of War Therefore hath neither Christ himself nor his Apostles taught men to take up Armes against them that were reprobated from the Faith as if that were an external means for to rout out Errors for the receiving or spreading of Religion which is through fear of Weapons is more like unto Mahometisme than unto the Christian Religion Stephanus the King of Poland said Our desire is that all the Cities and Inhabitants did praise one God unanimously but it hath been declared that in the latter Dayes Offences shall come therefore will not we compel any to believe said he but will keep Peace and concord among the Contentious that contend about Religion and defend every one in his Religion Chronicle of the Tyrants second P. pag. 1326. CHAP. IX How Iudas Proselytes now do follow his footsteps How Confusion and Uproar is not occasioned in a Land through a just Toleration but rather through want of it And how none ought to be Banished about Religion THe Histories sheweth how that some of the Clergy hath said That the Princes ought to kiss the Son and to use their Power for to preserve and defend Religion against all her Enemies though their Lands should therefore be spoyled But the Son of God hath never taught any man so to kiss him though he was so unkindly kissed of Iudas as many Betrayers do yet in his Members yet notwithstanding Christ nor his Apostles did not seek to deliver Iudas over to the Magistrates but Iudas sought to deliver Christ over to them And so do Iudas Children at this day deliver the true Christians whom they falsly call Hereticks into the Hands of the Earthly Powers And though some say That People of different Opinions cannot live together in a Kingdom without continual contention and therefore say they must that be prevented with Fire and Sword But what though there be vertue and filthiness in a Kingdom good and bad men which are one contrary to the other one must not therefore said a wise Man to prevent it bring a whole Kingdom or Land into Confusion by stirring up the People one against another Again the true Church said he hath never helped her self with Persecution neither doth she use any other Sword than God's Word which she having and keeping the Commands of God prepareth her self for to bear the Cross and to Suffer Persecution but not to bring Suffering upon others Moreover it is evident That in Dutchland Poland and in the Low-Countryes more Religions than one are Suffered and yet there are not continual Uproars and Tumults as some imagine such Toleration would occasion in a Kingdom therefore may we conclude that it is not the Toleration of more Religions than one which produceth Uproar in a Kingdom but rather the untowardness and perverseness of them that seek to obstruct this Toleration Camerarius said That it was groundless and irrational to say that Diversities of Opinions in matters of Religion do disturb the Polity but on the contrary the Polity is disturbed when any man with the Liberty of his Opinion is not contented but will molest and trouble others But some say That every one in matters of Faith are bound to obey the Magistrates under whom they live and to follow them and that they are worthy of Punishment who do it not But let such know saith the Author that they do not only hereby condemn the first Reformed Protestants but also the true Prophets and Apostles yea Christ himself and all the Martyrs and so justifie their Persecutors and Murderers if not then may not the Magistrates now oppress a Church or a Religion as many of the disorderly Clergy would gladly see said he and make the Magistrates believe And it is to be observed how that among the Jews there were many Sects as the Pharisees Esseans Galileans Saduces Samaritans c. who retained many unwholsome Opinions yet they were not so Persecuted as now the false Christians do Persecute one another The History sheweth how that it hath been sufficiently proved That none ought to Banish any about Religion that payed Tribute yea that the peaceable Jews and Heathen ought not to be Banished out of the Land where they were born for that which they have they possess through that right which is common to all Nations and to banish People is said to be directly contrary to the Law of Nature and to the Commands of Love for Kings and Princes so well as others Ought to do unto others as they would have others to do unto them And if they would not be Banished out of their Dominions then should not they Banish others and Innocency becometh them as well as others who ought to do Evil to no man Les Princes qui se sont Gouvernez par douceur clemence conjointe a Iustice qui ont use de moderation debonnairete en vers leurs subjets ont tousjours grandement prosperè longuement regne Mais au contraire les Princes cruels iniques perfides oppresseurs de leurs subjets sont incontinent tombez eux leur estat en peril â—â— en totale ruine c. par N. M. Anno 1576. Those Princes that have ruled by Gentleness and Clemency added to Justice and have exercised Moderation and Meekness