Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	church_n	zeal_n	zealous_a	103	3	9.0738	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A79995	The civil magistrates povver in matters of religion modestly debated, impartially stated according to the bounds and grounds of scripture, and answer returned to those objections against the same which seem to have any weight in them. Together with A brief answer to a certain slanderous pamphlet called Ill news from New-England; or, a narrative of New-Englands persecution. By John Clark of Road-Island, physician. By Thomas Cobbet teacher of the church at Lynne in New-England. This treatise concerning the christian magistrates power, and the exerting thereof, in, and about matters of religion, written with much zeal and judgement by Mr. Cobbet of New-England, I doe allow to be printed; as being very profitable for these times. Feb. 7th. 1652. Obadiah Sedgwick.	Cobbet, Thomas, 1608-1685.	1653 (1653)	Wing C4776; Wing B4541; Thomason E687_2; Thomason E687_3; ESTC R206875	97,858	126

corrupt Practises in matters of Religion mentioned in those severall worthy Laws Nor hath either State or Souldiery any cause to condemn their own renowned acts of Zeal for the Lord in some exemplary punishments which accordingly they have already inflicted upon some persons for such like offences but they shall assuredly find it good to be alwayes zealous in a good thing And as they have begun to shew themselves to be indeed with Christ and not against him so to continue and go on in despite of all false or malignant spirits or tongues And as for you most Noble Sir who in your Military way have had so many Military disputes for the Causes of the Lord if it be vile to be for Jesus Christ be you yet more vile only still keeping as through Grace you have done hitherto low in your own eyes so shall you at length after you have stood and in your way also have fought for Christ and his Cause com to receive that incorruptible Crown of Righteousness which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give you at that day and not to you onely but to all those which love his appearing Which shall be ever his prayer who is Sir Lynne in New-Engl this 4th of the 8th 52. Your Excellencies humbly devoted Servant THOMAS COBBET To the Reader CHristian and Courteous Reader thou canst not but see if thou wisely observest the designs now on foot in these last and perillous days that Satan being disturbed and in a maner dethroned from his so large Dominions possessed under him by his eldest son the Great Antichrist he is now stirring up many petty Antichrists who being in pretence for Christ do some way or other oppose and undermine Christ in his Person Titles Offices or Truths And surely It is none of the least amongst those renowned Titles of his that he is King of Kings and Lord of Lords he under and for whom higher Civil powers do and must rule That Great Antichrists master-piece was in the first place to ham-string Civil powers from having any thing to do in matters of Religion or of the Church further than as servants and indeed vassals unto the Pope as visible Head of the Church or to the Mother Church of Rome or at least to Church Councils and Synods to execute onely their Decrees and Laws But since that Civil powers have broken those cursed bonds of Antichrist and shook off that tyrannical yoke of that man of sin and have through grace seen it their approved dignity from the Lord and duty to him to improve their Civil Authority to the utmost against that man of sin and all his usurpations and inventions Satan stirreth up others to prosecute the same design insubstance albeit under more specious pretences even to despoil Civil powers of that which is their glory and crown even as Civil powers to serve the Lord Jesus their Lord and to improve their Authority to establish his Laws and Government onely within their jurisdictions and to root out whatsoever opposeth and undermineth the same The Devils name is Belial one without yoke at least in his desire and indeavor and he breatheth that masterless licentious spirit in such as he effectually worketh They were children of Belial that sayd of Saul 1 Sam. 10. 27. How shall this man save us and they despised him and brought him no presents thence that Spirit and Speech of theirs of old Psal 12. Our tongues are our own who is Lord over us we will maintain hold and say what we please without controul from any this Spirit was in Corah and his Company who at once contemned and condemned those two main Ordinances of God Magistracy and Ministry they were Levellers they would have none in office above others in the Common-wealth or in the Church Num. 16. 