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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A79892	Golden apples. Or Seaonable and serious counsel from the sanctuary to the rulers of the earth, held forth in the resolution of sundry questions, and cases of conscience about divisions, schisms, heresies, and the tolleration of them. Collected out of the writings of the most orthodox, and judicious divines, both Presbyterians, and Independents. / By Sa. Clarke, pastor in Bennet Fink.	Clarke, Samuel, 1599-1682.; Anthony, Burgess, d. 1644.	1659 (1659)	Wing C4518; Thomason E1881_3; ESTC R209888	84,688	239

the envious one the devil who delights to sow tares amongst the wheat Gal. 6.20 c. there are two Principles of all mens actions the Flesh the works whereof are Hatred Strife Emulations c. all tending to break Unity And the Spirit whose works are Love Peace Gentleness c. all uniting If thou wouldst then know who is a godly man judge of the Tree by its fruits Hence 1 Cor. 3.3 If there be Envyings and Divisions amongst you are you not carnal c. So James 3.13 14. Who is a wis●man Let him shew it by a good conversation with meekness And he devides Wisdo● into that which is earthly and devillish the mother of Envyings and Strife and the Wisdom which is from above which is pure peaceable c. therefore if any be given to Division Let not such glory saith the Apostle nor lie against the truth So then though a man pretend to never such singular gifts such extraordinary Teachings of Gods Spirit if he be contentious he is not to glory yea He lies against the truth Such will say It s for the Truth they have made these Divisions But its false the Truths of Christ are to be maintained by the Spirit of Christ For the wrath of man works not the Righteousness of God nor the perverseness of man the Truth of God Quest Quest What doth the word Schism signisie Answ First A Rent Division Breach Answ 1 or cuting off Secondly A Rent in the Church or a Division amongst Christians 1 Cor. 1.10 11 12. That there be no Dissentions amongst you The Original word is Schism Quest What is Schism Answ It s a Dissention Quest or separation in the Church when one Answ or more separate and rend themselves from the outward fellowship of the faithful cutting assunder the Peace Unity of the Church upon dislike of some Rites and Orders therein lawfully received and observed or else upon different opinions about their Teachers For As Heresie is a departing from the Communion of the Church in respect of Doctrine So Schism is a cutting off ones self for external things This St. Paul complains of 1 Cor. 1.10 c. Every one of you saith I am Paul's c. Schism is affirmed also of Division in Doctrine John 7.43 Quest Quest Whence doth Schism proceed Answ First Answ 1 It hath its beginning from Satan that first Schismatick Jude 6. who by his Tentations oft prevails with men to depart from God as he did with Adam in Paradise Secondly From the members of Satan who love to fish in troubled waters though all proceed not from the same cause For some make Rents in the Church through hatred as the Donatists did Some through Ambition and desire of Rule Thus the Papacy increased by great Schisms Others separate out of ignorance as the multitude did John 7.43 52. Others out of a vain admiration of their own worth and holiness as the Anabaptists Separatists c. of old Thirdly The true ground of all Love and Peace of all Concord Agreement can only be upon a motive of Godliness and Honesty Only good men can truly love one another because the motive of it is the Image of God and the cause of it Gods Command and the end of it to do good temporal and spiritual one to another Hence it s called Love in Faith Tit. 3.15 And in the Spirit Col. 1.8 Therefore if Gods people quarrel one with another it shews that their love was not because they were godly but for other ends And as for the wicked the very Heathen could say Amicitia nisi inter bonos esse non potest Friendship can only be upon grounds of goodness and Honesty Therefore if you see men to agree upon evil grounds because others are like themselves or for matter of profit or pleasure here is no sure concord Herod and Pilate cannot agree unless it be against Christ Wicked men never agree long together except it be to oppose Godliness Quest How many sorts of striving Quest or Contentions are there Answ First Good and laudable Answ 1 Thus we are commanded to contend for the faith To be in an Agony for it Ju●e 4. And we must in our places ever zealously quarrel with wicked men for the honor and glory of God This some call quarrelling and making tumults as Jer. 15.10 Woe is me b cause I am a man of Contention Why so because he reproved them for their sins Secondly Their is a sinfull and ungodly striving and that about a two-fold Object 1. In Civil Worldly things Quarrelling and Wrangling about them 2. In religious matters Thus some desire to be cavelling against the truth and to gain-say the Duties that are commanded or needlesly striving about idle Disputes that make not for godliness Tit. 3.7 A great disease of our times Quest Quest What are the causes of these Contentions Answ First Answ 1 In general The bitter poisonous fountain of corruption within every man Man by nature is a spider a Toad He can spit nothing but venom He is a Bramble that tears every one that comes near him Strife and Contentions are