towards their Subjects alwayes greatly prospered and Reigned long But on the contrary those Princes that have been Cruel Unjust Perfidious and Oppressors of their Subjects have soon faln they and their Estate into danger or total Ruin N. M. 1576. CHAP. X. The Severity of a Popish Synode The Disposition of the right Christians How Heresie is not slain through the Death of Hereticks and the evil consequence of the Laws which tend to the putting of Hereticks to Death IN a General Synod holden at Rome it was forbidden men to hold any Fellowship with those they termed Enemies of Religion neither were they in any thing to assist them which might tend to the preserving of their Life and great things were promised them that persecuted such and inflicted punishment to the utmost upon them Vide Merula pag. 772. But the true Christians Persecute no man about Religion Socrat. lib. 4. chap. 3. For the right Christians did alwayes deal mercifully with them that were Hereticks indeed and not Tyrannically by shedding of their Blood but Hereticks and Infidels have been alwayes cruel towards the Christians with Persecuting of them to Death When men with the Truth said one slayeth the lies of Hereticks then their Bodies remain alive and their Souls come to be cured but when men put Hereticks to death they do not slay the Heresie but rather both Body and Soul Veritus said Seeing Christ is a Lamb whom you profess to be your Head and Captain then it behoveth you to be Sheep and to use the same Weapons which he made use of for he will not be a Shepherd of Wolves and Wild Beasts but only of Sheep wherefore if you lose the nature of Sheep said he and be changed
them but through a godly Zeal Vide Exod. 1.16 17 21. Considering how that the Commands of God are to be esteemed above the Commands of Men Obey your Masters saith he but not against God to whom you are more bound than unto men Daniel kept himself Innocent before God and the King notwithstanding his doing contrary to the King's command concerning the free Exercise of his Religion Dan. 6.22 But say some the Powers will not suffer this new Doctrine I know not but that they might well suffer it where it fundamentally manifesteth it self said Vrbanus Regnis yet though they will not suffer it every true Christian knoweth that he ought to keep to the Lord and his Truth and in such a case he may said he without contempt of Authority let pass that worldly command and of this will the spiritual Law admit For it doth not become the Emperour nor the King to determine any thing against the divine Command nor to do any thing that is against the Rule of the Exangelical Prophets and Apostles Truth and if that they command any Evil then must we give them this answer We must obey God rather than Men Acts 5.29 But in these things which are not against the Command of God we will be subject Yet when the Emperour or King commandeth one thing and God another and that we obey God who hath the Supream Power we desire herein to be excused by the Emperour and King if they threaten Imprisonment for Disobedience he threatneth Hell Vide his Epistle of twofold Righteousness Fol. 6 7. Anno 1532. CHAP. XVI How it doth not become the Magistrate to Force the Conscience nor to be a Iudge in Points of Doctrine and of what dangerous consequence it would be if the Magistrate should proceed against Hereticks according to his own Interpretation of the Law CAstellius testified That in Matters of Religion there was no other Magistrate than Christ alone and they that he not with the Sword but with his Word armeth and sendeth forth The Antient Protestants testified How that the most of the old Fathers affirmed That the Magistrate had nothing to do to meddle with the Conscience to force and compel that to believe seeing that the temporal Sword was put into their Hands to Punish Theeves Murderers and other disturbers of the Peace but as concerning Religion and that which pertaineth unto the Soul the only Spiritual Sword the Word of God must and ought herein to Remedy separating the Zeal and Religion which did defend man from Tumults and disturbing of Governments Neither doth it belong to any man to ordain other Laws for Punishment besides those which God hath appointed and therefore is it so highly forbidden to add or diminish Deut. 4.2 Chap. 12.32 Rev. 22.18 for no Laws but God's bind the Conscience Merck-tyck pag. 245. Moreover it hath been formerly testified That they do very unchristianly who under pretence of Ecclesiastical Discipline introduce a new Authority over the Faith and Consciences of Men Isa. 10.12 Psal. 94.20 21. Acontius testified That it was against the Office of a Magistrate to be a Judge in Points of Doctrine in matters of Religion and in the same to use his Power violently and that in particular he should do contrary to his Office if that he used his Power to please any man as that when he had committed the care of Religion to some particular Person or Persons and that he should be ready to draw out his Sword against those