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II. It is lawful for Christians to accept and execute the office of a magistrate, when called thereunto;" in the managing whereof, as they ought especially to maintain piety, justice, and peace, according to the wholesome laws of each commonwealth, so, for that end, they may lawfully, now under the New Testa ment, wage war upon just and necessary occasions."

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III. Civil magistrates may not assume to Allered themselves the administration of the word and

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sacraments; or the power of the keys of the

Prov. viii. 15, 16. By me kings reign and princes decree justice. By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth. See letter (r), page 130.

Psa. lxxxii. 3, 4. Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy: deliver the poor and needy rid them out of the hand of the wicked. :

2 Sam.

xxiii. 3. The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. See 1 Pet. ii. 13, letter (r), page 130.

Luke iii. 14. And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages. Matt. viii. 9.For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come and he cometh: and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. Acts x. 1, 2. Rom. xiii. 4. ▼ 2 Chron. xxvi. 18. And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the Lord, but to the priests, the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense; go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast trespassed; neither shall it be for thine honour from the Lord God.

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kingdom of heaven; or, in the least, inter fere in matters of faith.* Yet as nursing fathers, it is the duty of civil magistrates to protect the church of our common Lord, without giving the preference to any denomination of Christians above the rest, in such a manner, that all ecclesiastical persons whatever shall enjoy the full, free, and unquestioned liberty of discharging every part of their sacred func tions, without violence or danger. And, as Jesus Christ hath appointed a regular govern ment and discipline in his church, no law of any commonwealth should interfere with, let, or hinder, the due exercise thereof, among the voluntary members of any denomination of Christians, according to their own profession and belief. It is the duty of civil magistrates to protect the person and good name of

Matt. xvi. 19. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven. 1 Cor. iv. 1, 2. Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

John xviii. 36. Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world. Mal. ii. 7. For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. Acts v. 29. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

y Isa. xlix. 23. And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers.

Psa. cv. 15. Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm. Acts xviii. 14, 15, 16.

all their people, in such an effectual manner as that no person be suffered, either upon pretence of religion or infidelity, to offer any indignity, violence, abuse, or injury to any other person whatsoever and to take order, that all religious and ecclesiastical assemblies be held without molestation or disturbance."

IV. It is the duty of the people to pray for magistrates, to honour their persons, to pay them tribute and other dues,d to obey their awful commands, and to be subject to their authority, for conscience' sake. Infidelity or difference in religion, doth not make void the magistrate's just and legal authority, nor free the people from their due obedience to him: from which ecclesiastical persons

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a 2 Sam. xxiii. 3. 1 Tim. ii. 1. Rom. xiii 4.

b 1 Tim. ii. 1, 2. I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty.

c 1 Pet. ii. 17. Fear God. Honour the king.

d Rom. xiii. 6, 7. For, for this cause pay ye tribute also for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

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e Rom. xiii. 5. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience' sake. iii. 1. Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work..

1 Pet. ii. 13, 14, 16. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme: or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil doers,

are not exempted; much less hath the Pope any power or jurisdiction over them in their dominions, or over any of their people; and least of all to deprive them of their dominions or lives, if he shall judge them to be heretics, or upon any other pretence whatsoever."

CHAPTER XXIV.

OF MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE.

MARRIAGE is to be between one man and one woman: neither is it lawful for any man to have more than one wife, nor for any woman to have more than one husband at the same time.i

II. Marriage was ordained for the mutual

and for the praise of them that do well.-As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

Rom. xiii. 1. Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. Acts xxv. 10, 11. Then said Paul, I stand at Cæsar's judgment-seat, where I ought to be judged; to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest. For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Cæsar.

h 2 Thess. ii. 4. Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he, as God, sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Rev. xiii. 15, 16, 17, 18. And he had power to give life unto the image, &c.

i 1 Cor. vii. 2. Mark x. 6, 7, 8, 9.

help of husband and wife; for the increase of mankind with a legitimate issue, and of the church with an holy seed; and for preventing of uncleanness. I

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III. It is lawful for all sorts of people to marry who are able with judgment to give their consent, yet it is the duty of Christians to marry only in the Lord. And, therefore, such as profess the true reformed religion should not marry with infidels, Papists, or other idolaters: neither should such as are godly be unequally yoked, by marrying with such as are notoriously wicked in their life, or maintain damnable heresies. °

Gen. ii. 18. And the Lord God said, It is not good that man should be alone: I will make him an help meet for him.

k Mal. ii. 15. And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the Spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.

11 Cor. vii. 2, 9. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.-But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

m 1 Tim. iv. 3. Forbidding to marry. Gen. xxiv. 57, 58. And they said, We will call the damsel, and inquire at her mouth. And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.

n 1 Cor. vii. 39. The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

. 2 Cor. vi. 14.. Be ye not unequally yoked together

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