in the true Church intended by the Lord Jesus in this Parable I shall in the third place by the helpe of the same Lord Jesus evidently prove that these tares can be no other sort of sinners but false worshippers Idolaters and in particular properly Antichristians CHAP. XXIII FIrst then these Tares are such sinners as are opposite and contrary to the children of the Kingdome visibly so declared and manifest ver 38. Now the Kingdome of God below is the visible Church of Christ Jesus according to Matth. 8. 12. The children of the Kingdome which are threatned to be cast out seeme to be the Iewes which were then the onely visible Church in Covenant with the Lord when all other Nations followed other gods and worships And more plaine is that fearefull threatning Matth. 21. 43. The Kingdome of God shall be taken from you and given to a Nation that will bring forth the fruits thereof Such then are the good seed good wheat children of the Kingdome as are the disciples members and subjects of the Lord Iesus Christ his Church Kingdom and therefore consequently such are the tares as are opposite to these Idolaters Will-worshippers not truly but falsly submitting to Iesus and in especiall the children of the wicked one visibly so appearing Which wicked one I take not to be the Devill for the Lord Iesus seemes to make them distinct He that sowes the good seed saith he is the Son of man the field is the World the good seed are the Children of the Kingdome but the Tares are the children of the wicked or wickednesse the enemy that sowed them is the Devill The Originall here 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 agrees with that Luk. 11. 4. Deliver us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from evill or wickednesse opposite to the children of the Kingdome and the righteousnesse thereof CHAP. XXIV Peace IT is true that all drunkards thieves uncleane persons c. are opposite to Gods children Truth Answ. Their opposition here against the children of the Kingdome is such an opposition as properly sights against the Religious state or Worship of the Lord Iesus Christ. Secondly it is manifest that the Lord Jesus in this parable intends no other sort of sinners unto whom he saith Let them alone in Church or State for then he should contradict other holy and blessed ordinances for the punishment of offenders both in Christian and Civill State First in Civill state from the beginning of the World God hath armed Fathers Masters Magistrates to punish evill doers that is such of whose actions Fathers Masters Magistrates are to judge and accordingly to punish such sinners as transgresse against the good and peace of their Civill state Families Townes Cities Kingdomes their States Governments Governours Lawes Punishments and Weapons being all of a Civill nature and therefore neither disobedience to parents or magistrates nor murther nor quarrelling uncleannesse nor lasciviousnesse stealing nor extortion neither ought of that kinde ought to be let alone either in lesser or greater families townes cities kingdomes Rom. 13. but seasonably to be supprest as may best conduce to the publike safetie Againe secondly in the Kingdome of Christ Iesus whose kingdoms officers lawes punishments weapons are spirituall and of a Soule-nature he will not have Antichristian idolaters extortioners covetous c. to be let alone but the uncleane and lepers to be thrust forth the old leaven purged out the obstinate in sinne spiritually stoned to death and put away from Israel and this by many degrees of gentle admonition in private and publique as the case requires Therefore if neither offenders against the civill Lawes State and peace ought to be let alone nor the Spirituall estate the Church of Iesus Christ ought to beare with them that are evill Revel 2. I conclude that these are sinners of another nature Idolaters False-worshippers Antichristians who without discouragement to true Christians must be let alone and permitted in the world to grow and fill up the measure of their sinnes after the image of him that hath sowen them untill the great Harvest shall make the difference CHAP. XXV THirdly in that the officers unto whom these Tares are referred are the Angels the heavenly Reapers at the last day it is cleare as the light that as before these Tares cannot signifie Hypocrites in the Church who when they are discovered and seen to be Tares opposite to the good fruit of the good seed are not to be let alone to the Angels at Harvest or end of the world but purged out by the Governors of the Church and the whole Church of Christ. Againe they cannot be offenders against the civill state and Common welfare whose dealing with is not suspended unto the comming of the Angels but unto Men who although they know not the Lord Iesus Christ yet are lawfull Governours and Rulers in Civill things Accordingly in the 4. and last place in that the plucking up of these tares out of this field must bee let alone unto the very harvest or end of the world it is apparent from thence that as before they could not signifie hypocrites in the Church who when they