whom the other accused as Hereticks or give the Weapon into their Hand Now how guilty he that thus did would be in the day of the Lord may you judge Alcmerus testified That God alone is the judge of the heart and that he alone should judge of Faith and Unbelief therefore is it not lawful for Princes said he to judge any man in matters of Faith while they are not guilty of any manifest transgression of any known civil Law as Theft Murder c. for they are Judges of the Body and not of the Soul Rel. uriih 2 deel pag. 52. Through what impudency dare you judge them to Death saith Castellius that profess the name of Christ who hath taught you the matters of Religion of which you are most ignorant I believe you will say you do not these things alone from your own Judgement but through the judgement of the Learned who hath taught you who ought to be Punished and put to Death and verily it is so said he for I see that your Learned men do injoyne you not to put any to Death about Religion but according to their Judgement W. Teelingh testified That the Magistrate ought not to rest upon the conclusion of the Church nor thereupon to proceed being that the Church might err and that it was dangerous following De hevige ende huestige Kerckelijcbre luijden i. e. the vehement and hasty Clergy In Eubul 252.254 256 Follies The Lord of Pleffy referred the Judgement of Doctrine and Teachers c. to the Judgement of all Christians and not only to the Judgement of the pollitick Magistrates nor not alone to the Ecclesiastical Clergy neither only to them both no but to all men Vide his Trac of the Church pag. 80 130 147. Experience hath sufficiently demonstrated that it is a very hurtful thing to compel all People to dance after the Magistrates Pipe said a certain Writer for where it hath been so Oh! what hath been the Effect thereof but most commonly an Universal Delusion of the Subjects with a Bloody Persecution of the true Prophets for the greatest multitude of men is never the best as also the greatest number of Emperors and Kings are not very Holy but often have shewn themselves saith he to be very wicked Merck-tyck pag. 307. The Lord hath expresly declared said one That the Magistrate is no fit Judge to judge of Doctrine and that the use of such Jurisdiction is forbidden him For how shall a man know a Heretick but by knowing the Cause whereby a man is made a Heretick And if the Magistrate do so interpret the Law as that he thinketh those Hereticks may be forgiven who have not endeavoured to counsel others and that they are to be put to Death who persevere in teaching others and are resolved so to do shall men then be in safety and their Credit and Welfare preserved certainly no for so often as the Truth shall falsely be scandalized with the name of Heresie through the Orders of the Magistrate so often shall the Servants of the Lord be thereby brought into Suffering for it is not lawful for them to whom God hath manifested his Truth to hide their Talent in the Earth through silence and dissimulation Vide Arg. des Sat. lib. 3. pag. 184. idem pag. 94 95. With what clearer Example can the Magistrates be exhorted not to depend upon any mans Judgement then that concerning the Son of God who was so carelesly given over not only according to the
Heaven unto Wrath and Indignation and it wounds and oppresses the Immortal Soul unto Death and Damnation Surely It is contrary to the very purpose of God in Order of Creation who made and Ordained Mankind free from Bondage and never brought him forth into the World to be a subjected slave to the will of another man in things Temporal much lesse in things Spiritual and relating to Eternity and this work of Imposing by force in matters of Faith Worship and Duty to God of one man upon another or of some Persons over all is certainly an Act of Bondage and Slavery laid as a grievous yoak upon the necks one of another and subjecting one another in Oppression not unto the good Will of the Creator but unto the evil will of mortal perishing and sinful Creature and this differing from and contrary to the pure and perfect Order and Decree of Creation which was blessed altogether and whatsoever is degenerated by Corruption and Erred through Temptation from that Pure and Holy Order of Creation either in things Wordly or Divine is in the Curse and Oposition against the Holy Creator and so is this thing of which I am now Treating Imposition upon Conscience in matters Divine and Temporal Force exercised in Spiritual Cases is the highest Product of Degeneration and the greater degression from the Holy Order of Creation for without Controversie the Creator himself reserved and retained in his alone onely Power the Priviledge of Supremacy in and over the inward man in all the matters Immortal that he might be the onely Lord in that Case and give Spiritual Law to Command and force thereby to exercise the Soul and heart in Fear Love Faith Worship and Obedience to himself that he might be served as the Lord over all most chiefly in respect of