good matter without good order is not warrantable The Disciples that would have fire come down from Heaven knew not what spirit they were of Uzzahs dreadfull punishment for touching the Ark should make us look not only to the Duty but to the order of it We must not do evil that good may come of it Rom. 3.8 The damnation of such is just Thirdly A third thing in Division is when men do not keep in their proper places and offices If the foot will be the eye or the hand the head this is monstrous St. Paul teaches every member in the body to keep to its own office and calling And Oh! that our times would learn this lesson we should not have such wofull confusions in Church and State as of late we have had what a blessed Unity and comely Order would Church and State be in if every member would do his proper work What have private men to do in a Pulpit What have souldiers to do in constituting a Civil Government or Governors Where is their Warrant How will they answer it to God or man They are commanded to offer violence to no man and to be content with their wages Luke 3.14 Fourthly I st Division and Faction when the passions of men are sowred and imbittered with any carnal distempers This sin first affects the heart and then breaks out into action Though men be in a good way and are for the Truth and Glory of God yet if they do it in passion and with a froward heart here is a sinful Division Gods Righteousness and Truth needs not our passions Quest Quest Whence else proceed these Divisions Answ Answ First From mens ignorance for so long as we know but in part there will be different opinions and difference in opinions breeds difference in affections Ignorant persons like Children are easily seduced and run into ways of Division Secondly From self-confidence and Arrogancy When men think they have better abilities and more worth in them then indeed they have This makes them bold and disturbers of the Churches peace as we see in Corah Dathan and Abiram Num. 16.3 They thought there was as much in every person as in the Priests that God had set apart for that Office All the Congregation is holy Hence Paul commands us not to mind high things Rom. 12.16 which are above our place or capacity So was it with David Psalm 131.1 Hence 1 Cor. 8.2 If any think that he knows any thing c. Thirdly From worldly hopes and desires of advantage Earthly gain made Judas make such a sad breach Men that judge gain to be godliness soon make shipwrack of faith and a good conscience 1 Tim. 6.5 Many of the Arch-Hereticks formerly made those Divisions because they missed of that worldly Pomp and greatness which they expected 4. Sometimes it proceeds from the Tyranny and scandalous lives of Church-Officers One cause that Tertullian turned a Montanist was the loose lives of the Roman Clergy Q. Quest What are the effects of Division and Disunion in the Church especially in the Ministry Answ First Answ 1 It s apt to beget Atheism and Irreligion in the people It makes them think that Religion is a meer notion or nothing and therefore they will look after it no more But woe to the world because of offences in this kind It had been better for such that they had never been born Secondly It much grieves and unsettles the hearts even of the godly themselves they know not what to pitch upon whilst one godly Minister saith it s a sin others that it is no sin This cannot but exceedingly perplex tender Consciences that would not sin for a world Thirdly At such times prophanness and ungodliness doth exceedingly increase and godliness decaies in the power of it For whereas Ministers should encourage godliness and decry and reprove sin they busie themselves in preaching up their opinions and promoting their particular way which edifieth not Indeed the least Truths of God are not to be neglected yea all things are to be tried but this is not the main business the one thing necessary is to seek the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness Fourthly These Divisions amongst Protestants do exceedingly harden the Papists in their way Quest Quest What then should people do when Ministers and Professors are thus divided Answ Answ 1 First Do not thou by thy pragmatical medling widen the difference and raise more dust the hot indiscret carriages of the Disciples do sometimes make a greater distance amongst the Teachers As Johns Disciples out of envy did what they could to stir up Johns spirit against Christ but he by his humility soon quenched those sparks John 3.30 Secondly Consider that those which are godly do agree in the fundamentals which are necessary to salvation and for other things we cannot expect Unity in this life where some have more knowledge and more grace and self-denial then others Thirdly Labor thou to have thy faith informed and setled out of Gods word The Ministry is that by which we do believe but we do not believe in it the Samaritans believed Christ upon the womans report at the first but afterwards they believed him for his own sake Fourthly Humble your selves under these differences when you see them not to go the same way or to preach the same things acknowledg that it is for the barrenness unteachableness and other sins of the hearers that God hath raised such contentions amongst us Quest Why is Unity so necessary Quest Answ Answ Because all things in Religion are reduced to one If therefore every thing in Religion tend to Unity why should not the people of God embrace it the several unities are made a notable argument to this purpose Eph. 4.1 where the Apostle having exhorted Christians to walk worthy of their Calling he instanceth in such graces as procure unity as lowliness meekness and forbearing one another the end of which graces is set down verse 3. endeavouring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace then verse 4. he shews the Reason why there should be such Unity there is one body Christ hath not many bodies All the people of God are one body and it s very destructive when one member of the body conspires against the welfare of another Again There is one Spirit there is but one spirit that enlightens and sanctifies the whole Church of God why then should there be so many wayes and opinions yet all pretended to be of the same spirit Indeed there are diversity of gifts and operations yet the same spirit But he doth not say Contrarieties and the same spirit for that is impossible Again There is one hope of our Calling we are called to one inheritance there is but one Heaven why therefore should we be so different by the way when one place of glory must hold all and if one Church cannot now contain us how shall we think that one heaven will Again There is one
