A Holy Commonwealth, Table of contents
THE CONTENTS.
CHAP. I.
THere is a God that is mans Creatour, proved. p. 4.
CHAP. II.
God is the Soveraign Ruler of Manking: proved and that this is in Order to another life. p. 6.
CHAP. III.
Of the Constitution of this Kingdom of God. p. 18.
Vindicated against Tho. White a Papist. p. 21.
And against Mr. James Harrington. p. 45.
CHAP. IV.
Of the Administration of this Universall Kingdom. p. 49.
Government necessary by Divine Ordination. p. 52.
CHAP. V.
Of a particular Commonwealth in generall subordinate to the Universall p. 58.
The People as such have no Soveraign Power. p. 63.
CHAP. VI.
Of the divers sorts of Commonwealths. p. 76.
That Democracy, or popular Government is usually the worst. p. 89. proved by twenty Reasons.
Of the Objective or materiall differences of Governments. p. 106. Of the just and unjust Limitation of the Soveraign.
CHAP. VII.
Of the Fundation, efficient and conveying Causes, and means of power. p. 121. God as the Universall Soveraign, is the Originall of all Governing power.
The distinct acts by which he conveyeth it to Man. p. 124.
What's necessary Dispositively to the being of Authority. p. 128.
What providence doth to set up or take down. p. 134.
The Peoples part. p. 165.
Wicked people should not choose Governours in a Christian Commonwealth: proved fully. p. 168, 172, &c,
Of forced consent. p. 181. (many other Cases through the Chapter are resolved.)
Of Fundamental Laws, and of the constituting Act. p. 182, 183.
The People give not the Power. p. 190.
How the Constitution may or may not be changed. p. 195.
CHAP. VIII.
Of the best form of Government and happyest Commonwealth. p. 8.
A Theocracy or Divine Government described, so far as we may attain it. p. 209.
How near the Church and Commonwealth should be commensurate p. 216.
The Reign of Christ and the Saints on earth, which may be boldly promoted by us. p. 221.
No form of Government in the hands of wicked unfit men, will make a Commonwealth so happy, as the worst form with fit …en.
…r. Harringtons models insufficient to the ends pretended. p. 224.
CHAP. IX.
How a Commonwealth may be reduced to this Theocraticall temper, if it have advantages, and the Rulers and People are willing. p. 241.
Eight Rules of practice, principally to be considered by all that desire a HOLY and HAPPY Commonwealth.
CHAP. X.
Of the Soveraigns power over the Pastors of the Church, and of the differences of their Offices. p. 285.
Where many Cases are resolved, as who shall judge of Controversies and Heresie? of excommunicating the chief Magistrate, of Governing Ministers, and of the Magistrates duty in matters of Religion.
CHAP. XI.
Of the Soveraigns prerogatives, or Jura Regalia, or power of Governing by Laws and Judgement. p. 313.
A Law defined, and the Definition explained, and vindicated from some exceptions. p. 317.
Here the Reader must observe, that having defined a Law in genere, in haste I forgot to adde the Definition of a Policall Law in specie. But there needs but two things to be added to the General Definition. 1. That it be made by a Politicall Soveraign. 2. That it be for a Politicall end, even the good of the Commonwealth.
Of abrogating, and suspending Laws, appointing Magistrates, and other Jura Majestatis. p. 336.
CHAP. XII.
Of due Obedience to Rulers, and of Resistance: Rom. 13 expounded. p. 346.
How far we must obey, not resist. p. 354, &c. Where many cases are resolved.
In what Cases we may disobey or resist the persons that have power. p. 375. Where many weighty Cases are resolved. As about Heathen Princes. p. 439.
How far we may fight for Religion. p. 441. Saravias Objections answered. p. 445.
The Causes and Evil of Obedience. p. 452.
CHAP. XIII.
An Account of the Reasons that perswaded me (and many others) to take up Armes in obedience to the Parliament in the Late Warres: Tendered for their satisfaction that are unjustly offended through their mistaking of the Case: Or in hope of greater benefit to my self, if they can prove that I have erred. p. 456.
Meditations upon the unexpected News of the Dissolving of the last free Parliament, and some other passages, Aprill 25. p. 491.
A Holy Common-wealth.
MY work is not to write a Treatise of Politicks, taking in all thats meet to …e understood concerning the Institution, Constitution and Administration of a Common-weal: nor yet to follow the Methode that would be requisite for such an Undertaker: but only to lay down a few Political Aphorismes, containing those things that are denyed or passed over by some of the proud Pretenders to Politicks, that opposing the Politician to the Divine, acquaint us that their Politicks are not Divine, and consequently none, or worse then none: and also to cleare up some of those things that seeme to me to be too darkly delivered in the Writings and speeches of many good and learned men; and which the Consciences of many are much perplexed about, in these times; to the great loss and hazard of Church and Common-wealth: And I must begin at the Bottom, and touch those Praecognita which the Politician doth presuppose, because I have to do with some, that will deny as much, as shame will suffer them to deny.