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Archive for the ‘Constantine’ Category

Jus Divinum on the respective powers of the “two swords” in a Christian realm

Posted in Christendom, Church of Scotland, Constantine, Establishments, The Civil Magistrate, The Sacred Ministry, Two Kingdoms Theology on July 3, 2026| Leave a Comment »

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.

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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.

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    Christ’s “coming” through Constantine

    Posted in Christendom, Constantine, Eschatology, Two Kingdoms Theology on April 21, 2026| Leave a Comment »

    The following extract is taken from Jonathan Edwards’ magisterial History of the Work of Redemption.

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    IV. That the state of things which is attained by the events of this period, is what is so often called the kingdom of heaven, or the kingdom of God. We very often read in the New Testament of the kingdom of heaven. John the Baptist preached, that the kingdom of heaven was at hand, and so did Christ, and his disciples after him, referring to something that the Jews in those days expected, and very much talked of, which they called by that name. They seem to have taken their expectation and the name chiefly from that prophecy of Daniel in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, Daniel 2:44, “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom,” together with that in Daniel 7:13-14.

    Now this kingdom of heaven is that evangelical state of things in his church, and in the world, wherein consists the success of Christ’s redemption in this period. There had been often great kingdoms set up before, which were earthly kingdoms, as the Babylonian, the Persian, the Grecian, and the Roman monarchies. But Christ came to set up the last kingdom, which is not an earthly kingdom, but an heavenly, and so is the kingdom of heaven, John 18:36, “My kingdom is not of this world.” This is the kingdom of which Christ speaks, Luke 22:29, “My Father hath appointed to me a kingdom.” This kingdom began soon after Christ’s resurrection, and was accomplished in various steps from that time to the end of the world. Sometimes by the kingdom or heaven, is meant that spiritual state of the church which began soon after Christ’s resurrection. Sometimes that more perfect state of the church which shall obtain after the downfall of Antichrist. And sometimes that glorious and blessed state to which the church shall be received at the day of judgment, 1 Corinthians 15:50, the apostle, speaking of the resurrection, says, “This I say, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.”

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    Worth your time

    Posted in Apologetics & Evidences, Christ Jesus, Christendom, Constantine, Modernity, Natural Theology, Political Theory & Theology, Postwar Consensus, Nationalism, Sacred & Secular, Secularization, Social Issues, Worth Your Time on March 3, 2026| Leave a Comment »

    Some videos I’ve watched in the recent month. The ones with Tom Holland are intriguing, at the very least as an illustration of the persuasive power of Christianity on the modern mind short of regeneration. May the Lord grant academics like Holland not just to be “near” the Kingdom or “almost a Christian,” but inside it and altogether Christian!

    And as always, “standard caveats.” I read and watch a wide range of things, some of which I do not agree with in whole or in part. I do commend everyone to “test the spirits.” And even the most mature of Christians should ever be vigilant, knowing that our Enemy is ever on the ready to draw us away.

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    Nicea today

    Posted in Confessional Subscription, Connectionalism & Conciliarism, Constantine, Establishments, Patristics on January 27, 2026| Leave a Comment »

    Since 2025 was the 1700th anniversary of the momentous Council of Nicea, a lot of material online has been produced. This short series by the White Horse Inn was exceptionally good. I would highly commend every intelligent Christian wanting to deepen his knowledge and appreciation of this tremendous formula of faith that has stood the test of time and has left its print upon Protestant confessions and catechisms, not to mention the preaching and piety of the reformed catholic Church.

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    Davenport’s, “A Discourse about Civil Government in a New Plantation Whose Design is Religion”

    Posted in Constantine, Establishments, New England Puritanism, Two Kingdoms Theology on December 16, 2025| Leave a Comment »

    Where all, or the most considerable part of free Planters profess their desire and purpose of enjoying, and securing to themselves and their Posterity, the pure and peaceable enjoyment of the Ordinances of Christ in Church-fellowship with his People and have liberty to cast themselves into that Mold or Form of a Common-wealth, which shall appear to be best for them. Tending to prove the Expediency and Necessity in that case of entrusting free Burgesses which are members of Churches gathered amongst them according to Christ, with the power of Choosing from among themselves Magistrates, and men to whom the Managing of all Public Civil Affairs of Importance is to be committed. And to vindicate the same from an Imputation of an Under-Power upon the Churches of Christ, which hath been cast upon it through a Mistake of the true state of the Question.

