their Traditions Mat. 15.6 And Act. 13.27 The Rulers of Jerusalem the High-Priests Scribes and Pharisees knew not Christ nor yet the words of the Prophets which they heard read every Sabbath but fulfilled them in condemning him And our Saviour saith Mat. 11. I thank thee Father Lord of Heaven and Earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise and men of understanding And none of the Pharisees nor Rulers believed on him Joh 7.48 And 1 Cor. 1.20 Where is the Wise where is the Scribe where is the Disputer of this world Hath not God made the wisdom of this world follishness And ver 26. Not many wise men after the flesh not many mighty not many noble are called c. And for the Learned since the time of our Saviour The Council of Ephesus were where 132 Bishops Of Seleucia where were 160 Bps related by the Protestants How grievously did they erre in decreeing the detestable Error of Arrianism Who is ignorant knowing the Histories that from time to time both particular Popes and general Councils have grosly erred in many things only one we will mention passing by Trent and others The Council Lateren we mean Pope Innocent 1215. which for universality was behind none where were present 2 Patriarchs 70 Archbishops Metropolitans 400 Bishops 12 Abbot 800 Conventual Priors the Legats of the Greck and Roman Empire besides the Ambassadors and Orators of the Kings of Jerusalem France Spain England and Cyprus In this Council it was decreed That all Hereticks and so many as do in any point resist the Catholick Faith should be condemned c. And also that the Secular Powers of what degree soever they be shall be compelled openly to swear for the defence of the Faith that they will to the uttermost of their power root out and destroy in all their Kingdoms all such persons as the Catholick Church hath condemned for Hereticks and if they do not they shall be excommunicated And if they do not reform within one whole year then the Pope may denounce all their Subjects absolved and utterly delivered from shewing or owing any fidelity or obedience towards them Again that the Pope may give that Land to be occupied and enjoyed of the Catholicks to possess it all Hereticks being rooted out quietly and without any contradiction Tho. Beacon in his Reliques of Rome printed 1563. And the Protestands confess that this imperfection hath hung so fast upon all Councils and Churches that Nazianzen saith He never saw any Council have a good end Thus are here sufficient Testimonies proved from Scriptures and Experience That the Learned may and have usually erred and therefore the holy Scriptures often warn us To beware of false Prophets for many are gone out into the world Mat. 24. and 1 Joh. 4. And will not your Majesty your Highness your Honours your Worships be pleased to consider of these things but will your selves submit the guidance of your Souls to the learned Spirituality as they are called without due examination by the Scriptures which if you will stil do we can but bewail with the sorrows of our hearts and not so only But will you with your Power which God hath given you to use well compel and constrain your Subjects and Underlings to believe as the Learned believe not suffering us to reade or search the Scriptures Which if you abhor as being the Romish practice Will you do that which is worse letting us reade the Scriptures whereby we may know the Will of our Heavenly Master and have our Consciences enlightned and convinced but not suffer us to practise that we learn and know whereby our Sin and Condemnation is made greater than the blind Papists as is proved Luke 12.47 And not only so but will you consâ—â—ain us to captivate our Consciences and practise in that which in our â—â—â—ls we know to be evil and contrary to the manifest Law of the Lord and that only because the Learned have so Decreed whom you acknowledge are subject to erre aswell as others or else lye in perpetual Imprisonment and be otherwise grievously persecuted May it please you to observe that the Church of Rome seeth and acknowledgeth in words That Jesus Christ is come in the flesh and hath abolished the Priesthood of Aaron and the legal Sacrifieces but the Jews see it not to this day nay the High-Priests Scribes and Pharisees saw it not but for the publishing thereof persecuted Christ the Lord and his Apostles unto the Death calling their Doctrine Heresie and them seditious Enemies to Caesar c. For the which we all justly condemn them for their wickedness so often as we reade the holy History And the Church of England seeth and acknowledgeth divers damnable Doctrines of the Church of Rome this among many That the Scriptures are not the only Rule of Faith but that men ought to be constrained to believe as the Church believes The Protestants see the iniquity of this because they see and acknowledge all Churches are subject to erre But the learned Papists see it not but have decreed That whosoever resisteth in any point shall be judged as an Heretick and suffer fire and faggot and every Temporal Magistrate that doth not root such Hereticks out of their Dominions shall be excommunicated and if he do not reform he shall be expelled his earthly Possessions and his Subjects freed from owing any fidelity or obedience towards him c. For the which height of iniquity the Protestants