3. They gather against Moses and Aaron saying unto them ye take too much upon you seeing all the Congregation is holy every one of them and the Lord is among them wherefore then lift you up your selves above the Congregation of the Lord the self same spirit Jude saith shall be in some licentious Preachers and professours who shall turn the grace of God into wantonness Jude 4. Walk after their own lusts ver 16. and ver 8. Despise dominion and speak evill of dignities namely not so much of persons in Office in Church or Common-wealth as of their very Offices and ver 11. They perish in the gain-saying of ●ore these have Corahs speeches up in substance what are not all the Lords people Saints and must one Saint be so much above another are they not all one in Christ Jesus is not the Lord among them as their onely Lord Judge King and Law-giver and must they have any other of these also Peter another witness testifieth 2 Pet. 2. 1. There were false Prophets among the people even as there shall be false teachers among you who shall privily bring in pernicious Heresies and ver 10. some of their black marks are that they despise Government Civill or Ecclesiasticall Presumptuous are they self-willed they are not afraid to speak evill of Dignities and ver 19. they promise their fellows Liberty they themselves are the servants of corruption Seducers and erring spirits they know well enough that under Christ there is no ordinary means left to restrain and punish their extravagancies but Government in Church and Common-wealth therefore it is wont to be a constant concomitant of Errour and Heresie to become a back friend to Magistracy and Ministry to civill Jurisdiction and to Church Discipline common experience in these dayes witnesseth this when Magistracy and Ministry both are either wholly cryed down by too many erring spirits or so enervated and dispoiled of their proper worth and power by others that they have little left but the bare title and name of such if the Magistrate be allowed by some his power in matters of the second Table yet the other half of his politicall power in matters of the first Table he may not assume Religious States may not they think in wisdom tolerate State errours and the ventings of them but if dangerous errours in Religion are scattered and spread they must let them alone As if civill maxims were more near and dear to Christ under whom Magistrates rule than the matters of his own sacred truth or that matters in politiques were more blisfull or fatall to their Christian subjects than those in Religion or that Christian regulated Magistrates should leave that at a loose end even matter of sound doctrine which is the very bond of Christian societies under their power bodily murtherers they will yield must be capitally punished but if the Wine of Intoxicating and Infatuating doctrine of errour vented and broached by corrupt members of Deut 32. 33. the Church be the Poison of Dragons and venom of Aspes if whosoever eateth of those Cockatrice Eggs which they hatch dyeth spiritually if they commit a thousand soul murthers yet Isa 59. 5.

THE CIVIL MAGISTRATES POVVER In matters of Religion Modestly Debated Impartially Stated according to the Bounds and Grounds of Scripture And Answer returned to those Objections against the same which seem to have any weight in them TOGETHER WITH A Brief Answer to a certain Slanderous Pamphlet called Ill News from New-England or A Narrative of New-Englands Persecution By JOHN CLARK of Road-Iland Physician By Thomas Cobbet Teacher of the Church at Lynne in New-England Take us the foxes the little foxes which spoil the vines c. Cant. 2. 15. Rulers are not a terror to good works but to the evill c. Rom. 13. 3. This Treatise concerning the Christian Magistrates Power and the exerting thereof ' in and about matters of Religion written with much zeal and judgement by Mr. Cobbet of New-England I doe allow to be printed as being very profitable for these times Feb. 7th 1652. Obadiah Sedgwick LONDON Printed by W. Wilson for Philemon Stephens at the Gilded Lion in Paul's Churchyard 1652. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE OLIVER CROMWEL Captain General of all the Forces of the Commonwealths of England Scotland and Ireland Grace Mercy and Peace be multiplied THrice noble Sir whom not Man alone hath honored with greatest dignity of highest Military Command but the God of Glory also hath dignified as with peculiar Interests in his speciall Grace and Favour in Jesus Christ and with an abundant measure of the saving Graces of his blessed Spirit so with a glorious and prosperous success in all your weighty undertakings let it not seem overmuch boldness in me who am a stranger to you by face that I send forth this following Discourse into the world under the shadow of your Lordships Name It seemeth according to our best intelligence here that the subject of this Discourse beginning to grow the great controversal business of these polemick times your Honour with some other of the Lords Worthies in England have expressed some desire of yours that something might be spoken thereunto Now I having begun to do something that way formerly and though the most unworthy of any such respect from such choice Favourites of the Lord being often moved by some of our honoured Magistrates and reverend Elders here to present it to publique view I began to conclude that it might be now seasonable so to do And although I were a very babe in comparison of others for abilities and wisdom to manage so weighty a cause of the Lord yet I remembred him that said Out of the mouthes of