I - Of the Kirk and policie thereof in generall, and wherein it is different from the civill policie

THE Kirk of God sometimes is largely taken, for all them that professe the Evangell of Iesus Christ, and so it is a company and fellowship not onely of the godly, but also of hypocrites professing alwayes outwardly the true religion.

Other times it is taken for the godly and elect onely, and sometimes for them that exercise spiritual function in the congregation of them that professe the truth.

The Kirke in this last sence hath a certaine power granted by God, according to the which it uses a proper iurisdiction and governement, exercised to the comfort of the whole Kirke.

This power Ecclesiasticall is an authoritie granted by God the Father, through the Mediator Iesus Christ, unto his Kirke gathered, & having the ground in the word of God to be put in execution by them, unto whom the spirituall government of the kirk by lawfull calling is committed.

The Policie of the Kirk flowing from this power, is an order or forme of spirituall government, which is exercised by the members appoynted thereto by the word of God: and therfore is given immediatly to the office-bearers, by whom it is exercised to the weale of the whole body.

This power is diversly used: for sometime it is severally exercised, chiefly by the teachers, sometime conjunctly by mutuall consent of them that beare the office and charge, after the forme of judgement. The former is onely called potestas ordinis, and the other potestas iurisdictionis.

These two kinds of power have both one authority, one ground, one finall cause, but are different in the manner, and forme of execution, as is evident by the speaking of our master in the 16 and 18 of Mathew.

This power and policie Ecclesiasticall, is different and distinct in the own nature from that power and policie, which is called civill power, and appertaineth to the civill government of the common-wealth: albeit they be both of God, and tend to one end, if they be rightly used, viz. to advance the glory of God, and to have godly and good subjects.

For this power Ecclesiasticall floweth immediatly from God, and the mediator Iesus Christ; and is spirituall, not having a temporall head in the earth, but onely Christ, the onely spirituall king and governour of his kirk.

It is a title falsly usurped by Antichrist, to call himselfe head of the kirk, and ought not to be attributed to Angel, nor man, of what estate that ever he be, saving to Christ the onely head and Monarch in the kirk.

Therefore this power and policie of the kirk should leane upon the word immediatly, as the onely ground thereof, and should be taken from the pure fountaines of the Scriptures, the kirk hearing the voyce of Christ the onely spirituall king, and being ruled by his lawes.

It is proper to kings, princes and magistrates to be called Lords, and dominators over their subjects whom they govern civilly, but it is proper to Christ onely to be called Lord and master in the spirituall government of the kirk, and all others that beare office therein, ought not to usurp dominion therein, nor be called Lords, but onely ministers, disciples, and servants. For it is Christs proper office to command and rule his kirk universally, and every particular kirk through his spirit and word, by the ministry of men.

Notwithstanding, as the ministers and others of the Ecclesiasticall estate are subject to the magistrate civill, so ought the person of the magistrate be subiect to the kirk spiritually, and in Ecclesiasticall government. And the exercise of both these jurisdictions cannot stand in one person ordinarie.

The civill power is called the power of the sword, and the other the power of the keyes.

The civill power should command the spiritual to exercise, and to doe their office according to the word of God; The spirituall rulers should require the Christian magistrate to minister justice, and punish vice, and to maintaine the libertie and quietnes of the kirk within their bounds.

The magistrate commandeth external things for externall peace and quietnesse amongst the subjects: the minister handleth externall things onely for conscience cause.

The magistrate handleth externall things onely, & actions done before men, but the spirituall ruler judgeth both inward affections, and externall actions in respect of conscience by the word of God.

The civill magistrate craves and gets obedience by the sword, and other externall meanes, but the ministerie, by the spirituall sword, and spirituall meanes.

The magistrate neither ought to preach, minister the sacraments, nor execute the censures of the kirk, nor yet prescribe any rule, how it should be done, but command the ministers to observe the rule commanded in the word, and punish the transgressors by civill meanes. The ministers exerce not the civill iurisdiction, but teach the magistrate, how it should be exercised according to the word.

The magistrate ought to assist, maintaine and fortifie the iurisdiction of the kirk. The ministers should assist their princes in all things agreeable to the word, providing they neglect not their own charge by involving themselves in civill affaires.

Finally, as ministers are subject to the judgement and punishment of the magistrate in externall things, if they offend: so ought the magistrates to submit themselves to the discipline of the kirk, if they transgresse in matters of conscience and religion.