are discovered to be so as these tares were discovered to be tares are not to be suffered after the first and second Admonition but to be rejected and every Brother that walketh disorderly to be withdrawen or separated from So likewise no offendour against the Civill state by robbery murther adultery oppression sedition mutinie is for ever to be connived at and to enjoy a perpetuall toleration unto the Worlds end as these tares must Moses for a while held his peace against the sedition of Korah Dathan and Abiram David for a season tolerated Shimei Ioab Adonijah but till the Harvest or end of the World the Lord never intended that any but these spirituall and mysticall Tares should be so permitted CHAP. XXVI NOw if any imagine that the time or date is long that in the meane season they may doe a world of mischiefe before the Worlds end as by infection c. Truth First I answer that as the civill State keepes it selfe with a civill Guard in case these Tares shall attempt ought against the peace and welfare of it let such civill offences be punished and yet as Tares opposite to Christs Kingdome let their Worship and Consciences be tolerated Secondly the Church or spirituall State City or Kingdome hath lawes and orders and armories whereon there hang a thousand Bucklers Cant. 4. Weapons and Ammunition able to break down the strongest Holds 1 Cor. 10. and so to defend it selfe against the very Gates of Earth or Hell Thirdly the Lord himself knows who are his his foundation remaineth sure his Elect or chosen cannot perish nor be finally deceived Lastly the Lord Iesus here in this Parable layes downe two Reasons able to content and satisfie our heartsâ— to beaâ—e patiently this their contradiction and Antichristianity and to permit or let them
former figures in all the Prophecies concerning Christ his spirituall power Isa. 9. Dan. 7. Mich. 4. c. compared with Luc. 1. 32. Act. 2. 30. 1 Cor. 5. Math. 18. Marc. 13. 34. c. CHAP. CXXI Peace GLorious and conquering Truth mee thinkes I see most evidently thy glorious conquests how mighty are thy spirituall weapons 2 Cor. 10. to breake downe those mighty and strong Holds and Castles which men have fortified themselves withall against thee O that even the thoughts of men may submit and bow downe to the captivity of Jesus Christ Truth Your kinde incouragement makes mee proceed more cheerfully to a fourth difference from the Lawes and Statutes of this Land different from all the Lawes and Statutes of the World and parallel'd onely by the Lawes and Ordinances of spirituall Israel First then consider we the Law-maker or rather the Law-publisher or Prophet as Moses calls himselfe Deut. 18. and Act. 3. he is expresly called that Prophet who figured out Christ Iesus who was to come like unto Moses greater then Moses as the son is greater then the servant Such Law-givers or Law-publishers never had any State or People as Moses the type or Christ Iesus miraculously stirred up and sent as the mouth of God betweene God and his people Secondly concerning the Lawes themselves It is true the second Table containes the Law of Nature the Law Morall and Civill yet such a Law was also given to this people as never to any people in the World such was the Law of worship Psal. 147. peculiarly given to Iacob and God did not deale so with other Nations which Lawes for the matter of the worship in all those wonderfull significant Sacrifices and for the manner by such a Priesthood such a place of Tabernacle and afterward of Temple such times and solemnities of Festivals were never to be parallel'd by any other Nation but onely by the true Christian Israel established by Iesus Christ amongst Iewes and Gentiles throughout the World Thirdly the Law of the tenne Words Deut. 10. the Epitome of all the rest it pleased the most high God to frame and pen twice with his owne most holy and dreadfull finger upon Mount Sinai which he never did to any other Nation before or since but onely to that spirituall Israel the people and Church of God in whose hearts of flesh he writes his Lawes according to Ier 31. Heb 8. and 10. Peace Such promulgation of such Lawes by such a Prophet must needs be matchlesse and unparallel'd Truth In the fift place consider we the punishments and rewards annexed to the breach or observation of these Lawes First those which were of a temporall and present consideration of this life Blessings and Curses of all sorts opened at large Levit. 26. and Deut. 28. which cannot possibly be made good in any State Countrey or Kingdome but in a spirituall sense in the Church and Kingdome of Christ. The reason is this such a temporall prosperity of outward peace and plenty of all things of increase of children of cattell of honour of health of successe of victory suits not temporally with the afflicted and persecuted estate of Gods people now And therefore spirituall and soule blessednesse must be the Antitype viz. In the midst of revilings and all manner of evill speeches for Christs sake soule blessednesse In the midst of afflictions and persecutions soule blessednesse Math. 5. and Luc. 6. And yet herein the Israel of God should enjoy their spirituall peace Gal. 6. 