the works of the flesh Gal. 5.20 They come from the lusts in our members Jam. 4.1 Secondly The particular lusts whence they proceed Are 1. Pride Where Pride is there is Contention Prov. 13.10 A proud man cannot but strive as fire cannot but set all on a flame All our Divisions whether publique or private come from Pride Every man would have his Will to be done whereas lowliness of mind keeps all in peace 2. Ambition and vain-glory which comes near to Pride When men are ambitious for earthly Power or High places in the Church This makes many quarrels As did Absolons ambition for the Kingdom This like a great Whale Toon swallows up all the good and welfare of others 3. Malicious froward Dispositions Some are of such turbulent natures that they cannot be quiet but in disturbing others and have not only their tongues but their hearts set on fire by hell Jam. 3.6 These are dangerous persons in a Kingdom For they do to it as the devil did to the possessed body sometimes throw it into the water sometimes into the fire so they are also in Cities and Families If Peace-makers are blessed then strife-makers are cursed 4. Covetous and sinfull love to the things of the world As it s said Those two Pronouns Meum Tuum make all the strife in the world An unjust desire to have more then our own or lusting after other mens or discontent with our own present condition fills the world with strife 5. Impatience when we cannot with godly wisdom and patience pass by wrongs and injuries The Scripture bids us To requite evil with good and if one strike us on one cheek to turn the other Luke 6.29 And to prya for those that persecute us Luke 6.27,28 Quest Quest What are the sinfull effects of striving about worldly things and how ar● they discovered Answ First

good matter without good order is not warrantable The Disciples that would have fire come down from Heaven knew not what spirit they were of Uzzahs dreadfull punishment for touching the Ark should make us look not only to the Duty but to the order of it We must not do evil that good may come of it Rom. 3.8 The damnation of such is just Thirdly A third thing in Division is when men do not keep in their proper places and offices If the foot will be the eye or the hand the head this is monstrous St. Paul teaches every member in the body to keep to its own office and calling And Oh! that our times would learn this lesson we should not have such wofull confusions in Church and State as of late we have had what a blessed Unity and comely Order would Church and State be in if every member would do his proper work What have private men to do in a Pulpit What have souldiers to do in constituting a Civil Government or Governors Where is their Warrant How will they answer it to God or man They are commanded to offer violence to no man and to be content with their wages Luke 3.14 Fourthly I st Division and Faction when the passions of men are sowred and imbittered with any carnal distempers This sin first affects the heart and then breaks out into action Though men be in a good way and are for the Truth and Glory of God yet if they do it in passion and with a froward heart here is a sinful Division Gods Righteousness and Truth needs not our passions Quest Quest Whence else proceed these Divisions Answ Answ First From mens ignorance for so long as we know but in part there will be different opinions and difference in opinions breeds difference in affections Ignorant persons like Children are easily seduced and run into ways of Division Secondly From self-confidence and Arrogancy When men think they have better abilities and more worth in them then indeed they have This makes them bold and disturbers of the Churches peace as we see in Corah Dathan and Abiram Num. 16.3 They thought there was as much in every person as in the Priests that God had set apart for that Office All the Congregation is holy Hence Paul commands us not to mind high things Rom. 12.16 which are above our place or capacity So was it with David Psalm 131.1 Hence 1 Cor. 8.2 If any think that he knows any thing c. Thirdly From worldly hopes and desires of advantage Earthly gain made Judas make such a sad breach Men that judge gain to be godliness soon make shipwrack of faith and a good conscience 1 Tim. 6.5 Many of the Arch-Hereticks formerly made those Divisions because they missed of that worldly Pomp and greatness which they expected 4. Sometimes it proceeds from the Tyranny and scandalous lives of Church-Officers One cause that Tertullian turned a Montanist was the loose lives of the Roman Clergy Q. Quest What are the effects of Division and Disunion in the Church especially in the Ministry Answ First Answ 1 It s apt to beget Atheism and Irreligion in the people It makes them think that Religion is a meer notion or nothing and therefore they will look after it no more But woe to the world because of offences in this kind It had been better for such that they had never been born Secondly It much grieves and unsettles the hearts even of the godly themselves they know not what to pitch upon whilst one godly Minister saith it s a sin others that it is no sin This cannot but exceedingly perplex tender Consciences that would not sin for a world Thirdly At such times prophanness and ungodliness doth exceedingly increase and godliness decaies in the power of it For whereas Ministers should encourage godliness and