seducing Heretick enticeth to his bed all he can and goes up and down to vent his poyson to the infection of others privily bringing in damnable heresies Quest Quest Whether may any of these be capitally punished by the Civil Magistrate Answ Answ 1 First the Lutherans generally do deny that simple Heresie is to be punished with death and Calvin saith of Servetus vel sola modestia potuisset vitam redimere that he might have saved his life had he been but modest and to such indeed we rather wish light then fire Let the bloody Papists only have this brand of cruelty upon them to confute errours by fire and fagot Secondly for blasphemous and seditious Hereticks all the Protestant Churches do agree that they may be punished with death Neither indeed can Magistrates answer it to God to be so severe in punishing sedition and treason which is against their own name and dignity and stand still and look on with their hands in their pocket whilest the name honour and truths of God are openly blasphemed and traduced Thirdly for the seducing heretick he is to be prohibited and restrained Magistrates will shut up such as have plague-sores running upon them not to punish them for having the sore but to prevent the infection when a mans house is on fire they will command it to be pulled down to prevent burning the whole Town One way to put out the fire in the Oven is to shut it up Many heresies and errours would die of themselves if they had not free vent False teachers saith Calvin sunt Satanae lenones are the devils Panders Would you suffer Panders to come into your houses to solicite the chastity of your wives and children Would you suffer Mountebanks to sell poison upon a stage to destroy the bodies of your Subjects so you that are Christian Magistrates should not neglect the safety of the souls of those that live under your shadow Damnable heresies can never be prevented if false teachers may have liberty to bring them in and vent them Thou hast them that hold the Doctrine of the Nicholaitans Rev. 2.15 Thou sufferest that Woman Jesabel that calls her self a Prophetesse to teach and to seduce my people was a sore charge laid by Christ against those Churches Mr. Vines his Parl. Sermon March 10. 1646. Quest Quest How will it appear that there is so much danger in tollerating Hereticks Answ First In regard of the Church Every one that is versed in Ecclesiastical Historie Answ 1 cannot but know how notoriously destructive Heresies have been to the Church in every Century robbing her not only of her tender grapes but of many choice and learned members that might have been very serviceable to her as Demas Hymenaeus and Philetus Phygellus and Hermogines Nicholus Ebion Cerinthus Menander Saturninus c. yea what Commotions and confusions have proceeded from them witness that fiery contest of Alexandria between the Arians and Orthodox where they fought together and killed each other like swarms of Gnats in the air How have they defiled the Churches purity with foul pollutions in Doctrine and manners witness those filthy dreamers Jude 8. Who defiled the flesh despised Dominions c. Secondly In regard of the Common-wealth damnable errors destroyes its peace by tumultuous insurrections and horrid out-rages witness that terrible tempest raised by the Donatists and Circumcellions mentioned before How have Errors and Heresies overturned the very foundations of flourishing States Some of them in their very natures having been so opposite to the being or binding of love and to the Authority of Magistrates that where they have taken place the sinews of States have been so miserably broken asunder under a pretense of liberty that had not their extirpation been more speedy they had certainly buried those people where they reigned in utter desolation They tend also to the ruine of States as they engage him who is the God of order and truth to be their enemie and to execute his vengeance upon them sometimes by a more immediate hand as Antioch a nursery of Heresies was first defaced by Earth-quake and after consumed with fire from Heaven And Nichomedia a place where the Arians were appointed to meet was swallowed up of an Earth-quake and often mediatly by the sword of the Magistrate whom God stirs up to take vengeance on his behalf as we heard before in the examples of Constantine Theodesius c. 3ly In regard of particular persons to whom they are no lesse pernicious whether ring-leaders or such as have been perverted by them Often it tends to the ruine of their bodies whilest their erronous opinions either make them by excess and riot to overthrow their health as the Libertines of former and later times 2. Pet. 2.10 12 13. Or by too much austerity to destroy their bodies and bring them to Death But if not so yet God is often so far provoked especially against the founders and chiefe maintainers of Heresies that where man hath neglected to doe it he hath taken the sword into his owne hand and destroyed them by some signal judgement or other Thus Arius in the midest of his pomp and pride voided his Guts in a Common Jakes Nestorius his tongue was eaten with wormes Cerinthus was slaine by an house falling on his head Montanus hanged himself See many more the like examples in my Mirrour p. 246. c. But how ever their bodys speed without doubt they are dangerous and destructive to their soules be-nighting their mindes 1 Tim. 5.6 turning their light into darknesse and leaving them to innumerable by-ways of ruine 2 Tim. 3.8 they are men of corrupt mindes reprobate concerning the faith Heresies corrupt mens minds destroy a good Conscience pollute their lives rob them of beauty peace piety yea of all real spirituall growth and exclude from heaven if not repented of Gal. 5.20 21. 2. Thess 2.10 11. 2 Pet. 2.17 Jude 13. Quest Quest What then is incumbent upon Magistrates to doe against them Answ First Answ 1 they must not hearken to those which plead for and seek a Tolleration of Heresies or that would tye their hands from executing judgement upon Hereticall seducers or from preventing the growth or extirpating of so banefull and pernicious a weed as Heresie is Such would engage them in the guilt of soules the ruine of Church and State would have them lose their reputation and leave their names a curse and by-word to posterity Secondly they must not suffer the Church for any by respect whatsoever to be pestred with unsound or illiterate persons who have not the tongue of the learned Isa 50.4 are not wel taught to the Kingdome of Heaven Mat. 13.52 want Judgement Mich. 3.8 and are not able to â—ivide the word aright 1 Tim. 4.16 Thirdly they must take heed of scandalous maintenance It is the way to breed a corrupt and scandalous Ministry Like Jeroboams Priests 1 Kin. 12.31 Or Micha's ten shekels Levite Jud. 17.5.10 Fourthly they must encourage such
them like the Elephant to muddy the pure waters of Truth that their uggliness may not appear as the Pharisees did the Law by their foolish glosses Mat. 5.21 c. They love darkness more then light because their works are evil John 3.19 They make their lusts their Law and therefore lie open to be seduced by such who bait their hook with what is proportionable to those lusts in them 2 Pet. 3.18 Sixthly Because the time and season much conduceth to help forward this evil It s a time of liberty wherein the reins of Government are laid too loosly upon the peoples neck Nay perhaps the garb and fashion that is in most request is Heresie which finding patronage from persons of no mean rank and power no marvel though it spread apace and flourish weeds appear not till the Summers-Sun revive them So errors if they receive not some gleams of countenance from some in a superior orb would soon wither and quickly vanish Mr. Tho. Hodges Parl. Sermon Mar. 10. 