babes and sucklings thou hast ordained strength that thou mightest still the voice of the enemy and the avenger so that I was incouraged not alone to put forth this discourse but to make use of your Lordships Name therein Besides we receiving certain information Renowned Worthy of your dear respects to the Churches here as also to our Civill State which I trust New-England doth not nor ever will forget even your cordial appearing for us who are so much subject to the reproach of tongues at so great a distance together with your charitable frequent expressions of the good opinion you have of us This also Right Honourable the rather moved me as a Member of this Polity even in way of Gratitude to dedicate to your Excellency this Apology for Civill Christ an Governments why they ought in their Civil and Political way to restrain and punish abuses and enormities even in matters of the Lord of the Church You truly noble and valiant Sir have quit your self like a man of God in managing your Military weapons in defence of the Civill State in England against all opposers of them for their exemplary acts of Justice which they did both upon delinquent Statesmen and as they are called Churchmen too even the Prelates and their retinue Yea you have to your utmost in your Military way managed that cause at first covenanted by the State which was not alone the bringing of all sorts of Delinquents to their condign punishment but the reforming of matters of Religion in Engl according to the Word of God the pattern of the purest Churches wherfore right worthy Sir what you have fought so many bloody battels for in the field now stand couragiously and plead stoutly for it in peace Israels General Joshuah was not more famous for his prowess victories over the Canaanites in the field than for his care of setling Religion in the people acding to Gods mind when the War was ended witness those memorable passages that way recorded Josh 23. chap. 24. King David is renowned for the like care who after the inhabitants of the land were given into his hand and the land was subdued before the Lord and his people 1 Chr. 22. 14. Now saith he set your hearts and souls to seek the Lord your God and arise and build his Sanctuary c. And chap. 27. he gathereth the chief Civill and Military Commanders before him and ver 8. he chargeth them all in their severall places callings and conditions to keep and seek for all the Commandements of God and he joyneth with him in special the chief Commanders of the Army in a Civil way to help on the Work of Religion and of the Church mentioned 1 Chr. 25. 1 c. Let not therefore the least thought arise in your Noble breast Right honorable Sir that it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for you to meddle in such matters or to maintain things of that nature But let Holiness and the defence and maintainance thereof be written upon your hors bridle as it will be upon theirs whose Conversion we are even waiting for Zach. 14. 20. Who will be presently up in arms for Christ and his cause against which they were so long hardened That returning Shulamites Portraiture is represented by the company of two Armies Cant. 6. last of whom more also is spoken Zac 12. 5 6 7 8. Jesus Christ himself is represented as the Generall of the Field and owning the godly Souldiery as his Army who in a cause of Religion shall by the dint of the sword be instruments to bring Antichrist and his Abettors to their deserved ruin Rev. 17. chap. 19. Yea but could not Jesus Christ destroy them by his own immediate hand and is not his Truth and Word of force to overthrow all that is contrary to it Yea verily yet is it the will and pleasure of Jesus Christ by humane externall forcible means to restrain and punish such offendors in matters of Religion wherefore neither the State nor Souldiery of England have any cause to repent of their Covenant Ingagements in their several respective ways to endeavour the bringing it about that Religion there may be reformed according to the Word of God and the best patterns of the purest Churches Nor hath the State of England any cause to retract any wholsom penall Laws which they have made the 2. of May 48. or since against so many blasphemous and false Doctrines and

Numb 11. what such Godly Rulers do God saith he doth I will take away all thy Tin 3. R. If Highest Civill Authority ought to repeal persecuting Laws respecting Religion and so free their Subjects from being any more liable to punishment in neglect thereof then may they make Laws in matters of Religion But the former is true Ergo the latter The consequence of the proposition appeareth in that it must be one and the same power to make Laws about Religion or the Church as to unmake Laws about the same or to repeal them nor can a Law be legally or regularly repealed but by a Law of Equall Authority with the Former the Assumption we have all cause thankfully to acknowledge to Gods praise in the Laws of Edward the sixt of Q. Elizabeth and of this present Parliament of England besides those of other godly Reforming States 4. R. If Civill Authority may make Laws about Religion and the Church to incourage or reward the same with Civill favours who shall observe the same then may they make Coercive Laws with reference to Civill punishments to such as transgress the same but the former is true Ergo the consequence appeareth in that it is the work of the same civill power to render praise to Publique commanded weldoing to be in a like Authorative way a terror to evill doers Rom. 13. 