l. 22. his perilous soule p. 43. l. 20. r. or l. ult Answeres p. 44. l. 2â— bâ— closer p. 49. l. 1. last p 57. l. 22. cut l. 24. l â—â—rme that Justice p. 58. l. 5. the lying p 98. l. 6. road or doe these p. 114. l. 29. r the 31 question p. 119 l. 10. remembers p. 139. l. 9. immunitie p. 161. l. 28. or Christ. p. 214. l. 36. delt shall p. 225. l. 19. the Churches of God 225. l. 25. not might not The famous saying of a late King of Bohemia Essay of Religion It is rarely seen that ever persons were persâ—â—â—ed for their 〈…〉 3. Reas. Truth and Peace rarely and seldom meet a great complaints of Peace Persecutors seldom plead Christ but Moses for their Author Strife distinguished 1. Ungodly strife 2. Godly strife A threefold dolefull cry Christs worship is his bed Cant. 1. 16. False worship therefore is a false bed The cry of the soules under the Altar A cry of the whole earth The wonderfull provideÌ„ce of God in the writing of the Arguments against persecution in Milke The Answer writ in Bloud The first distinctioÌ„ discussed Desinition of persecution discussed Conscience will not be restrained from its own worship nor constrained to another A chaste soule in Gods worship like a chast wife The second distinction discussedâ— Gods people may erre from the very fundamentals of visible worship 4 sorts of spirituall Foundations 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The sixe Foundations of the Christian Religion or Worship Comming out of Babell not locall but mysticall The great Ignorance of Gods people concerning the Nature of the true Church Mr. Cotton all the Halfe Seperates halting between true fals Churches and consequently not yet clear in the fundamentall matter of a ChristiaÌ„ Church The true Ministrie a Fundamentall The New English Ministers examined Common Prayer cast off written against by the New-English Gods people have worshipped God with false worships It pleaseth God sometimes beyond his promise to convey blessings comfort to His in false worships Fundamentals of Christian worship not so easie and cleare A notable speech of K. Iames to a great non-conformist turned persecuter The 4. distinctioÌ„ discussed What civill peace is Gods people must be Nonconformitants to Evill The difference between Spirituall and Civill Peace The difference between the Spirituall and Civill State The Civil State the Spirituall estate and the Church of Christ distinct in Ephesus The Answerer too obscure in generalls Gods meekest servants use to be counted arrogant and impetuous 6 cases wherein Gods people have been bold zealous yet not arrogant Christ Jesus and his Disciples teach publikely a new Doctrine fundamentally different from the Religion professed Gods servants zealous and bold to the faces of the Highest Gods people constantly immoveable to death Gods people ever maintained Christ Jesus the only Lord and King to the conscience That Christ is King alone over conscience is the sum of all true preaching Gods people have see men the disturbers of Civill State Gods word and people the occasion of tumults The instances proposed carry a great shew of impeâ—â—ousnesse yet all are pure and peaceable The true cause of tumults at the preaching of the Word A preposterous way of suppressing errours Light only can expell fogs and darknesse Persecutors oppresse both true and erroneous consciences All persecutors of Christ professe not to persecute him All persecutors of Christ professe not to persecute him What is meant by Hereticke in Titus The word Hereticke generally mistaken Checks of conscience What is the first second admonition What the rejecting of the Heretick was Corporall killing in the Law typing out Spirituall killing by Excommunication in the Gospell The third ConclusioÌ„ discussed Sathans policie The Answerer granteth a Toleration Patience to be used toward the opposite The cariage of a Soule sensible of mercy toward other sinners in their blindnesse and opposition The Answerer coÌ„founds the Churches in Philippi and Rome with the Cities Philippi and Rome Difference between 〈◊〉 the Church and the World The Church and Civill Scare confusedly made all one Persecutors have forgotten the blessednesse promised to the mercifull Math. 5. What persons are guilty of breach of civil peace The most peaceable wrongfully accused of peace-breaking The examination of what is meant by the Tares and the command of the L. Jesus to let them alone The Answerers fallacious exposition that Tares signifie either Persons Doctrines or Practices The Answerer baâ—ely affirming a most strange interpretation Sathans subtletâ—e about the opening of Scripture Toleration in Rom. 14. considered ToleratioÌ„ of Jewâ—sh ceremonies for a time upon some grounds in the Jewâ—sh Church proves not toleration of Popish and Anti christian Ceremonies in the Christian Church although in the State Tares proved not to signifie hypocrites Hence were the witnesses of Christ 〈◊〉 and others in H. 4. his reigne called Loâ—lards as some say from 〈◊〉 weeds known well enough henâ—e taken for signe of barrenesse Iusâ—lix 〈◊〉 sterllâ—â— doâ—â—â—anâ—uâ— a vâ—â—a others conceive they were so called from one Lollaâ—d c. but all Papisâ—s accounted them as Tares because of their profession * The false and counterfeit Christians appeare as soon as the true and faithfull Hypocriticall Christians The Tares cannot signifie Hypocrites Two sorts of Hypocâ—ites 1. In the Church as Iudas St. â—oâ— Mâ—gâ—â— and these must be to leâ—ated untill discovered and no longer 2. Hypocrites in the world which aâ—e false Christians â—aâ—â—e Churches these the Lord Iesus wiâ— have let alone unto Harvest The Field by most generally but falsely interpreted the Church The Lord Iesus the great teacher by Parables and the only expounder of them The scope of the Parable Fouâ—e sorts of ground or hearers of the word in the world and but one properly in the Church the rest seldome come or accidenâ—ally to hear the word in the Church which word ought to be â—itted for the feedâ—ng of the Church or flocke preaching for conversion is properly out of the Church The scope of the Parable of the Tares The Lord Iesus in this â—arable of the Taâ—es gives direction and consolation to His servants The Tares proved properly to signifie Antichristians Math. 8. 12 Mat. 21. 43 Gods kingdome on Earth the visible Church The difference between the Wheat the Tares as also between these Tares and all other Civill Magistracie from the beginning of the World Offenders against the Civill lawes not to be perpetually tolerated Nor offenders in the Church of Christ Jesus to be suâ—â—red The great Reapers are the Angels The Tares to be tolerated the longest of any sinners The danger of infection by these tares assoyled Lamentable experience hath proved this true of late in Europe and lamentably true in the slâ—ughter of some hundred thousands of the English The great dreadfull Harvest The charge of Christ Jesus Let alone the Tares was not spoken to Magistrates Ministers of the civill state but to
the principall Contents of the Booke TRuth and Peace their rare and seldome meeting Page 15 2 Great complaints of Peace 16 Persecutors seldome plead Christ but Moses for their Authour 17 Strife Christian and unchristian ibid A threefold dolefull cry ibid. The wonderfull providence of God in the writing of the argumentâ—s against persecution 18 A definition of persecution discussed 19 Conscience will not be restrained from its owne worship nor constrained to another 20 A chaste soule in Gods worship compared to a chaste wife ibid. Gods people have erred stom the very fundamentalls of visible worship ibid 4 Sorts of spirituall foundations in the New Testament 21 The 6 fundamentalls of the Christian Religion ibid. The comming out of Babel not Iocall but mysticall ibid. The great ignorance of Gods people concerning the nature of a true Church ibid. Common-Prayer written against by the New English Ministers 23 Gods people have worshipped God with false worships ibid. God is pleased sometimes to convey good unto his people beyond a promise ibid. A notable speech of King James to a great Nonconformist turned persecutor 24 Civill peace discussed ibid. The difference between Spirituall and civill state 25 Six cases wherein Gods people have been usually accounted arrogant and peace breakers but most unjustly 26 The true causes of breach and disturbance of civill peace 29 A preposterous way of suppressing errours 30 Persecutors must needs oppresse both erroneous and true consciences ibid. All persecutors of Christ professe not to persecute him ibid. What is meant by the Hereticke Tit. 3. Pag. 33 The word Heretick generally mistaken 34 Corporall killing in the Law typing out Spirituall killing in the Gospell 36 The cariage of a Soule sensible of mercy towards others in their blindness c. 38 The difference between the Church and the World wherein it is in all places 38 The Church and civill State confusedly made all one 39 The most peaceable accused for peace-breaking 40 A large Examination of what is meant by the Tares and letting of them alone ibid. Sathans subtletic about the opening of Scripture 41 Two sorts of Hypocrites 44 The Lord Iesus the great Teacher by Parables and the only Expounder of them 44 Preaching for conversion is properly out of the Church 45 The tares proved properly to signifie Antichristians ibid. Gods Kingdome on Earth the visible Church 46 The difference between the Wheat and the Tares as also betweene these Tares and all others 46 A civill Magistracie from the beginning of the world 47 The Tares are to be tolerated the longest of all sinners 48 The danger of infection by permitting of the Tares assoyled ibid. The civill Magistrate not so particularly spoken to in the New Testament as Fathers Masters c. and why 50 A two-fold state of Christianitie Persecuted under the Romane Emperours and Apostated under the Romane Popes ibid. 3 Particulars contained in that prohibition of Christ Iesus concerning the Tares Let them alone Mat. 13. 51 Accompanying with Idolaters 1 Cor. 5. discussed 52 Civill Magistrates never invested by Christ Iesus with the power and title of Defenders of the Faith 54 Gods people ever earnest with God for an Arme of Flesh. 55 The 〈◊〉 punishment of the blind Pharises in 4 respects ibid. The point of seducing infecting or Soule killing examined 57 Strange consusions in punishments 59 The blood of Soules Acts 20. lies upon such as professe the Ministrie the blood of Bodies only upon the State ibid. â—surpers and true Heires of Christ Iesus Page 60 The Civill Magistrate bound to preserve the boâ—â—s of their subjects and not to destroy them for conscience sake 61 The fire from heaven Rev. 13. 13. 2 Tim. 2. 25 26. examined 62 The originall of the Christian name Acts 11. 63 A Civill sword in Religion makes a Nation of hypocrites Isa. 10 64 A difference of the true and false Christ and Christians 65 The nature of the worship of unbeleeving and naturall persons ibid. Antoninus Pius his famous act concerning Religion 66 Isa. 24. Mic. 4. 3. concerning Christs visible Kingdome discussed ibid. Acts 20 29. The suppressing of Spirituall wolves discussed 67 It is in vaine to decline the name of the head of the Church and yet to practise the headship 68 Titus 1. 9. 10 discussed 69 Vnmercifull and bloody doctrine 70 The Spirituall weapons 2 Cor. 10. 4. discussed ibid. Civill weapons most improper in Spirituall causes 71 The Spirituall artillerie Eph. 6. applied 72 Rom. 13. concerning Civill Rulers power in Spirituall causes largely examined 73 Pauls appeale to Caesar examined 77 And cleared by 5 arguments ibid. 4 Sorts of swords 79 What is to be understood by evill Rom. 13. 4. 81 Though evill be alwayes evill yet the permission of it may sometimes be good 83 2 Sorts of commands both from Moses and Christ. 84 The permission of diverce in Israel Mat. 19. 17 18. ibid. Usury in the Civill state lawfully permitted 85 Seducing teachers either Pagan Iewish Turkish or Antichristian way yet be obedient subjects to the Civill Laws 86 Scandalous livers against the Civill state 87 Toleration of Jesabel and Balaam Rev. 2 14. 20. examined 88 The Christian world hath swallowed up Christianity 89 Christ Iesus the deepest polititian that ever was yet commands be a toleration of Antichristians 91 The Princes of the world seldome take part with Christ Iesus 93 Buchanans items to King James ibid. King James his sayings against persecution ibid. King Steven of Poland his sayings against persecution Page 93 Forcing of conscience a soule rape 94 Persecution for conscience hath been the launcet which hath let blood the Nations All Spirituall whores are bloody ibid. Poligamie or the many wives of the Fathers ibid. David advancing of Gods worship against order 95 Constantine and the good Emperours confest to have done more hurt to the Name and Crowne of Christ then the bloody Noroes did ibid. The language of persecuters 96 Christs Liâ—â—ies may flourish in the Church notwithstanding the weeds in the world permitted 97 Queen Elizabeth and King James their persecuting for cause of Religion examined ibid. Queen Elizabeth confessed by Mr. Cotton to have almost fired the world in civill combustions 98 The Wars between the Papists and the Protestants ibid. The Wars and successe of the Waldensians against three Popes 99 Gods people victorious â—ver commers and with what weapons ibid. The Christian Church doth not persecute but is persecuted ibid. The nature of excommunication 100 The opinion of ancient Writers examined concerning the doctrine of persecution 101 Constraint upon conscience in Old and New England ibid. The Indians of New England permitted in their worshipping of devils 102 In 2 cases a false Religion will not hurt 103 The absolute sufficiencie of the Sword of the Spirit 104 A Nationall Church not instituted by Christ. ibid. Man hath no power to make Lawes to binde conscience 105 Hearing of the word in a Church estate a part of Gods worship 107 Papists plea for
the heart of the King viz. to restraine upon paine of Death all the millions of men under his Dominion from the Idolatties of their severall and respective Countries to constraine them all upon the like penaltie to conforme to the Worship of the God of Israel to build him a Temple erect an Altar ordaine Priests offer sacrifice observe the Fasts and Feasts of Israel yea did God put it into the Kings heart to send Levites into all the parts of his Dominion compelling them to heare which is but a naturall thing as some unsoundly speake unto which all are bound to submit Well however Ezra gives thankes to God for the Kings and so should all that feate God in all Countries if he would please to put it into the hearts of the Kings States and Parliaments to take off the yoakes of Violence and permit at least the Consciences of their Subjects and especially such as in truth make Conscience of their Worships to the God of Israel and yet no cause for Ezra then or Gods Ezra's and Israelites now to acknowledge the care and charge of Gods worship Church and Ordinances to lie upon the shoulders of Artaxerxes or any other Civill Prince or Ruler Lastly for the Confirmation or Ratification which they suppose Magistrates are bound to give to the Lawes of Christ I answer Gods cause Christs Truth and the two-edged sword of his Word never stood in need of a temporall Sword or an humane Witnes to confirme and ratifie them If we receive the witnesse of an honest man the witnesse of the most holy God is greater 1. Iohn 5. The result and summe of the whole matter is this 1. It may please God sometimes to stir up the Rulers of the Earth to permit and tolerate to favour and countenance Gods people in their worships though only out of some strong conviction of conscience or feare of wrath c. and yet themselves neither understand Gods worship nor leave their owne state Idolatry or Country worship For this Gods people ought to give thankes unto God yea and all men from this example may learne not to charge upon the Magistrates conscience besides the care of the Civill peace the bodies and goods of men the Spirituall peace in the worship of God and soules of men but hence are Magistrates instructed favourably to permit their subjects in their worships although themselves bee not perswaded to submit to them as Nebuchadnezzar Cyrus Darius and Artaxerxes did CHAP. XCVII Peace THe sixt question is this How far the Church is subject to their Lawes All those say they who are members of the Commonweale are bound to be subject to all the just and righteous Laws thereof and therefore membership in Churches not cutting men off from the membership in commonweales they are bound to be subject even every soule Rom. 13. 1. as Christ himselfe and the Apostles were in their places wherein they lived and therefore to exempt the Clergy as the Papists do from Civill subjection and to say that generatio Clerici is corruptio subditi is both sinfull and scandalous to the Gospel of God and though all are equally subject yet Church members are more especially bound to yeeld subjection and the most eminent most especially bound not only because conscience doth more strongly binde but also because their ill examples are more infectious to others pernicious to the State and provoke Gods wrath to bring vengeance on the State Hence if the whole Church or officers of the Church shall sin against the State or any person by sedition contempt of Authority heresie blasphemy oppression slander or shall withdraw any of their members from the service of the State without the consent thereof their persons and estates are liable to Civill punishments of Magistrates according to their righteous and wholsome Lawes Exod. 22. 20. Levit. 24. 16. Deut. 13. 5. 18. 