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magistrates could not be had thereunto, because the Apostles

and ch^tians in their tymes did frequently thus practice,

when the magistrates being all of them either Jewish or

Pagan, & not psecuting enemies would give no

countenance nor consent to such matters.

2

Church gov^nmt stands in no opposition to civill gov^nmt of

Commonweaths, nor any way entrencheth unpon the Autho=

rity of Civill magistrates in their Jurisdictions, nor

any way weakeneth their hands in governing, but rather

strengtheneth them, & furthereth the people in yielding

more hearty & conscionable obedience unto them, what

soever some ill affected psons to the ways of ch^t

have suggested, to alienate the affecions of Kings & Princes

from the ordinances of ch^t; as if the kingdome of ch^t in

his church could not rise and stand, w^thout the falling

or weakening of their gov^nmt, w^ch is also of ch^t.

whereas the contrary is most true, that they may both

stand togeather and flourish, the one being helpfull unto

the other in their distinct and due Administracions.

The power and Authority of magistrates is not for

the restraining of churches or any ^^other good works^(a), but

for the helping and furthering thereof, and therefore

the consent & countenance of magistrates when it

may be had, is not to be sleighted or lightly esteemed,

but on the contrary it is part of that hono^r due to

ch^tian magistrates to desire & crave their consent &

approbacion therein; w^ch being obtained the churches

may then proceed in their way, w^th much more

encouragem^t and comfort. (a) Rom.13.3. 1 Pet.2.14.

It is not in y^e power of magistrates to compell

their subjects to become church members, and to ptake

at y^e Lords Table; For the Priests are reprooved