546 An Expofition upon Chap,13, caught or fnatched to himfèlte by vio- lence, nor cometh it to him by for- tune or chance, but it is put into his hands by divine ordinance, to be wiel- ded and ufed not blindly, according to his owne private luft,but by reafon and publike Lawes : the latter fence aimeth at the ufes and ends of the civili fword, which be three. One for the prote &icon of the good :. fecondly, for fupprefli- on of evil( : thirdly, for execution of Juftice. T r M. What Do(frines from theje words thusopened ? S i L. Two : Firft, the power and ufe of the fword doth belong,yea, it is pro- per to the civil( Magiltrate to whom it is granted of God ( and not to the Mi. flitter of the word) to be as it were the very finewes and ftrength of his autho- rity. A Minifter may wear, but not beare a (word. Peter may (hew the fword and offer to firike with it, but Chrift will both command him to put it into his (heath, and tell him further, that he (hall perifh with the (word if he take it. [Take it] (hewes that the (word in the Miniflers hand is taken and ufurped. It is not put there and gi- ven of God, and therefore without their perill,yea,without peril( of perifh ing, cannot be affumed of them. For all this, and notwithflanding Chrift have in Luke 22. 2g. plainly diftin- guithed between Civil! and Ecclefia- f}icali power,as touching external( rule and regiment, ifaying, (but you not fo ) that is, (hall not ufe fuch manner of Ti- tles and Regiments as Kings doe; yet the Pope and his Prelates intrude upon this Right of Civili Rulers, and chal- lenge to themfelves the power of both fwords,yea,and execute temporali jurif- di &ion, as well as fpirituall. On the otherfide,the Anabaptifis offend in the other extreame, denying unto Chriflian Rulersall power and ufe of the fword. Wherein they erode the manifeft Scrip- ture, andalfo what lyeth in them over- throw humane policy, and fo deferve punifhment, as violaters and diftur- bers of Gods order, and mans fociety, by denying fuch a neceffary helpe, as without which , any good Lawes, cannot be made nor executed , neither in peace nor war ; the evil( doer cannot be refirained, nor the obedient fubjca and Citizen maintained without the (word. T s m. What then is the fecond Dotrine from thefe words ? S r L. Such as have the power of the fword,they nmft not have it in vain,and for nothing ; they are bound to make ufe of it, and to convert it to the right ends for which God did ordain- and. give it. Wherefore one reafon is, that it is the will of God that it fhould not be borne idlely, being fuffe- red to ruft in the (heath. Secondly, it flandeth with the office of the Ruler, upon occa ion to draw it out on Gods bebalfe, and in his Read (whole niflers and fervants they be) to take vengeance and puni(hment on fuch as do offend: fo as not to ureic, is to huftrate Gods inflitution, and to doe againft their own duty. The Church, the Families, the Schooles , have their swords co fight withall t the Church bath the word of God, that two -edged (word, Heb.4. 12. The [word of the Spi- rit, Ephef. 6. 17. The chaRifing rod is in (read of a fword unto the Father and Schoole-mafter. As all there are bound to make a right ufe of the (word , by right cenfùres, and corre&ions,without connivence or cruelty;and ifthey fhould by remiffe or flack ufe of their power, Puffer finne and vices to grow and en- creafe in Church,houfe,or fchoole,they fhould deferve blame, and were wor- thy then-delves to be beaten, becaufe i they do not what they nay to hinder the breed and multiplication ofiniqui- ties : fo much more ( as his power is great,and the hurt more) the Magiftrate is blameworthy, if he be careleffeand will not, or fearfull and dare not con- vert his power of punning, to the hin- drance of enormities in the Common- wealth. For by impunity finne will waxe empudent and fruitful(. It will boldly fpread it felfe in all places where it is not checked and controuled, like a (hameleffe Strumpet; and it will fall out
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=