Quest. LXI. In what sense is it true that some say, that the magistrate only hath the external government of the church, and the pastors the internal?
Answ. 1. Not as external and internal are opposed in the nature of the action. For the voice of the pastor in preaching is external, as well as the king’s.
2. Not as they are opposed in the manner of reception. For the ears of the auditors are external recipients from the preacher as well as from the king.
3. Not as distinguishing the parts that are to obey, the duties commanded, and the sins forbidden, as if the king ruled the body only and the pastor the soul. For the soul is bound to obey the king, or else the body could not be bound to obey him; unless by cords. And the body must obey the preacher as well as the soul. Murder, drunkenness, swearing, lying, and such other external vices, are under the pastor’s power to forbid in Christ’s name, as well as the king’s.
4. Not as if all the external parts or actions of religion were exempted from the pastor’s power. For preaching, praying, reading, sacraments, church assemblies, are external parts of religion, and under the pastor’s care.
But in two respects the external power is only the king’s or civil magistrate’s. 1. As it is denominated from the sword, or mulcts, or corporal penalties, which is the external means of execution; though in this respect the distinction were far more intelligibly expressed by, The government by the sword, and by the sacred word.
2. But the principal sense of their distinction is the same with Constantine’s, who distinguished of a bishop without and within; or of our common distinction of intrinsic and extrinsic government. And though internal and external have the same signification, use maketh intrinsic and extrinsic more intelligible. And by internal is meant that power which intrinsically belongeth to the pastor’s office as instituted by Christ; and so is intrinsical to the pastorship and the church (as preaching, praying, sacraments, the keys of admission and exclusion, ordination, &c.). And by external is meant, that which is extrinsical to the pastorship and the church; which princes have sometimes granted them, but Christ hath made no part of their office. In this sense the assertion is good, and clear, and necessary; that the disposal of all things circa sacra, all accidents and circumstances whatsoever, which by Christ’s institution are not intrinsical to the pastorship and church, but extrinsical, do belong to the power of kings and magistrates.
As Bishop Bilson of Obed. useth still to distinguish them; with many others. See B. Carlton of Jurisdiction.