decry and reprove sin they busie themselves in preaching up their opinions and promoting their particular way which edifieth not Indeed the least Truths of God are not to be neglected yea all things are to be tried but this is not the main business the one thing necessary is to seek the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness Fourthly These Divisions amongst Protestants do exceedingly harden the Papists in their way Quest Quest What then should people do when Ministers and Professors are thus divided Answ Answ 1 First Do not thou by thy pragmatical medling widen the difference and raise more dust the hot indiscret carriages of the Disciples do sometimes make a greater distance amongst the Teachers As Johns Disciples out of envy did what they could to stir up Johns spirit against Christ but he by his humility soon quenched those sparks John 3.30 Secondly Consider that those which are godly do agree in the fundamentals which are necessary to salvation and for other things we cannot expect Unity in this life where some have more knowledge and more grace and self-denial then others Thirdly Labor thou to have thy faith informed and setled out of Gods word The Ministry is that by which we do believe but we do not believe in it the Samaritans believed Christ upon the womans report at the first but afterwards they believed him for his own sake Fourthly Humble your selves under these differences when you see them not to go the same way or to preach the same things acknowledg that it is for the barrenness unteachableness and other sins of the hearers that God hath raised such contentions amongst us Quest Why is Unity so necessary Quest Answ Answ Because all things in Religion are reduced to one If therefore every thing in Religion tend to Unity why should not the people of God embrace it the several unities are made a notable argument to this purpose Eph. 4.1 where the Apostle having exhorted Christians to walk worthy of their Calling he instanceth in such graces as procure unity as lowliness meekness and forbearing one another the end of which graces is set down verse 3. endeavouring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace then verse 4. he shews the Reason why there should be such Unity there is one body Christ hath not many bodies All the people of God are one body and it s very destructive when one member of the body conspires against the welfare of another Again There is one Spirit there is but one spirit that enlightens and sanctifies the whole Church of God why then should there be so many wayes and opinions yet all pretended to be of the same spirit Indeed there are diversity of gifts and operations yet the same spirit But he doth not say Contrarieties and the same spirit for that is impossible Again There is one hope of our Calling we are called to one inheritance there is but one Heaven why therefore should we be so different by the way when one place of glory must hold all and if one Church cannot now contain us how shall we think that one heaven will Again There is one

Kingdom and if Satan were divided against Satan his Kingdom could not stand Quest Quest What other means may we use for procuring Unity and Peace Answ Answ First Let us all labor to make our peace with God and God will make us at peace one with another Tranquillus Deus tranquillat omnia If God be at peace with us he will make the very stones in the street to be at peace with us If our wayes please the Lord he will make our very enemies to be at peace with us Prov. 16.7 But when by sin we provoke God he hath threatned to dash us one against another Jer. 13.13 Secondly Take heed of that Socinian opinion mentioned before of an unbounded toleration of all Religions which will certainly bring confusion and at the same door that all Religions come in the true Religion will go out Thirdly be cloathed with humility and that 1. With humility of judgement to think that others may know the truth as well as our selves to have a low esteeme of our own understanding For he that thinks he knowes any thing knoweth nothing as he ought to know 1 Cor. 8.2 and if any man teach otherwise c. he is proud knowing nothing c. 1 Tim. 6.3 9. Let us not therefore be wise in our own eyes nor lean to our own understanding Prov. 3.5 2. With humility of heart An humble heart is a quiet peaceable heart and it will not distract or destroy the peace of a Nation by unnecessary disputations Fourthly labour for contempt of the world and all worldly things Divisions oft arise out of base covetousness the love of the world divided Demas from Paul Fifthly pray for the spirit of meeknesse patience long-suffering and for mortified affections For an angry mans stirreth up strife c. Prov. 29.22 Hence Mark 9.50 Have salt in your selves i. e. the salt of mortification and have peace one with another Sixthly let all thy private aimes be swallowed up in the publick good Let the cause of Christ and his Church be dearer to thee then thy own life and this frame of spirit will exceedingly incline thee to all lawful ways of peace and unity Seventhly Nip divisions in the bud and quench the fire of contention at the beginning Eighthly yeeld one to another for peace sake As Abraham who yeelded his right up to Lot for peace-sake Gen. 13.9 Ninthly take heed of groundless suspitions and jealousies one of another This is a great cause of many distempers amongst us Tenthly to heal our Divisions we must make conscience to silence all our private opinions and differences Rom. 14.22 Hast thou faith have it to thy self before God Disturb not the Church with thy private faith Indeed if it be absolutely necessary to salvation its charity to acquaint the Church of God with it but if we can be saved without it this is not a fit time to broach any new opinions Quest Quest Whether may Magistrates tyrannize over mens consciences Answ By no means Answ Yet it s the duty of Magistrates to restraine men from infecting their subjects with soul-destroying errours Magistrates are bound to keep such from spreading their infections to the undoing of the souls of their subjects as appears 2 Chron. 