Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Editor's introduction
- A note on the text
- Bibliographical guide
- Biographical notes
- Principal dates
- Politica Sacra et Civilis
- Epistle to the reader
- Dedicatory poem
- The arguments of the several chapters
- 1 Of government in general, and the original thereof
- 2 Of government in general, and of a community civil
- 3 Of an ecclesiastical community
- 4 Of a commonwealth in general, and power civil
- 5 Of the manner how civil power is acquired
- 6 Of power ecclesiastical
- 7 Of the manner of acquiring ecclesiastical power
- 8 Of the disposition of power civil, and the several forms of government
- 9 Of the disposition of ecclesiastical power: and first, whether it be due unto the bishop of Rome
- 10 Whether the civil state have any good title to the Power of the Keys
- 11 Whether episcopacy be the primary subject of the Power of the Keys
- 12 Whether presbytery or presbyters be the primary subject of the Power of the Keys
- 13 That the government of the church is not purely democratical, but like that of a free state, wherein the power is in the whole, not in any part, which is the author's judgement
- 14 Of the extent of a particular church
- 15 Of subjection in general, and the subjects of a civil state
- 16 Of subjects in an ecclesiastical polity
- Index
- Title in the series
5 - Of the manner how civil power is acquired
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2012
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Editor's introduction
- A note on the text
- Bibliographical guide
- Biographical notes
- Principal dates
- Politica Sacra et Civilis
- Epistle to the reader
- Dedicatory poem
- The arguments of the several chapters
- 1 Of government in general, and the original thereof
- 2 Of government in general, and of a community civil
- 3 Of an ecclesiastical community
- 4 Of a commonwealth in general, and power civil
- 5 Of the manner how civil power is acquired
- 6 Of power ecclesiastical
- 7 Of the manner of acquiring ecclesiastical power
- 8 Of the disposition of power civil, and the several forms of government
- 9 Of the disposition of ecclesiastical power: and first, whether it be due unto the bishop of Rome
- 10 Whether the civil state have any good title to the Power of the Keys
- 11 Whether episcopacy be the primary subject of the Power of the Keys
- 12 Whether presbytery or presbyters be the primary subject of the Power of the Keys
- 13 That the government of the church is not purely democratical, but like that of a free state, wherein the power is in the whole, not in any part, which is the author's judgement
- 14 Of the extent of a particular church
- 15 Of subjection in general, and the subjects of a civil state
- 16 Of subjects in an ecclesiastical polity
- Index
- Title in the series
Summary
What the nature of power in general, and majesty civil is, hath been declared. The next thing to be considered, is the subject who from it is denominated a sovereign, and we must enquire first, how this power is acquired; [and then] how disposed in a certain subject. As for the acquisition it's certain, man as man, or as a member of a community, cannot have it from himself, but it must be communicated to him from God, who being the universal sovereign is the fountain and original of it, and derives some part of it unto man, and a greater measure unto mortal sovereigns than other men. Yet he doth not this immediately, but mediately for the most part. It's extrinsical, and comes [from elsewhere], not only unto men but angels. A paternal power, which is more natural, is acquired by generation, though sometimes by adoption. This generation from divine benediction is the seminary of all societies, which as societies and communities may be so disposed and complete, as virtually to contain in them a power of a commonwealth, and by a general consent constitute an actual sovereign. The sovereign before he was made such, was not invested with majesty, but it was extrinsical unto him. And here that distinction between the power itself, the designation of the persons governing, and the form of government is worthy taking notice of.
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- Lawson: Politica sacra et civilis , pp. 57 - 76Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1993