and we justly cry out against them for all the innocent blood that they have shed And we see most manifestly that what soever is not of Faith is Sin Rom. 14.23 And without Faith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11.6 And therefore that no mortal man may make a Law to the Conscience and force unto it by Persecutions and consequently may not compel unto any Religion where Faith is wanting as hereafter more largely we prove But the Learned of this Land see it not or rather will not practise it but for our not submitting herein procure your temporal Sword to persecute us by casting us in Prisons where many of us have remained divers years in lingring Imprisonment deprived of all earthly comforts as Wives Children Callings c. without hope of Release till our God for the practice of whose Commandments we are thus persecuted perswade the hearts of your-Majesty your Highness your Honours your Worships to take pitty upon us our poor Wives and Children or His heavenly Majesty release us by Death Will not succeeding Ages cry out against the Cruelty of the learned Protestants herein aswell as they cry out against the Cruelty of the learned Jews and Papists yes we are assured they will as many millions do in other Nations at this day The Scriptures declare the cause of the Jews blindness was not the obscurity of the Scriptures but that they winked with their eyes lest they should see that which would deprive them of their honours and profits
Persecution for Religion JUDG'D and CONDEMN'D In a DISCOURE between an ANTICHRISTIAN and a CRHISTIAN PROVING By the Law of God and of the Land And By King James his many Testimonies That no man ought to be Persecuted for his Religion so he Testifie his Allegiance by the Oath appointed by Law Proving also That the Spiritual Power in England is the Image of the Spiritual Cruel Power of Rome or that Beast mentioned Rev. 13. Manifesting the fearful Estate of those who subject to such Powers that Tyrannize over the Conscience And shewing the Unlawfulness of Flying because of the Trouble men see or fear is coming upon them To which is added An humble SUPPLICATION to the Kings Majesty Wherein among other things is proved 1. That the Learned usually Erre and resist the Truth 2. That Persecution is against the Law of Jesus Christ 3. Against the Profession and Practice of famous Princes 4. Condemned by ancient and later Writers 5. Freedom in Religion not hurtful to any Common-wealth and it depriveth not Kings of any Power given them of God 2 Cor. 10.4 For the Weapons of our Warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds Printed in the years 1615. and 1620. And now Reprinted for the Establishing some and Convincing others 1662. To all that truly wish Jerusalem's Prosperity and Babylons Destruction Wisdom and Understanding be multiplyed upon you IN these dayes if ever that is true which the Wiseman said Eccl. 12.12 There is no end in making many books and much reading is a weariness to the flesh yet considering how heinous it is in the sight of the Lord to force men and women by cruel Persecutions to bring their bodies to a Worship whereunto they cannot bring their spirits we thought it our duty for Gods Glory and the reformation thereof in this our own Nation to publish this little Writing following wherein is manifestly proved by the Law of God the Law of our Land and his Majesties own divers Testimonies That no man ought to be persecuted for his Religion be it true of false so he testifie his faithful Allegiance to the King What shall men do striving about matters of Religion till this be ended For if this be a truth that the Kings of the Earth have power from God to compel by Persecution all their Subjects to believe as they believe then wicked is it to resist and the Persecutions of such is justly upon them and the Magistrates that execute the same are clear from their blood and it is upon their own heads but if the Kings of the Earth have not power from God to compel by Persecution any of their Subjects to believe as they believe seeing Faith is the work of God then no lesse wicked is it in the sight of God to disobey and the Persecutions of such are upon the Magistrates and the blood of the Persecuted cryeth unto the Lord and will be required at the Magistrates hands Wherefore in all humility reverence and loyalty we do humbly desire of our Sovereign Lord the King and all Gods Ministers under him as Judges Justices of Peace c. by whom this Persecution is executed themselves to consider not whether herein they please Lord Bishops but whether they please the Lord Jesus Christ who after a little while shall judge all Judges according to their works without respect of persons and therefore are commanded to kiss the Son lest he be angry and they perish in the way Psal 2. Our humble desire is that they would consider what is testified in the Scriptures That the Kings of the Earth shall give their power unto the Beast till the words of God be fulfilled then shall they take their power from her If it be granted as it is that the Kings of this Nation formerly have given their power unto that Romish Beast it shall evidently appear that our Lord the King and all Magistrates under him do give their power to the same Beast though the Beast be in another shape For as that spiritual