1646. Quest How will Errors and Heresies Quest further appear to be so dangerous Answ Answ 1 First Because the Scripture doth flatly charge sin and perniciousness and damnation upon them Heresie is made a work of the flesh that excludes men from the kingdom of Heaven Gal. 5.20 21. Peter calls them pernicious and damnable that bring swift destruction and saith of the Authors of them that their damnation slumbers not 2 Pet. 2.1 2 3. Secondly Let us consider unto what dangerous things Heresies and Errors are compared in Scripture by what dangerous Creatures Hereticks and false Teachers are expressed As 1. Heresies are compared to a Gangrene or Canker 2 Tim. 2.17 which corrupts one part after another till at length it eats out the very heart and life Sometimes to a Shipwrack 1 Tim. 1.19 20. In what a miserable condition are passengers when their ship is split under them Christ calls them Leaven Paul calls them a bewitching Learned Writers call them a Leprosie Poison Fire a Tempest a flood c. 2. Hereticks are sometimes stiled Foxes Cant. 2.15 Dogs rending Dogs Phil. 3.2 Wolves grievous Wolves which devour the flock Act. 20.29 Sometimes in effect they are called Mountebanks Cheaters and such as beguile unstable souls 3. Christ and his Apostles give special charges and caveats against them which they would not have done had they not been very dangerous Mar. 8.15 Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees Mat. 7.15 Take heed that no man deceive you for many shall come in my name saying I am Christ and shall deceive many Phil. 3.2 Beware of dogs c. 2 Pet. 3.17 Beware lest being led aside by the error of the wicked ye fall from your own stedfastness Thirdly The danger of them is very great Heresies are the greatest and highest of dangers to the Church of Christ worse then the sword prison exile spoiling torments yea and the cruellest death For the Church alwayes gained by these grew more in Purity in Unity in Zeal and Courage not so by Heresies which are a flood cast out of the mouth of the Serpent Rev. 12.15 For 1. They are a corrupting and defiling flood they defile the pure waters spoil the ground leave filth and mud behind them and coming out of the mouth of the Serpent they are poisonous waters and there are four precious things which Heresies corrupt and defile 1. Souls of men which is the noblest and choiest thing in man of more value then all the world Damnable Heresies makes us deny the Lord that bought us 2 Pet. 2.1 2. The leading faculty of the soul It casts poison into the spring Heresies corrupt the Judgement which moves all the other faculties of the soul If the light which is in you be darkness how great is that darkness If the Judgement be infected how dangerous is that infection In how desperate a condition is the whole soul of such an one If it recover not out of its Errors it dies for it 3. The most active faculty of the soul they defile and corrupt the Conscience Now this is amazingly dangerous A wicked Error is blinding when it is in the Judgement only but it s binding also when it is in the Conscience For whatsoever engages Conscience the same engageth all and the utmost of our all If Conscience be made a party against the Truth now all that a man hath all that he can do will be made out against the truth too Such an one with Paul will grow mad and desperate against Christ Pauls erroneous conscience made him consent to Stevens death yea could he in that condition have met with Christ himself he would have done the like against him 4. The Conversations of men Heresie is seldom or never divided from impiety Such make Shipwrack of a good conscience 1 Tim. 1.19 whom Paul calls Dogs he calls also Evil-workers Phil. 3.2 and Tit. 1.15 16. speaking of some whose minds were defiled he adds that they were reprobate to every good work And Christ speaking of false Prophets saith You may know them by their fruits The Doctrine of faith is a Doctrine of Holiness and a Doctrine of lies is a Doctrine of prophaness too He that falls from truth to falshood will quickly fall from piety to wickedness Sleiden in his story of the Anabaptists writes that Errors began in their Judgements but ended with wicked practises Cyprian writing of Novatus saith that he was one who itched after new notions and was beyond measure covetous intolerably proud no man so prying no man so treacherous he would commend you to your face and cut your throat behind your back as false a person as lived a very fire-brand and turned the world up side down that he might carry on his opinion c. 2. Heresies are a drowning and overflowing flood Now there are three things that Heresies overwhelm 1. The glory of all glories the glorious name of God the glorious name of Christ the glorious name of the Holy Spirit the glorious name of divine truths Heresie turns the glory into a lie It gives God Christ and the Holy Ghost the lye Truth the lye the Scripture the lye and he that makes the word of God a Lyer makes God himself a Lyer 2. The Glory of Religion Religion is darkened It grows base and beggerly when it s patched with Errors All Religion is by so much the more excellent by how much the more of truth it hath but when once its adulterated and leavened with damnable Errors now the silver is become dross c. 3. Not only the dignity but the very vital entity of a Church Truth is the soul of that body and Error is the death of it Schism doth much hurt but false Doctrines more Schisms do rent the coat but Heresies do rent the heart those pluck up the fence but these pluck down the building those do scratch but these do kill Thirdly Hereâ—es are a suddenly rising floud and herein lies the greatnesse of the
4.14 15. Alexander the Copper-smith did me much evil c. of whom be thou ware also c. Tit. 3.10 11. An Heretick after the first and second admonition reject knowing that he that is such is subverted and sinneth being condemned of himself 2 Pet. 3.17 Seeing ye know these things before beware lest being led aside with the Errors of the wicked you fall from your own stedfastness 2 Epist of John 10.11 If there come any unto you and bring not this Doctrine receive him not into your house neither bid him God-speed for he that bids him God-speed is partaker of his evil deeds Rev. 2.2 The Angel of the Church of Ephesus is commended for that he could not bear with them which were evil and had tried them which said they were Apostles when they were not and had found them lyars As also for that verse 6. He hated the deeds of the Nicholaitans Rev. 2.14 15. The Angel of the Church of Pergamos is reproved and threatned for suffering them that held the Doctrine of Balaam and of the Nicholaitans And verse 20. The Angel of the Church of Thyatira is reproved and threatned for permitting the woman Jesabel to teach and to seduce gods servants c. Rev. 3.15 16. The Angel of Laodicea is reproved for being luke-warm and neither hot nor cold and such are they saith arâ—verend Divine who grant a Tolleration of divers Religions whom God will spue out of his mouth Mr. Gabri Powel It were easie to bring Arguments against such a Tolleration out of the Canons of the first and best Councils and Writings of the Fathers as Tertullian Athanasius Augustine Jerom Gregory Nazianzene Ambrose Chrysostom Irenaeus Cyprian c. As also from the Laws Constitutions Decrees and Edicts of the best Christian Emperors as Constantine the great Valentinian Gratian Theodosius Maior Arcadius and Honorius Theodosius Minor Martian Justinian c. unto which might be added the Judgement of many forreign Divines that were godly learned and judicious besides our English Divines mentioned in this Book and many others that concur with them therein but that it would swell to too great a volumn and prove tedious to the Readers Let me only add this That such Rulers as improâ—e their power against such enemies of God and his Church shall besides the Euge of a good conscience which is far better then the worlds Plaudite delight themselves in the Lord and raign in the hearts and affections of all good men As they do worthily in Ephraca so they shall be famous in Bethlehem Ruth 4.11 Honourable Sirs May I not say to the same purpose to you as Mordecai did to Hester Who can tell but that God hath reserved you for such a time as this I hope you will improve all your abilities and interests for the decrying of such an intollerable Tolleration and for the countenancing and encouraging of the truth and the Assertors of it which will be your joy and the rejoycing in that great and approaching day when you must give up your account to him that is no Respecter of persons but will render unto every one according to his works My prayer for you is That ye may be blameless and harmeless the sons of God without Rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse Nation amongst whom ye may shine as lights in the world desiring to be esteemed as I am Devouted to the service of your Faith From my Study in Thridneedle-street May 25. 