The following is chapter 9 of Jus Divinum Regiminis Ecclesiastici: Or, the Divine Right of Church-Government (1646) by several anonymous Presbyterian ministers in London at the time of the Westminster Assembly of Divines. Here is classic Reformed “Two Kingdom” theology, where the distinct, co-ordinate, and collaborative powers of church and state in a Christian land are set forth.
Listen to this and other recorded chapters here. Or scroll down to view a facsimile in a PDF.
* * * *
6. Of the proper receptacle and distinct subject of all this power and authority of Church government, which Christ hath peculiarly entrusted with the execution thereof, according to the Scriptures. And, 1. Negatively, That the political Magistrate is not the proper subject of this power.
THUS we have taken a brief survey of church-government, both in the rule, root, kind, branches, and end thereof, all which are comprised in the former description, and being less controverted, have been more briefly handled: Now, the last thing in the description which comes under our consideration, is the proper receptacle of all this power from Christ, or the peculiar subject intrusted by Christ with this power and the execution thereof, viz. only Christ’s own officers. For church-government is a spiritual power or authority—derived from Jesus Christ our Mediator, only to his own officers, and by them exercised in dispensing of the word, &c. Now about this subject of the power will be the great knot of the controversy, forasmuch as there are many different claims thereof made, and urged with vehement importunity; (to omit, the Romish claim for the Pope: and the Prelatical claim, for the bishop;) the politic Erastian pretends that the only proper subject of all church-government, is the political or civil magistrate: the gross Brownists, or rigid Separatists, that it is the body of the people, or community of the faithful in an equal, even level: they that are more refined (who stile themselves for distinction’s sake Independents) that it is the single congregation, or the company of the faithful with their presbytery, or church-officers: the Presbyterians hold, that the proper subject wherein Christ hath seated, and intrusted all church-power, and the exercise thereof, is only his own church-officers; (as is in the description expressed.) Here therefore the way will be deeper, and the travelling slower; the opposition is much, and therefore the disquisition of this matter will unavoidably be the more.
(more…)