Power or Beast of Rome sets up a Worship as they pretend for God and force all thereto by cruel Persecutions the Kings of the Earth giving their Power thereunto So this spiritual Power or Beast of England sets up a Worship as they pretend for God and force all thereto by cruel Persecutions the Kings Majesty giving his Power hereunto Oh that all that are in Authority would but consider by the Word of God which shall judge them at the last day what they do when they force men against their souls and consciences to dissemble to believe as they believe or as the King and State believe they would withdraw their hands and hearts therefrom and never do as they have done partly through inconsideration and partly to please Lord Bishops being in favour with the King It cannot but with high thankfulness to God and to the King be acknowledged of all that the Kings Majesty is no blood-thirsty man for if he were bodily destruction should be the portion of all that fear God and endeavour to walk in his wayes as may be seen in the primitive time of this spiritual Power or Beast of England after that K. Henry the eight had cast off the Romist Beast and since so far as leave hath been granted them by hanging burning banishing imprisoning and what not as the particulars might be named Yet our most humble desire of our Lord the King is That he would not give his Power to force his faithful Subjects to dissemble to believe as he believes in the least measure of Persecution though it is no small Persecution to lye many years in filthy Prisons in hunger cold idleness divided from Wife Family Calling left in continual miseries and temptations so as Death would be to many less Persecution seeing his Majesty confesseth that to change the mind must be the work of God And of the Lord Bishops we desire that they would a little leave off persecuting those that cannot believe as they till they have proved that God is well-pleased therewith and the souls of such as submit are in safety from Condemnation let them prove this and we protest we will for ever submit unto them and so will thousands and therefore if there be any spark of grace in them let them set themselves to give satisfaction either by word or writing or both But if they will not but continue their cruel-courses as they have done let them yet remember that they must come to Judgment and have their Abominations set in order before them and be torn in pieces when none shall deliver them And whereas they have no other colour of ground out of the Scriptures than that they have canonized a Law viz. That whosoever shall affirm that the Kings Majesty hath not the same power over the Church that the godly Kings of Israel had under the Law c. Let him be excommunicate ipso facto The unsoundness of which
Princes the other Subjects and Subjects must be obedient Ch. Most true it is but is it not also true that Princes must afford all their Subjects Justice and Equity although they be as Heathens and Publicans For if Princes be freed from doing Right and Justice and protecting their Subjects that be excommunicated why are not Subjects also freed from Subjection and Allegiance to their Princes being excommunicated if Excommunication be Christ's Law to all alike that will be saved without respect of persons And also Is not that Law of Christ herein to be observed That whatsoevr ye would men should do unto you even so do ye unto them Mat. 7.12 And therefore as Princes would that all their Subjects should be faithfull and obedient unto them so ought Princes to be just and equal to all their Subjects in maintaining them in every just and equal cause between man and man For For this cause not for Religion saith the Apostle the Saints at Rome payed Tribute to Caesar their Heathen Prince who was against them in Religion Shall they not escape Damnation for this accursed doctrine and practice and think ye you shall Thou that judgest another judgest thou not thy self By this it may appear as also by exceeding many other doctrines and practices how near you are to that bloody spiritual power what pretences to the contrary soever you make Ant. It were a lamentable thing if that bloody Religion should be practised again in this Nation Ch. I acknowledge it a bloody Religion but God hath cast down the Power thereof in this Kingdom blessed be his Name but I would you could see your own cruel bloody Religion But that God of his mercy hath restrained it by the Kings Majesty who thirsteth not after blood How many only for seeking Reformation in Religion have been put to death by your Power in the dayes of Qu. Elizabeth and how many both then and since have been consumed to death in Prisons Yea since that cruel spiritual Power hath been set up hath not Hanging Burning Exile Imprisonments and all manner of contempt been used and all for Religion although some for grievous Errours and yet you see not this to be a bloody Religion Further You cry out of their bloody Cruelty the reason is because you will not be of their Religion And when you have done your selves are most bloody and cruel so far as is in your power because we and all men will not not be of your Religion Ant. If men hold Errors and will not obey the Truth do they not sin against God and deserve punishment Ch. Yes such deserve punishment but God hath appointed