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النشر الإلكتروني

CHA P. XXIII.

Of the Civil Magistrate.

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OD, the fupreme Lord and King of all the world, hath ordained civil magiftrates to be under him over the people, for his own glory and the public good, and to this end, hath armed them with the power of the fword, for the defence and encouragement of them that are good, and for the punishment of evil-doers".

II. It is lawful for Chriftians to accept and execute the office of a magiftrate, when called thereunto"; in the managing whereof, as they ought especially to maintain piety, justice and peace, according to the wholefome laws of each

I. a Rom. 13. 1. 3, 4. Let every foul be fubject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be, are ordained of God. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou fhalt have praife of the fame :-For he is the minifter of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the fword in vain: for he is the minifter of God, a revenger, to execute

wrath upon him that doeth evil. 1 Pet. 2. 13, 14. Submit yourfelves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's fake: Whether it be to kings as fu preme;-Or unto governors, as unto them that are fent by him, for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.

II, b Prov. 8. 15. By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. Verfe 16. By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth. See in letter a.

commonwealth,, fo, for that end, they may lawfully, now under the New Testament, wage war upon juft and neceffary occafions".

III. Civil magistrates may not affume to themfelves the adminiftration of the word and facraments; or the power of the keys of the kingdom of heaven; or, in the leaft, interfere in matters of faith". Yet as nursing fathers, it is

e Pfalm 82. 3. 4. Defend the poor and fatherless: do juftice to the afflicted and needy.Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked. 2 Sam. 23. 3. The God of Ifrael faid, the Rock of Ifrael fpake to me, He that Fuleth over men must be just ruling in the fear of God. See 1 Pet 2. 13. let. a.

d Luke 3. 14. And the foldiers likewife demanded of him, faying, And what fhall we do? And he faid unto them, Do violence to no man. neither accufe any falfely, and be con tent with your wages. Mat. 8. 9 and 10. at large. For I am a man under authority, having foldiers under me: and I fay to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh: and to my fervant, Do this, and he doeth it. Acts 10. I, 2. Rom. 13.

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III. e 2 Chron. 26. 18. And they withstood Uzziah the king, and faid unto him, It appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incenfe unto

the Lord, but to the priests, the fons of Aaron, that are confecrated to burn incense; go out of the fanctuary, for thou haft trefpaffed: neither fhall it be for thine honour from the Lord God.

f Mat 16. 18, 19. at large. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven and whatfoever thou fhalt bind on earth, fhall be bound in heaven: and whatfoever thou thalt loofe on earth, fhall be loofed in heaven. I Cor. 4. 1, 2. 1.et a man fo account of us, a of the minifters of Chrift, and ftewards of the mysteries of God.-Moreover it is required in ftewards, that a man be found faithful.

g John 18. 36. Jefus anfwered My kingdom is not of this world. Mal. 2. 7. For the priest's lips fhould keep knowledge, and they should feek the law at his mouth; for he is the meffenger of the Lord of hofts. Acts 5. 29. Then Peter and the other apoftles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.'

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the duty of civil magiftrates to protect the church of our common Lord, without giving the ference to any denomination of Christians above the rest in fuch a manner, that all ecclefiaftical perfons whatever fhall enjoy the full, free, and unquestioned liberty of difcharging, every part of their facred functions, without violence or danger". And, as Jefus Chrift hath appointed a regular government and difcipline in his church, no law of any commonwealth, fhould interfere with, let, or hinder, the due exercife thereof, among the voluntary members of any denomination of Chriflians, according to their own profeffion and belief1. It is the duty of civil magistrates to protect the perfon and good name of all their people, in fuch an effectual manner as that no perfon be suffered, either upon prétence of religion or infidelity, to offer any indignity, violence, abufe or injury to any other perfon whatsoever: and to take order, that all religious and ecclefiaftical affemblies be held without moleftation or disturbance.

IV. It is the duty of the people to pray for

h Ifa. 49. 23. And kings fhall be thy nurfing fathers and their queens thy nurfing mothers.

i Pfal. 105. 15. Touch not mine anointed, and do my pro

phets no harm. Acts 18. 14, 15. at large.

k 2 Sam. 23. 3. I Tim. 2. J and 2. at large. Rom. 13.4. at large.

magiftrates', to honour their perfons", to pay them tribute and other dues", to obey their lawful commands, and to be fubject to their authority, for confcience' fake®. Infidelity or difference in religion, doth not make void the magistrate's just and legal authority, nor free the people from their due obedience to him": from which ecclefiaftical perfons are not exempted"; much less hath the Pope any power or jurisdiction over them in their dominions, or over any of their people ;. and least of all to deprive them of their

IV. 1 1 Tim. 2. 1, 2. I exhort therefore, that first of all fupplications, prayers, interceffions and giving of thanks be made for all men: for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godlinefs and honefty.

m 1 Pet. 2. 17. Fear God. Honour the king.

n Rom. 13. 6, 7. For, for this caufe, pay you tribute alfo; for they are God's minifters attending continually upon this very thing.-Render therefore to all their dues, tribute to whom tribute is due, cuftom eto whom cuftom, fear to whom fear, honour to whom honour. o Rom. 13. 5. Wherefore ye muft needs be fubject, not only for wrath, but alfo for confcience' fake. Tit. 3. 1. Put them in mind to be fubject to principalities and powers, to obey magiftrates, to be

ready to every good work.

p 1 Pet. 2. 13, 14, 16. Submit yourselves to every ordi nance of man for the Lord's fake, whether it be to the king as fupreme;-Or unto governors, as unto them that are fent by him, for the punishment of evil-doers, and for the praise of them that do well. As free, and not using their liberty for a cloke of malicioufnefs, but as the fervants of God.

q Rom. 13. I. Let every foul be subject unto the higher powers. Acts 25. 10, 11. Then faid Paul, I stand at Cæfar's judgment feat, where I ought to be judged; to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knoweft.For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refufe not to die; but if there be none of thefe things whereof thefe accufe

dominions or lives, if he shall judge them to be hereticks, or upon any other pretence whatfoever".

CHA P. XXIV.

Of Marriage and Divorce.

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ARRIAGE is to be between one man and one woman: neither is it lawful for any man to have more than one wife, nor for any woman to have more than one husband, at the fame time".

II. Marriage was ordained for the mutual help of husband and wife"; for the increase of mankind with a legitimate iffue, and of the church with an holy feed'; and for preventing of uncleannefs".

me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto

Cæfar.

r2 Theff. 2. 4. Who oppofeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; fo that he as God, fitteth in the temple of God, fhewing himself that he is God. Rev. 13. 15, 16, 17, 18. And he had power to give life unto the image, &c.

I. a 1 Cor. 7. 2. Mark 10. 6, 7. at large.

II. b Gen. 2. 18. And the Lord God faid, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

c Mal. 2. 15. And did not he make one? yet had he the refidue of the Spirit; and wherefore one? that he might feek a godly feed; therefore take heed to your spirit, and

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