    Reverend Sir,

    The Sparrow being now gone, and one days respite from public Labors on the Lords-day falling to me in course, I have sought out your Writing, and have reviewed it, and find (as I formerly expressed to your self) that the Question is mis-stated by you; and that the Arguments which you produce to prove that which is not denied, are (in reference to this Question) spent in vain, as arrows are when they fall wide of the Marks they should bit, though they strike in a White which the Archer is not called to shoot at.

    The terms wherein you state the Question, are these:

    Whether the Right and Power of Choosing Civil Magistrates belongs unto the Church of Christ?

    To omit all critical Inquiries, in your thus stating the Question, I utterly dislike two things.

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    Read the rest here or view a facsimile of the original below. I have also recorded it in audio here. Also view all our audio resources at WPE Audio. This discourse is especially meaningful to me personally, since my ancestor, William Ives came over the Atlantic with John Davenport and eventually signed his name to the original town covenant of the New Haven Colony in Connecticut.

    Davenport-John, A Discourse about Civil Government in a New Plantation Whose Design is ReligionDownload

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    American Reformer

    Posted in Christendom, Confessional Subscription, Constantine, Establishments, New England Puritanism, Old Testament Theology, Postwar Consensus, Nationalism, Protestantism & Romanism, Social Issues, The Church in America, The Social Status of the Church on July 8, 2025| Leave a Comment »

    Continuing to follow with interest Timon Cline et al over at American Reformer. Still parsing the field of contemporary “Christian nationalism” and trying to discern the good and the not-so-good; so I share this with some tentativeness, yet general appreciation thus far. Classical Protestant ethics and socio-political ethics fascinates me, so anyone participating in a retrieval has my attention.

    Have enjoyed reading this article about John Witherspoon and the colonial Presbyterian iteration of establishmentarianism, contra Kevin DeYoung’s pluralistic take of the American revision of the WCF 23. Looks like others there have also written on the same. I still wonder to what degree Witherspoon may have been influenced by Enlightenment liberalism and what bearing that may have had on how he approached Christian magistracy. But that there is more continuity with the original WCF 23 than not just seems to sync with what I’ve understood about public religion in colonial America. Absolute separation just seems laughable on so many counts. I am also reminded how Dr. William Young opined that the American revision of WCF 23 did not technically contradict the original 1646 statement. While my denomination is the only NAPARC body committed to the original edition, I am at least coming to appreciate that we may have more of a genetic connection with colonial Presbyterian than I had first thought.

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    Watson on Constantine and other “nursing fathers”

    Posted in Christian Ethics, Constantine, Establishments, Puritans & Puritanism, The Civil Magistrate, The Godly Prince on July 6, 2025| Leave a Comment »

    The following are quotes are from A Body of Practical Divinity (1838 edition):

    “We glorify God, when we give God the glory of all we do. . . . As the silk-worm, when she weaves her curious work, she hides herself under the silk, and is not seen; so when we have done Constantine did use to write the name of Christ over his door, so should we write the name of Christ over our duties; let him wear the garland of praise” (27).

    “The word being begun to be preached, hear it with reverence and holy attention. ‘A certain woman, named Lydia, attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.’ Acts 16: 14. Constantine, the emperor, was noted for his reverent attention to the word” (381).

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    A new, Sino-Constantine?