10. Truth What concernes this head in civill things I gladly subscribe unto what concernes heresie blasphemy c. I have plentifully before spoken to and shall here only say 2 things First those Scriptures produced concerne only the people of God in a Church estate and must have reference onely to the Church of Christ Jesus which as Mr. Cotton confesseth is not Nationall but Congregationall of so many as may meet in one place 1 Cor. 14 therefore no Civâ—ll State can be the antitype and parallell to which purpose upon the 11 Question I shall at large shew the difference betweene that Nationall Church and State of Israel and all other States and Nations in the World Secondly If the Rulers of the Earth are bound to put to death all that worship other gods then the true God or that blaspheme that is speake evill of in a lesser or higher degree that one true God it must unavoidably follow that the beloved for the Fathers sake the Jewes whose very Religion blasphemeth Christ in the highest degree I say they are actually sonnes of death and all to be immediately executed according to those quoted Scriptures And Secondly the Townes Cities Nations and Kingdomes of the World must generally be put to the sword if they speedily renounce not their Gods and Worships and so cease to blaspheme the true God by their Idolatries This bloody consequence cannot be avoided by any Scripture rule for if that rule be of force Deut. 13. 18. not to spare or shew mercy upon person or City falling to Idolatry that bars out all favour or partiality and then what heapes upon heapes in the slaughter houses and shambles of Civill Warres must the world come to as I have formerly noted and that unnecessarily it being not required by the Lord Jesus for his sake and the Magistrates power and weapons being essentially Civill and so not reaching to the impiety or ungodlinesse but the incivility and unrighteousnesse of tongue or hand CHAP. XCVIII Peace DEare Truth these are the poysoned daggers stabbing at my tender heart Oh when shall the Prince of peace appeare and reconcile the bloudy sons of men but let me now propose their 7 head viz. In what order may the Magistrate execute punishment on a Church or Church-member that offendeth his Lawes First grosse and publicke notorious sinnes which are against the light of conscience as Heresie c. there the Magistrate keeping him under safe ward should send the offendour first to the Church to heale his conscience still provided that the Church be both able and willing thereunto By which meanes the Magistrate shall convince such an ones conscience that he seeketh his healing rather then his hurt The censure also against him shall proceed with more power and blessing and none shall have cause to say that the Magistrate persecutes men for their consciences but that he justly punisheth such an one for sinning rather against his conscience Tit. 3. 0. Secondly in private offences how the Magistrate may proceed see Chap. 12. It is not materiall
THE BLOVDY TENENT of PERSECUTION for cause of CONSCIENCE discussed in A Conference betweene TRVTH and PEACE VVHO In all tender Affection present to the High Court of Parliament as the Result of their Discourse these amongst other Passages of highest consideration Printed in the Year 1644. FIrst That the blood of so many hundred thousand souls of Protestants and Papists spilt in the Warâ— of present and former Ages for their respective Consciences is not required nor accepted by Iesus Christ the Prince of Peace Secondly Pregnant Scriptures and Arguments are throughout the Worke proposed against the Doctrine of Persecution for for cause of Conscience Thirdly Satisfactorie Answers are given to Scriptures and objections produced by Mr. Calvin Beza Mr. Cotton and the Ministers of the New English Churches and others former and later tending to prove the Doctrine of Persecution for cause of Conscience Fourthly The Doctrine of Persecution for cause of Conscience is proved guilty of all the blood of the Soules crying for vengeance under the Altar Fifthly All Civill States with their Officers of justice in their respective constitutions and administrations are proved essentially Civill and therefore not Iudges Governours or Defendours of the Spirituall or Christian state and Worship Sixtly It is the will and command of God that since the comming of his Sonne the Lord Iesus a permission of the most Paganish Iewish Turkish or Antichristian consciences and worships bee granted to all men in all Nations and Countries and they are onely to bee fought against with that Sword which is only in Soule matters able to conquer to wit the Sword of Gods Spirit the Word of God Seventhly The state of the Land of Israel the Kings and people thereof in Peace War is proved figurative and ceremoniall and no patterne nor president for any Kingdom or civill state in the world to follow Eightly God requireth not an uniformity of Religion to be inacted and inforced in any civill state which inforced uniformity sooner or later is the greatest occasion of civill Warre ravishing of conscience persecution of Christ Iesus in his servants and of the hypocrisie and destruction of millions of souls Ninthly In holding an inforced uniformity of Religion in a civill state we must necessarily disclaime our desires and hopes of the Iewes conversion to Christ. Tenthly An inforced uniformity of Religion throughout a Nation or civill state confounds the Civill and Religious denies the principles of Chrâ—stianity and civility and that Iesus Christ is come in the Flesh. Eleventhly The permission of other consciences and worships then a state professeth only can according to God procure a firme and lasting peace good assurance being taken according to the wisdome of the civill state for uniformity of civill obedience from all sorts Twelfthly lastly true civility and Christianity may both flourish in a State or Kingdome notwithstanding the permission of divers and contrary consciences either of Iew or Gentile TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE both Houses of the High Court of PARLIAMENT Right Honourable and Renowned Patriots NExt to the saving of your own soules in the lamentable shipwrack of Mankind your taske as Christians is to save the Soules but as Magistrates the Bodies and Goods of others Many excellent Discourses have been presented to your Fathers hands and Yours in former and present Parliaments I shall be humbly bold to say that in what concernes your duties as Magistrates towards others a more necessary and seasonable debate was never yet presented Two things your Honours here may please to view in this Controversie of Persecution for cause of Conscience beyond what 's extant First the whole Body of this Controversie form'd pitch'd in true Battalia Secondly although in respect of my selfe it be impar congressus yet in the power of that God who is Maximus in Miniâ—is Your Honours shall see the Controversie is discussed with men as able as most eminent for abilitie and pietie Mr. Coâ—ton and the New English Ministers When the Prophets in Scripture have given their Coats of Armes and Escutchâ—ons to Great Men Your Honours know the Babylonian Monarch hath the Lyon the Persian the Beare the Grecian the Leopard the Romane a compound of the former 3. most strange and dreadfull Dan. 7. Their oppressing plundring ravishing murthering not only of the bodies but the soules of Men are large explaining commentaries of such similitudes Your Honours have been famous to the end of the World for your unparallel'd wisdome courage justice mercie in the vindicating your Civill Lawes Liberties c. Yet let it not be grievous to your Honours thoughts to ponder a little why all the Prayers and Teares and Fastings in this Nation have not pierc'd the Heavens and quench'd these Flames which yet who knowes how far they 'll spread and when they 'll out Your Honours have broke the jawes of the Oppressour and taken the prey out of their Teeth Iob. 29. For which Act I believe it hath pleased the most High God to set a Guard not only of Trained men but of mighty Angels to secure your sitting and the Citie I feare we are not pardoned though reprieved O that there may be a lengthning of Londons tranquilitie of the Parliaments safetie by mercy to the poore Dan. 4. Right Honourable Soule yokes Soule oppressions plundrings ravishings c. are of a crimson and deepest dye and I believe the chiefe of Englands sins unstopping the Viols of Englands present sorrowes This glasse presents your Honours with Arguments from Religion Reason Experience all proving that the greatest yoakes yet lying upon English necks the peoples and Your own are of a spirituall and soule nature All former Parliaments have changed these yoakes according to their consciences Popish or Protestant 'T is now your Honours turne at helme and as your task so I hope your resâ—lution not to change for that is but to turne the wheele which another Parliament and the very next may turne againe but to â—ase the Subjects and Your selves from a yoake as was once spoke in a case not unlike Act 15. which neither You nor your Fathers were ever able to beare Most Noble Senatours Your Fathers whose seats You fill are mouldred and mouldring their braines their tonguâ—s c. to ashes in the pit of rottenesse They and You must shortly together with two worlds of men appeare at the great Barre It shall then be no griefe of heart that you have now attended to the cries of Soules thousands oppressed millions ravished by the Acts and Statutes concerning Soules not yet repealed Of Bodies impoverished imprisoned c. for their soules beliefe yea slaughtered on heapes for Religions controversies in the Warres of present and former Ages Notwithstanding the successe of later times wherein sundry opinions have been hatched about the subject of Religion a man may clearly discerne with his eye and as it were touch with his finger that according to the verity of holy Scriptures c. mens consciences ought in no sort
the Apostle of our Lord teacheth 2 Tim. 24. 2. That the servant of the Lord must not strive but must be gentle toward all Men suffering the Evill Men instructing them with meeknesse that are contrary minded proving if God at any time will give them repentanco that they may acknowledge the Truth and come to amendment out of that snare of the devill c. According to these blessed Commandements the holy Prophets foretold that when the Law of Moses concerning Worship should cease and Christs Kingdome be established Esa. 2. 4. Mic. 4. 3 4 They shall breake their Swords into Mathookes and their Speares into Sithes And Esa. 11. 9. Then shall none hurt or destroy in all the Mountaine of my Holinesse c. And when he came the same he taught and practised as before so did his Disciples after him for the Weapons of his Warfare are not carnall saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 10 4. But he chargeth straitly that his Disciples should be so far from persecuting those that would not bee of their Religion that when they were persecuted they should pray Matth. 5. when they were cursed they should blesse c. And the Reason seemes to bee because they who now are Tares may hereafter become Wheat they who are now blinde may hereafter see they that now resist him may hereafter receive him they that are now in the devils snare in adversenesse to the Truth may hereafter come to repentance they that are now blasphemers and persecutors as Paul was may in time become faithfull as he they that are now idolators as the Corinths once were 1 Cor. 6. 9. may hereafter become true worshippers as they they that are now no people of God nor under mercy as the Saints sometimes were 1 Pet. 2. 20. may hereafter become the people of God and obtaine mercy as they Some come not till the 11. houre Matth. 20. 6. if those that come not till the last houre should be destroyed because they come not at the first then should they never come but be prevented All which premises are in all humility referred to your godly wise consideration Because this persecution for cause of conscience is against the profession and practice of famous Princes First you may please to consider the speech of King Iames in his Majesties Speech at Parliament 1609. He saith it is a sure Rule in divinity that God never loves to plant his Church by violence and bloodshed And in his Highnesse Apologie pag. 4. speaking of such Papists that tooke the Oath thus I gave good proofe that I intended no persecution against them for conscience cause but onely desired to bee secured for civill obedience which for conscience cause they are bound to performe And pag. 60. speaking of Blackwell the Arch-priest his Majesty saith It was never my intention to lay any thing to the said Arch-Priests charge as I have never done to any for cause of conscience And in his Highnesse Exposition on Revel 20. printed 1568. and after 1603. his Majesty writeth thus Sixthly the compassing of the Saints and the besieging of the beloved City declareth unto us a certaine note of a false Church to be Persecution for they come to seeke the faithfull the faithfull are them that are sought the wicked are the besiegers the faithfull are the besieged Secondly the saying of Stephen King of Poland I am King of Men not of Consciences a Commander of Bodies not of Soules Thirdly the King of Bohemia hath thus written And notwithstanding the successe of the later times wherein sundry opinions have beene hatched about the subject of Religion may make one clearly discerne with his eye and as it were to touch with his Finger that according to the veritie of Holy Scriptures and a Maxime heretofore told and maintained by the ancient Doctors of the Church That mens consciences ought in no sort to bee violated urged or constrained and whensoever men have attempted any thing by this violent course whether openly or by secret meanes the issue hath beene pernicious and the cause of great and wonderfull Innovations in the principallest and mightiest Kingdomes and Countries of all Christendome And further his Majesty saith So that once more we doe professe before God and the whole World that from this time forward wee are firmly resolved not to persecute or molest or suffer to be persecuted or molested any person whosoever for matter of Religion no not they that professe themselves to be of the Romish Church neither to trouble or disturbe them in the exercise of their Religion so they live conformable to the Lawes of the States c. And for the practice of this where is persecution for cause of conscience except in England and where Popery reignes and there neither in all places as appeareth by France Poland and other places Nay it is not practised amongst the Heathen that acknowledge not the true God as the Turke Persian and others Thirdly because persecution for cause of conscience is condemned by the ancient and later Writers yea and Papists themselves Hilarie against Auxentius saith thus The Christian Church doth not persecute but is persecuted And lamentable it is to see the great folly of these times and to sigh at the foolish opinion of this world in that men thinke by humane aide to helpe God and with worldly pompe and power to undertake to defend the Christian Church I aske you Bishops what helpe used the Apostles in the publishing of the Gospel with the aid of what power did they preach Christ and converted the Heathen from their idolatry to God When they were in prisons and lay in chaines did they praise and give thankes to God for any dignities graces and favours received from the Court Or do you thinke that Paul went about with Regall Mandates or Kingly authority to gather and establish the Church of Christ sought he protection from Nero Vespasian The Apostles wrought with their hands for their owne maintenance travailing by land and water from Towne to Citie to preach Christ yea the more they were forbidden the more they taught and preached Christ. But now alas humane helpe must assist and protect the Faith and give the same countenance to and by vaine and worldly honours Doe men seek to defend the Church of Christ as if hee by his power were unable to performe it The same against the Arrians The Church now which formerly by induring misery and imprisonment was knowne to be a true Church doth now terrifie others by imprisonment banishment and misery and boasteth that she is highly esteemed of the world when as the true Church cannot but be hated of the same Tertull. ad Scapulam It agreeth both with humane reason and naturall equity that every man worship God uncompelled and beleeve what he will for it neither hurteth nor profiteth any one another mans Religion and Beleefe Neither beseemeth it any Religion to compell another to be of their Religion which willingly and freely should be