1659. SA CLARK A Table Of the Questions and Cases of Conscience that are resolved in this Book Quest WHence do Discords and Divisions arise pag. 1. Quest What doth the word Schism signifie 3 Quest What is Schism ib. Quest Whence doth Schism proceed 4 Quest How many sorts of contentions are there p. 5 Quest What are the causes of contentions 6 Qu. What are the sinful effects of contentions about worldly things and how are they discovered 8 Qu. What are the effects of contentions about religious matters 9 Quest What are the aggravations of the sin of discord 10 Q. How may Schisms be divided 11 Quest What makes Divisions 13 Quest Whence else proceed Divisions 16 Quest. What are the effects of Church divisions especially in the Ministry 17 Quest What should people do when Ministers and Professors are divided 18 Quest Why is unity amongst them so necessary 19 Quest. Seeing God hath promised his people one heart and one way and Christ hath pray'd for it how comes it that there are so many breaches amongst the godly 22 Q. What means may prevent and heal divisions in the Church 24 Qu. What are the remedies of Divisions 27 Qu. What wil preserve unity in the Church and prevent Schism 32 Q. How may Divisions amongst the godly be prevented or healed 34 Qu. Why are Divisions in Church or State so dangerous 35 Qu. Why are they destructive to States Cities and Families 37 Qu. What other mischief proceeds from Church-divisions 40 Q. What sorts of discontented persons nourish our divisions 42 Qu. What may provoke us to endeavour after unity 44 Qu. What means may be used to procure unity and peace 46 Q. Whether Magistrates may meddle with mens consciences 49 Qu. How may Schisms be distinguished 50 Quest What conclusions may be laid down about separation 51 Qu. If wicked persons continue in Church-society is that not a sufficient ground of separation 52 Q. Doth not fellowship with wicked men in the Ordinances make them ineffectual ib. Obj. But a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump 53 Obj. But Paul saith being many we are one bread ibid. Obj. But we cannot do the duties commanded Mat. 18.15 c. if we continue in such a Church may we not then separate 54 Qu. Should we not desire communion with the purest Churches 55 Qu. How else may Schisme be defined 56 Qu. May we not separate from a Church for corruptions in it though they be not in fundamentals 58 Qu. How may this be proved 59 Qu. How may we prevent seduction by Schismaticks 60 Qu. How doth the common enemy instil poison into the people to make foment our divisions 61 Qu. How may these be prevented 62 Qu. These are Old Testament examples and those Kings were types of Christ but now Gods people are a willing people therfore not under any Coertion 64 Q. Doth it not abridg and anul that liberty which should be indulged to the consciences of men 68 Qu. What are the best meanes to be used by Magistrates in these seducing and seduced times 71 Qu. Is not persecution for the cause of conscience against the doctrine of Christ 73 Qu. Christ commands to let the tares grow with the wheat till the harvest 75 Obj. Christ would have the blinde let alone till they fall into the ditch 76 Obj. Christ blames his Disciples that would have fire from heaven to consume the Samaritans c. ib. Obj. But the Prophets foretold that carnal weapons should cease in the times of the
Kingdom and if Satan were divided against Satan his Kingdom could not stand Quest Quest What other means may we use for procuring Unity and Peace Answ Answ First Let us all labor to make our peace with God and God will make us at peace one with another Tranquillus Deus tranquillat omnia If God be at peace with us he will make the very stones in the street to be at peace with us If our wayes please the Lord he will make our very enemies to be at peace with us Prov. 16.7 But when by sin we provoke God he hath threatned to dash us one against another Jer. 13.13 Secondly Take heed of that Socinian opinion mentioned before of an unbounded toleration of all Religions which will certainly bring confusion and at the same door that all Religions come in the true Religion will go out Thirdly be cloathed with humility and that 1. With humility of judgement to think that others may know the truth as well as our selves to have a low esteeme of our own understanding For he that thinks he knowes any thing knoweth nothing as he ought to know 1 Cor. 8.2 and if any man teach otherwise c. he is proud knowing nothing c. 1 Tim. 6.3 9. Let us not therefore be wise in our own eyes nor lean to our own understanding Prov. 3.5 2. With humility of heart An humble heart is a quiet peaceable heart and it will not distract or destroy the peace of a Nation by unnecessary disputations Fourthly labour for contempt of the world and all worldly things Divisions oft arise out of base covetousness the love of the world divided Demas from Paul Fifthly pray for the spirit of meeknesse patience long-suffering and for mortified affections For an angry mans stirreth up strife c. Prov. 29.22 Hence Mark 9.50 Have salt in your selves i. e. the salt of mortification and have peace one with another Sixthly let all thy private aimes be swallowed up in the publick good Let the cause of Christ and his Church be dearer to thee then thy own life and this frame of spirit will exceedingly incline thee to all lawful ways of peace and unity Seventhly Nip divisions in the bud and quench the fire of contention at the beginning Eighthly yeeld one to another for peace sake As Abraham who yeelded his right up to Lot for peace-sake Gen. 13.9 Ninthly take heed of groundless suspitions and jealousies one of another This is a great cause of many distempers amongst us Tenthly to heal our Divisions we must make conscience to silence all our private opinions and differences Rom. 14.22 Hast thou faith have it to thy self before God Disturb not the Church with thy private faith Indeed if it be absolutely necessary to salvation its charity to acquaint the Church of God with it but if we can be saved without it this is not a fit time to broach any new opinions Quest Quest Whether may Magistrates tyrannize over mens consciences Answ By no means Answ Yet it s the duty of Magistrates to restraine men from infecting their subjects with soul-destroying errours Magistrates are bound to keep such from spreading their infections to the undoing of the souls of their subjects as appears 2 Chron. 15.13 and 34.32 Ezra 10.8 Deut. 13.5 6. 