3. 4. the Assumption none will deny if they would It s Scripture proof witness the example of Darius the Mede Dan. 6. 26. 5. of Cyrus the first Ezera 1. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. so of that other Darius Ezra 6. and Artaxerses Ezra 7. 5. R. If Civill Authority may not make such Lawes with reference to Civill punishments or rewards to ratefie what the Lord that way Injoyneth or forbideth in Religion it is because therein they either usurp Church-power or transgress some rule of God but they do neither thereby Ergo the Assumption is proved thus they usurp not Church-power therein because what ever the Church may do in a Church way is not now the question but to be sure the Church can make nothing like a Law in any Civill and Politicall way or with reference to Civill rewards or punishments and what rule of God they transgress is yet to be instanced in 6. R. Bcause if not alone particular Ministers but a very Synod and Assembly of the Officers of the Churches in a Religious State who in an ordinary and oderly way are to guide and lead the godly Civil Rulers and Ecclesiastically to determin what is the mind of God touching matters of Religion about which their Rulers are to make Laws if such an Assembly I say should be corrupt in the Major part of it who must Authoratatively reduce them into order not an Universall Bishop as the Pope nor an ecumenicall Counsell which is scarce Imaginable to be said now adaies Nor the Minor part of the Church Officers there met or of their Churches to whom they do belong The Minor part being in Foro externo humane the weaker and lesser force and weight and since in a Church-way they cannot do it by way of other force they must not assay it They may not use the temporall sword as they are either Churches or as Ecclesiasticall Synods Math. 26. 53. now the Civill Magistrate or none upon Earth in an orderly way must help and if the Civill Magistrate legally help and regularly then by Virtue of some State-Law provided for that purpose Yea if such a Synod should in the Major part of them make decrees flatly cross to the word of God they must make Civill Laws to make them null if not one or two but an Assembly of the Nurses of the Churches children should combine together to prison them as a very Kennell of Wolves or a company of Foxes Agree to destroy the Lambs of the Flock these Politicall Nurse-fathers Esay 25. 12. And Shepheards Mich. 7. 5. must help against such mischiefes seasonably and provide to restrain the same by holsom Laws Edicts and the like and suitable punishments executed Object Yea but Civill Authority may be Corrupt Ans True saith Reverend Mr. Beaza lib. de haereticis Magistratu puniendis For the Churches suffering for sins provoking to that Judgement and for triall for such as are godly but in the mean space saith he For fear of Tiranny to spoil the Magistrate of one Chief part of his Jurisdiction and leaving the Ordinary Remedy to look for an extraordinary one is not good with divers other passages to like purpose R. 7. Because the rule of Relates requireth that those to whom we are Politically subject as to the highest Civill power do in like sort as we are subject to them give forth Laws for our Spirituall and Ecclesiasticall good or restraint of the contrary evill as under a Civll respect and coming under their Cognizance but to highest Civill Authority are all sorts Churches Members or Officers of Churches c. even every soul to be subject in a Politicall way Therefore in the like Politicall way may they make such Laws for the Spirituall and Ecclesiasticall good of Churches and of their Officers and Members and for the restraint of the contrary evills both propositions are grounded upon Rom. 13. 1 2 3 4. Let us now briefly Answer what some may object against this Conclusion Obj. 1. We have one Law-giver in the matters of God and the Church and therefore not so many as highest Civill Courts to give us Laws that way Ans True we have one onely Law-giver who is Absolute Supreme and Infallable which alone giveth us forth Laws in matters of God or the Church Nor may any other give forth other Laws that way for substance then what he first delivereth to them Yet this hindreth not but this onely Law-giver having delivered his royall mind and will therein that other Politicall Ministers of his and whom he substituteth under him to look to it that these Laws be executed should yea and ought in their Politicall way to ratefie and promulge these Laws of their Soveraign and ours and improve their utmost power Politically to incourage such as shall Externally at lest observe the same or discourage such as shall openly and obstinately transgress the same Civill Magistrates are Earthly Gods under the God of Heaven and Earth Psal 82. and are according to God to improve all their power for God and against open scandalous sinners against him And one chief part of their power being Legislative power they are in their Politicall way to improve that power for God as well as to put forth their remunarative or vindicative power actually for God in matters of God or man of Religion or Righteousness of the first or second Table both Tables being committed to their keeping as their Politicall charge 2. God onely gave Laws to his Church in matters of God of old and was the onely Law-giver yet alowed the name of Lawgiver even in respect of Religion also to Moses