imbraced and not by constraint for as much as the offerings were required of those that freely and with good will offered and not from the contrary Ierom. in proaem lib. 4. in Ieremiam Heresie must be cut off with the Sword of the Spirit let us strike through with the Arrowes of the Spirit all Sonnes and Disciples of mis-led Heretickes that is with Testimonies of holy Scriptures The slaughter of Heretickes is by the word of God Brentius upon 1 Cor. 3. No man hath power to make or give Lawes to Christians whereby to binde their consciences for willingly freely and uncompelled with a ready desire and cheerfull minde must those that come run unto Christ. Luther in his Booke of the Civill Magistrate saith The Lawes of the Civill Magistrates government extends no further then over the body or goods and to that which is externall for over the soule God will not suffer any man to rule onely he himselfe will rule there Wherefore whosoever doth undertake to give Lawes unto the Soules and Consciences of Men he usurpeth that government himselfe which appertaineth unto God c. Therefore upon 1 Kings 5. In the building of the Temple there was no sound of Iron heard to signifie that Christ will have in his Church a free and a willing People not compelled and constrained by Lawes and Statutes Againe he saith upon Luk. 22. It is not the true Catholike Church which is defended by the Secular Arme or humane Power but the false and feigned Church which although it carries the Name of a Church yet it denâ—es the power thereof And upon Psal. 17. he saith For the true Church of Christ knoweth not Brachium saeculare which the Bishops now adayes chiefly use Againe in Postil Dom. 1. post Epiphan he saith Let not Christians be commanded but exhorted for He that willingly will not doe that whereunto he is friendly exhorted he is no Christian wherefore they that doe compell those that are not willing shew thereby that they are not Christian Preachers but Worldly Beadles Againe upon 1 Pet. 3. he saith If the Civill Magistrate shall command me to believe thus and thus I should answer him after this manner Lord or Sir Looke you to your Civill or Worldly Government Your Power extends not so farre as to command any thing in Gods Kingdome Therefore herein I may not heare you For if you cannot beare it that any should usurpe Authoritie where you have to Command how doe you thinke that God should suffer you to thrust him from his Seat and to seat your selfe therein Lastly the Papists the Inventors of Persecution in a wicked Booke of theirs set forth in K. Iames his Reigne thus Moreover the Meanes which Almighty God appointed his Officers to use in the Conversion of Kingdomes and Nations and People was Humilitie Patience Charitie saying Behold I send you as Sheepe in the midst of Wolves Mat. 10. 16. He did not say Behold I send you as Wolves among Sheepe to kill imprison spoile and devoure those unto whom they were sent Againe vers 7. he saith They to whom I send you will deliver you up into Councells and in their Synagogues they will scourge you and to Presidents and to Kings shall you be led for my sake He doth not say You whom I send shall deliver the people whom you ought to convert unto Councells and put them in Prisons and lead them to Presidents and Tribunall Seates and make their Religion Felony and Treason Againe he saith vers 32 When ye enter into an House salute it saying Peace be unto this House he doth not say You shall send Pursevants to ransack or spoile his House Againe he said Iohn 10. The good Pastour giveth his life for his Sheep the Thiefe commeth not but to steale kill and destroy He doth not say The Theefe giveth his life for his Sheep and the Good Pastour commeth not but to steale kill and destroy So that we holding our peace our Adversaries themselves speake for us or rather for the Truth To answer some maine Objections And first that it is no praejudice to the Common wealth if Libertie of Conscience were suffred to such as doe feare God indeed as is or will be manifest in such mens lives and conversations Abraham abode among the Canaanites a long time yet contrary to them in Religion Gen. 13. 7. 16. 13. Againe he so journed in Gerar and K. Abimelech gave him leave to abide in his Land Gen. 20. 21. 23. 24. Isaack also dwelt in the same Land yet contrary in Religion Gen. 26. Iacob lived 20 yeares in one House with his Unkle Laban yet differed in Religion Gen 31. The people of Israel were about 430 yeares in that infamous land of Egypt and afterwards 70 yeares in Babylon all which time they differed in Religion from the States Exod. 12. 2 Chron. 36. Come to the time of Christ where Israel was under the Romanes where lived divers Sects of Religion as Herâ—dians Scribes and Pharises Saduces and Libertines Thudâ—ans and Samaritanes beside the Common Religion of the Iewes Christ and his Apostles All which differed from the Common Religion of the State which was like the Worship of Diana which almost the whole world then worshipped Acts 19. 20. All these lived under the Government of Caesar being nothing hurtfull unto the Common-wealth giving unto Caesar that which was his And for their Religion and Consciences towards God he left them to themselves as having no Dominion over their Soules and Consciences And when the Enemies of the Truth raised up any Tumultsâ— the wisedome of the Magistrate most wisely appeased them Acts 18. 14. 19. 35. THE ANSWER OF Mr. IOHN COTTON of Boston in New-England To the aforesaid ARGUMENTS against Persecution for Cause of Consciene Professedly mainteining Persecution for Cause of Conscience THe Question which you put is Whether Persecution for cause of Conscience be not against the Doctrine of Iesus Christ the King of Kings Now by Persecution for Cause of Conscience I conceive you meane either for professing some point of Doctrine which you believe in Conscience to be the Truth or for practising some Worke which in Conscience you believe to be a Religious ' Duty Now in Points of Doctrine some are fundamentall without right beliefe whereof a Man cannot be saved Others are circumstantiall or lesse principall wherein Men may differ in judgement without prejudice of salvation on either part In like sort in Points of Practice some concerne the waightier Duties of the Law as What God we worship and with what kinde of Worship whether such as if it be Right fellowship with God is held if Corrupt fellowship with Him is lost Againe in Points of Doctrine and Worship lesse Principall either they are held forth in a meeke and peaceable way though the Things be Erroneous or unlawfull â— Or they are held forth with such Arrogance and Impetuousnesse as tendeth and reacheth even of it selfe to the disturbance of Civill
for righteousnesse sake but that hindreth not but that he would have them execute upon all disobedience the judgement and vengeance required in the Word 2 Cor. 10. 6. Rom. 13. 4. Though it be true that wicked persons now may by the grace of God become true Disciples and Converts yet we may not doe evill that good may come thereof And evill it would bee to tolerate notorious evill doers whether seducing teachers or scandalous livers Christ had something against the Angel of the Church of Pergamus for tolerating them that held the doctrine of Balaam and against the Church of Thiatira for tolerating Iesabel to teach and seduce Rev. 2. 14. 20. Your second Head of Reasons is taken from the profession and practice of famous Princes King Iames Stephen of Poland King of Bohemia Whereunto a treble answer may briefly be returned First we willingly acknowledge that none is to be persecuted at all no more then they may be oppressed for righteousnesse sake Againe we acknowledge that none is to be punished for his conscience though mis-informed as hath been said unlesse his errour be fundamentall or seditiously and turbulently promoted and that after due conviction of his conscience that it may appeare he is not punished for his conscience but for sinning against his conscience Furthermore we acknowledge none is to be constrained to beleeve or professe the true Religion till he be convinced in judgement of the truth of it but yet restrained he may from blaspheming the truth and from seducing any unto pernicious errours 2. Wee answer what Princes professe or practise is not a rule of conscience they many times tolerate that in point of State policy which cannot justly be tolerated in point of true Christianity Againe Princes many times tolerate offendours out of very necessity when the offenders are either too many or too mighty for them to punish in which respect David tolerated Ioab and his murthers but against his will 3. We answer further that for those three Princes named by you who tolerated Religion we can name you more and greater who have not tolerated Heretickes and Schismatickes notwithstanding their pretence of conscience and arrogating the Crowne of Martyrdome to their sufferings Constantine the Great at the request of the Generall Councell of Nice banished Arrius with some of his fellowes Sozom. lib. 1. Eccles. Hist. cap. 19. 20. The same Constantine made a severe Law against the Donatists And the like proceedings against them were used by Valentinian Gratian and Theodosius as Augustine reporteth in Epist. 166. Only Iulian the Apostata granted liberty to Heretickes as well as to Pagans that he might by tolerating all weeds to grow choake the vitals of Christianity which was also the practice and sin of Valens the Arrian Queene Elizabeth as famous for her government as any of the former it is well knowne what Lawes she made and executed against Papists Yea and King Iames one of your own witnesses though he was slow in proceeding against Papists as you say for conscience sake yet you are not ignorant how sharply and severely he punished those whom the malignant world calleth Puritanes men of more conscience and better faith then he tolerated I come now to your third and last argument taken from the judgement of ancient and later Writers yea even of Papists themselves who have condemned persecution for conscience sake You begin with Hilary whose testimony we might admit without any prejudice to the truth for it is true the Christian Church doth not persecute but is persecuted But to excommunicate an Hereticke is not to persecute that is it is not to punish an innocent but a culpable and damnable person and that not for conscience but for persisting in errour against light of conscience whereof it hath beene convinced It is true also what he saith that neither the Apostles did not may we propagate Christian Religion by the Sword but if Pagans cannot be won by the Word they are not to be compelled by the Sword Neverthelesse this hindreth not but if they or any others should blaspheme the true God and his true Religion they ought to be severely punished and no lesse doe they deserve if they seduce from the truth to damnable Heresie or Idolatry Your next Writer which is Tertullian speaketh to the same purpose in the place alledged by you His intent is onely to restraine Scapula the Romane Governour of Africa from the persecution of Christians for not offering sacrifice to their gods And for that end fetcheth an argument from the Law of Naturall Equity not to compell any to any Religion but to permit them either to beleeve willingly or not to beleeve at all Which wee acknowledge and accordingly permit the Indians to continue in their unbeleefe Neverthelesse it will not therefore be lawfull openly to tolerate the worship of devils or Idols or the seduction of any from the truth When Tertullian saith Another mans Religion neither hurteth nor profiteth any it must be understood of private worship and Religion professed in private otherwise a false Religion professed by the Members of a Church or by such as have given their Names to Christ will be the ruine and desolation of the Church as appeareth by the threats of Christ to the Churches of Asia Revel 2. Your next Authour Hierom crosseth not the truth nor advantageth not your cause for we grant what he saith that Heresie must bee cut off with the Sword of the Spirit But this hindreth not but that being so cut downe if the Hereticke still persist in his Heresie to the seduction of others he may be cut off by the civill sword to prevent the perdition of others And that to bee Hieromes meaning appeareth by his note upon that of the Apostle A little Leaven leaveneth the whole lumpe therefore saith he a sparke as soone as it appeareth is to be extinguished and the Leaven to be removed from the rest of the dough rotten peeces of flesh are to be cut off and a scabbed beast is to be driven from the 〈◊〉 leâ—t the whole house masse of dough body and flocke be set on fire with the sparke bee sowred with the Leaven be putrified with the rotten flesh perish by the scabbed beast Brentius whom you next quote speaketh not to your Cause We willingly grant him and you that Man hath no power to make Lawes to bind Conscience But this hindreth not but that Men may see the Lawes of God observed which doe bind Conscience The like Answer may be returned to Luther whom you next alleadge First that the Government of the Civill Magistrate extendeth no further then over the Bodies and Goods of their Subjects not over their Soules And therefore they may not undertake to give Lawes to the Soules and Consciences of Men. Secondly that the Church of Christ doth not use the Arme of Secular Power to compell men to the Faith or profession of the Truth for this is to be done by Spirituall weapons whereby
sonnes of men in this point To illustrate this The Church or company of worshippers whether true or false is like unto a Body or Colledge of Physitians in a Citie like unto a Corporation Society or Company of East-Indie or Turkie-Merchants or any other Societie or Company in London which Companies may hold their Courts keep their Records hold disputations and in matters concerning their Societie may dissent divide breake into Schismes and Factions sue and implead each other at the Law yea wholly breake up and dissolve into pieces and nothing and yet the peace of the Citie not be in the least measure impaired or disturbed because the essence or being of the Citie and so the well-being and peace thereof is essentially distinct from those particular Societies the Citie-Courts Citie-Lawes Citie-punishments distinct from theirs The Citie was before them and stands absolute and intire when such a Corporation or Societie is taken down For instance further The City or Civill state of Ephesus was essentially distinct from the worship of Diana in the Citie or of the whole city Againe the Church of Christ in Ephesus which were Gods people converted and call'd out from the worship of that City unto Christianitie or worship of God in Christ was distinct from both Now suppose that God remove the Candlestick from Ephesus yea though the whole Worship of the Citie of Ephesus should be altered yet if men be true and honestly ingenuous to Citie-covenants Combinations and Principles all this might be without the least impeachment or infringement of the Peace of the City of Ephesus Thus in the Citie of Smirna was the Citie it selfe or Civill estate one thing The Spirituall or Religious state of Smirna another The Church of Christ in Smirna distinct from them both and the Synagogue of the Iewes whether literally Iewes as some thinke or mystically false Christians as others called the Synagogue of Sathan Revel 2. distinct from all these And notwithstanding these spirituall oppositions in point of Worship and Religion yet heare we not the least noyse nor need we if Men keep but the Bond of Civility of any Civill breach or breach of Civill peace amongst them and to persecute Gods people there for Religion that only was a breach of Civilitie it selfe CHAP. VII Peace NOw to the second Quaerie What it is to hold forth Doctrine or Practice in an arrogant or impetuous way Truth Although it hath not pleased Mr. Cotton to declare what is this arrogant or impetuous holding forth of Doctrine or Practice tending to disturbance of Civill peace I cannot but expresse my sad and sorrowfull observation how it pleaseth God to leave him as to take up the common reproachfull accusation of the Accuser of Gods children to wit that they are arrogant and impetuous which charge together with that of obstinacie pertinacie pride Troublers of the Citie c. Sathan commonly loads the meekest of the Saints and Witnesses of Iesus with To wipe off therefore these fowle blurs and aspersions from the faire and beautifull face of the Spouse of Iesus I shall select and propose 5 or 6 cases for which Gods witnesses in all Ages and Generations of Men have been charged with arrogance impetuousnes c. and yet the God of Heaven and Iudge of all men hath graciously discharged them from such crimes and maintained and avowed them for his faithfull and peaceable servants First Gods people have proclaimed taught disputed for divers months together a new Religion and Worship contrary to the Worship projected in the Towne City or State where they have lived or where they have travelled as did the Lord Iesus Himselfe over all Galile and the Apostles after Him in all places both in the Synagogues and Market-places as appeares Acts 17. 2. 17. Acts 18. 48. Yet this no Arrogance nor Impetuousnesse Secondly Gods servants have been zealous for their Lord and Master even to the very faces of the Highest and concerning the persons of the Highest so far as they have opposed the Truth of God So Eliah to the face of Ahab It is not I but thou and thy Fathers house that troublest Israel So the Lord Iesus concerning Herod Goe tell that Fox So Paul God delivered me from the mouth of the Lion and to Ananias Thou whited wall and yet in all this no Arrogance nor Impetuousnesse Thirdly Gods people have been immoveable constant and resolved to the death in refusing to submit to false Worships and in preaching and professing the true worship contrary to expresse command of publicke Authority So the three famous Worthies against the command of Nobilchadnezzar and the uniforme conformity of all Nations agreeing upon a false worship Dan. 3. So the Apostles Acts 4 and 5 chap. and so the witnesses of Iesus in all ages who loved not their lives to the death Rev. 12. not regarding sweet life nor bitter death and yet not Arrogant nor Impetuous Fourthly Gods people since the comming of the King of Israel the Lord Iesus have openly and constantly profest that no Civill Magistrate no King nor Caesar have any power over the Soules or Consciences of their Subjects in the matters of God and the Crowne of Iesus but the Civill Magistrates themselves yea Kings and Keisars are bound to subject their owne soules to the Ministery and Church the Power and Government of this Lord Iesus the King of Kings Hence was the charge against the Apostles false in Civill but true in spiritualls that they affirmed that there was another King one Iesus Acts 17. 7. And indeed this was the great charge against the Lord Iesus Himself which the Iews laid against Him and for which he suffered Death as appears by the Accusation written over His Head upon the Gallows Iohn 9. 19. Iesus of Nazareth King of the Iewes This was and is the summe of all true preaching of the Gospell or glad newes viz. That God anointed Jesus to be the sole King and Governour of all the Israel of God in spirituall and soule causes Psal. 2. 6. Acts 2. 36. Yet this Kingly power of His he resolved not to manage in His owne Person but Ministerially in the hands of such Messengers which he sent forth to preach and baptise and to such as beleeved that word they preached Iohn 17. And yet here no Arrogance nor Impetuousnesse 5. Gods people in delivering the Minde and Will of God concerning the Kingdomes and Civill States where they have lived have seemed in all shew of common sense and rationall policie if men looke not higher with the eye of saith to endanger and overthrow the very Civill State as appeareth by all Ieremses preaching and counsell to King Zedechia his Princes and people insomuch that the charge of the Princes against Ieremiah was that he discouraged the Army from fighting against the Babylonians and weakned the Land from its own defence and this charge in the eye of reason seemed not to be unreasonable