2 Kings 23.1 they are Gods Ministers for this end Rom. 13.4 1 Pet. 2.19 they are not onely keepers but vindices utriusque tabulae punishers of those that transgress either of the Tables Indeed Magistrates are wisely to distinguish between persons and persons and between errours and errours Some persons are pious and peaceable others turbulent and furious Some errors are such as subvert the Faith and destroy the power of godlinesse Others are of a lesser nature which may consist with godlinesse and with an unity in the Faith and if it be lawful for them to shut up a man that hath the plague on his body that he may not infect others surely they may restrain a man that hath the plague of Heresie upon his soul that he may not destroy the souls of thousands For such Heresies do eat as a Canker Mr. Calam. Parl. Ser. Decem. 25. 1644 Quest Quest How may Schisme be distinguished A. Answ Cameron makes a twofold Schism First negative which consists in a personal forbearing of any thing which will undoubtedly pollute us and this is a good separation Secondly Positive when there is not only a denying of communion with others but a sudden consociating of themselves into distinct bodies into little Independent Congregations by themselves for the worship and service of God and this will not so easily as some imagine be justified to hold consistency with the peace and order which is so desirable in the Churches of Christ Quest Quest What conclusions may be laid down about separation Answ First Answ 1 that there must no separation be made from Fellowship with the Catholick Church for this would rend the very body of Christ himselfe He calls the Church his body the fulnesse of him that filleth all in all Eph. 1.23 It would dis-joynt that sweete harmony which is the beauty and strength of that body Ephes 4.16 In this our pilgrimage we must still be coming to this Church but never separating from it because in coming hither we come to Jesus the authour of the New Covenant Hebr. 12.22 23 24. Secondly we may not make a separation from a particular Church because there are some defects found in it For if defects binde us to separation to what particular Church shall we associate our selves wherein some defects will not be found Only the Church triumphant is absolutely perfect weeds will be springing up in all Gods gardens here upon earth Quest Quest But what if some wicked persons continue in Church society doth not that give occasion of separation to others A. Answ Tollerating of some wicked persons in a Church is not a sufficient ground for others presently to separate from it For 1. That tollerating may be only an errour and infirmity in the Church wherein we are to bear with it and not thereupon to separate from it So Ames in his cases of conscience l. 4. c. 24. Sect. 15. 2. Patience is to be used to a particular brother when he is overtaken with a fault Gal. 6.1 much more must we express it to a Church 3. The sudden separating of the godly is not a likely way to cure a sick Church but rather puts it into a more desperate condition Quest Quest Doth not fellowship with wicked men in the Ordinances make them ineffectual Answ Answ Their wickednesse makes them ineffectual to themselves yet not to such others whom the Lord inviteth and for whom he hath prepared these Gospel dainties Will a loving Father deny his children bread because some dogges are crept under the Table Hence 1 Corinth 11.28 Let a man examine himselfe He saith not Let him examine all others that come Object But 1 Cor. 5.6 Object the Apostle saith that a
Church as well as a willing people against whom we find severity used by Christ himself and his Apostles Christ scourged the buyers and Sellers out of the Temple Joh. 2.15 Peter pronounced a doleful sentence upon Ananias and Saphira Act. 5.4 5 9. which acts though extraordinary yet they teach us that an Evangelical estate hath need as well of a Rod as of a Spirit of meekness 1 Cor. 4.21 Fifthly It s prophesied of the times of the Gospel that Kings shall be nursing fathers to the Church Isa 49.23 and Paul tells us that they are for a terror to evil doers Rom. 13.3 4. which words respect good and evil in the first table as well as in the second We are taught to pray for Kings and for all that are in Authority that we may under them lead quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness and honesty Now that which is the end of our prayer is likewise the end of their Authority and if it be their duty to provide for quiet peace and honesty it is to provide for godliness too 1 Tim. 2 1 2. Constantine Theodosius Valentinian Justinian c. are highly commended for making Edicts calling Councils prohibiting and punishing Heresies as appears in all Authors Sixthly Whatsoever things are in themselves dangerous and destructive to the prosperity of States and Nations come under the proper cognizance of the Civil Magistrate to prevent But Heresies Blasphemies Idolatries and Impieties against God do as much endanger a State as sins against the second Table And that 1. Because God is as much provoked by the one as by the other yea the great sin alledged for the captivity of Juda was their despising Gods Messengers 2 Chron. 36.16 2. Secondly Because such sins do more divide and untie the bonds of love which Christian Truth doth preserve then other civil differences and so loosen the hearts of men more from one another Seventhly Our Learned Writers have maintained this Doctrine against the Popish Doctors who to maintain Papal Supremacy and to keep all Ecclesiastical power within themselves have excluded the civil Magistrate from it whereby we may know what hands they be which sow such Doctrines amongst us that so they may instill corrupt Doctrines into as many as they find to be fit tinder to catch that fire Object Object Is not this to abridge and anul that liberty which should be indulged to the Consciences of men Answ Answ 1 First God forbid that any should assume Dominion over the consciences of men We are not saith Paul Lords over your faith but helpers of your joy 2 Cor. 1.24 It would be an high and withal a vain attempt 1. An high attempt for no man can give Law further then he can reward and punish accuse and convince But no man can either search or reward or punish the conscience therefore none can give Law to it 2. A vain Attempt For none but a divine eye can see the conscience therefore none but a Divine Law can bind it For Writings words if they be blasphemous and subversive to Church or State and highly derogatory to the honour of Christ Civil restraint can reach them but thoughts it cannot reach they are unsearchable to a humane eye and therefore unreducible to a humane power Again God forbid we should straiten liberty which Christ hath purchased for us Let every man shand first in that liberty wherewith Christ hath made him free and cursed be he that would entangle him in any such yoak of bondage as is contrary to that freedom Secondly Where men agree in fundamental Doctrines of Truth and godliness in the substantials of Faith Worship and Obedience there should be a mutual Love Tolleration and forbearance in differences which are not subversive to Faith and Godliness wherein we differ in such things we are to wait upon God to reveal the same unto us Phil. 3.15 Thirdly Christ did never purchase for any man a liberty to subvert or to endeavour to subvert the foundations of Faith Worship and holy obedience which he hath laid in his Church by blasphemous heretical Idolatrous or wicked opinions Gods great Truths and the Gospels great Interests ought to be dearer to us then the liberty of any blasphemous or impious tongue or pen. Fourthly Magistrates are wisely to distinguish between weak Brethren and wicked