respecting Christ our blessed Prophet and high Priest and Counsellor Esay 9. 6. Which Prophet whosoever shall not hear shall be destroyed from his People Acts 3. 22 23. But respecting the Ministers of the Churches of the Gospel from whom the mind and sentence of God in controversall cases is to be sought by all sorts and being found is to be followed by all sorts whence that by allusion to the Priests under the Law yet respecting the time of the Gospell Ezek. 44. 23 24. And the id est the Priests shal teach my People id est Members of Churches whether Civill Rulers or Subjects the difference between the clean and unclean and cause men to discern between clean and unclean And in controversie they shall stand in Iudgement and they shall Iudge it onely with this limitation According to my Iudgements where by Judging he intendeth the Ecclesiasticall Judging which appertaineth to Church-Officers and not a Civill and Politicall Judging which is peculiar to the Civill Magistrate of which more anon Conc. 3. That Civill rulers are to call upon the Ministers of the Churches under their Jurisdiction to expound the whole Counsell of God to their people especially about such matters of Religion or of the Church as they are by Law to Establish Hence that Act of Iehoshaphat sending abroad the Priests and Levites to teach those Cities the mind and Counsell of God what was according or repugnant thereunto before he sent out Civill Judges to deal in their Judiciall way with them concerning matters of that nature 2 Chron 17. 7 8 9. compared with Chapter 19. 4 5 6. Conc. 4. That in all matters of Religion or of the Church the Laws which Civill Authority do establish they must establish them by and with the consent of the people either in themselves or their representatives this strengthning their Politicall Laws that they bind Scientes Volentes As Asah willing to make a binding Capitall Law about Religion by his Authority he summoneth the people with whose consent it is made 2 Chron. 15. 9. He gathered all Judah and Benjamin c. and they decreed that vers 13. That whosoever would not seek the Lord should be slain So Jonah 3. 4. It s said the people believed the Lord and proclaimed a Fast but vers 7. that business of the decree for the Fast is applied to the King as his Act by the consent of the Nobles or chief heads of the people and so representing the people by the light and Law of Nature these Pagan Ninevites learned this to be an orderly way of making such like decrees in such like matters of Religion it self whence also was that course taken in the case of a coercive Law to be made about a business of Religious worship for the matter of it allthough in the form of that worship to be decreed of it were devilish It is to be made by the representative Estates of the Persian Kingdom which being a Kingdom was then to be established by the King Dan. 6. 7 8 9 The rulers of thy Kingdom the Officers and Governors the Counsellors and Dukes have consulted together to make a decree for the King and to establish a Statute that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty dais save of thee O King he shall be cast into the Den of Lions Now O King confirm the decree c. When Iehoshaphat was to make that Order about the particular matter of Religion He consulteth with the people 2 Chron. 20. 21. And When he had consulted with the people he appointed singers unto the Lord and that should praise the beauty of holiness as they went before the Army and to say Praise ye the Lord for his mercy indureth for ever Which may serve to take off that offence of some against politicall Laws to be made this way because it will be a forcing of Christian people in matters of Religion since the Laws which are made that way are virtually and interpretatively made with their own free consent As made either by their own free consent personally if not too great a body to be ordinarily called together in one Assembly or at least by their own free consent in their Representatives where the body of the people eannot ordinarily be called together to debate such matters or express personall consent to the Laws which Civill Authority do make about matters of Religion or of the Church which are in themselves doubtfull and not meerly made so by mens wiles and Satans sleights They must be made with great latitude and tender respects to such as are really and truly tender in conscience even Politicall ●hepheards must not over-drive their Flock and such Lambs would be carried in their armes A fourth instruction from the Premises if Civill Authority are so to restrain and punish such matters then are they in their Politicall way to Judge which things acted by the outward man in cases of Religion are contrary to the word and which are not Else shall they sin in a high degree in censuring Politically that as contrary to the word of which they have no right nor power to determine politically either one way or other Job who was a right godly man Job 1. 