Vindication of the Government of New England Churches 2, Chapter 17
CHAP. XVII. Of the civil magiſtrates power in matters eccleſiaſtical.
IT is lawful, profitable and neceſſary for chriſtians to gather themſelves together into church eſtate, and therein to exerciſe all the ordinances of Chriſt, according unto the word, although the conſent of the magiſtrate could not be had thereunto; becauſe the apoſtles and chriſtians in their time did frequently thus practiſe, when the magiſtrates all of them being Jewiſh or Pagan, and moſt perſecuting enemies, would give no countenance or conſent to ſuch matters, Acts 2.41, 47. and 4.1, 2, 3.
2. Church government ſtands in no oppoſition to civil government of common-wealths, nor any way intrencheth upon the authority of civil magiſtrates in their juriſdiction; nor any whit weakneth their hands in governing, but rather ſtrengtheneth them, furthereth the people in yielding more hearty and conſcionable obedience unto them whatſoever ſome ill affected perſons to the ways of Chriſt have ſuggeſted, to alienate the affection of kings and princes from the ordinances of Chriſt; as if the kingdom of Chriſt in his church could not riſe and ſtand without the falling and weakening of their government, which is alſo of Chriſt; whereas the contrary is moſt true, that they may both ſtand together and flouriſh, the one being helpful unto the other, in their diſtinct and due adminiſtrations. John 18.36. Acts 25.8. Iſa. 49.23.
3. The power and authority of magiſtrates is not for the reſtraining of churches, or any other good works, but for helping in and furthering thereof; and therefore the conſent and countenance of magiſtrates, when it may be had, is not to be ſlighted or lightly eſteemed; but on the contary, it is part of that honor due to chriſtian magiſtrates to deſire and crave there conſent and approbation therein, which being obtained, the churches may then proceed in their way with more encouragement and comfort. Rom. 13, 4. 1 Tim. 2.2.
4. It is not in the power of magiſtrates to compel their ſubjects to become church members, and to partake at the Lord's table; for the prieſts are reproved that brought unworthy ones into the ſanctuary: Then as it was unlawful for the prieſt, ſo it is as unl…wful to be done by civil magiſtrates, thoſe whom the church caſt out it they were in, the magiſtrate ought not to thruſt them into the church, nor to hold them therein, Ezek. 44.7.9. 1 Cor. 5.11.
5. As it is unlawful for church officers to meddle with the ſword of the magiſtrate, ſo it is unlawful for the magiſtrate to meddle with the work proper to church officers. The acts of Moſes and David, who were not only princes, but prophets, were extraordinary, therefore not imitable. Againſt ſuch uſurpation, the Lord witneſſed by ſmiting Uzziah with leproſy, for preſuming to offer incenſe. Mat. 2.25, 26. 2 Chron. 26.16, 17.
6. It is the duty of the magiſtrate to take care of matters of religion, and to improve his civil authority for the obſerving of the duties commanded in the firſt, as well as for obſerving of the duties commanded in the ſecond table. They are called Gods. The end of the magiſtrates office, is not only the quiet and peaceable life of the ſubject in matters of righteouſneſs and honeſty, but alſo in matters of godlineſs. Moſes, Joſhua, David, Solomon, Aſ…, Jehoſaphat, Hezekiah, Joſiah, are much commended by the Holy Ghoſt for the putting forth their authority in matters of religion: On the contrary, ſuch kings as have been failing this way, are frequently taxed and reproved by the Lord. And not only the kings of Judah, but alſo Job, Nehemiah the king of Nineveh, Darius, Artaxerres, Nebuchadnezzar, whom none looked at as types of Chriſt, (though were it ſo, there were no place for …y j… objection) are commended in the book of God, for exerciſing their authority this way, Pſalm. 82.8. 1 Tim. 2.1, 2. 1 Kings 15.14. and 22.43. 2 Kings 12.3. and 14, 4. and. 15.35. 1 Kings 20.42. Job 29.25. and 31.26, 28. Neb. 13. Jonah 3.7. Ezra. 7. Dan. 3.29.
7. The objects of the power of the magiſtrate are not things meerly inward, and ſo not ſubject to his cognizance and view, as unbelief, hardneſs of heart, erroneous opinions not vented, but only ſuch things as are acted by the outward man; neither is their power to be exerciſed in commanding ſuch acts of the outward man, and puniſhing the neglect thereof; as are but meer inventions & devices of men, but about ſuch acts as are commanded and forbidden in the word; yea, ſuch as the word doth clearly determine, though not always clearly to the judgment of the magiſtrate or others, yet clearly in itſelf. In theſe he of right ought to put forth his authority, though oft-times actually he doth it not. 1 Kings 20.28, 42.
8. Idolatry, blaſp…emy, hereſy, venting corrupt and pernicious opinions, t…t deſtroy the foundation, open contempt of the word preached, prophanation of the Lord's day, diſturbing the peaceable adminiſtration and exerciſe of the worſhip and holy things of God, and the like, are to be reſtrained and puniſhed by civil authority. Deut. 13. 1 King. 20.28, 42. Dan. 3.29. Zech. 13.3. Neh. 13.31. 1 Tim. 2.2. Rom. 13.4.
9. If any church, one or more ſhall grow ſchiſmatical, re…ng it ſelf from the communion of other churches, or ſhall walk incorrigibly or obſtinately in any corrupt way of their own, contrary to the rule of the word; in ſuch caſe the magiſtrate is to put forth hi… co-erſive power, as the matter ſhall require. The tribes on this ſide Jordan intended to make war againſt the other tribes, for building the alter of witneſ…, whom they ſuſpected to have turned away the…e…n from following of the LORD. Joſh. 22.