malicious disturbers of the Doctrine of salvation and peace of the Church As Paul doth between the bewitched Galatians and the Seducers of them whom he wishes that they were even cut off Gal. 5.12 whom yet he would not have wished so ill to if they had only made use of a lawfull liberty in sowing false Doctrines Fifthly With the word such lenity and moderation is to be used as first to reprove rebuke exhort them with all long-suffering and Doctrine 2 Tim. 4.2 To admonish them once and again and being found unreclaimable then to reject them Tit. 3.10 Sixthly We are to distinguish between the conscience of the Seducer and the spreading of his Doctrine It belongs to the care of the Magistrate to endeavour the reclaiming of the Seducer which if it cannot be effected the next principal care must be to prevent the spreading of his infection Thus the Apostle rejected Hereticks and would have no Communion with them they used effectual means to keep the leaven from the Lump Shew lenity to the persons themselves but be zealous for the purity and peace of the Church which by divisions is weakned distracted and betrayed Quest Quest What are the best means to be used by Magistrates in these seducing and seduced times Answ First Answ 1 They should encourage a godly and learned Minister and the Universities vindicating and protecting them from reproach contempt When Alexander the great sent Ambassadors to Athens requiring them to deliver up their Orators into his hands Demosthenes speaking to the people about it tells them a Fable that the wolves being at war with the sheep sent a message to them that if they desired quietness and to have a firm peace concluded they should deliver up their dogs unto them which as soon as they had done they were devoured by the wolves The like cunning use our Adversaries now that they may make a prey of the people they by all means seek to pull down our Ministry and Schools of learning that the watchmen being removed the sheep may be exposed to ruine Secondly They should take care that all that own the Christian Religion amongst us be required to attend upon the publick Ministry and that they may not presumptuously deprive themselves of the means of grace and salvation as very many do who in these times of licentiousnesse have for divers yeares withdrawn themselves from Christian Assemblies where God is worshipped and his name made known Thirdly they should endeavour to heale and close up breaches amongst brethren that men agreeing in Faith Worship and obedience may no longer be strangers one to another but joyne hand in hand
against dangers threatened from a common enemie Fourthly they should secure and set bounds about fundamental doctrines for which end they should take care and promote the dutie of Catechising Fifthly they should provide that Ministers may be known to be Orthodox in the great and weighty Controversies between us and the Hereticks of our times that woâ—ves may not privily creep in under sheeps cloathing Sixthly they should hinder the printing and spreading of dangerous and infectious books either from Ports or Presses and all other ways of diffusing leaven into the people Dr. Reynolds Peace of Jerusalem A certain friend having sent to Mr. Cotton of Boston in New England sundry Arguments against persecution for cause of conscience Mr. Cotton returned him this answer Quest Quest Your question saith he which you put is whether persecution for cause of conscience be not against the Doctrine of Christ who is King of Kings Answ Answ By persecution for cause of conscience I conceive you mean either for professing some point of doctrine which you believe in conscience to be truth or for practising some work which in conscience you believe to be a religious duty Now in points of Doctrine some are fundamental without a right beliefe whereof a man cannot be saved others are circumstantial and less principal wherein men may differ in judgement without endangering their salvation So in points of practice some concern the weightier duties of the Law so as if it be right fellowship with God is held If corrupt fellowship with him is lost Again in points of doctrine or worship less principal they are either held forth in a meek and peaceable way or in so arrogant and violent a way as tendeth to the disturbance of civill peace Lastly when we are persecuted for conscience sake it s either for conscience rightly informed or for an erronious and blinde conscience These things premised the answer is laid down in these conclusions First it s not lawful to persecute any for conscience-sake rightly informed for then Christ himself is persecuted in them Act. 9.4 Why persecutest thou me Secondly for an erroneous and blind conscience even in fundamentals it s not lawful to persecute any till after once or twice admonition Tit. 3.10 where the Apostle gives the direction and the reason viz. because in fundamental points of Doctrine and Worship the Word of God is so clear that he cannot but be convinced in conscience of the dangerous error of his way after one or two admonitions wisely and faithfully dispensed and then if he persist it s not out of conscience but against his conscience as ver 11. He is subverted and sinneth being condemned of himself If then such a man be punished he is not persecuted for his conscience but justly punished for sinning against his conscience Thirdly in things of lesser moment whether in doctrine or worship if they be held forth in a spirit of meeknesse and love he is not to be persecuted but tollerated till God shall please to manifest his truth unto him Phil. 3.17 Rom. 14.1 2 3 4. Fourthly but if a man hold forth any error or false way with a boisterous and proud spirit to the disturbance of civil peace he may be justly punished according to the quality of the disturbance made by him Obj. Object But Christ commands to let the tares and wheat grow together till the harvest Mat. 13.30 c. Answ Answ Tares are not Briars and Thornes but partly hypocrites like unto the godâ—y as tares are like the wheat or partly such corrupt doctrine or practises as are indeed insound but yet such as come nere the truth and so neere as good men may be taken with them and so the persons in whom they grow cannot be rooted out but the good will be rooted up with them and in such a case Christ calls for a tolleration not for a penal prosecution Obj. Object But Christ Mat. 15.14 would have the blinde let alone till they fall into the ditch therefore he would have their punishment deferred till their final destruction Answ Answ Christ speaks not there to publick Officers whether in Church or State but to his private Disciples concerning the Pharisees over whom they had no power But this makes nothing to the matter in hand Obj. Object But Luk. 19.54 Christ blames his Disciples who would have fire to come down from heaven to consume the Samaritans who refused to receive him Answ Answ This directs Ministers of the Gospel how to deal not with obstinate offenders who sinne within the Church against conscience but either with men without as the Samaritans were and many unconverted Christians in Creet whose conversion Titus was to seek or at best with some Jews and Gentiles within the Church who though carnal yet were not convinced of the errour of their way and so indeed it became not the spirit of the Gospel to convert aliens to the faith of Christ by fire and brimstome nor to deal harshly in their Ministry or private conference with all contrary minded men as either had not entred