THE

CONTENTS.

SECT. 1.

Oncering Religion before Civil Societies were
Inftituted

C

Every Man is accountable to God for his own Re-
ligion

2

3

How the fame might be exercised in the free State
of Nature
Parents had originally the Care of Religious Wor-
Ship lodged in them.

4

Civil Societies were not constituted for Religions
Jake

5

6

Subjects did never Jubmit their Opinions, as to Re-
ligious Worship, to the Difpofal of their Sove-
reigns
What Power properly, and. according to the Laws
of Nature, belongs to Sovereigns in Ecclefiasti
cal Affairs

Of the Nature of Revealed Religion

7

8

Among the Jews there was a very strict Union be-
twixt the Church and State

9

Who was the Supream Head of the Jewish Church 10
The Chriftian Religion is quite different from the
Jewish
Some Reflections on the Behaviour of Mofes, when
he laid the Foundation of the Commonwealth
of the Jews
What on the other Hand our Saviour did, when he
Eftalifhed his Church here on Earth

12

13

Christ was not the Founder of a New Common-
wealth or People

Neither had he any Territories belonging to him 15
Chrift did not exercife any Sovereign Power 16
But the Office of a Doctor or Teacher

17

The Apoftles did propagate the Doctrine of ou

Saviour

18

The Apoftles had received their Authority of Tea-
ching from God alone, independant from any

Human Power

19

20

The Apostles never affumed any Authority of Com
manding others
Whether their Authority of Teaching does indirectly
imply any right of Commanding others 21
Whether the Power of Abfolution does imply any
Right of Sovereignty

22

What is to be understood by abfolving from Sins 23
Under whofe Authority the Apostles did exercise
the Power of Abfolution

Of what nature it was.

24

25

Whether St. Peter had any Prerogative granted
above others

26

27

Whether the Power of Excommunicating imply a
Sovereignty
The Commiffion granted by Christ to kis Apostles
contains nothing of Command
28
The Kingdom of Chrift is no Temporal Kingdom 29
Whether the Chriftian Church ought to be confider-
ed as a State or Sovereignty

30
In the Primitive Church there was nothing like it.

31

There is a great difference betwixt the Church and

State

32

And the Doctors or Teachers in the Church are
quite different from those that exercises the Sc
vereignty in a State

33
Whe-

1

34

Whether the whole Chriftian Church ought to be
confidered as a State
It is not requifite to reduce the whole Chriftian
Church under one Independant Severeignty or
Head
Whether there ought not to be one Supream Fudge in
the Church, to determine fuch Differences as
may arife from time to time

35

36

An Example of a Controverfie compofed in the A-
poftles Times

37

Some Obfervations concerning the Nature and Use-
fulness of General Councils

38

Concerning the Condition of the Chriftian Church
under the Pagan Princes

39

Concerning its Condition under the Chriftian Em-
perours

The Church has nos changed her Nature of being
Colledge or Society ~

40

B

41

Neither are Sovereigns thereby become Bishops 42
Christian Sovereigns are obliged to maintain and
defend the Church

43

Of the Prerogatives of Princes in Ecclefiastical

Affairs

44

Of the Power of Sovereigns over the Church Mi-

45

nifters
Of the Power of calling a Synod or Convention 46
Of them Power, as to Church-Difcipline

47

Of their Power of making Laws and Ecclefiaftical
Constitutions

48

49

How far Sovereigns are obliged to intermeddle
in Religious Affairs, when the Publick, Safety
lies at stake
Concerning Toleration of feveral Religions
Princes ought to be very careful not to be led away
by falfe Suggestions

50

51
Some-

Sometimes the Prerogatives of Sovereigns are im

paired under a religious Pretext

Concerning the Power of fetting up a Reformation

S

Whether Subjects without the concurrence of the

Sovereigns can pretend to fet up a Reforma

tion

K

THE

f

OF THE

Nature and Qualification

O F

RELIGION,

In REFERENCE to

CIVIL SOCIETY, &c.

A

.

Mong all thofe Questions, which have for many Ages paft been Controverted among Chriftians, this may be deem'd one of the Chiefeft, which Treats of the Nature, Authority, and Power of the Church; and which of the feveral Chriftian Sects ought most juftly to claim the Title of the True Church. The Romanists keep this for their last Reserve, when Engag'd with the Proteftants, That they Attribute the Name of the True Church only to themfelves, and boldly ftigmatize all fuch as are not of their Communion,with the Names of rebellious Deferters. This is the main Bulwark they rely upon, thinking it fufficient to Alledge in their own chalf, That they are not obliged fo ftriatly o Examin, and maintain every Article of their