1. and a man of chief Civill rule in this Country as chap. 29. 7. he had a chief place in the Gate in the seat of Judgement verse 9 even Princes kept silence when he was to speak He Judicially delivered the Fatherlesse verse 12. Brake the Laws of the wicked verse 17. and verse 25. I chose out or as the Geneva Translation hath it I appointed out their way and sate as a King in an army as the Generall of the Field hath with his Councill of War being the highest Military power chief Military Judgement both what Military Orders to make about the common Souldiery and what courses are most advantageous or disadvantageous to the good of the whole or what acts of the Souldery are to be punished or contrariwise incouraged and what particular rewards or punishments such or such particular facts of the Souldiery deserve in way of subordination and conformity unto the Laws of that higher Civil power whose Military Ministers they are so have highest Civill Authority in religious States the like highest politicall Judgement what acts of the outward man respecting Religion are to be incouraged or discouraged in their subjects and in what way and what orders to make for that end so as in way of general conformity and subordination to the Laws of God and Christ whose Ministers they are and so as may be warranted from the Word of God either expresly or by just consequence Job did not leave every one under his authority to chuse what way themselves pleased or judged the best either in matters of Religion or of Righteousness but he in his authoritative politicall way determined that for them he appointed and chose out their way Nor doth he mention this as any injustice in

Morall part of it He is then a politicall Judge of that which is or which is not according to the Word in the latter and why not upon like grounds in the former both being equall in this that they are both Gods Tables Mat. 22. 38 39. the second is like to this saith Christ As Gods Tables they are the Magistrates charge from God R. 2. Because supposing Churches in their Messengers met in an assembly to debate of matters of Religion and in particular of the matters of the Church and the Civill Magistrate after their debates and determinations thereof as according to the Word be desired to establish their Determinations for Laws now must the Civill regulate Magistrate either examine and censure such Conclusions of the Synod whether they are or are not Scripture proof before he doe politically establish them for Laws and so he is a politicall Judge what is or what is not according to the Word or he is not at all to meddle thus to try and judge of such Decrees whether according to the Word or not but to establish them at random and at a peradventure upon a bare supposall of the Synods fidelity which is to establish implicite faith and to make the Civill Magistrate according to Popish doctrine a servant to Councils which would make Princes have no light but as the Moon what they borrow from the Sun either of their representative Church or of the Catholick Church of Rome or of the Head thereof the Pope yea this were to deny to the regulated and so to the godly Magistrate in his publique way what is recorded as a commended duty in private Christians and what is plainly commanded them of God in their private way namely to try all things and to hold fast that which is good 1 Thes 5. 21. yea though delivered by such a one as Paul an Apostle yet to search the Scriptures dayly whether those things were so Acts 17. 11 12. Yea but it may be the Civill Magistrate will judge that the Decrees are not according to the Word when indeed they are and proceed to punish such as had a hand even in such Conclusions because he judgeth them cross to the Word Ans 1. The regulate Magistrate of whom we speak who studieth the Word day and night is godly wise c. hath Gods warrant for it as possible and ordinary to him as subject and faithful to the Head that a divine sentence is in the Kings lips his mouth Deut. 17. Psal 2. Pro. 16. 10 transgresseth not in judgement and that Princes shall rule in judgement Esay 32. 1. 2. If transgressing his Rules and leaving his Guides and Counsellors God his Spirit Word and Servants he will follow a corrupt and misguided judgement or will of his own or others he lyeth open as to divine judgments so to humane censures allso whether from the body of the Commonwealth orderly assembled or represented or the like and in case of obstinate persisting in any such publique and palpable breaches of the Lords Rules the particular Churches whereof either such highest or inferiour Magistrates are they have their Church way of censuring and healing such offending brethren of theirs R. 3. If the Magistrate as a publique politicall Nurse-father to the Church be to rescue the Church from noysom milk provided for the Church of Beleevers by such as should be Nurses yea though met in a Synod and decreeing it to be the Word then is he politically to judge what is or what is not according to the Word yea in case wherein others judge the contrary but the former is true as Is 49. 