into Church fellowship or if they had did yet hitherto sin of ignorance not against conscience But neither of these do hinder Ministers from proceeding in a Church-way against Church-members when they become scandalous either in life or doctrine much lesse do they speak at all to the civil Magistrates Obj. Object But the Prophets foretold that carnal weapons should cease in the dayes of the Gospell as Isa 2.4 and 11.9 Micha 4.3 4. and Paul saith our weapons are not carnal 2 Cor. 10.4 and Christ bids his disciples not to persecute but to pray for their persecutors because they who are now persecutors may be converted Answ Answ The Prophets predictions do shew First with what kind of weapons God would subdue the Nations not by fire sword but by the power of the word and spirit 2. They shew what a meek and peaceable temper true Converts would be of not Lions Leopards c. not biters one of another but this forbids not to drive ravenous wolves from the sheepfold and to restraine them from devouring Christs sheep and when Paul saith our weapons are not carnal he â—enies not weapons of justice to the Civil Magistrate but onely to Church-Officers and yet he allows them such weapons as are ready to take vengeance on all disobedience 2 Cor. 10.6 which refers to the censures of the Church against scandalous Offenders 3. When Christ commands his Disciples to bless them that cursed and persecuted them he gives not a rule to publick Officers either in Church or State to suffer gross sinners either in life or doctrine to passe unpunished but teaches private Christians to suffer persecution patiently and to pray for their persecutors 4. Christ indeed would have his Disciples far from persecuting for that is a sinful oppression of men but this hinders not but that he would have them execute upon all disobedience the vengeance required in the word 2 Cor. 10.6
devil be in the conscience yea or no Answ First Answ 1 If you see a mans private Interest is much engaged in what he pretends Conscience for you may then justly suspect him Secondly If in other things it appears that the man is not much under the command of conscience but he can take liberty as he pleaseth you may justly suspect him 3. Thirdly When the account a man gives cannot in a rational way be judged such as should probably mislead him so grosly as is apparent he is misled Fourthly If a man be proud and turbulent in his carriage then the devil is rather in the will then in the conscience when a man by reason of his conscience differs from his brethren he should carry himself with all humility and meekness and self-denial in all other things that thereby he may manifest that it s not from wilfulness but meerly from tenderness of conscience that he cannot do as others do Fifthly If a man be not willing to use means for the informing of his conscience no not of those means which are not against his own principles but goes on peremptorily and stoutly Sixthly When a man by reason or Scripture is so put to it that he must either renounce his Error or fly from some of his own principles he will rather deny his principles then yield himself convinced of his Error This is such an one as the man spoken of Tit. 3.11 that is self-condemned and therefore ought to be rejected Quest Quest But what may be done to such as persist in an Error under the pretence of conscience Answ Answ 1 First After other means used if he persist in such an Error as cannot stand with the Power of godliness notwithstanding his conscience he is to be cast out of the society of the Saints Secondly If his Error with the profession of it be dangerous to the state and he cannot be reclaimed he may be cut of from it also notwithstanding his plea of Conscience Thirdly Pretence of conscience cannot excuse a man in matters of apparent injustice done to another either in his state or goods Fourthly A man may bring himself both under the Civil and Ecclesiastical sword not only for sins injurious to our brother but for sins against God as Blasphemy gross Idolatry c. Yea the heathens cannot by violence be compelled to profess the Christian Religion yet notwithstanding any plea of conscience they may be restrained and that by violence from blaspheming Christ the Scriptures or doing acts of any open dishonour to them Fifthly Notwithstanding any mans conscience he may be kept from seduceing and endangering the salvation of others The light of nature teaches us that such may be cut off as strengthen others in soul-damning principles Sixthly In some cases a private man himselfe may use violence to restraine men from evill If a man should come to seduce my wife or child in a matter which I know would endanger their souls if I could have no help by the Magistrate I may if I have power keep him off Now what I may doe by my owne strength I may call in the help of the Magistrate to do for me when there is a Magistrate and he is bound to use his Authority therein Quest Quest But what if errors be of less moment can there be nothing done to men to restraine them from such Answ Answ Yea such may be troubled for such ways of evill that their Consciences put them upon so far as to take off the wantonness of their spirits their neglect of means In times of Liberty there is a great wantonness upon mens spirits they are equally ballanced to receive truth or error and every little thing casts the ballance as interest in a friend esteem from such men of repute c. Now to help against such tentations if an erroneous person shall see that there is somthing to be suffered in that way it may be a meanes to restraine him from embracing it Quest Quest Suppose a man be not wanton but serious and neglects no meanes to inform his Conscience and yet he cannot yeild what may be done to such a man Answ Answ He should be dealt with in much tendernesse and love yet in such things as by his weakness he makes himselves less serviceable to the Common-wealth or Church then other men he may be denyed some benefits and priviledges which are granted unto others Quest But by fomenting Divisions Quest those which are in authority may rule the people best the divisions of the times are their advantages and their ends are best served when Church and State are most divided Answ Answ But let men that for such ends love division consider that 1. To maintaine that which is evill 2. To aime at their owne ends not regarding what publick mischiefes follow so their private advantages might be served 3. Not careing what the divisions are if so be their turne may be served this is abominable and cursed is that man that wishes for or rejoyceth in or seeks the continuance of divisions for such base ends yea he is not worthy to breath in so good an air as Englands is that would not willingly lay down his life to cure the present divisions that are amongst us Just it were that such a man should be separated to evil and that his name should be blotted out from under Heaven Mr. Burroughes his Irenicum Quest Quest How else may the wickedness of a tolleration of Heresies Blasphemies c. be made out Answ Answ 1 First The Scriptures of the Old and New Testament do oft command us to ask for follow after and to walk in that one good way and to contend earnestly for that one Faith to hold fast the truth c. and reproves and condems turning aside to any false way or halting between two or more Religions or Worships So 1 King 18.21 2 Kin. 17.33 41. Zeph. 1.5 Secondly God fore-tels and promises especially in the days of the Gospel to give one heart and one way to his people and that as there is but one Lord so his name shall be one and that all shall call upon and serve him with one consent Jer. 32.39 Ezek. 11.19 Zac. 14.9 And there are many exhortations to Christians to be of one mind and that there be no Schisms amongst them c. 2 Cor. 13.11 Phil. 2.2 4.2 1 Cor. 1.10 Eph. 4.3 therefore the toleration of all or many ways is contrary hereunto Thirdly A tolleration of false ways fights directly against many places of Scripture as 2 Cor. 13.8 We can do nothing against the truth but for the truth Pro. 23.23 Buy the truth and sell it not So Be valiant for the truth Strive for the faith of the Gospel They that keep the Law contend with the wicked Paul would not give place to false brethren no not for an hour and many other places named before Fourthly The sum of the Scripture is faith and a good life and the end