15.13 and 34.32 Ezra 10.8 Deut. 13.5 6. 2 Kings 23.1 they are Gods Ministers for this end Rom. 13.4 1 Pet. 2.19 they are not onely keepers but vindices utriusque tabulae punishers of those that transgress either of the Tables Indeed Magistrates are wisely to distinguish between persons and persons and between errours and errours Some persons are pious and peaceable others turbulent and furious Some errors are such as subvert the Faith and destroy the power of godlinesse Others are of a lesser nature which may consist with godlinesse and with an unity in the Faith and if it be lawful for them to shut up a man that hath the plague on his body that he may not infect others surely they may restrain a man that hath the plague of Heresie upon his soul that he may not destroy the souls of thousands For such Heresies do eat as a Canker Mr. Calam. Parl. Ser. Decem. 25. 1644 Quest Quest How may Schisme be distinguished A. Answ Cameron makes a twofold Schism First negative which consists in a personal forbearing of any thing which will undoubtedly pollute us and this is a good separation Secondly Positive when there is not only a denying of communion with others but a sudden consociating of themselves into distinct bodies into little Independent Congregations by themselves for the worship and service of God and this will not so easily as some imagine be justified to hold consistency with the peace and order which is so desirable in the Churches of Christ Quest Quest What conclusions may be laid down about separation Answ First Answ 1 that there must no separation be made from Fellowship with the Catholick Church for this would rend the very body of Christ himselfe He calls the Church his body the fulnesse of him that filleth all in all Eph. 1.23 It would dis-joynt that sweete harmony which is the beauty and strength of that body Ephes 4.16 In this our pilgrimage we must still be coming to this Church but never separating from it because in coming hither we come to Jesus the authour of the New Covenant Hebr. 12.22 23 24. Secondly we may not make a separation from a particular Church because there are some defects found in it For if defects binde us to separation to what particular Church shall we associate our selves wherein some defects will not be found Only the Church triumphant is absolutely perfect weeds will be springing up in all Gods gardens here upon earth Quest Quest But what if some wicked persons continue in Church society doth not that give occasion of separation to others A. Answ Tollerating of some wicked persons in a Church is not a sufficient ground for others presently to separate from it For 1. That tollerating may be only an errour and infirmity in the Church wherein we are to bear with it and not thereupon to separate from it So Ames in his cases of conscience l. 4. c. 24. Sect. 15. 2. Patience is to be used to a particular brother when he is overtaken with a fault Gal. 6.1 much more must we express it to a Church 3. The sudden separating of the godly is not a likely way to cure a sick Church but rather puts it into a more desperate condition Quest Quest Doth not fellowship with wicked men in the Ordinances make them ineffectual Answ Answ Their wickednesse makes them ineffectual to themselves yet not to such others whom the Lord inviteth and for whom he hath prepared these Gospel dainties Will a loving Father deny his children bread because some dogges are crept under the Table Hence 1 Corinth 11.28 Let a man examine himselfe He saith not Let him examine all others that come Object But 1 Cor. 5.6 Object the Apostle saith that a

little leaven leaveneth the whole lump Answ Answ Profane persons leaven a Church Physically not by their presence simply because they are there For then the presence of an hypoctite being in Church fellowship would leaven all if bare presence did it but morally by his impurity he being suffered without censure for so great an offence doth embolden and harden others in sin whereby the whole Congregation might in time be soured with such leaven The presence of an uncleane person cannot hurt you further then you make his uncleanness yours by not doing your duty against it Obj. But the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 10.17 Object You being many are one bread Answ Answ If an unworthy person coming to Gods Ordinances and enjoying communion with the Saints therein doth obtain this advantage so as by profession to seeme one bread and one body with them yet this doth not imply that the Saints are therefore made one with him in his wickednesse If an unclean person challenge more then is due to him this doth not devest the Saints of what is their due and their priviledge nor must it hinder them from performing that service that they owe to Christ being called to it they must remember Christ and his death though others forget him and their duty towards him Obj. Object But I cannot do those duties expressed Matth. 