and the redressing of evill and where it stops in any and runs nor cleere there the guilt like filth or mud will lie Thirdly had it been the holy purpose of God to have established the doctrine and kingdome of his Son this way since his comming he would have furnished Common-weales Kingdomes Cities c. then and since with such temporall Powers and Magistrates as should have been excellently sit and competent for he that could have had legions of Angels if he so pleased could as easily have been and still be furnished with legions of good and gracious Magistrates to this end and purpose CHAP. XXXI IT is generally said that God hath in former rimes and doth still and will hereafter stirre up Kings and Queenes c. I answer that place of Isa. 49. 23. will appeare to be far from proving such Kings and Queenes Iudges of Ecclesiasticall causes and if not Iudges they may not punish In Spirituall things themselves are subject to the Church and censures of it although in Civill respects superior How shall those Kings and Queenes be supreme Governours of the Church and yet lick the dust of the Churches feet as it is there exprest Thirdly Gods Israel of old were earnest with God for a King for an Arme of Flesh for a King to protect them as other Nations had Gods Israel still have ever been restlesse with God for an Arme of flesh God gave them Saul in his anger and took him away in his wrath And God hath given many a Saul in his Anger that is an Arm of Flesh in the way of his Providence though I judge not all persons whom Saul in his Calling typed out to be of Sauls spirit for I speake of a State and outward visible Power only I adde God will take away such stayes on whom Gods people rest in his wrath that King David that is Christ Iesus the Antitype in his own Spirituall power in the hands of the Saints may spiritually and for ever be advanced And therefore I conclude it was in one respect that the Lord Iesus said Let them alone because it was no Ordinance for any Disciple of Iesus to prosecute the Pharises at Caesars Bar. Beside let it be seriously considered by such as plead for present corporall punishment as conceiving that such sinners though they breake nor Civill peace should not escape unpunished I say let it be considered though for the present their punishment is deferred yet the punishment inflicted on them will be found to amount to an higher pitch then any corporall punishment in the World beside and that in these foure respects CHAP. XXXII FIrst by just judgement from God false teachers are starke blinde Gods sword hath strucke out the right eye of their minde and spirituall underderstanding ten thousand times a greater punishment then if the Magistrate should command both the right and left eye of their bodies to bee bored or pluckt out and that in so many fearfull respects if the blindenesse of the soule and of the body were a little compared together whether we looke at that want of guidance or the want of joy and pleasure which the light of the eye affordeth or whether we looke at the damage shame deformity and danger which blindenesse brings to the outward man and much more true in the want of the former and miseris of the latter in spirituall and soule blindenesse to all eternity Secondly how fearfull is that wound that no Balme in Gilead can cure How dâ—eadfull is that blindenesse which for ever to all eye-salve is incurable For if persons be wilfully and desperately obstinate after light shining forth let them alone faith the Lord. So spake the Lord once of Ephraim Ephraim is joyned to Idolls let him alone Hos. 7. what more lamentable condition then when the Lord hath given a poor sinner over as a hopelesse patient incurable which we are wont to account a â—orer affliction then if a man were torne and rack'd c. And this I speake not that I conceive that all whom the Lord Iesus commands His servants to passe from and let alone to permit and tolerate when it is in their power corporally to molest them I say that all are thus â—â—curaâ—le yet that sometimes that word is spoken by Christ Jesus to â—is servants to be patient for neither can corporall or spirituall 〈◊〉 or Physicke ever heale or cure â—â—em Thirdly their end is the Ditch that bottomlesse pit of everlasting separation 〈◊〉 the holy and sweet Presence of the Father of Lights Goodnesse and Mercy it selfe enalesse 〈◊〉 in extremity universality and eternity of torments which most direfull and lamenâ—able downefall should strike a â—oly fear trembling into all 〈◊〉 see the Pit whithâ—◠〈…〉 are â—umbling and cause us to strive so far as 〈…〉 by the spirituall eye-salve of the Word of God to heale and 〈…〉 â—heiâ— soule-destroying blindenesse 〈◊〉 of those that fall into this â—â—eâ—â—full Ditch both leader and followers how deplorable in more especiall manner is the leaders case upon whose necke the followers tumble the ruine not only of his owne soule being horrible but also the ruine of the followers soules eternally galling and tormenting Peace Some will say these things are indeed full of horrour yet such is the state of all sinners and of many Malefactours whom yet the State is bound to punish and sometimes by death it selfe Truth I answer The Civill Magistrate beareth not the sword in vaine but to cut off Civill offences yea and the offendours too in case But what is this to a blinde Pharisce resisting the Doctrine of Christ who happily may be as good a subject and as peaceable and profitable to the Civill State as any and for his spirituall offence against the Lord Iesus in denying Him to be the true Christ he suffereth the vengeance of a dreadfull judgement both present and eternall as before CHAP. XXXIII Peace YEa but it is said that the blinde Pharises misguiding the subjects of a Civill State greatly sinne against a Civill State and therefore justly suffer civill punishment for shall the Civill Magistrate take care of outsides only to wit of the bodies of men and not of soules in labouring to procure their everlasting welfare Truth I answer It is a truth the mischiefe of a blinde Pharises blinde guidance is greater then if he acted Treasons Murders c. and the losse of one soule by his seduction is a greater mischiefe then if he blew up Parliaments and cuts the throats of Kings or Emperours so pretious is that invaluable Jewell of a Soul above all the present lives and bodies of all the men in the world I and therefore a firme Justice calling for eye for eye tooth for tooth life for life calls also soule for soule which the blinde-guiding seducing Pharisee shall surely pay in that dreadfull Ditch which the Lord Jesus speakes of but this sentence against him the Lord Jesus only pronounceth
of State policy tolerate what suits not with Christianity and out of State necessity tolerate â—s David did Ioab against their wils To which I answer First that although with him in the first I confesse that Princes may tolerate that out of State policy which will not stand with Christianity yet in the second he must acknowledge with me that there is a necessity sometime of State Toleration as in the case of Ioab and so his former affirmation generally laid downe viz. that it is evill to tolerate seducing Teachers or scandalous livers was not duly waighed in the Balance of the Sanctuary and is too light Secondly I affirme that that State policy and State necessity which for the peace of the State and preventing of Rivers of civill Blood permits the Consciences of men will bee found to agree most punctually with the Rules of the best Politician that ever the World saw the King of Kings and Lord of Lords in comparison of whom Salomon himselfe had but a drop of wisedome compared to Christs Ocean and was but a Farthing Candle compared with the All and Ever glorious Son of Righteousnesse That absolute Rule of this great Politician for the peace of the Field which is the World and for the good and peace of the Saints who must have a civill being in the World I have discoursed of in his command of permitting the Tares that is Antichristians or false Christians to be in the Field of the World growing up together with the true Wheat true Christians CHAP. LXI Peace HIs third Answer is this For those three Princes named by you who tolerated Religion we can name you more and greater who have not tolerated Heretickes and Schismatickes notwithstanding their pretence of Conscience and their arrogating the Crowne of Martyrdome to their sufferings Constantine the Great at the request of the Generall Councell at Nice banished Arrius with some of his Fellowes Sozom. lib. 1. Eccles hist. cap 19 20. The same Constantine made a severe Law against the Donatists and the like proceedings against them were used by Valentinian Gratian and Theodosius as Augustine reports in Ep. 166. Onely Iulian the Apostate granted liberty to Heretickes as well as to Pagans that he might by tolerating all weeds to grow choake the vitals of Christianity which was also the practice and sinne of Valens the Arrian Queene Elizabeth as famous for her Government as most of the former it is well knowne what Lawes she made and executed against Papists yea and K. Iames one of your owne Witnesses though he was slow in proceeding against Papists as you say for Conscience sake yet you are not ignorant how sharply and severely he punished those whom the malignant World calls Puritans men of more Conscience and better Faith then the Papists whom he tolerated Truth Unto this I answer First that for mine owne part I would not use an argument from the number of Princes witnessing in profession of practice against Persecution for cause of Conscience for the truth and faith of the Lord Iesus must not bee received with respect of faces be they never so high princely and glorious Precious Pearles and Iewels and farre more precious Truth are found in muddy shells and places The rich Mines of golden Truth lye hid under barren hills and in obscure holes and corners The most High and Glorious God hath chosen the poore of the World and the Witnesses of Truth Rev. 11. are cloathed in sackcloth not in Silke or Sattin Cloth of Gold or Tissue and therefore I acknowledge if the number of Princes professing persecution bee considered it is rare to finde a King Prince or Governour like Christ Iesus the King of Kings and Prince of the Princes of the Earth and who tread not in the steps of Herod the Fox or Nero the Lyon openly or secretly persecuting the name of the Lord Iesus such were Saul Ieroboam Ahab though under a maske or pretence of the name of the God of Israel To that purpose was it a noble speech of Buchanan who lying on his death-bed sent this Item to King Iames Remember my humble service to his Majestie and tell him that Buchanan is going to a place where few Kings come CHAP. LXII Truth SEcondly I observe how inconsiderately I hope not willingly he passeth by the Reasons and Grounds urged by those three Princes for their practices for as for the bare examples of Kings or Princes they are but like shining Sands or guilded Rockes giving no solace to such as make wofull shipwrack on them In K. Iames his Speech he passeth by that Golden Maxime in Divinity that God never loves to plant his Church by Blood Secondly that Civill Obedience may be performed from the Papists Thirdly in his observation on Revel 20. that true and certaine note of a false Church to wit persecution The wicked are besiegers the faithfull are besieged In K. Steven of Poland his Speech hee passeth by the true difference betweene a Civill and a Spirituall Government I am said Steven a Civill Magistrate over the bodies of men not a spirituall over their soules Now to confound these is Babel and Jewish it is to seek for Moses and bring him from his grave which no man shall finde for God buried him in setting up a Nationall state or Church in a land of Canaan which the great Messiah abolished at his comming Thirdly he passeth by in the speech of the King of Bohemia that foundation in Grace and Nature to wit that Conscience ought not to be violated or forced and indeed it it is most true that a Soule or spirituall Rape is more abominable in Gods eye then to force and ravish the Bodies of all the Women in the World Secondly that most lamentably true experience of all Ages which that King observeth viz. that persecution for cause of Conscience hath ever proved pernicious being the causes of all those wonderfull innovations of or changes in the Principalitiesâ— and mightiest Kingdomes of Christendome He that reads the Records of Truth and Time with an impartiall eye shall finde this to be the Launcet that hath pierc'd the veines of Kings and Kingdomes of Saints and Sinners and fill'd the streames and Rivers with their blood Lastly that Kings observation of his own time viz. that Persecution for cause of Conscience was practised most in England and such places where Popery raigned implying as I conceive that such practises commonly proceed from that great whore the Church of Rome whose Daughters are like their Mother and all of a bloody nature as most commonly all Whores be CHAP. LXIII NOw thirdly in that the Answerer observeth that amongst the Romane Emperours they that did not persecute were Iulian the Apostate and Valens the Arrian whereas the good Emperours Constantine Gratian Valentinian and Theodosius they did persecute the Arrians Donatists c. Answ. It is no new thing for godly and eminently godly men
appâ—ove a cutting off by the sword of the Spirit in the Church and the purging out of the leaven in the Church in the Cities of Corinth and Galatia And if Tertullian should so meane as himselfe doth yet First that grant of his that Heresie must be cut off with the sword of the Spirit implies an absolute sufficiencie in the sword of the Spirit to cut it down according to that mighty operation of Spirituall weapons 2 Cor. 10. 4. powerfully sufficient either to convert the Heretick to God and subdue his very thoughts into subjection to Christ or else spiritually to slay and execute him Secondly it is cleare to be the meaning of the Apostle and of the Spirit of God not there to speake to the Church in Corinth or Galatia or any other Church concerning any other dough or house or body or â—lock but the dough the body the house the â—lock of Christ his Church Out of which such spaâ—ks such leaven such rotten slesh and scabbed sheep are to be avoided Nor could the eye of this worthy Answerer ever be so obscured as to run to a Smiths shop for a Sword of iron and steale to helpe the Sword of the Spirit if the Sun of Righteousnesse had once been pleased to shew him that a Nationall Church which elsewhere he professeth against a state Church whether explicite as in Ola England or implicite as in New is not the Institution of the Lord Iesus Christ. The Nationall typicall State-Church of the Iewes necessarily called for such weapons but the particular Churches of Christ in all parts of the World consisting of Iewes or Gentiles is powerfully able by the sword of the Spirit to defend it selfe and â—ffend Men or Devils although the Statâ— or Kingdome wherein such a Church or Churches of Christ are gathered have neither carnall speare nor sword c. as once it was in the Nationall Church of the Land of Canaan CHAP. LXXII Peace BReutius whom you next quote saith he speaketh not to your cause Wee willingly grant you that man hath no power to make Lawes to binde conscience but this hinders not but men may see the Lawes of God observed which doe binde conscience Truth I answer In granting with Breutius that man hath not power to make Lawes to binde conscience hee overthrowes such his tenent and practice as restraine men from their Worship according to their Conscience and beleefe and constraine them to such worships though it bee out of a pretence that they are convinced which their owne soules tell them they have no satisfaction nor faith in Secondly whereas he affirmeth that men may make Lawes to see the Lawes of God observed I answer as God needeth not the helpe of a materiall sword of steele to assist the sword of the Spirit in the affaires of conscience so those men those Magistrates yea that Commonwealth which makes such Magistrates must needs have power and authority from Christ Iesus to sit Iudge and to determine in all the great controversies concerning doctrine discipline government c. And then I aske whether upon this ground it must not evidently follow that Either there is no lawfull Commonwealth nor civill State of men in the world which is not qualified with this