the Inward Spiritual and Immortal man This Power of Supremacy I say he reserved and retained in himself in the Creation to exercise over Mankind and did not commit this Priviledge to any other wherefore without Controversie it is an Usurpation of the Creators rightful Dominion it is a robbing of him of his Dignity and Prerogative it is an Act of Violence done against his Soveraignty an audacious intruding into his proper right and a violating of the Law and Decree of Creation for one Person or one People to assume to themselves Power Authority and Government over other Persons and Peoples in Commanding and Imposing in matters Spiritual over their Consciences in the Worship and Service of God and it is such an abomination against the Creator both in the Cause and End of it That he will arise and take Vengeance upon it and he will ease himself of all such his adversaries Again It is contrary to the Law of Love Unity Fellowship and Concord among the sons of men by order of Creation which God appointed to be among them and by Imposing in matters of Spiritual concern as aforesaid that Love Unity Fellowship and Concord among men decreed in Creation is broken and confounded and disannulled among them by reason of the same and Nations and Kingdoms hate and contend one with another Neighbors and Brethren cannot agree but fall into strife one against another Kings and their Subjects Rulers and their People are in discord debate Disobedience and Rebellion one contrary to another by reason that Liberty of Conscience in Worship and Duty to Godwards is wanting in the World and Impositions and force by outward Authority in that Case are prevailing and in Power And thus the Law of Love Unity and Concord Decreed in Creation is violated despised and made voyd and hatred divisions strifes and discords intraduced in its room and abounds in the Spirits and visible actions of the sons of men through the World to the woful effects of killing persecuting and destroying one another Nation of Nation Neighbours of Neighbours and Kings of their Subjects occasioned and grounded upon this thing as the Foundation of the same to wit Imposing by force upon Conscience in matters Divine Wherefore not onely against God is this evil extended to dishonour and disgrace him as is shewed but against man also is this evil and mischief in the effects of it reached forth as ye have seen and the Law of Creation is violated both in respect of Creator and Creature It is in its cause and ground so evil in its works and effects so wicked and mischievous and in its end so provoking and damnable and all this both in respect of God and man that I have not yet Comprehended the height and depth thereof though my Spirit from a Child hath often entered into the serious Considerations of this thing with mourning and sorrow because of it and with testimony and abhorrance against it and at this hour I am a sufferer in body and Spirit because of the same Carnal Imposition upon Conscience in Spiritual things wo unto it my Soul hates and my God will Plague in his season If I should study in searching to find out and to discribe all the evils mischiefs and wofull Inconveniences and effects of this Gulf out of which they ascend I might make this Epistle a large Volumn but since that I have elsewhere written about this matter I shall now Contract this with the saying of the Apostle This Mistery of iniquity doth work untill he be taken out of the way Yea this Imposition upon Conscience opposite to perfect Liberty in the exercise of the same is the onely Main Material Support Prop and Defence of the Kingdome of Antichrist throughout the World at this day and whomsoever as are friends hereunto they are friends to him and they love his wayes and are subjects of his Kingdome and are rebellious against Christ and to his Kingdome they are Enemies Wherefore my heart and soul saith within me would to God I had such a gift of Demonstration by Pen or Tongue and that the same were so forcible and Efficacious to awaken every soul to an abhorrance and dislike of that Spirit Principle and Practice of Imposition upon Conscience that there might be a total turning from the Kingdome of Antichrist which Consists of Falshood Darkness Sin and Enmity of Bondage Oppression and cruel Impositions to the Kingdome of Christ Jesus which Consists of Truth Light and Righteousness of freedome and perfect Liberty in Soul and Spirit Which Kingdome and Government the Lord of Heaven and Earth will promote and Exalt in the Kingdomes of this World which must become the Kingdomes of the Lord and of His Christ according to Promise It hath ever been my Iudgment That want of Liberty and free exercise of Conscience in Spiritual matters and the Contrary Imposed by worldly Power and it remains still with me That this is one main Cause of the woful Distractions in Kingdomes of the unsetledness in States and of many evil Consequences abounding in the Governments of the World and also the Cause wherefore the God of Heaven is angry and provoked