18.15 c. remaining in communion with such a particular Church may I not then separate Answ Answ 1 First in this case a man had need be clearly satisfied that such duties of admonishing c. there mentioned be his duty pro hic nunc in such and such circumstances Affirmative precepts though they do binde semper yet not ad emper they do not binde me to act in every juncture of things Secondly a man likewise before he separate from a Church because he cannot do his duty therein he had need be sure that his not being in a capacity to do his duty to the full be a sufficient ground of separation the order Mat. 18. is to cast off an Offender if he heare not the Church not to cast off the Church if she censure not him Quest Quest But may we not desire communion with the purest Churches Answ You may Answ yet withal observe how it may be obtained with the peace order and edification of the Churches It s possible to remove to another Church without separation from your owne only let such as think of separating remember these two things First try to promote purity in your own Church and to separate all impurity from it before you separate or gather Churches out of Churches Endeavour to separate the dross from amongst you before you separate your selves from the true gold Secondly if at last you will needs separate do not uncharitably condemne the true Church that you leave when Saints do separate let it be 1. A prudent separation from evil not from good from the vile not from the precious Rom. 12.9 Abhor that which is evil and cleave to that which is good 2. A pious separation from evil unto good not from one evil to another not from Tyranny to Anarchy not from prelatical usurpation to popular licentiousness 3. A peaceable separation Separate from the unclean without a Schisme not rashly condemning all that come not up to your height not as one affecting a proud singularity but as one necessitated to withdraw out of pure tendernesse of conscience and as one who labours to please his neighbour for good to edification Rom. 15.1 2. 4. A loving separation though thou canst not concurre in some opinions and practices wherein the Scripture allows a latitude yet continue united in affection though in divers Churches still striving together for the Faith of the Gospel Phil. 1.27 Dr. Hills good separation Quest Quest What is Schism Answ Answ The word imports a rent or division of things that were or should be undivided and as it s taken in the matters of Religion it signifies a rupture in the communion or from the communion of the Church upon unnecessary and unwarrantable causes and grounds Society and communion are of great importance and the evil of Schism is answerable to the good of communion and if Schisme be made upon a cause not warranted by the word of God it s a sinne of an high nature the formality of Schism consists in the rupture or departing though the coalition or joyning in new bodies which was called setting up Altar against Altar may make it more pernicious So that Schisme simply and nakedly is a breaking off from the communion of the Church upon such grounds as are not warranted by Gods Word as namely when the same Faith and doctrine in the substantials is held yet through passions or private ends and fancies there is offence taken at lesser matters of fact or order and so a divorce is made for such faults in the yoke-fellow as are far short of adultery As if the members of any of those seven Asian Churches should have separated because of some drosse in those golden Candlesticks the Donatists who separated upon that principle that there was no true Church where good and bad are mixed and that the chaffe in the floor made the wheat unclean was an open Schisme both in breaking off from the Churches of Christ and in assuming liberty to erect new Churches which they affirmed to be the only true Churches of Christ Mr. Ri. Vines Parl. Serm. Quest Quest May we not separate from a visible Church for the corruptions in it though they be not in fundamentals Answ Answ No we read not of any of the Prophets in the Old Testament that left the Church but in most corrupt times continued in it reproving and threatning praying and mourning for them but not separating from them St. Austine observes that Ezek. 9.4 they were marked that mourned for the sins of the times not that separated themselves from the Church In the New Testament neither Christ nor his Apostles forsook the Church but continued in it though marvellous corrupt teaching reproving and mourning for it The six Asian Churches are blamed for their corruptions but none bid to separate for them To this purpose is that Heb. 10.24 25 38 39. Quest Quest What reasons may be rendred for this Answ First Answ 1 None ought to separate from a true Church of Christ Now such is an assembly professing the true faith notwithstanding other corruptions Secondly Separation and Excommunication from a true Church is the most heavy and greatest censure of the Church which as no man should incur by his evil behaviour so no man ought to inflict upon himself for the corruptions of others who happily deserve to be separated themselves St. Austin told Petilian that he did not well to leave Christs heap of corn because some chaff was still in it till the great winnowing day and that he shewed himself to be lighter chaff driven out by the wind of tentation that flew out before the coming