22. sheweth ergo the latter The consequence if to rescue from such food then to judge of it is evident for if he may not or cannot judge it to be corrupt food how can he rescue the Church from such food as is corrupt R. 4. If the Magistrate as the publique keeper of the peace of the Commonwealth as all grant him to be is to punish the disturbers of it when some pretending grosser errors in the contrary party do carry it schismatically then is he to be politicall Judge in matters of Religion as say in Christian Commonwealths Assemblies or Synods there should be rents amongst those they call Independents among themselves or those they call Presbyterians amongst themselves differing upon some points amongst themselves and both sides violently carryed in their apprehensions and both sides pleading Scriptures both for what they hold and for what they doe thus violently in pursuit of what they hold the Magistrate now o none must be a politicall Judge and helpless like careless Gallio when even insurrections are made amongst the Religious party as were the Iews upon pretence of false doctrine held forth in matters of divine worship by an adverse party as was Paul and his companions the Civill Magistrate must think it reason to Iudge onely in matters of injuries twixt man and man or the like but by no means to be a Judge in any such matters of the worship of God For I will be saith Gallio no Iudge of such matters Acts 18. 13 14 15 16 17. But who seeth not that this is recorded as a blemish in that careless deputy of Achaia Yea but the Churches may call their respective Members or Officers to an account for such outrages and as cause is censure them Ans It s possible the schism and Rent may be such that the Major part of the Church or Churches may be the corrupter part and the Minor part too weak to carry it in a Church-way against them Bue if the Churches had strength to carry it against the respective delinquent Members yet the Churches Iudgement is onely Ecclesiasticall and the means of prosecution of its Iudgement onely Ecclesiasticall the Church cannot Iudge Civilly or use Civill and politicall means to prosecute such a Iudgement to effect and so cannot heal breaches of the Civill peace made by such outrages Yea but the Magistrate should call the sincerer part to meet again though the Minor part Ans If he do yet he must be supposed to Judge which is the sincerer part how else knoweth he whom he should call together as the sincerer part and if he politically Judge and act Magistratically from his politicall Judgement in calling that sincerer part together and the Magistrate siding with the Minor part as politically Judging them the sincerer part and politically condemning the erring part although the Major part and although pleading Scripture also both for what they hold and do in violent prosecution thereof Now the Civill Magistrate doth both politically Judge what doctrines and practices are or are not according to the word of God yea he herein doth politically Iudge the usuall and ordinary Ecclesiasticall Iudge either in a Church or Synod Namely the Major part 5. R. If the Civill Magistrate be to punish transgressors of the Law indefinitely and to take vengeance upon open evill doers then even upon erring

〈◊〉 〈◊〉 restraine them The second branch is as evident that it is a toleration of that which tendeth to break the peace c. for errours and such like corruptions in religion trouble the Churches which are the choicest societies in that polity hence that Gal. 5. 10. 12. I would to God they were cut off which trouble you speaking of seducers and Acts 20. 30. they draw away or rent away as members from the body disciples after them hence that reasoning of Paul 1 Cor. 11. 18. I hear there are divisions 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 schismes amongst you which he proveth vers 19. thus For there must needs be heresies amongst you c. as if the one is a necessary cause of the other where there are heresies amongst Church-Members there will be Schismes True it is Churches have their wayes of healing such evills in their members as they have to heale other scandalous evills in them as drunkennesse lying c. but that hinders not Gods civill ordinance of the Magistrates coercive power also more in the one then in the other yea errours and heresies are wont to breed troubles and divisions in civill societies Hence those seducers and their followers who turne the grace of God into wantonnesse Jude 4. and are filthy dreamers vers 8. are branded for seditious persons in Common-wealths even such as come justly to perish as sometimes seditious Corah did vers 11. perish in the gain-saying of Core Hence those black brands of seducers who have a forme of godliness that they are traitourous heady high-minded truce-breakers false accusers fierce c. making their times perilous 2 Tim. 3. 