship.
Truth.
For a more ful and clear discussion of this Scripture, 1 Tim. 2. 1. 2. (on which is weakly built such a mighty building) I shall propose and resolve these foure Quaeries.