against dangers threatened from a common enemie Fourthly they should secure and set bounds about fundamental doctrines for which end they should take care and promote the dutie of Catechising Fifthly they should provide that Ministers may be known to be Orthodox in the great and weighty Controversies between us and the Hereticks of our times that wo●ves may not privily creep in under sheeps cloathing Sixthly they should hinder the printing and spreading of dangerous and infectious books either from Ports or Presses and all other ways of diffusing leaven into the people Dr. Reynolds Peace of Jerusalem A certain friend having sent to Mr. Cotton of Boston in New England sundry Arguments against persecution for cause of conscience Mr. Cotton returned him this answer Quest Quest Your question saith he which you put is whether persecution for cause of conscience be not against the Doctrine of Christ who is King of Kings Answ Answ By persecution for cause of conscience I conceive you mean either for professing some point of doctrine which you believe in conscience to be truth or for practising some work which in conscience you believe to be a religious duty Now in points of Doctrine some are fundamental without a right beliefe whereof a man cannot be saved others are circumstantial and less principal wherein men may differ in judgement without endangering their salvation So in points of practice some concern the weightier duties of the Law so as if it be right fellowship with God is held If corrupt fellowship with him is lost Again in points of doctrine or worship less principal they are either held forth in a meek and peaceable way or in so arrogant and violent a way as tendeth to the disturbance of civill peace Lastly when we are persecuted for conscience sake it s either for conscience rightly informed or for an erronious and blinde conscience These things premised the answer is laid down in these conclusions First it s not lawful to persecute any for conscience-sake rightly informed for then Christ himself is persecuted in them Act. 9.4 Why persecutest thou me Secondly for an erroneous and blind conscience even in fundamentals it s not lawful to persecute any till after once or twice admonition Tit. 3.10 where the Apostle gives the direction and the reason viz. because in fundamental points of Doctrine and Worship the Word of God is so clear that he cannot but be convinced in conscience of the dangerous error of his way after one or two admonitions wisely and faithfully dispensed and then if he persist it s not out of conscience but against his conscience as ver 11. He is subverted and sinneth being condemned of himself If then such a man be punished he is not persecuted for his conscience but justly punished for sinning against his conscience Thirdly in things of lesser moment whether in doctrine or worship if they be held forth in a spirit of meeknesse and love he is not to be persecuted but tollerated till God shall please to manifest his truth unto him Phil. 3.17 Rom. 14.1 2 3 4. Fourthly but if a man hold forth any error or false way with a boisterous and proud spirit to the disturbance of civil peace he may be justly punished according to the quality of the disturbance made by him Obj. Object But Christ commands to let the tares and wheat grow together till the harvest Mat. 13.30 c. Answ Answ Tares are not Briars and Thornes but partly hypocrites like unto the god●y as tares are like the wheat or partly such corrupt doctrine or practises as are indeed insound but yet such as come nere the truth and so neere as good men may be taken with them and so the persons in whom they grow cannot be rooted out but the good will be rooted up with them and in such a case Christ calls for a tolleration not for a penal prosecution Obj. Object But Christ Mat. 15.14 would have the blinde let alone till they fall into the ditch therefore he would have their punishment deferred till their final destruction Answ Answ Christ speaks not there to publick Officers whether in Church or State but to his private Disciples concerning the Pharisees over whom they had no power But this makes nothing to the matter in hand Obj. Object But Luk. 19.54 Christ blames his Disciples who would have fire to come down from heaven to consume the Samaritans who refused to receive him Answ Answ This directs Ministers of the Gospel how to deal not with obstinate offenders who sinne within the Church against conscience but either with men without as the Samaritans were and many unconverted Christians in Creet whose conversion Titus was to seek or at best with some Jews and Gentiles within the Church who though carnal yet were not convinced of the errour of their way and so indeed it became not the spirit of the Gospel to convert aliens to the faith of Christ by fire and brimstome nor to deal harshly in their Ministry or private conference with all contrary minded men as either had not entred into Church fellowship or if they had did yet hitherto sin of ignorance not against conscience But neither of these do hinder Ministers from proceeding in a