their punishment and the time thereof Their punishment Rom. 2.8 9. To them that are contentions and disobey the Truth and obey unrighteousness shall be Indignation and Wrath Tribulation and Anguish shall be upon the soul of every one that doth evil Mark 16.16 He that will not believe shall be damned 2 Thes 1.8 In flaming fire rendring Vengeance unto them that know not God and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ which shall be punished with everlasting perdition from the Presence of the Lord and the Glory of his Power The time thereof is mentioned in the last recited place ver 7. When the Lord Jesus shall shew Himself from Heaven with his mighty Angels And Rom. 2.5 The day of Wrath. And ver 16. At that day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ And Mat. 13.40 41. At the end of this World the Son of man shall send forth his Angels and they shall gather out of his Kingdom all things that offend and them that do iniquity and shall cast them into a furnace of Fire c. Here is shewed the Punisher the Punishment and the Time thereof This Punisher hath commanded you to wait for their repentance by his own example which is in his hands to give them and not to cut them off and send them to Hell as you teach and practise which is contrary to God who is patient towards mockers which walk after their own lusts 2 Pet. 3.3 Because he would have no man to perish but would that all men whatsoever should come to repentance But you contrary to Him use all means you can to cut men off that they might perish in that you seek to destroy their bodies whilst they remain in their errors Ant. I confess that God commandeth Matth. 13. that the good and bad must grow together unto the end of the World but that is in the Church Ch. Well if that be the true exposition I pray you why do you then excommunicate any out of your Church contrary to your own acknowledgment And here let all men take notice that by this Exposition you overthrow your own Excommunication quite and accuse Christ for giving a Rule Mat. 18. and the Apostle Paul and the Church of Corinth for practising that Rule 1 Cor. 5. in casting out of the Church For you say all must grow together to the end in the Church But the Exposition of the Law-giver himself is against you that the Field is the World ver 38. Yet in that you confess that the Wicked and the Godly must be let alone in the Church unto the end then much more in the World unto the end For if the Wicked pollute not the Church sure it is they pollute not the World This then you are commanded unto ver 29 30. Nay gather them not let them grow together unto the end of the World Ant. Let them come to Church and they shall grow together unto the end Ch. Indeed I think so Hereby you manifest you regard not how wicked and ungodly men be so they come to your Church you will not destroy them though they remain in their abominable lusts but if they will not come to your Church let them be Wheat or Tares you will gather them and as much as in you is send them to burning Herein all men may see as I said before that you seek your own Glory and Obedience and not Gods and so exalt your selves above God 2 Thess 2. Indif Well I bless God I see this as clearly as the Sun shining in his brightness That it is to fight against God to compel any contrary to their consciences to perform any service unto Him in that there are so many places of Scripture commanding the contrary Ch. The whole New Testament throughout in all the Doctrines and Practices of Christ and his Disciples teach no such thing as compelling men by Persecutions and Afflictions to obey the Gospel but the direct contrary viz. to suffer at the hands of the wicked when they were persecuted for Righteousness sake to suffer it when the unbelievers and wicked curse them to bless and pray for their repentance and that God would forgive them and never lay these sins to their charge as our Saviour Luke 23.34 Stephen Act. 7.60 and the rest did And for a conclusion
of this point that your Faith may be full herein consider that we are to wait for the Jews Conversion and not to destroy them Indif It is true that might give all men satisfaction in these things Ch. Oh yes if men had any regard of God or his Word they would never deal more in this thing the Lord we see Rom. 11. hath promised That when the fulness of the Gentiles is come in the Jews shall be converted Now if the Jews who are such fearful Blasphemers of Christ and his Gospel that contemn him and his Testament with all despite if their Conversion must be waited for that they may not be destroyed from off the face of the Earth then who may not see if they shut not their eyes that the Conversion of all is to be waited for and that no man for blaspheming Christ and his Gospel may be destroyed or afflicted by Imprisonments Death or any Calamity whatsoever Indif It is not to be gain-sayed with any shew of truth I would God the Kings Majesty would consider of this point seeing that the cruel Bishops by using his Power commit such sin against God in this thing both in persecuting them that cannot in faith yeeld and also in forcing them that do yeeld contrary to their consciences to sin against God and to perish if they repent not Ch. I am perswaded that if his Highness did but once well weigh and consider it