spirituall discerning and then also that the very Commonweale hath more light concerning the Church of Christ then the Church it selfe Or that the Commonweale and Magistrates thereof must judge and punish as they are perswaded in their owne beleefe and conscience be their conscience Paganish Turkish or Antichristian what is this but to confound Heaven and Earth together and not onely to take away the being of Christianity out of the World but to take away all civility and the world out of the world and to lay all upon heapes of confusion CHAP. LXXIII Peace THe like answer saith he may bee returned to Luther whom you next alledge First that the government of the civill Magistrate extendeth no further then over the bodies and goods of their subjects not over their soules and therefore they may not undertake to give Lawes unto the soules and consciences of men Secondly that the Church of Christ doth not use the Arme of secular power to compell men to the true profession of the truth for this is to be done with spirituall weapons whereby Christians are to be exhorted not compelled But this saith hee hindreth not that Christians sinning against light of faith and conscience may justly be censured by the Church with excommunication and by the civill sword also in case they shall corrupt others to the perdition of their soules Truth I answer in this joynt confession of the Answerer with Luther to wit that the government of the civill Magistrate extendeth no further then over the bodies and goods of their subjects not over their soules who sees not what a cleare testimony from his own mouth and pen is given to wit that either the Spirituall and Church estate the preaching of the Word and the gathering of the Church the Baptisme of it the Ministry Government and Administrations thereof belong to the civill body of the Commonweale that is to the bodies and goods of men which seemes monstrous to imagine Or else that the civill Magistrate cannot without exceeding the bounds of his office meddle with those spirituall affaires Againe necessarily must it follow that these two are contradictory to themselves to wit The Magistrate power extends no further then the bodies and goods of the subject and yet The Magistrates must punish Christians for sinning against the light of faith and conscience and for corrupting the soules of men The Father of Lights make this worthy Answerer and all that feare him to see their wandring in this case not only from his feare but also from the light of Reason it selfe their owne convictions and confessions Secondly in his joint confession with Luther that the Church doth not use the secular power to compell men to the Faith and Profession of the truth he condemneth as before I have observed First his former Implication vizâ— that they may bee compelled when they are convinced of the truth of it Secondly their owne practice who suffer no man of any different conscience and worship to live in their jurisdiction except that he depart from his owne exercise of Religion and Worship differing from the worship allowed of in the civill State yea and also actually submit to come to their Church Which howsoever it is coloured over with this varnish viz. that men are compelled no further then unto the hearing of the word unto which all men are bound yet it will appeare that teaching and being taught in a Church estate is a Church worship as true and proper a Church worship as the Supper of the Lord Act. 2. 46. Secondly all persons Papist and Protestant that are conscientious have alwayes suffered upon this ground especially that they have refused to come to
I heartily subscribe and know the God the Spirit the Prince the Angels and all the true awaked Sons of Peace will call thee blessed Truth How sweet and precious are these contemplations but oh how sweet the actions and fruitions Peace Thy lips drop as the Honey-combe Honey and Milke are under thy Tongue oh that these drops these streames might flow without a stop or interruption Truth The glorious white Troopers Rev. 19. shall in time be mounted and he that is the most High Prince of Princes and Lord Generall of Generalls mounted upon the Word of Truth and Meeknesse Psal 45. shall triumph gloriously and renew our meetings But harke what noise is this Peace These are the dolefull drums and shrill sounding trumpets the roaring murthering Canons the shouts of Conquerours the grones of wounded dying slaughtered righteous with the wicked Deare Truth how long how long these dreadfull sounds and direfull sights how long before my glad returne and restitution Truth Sweet Peace who will beleeve my true report yet true it is if I were once beleev'd blest Truth and Peace should not so soone be parted Peace Deare Truth what welcome hast thou found of late beyond thy former times or present expectations Truth Alas my welcome changes as the times and strongest swords and armes prevaile were I beleeved in this that Christ is not delighted with the blood of men but shed his owne for his bloodiest enemies that by the word of Christ no man for gainsaying Christ or joyning with his enemy Antichrist should bee molested with the civill sword Were this foundation laid as the Magna Charta of highest liberties and good security given on all hands for the preservation of it how soone should every brow and house be stucke with Olive Branches Peace This heavenly invitation makes mee bold once more to crave thy patient eare and holy tongue Errourâ—s impatient and soon tyred but thou art Light and like the Father of Lights unwearied in thy shinings Loe here what once againe I present to thy impartiall censure A MODEL of CHURCH and CIVIL Power Composed by Mr. COTTON and the MINISTERS of NEW-ENGLAND And sent to the CHURCH at SALEM as a further Confirmation of the bloody Doctrine of PERSECUTION for cause of CONSCIENCE Examined and Answered CHAP. LXXXII Truth VVHat hast thou there Peace Here is a combination of thine owne Children against thy very life and mine Hâ—re is a Modell framed by many able learned and godly hands of such a Church and Common-weale as wakens Moses from his unknown Grave and denies Iesus yet to have seene the Earth Truth Begin sweet Peace read and propound My hand shall not be tyred with holding the ballances of the Sanctuarie doe thou put in and I shall weigh as in the presence of Him whose pure eyes cannot behold iniquitie Peace Thus then speakes the Preface or Entrance Seeing God hath given a distinct power to Church and Common-weale the one Spirituall called the Power of the Keyes the other Civill called the Power of the Sword and hath made the members of both Societies subject to both Authorities so that every soule in the Church is subject to the higher powers in the Commonweale and every member of the Commonweale being a member of the Church is subject to the Lawes of Christs Kingdome and in him to the censures of the Church the Question is how the Civill State and the Church may dispence their severall Governments without infringement and impeachment of the power and honour of the One or of the Other and what bounds and limits the Lord hath set betweene both the Administrations Truth From that conclusion deare Peace that every memâ— of the Commonweale being a member of the Church is subject to the Lawes of Christs Kingdome and in Him to the censure of the Church I observe that they grant the Church of Christ in Spirituall causes to be superiour and over the highest Magistrates in the World if members of the Church Hence therefore I infer may she refuse to receive and may also cast forth any yea even the highest if obstinate in Sin cut of her Spirituall society Hence in this Spirituall society that soule who hath most of Christ most of His Spirit is most spiritually honourable according to the Scriptures quoted Acts 15. 20. Isa. 49. 23. Gal. 3. 28. And if so how can this stand with their common tenent that the Civill Magistrate must keep the first Table set up reforme the Church and be Iudge and Governour in all Ecclesiasticall as well as Civill causes Secondly I observe the lamentable wresting of this one Scripture Sometimes this Scripture must prove the Power of the Civill Magistrates Kings and Governours over the Church in Spirituall causes c. Yet here this Scripture is produced to prove Kings and Magistrates in Spirituall causes to be censured and corrected by the same Church â—Tis true in severall respects he that is a Governour may be a subject but in one and the same spirituall respect to judge and to be judged to sit on the Bench and stand at the Bar of Christ Iesus is as impossible as to reconcile the East and West together CHAP. LXXXII The first head That both Iurisdictions may stand together Peace VVHereas divers affecting transcending power to themselves over the Church have perswaded the Princes of the World that the Kingdome of Christ in His Church cannot rise or stand without the falls of those Common-weales wherein it is set up we do beleeve and professe the contrary to this suggestion the government of the one being of this World the other not the Church helping forward the prosperity of the Commonweale by meanes only Ecclesiasticall and Spirituall the Commonweale helping forward her owne and the Churches felicity by meanes politicall or temporall the falls of Commonweales being knowne to arise from their scattering and diminishing the power of the Church and the flourishing of Commonweales with the well ordering of the people even in morall and civill virtues being observed to arise from the vigilant administration of the holy Discipline of the Church as Bodin a man not partiall to Church Discipline plainely testifieth The vices in the free estate of Geneva quae legibus nusquam vindicantur by meanes of Church Discipline sine vi tumultu coercentur the Christian liberty not freeing us from subjection to Authority but from inthrallment and bondage unto sinne Truth Ans. From this confession that the Church or Kingdome of Christ may be set up without prejudice of the Commonweale according to Iohn 18. 36. My Kingdome is not of this World c. I observe that although the Kingdome of Christ the Church and the Civill Kingdome or Government be not inconsistent but that both may stand together yet that they are independent according to that Scripture and that therefore there may be as formerly I have proved flourishing Commonweales and Societies of menâ— where no
honoured with that mysticall and glorious Title of the Anointed 〈◊〉 Christ of the Lord Lam. 4. 20. the Breath of our Nostrils the Anointeâ— of Iehovah was taken in their pits c. Which anoynting and title however the Man of Sinne together with the Crowne and Diademe of Spirituall Israel the Church of God he hath given to some of the Kings of the Earth that so he may in lieu thereof dispose of their Civill Crownes the easier yet shall we finde it an incommunicable priviledge and prerogative oâ— of the Saints and people of God For as the Lord Iesus himselfe in the Antitype was not annointed with materiall but spirituall oyle Psal. 45. with the oyle of Gladnes and Luke 4. 14. from Isa. 61. 1. with the spirit of God The spirit of the Lord is upon me the Lord hath annointed me to preach good tidings c. So also all his members are annointed with the holy spirit of God 2 Cor. 1. 21. 1 John 2. Hence is it that Christians rejoyce in that name as carrying the very expresse title of the Anointed of the Lord which most superstitiously and sacrilegiously hath been applied only unto Kings Peace O deare Truth how doth the great Searcher of all Hearts finde out the thefts of the Antichristian World how are men caried in the darke they know not whither How is that heavenly charge Touch not mine Anointed c. Psal. 105. common to all Christians or anointed with Christ their Head by way of Monopoly or priviledge appropriated to Kings and Princes Truth It will not be here unseasonable to call to minde that admirable Prophecie Ezek. 21. 26 27. Thus saith Iehovah God Remove the Diadem take away the Crowne this shall not be the same exalt him that is low and abase him that is high I will overturne overturne overturne untill he come whose right it is and I will give it him The matter is a Crown and Diadem to be taken from an Vsurpers head and set upon the head of the right Owner Peace Doubtlesse this mystically intends the spirituall Crowne of the Lord Jesus for these many hundreth yeares set upon the heads of the Câ—mpetitours and Corrivals of the Lord Iesus upon whose glorious head in his Messengers and Churches the Crown shall be established The anointing the title and the crown and power must returne to the Lord Iesus in his Saints unto whom alone belongs his power and authoritie in Ecclesiasticall or Spirituall cases CHAP. CXVII Truth I Therefore proceed to a third difference between those Kings and Governours of Israel and Iudah and all other Kings and Rulers of the Earth Looke upon the Administrations of the Kings of Israel and Iudah and well weigh the Power and Authoritie which those Kings of Israel and Iudah exercised in Ecclesiasticall and spirituall causes and upon a due search we shall not find the same Scepter of Spirituall power in the hand of Civill Authoritie which was setled in the hands of the Kings of Israel and Iudah David appointed the Orders of the Priests Singers he brought the Arke to Ierusalem he prepared for the building of the Temple the patterne whereof he delivered to Salomon yet David herein could not be a type of the Kings and Rulers of the Earth but of the King of Heaven Christ Iesus for First David as he was a King so was he also a Prophet Acts 2. 30. and therefore a type as Moses also was of that great Prophet the Son of God And they that plead for Davids Kingly power must also by the same rule plead for his Propheticall by which he swayed the Scepâ—er of Israel in Church affaires Secondly it is expresly said 1 Cron. 28. 11. 12. 13. verses that the patterne which David gave to Salomon concerning the matter of the Temple and Worship of God he had it by the Spirit which was no other but a figure of the immediate inspiration of the spirit of God unto the Lord Iesus the true Spirituall King of Israel John 1. 49. Rabbi thou art the Son of God Rabbi thou art the King of Israel Againe What Civill Magistrate may now act as Salomon a type of Christ doth act 1 King 2. 26. 27. Salomon thrust out Abiathar from being Priest unto Iehovah Peace Some object that Abiathar was a man of death ver 26. worthy to die as having followed Adonijah and therefore Salomon executed no more then Civill justice upon him Truth Salomon remits the Civill punishment and inflicts upon him a spirituall but by what right but as he was King of the Church a figure of Christ Abiathar his Life is spared with respect to his former good service in following after David but yet he is turned out from the Priesthood But now put the case suppose that any of the Officers of the New-England Churches should prove false to the State and be discovered joyning with a French Monsieur or Spanish Don thirsting after conquest and dominion to further their invasions of that Countrey yet for some former faithfull service to the State he should not be adjudged to Civill punishment I aske now might their Governours or their Generall Court their Parliament depose such a man a Pastour Teacher or Elder from his holy Calling or office in Gods House Or suppose in a partiall and corrupt State a Member or Officer of a Church should escape with his life upon the commission of marther ought not a Church of Christ upon repentance to receive him I suppose it will not be said that he ought to execute himselfe or that the Church may use a Civill sword against him In these cases may such persons spar'd in civill punishments for some reason of or by partialitie of State be punished spiritually by the Civill Magistrate as Abiathar was Let the very Enemies of Zion be Judges Secondly If Salomon in thrusting out of Abiathar was a pattern and president unto all Civill Magistrates why not also in putting Zaâ—â—k in his roome ver 35. But against this the Pope the Bishops the Presbyterians and the Independents will all cry out against such a practice in their severall respective claimes and challenges for their Ministries We find the Libertie of the subjects of Christ in the choice of an Apostle Act. 1. of a Deacon Act. 6. of Elders Act. 14. and guided by the assistance either of the Apostles or Evangelists 1 Tim. 1. Tit. 1. without the least influence of any civill Magistrate which shewes the beauty of their liberty The Parliaments of England have by right free choice of their Speaker yet some Princes have thus farre beene gratified as to nominate yea and implicitely to commend a Speaker to them Wise men have seene the evill consequences of those influences though but in civill things how much farre greater and stronger are those snares when the golden Keyes of the Sonne of God are delivered into the hands of civill Authority Peace You know the noise
