第70章

Andfirst，wearetorememberthattherightofjudgingwhatdoctrinesarefitforpeace，andtobetaughtthesubjects，isinallCommonwealthsinseparablyannexed(ashathbeenalreadyproved，Chaptereighteen)tothesovereignpowercivil，whetheritbeinonemanorinoneassemblyofmen。Foritisevidenttothemeanestcapacitythatmen’sactionsarederivedfromtheopinionstheyhaveofthegoodorevilwhichfromthoseactionsredounduntothemselves；andconsequently，menthatareoncepossessedofanopinionthattheirobediencetothesovereignpowerwillbemorehurtfultothemthantheirdisobediencewilldisobeythelaws，andtherebyoverthrowtheCommonwealth，andintroduceconfusionandcivilwar；fortheavoidingwhereof，allcivilgovernmentwasordained。AndthereforeinallCommonwealthsoftheheathen，thesovereignshavehadthenameofpastorsofthepeople，becausetherewasnosubjectthatcouldlawfullyteachthepeople，butbytheirpermissionandauthority。

ThisrightoftheheathenkingscannotbethoughttakenfromthembytheirconversiontothefaithofChrist，whoneverordainedthatkings，forbelievinginhim，shouldbedeposed，thatis，subjectedtoanybuthimself，or，whichisallone，bedeprivedofthepowernecessaryfortheconservationofpeaceamongsttheirsubjectsandfortheirdefenceagainstforeignenemies。AndthereforeChristiankingsarestillthesupremepastorsoftheirpeople，andhavepowertoordainwhatpastorstheyplease，toteachtheChurch，thatis，toteachthepeoplecommittedtotheircharge。

Again，lettherightofchoosingthembe，asbeforetheconversionofkings，intheChurch，forsoitwasinthetimeoftheApostlesthemselves(ashathbeenshownalreadyinthischapter)；evensoalsotherightwillbeinthecivilsovereign，Christian。ForinthatheisaChristian，heallowstheteaching；andinthatheisthesovereign(whichisasmuchastosay，theChurchbyrepresentation)，theteachersheelectsareelectedbytheChurch。AndwhenanassemblyofChristianschoosetheirpastorinaChristianCommonwealth，itisthesovereignthatelectethhim，becauseitisdonebyhisauthority；inthesamemanneraswhenatownchoosetheirmayor，itistheactofhimthathaththesovereignpower：foreveryactdoneistheactofhimwithoutwhoseconsentitisinvalid。Andthereforewhatsoeverexamplesmaybedrawnoutofhistoryconcerningtheelectionofpastorsbythepeopleorbytheclergy，theyarenoargumentsagainsttherightofanycivilsovereign，becausetheythatelectedthemdiditbyhisauthority。

SeeingthenineveryChristianCommonwealththecivilsovereignisthesupremepastor，towhosechargethewholeflockofhissubjectsiscommitted，andconsequentlythatitisbyhisauthoritythatallotherpastorsaremade，andhavepowertoteachandperformallotherpastoraloffices，itfollowethalsothatitisfromthecivilsovereignthatallotherpastorsderivetheirrightofteaching，preaching，andotherfunctionspertainingtothatoffice，andthattheyarebuthisministers；inthesamemannerasmagistratesoftowns，judgesincourtsofjustice，andcommandersofarmiesareallbutministersofhimthatisthemagistrateofthewholeCommonwealth，judgeofallcauses，andcommanderofthewholemilitia，whichisalwaysthecivilsovereign。Andthereasonhereofisnotbecausetheythatteach，butbecausetheythataretolearn，arehissubjects。

ForletitbesupposedthataChristiankingcommittheauthorityofordainingpastorsinhisdominionstoanotherking(asdiverseChristiankingsallowthatpowertothePope)，hedothnottherebyconstituteapastoroverhimself，norasovereignpastoroverhispeople；forthatweretodeprivehimselfofthecivilpower；which，dependingontheopinionmenhaveoftheirdutytohim，andthefeartheyhaveofpunishmentinanotherworld，woulddependalsoontheskillandloyaltyofdoctorswhoarenolesssubject，notonlytoambition，butalsotoignorance，thananyothersortofmen。Sothatwhereastrangerhathauthoritytoappointteachers，itisgivenhimbythesovereigninwhosedominionsheteacheth。ChristiandoctorsareourschoolmasterstoChristianity；butkingsarefathersoffamilies，andmayreceiveschoolmastersfortheirsubjectsfromtherecommendationofastranger，butnotfromthecommand；especiallywhentheillteachingthemshallredoundtothegreatandmanifestprofitofhimthatrecommendsthem：norcantheybeobligedtoretainthemlongerthanitisforthepublicgood，thecareofwhichtheystandsolongchargedwithalastheyretainanyothere