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FREEDOM IN CHURCH AND STATE.

"To know

Both Spiritual Power and Civil, what each means,

What severs each, thou hast learned, which few have done;
The bounds of either sword to thee we owe :
Therefore on thy firm hand Religion bows
In peace, and reckons thee her eldest son."

"

-Milton's Sonnet to Sir Henry Vane the Younger.

A TREATISE OF CIVIL POWER IN

ECCLESIASTICAL CAUSES;

Showing that it is not lawful for any Power on Earth to Compel in Matters of Religion.

To the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England, with the Dominions thereof.

I HAVE prepared, supreme Council, against the much-expected time of your sitting, this treatise; which, though to all Christian magistrates equally belonging, and therefore to have been written in the common language of Christendom, natural duty and affection hath confined, and dedicated first to my own nation; and in a season wherein the timely reading thereof, to the easier accomplishment of your great work, may save you much labour and interruption of two parts usually proposed, Civil and Ecclesiastical, recommending Civil only to your proper care; Ecclesiastical, to them only from whom it takes both that name and nature.

Yet not for this cause only do I require or trust to find acceptance, but in a twofold respect besides. First, as bringing clear evidence of Scripture, and Protestant maxims, to the Parliament of England, who in all their late acts, upon occasion, have professed to assert only the true Protestant Christian Religion, as it is contained in the Holy Scriptures. Next, in regard that your power being but for a time, and having in yourselves a Christian liberty of your own, which at one time or other may be oppressed, thereof truly sensible, it will concern you while you are in power so to regard other men's Consciences as you would your own should be regarded in the power of others; and to consider that

any law against Conscience is alike in force against any conscience, and so may one way or other justly redound upon yourselves.

One advantage I make no doubt of, that I shall write to many eminent persons of your number already perfect and resolved in this important article of Christianity. Some of whom I remember to have heard often for several years, at a Council next in authority to your own, so well joining Religion with Civil Prudence, and yet so well distinguishing the different power of either; and this not only voting, but frequently reasoning why it should be so, that if any there present had been before of an opinion contrary he might doubtless have departed thence a convert in that point, and have confessed that then both Commonwealth and Religion will at length, if ever, flourish in Christendom when either they who govern discern between Civil and Religious or they only who so discern shall be admitted to govern. Till then, nothing but troubles, persecutions, commotions can be expected; the inward decay of true Religion among ourselves, and the utter overthrow at last by a common enemy.

Of Civil Liberty I have written heretofore by the appointment, and not without the approbation, of civil power: of Christian Liberty I write now, which others long since having done with all freedom under heathen emperors, I should do wrong to suspect that I now shall with less under Christian governors, and such especially as profess openly their defence of Christian liberty. Although I write this, not otherwise appointed or induced, than by an inward persuasion of the Christian duty which I may usefully discharge herein to the common Lord and Master of us all, and the certain hope of His approbation, first and chiefest to be sought in the hand of whose providence I remain, praying all success and good event on your public councils to the defence of true Religion and our Civil Rights.

JOHN MILTON.

A TREATISE OF CIVIL POWER IN

ECCLESIASTICAL CAUSES.

Two things there be, which have been ever found working much mischief to the Church of God and the advancement of truth: Force on one side restraining, and Hire on the other side corrupting, the teachers thereof. Few ages have been since the ascension of our Saviour, wherein the one of these two, or both together, have not prevailed. It can be at no time, therefore, unseasonable to speak of these things; since by them the Church is either in continual detriment and oppression, or in continual danger. The former shall be at this time my argument; the latter as I shall find God disposing me, and opportunity inviting. What I argue shall be drawn from the Scripture only; and therein from true fundamental principles of the Gospel, to all knowing Christians undeniable. And if the governors of this Commonwealth, since the rooting out of prelates, have made least use of force in Religion and most have favoured Christian liberty of any in this island before them since the first preaching of the Gospel, for which we are not to forget our thanks to God, and their due praise; they may, I doubt not, in this treatise find that which not only will confirm them to defend still the Christian Liberty which we enjoy, but will incite them also to enlarge it, if in aught they yet straiten it. To them who perhaps hereafter, less experienced in Religion, may come to govern or give us laws, this or other such, if they please, may be a timely instruction: however, to the truth it will be at all times no unneedful testimony, at least some discharge of that general duty which no Christian, but according to what he hath received, knows is required of him, if he have aught more conducing to the advancement of Religion than what is usually endeavoured, freely to impart it.

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