Word to bee with such his messengers to the end of the world Matth. 28. That Dog that feares to meet a man in the path runnes on with boldnes at his masters comming and presence at his backe Thirdly what imprudence and indiscretion is it in the most common affaires of Life to conceive that Emperours Kings and Rulers of the earth must not only be qualified with politicall and state abilities to make and execute such Civill Lawes which may concerne the common rights peace and safety which is worke and businesse load and burthen enough for the ablest shoulders in the Commonweal but also furnished with such spirituall and heavenly abilities to governe the Spirituall and Christian Commonweale the flocke and Church of Christ to pull downe and set up Religion to judge determine and punish in Spirituall controversies even to death or banishment And beside that not only the severall sorts of civill Officers which the people shall choose and set up must be so authorised but that all respective Commonweales or Bodies of people are charged much more by God with this worke and busines radically and fundamentally because all true civill Magistrates have not the least iâ—ch of civill power but what is measured out to them from the free consent of the whole even as a Committee of Parliament cannot further act then the power of the House shall arme and enable them Concerning that Objection which may arise from the Kings of Israel and Iudah who were borne members of Gods Church and trained up therein all their dayes which thousands of lawfull Magistrates in the world possibly borne and bred in false Worships Pagan or Antichristian never heard of and were therein types of the great anointed the King of Israel I have spoken sufficiently to such as have an eare to heare and therefore Lastly so unsutable is the commixing and intangling of the Civill with the Spirituall charge and Government that except it was for subsistence as we see in Paul and Barnabas working with their owne hands the Lord Iesus and his Apostles kept themselves to one If ever any in this world was able to manage both the Spirituall and Civill Church and Commonweale it was the Lord Jesus wisedome it selfe Yea hee was the true Heire to the Crowne of Israel being the Sonne of David yet being sought for by the people to be made a King Joh. 5. he refused and would not give a president to any King Prince or Ruler to manage both swords and to assume the charge of both Tables Now concerning Princes I desire it may bee remembred who were most injurious and dangerous to Christianity whether Nero Domitian Iulian c. Persecuters or Constantine Theodosius c. who assumed this Power and Authority in and over the Church in Spirituall things It is confest by the Answerer and others of note that under these later the Church the Christian State Religion and Worship were most corrupted under Constantine Christians fell asleepe on the beds of carnall ease and Liberty insomuch that some apply to his times that sleepe of the Church Cant. 5. 2. I sleep though mine heart waketh CHAP. CXXIV Peace YEs but some will say this was not through their assuming of this power but the ill managing of it Truth Yet are they commonly brought as the great Presidents for all succeeding Princes and Rulers in after Ages and in this very controvesiâ— their practices are brought as presidentiall to establish persecution for conscience Secondly those Emperours and other Princes and Magistrates acted in Religion according to their consciences perswasion and beyond the light and perswasion of conscience can no man living walk in any feare of God Hence have they forced their subjects to uniformitie and conformitie unto their own consciences what ever they were though not willing to have been forced themselves in the matters of God and Conscience Thirdly Had not the light of their eye of conscience and the consciences also of their Teachers been darkned they could not have been condemned for want of heavenly affection rare devotion wonderfull care and diligence propounding to themselves the best patternes of the Kings of Iudah David Salomon Asa Iehosaphat Iosiah Hezekiah But here they lost the path and themselves in perswading themselves to be the parallels and antytipes to those figurative and typicall Princes whence they conceived themselves bound to make their Cities Kingdomes Empires new holy lands of Canaan and themselves Governours and Iudges in spirituall causes compelling all consciences to Christ and persecuting the contrary with fire and sword Upon these rootes how was how is it possible but that such bitter fruits should grow of corruption of Christianitie Persecution of such godly who happily see more of Christ then such Rulers themselves their Dominions and Jurisdictions being overwhelmed with inforced dissimulation and hypocrisie and where power of resistance with flames of civill combustion as at this very day he that runs may read and tremble at Peace They adde further that the Princes of Christendome setting their Hornes upon the Churches head have been the cause of Antichristian inventions c. Truth If they mean that the Princes of Europe giving their power and authoritie to the seven-headed and ten-horned Beast of Rome have been the cause c. I confesse it to be one concurring cause yet withall it must be remembred that even before such Princes set their hornes or authoritie upon the Beasts head even when they did as I may say but lend their hornes to the Bishops even then rose up many Antichristian abominations And though I confesse there is but small difference in some respect betweene the setting their hornes upon the Priests heads whereby they are inabled immediately to push and gore whoever crosse their doctrine and practice and the lending of their hornes that is pushing and goriâ—g such themselves as are declared by their Bishops and Priests to be hereticall as was and is practised in some Countries before and since the Pope rose yet I confidently affirme that neither the Lord Iesus nor his first ordained Ministers and Churches gathered by such Ministers did ever weare or crave the helpe of such hornes in Spirituall and Christian affaires The spirituall power of the Lord Iesus in the hands of his true Ministers and Churches according to Balaams prophesie Num. 23. is the horne of that Vnicorne or Rhinocerot Psal 92. which is the strongest horne in the world in comparison of which the strongest hornes of the Bulls of Basan breake as sticks and Historieâ—ells â—ells us how that Vnicorne or one-horned Beast the Rhinocerot tooke up a Bull like a Tennis ball in the Theater at Rome before the Emperour according to that record of the Post Quantâ—â—s erat cornu cui pila Taurus erat Unto this Spirituall power of the Lord Iesus the soules and thoughts of the highest Kings and Emperours must subject Math. 16. 18. 1 Cor. 5.
10. chapters CHAP. CXXV Peace DEare Truth You know the noyse is made from those prophecies Isa. 46. Kings and Queenes shall be nursing Fathers c. and Revel 21. the Kings of the Earth shall bring their Glory and Honour to new Ierusalem c. Truth I answer with that mournfull Prophet Psal. 74. I see not that man that Prophet that can tell us how long How many excellent Pen-men fight each against other with their pens like swords in the application of those prophecies of David Isa. Ier. Ezekiel Daniel Zacharie Iohn when and how those Prophecies shall be fulfilled Secondly When ever those prophecies are fulfilled yet shall those Kings not be Heads Governours and Judges in Ecclesiasticall or Spirituall causes but be themselves judged and ruled if within the Church by the power of the Lord Jesus therein Hence saith Isaiah those Kings and Queenes shall lick the Dust of thy feet c. Peace Some will here aske What may the Magistrate then lawfully doe with his Civill horne or power in matters of Religion Truth His horne not being the horne of that Vnicorne or Rhinocerot the power of the Lord Iesus in Spirituall caseâ— his sword not the two-edged sword of the Spirit the word of God hanging not about the loines or side but at the lips and proceeding out of the mouth of his Ministers but of an humane and Civill nature and constitution it must consequently be of a humane and Civill operation for who knowes not that operation followes constitution and therefore I shall end this passage with this consideration The Civill Magistrate either respecteth that Religion and Worship which his conscience is perswaded is true and upon which he ventures his Soule or else that and those which he is perswaded are false Concerning the first if that which the Magistrate believeth to be true be true I say he owes a threefold dutie unto it First approbation and countenance a reverent esteeme and honorable Testimonie according to Isa. 49. Revel 21. with a tender respect of Truth and the professours of it Secondly Personall submission of his owne Soule to the power of the Lord Iesus in that spirituall Government and Kingdome according to Mat. 18. 1. Cor. 5. Thirdly Protection of such true professours of Christ whether apart or met together as also of their estates from violence and injurie according to Rom. 13. Now secondly if it be a false Religion unto which the Civill Magistrate dare not adjoyne yet he owes First permission for approbation he owes not to what is evill and this according to Matthew 13. 30. for publike peace and quiet sake Secondly he owes protection to the persons of his Subjects though of a false worship that no injurie be offered either to the persons or goods of any Rom. 13. Peace Deare Truth in this 11 head concerning the Magistrates power in Worship you have examined what is affirmed that the Magistrate may doe in point of Worship there remaines a second to wit that which they say the Magistrate may not doe in Worship They say The Magistrate may not bring in set formes of prayerâ— Nor secondly bring in significant ceremonies Nor thirdly not governe and rule the acts of worship in the Church of God for which they bring an excellent similitude of a Prince or Magistrate in a ship where he hath no governing power over the actions of the mariners and secondly that excellent propheciâ— concerning Christ Iesus that his government should be upon his shoulders Isa. 9. 6 7. Truth Unto all this I willingly subscribe Yet can I not passe by a most injurious and unequall practice toward the Civill Magistrate Ceremonies Holy dayes Common Prayer and what ever else dislikes their consciences that the Magistrate must not bring in Others againe as learned as godly as wise have conceived the Magistrate may approve or permit these in the Church and all men are bound in obedience to obey him How shal the Magistrates conscience be herein between both torn and distracted if indeed the power either of establishing or abolishing in Church matters bee committed to him Secondly me thinkes in this case they deale with the Civill Magistrate as the Souldiers dealt with the Lord Iesus First they take off his owne clothes and put upon him a purple Robe plat a Crowne of Thornes on his head bow the knee and salute him by the name of King of the Iewes They tell him that he is the Keeper of both Tables he must see the Church doe her duty he must establish the true Church true Ministry true Ordinances he must keepe her in this purity Againe hee must abolish superstition and punish false Churches false Ministers even to banishment and death Thus indeed doe they make the blood run downe the head of the civill Magistrate from the thorny vexation of that power which sometimes they crowne him with whence in great States Kingdoms or Monarchies necessarily arise delegations of that spirituall power High Commissions c. Anon againe they take off this purple robe put him into his own clothes and tell him that he hath no power to command what is against their conscience They cannot conforme to a set form of prayer nor to Ceremonies nor Holy dayes c. although the civill Magistrate that most pious Prince Edw 6. â— and his famous Bishops afterwards burnt for Christ were of another conscienceâ— which of these two consciences shall stand if either Magistrate must put forth his civill power in these cases the strongest arme of flesh and most conquering bloody sword of Steele can alone decide the Question I confesse it is most true that no Magistrate as no other superiour is to be obeyed in any matter displeasing to God yet when in matters of worship we ascribe the absolute headship and government to the Magistrate as to keepe the Church pute and force her to her duty Ministers and People and yet take unto our selves power to judge what is right in our owne eyes and to judge the Magistrate in and for those very things wherein we confesse he hath power to see us doe our duty and therefore consequently must judge what our duty is what is this but to play with Magistrates with the soules of men with Heaven with God with Christ Iesus c. CHAP. CXXVI Peace PAsse on holy Truth to that similitude whereby they illustrate that Negative Assertion The Prince in the Ship say they is governour over the bodies of all in the Ship but hee hath no power to governe the Ship or the Mariners in the Actions of it If the Pilot manifestly erre in his Action the Prince may reprove him and so say they may any Passenger if hee offend against the life or goods of any the Prince may in due time and place punish him which no private person may Truth Although deare Peace wee both agree that civill powers may not
injoyne such devices no nor inforce on any Gods Institutions since Christ Iesus his comming Yet for further illustration I shall propose some Quaeries concerning the civill Magistrates passing in the ship of the Church wherein Christ Iesus hath appointed his Ministers and Officers as Governours and Pilots c. If in a ship at Sea wherein the Governour or Pilot of a ship undertakes to carry the ship to such a Port the civill Magistrate suppose a King or Emperour shall command the Master such and such a course to steere upon such or such a point which the Master knowes is not their course and which if they steere he shall never bring the Ship to that Port or harbour what shall the Master doe Surely all men will say the Master of the Ship or Pilot is to present Reasons and Arguments from his Mariners Art if the Prince bee capable of them or else in humble and submissive manner to perswade the Prince not to interrupt them in their course and duty properly belonging to them to wit governing of the ship steering of the course c. If the Master of the Ship command the Mariners thus and thus in cunning the ship managing the â—elme trimming the saile and the Prince command the Mariners a different or contrary course who is to be obeyed It is confest that the Mariners may lawfully disobey the Prince and obey the governour of the ship in the actions of the ship Thirdly what if the Prince have as much skill which is rare as the Pilot himselfe I conceive it will be answered that the Master of the ship and Pilot in what concernes the ship are chiefe and above in respect of their office the Prince himselfe and their commands ought to be attended by all the Mariners unlesse it bee in manifest errour wherein t is granted any passenger may reprove the Pilot. Fourthly I aske if the Prince and his Attendants be unskilfull in the ships affaires whether every Sayler and Mariner the youngest and lowest be not so farre as concernes the ship to be preferred before the Princes followers and the Prince himselfe and their counsell and advice more to be attended to and their service more to bee desired and respected and the Prince to bee requested to stand by and let the businesse alone in their hands Fifthly in case a wilfull King and his Attendants out of opinion of their skill or wilfulnesse of passion would so steere the course trim sayle c. as that in the judgement of the Master and Seamen the ship and lives shall bee indangered whether in case humble perswasions prevaile not ought not the Ships company to refuse to act in such a course yea and in case power be in their hands resist and suppresse these dangerous practices of the Prince and his followers and so save the ship Lastly suppose the Master out of base feare and cowardise or covetous desire of reward shall yeeld to gratifie the minde of the Prince contrary to the rules of Art and Experience c. and the ship come in danger and perish and the Prince with it if the Master get to shore whether may he not be justly questioned yea and suffer as guilty of the Princes death and those that perished with him These cases are cleare wherein according to this similitude the Prince ought not to governe and rule the actions of the ship but such whose office and charge and skill it is The result of all is this The Church of Christ is the Ship wherein the Prince if a member for otherwise the case is altred is a passenger In this ship the Officers and Governours such as are appointed by the Lord Jesus they are the chiefe and in those respects above the Prince himselfe and are to bee obeyed and submitted to in their works and administrations even before the Prince himselfe In this respect every Christian in the Church man or woman if of more knowledge and grace of Christâ— ought to be of higher esteeme concerning Religion and Christianity then all the Princes in the world who have either none or lesse grace or knowledge of Christ although in civill things all civill reverence honour and obedience ought to be yeelded by all men Therefore if in matters of Religion the King command what is contrary to Christs rule though according to his perswasion and conscience who sees not that according to the similitude he ought not to be obeyed yea and in case boldly with spirituall force and power he ought to be resisted And if any Officer of the Church of Christ shall out of basenesse yeeld to the command of the Prince to the danger of the Church and soules committed to his charge the soules that perish notwithstanding the Princes command shall be laid to his charge If so then I rejoyne thus How agree these truths of this similitude with those former positions viz. that the Civill Magistrate is keeper of both Tables That he is to see the Church doe her duty That he ought to establish the true Religion suppresse and punish the false and so consequently must discerne judge and determine what the true gathering and governing of the Church is what the dutie of every Minister of Christ is what the true Ordinances are and what the true Administrations of them and where men faile correct punish and reforme by the Civill Sword I desire it may be answered in the feare and presence of him whose eyes are as a flame of fire if this be not according to the similitude though contrary to their scope in proposing of it to be Governour of the Ship of the Church to see the Master Pilot and Mariners do their duty in setting the course steering the ship trimming the sailes keeping the watch c. and where they faile to punish them and therefore by undeniable consequence to judge and determine what their duties are when they doe right and when they doe wrong and this not only in manifest Errour for then they say every passenger may reprove but in their ordinary course and practice The similitude of a Physitian obeying the Prince in the Body politick but prescribing to the Prince concerning the Princes body wherein the Prince unlesse the Physitian manifestly erre is to be obedient to the Physitian and not to be Iudge of the Physitian in his Art but to be ruled and judged as touching the state of his body by the Physitian I say this similitude and many others suiting with the former of a ship might be alleadged to prove the distinction of the Civill and Spirituall estate and that according to the rule of the Lord Iesus in the Gospel the Civill Magistrate is only to attend the Calling of the Civill Magistracie concerning the bodies and goods of the Subjects and is himselfe if a member of the Church and within subject to the power of the Lord Iesus therein as any member of the Church is 1