Church-way against Church-members when they become scandalous either in life or doctrine much lesse do they speak at all to the civil Magistrates Obj. Object But the Prophets foretold that carnal weapons should cease in the dayes of the Gospell as Isa 2.4 and 11.9 Micha 4.3 4. and Paul saith our weapons are not carnal 2 Cor. 10.4 and Christ bids his disciples not to persecute but to pray for their persecutors because they who are now persecutors may be converted Answ Answ The Prophets predictions do shew First with what kind of weapons God would subdue the Nations not by fire sword but by the power of the word and spirit 2. They shew what a meek and peaceable temper true Converts would be of not Lions Leopards c. not biters one of another but this forbids not to drive ravenous wolves from the sheepfold and to restraine them from devouring Christs sheep and when Paul saith our weapons are not carnal he ●enies not weapons of justice to the Civil Magistrate but onely to Church-Officers and yet he allows them such weapons as are ready to take vengeance on all disobedience 2 Cor. 10.6 which refers to the censures of the Church against scandalous Offenders 3. When Christ commands his Disciples to bless them that cursed and persecuted them he gives not a rule to publick Officers either in Church or State to suffer gross sinners either in life or doctrine to passe unpunished but teaches private Christians to suffer persecution patiently and to pray for their persecutors 4. Christ indeed would have his Disciples far from persecuting for that is a sinful oppression of men but this hinders not but that he would have them execute upon all disobedience the vengeance required in the word 2 Cor. 10.6

as are cross to the word of God punish only such things as men in conscience should avoid and will this make them to dissemble c. Obj. Such coercive power in matters of Religion is the way to bring in persecution for conscience sake Answ 1. Teaching Magistrates their duty to punish things manifestly cross to the Word of God and that after due means used for conviction is rather a way to restraine them from persecuting the Saints for a good cause or conscience and if accidentally Gods enemies take occasion hence to abuse their power this must not take away the due use of it Papists and Prelates abused Church-censures against the godly yet this their sin dischargeth not the Church from its duty 2. It s an absurd argument to reason thus Men may not be persecuted for a good cause and conscience therefore they may not be punished for maintaining a bad cause c. Obj. The exercise of any such power by godly Rulers is crosse to the meek Spirit of Christ and to that merciful spirit which he requires to be in his Saints Rom. 15.1 Gal. 6.1 2. Eph. 4.32 2 Tim. 2.25 Answ Zeal of God in sharp punishing of such corruptions flood well with Christs Dove-like spirit None so meek as he and yet none so zealous this way The zeal of Gods house even consumed him and made him lay on so hard with his scourge upon those who polluted the Temple John 2.16 with 14.15 16 20. Moses was the meekest of men in his own cause Numb 12.3 yet lion-like in that cause of pollution of Gods worship Exod. 32.26 27 c. Hezekiah was a shadow to the Saints Isa 32.2 Yet a fiery flying Serpent against Gods and the Churches enemies Isa 14 29 30. Quest Quest What other reasons may be rendred why the higher Civil powers ought not to grant a Tolleration to their Christian subjects to hold and professe in matters of Religion what themselves may pretend conscience for their so doing when indeed grosly erring and contemptuously and pertinaciously holding the same forth Ans Answ 1 First because they may not give liberty to their Subjects to live in and practice the works of the flesh But Heresies and Schismes are works of the flesh Gal. 5.20 therefore not to be tollerated Secondly that liberty which suffers men ordinarily to draw persons away from God is not to be granted by Christian Magistrates but to tollerate persons under a pretence of Conscience pertinaciously to hold forth corrupt opinions is to suffer them to draw others from God therefore it s not to be allowed Deut. 13.9 Thirdly that liberty which suffers the sheep of the Lord in an ordinary way to wander from their fold and pasture without restraint or effectual care to reduce them is not to be allowed by political shepherds which God placeth over them This the Lord complains of and sharply reproves Ezek. 34.5 6 7 8. There was no Shepherd neither did my Shepherds search for my flock but they wandred and became a prey were driven away and devoured there were Shepherds but they did not execute their office but suffered Gods flock to be seduced and corrupted by false prophets But the liberty aforementioned doth thus therefore it s not to be allowed Fourthly such a liberty carries a brand of Anarchy in the State yea and of a sad judgement of God upon that State for the provoking sins both of rulers and people 1. It s one brand of Anarchy Judg. 17.6 there was no King in Israel every one did what was right in his own eyes 2. It s a sad judgement of God as appears Zach. 11.9 with 15 16 17. where the Lord threatens to leave those of his flock alone to themselves and to killing courses of sinne that which dieth let it die and the judicial means he useth is in judgement to raise up a foolish Idol Shepherd i.e. such Rulers in Church and State into whose hands the flock is delivered to be spoiled as v. 5 6. such as care not what becomes of their souls So 2 Chron. 