    Posted in Constantine, Establishments, Missiology, Sacred & Secular, Secularization on May 30, 2025| Leave a Comment »

    An intriguing thought. I’ve frequently thought of how establishments, while nearly a thing of the past in the secular West, might yet be on the horizon in the East. Stranger things have happened. And, of course, there is that ‘little thing’ (!) of prophecy: “Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him” (Psalm 72:11). O, brethren, let us pray for this nation, and for any godly magistrates that He might raise up “for such a time as this!” Mark Noll in his New Shape of World Humanity: How American Experience (2010):

    “But third, it is a different story where Christianity spreads in regions of economic strength, as especially in Chᴉna. In this rapidly strengthening Asian power, the systems of belief that once guided society are passing away. Before Maoism imploded, it badly damaged ancestral reliance on Confucian precepts. Christianity seems to be taking off in Chᴉna because more and more Chᴉnese seem to be seeking a new moral compass as Chᴉna itself makes a commanding entrance onto the world stage. David Jeffrey, the provost of Baylor University who for fifteen years has been regularly invited to lecture on Christian subjects at premier universities in Chᴉna, has asked a speculative question that should give foreign analysts pause. Once before, Jeffrey remarks, a great world power passed through tumultuous times as Christian ranks expanded on the margins of society. It was the late 3rd and early 4th centuries. In that turmoil the Emperor Constantine was converted and become, from the top of the imperial system, a supporter of Christianity as a new glue for empire. Is it impossible to imagine that a new Constantine might exist somewhere in the junior ranks of the Chᴉnese communist party?”

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    Flavel on Constantine & Christendom

    Posted in Christendom, Constantine, Establishments, Historiography, Puritans & Puritanism on May 17, 2025| Leave a Comment »

    The following are extracts from John Flavel’s Whole Works reflecting his (and Protestantism’s) mainly positive appraisal of Constantine and the shift to Christendom. The first passage doesn’t mention his name in particular, but employs the “earth helping the woman” trope for Christian magistrates supporting the true religion that I first encountered in Thomas Chalmers, but clearly predates him.

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    “Secondly, We shall next enquire how Jesus Christ administers this providential kingdom. And here I must take notice of the means by which, and the manner in which he does it. The means, or instruments, he uses in the governing the providential kingdom, (for he is not personally present with its himself), are either angels or men, “the angels are ministering creatures, sent forth by him for the good of them that shall be heirs of salvation,” Heb. 1:14. Luther tells us, they have two offices, superius canere, et inferius vigilare, “to sing above and watch beneath.” These do us many invisible offices of love. They have dear and tender respects and love for the saints. To them, God, as it were, puts forth his children to nurse, and they are tenderly careful of them while they live, and bring them home in their arms to their Father when they die. And as angels, so men are the servants of Providence; yes, bad men as well as good. Cyrus, on that account, is called God’s servant: they fulfill his will, while they are prosecuting their own lusts. “The earth shall help the woman,” Rev. 12:16. But good men delight to serve Providence; they and the angels are fellow servants in one house, and to one master, Rev. 19:10. Yes, there is not a creature in heaven, earth, or hell, but Jesus Christ can providentially use it and serve his ends, and promote his designs by it. But whatever the instrument be Christ uses, of this we may be certain, that his providential working is holy, judicious, sovereign, profound, irresistible, harmonious, and to the saints peculiar” (Works 1:216).

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    Zoom SRS conference: Thomas Chalmers and the “Great Home Mission”

    Posted in Church of Scotland, Constantine, Establishments, Parish in American Context, Parish Theory & Practice, Religious Marketplace, The Church in America, Thomas Chalmers on October 8, 2024| Leave a Comment »

    In this public lecture of the Scottish Reformation Society, I will be discussing Thomas Chalmers’ (1780-1847) defense of church establishments over against Adam Smith’s critique. Chalmers championed such an establishment as a “Great Home Mission.”‘ Yet is this a merely an academic question? Does Chalmers have something to offer is in modern, pluralistic America? You might be surprised. Join us Friday, October 18 at 2:30 p.m. Eastern-U.S. / 7:30 p.m. U.K. Watch through Facebook Live. More information below:

    Thomas Chalmers and Church establishments

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