the power of Christ to censure sufficiently an offendour on whom yet they have executed the deepest censure in the world to wit cutting off from Christ shutting out of Heaven casting to the Divell which offendours crime reacheth not to hurt the good of the civill state but that she is forced to make complaint to the civill state and the Officers thereof for their helpe O let not this be tole in Gath nor heard in Ashkalon and O! how dimme must needs that eye be which is blood shot with that bloâ—dy and cruell Tenent of Persecution for cause of Conscience Peace But what should be meant by this passage viz. That they cannot give liberty to the Magistrate to punish without exception all excommunicate persons within so many months Truth It may be this hath reference to a Law made formerly in New England that if an excommunicate person repented not within as I have heard three months after sentence of excommunication then the Civill Magistrate might proceed with him These worthy men see cause to question this Law upon good reasons rendred though it appears not by their words that they wholly condemne it only they desire a longer time implying that after some longer time the Magistrate may proceed and indeed I see not but according to such principles if the Magistrate himselfe should be cast out he ought to be proceeded against by the Civill state and consequently deposed and punished as the Pope teacheth yea though happily he had not offended against either bodies or goods of any subject Thirdly from this true confession that the Magistrate ought not to punish for many sinnes above mentioned I observe how they crosse the plea which commonly they bring for the Magistrates punishing of false Doctrines Heretiques c. viz. Rom. 13. The Magistrate is to punish them that doe evill and when it is answered True evill against the Second Table which is there onely spoken of and against the Bodies and Goods of the Subject which are the proper object of the Civill Magistrate as they confesse It is replied why is not Idolatry sinne Heresie sinne Schisme and false Worship sinne Yet heere in this passage many evils many sins even of Parents against their Children Masters against their Servants Husbands against their Wives the Magistrate ought not to meddle with Fourthly I dare not assent to that assertion That even originall sinne remotely hurts the civill State T is true some doe as inclinations to murther theft whoredome slander disobedience to Parents and Magistrates but blindnes of minds hardnes of heart inclination to choose or worship this or that God this or that Christ beside the true these hurt not remotely the civill state as not concerning it but the spirituall Peace Let me in the last place remind you of their charge against the Magistrate and which will necessarily turne to my wrong and prejudice They say the Magistrate in hearing and prosecuting the complaints of children against their parents of servants against their masters of wives against their husbands without acquainting the Church first transgresseth the rule of Christ. Truth Sweet Peace they that pretend to be thy dearest friends will prove thy bitter enemies First I ask for one rule out of the Testament of the Lord Iesus to prove this deepe charge and accusation against the Civill Magistrate Secondly This is built upon a supposition of what rarely falls out in the World to wit that there must necessarily be a true Church of Christ in every lawfull State unto whom these complaints must goe whereas how many thousand Common-weales have been and are where the name of Christ hath not or not truly been founded Thirdly The Magistrates office according to their own grant properly respecting the bodies and goods of their Subjects and the whole body of the Common-weale being made up of Families as the members constituting that body I see not how according to the rule of Christ Rom. 13 the Magistrate may refuse to heare and helpe the just complaints of any such petitioners Children Wives and Servants against oppression c. Peace I have long observed that such as have been ready to ascribe to the Civill Magistrate and his Sword more then God hath ascribed have also been most ready to cut off the skirts and in case of his inclining to another conscience then their owne to spoile him of the robe of that due Authoritie with which it hath pleased God and the People to invest and cloath him But I shall now present you with the 13. Head whose Title is CHAP. CXXIX What power Magistrates have in publike Assemblies of Churches FIrst say they the Churches have power to assemble and continue such Assemblies for the performance of all Gods Ordinances without or against the consent of the Magistrate renuente Magistratu because Christians are commanded so to doe Matth. 28. 18. 19. 20. Also because an Angel from God commanded the Apostles so to doe Acts 5. 20 Likewise from the practice of the Apostles who were not rebellious or seditious yet they did so Act. 4. 18. 19. 20. Act. 5. 27 28. Further from the practice of the Primitive Church at Jerusalem who did meet preach pray minister Sacraments censures Act. 4. 23. renuente Magistratu Moreover from the exhortation to the Hebrewes 10. 25. not to forsake their Assemblies though it were in dangerous times and if they might doe this under professed Enemies then we may much more under Christian Magistrates else we were worse under Christian Magistrates then Heathen therefore Magistrates may not hinder them herein as Pharaoh did the people from sacrificing for Wrath will be upon the Realme and the King and his Sons Ezâ—â— 7. 23. Secondly it hath been a usurpation of forraigne Countries and Magistrates to take upon them to determine times and places of Worship rather let the Churches be left herein to their inoffensive Libertie Thirdly concerning their power of Synod Assemblies First in corrupt times the Magistrate desirous to make Reformation of Religion may and should call those who are most fit in severall Churches to assemble together in a Synod to discusse and declare from the Word of God matters of Doctrine and Worship and to helpe forward the Reformation of the Churches God Thus did Iosiah Secondly in the reformed times he ought to give Libertie to the Elders of severall Churches to assemble themselves by their owne mutuall and voluntary agreement at convenient times as the meanes appointed by God whereby he may mediately reform matters amisse in Churches which immediately he cannot nor ought not to doe Thirdly Those meetings for this end we conceive may be of two sorts 1. Monthly of some of the Elders and Messengers of the Churches 2. Annuall of all the Messengers and Elders of the Churches First monthly of some First those members of Churches which are neerest together and so may most conveniently assemble together may by mutuall agreement once in a
Ministers of the Gospel The civill Magistrate not so particularly spoken to as Fathers and Masters in the New TestameÌ„t and why Eph. 5. 6. Col. 3. 4. c. A twofold state of Christianity the persecuted under the Roman Emperors and the Apostate ever since Christs Messengers receive a threefold charge in that prohibition of Christ Let them alone Gods people not to pray for â—hâ— present ruine and destruction of idolaters although their persecutors but for their peace and salvations The word of God â—â—ghtly deâ—ounced plucks up kâ—ngâ—â—ms Gods Ministers are 〈◊〉 to provoke 〈…〉 1 â—et 2. 9. 1 Cor. 5. Companying with 〈…〉 1 Cor. 5 discussed Lawfull converse with idolaters in civill but not in spirituall things Dangerous and ungâ—ounded zeale Mâ—â—th 15. 14. the seâ—â—â—â— Scripture controvâ—rted in this cause Christ Jesus never directed his Disciples to the civill Magistrate for help in his cause Pauls appealing to Caesar. Civill Magistrates never appointed by God Dfenders of the Faith of Jesus Every oâ—â— is bound to put forth him selfe to his utmost power in Gods businesse whâ—re it stops the guilt will lie Christ could have easily been furnished with godly Magistrates if he had so appointed Gods Israel earnest with God for in Arme of Flesh which God gives in his anger and takes away in his wrath The punishment of blind Pharises though let alone yet is greater then any corporall punishment in the world in 4 respects The eye of the 〈◊〉 struck out is worse then for both right and left eye of the body to be 〈◊〉 out tenne thousand times Some soules incurable whom not only corporall bâ—â— spirituall physâ—â—ke can nothing availe The bottom 〈…〉 blind â—all Soul killing the châ—efest murder No Magistrate can execute true justice in killing soule for soule but christ Jesus who by typicall death in the Law typed out spirituall in the Gospel A great mistake in most to conceive that dead men that is soules dead in sin may be infected by false doctrine All naturall men being dead in sin yet none die everlastingly but such as are thereunto ordained The Lord Jesus hath not lest his Church without spirituall antidotes and remedies against infection The miserable bondage Gods people live in The Kings and Queens of England Governours of the Church Strange confusion in punishments Woe were it with the civill Magistrate if he bloud of soules beside the ordinary care of the boâ—ies â—â—d goods â—f 〈…〉 shâ—uld â—â—ry 〈◊〉 him The Magistrates duties toward the Church the Spâ—â—se of Christ. Usurpers and true heires of the spirituall Crowne of Jesus Luke 9. 54. 55 discussed An excellent saying of persecutors themselvesâ— The Answerer when he should speake to toleration in the State â—unnes to punishments in the Church which none can deny If the Civill Magistrate be a Christian he is bound to be like Christ in saving not destroying mens bodies The civill Magistrate bound not to inflict nor to suffer any other to inflict violence stripes or any corporall punishment for evill against Christ. Revel 13. 13. Fire from heaven What the fire from heaven is which the fals Prophet bringeth downe 2 Tim. 3. 25. 26. examined A quaere what the Answerer meanes by his unconverted Christian in Crete The originall of Christians The Answerer yet in the unconverted Churches and worships Gods people sleepy in the matters of Christs Kingdome Cant. 5. 2. 1 Cor. 14. Patience and â—eeknesse required in all that open Christs mysteries The civill Sword may make a Nation of Hypocrites Antichristians but not one Christian Wonderfull changes of Religion in England Englands changes in point of Religion The miserie of opposites against the Truth A difference between the true and false Christ and Christians The worship of unbelieving unregenerate persons The danger mischiefe of a civill sword in Soule matters which makes the civill Magistrate deeply guilty of all those evils which he aims to suppresse That cannot be a true Religion which needs carnall weapons to uphold it Persecutors beget a perswasion of their crueltie in the hearts of the persecuted Antoninus Pius his golden act Isa. 2. 4. Mic. 4. 3. Isa. 11. 9. concerning Christs peace able Kingdom discussed Mr. Cottons excellent interpretation of those Prophecies His doctrine and practice condemned by that interpretation Spirituall and mysticall Wolves Act. 20. 29. opened What those Wolves were Act. 20. 29. Charges directed to Ministers of the spiritual kingdome fasly applyed to the Magistrates of the civill No word of Christ to the civill Magistrate to feed his flock but to his Ministers who if true have spirituall power sufficient against spirituall Wolves Magistrates decline the name of Head of the Church and yet practise the headship or government The Elect shall not be devoured Christ Jesus furnisheth his Shepherds with power sufficient to drive away Wolves Tit. 1. 9. 10. opened Job 26. 1 2. Unmercifull and bloody doctrine John 6. 15. 2. Cor. 10. 4. discussed The difference of the civill spirituall estate Civill weapons most improper in spirituall causes fitly exemplified by that similitude 2 Cor. 10. 4. Spirituall weapons only effectuall in spirituall soule causes Civill weapons not only improper but unnecessary in spirituall causes No earthly Kings or Governours will be so served as we pretend to serve the King of Kings Psal. 45. The white Troopers Spirituall Ammunition Eph. 6. applied Materiall and Spirituall â—â—htly joyned together An alarme to civill or earthly Rulers Concerning the civill Rulers power in spirituall causes discust Rom. 13. speakes not at all of spirituall but civill affaires The scope of Rom 13. Love to man the duty of the whole second Table How love fulfilleth the Law Rom. 13 so interpreted even by them that held persecution for conscience Calvins judgement of Rom. 13. Gods people loath to be found yet proved persecutors Caelvin confesseth that the first Table concerning Gods worship is not here in Rom. 13. touched Beza upon Rom. 13. Paul writes not to the Romane Governors to defend the truth and to punish hereticks Pauls appeale to Caesar discussed If Paul had appealed to Caesar in spirituall things he had committed 5. evils Imperours than them selves if Christians subject to the Apostles and Churches in spirituall things Lawfull appeales in civill things to Civill Magistrates Foure sorts of swords mentioned in the New Testament The Civill Sword Tribute Custome c. meerly civill recompences for civil work Magistrates called by God Gods Ministers The spirituall Ministery The civill Ministery or service What is to bâ— understood bâ— Evill Rom. 13 4. Some give to the Magistrate what is not his and take from him that which is proper to him Toleration discussed Upon this point hath Mr. John Goodwin excellently of late discoursed Evill is always Evill yet permission of it may in case be good Deut. 24. Two sorts of commands both by Moses and Christ. Math 16. 17. 18. The permission of divorce in Israel Usurie in a Common-weale or Civill State lawfully permitted