of all Estates both Political Ecclesiastical and Oeconomical are to maintain and continue these But a general tolleration is against all these in that it allows a liberty of denying the Scriptures to be the Word of God and sets up the conscience above the Scriptures making every mans conscience even the polluted and seared conscience the rule of faith and holiness before the pure and unerring Word of God whilst they cry out Men must go according to their consciences but never speak of going according to the Word of God Fifthly What God in his Word commands or forbids single persons for themselves and their own practise he commands or forbids the same not only for themselves but to them for all under their command and they must see to it to use their power Authority and interest to cause all under them to do so likewise and not to suffer them to go on in any false ways as these Texts amongst many others prove Gen. 18.19 Exod. 20.28 Deut. 6.4 5 6 7. Eph. 6.4 Sixthly The Patriarchs godly Judges Kings and other good Magistrates did make use of their Authority to suppress false Doctrine false Worship false Prophets and Seducers and to bring those under them to the true Worship and fear of God as Abraham Jacob Moses Joshua Gideon Jehosaphat Asa Hezekiah Josia Nehemiah c. Seventhly Yea They did not only do it but therein did their duty as is clear from the approbations special Testimonies Promises Rewards and Blessings given by God of them made to them and bestowed upon them by God for so doing It s said that therein they did that which was right in the sight of God 2 Chr. 14.2 3 4. and many other places Eighthly such Magistrates as were dear to God yet if out of carnal respects to Wives Children or other Interests they tollerated Idolatry and other evils and used not their power to restrain and punish them have been sharply reproved and severely punished by God for it as Solomon 1 King 11.4 c. Eli c. Object But Idolatry Object and Idolaters were the adaequate Object of the coercive power of the Kings of Judah and that Idolatry not meant of those that worshiped the true God in a false manner but of such as left the God of Israel to worship false gods and those neither simply as such but as seducing others but this power extended not to Hereticks Schismaticks c. though there were amougst them Pharisees Saduces Herodians c. Answ First Idolaters Answ 1 and Idolatry only were not the adaequate object of the Magistrates coercive power but generally the matter of the Covenant the whole worship and truth of God For Josiah Hezekiah Asa and Jehosaphat suppressed other evils besides Idolatry as Wil-worship things abused to Idolatry and prophanation of the Sabbaths marrying of strange wives c. as appears 2 Chron. 34.31 c. 2 Kin. 23.8 9. with 2 Chron. 14.3 5. 15.17 33.17 Neh. 13.7 8 15 16 17 28 30. Ezra 10.3 5. 2 Kings 23.24 25. Secondly The Idolatry which these godly Kings punished and reformed was as well the worshiping of the true God after a false manner as the worshiping of false Gods as appears in the Golden Calf Exod. 32.4 5.6 and Jeroboams Calves 1 King 12.27 28. they did not believe these Calves to be Gods but worshiped Jehovah by them And Josh 22.11 12. All Israel gathered together to war against Reuben c. not for making an Altar to a strange god but for making an Altar to offer upon to the true God besides the Altar which was in his Tabernacle verse 21.26 28 29. Thirdly They did not only punish gross Idolaters which were Seducers but such as were seduced Moses punished 3000 with death for their Calf-worship So 2 Chron. 15.13 they that would not seek the Lord whether small or great were to be punished Deut. 13. all a City that was drawn to serve other gods was to be slain Fourthly The Pharisees Saduces Herodians c. were not punished 1. Because Religion was then mightily corrupted and all things were out of order in Church and State which hastened their destruction 2. The Jews were not then a free people nor had the civil power absolutely in their hands 3. God permitted those times to abound with Sects because he had a purpose to destroy their Common-wealth and the Tolleration of those Sects made way for hastened their ruine as it hath done many others 4. There is a great agreement between the false Prophets under the Old Testament and the false-Teachers under the New as is evident in many Scriptures of the New Testament which lively resemble these each to other so that it cannot be imagined that the first sort should be punished with death and the later not punished at all Ninthly we have the full concurrent testimony and judgement of the most Godly and learned Protestant Divines as Calvin Zanchy Melancthon Beza P. Martyr Bullinger Musculus Chemnitius Gerard Bucanus Bilson Cartwright the Leiden Professors Voetius Triglandus c. that the care of Religion and Gods worship belongs to the Magistrate and that God hath given him power objective and external in Ecclesiastical causes to look to Religion as well as to civil Justice Tenthly there are many commands in Scripture given to Magistrates to punish oftenders against the first Table as idolaters blasphemers false Prophets seducers witches wizards profaners of the Sabbath c. as Exod. 22.20 Deut. 13.1 2 5. and 17.2 3 4 5 12 13. Lev. 24.16 23. and 20.2 3 4 27. Deut. 18.20 22. Object Object But these are Old Testament examples Answ Answ First its evident that some of these commands as against offering their children to Molech and dealing with familiar spirits deserve and are punished now under the Gospel as well as under the Law why not then those other of blasphemy false prophets idolatry c. Secondly these precepts for the Magistrates punishing idolaters blasphemers c. extended not to the punishment of Jews only but of all strangers in the land both Proselytes that dwelt amongst them and passengers that travelled thorow and came into their countrey for traffique So Lev. 20.2 Lev. 24.16 He that blasphemes the Name of the Lord shall surely be put to death as well the stranger as he that is born in the land Thirdly the reasons and grounds of these Laws with the use and end of them are of common equity and concern us Christians as well as they did the Jews Fourthly even before Moses his time in other Countreys Idolatry deserved punishment by the Magistrate as Job tells us Job 31.26 27 28. and Artaxerxes Nebuchadnezzar c. made Laws for punishing those that blasphemed the Lord and transgressed his Laws as we heard before Master Prin in his Sword of the Christian Magistrate supported doth largly and excellently shew that by the Light of Nature in all ages even Heathen Magistrates have made Lawes against and punished such as they