20.33 where it appears that to be left by authority to take up corruption in religion under pretence of conscience is a sad judgement of God for the sins of a professing people Fifthly such a tolleration makes Rulers not to be for Christ but in that respect against him for it makes them not to be for one chief end of his coming which was to destroy the works of the devil For a tolleration of errours is a tollerating the works of the devil because erroneous doctrines are forged by the devil and are some of those lies whereof he is the Father John 8.44 Those doctrinal lies are doctrines of devils 1 Tim. 4.2 unclean frogges that come out of the Dragons mouth Rev. 16.13 14. yea lesser errors about meats and marriage are called doctrines of Devils 1 Tim. 4.1 2 3. therefore they ought not to be tollerated Sixthly Such a Tolleration will wound a State in the very continuity of it It breaks the hedge and walls of a State and so lets in manifold mischiefs For 1. Corrupt Doctrines so allowed do mingle with and wil eat out sound Doctrine pure Religion and the Covenant of God which are the ligaments and bands of a Christian State and made Jerusalem so compacted together Psalm 122.1 2 3. For 2 Tim. 2.16 17. They will encrease to more ungodliness and their words will eat as a Canker or Gangrene 2. Corrupt Doctrines tend to the breaking of the peace of such societies where they are tollerated Hence Gal. 5.10 12. I would they were cut off that trouble you And Acts 20.30 They draw away or rent away as members from the body Disciples after them Where there are Heresies amongst Church-members there will be Schisms and Divisions 1 Co● 11.18 19. Such filthy Dreamers Jude 8. are branded for sedicious persons in Common-wealths They despise Dominions and speak evil of Dignities witness the many breakings of our Parliaments and turning of Governments upside down Such justly perish as did seditious Corah verse 11. Hence Seducers are called Traitors heady high-minded Truce-breakers False-accusers fierce c. 2 Tim. ● 1 2 3 4 5. and that he speaks this of Seducers appeares verse 6 7 8 9 13. And Jude 16. They are branded for Murmurers and Complainers quarrelling against matters in Church and State All ages have declared that persons of corrupt Principles in Religion are frequent Movers and Abettors of civil seditions 3. Corrupt Doctrines break the hedges and walls of a Christian Common-wealth and leave it naked to become a prey to its adversaries So was Israel when they had corrupted Religion Exod. 32.25 till Moses commanded Justice to be executed upon some for the terror of others ver 26 27. False Prophets let alone spoil the vines and break the hedges as is implyed Ezek. 13.4 5. So Ezek. 22.26 27. When such corruptions are let alone a gap is made verse 30. and when none in Authority are found to make it up by punishing them God powers out his indignation upon them verse 31. Solomons connivence at Idolatry in his wives rent his Kingdom in pieces but punishing such corruptions puts away evill Deut. 17.2 3 7. 7. Such a tolleration God accounts to be a kicking at Religion and honoring such Corruptors above God himself as appears 1 Sam. 2.12 to 16. with 23 24 25 29. Elies sons corrupted the worship of God by snatching what came first to hand and the Lord saith not only to them but to Eli too Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and honourest thy sons above me c. therefore it ought not to be granted 8. Such a Tolleration of such evils causes those very evils to be charged on Rulers themselves and bringeth the wrath of God upon them So Elies sons sins were charged upon and punished on Elie himself and Solomons connivence at the Idolatry of his wives And Nehemiah contends with the Rulers for not reforming the prophanations of the Sabbath Nehe. 13.10 11 12 16 17 18. the sin of the people in doing corruptly in the matters of God is charged upon Jotham 2 Chron. 27.2 he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord yet the people did corruptly 2 Kin. 15.34 35. and that is charged upon him as his sin 9. Such a Tolleration makes men abhor Religion and to speak evil of the way of truth as Elies sons corruptions being connived at made men abhor the Lords offerings 1 Sam. 2.17 So 2 Pet. 2.1.2 3. 10. Such a Tolleration is intollerable because it is an allowing of Foxes to spoil Christs vines Can. 1.2.16 Of Wolves that spare not Christs flock Acts 20.30 with Ezek. 34.8 10. Of Sorcerers that bewitch men 2 Tim. 3.13 Gal. 3.1 Who hath bewiched you c they are also as Jesabel whom God will punish if men neglect their duty in doing of it Rev. 2.20 21 c. Thus you have the Judgement of Mr. Tho. Cobbet of New England against a General Tolleration See more of this in Mr. Cottons answer to Mr. Williams FINIS Errata Typographica PAg. 2. lin 6. pro Nobathaea leg Nabathaea p. 3. l. 21. pro Saphirus leg Sapphirus p. 4. l. 1. pro phorus leg pharus p. 6. l. 13. pro pollysyllaba leg polysyllaba l. 18. pro ped●x leg pedis in margine pro Harpago est faem leg masc p. 7. l. 26. post silex adde et p. 9. l. 20. pro mine leg minae p. 10. l. 4. pro vendiciae leg vindiciae p. 11. l. 11. pro facinum leg fascinum p. 15. l. 10. pro Ligar leg Ligur p. 20. l. 8. pro areo leg aveo p. 23. l. 6. adde distinguo