The Decision and Clearing of the Great Point

p. 1The decision of the great Point in Controversie, (i. e.) The Interest of Christ and the Magistrates in the Rule and Government in this World.

Presented to the Supream Authority, the Parliament of the Common-wealth of England.

THat Jesus Christ is Lord of all, Acts 10. 36. Rom. 10. 12. is without all question: I suppose) to all who own the Scriptures of truth: That he is exalted and made Head over all, to the Church, E◊h. 1. 20, 21, 22. and that he hath the Government of the World in his hand, Matth. 28. 18. although this be not so visibly made manifest as in the fulness of time it shall be, Heb. 2. 8. we do not yet see all things under him; by faith we believe it as it's made manifest in his Word.

And it is as unquestionable, That the Powers and Magistrates of this World have from, and under him a right of Rule and Government committed to them, in which they ought to be faithful: And in as much as it is a great Point now in controversie, What Power it is that the Lord hath extended to Magistrates, & what are the limitations & bounds thereof; And, What it is he hath reserved to himself; Or, Whethether he hath reserved any thing in point of Government to himself or no, or committed all to the Magistrate, both Ecclesiastical as well as Civil: My Work will be p. 2in these ensuing lines to be discoursing and discovering the truth in this matter; and I cannot reasonably suppose (it being a matter of such great concernment) that it should be taken any otherwise then acceptably, it being no more (as I am in conscience convinced) then the discharge of my duty to the Lord, and the Magistrates under whom I live.

And as to the Point in hand, I say, 1. That Jesus Christ (to whom all Power in Heaven and Earth is given) hath committed an Authoritative Power and Rule to Magistrates in this World, till his coming again from Heaven; the truth of this is evidenced by the Word of Truth, Prov. 8. 15, 16. By me Kings reign, and Princes decree Justice; By me Princes rule, and Nobles, even all the Judges of the earth, Rom. 13. 1. There is no Power but of God, the Powers that be are ordained of God; So that the Magisterial Power is ordained of God, and by him it is they rule, (i. e.) By his Ordinance and Appointment.

p. 2Yet 2ly. Christ hath reserved a Room and Place of Rule for himselself in and over the World; hence he is said to be Lord of all, Lord of quick and dead; Head over all to the Church, and over all Principallity and Power, and every Name that is named, not onely in this world, but likewise in that which is to come; so that the great query now will be, What Power it is the Lord hath given to the Magistrate, and what it is he hath reserved to himself; the deciding whereof vvill be of great and singular concernment at this day.

1. What he hath given to the Magistrate, and that is Authority and Power to rule over men, (i. e.) To rule over the Bodies and Estates of men for good, and no other.

And 2. That which he hath reserved to himself lieth especially in these four things:

1. The Power of a secret and invisible ordering and disposing of all Governments, to carry on, and bring about his own design for his own glory and his Churches good; Hence he is said to be Head over all things to the Church.

2. He hath reserved the Povver of pulling down, and p. 3setting up of whom he will, Dan. 4. 17. Hence it is that he maketh changes in the Worldly Governments, to the end they might know that the Lord doth rule, and that they do rule by him, and should rule for him.

3. He hath reserved to himself the Power of calling all Magistrates to account at the great day of Account, in which they must be judged according to their discharge of that Authority and Trust committed to them, and reposed in them: These (I suppose) every one that hath any awe or fear of God will acknowlege.

But 4ly. Christ hath reserved all spiritual causes relating to matters of Faith and Worship to himself, and hath betrusted no Civil Magistrate or Power in Earth vvith this; the proving of vvhich will prove the first Assertion, (i. e.) That the Trust committed to Magistrates is over the Bodies and Estates of men, and no otherwise; Therefore to prove it, I shall present several convincing grounds.

1. There is no New-Testament Scripture presents us with the Lords giving up of Authority to Worldly Magistrates in matters Ecclesiastical, (i. e.) Things in, and relating to matters of Worship, that clearly relate to conscience; if so, Hence I reason, That Authority which Christ hath no where given to Magistrates, he hath reserved to himself; but this of ruling of, and over the conscience, is to where committed by Christ to man, (i. e.) to Civil Magistrates, therefore he hath reserved it to himself.

p. 3Q. May we not suppose that the Scripture intends Spiritual ◊◊d Ecclesiastical Concernments, as well as Civil, when it saith, ◊◊a◊ we should be subject to every Ordinance of man for the 〈…〉 sak◊, &c.

A. It is without question to be understood in civil things ◊nely, there being no Magistrates then but such as were either Jews or Heathens; if subjection in Divine things had ◊◊ep intended, the Apostle in that saying (and in all others ◊◊at calls for subjecting to Magistrates) must necessarily ◊◊ve taught them either to be Jews or Heathens in point of Worship; for the Command of the Jewish Magistrates would p. 4be to the Old Testament-Ceremonies; and of the Gentiles, to their Idoll Temples, if to any thing in Worship; so that it's questionless, That it was in civil things that subjection is required.