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
of the Popes Maxim's viz. that when he sees the Spiritual Weapons are not sufficient for him then doth he fly unto the carnal therewith to help himself Int Duiiâ—se 244. And others have been and are of that opinion That Religion could not be preserved without the Magistrates Sword therefore understood they that they were to be cryed unto for help as many do now But Ireneus Philaletius said That this was but a humane invention of the Natural understanding which would gladly change the Nature of the Church of Christ but it is in vain said he The States of Holland said That the true Ministers of Christ who did perfectly trust in the Lord had no External Sword nither did they call unto any civill Power for Protection but they used the Sword of the Spirit which is the living Word of God with which they defended the Church c. vide urede Handel van Colen Pag. 198. Barnardus said That the Kindome of Christ was Spiritul and as it was builded by Spiritual Vertues so was it spread preserved and established with Spiritual Weapons for its Enemies were and are Spiritual Eph. 6.11 2.2 Lactantius said If you will with blood with evil and with torments defend the Worship it shall not thereby be defended but polluted Lib. 5. Chap. 20. The Apostles had not the assistance of Emperours Kings Princes nor Lords but had even the whole World against them said a certain Wise Man wherefore how can this stirring up and instigating of Magistrates be Evangelical or according to the Gospel Or how can this work of tumultuous Teachers bring honour to Gods Word and his Truth Who hath heretofore defended the Church of Christ was it defended by Pilate Or was the Church of the Apostles no Church What coercive Power or outward Protection had they Or what external Power or outward defence had their Church in the Beginning And cannot the true Church now subsist with that which she had in the Begining And it is evident that many who have suffered much Persecution for the exercise of their conscience have been thereby strengthened and have therein multiplyed therefore it is apparent that the fruit of Persecuting to death in matters of Religion is wholly contrary to the determination of Persecutors Castellius said That Paul strove with Spiritual Weapons and thereby overcame hundreds but we alas said he are together by hundreds to put to death one single man and appear for Christ with fleshly Weapons to the end that People might understand that we are stripped of the Spiritual Weapons and will have a fleshly Christ. But seeing the Apostles who Planted the Church were satisfied with their Spiritual Weapons it is then evident that they who make use of carnal Weapons confide not sufficiently in the Spiritual which they would confide in no doubt if they had them seeing they are alsufficient as shall appear at the coming of the Lord who will conquer Antichrist his greatest Enemy with no other Weapon then with the Sword of his Mouth Constantinus the Emperour said That it was enough that he preserved the unity of the Faith that he might be excusable before the judgement Seat of God and that he would leave every one to his own understanding according to the account he will give before the judgement Seat of Christ hereto may we stir up People said he not compel them beseech them to come into the unity of the Christians but to do violence to them we will not in no wise Nota Herein was Constantinus much commended because that he tollerated every one to believe and to serve God as he was perswaded in his own heart esteeming his gentleness and mercy more available then severe Proclamations and in this particular he was not deceived Sabast. Frank. Chron. fol. 127. The Christian Religion said the States of Holland is a great Mistery for the furtherance of which God doth not make use of wicked Souldiers nor of Bow nor of Sword but his Spirit and the Shepherds that are sent by him further they said it was not their intention to compell any to their Religion c. CHAP. VII How the Inquisitioners and Clergy have stirred up the Powers to Persecute and what fair pretences Persecutors have had how dangerous it is to root out the Tares before the time and wherein the Ancient Protestants have been more Noble than the Clergy now IT is a common thing with many to accuse those with troubling of the Churches peace and with disturbing of the publick peace said a certain wise Man who teach otherwise than the Church or who speak any thing against the Clergy or dispute with any of their restless Priests or hold their Meetings apart though it be in all civility and stilness In like manner hath the Inquisitioners and the Clergy said he stirred up the Emperour the King of Spain and of France to terrible Persecution laying it upon their consciences to quit themselves severely against the Hereticks if they would escape the Lords reproof though most of their Subjects and Land should perish And when the Clergy had prevailed with them then they declared in their Proclamations and Edicts That their intent was onely the Glory of God and the Salvation of the Hereticks Souls and to prevent the peoples being drawn to any cursed Error or Sect but that they should continue in subjection and in the old observations of the Mother the H. Church and H. Christians Faith and Sacraments as appears from their Proclamations Annis 1538 1546 1560 1564. Erasmus said How that sometime it cometh to passe that those who with more fury then with good understanding carry on matters do sometime not only root out the Wheat with the Tares which Christ hath forbidden but also in place of rootting out the Tares do root out the Wheat seeing they Judge before they have understanding or will make that odious which is well spoken by perverting of it And they will have that to be a Zeal for Religion and a detesting of Heresie when it is the onely destroying of Godliness and Unity Chron. van de Rel. urijh 2 Deel pag. 33. Augustinus said Some disturbed the peace of the Church while they went about to root out the Tares before the time and through this Error of blindness said he are they themselves seperated so much the more from being united unto Christ. Retnaldus testified That he who with Imprisoning and Persecuting seeketh to spread the Gospel and greaseth his hands with blood shall much rather be looked upon for a wild Hunter then a Preacher or a Defender of the Christian Religion Erasmus said That the World had common Lawes for to punish offenders but the Christian meeknesse must rather use diligence to reform men then to judge them In the begining of Reformation saith the Chron. the Church gloried of the Truths Weapons and desired that those that had any thing to say concerning their Doctrine should freely reprove them and they would defend the same with