1. 3 4 5. and that he speaketh that of seducers vers 6 7 8 9 13. declare Hence those also in Jude are branded for murmurers and complainers Jude 16. ever and anon quarrelling against matters in Church and State 1 so Tim. 6. 3 4. the very fruits of false doctrines are reckoned to be envy strifes railings evill surmises and perverse disputes and as that Apostle reckoneth those fruits of the flesh Gal. 5. 19. as concomitants so doubtlesse by purety of proportion those adjoyned v. 26. contentions seditions Heresies c. those Antichristian seducers Revel 16. 13 14. are persons of turbulent spirits in civill states stirring up to warres and the like that Impostor and seducer Theudas mentioned Acts 5. as a murtherer and seditious person Histories ancient and moderne are full of examples of this nature of persons of corrupt Principles in religion becoming movers and Abettors of civil Seditions The third branch that it is a toleration of that which breaketh religious States hedges and walls c. appeareth that hedge Job 1. 10. Zech. 2. 4. 5. and wall of fire of Gods gracious protecting providence over such a State is undermined by such things As Adam was naked in that respect Gen. 3. 10. so was the State of corrupted Israel naked Exod. 32. 25. before their Idolatry was punished Moses saw that they were naked and as a meanes of recovery of their wonted covering he commandeth the civill execution of Justice upon some for terrour to all the rest vers 26 27. those fox-like false Prophets Ezek. 13. 4 5. let alone did spoile the vines and break the hedges and saith God both to Church and State Rulers Yee have not gone up into the gap neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the Lord. Their care should have been to have prevented such breaches thereby but yet though the hedge was broken a gap made and warre from God prepared against them all might have done well enough had not State and Church Officers both been too indulgent and remisse in punishing the causes of such mischiefs Hence also when such corruptions in Ministry and Worship mentioned Ezek. 22. 26 27. are let alone verse 30. we read of a gap made and no man of Authority being found to make it up for the Land that God should not destroy it Therefore saith God vers 31. I have poured out 1 Kings 11. 1 2 3 4 5 6. c. mine Indignation upon them Corruptions in religion connived at and too much countenanced by Solomon in his wives rent that Kingdome in pieces whence by punishing such corruptions in religion evill is said to be put away from Israel Deut. 17. 2. 3. 7. as if otherwise Israel had been exposed to that evill R. 7. Such a toleration of such corruptions before mentioned it interpretatively by God himselfe a kicking at Religion and honouring of such as hold forth and practise those corruptions in religion above the Lord himselfe and therefore undeniably not to be yielded unto by regulated civill Rulers the consequence none but profane spirits will deny the antecedent is evident by that 1 Sam. 2. 12. to 16. compared with 23 24 25 29. verses It was a corrupt religious custome to snatch out in that sort what first came to hand and forcibly to take the fat of the peoples sacrifices for the Priests use the matter was not fundamentall nor contrary to the light of nature but very justly offensive to God and men ver 17. Eli is told of all that as well as of other sins of his sons against the second Table he chideth them a little as a father but doth not as he was a Judge 1 Sam. 4. 18. He judged Israel forty yeares punish'd them according to their deserts he is indulgent they are let alone what is Gods censure of this v. 29. Wherefore kick yee not Hophni and Phineas only but Eli too at my acrifice and at mine offering c. and honourest thy sons above me to make your selves fat with the choicest of all the offerings of Israel God instanceth in this his indulgence towards his sons in that matter of that corrupt religious custome onely as if that was as vers 17. of most heinous guilt before him the sin of your young men was great before the Lord and it is observable since there is a purity of proportion Such Rulers as can be indulgent to g●osse errours and corruptions in religion in Gods worship and sacrifices they little regard Gods truth or worship they kick at i● in Gods account and if they will needs b● soever-tender of such as are not fit objects of their tendernesse they shew little tendernesse of Gods name truth worship or honour they it seemeth more regard them and their ease c. then God thou honourest thy sons above me now who would be so thought of by the Lord. R. 8. Such a toleration of such evills mentioned causeth the very evills themselves to be charged upon Rulers and bringeth the wrath of God upon them also ergo not to be yielded to by any godly wise Rulers the consequence none not prodigall of Rulers welfare will deny The Antecedent appeareth Solomon is said to goe after Ashteroth c. which as its thought was onely in respect of his connivence at and