he would never suffer such high iniquity to be committed against God contrary to his express Commandment and all to be done by the King's Power for nothing have they else to bear them out The Lord perswade the hearts of his Majesty and his posterity unto it seeing his Throne is established by him that he and his Posterity may sit and reign over these Nations and Kingdoms till Jesus Christ the Commander of these things come in his Glory to recompence every man according to his works without respect of persons Ant. If wicked Malefactors should be let alone to the end of the World then where is the Magistrates Sword it is of no force if evil men may not be cut off Ch. I acknowledge unfeignedly that God hath given to Magistrates a Sword to cut off wicked men and to reward the well-doers Rom. 13. But this Ministry is a worldly Ministry their Sword is a worldly Sword their punishments can extend no further than the outward man they can but kill the body Luke 12.4 And therefore this Ministry and Sword is appointed only to punish the breach of worldly Ordinances which is all that God hath given to any mortal man to punish The King may make Laws for the safety and good of his Person State and Subjects against the which whosoever is disloyal or disobedient he may dispose of them at his pleasure the Lord hath given him this Sword and Authority fore-seeing in his Eternal Wisdom that if this his Ordinance of Magistracy were not there would be no living for men in the world and especially for the Godly and therefore the Godly have particular cause to glorifie God for this his blessed Ordinance of Magistracy and to regard it with all reverence But now the breach of Christs Laws of the which we all this while speak which is the thing only I stand upon His Kingdom is spiritual his Laws spiritual the Transgressions spiritual the Punishment spiritual everlasting Death of Soul his Sword spiritual no carnal or worldly weapon is given to the supportation of his Kingdom nor to punish the Transgressors of the Laws of this Kingdom The Law-giver himself hath commanded that the Transgressors of these Laws should be let alone until the harvest because he knows they that are now Tares may hereafter come to repentance and become Wheat they that are now Blasphemers Persecutors and Oppressors as Paul was may by the power of Gods Word become Faithful and a faithful Witness as he was They that are now Fornicators c. as some of the Corinthians once were 1 Cor. 6.9 may hereafter become washed clensed and sanctified as they were They that are now no People nor under Mercy as the Saints sometimes were 1 Pet. 2.10 may hereafter become the People of God and obtain Mercy as they did All come not at the first hour some come not till the eleventh hour if those that come not till the last hour should be destroyed because they came not at the first hour then should they never come but be prevented Ant. Were not Blasphemers put to death in time of the Law Lev. 24.11 c. Ch. Yes an Israelite blaspheming the Lord or doing any thing presumptuously which was Blasphemy Numb 15.30 no Sacrifice was to be offered for him But would you from hence have the Kings Majesty put all his Subjects to death that contemn the Truth of Christ If yea see what will follow All Papists ought to be put to death who are direct Blasphemers Rev. 16.10 11. When the Vial of Gods Wrath was poured upon the Throne of the Beast which all England confess is meant the Popish Power they blasphemed the God of Heaven c. All the Jews that speak many things blasphemously against Christ ought to be put to death Yea of what Profession soever he be doing any thing presumptuously against Christ ought to be put to death by your Affirmation no Sacrifice to be offered no Repentance to be admitted dye he must under two or three Witnesses But that this is most false Christ and his Apostles in his Testament do manifestly declare as is before shewed Was not Paul a Blasphemer yet received to mercy But this the holy Ghost teacheth from Blasphemy under the Law Heb. 10.28 He that despised Moses Law died without mercy under two or three Witnesses Of how much sorer punishment suppose ye shall he be thought worthy that treadeth under foot the Son of God and counteth the Blood of the Testament as an unholy thing wherewith he was sanctified and doth despite to the Spirit of Grace speaking of such as had received and acknowledged the Truth ver 26. This is now the due proportion an Israelite according to the flesh in the time of the Law presumptuously sinning against Gods Commandment by his Command must die by the worldly Sword no Sacrifice was to be offered for him So in the New Testament or time of the Gospel a spiritual Israelite according to the Faith contemptuously or despitefully sinning against Christs Commands which he hath formerly acknowledged despiting and contemning them by his Command must die by the spiritual Sword no repentance to be admitted seeing he crucifieth again to himself the Son of God and makes a mock of him Heb. 6.6 David and Peter came not within this compass though they sinned of knowledge yet they did it not contemptuously or despitefully but through frailty If an Israelite under the Law did ought through ignorance as Numb 15. or through frailty as Levit. 6. there was Sacrifice for him So under the