but with the Sword of the Spirit the Power of God and with Prayer were they to resist the evil Spirit and all its Temptations and with long Suffering learn to overcome them all The Chronicle testifieth How that Theodosius Persecuted no Man neither did he constrain any to hold Fellowship with him but permitted every Man to meet in his own house or at his own Meeting and he being a very meek man did thereby to wit through Meekness sooner bring his Subjects to Obedience than by War neither would he Force the Consciences of his Subjects Relig. Uriih pag. 6. Iohn Taulerius spoke also much in his Sermon Book of the Tribulation Oppression and great Suffering that the Christians were to expect here but not that he should cause any of them to suffer The Burgemeesteren of Amsterdam testified That no man had Power to bind another mans Conscience let him be who he will said they for this Power pertaineth only to God under whose Command and Power the Conscience is Anno 1617. Erasmus said That though they take our Moneys and Goods they cannot therefore hurt our Salvation they afflict us much with Prisons but they do not thereby separate us from God Moreover the Lord said If they Persecute you in one City fly unto another thereby doth he teach saith Eras that persecuted Christians should not expel Weapons with Weapons but rather fly before Weapons for if Peter was reproved because he drew his Sword against the Wicked and Ungodly for his harmless Lord wherefore then should a Christian man for the future revenge Wrong with Wrong when it is done unto him In de Krijgdes urede Fol. 63. Lactantius said We Christians desire not that any man against his Will should serve our God who is the Creator of all things neither are we likewise angry if he be not served for we believe saith he that his Majesty might as well revenge their despisings as he doth the injuries of his Servants And therefore when we suffer such shameful things we keep silent referring vengeance unto the Lord and do not like unto those who would be esteemed Defenders of their Gods who are full of Wrath against those that do not honour them Rel. Uriih pag. 17. We are assured said Cyprianus That they that Persecute us shall not remain long unpunished and the greater Injuries which they have done the more manifest revenge will come upon them though we had no knowledge of the Antient times yet notwithstanding that which of late hath happened might serve for a sufficient Warning to wit that in so short a time saith he so grievious and terrible a revenge is already come upon Persecutors Merula pag. 214. When Cyprianus was threatned to be Banished out of the Land except he would renounce the Christian Religion he replyed to those that threatned him and said He that carrieth Christ shut up in his Heart and Mind can be no Exile or banished Man For the Earth is the Lords and the Fulness thereof Afterwards he was much urged by the Governour to betray his Brethren to which he would in no wise condescend and when the Governour told him that the Emperour had forbidden the Meetings of the Christians that they should not meet upon pain of death then he gave the Governour to understand that he was prepared to die for the Profession of the Truth Moreover said Cyprianus Have we not seen that the Martyrs of Christ did not look upon their Torments with cruel Eyes neither did they threaten Tyrants but was more sorrowful for their Blindness than for their own Suffering Anno 1567. Petrus Viretus said That there was nothing that sooner broke the Violence of Tyranny than the Patience of the Saints neither was there any better means to take away the sharpness of their Swords said he and to quench and extinguish their Fire than through Faith Constancy and Prayer CHAP. XV. Augustinus's Testimony How Ambrosius was threatned How private Meetings could not be prevented by Proclamations c. How it is the Duty of Christians to continue their Meetings And how we are to Obey God more than the Emperor or the King AUgustinus testified That when Emperours were in Error then did they make Laws for to defend Errors against the Truth yet Ambrosius would not obey the Emperor in things that were contrary to God and his Commands wherefore the Emperor threatned that he would cut off his Head then said Ambrosius I will Suffer as a Bishop do thou as becometh an Executioner or Hangman Apoph Fol. 144. The Chronicle testifieth How that in times past private Meetings could never be hindred through rigorous Proclamations strict Orders and Executions nor yet Sects of sinister Opinions but by how much the more they were forbidden by Orders and Persecuted by so much the more they Acted against the Orders Bor. 111.6.91 Moreover it sheweth how the Martyrs in Tribulation were mostly accused because they continued their Meetings contrary to the Command of the King Int Martel lib. 5. pag. 456. This is the Duty of all the Faithful said a certain wise Man That they continue their Meetings together in the name and fear of the Lord though Kings Princes and Magistrates by their Proclamations and Orders command the contrary for after the Apostle through many perils of his Life had Preached the Doctrin of the Gospel in Synagogues Schools and Markets and being resisted by open Violence and forbidden to Preach any more in that Name he notwithstanding after that kept Meetings in private Houses when he Preached Grotius testified How that it was the Opinion of some that they that did cruelly handle such as kept their Meetings not to Gormandize or play the Glutton nor to disturb the publick Peace but as Schools of Vertue were themselves in such a State as ought to be punished Vide Grot. lib. 2. pag. 445. The History sheweth how that heretofore some said as others do now That new things as new Opinions c. are alwayes to be feared especially great Meetings and Assemblies but said the Author Men need not fear that Doctrine which tends to the bringing of People to Piety and Honesty neither need men be afraid of the Meetings of honest peaceable People who seek not to keep themselves private except that they be thereunto constrained concerning whom I may say said he as Augustus said concerning the Meetings of the Jews that they were not to Domineer nor to be excessive in eating and drinking nor yet to disturb the Peace c. Anno 1560. In Scotland it was decreed and concluded That People should in all things obey the Magistrates Religion only excepted Hist. Georg. Fol. 697. Lucernus said He that commandeth any thing wherewith he bindeth the Conscience that is an Antichrist Inde Bennse Disp. Fol. 71. Therefore said Erasmus If that at any time Evangelical Godliness require that People must contemn their Commands that must be done with such moderation as that it may not be through any hate against