type out a Civill but a Spirituall Sword of the Christian Church No man should be bound to worship nor maintaine a Worship against his own consent Christs labourers worthy of their hire but from them that hire them What maintenance Christ hath appointed his Ministers in the Gospell Universities of Europe a cause of universall sins plagues yet Schooles honourable for Tongues and Arts. Christs church his Schoole and all Believers Scholars Who knowes but God may againe powre forth the gifts of Tongues Tongues attainable out of Oxford or Cambridge Mr. Ainsworth King Henry the 8. set downâ—â— the Popes chaire in England If the Mgistrate must punish in Spirituall 〈◊〉 he must 〈◊〉 be judge 〈◊〉 Spirituall causes also Apocripha Common-Prayer and Homilies pretious to our forefaâ—hers A case Reformations are fallible Bloudy conclusions 11 Head The argument from the Babylonian and Persian kings re-minded The president of the Kings and Governoâ—â—s of Israel and Iudah examined The state of Israel relating to spirituall matters proved typicall The Persian Kings make evidently against such as produce them for maintenance of the doctrine of persecution The Land of Canaan chosen by God to be the seat of the Church but under the New Testament all Nations alike The inhabitants of Canaans Land every soule to be put to death that the Israelites might enjoy their possessions not so now The very 〈◊〉 silver of Caraâ—aesâ— Images 〈◊〉 to be abhorred The Land of Canaan ceremonially holy Greater holynesse in the Antitype under the Gospel then in the types under the Law The Land of Canaan Jehorahs Land Emanuels Land so no Land or country more then another The Blasphe mâ—us titles of the Christned and Christian World The materiall Land of Caâ—aâ—n was to keep her Sabboths so no materiall land or Country now God feedeth his sometimes immediately The Jâ—bilee of Canaan a type of restitution and redemption in the Gospell Canaans land a type of 〈◊〉 Kingdome of God on Earth and in Heaven Why Naboth refused to part with a Garden plot to his King upon hazard of his life The difference of the people of Israel and all other Peoples The people of Israel the seed of one man Only made good in the Spirituall seed the regeneâ—ate or new-borne The people of Israel separate from all Nations in Spâ—â—â— all and in some Civill things No Nation so sâ—parated to God in the Gospel but only the new borne Israel that feare God in every Nation The whole people of Israel 〈…〉 of Egypt Not so any whole Nation now Popeâ—y not so easily turned from as iâ— conceived Wonderfull turnings in Religion in 12 yeares conpasse in England The Pope not unlike to recover his Monarchie over Europe before his downfall Who are now the true Seed of Abraham The people of Israel all holy in a typicall 〈◊〉 All Nations now alike since the comming of the Lord Jesus The children of Israel a figure of the Israel or people of God only uâ—der the Gospel The people of Israel 〈◊〉 rent from all the world in their figurative and ceremoniall worships Israel Gods only Church might well renew that Nationall Covenant and ceremoniall worship which other Nations cannot imitate The hypocrisies prophanations and slaughters which such imitation now in the Gospell produce The difference of the Kings and Governours of Israel from al Kings Governors of the world First they were all members of the Church Excellent Talents vouchsafed by God to unregenerate persons A doctrine contrary to all true Piety and Humanity it selfe The Papists doctrine of deposing Magistrates confessed in effect to be true by the Pâ—â—cestants No civill Magistrate Christian in Christs time Five demonstrative arguments proving the unsoundnesse of that Maxime The Church and Common-wealth are like Hypocrates twins Many flourishing States without a true Church Many of Gods people 〈…〉 from a true Church state Yet â—it for civill services Gods people permitted and favoured by Idolaters Christs church gathered and governed with out the helpe of an arme of flesh Christs true â—pouse 〈◊〉 and faithfull to Christ Jâ—sus in the 〈…〉 or 〈◊〉 from the World The 10 horns Revel 13. 17. The great mysterie of Persecution unfolded Christian Naboths slaughtered 2. Difference The mysterie of the anointing the Kings of Israel and Judah The Name Christian or Anointed A Sacrilegious Monopolie of the Name Christian. The Crown of Christs Kingly power 3. The Kings of Israel and Judah invested with aâ— Spirituall power David immeately inspired by the Spirit of God in his ordering of Church maâ—ters Salomons deposing Abiathar â— Kings 2. 26. 27â— discussed Salomon his putting Abiathar from the Priesthood examined A case put upon occasion of Abiathars case Another â—ase The liberties of Christs Churches in the choice of their officers A civill influence dangerous to the Saints liberties Jehosaphats â—ast examined If civill powers may injâ—yâ—e the time oâ— the Churches wâ—rship the may also forbid her times God will not wrong Caesar and Caesar should not wrong God The famous acts of 〈◊〉 examined Mâ—gistracy in generall from God the particular formes from the people Israel confirmed in a Nationall Covenant by revelations signes and miracles but so not England Henry 8. the first head and governour of the Church of England The wonderfull formings and reformings of Religion by Englands Kings Kings and States often plant and often pluck up Religions A Nationall Church ever subject to turne and returne c. A woman Papissa or head of the Church The Papists neerer to the Truth concerning the government of the Church then most Protestants The Kingly power of the Lord Jesus troubles all the Kings and Rulers of the Woâ—ld A twofold exaltation of Christ. The world â—â—oâ—meth at both A fourth difference Kings of Israel â—ypes They wore a double Crown The Saviours of the Jewes â—igures of the Saviour of the World The Monarchicall and Ministeriall power of Christ. 3 Great Competitours for the Ministeriall power of Christ. The Popes great pretenders foâ— the Ministeriall power of Christ. They also upon the point chalenge the Monarchicall also The second great pretender the Civill Magistrate 3 Great factions chalenging an Arme of Flesh. 1. The Preâ—aciâ— 2. The Presbyterie The Pope and Presbyteâ—iâ— make use of the Civill Magistrate but as of an Executioâ—er 3. Independents The Independents who come neerest to the Bishops The third competition of those that seperate Their neerer conformitie to Christ. The Churches of the Seperation ought in Humanitie and Subjects Libertie not to be oppressed but at least permitted â— Reasons proving that the Kings of Israel and Judah cannot have any other but a Spirituall Antitype Civill Types and figures must needs be answered by Spirituall Antitypes Civill compulsion was proper in the Nationall Church of the Jewes but most improper in the Christian which is not Nationall Neither Christ Jesus nor his Messengers have made the Civill Magistrate Israels Antitype but the contrary Civill Magistracie essentially civill and the same in
I finde not a little in the Testament of Christ Iesus I finde the Church of Christ frequently compared to a Schoole All Beleevers are his Disciples or Scholars yea women also Acts 9. 36. There was a certaine Disciple or Scholar called Dorcas Have not the Universities sacrilegiously stole this blessed name of Christs Scholars from his people Is not the very Scripture language it selfe become absurd to wit to call Gods people especially Women as Dorcas Scholars Peace Some will object how shall the Scriptures be brought to â—ight from out of Popish darknesse except these Schooles of Prophets convey them to us Truth I know no Schooles of Prophets in the New Testament but the particular Congregation of Christ Iesus 1 Cor. 14. And I question whether any thing but Sinne stopt and dried up the current of the Spirit in those rare gifts of tongues to Gods sons daughters serving so admirably both for the understanding of the Originall Scriptures and also for the propagating of the name of Christ. Who knowes but that it may please the Lord againe to cloath his people with a spirit of zeale and courage for the name of Christ yea and powre forth those fiery streames againe of Tongues and Prophecie in the restauration of Zion If it be not his holy pleasure so to doe but that his people with daily study and labour must dig to come at the Originall Fountaines Gods people have many wayes besides the Universitie lazie and Monkish to attaine to an excellent measure of the knowledge of those tongues That most despised while living and now much honoured Mr. Ainsworth had scarce his Peere amongst a thousand Academians for the Scripture Originalls and yet he scarce set foot within a Colledge walls CHAP. CVIII Peace I Shall now present you with their 10. Head viz. concerning the Magistrates power in matters of Doctrine That which is unjustly ascribed to the Pope is as unjustly ascribed to the Magistrates viz. to have power of making new Articles of Faith or Rules of Life or of pressing upon the Churches to give such publike honour to the Apocrypha writings or Homilies of men as to read them to the people in the roome of the Oracles of God Truth This Position simply considered I acknowledge a most holy truth of God both against the Pope and the Civill Magistrates challenge both pretending to be the Vicars of Christ Iesus upon the Earth Yet two things here I shall propose to consideration First since the Parliament of England thrust the Pope out of his chaire in England and set downe King Henry the 8. and his Successours in the Popes roome establishing them supreme Governours of the Church of England since such an absolute government is given by all men to them to be Guardians of the first Table and worship of God to set up the true worship to suppresse all false and that by the power of the Sword and therefore consequently they must judge and determine what the true is and what the false And since the Magistrate is bound by these Authours principles to see the Church the Church officers and members doe thair duty he must therefore judge what is the Churches duty and when she performes or not performes it or when she exceeds so like wise when the Ministers performe their duty or when they exceed it And if the Magistrate must judge then certainly by his owne eye and not by the eyes of others though assembled in a Nationall or Generall Councell Then also upon his judgement must the people rest as upon the minde and judgement of Christ or else it must be confest that he hath no such power left him by Christ to compell the soules of men in matters of Gods worship Secondly concerning the Apocrypha writings and Homilies to be urged by the Magistrate to be read unto the people as the Oracles of God I aske if the Homilies of England contain not in them much pretious and heavenly matter â— Secondly if they were not 〈◊〉 at least many of them by excellent men for learning holinesse and witnesse of Christs Truth incomparable Thirdly were they not authorised by that most rare and pious Prince Ed. 6. then head of the Church of England With what great solemnity and rejoycing were they received of thousands Yet now behold their children after them sharply censure them for Apocrypha writings and Homilies trust into the roome of the Word of God and so falling into the consideration of a false and counterfeit Scripture I demand of these worthy men whether a servant of God might then lawfully have refused to read or heare such a false Scripture Secondly if so whether King Edward might have lawfully compelled such a man to yeeld and submit or else have persecuted him yea according to the Authors principles whether he ought to have spared him because after the admonitions of such pious and learned men this man shall now prove an Hereticke and as an obstinate person sinning against the light of his owne conscience In this case what shall the conscience of the subject doe awed by the dread of the most High What shall the conscience of the Magistrate do zealous for his glorious Reformation being constantly perswaded by his Clergy of his Lieutenantship received from Christ Again what priviledge have those worthy servants of God either in Old or New England to be exempted from the mistakes into which those gloâ—ious Worthies in K. Edwards time did fall and if so what bloudy conclusions are presented to the World perswading men to plucke up by the Roots from the Land of the living all such as seem in their eyes hereticall or obstinate CHAP. CIX Peace DEare Truth What darke and dismall bloudy paths doe we walke in How is thy name and mine in all ages cried up yet as an English Flag in a Spanish bottome not in truth but dangerous treachery and abuse both of Truth and Peace We are now come to the 11 Head which concernes the Magistrates power in worship First they have power say they to reforme things in the worship of God in a Church corrupted and to establish the pure worship of God defending the same by the power of the sword against all those who shall attempt to corrupt it For first the reigning of Idolatry and corruption in Religion is imputed to the want of a King Iudges 17. 5 6. Secondly Remissenes in Reforming Religion is a fault imputed to them who suffered the High Places in Israel and in Gallio who cared not for such things Acts 18. Thirdly Forwardnesse this way is a duty not only for Kings in the Old Testament but for Princes under the New 1 Tim 2. 2. Rom. 13. 4. Esay 49. 23. Neither did the Kings of Israel reforme things amisse as types of Christ but as Civill Magistrates and so exemplary to all Christians And here Reformation in Religion is commendable in a Persian King Ezra 7.
23. And it is well knowne that remissenes in Princes of Christendome in matters of Religion and Worship divolving the care thereof only to the Clergy and so setting the Hornes thereof upon the Churches head hath been the cause of Antichristian inventions usurpations and corruptions in the Worship and Temple of God Secondly they have not power to presse upon the Churches stinted Prayers oâ— set Liturgies whether New or Old Popish or others under colour of uniformity of Worship or morall goodnesse of them both for matter and forme conceiving our arguments sent to our Brethren in England concerning this Question to evince this Truth Thirdly they have no power to presse upon the Churches neither by Law as hath been said before nor by Proclamation and command any sacred significant ceremonies whether more or lesse Popish or Jewish rite or any other device of man be it never so little in the worship of God under what colour soever of indifferencie civility using them without opinion of sâ—nctity publicke peace or obedience to righteous Authority as Surplice Crosse kneeling at Sacrament Salt and Spitle in Baptisme Holy dayes They having beene so accursed of God so abused by man the imposing of some ever making way for the urging of more the receiving of some making the conscience bow to the burthen of all Fourthly they have not power to governe and rule the acts of worship in the Church of God It is with a Magistrate in a State in respect of the acts of those who worship in a Church as it is with a Prince in a Ship wherein though he be governour of their persons else he should not be their Prince yet is not governour of the actions of the Maâ—iners then he should be Pilot Indeed if the Pilot shall manifestly erre in his action he may reprove him and so any other passenger may Or if he offend against the life and goods of any he may in due time and place civilly punish him which no other passenger can doe For it is proper to Christ the Head of the Church as to prescribe so to rule the actions of his own worship in the wayes of his servants Esay 96 7. The government of the Church is upon his shoulder which no Civill officer ought to attempt And therefore Magistrates have no power to limit a Minister either to what he shall preach or pray or in what manner they shall worship God lest hereby they shall advance themselves above Christ and limit his Spirit Truth In this generall Head are proposed two things First what the Magistrate ought to doe positively concerning the worship of God Secondly what he may doe in the worship of God What he ought to doe is comprised in these particulars First he ought to reforme the worship of God when it is corrupted Secondly he ought to establish a pure worship of God Thirdly he ought to defend it by the sword he ought to restrain Idolatry by the sword and to cut off offendours as former passages have opened For the proofe of this positive part of his duty are propounded three sorts of Scriptures First from the practice of the Kings of Israel and Iudah Secondly some from the New Testament Thirdly from the practice of Kings of other Nations Unto which I answer First concerning this latter the Babylonian and Persian Kings Nebuchadnezzar Cyrus Darius Artaxerxes I conceive I have sufficiently before proved that these Idolatrous Princes making such Acts concerning the God of Israel whom they did not worship nor know nor meant so to doe did onely permit and tolerate and countenance the Iewish worship and out of strong convictions that this God of Israel was able to doe them good as well as their owne gods to bring wrath upon them and their Kingdomes as they beleeved their owne also did in which respect all the Kings of the world may be easily brought to the like but are no president or patternes for all Princes and Civill Magistrates in the World to chalenge or 〈◊〉 the power of ruling or governing the Church of Christ and of wearing the spirituall Crowne of the Lord which he alone weareth in a spirituall way by his Officers and Governours after his owne holy appointment Secondly for those of the New Testament I have as I beleeve fully and sufficiently answered So also that prophesie of Isa. 49. Lastly however I have often touched those Scriptures produced from the practice of the Kings of Israel and Judah yet because so great a waeight of this controversie lyes upon this president of the Old Testament from the duties of this nature enjoyned to those Kings and Governours and their practices obeying or disobeying accordingly commended or reproved I shall with the helpe of Christ Iesus the true King of Israel declare and demonstrate how weake and brittle this supposed Pillar of Marble is to beare up and sustain such a mighty burthen and waight of so many high concernments as are laid upon it In which I shall evidently prove that the state of Israel as a Nationall State made up of Spirituall and Civill power so farre as it attended upon the spirituall was meerly figurative and typing out the Christian Churches consisting of both Iewes and Gentiles enjoying the true power of the Lord Iesus establishing reforming correcting defending in all cases concerning his Kingdome and Government CHAP. CX Peace BLessed be the God of Truth the God of Peace who hath so long preserved us in this our retired conference without interruptions His mercy still shields us while you expresse and I listen to that so much imitated yet most unimitable State of Israel Yet before you descend to particulars deare Truth let me cast one Mite into your great Treasury concerning that Instance just now mentioned of the Persian Kings Me thinkes those presidents of Cyrus Darius and Artaxerxes are strong against New Englands Tenent and practice Those Princes professedly gave free permission and bountifull incouragement to the Consciences of the Iewes to use and practise their Religion which Religion was most eminently contrary to their owne Religion and their Countries worship Truth I shall sweet Peace with more delight passe on these rough wayes from your kinde acceptance and unwearied patience in attention In this discovery of that vast and mighty difference betweene that State of Israel and all other States onely to bee matched and parallel'd by the Christian Church or Israel I shall select some maine and principall considerations concerning that State wherein the irreconciliable differences and disproportion may appeare First I shall consider the very Land and Country of Canaan it selfe and present some considerations proving it to be a Noneâ— such First this Land was espyed out and chosen by the Lord out of all the Countries of the World to be the seat of his Church and people Ezek. 20â—6 But now there is no respect of Earth of Places or Countries with the Lord So testified the Lord Iesus Christ himselfe