16. Out of that blessed temporall estate to be cast or caried captive was their excommunication or casting out of Gods sight 2 King 17. 23. Therefore was the blasphemer the false Prophet the idolater to bee cast out or cut off from this holy Land which punishment cannot be parallel'd by the punishment of any State or Kingdome in the world but onely by the excommunicating or outcasting of person or Church from the fellowship of the Saints and Churches of Christ Iesus in the Gospel And therefore as before I have noted the putting away of the false prophet by stoning him to death Deut. 13. is fitly answered and that in the very same words in the Antitype when by the generall consent or stoning of the whole Assembly and wicked person is put away from amongst them that is spiritually cut off out of the Land of the spiritually living the people or Church of God 1 Cor. 5. Galat. 5. Lastly the great and high reward or punishment of the keeping or breach of these Lawes to Israel was such as cannot suit with any State or Kingdome in the World beside the Reward of the Observation was Life Eternall Life The Breach of any one of these Lawâ— was death Eternall death or damnation from the presence of the Lord. So Rom. 10. Iam. 2. Such a Covenant God made not before nor since with any State or People in the world For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousnesse to every one that beleeveth Rom. 10. 4. And he that beleeveth in that Son of God hath eternall life hee that beleeveth not hath not life but is condemned already John 3. and 1 John 5. CHAP. CXXII Peace DEare Truth you have most lively set forth the unparallel'd state of that typicall Land and people of the Iewes in their peace and quiet government Let mee now request you in the last place to glance at the difference of the wars of this people from the wars of other Nations and of their having no Antitype but the Churches of Christ Iesus First all Nations round about Israel more or lesse sometime or other had indignation against this people Aegyptians Edomites Moabites Ammonites Midians Philistians Assyrians and Babylonians c. as appeares in the History of Moses Samuel Iudges and Kings and in all the Prophets You have an expresse Catalogue of them Psal. 83. sometimes many hundred thousand Enemies in pitcht field against them of Ethiopians ten hundred thousand at once in the dayes of Asa 2 Chron. 14. and at other times as the sand upon the Sea shoare Such Enemies the Lord Iesus foretold his Israel The World shall hate you Iohn 16. You shall be hated of all men for my Names sake Matth. 24. All that will live godly in Christ Iesus must be persecuted or hunted 1 Tim. 4. And not only by flesh and bloud but also by Principalities Powers Spirituall wickednesse in high places Ephes. 6. by the whole Pagan World under the Roman Emperours and the whole Antichristian World under the Roman Popes Rev 12. 13. Chap. by the Kings of the Earth Rev. 17. And Gog and Magog like the sand upon the Sea shoare Rev. 20. Peace Such Enemies such Armies no History no experience proves ever to have come against one poore Nation as against Israel in the type and never was nor shall be knowne to come against any State or Country now but the Israel of
to be violated urged or constrained And whensover men have attempted any thing by this violent course whether openly or by secret meanes the issue hath beene pernicious and the cause of great and wonderfull innovations in the principallest and mightiest Kingdomes and Countries c. It cannot be denied to be a pious and prudentiall act for Your Honours according to your conscience to call for the advice of faithfull Councellours in the high debates concerning Your owne and the soules of others Yet let it not be imputed as a crime for any suppliant to the God of Heaven for You if in the humble sense of what their soules beleeve they powre forth amongst others these three requests at the Throne of Grace First That neither Your Honours nor those excellent and worthy persons whose advice you seek limit the holy One of Israel to their apprehensions debates conclusions rejecting or neglecting the humble and faithfull suggestions of any though as base as spittle and clay with which sometimes Christ Iesus opens the eyes of them that are borne blinde Secondly That the present and future generations of the Sons of Men may never have cause to say that such a Parliament as England never enjoyed the like should modell the worship of the living eternall and invisible God after the Biâ—â— of any earthly interest though of the highest concernment under the Sunne And yet saith that learned Sir Francis Bacon how ever otherwise perswaded yet thus he confesseth Such as hold pressure of Conscience are guided therein by some private interests of their owne Thirdly What ever way of worshipping God Your owne Consciences are perswaded to walke in yet from any bloody act of violence to the consciences of others it may bee never told at Rome nor Oxford that the Parliament of England hath committed a greater rape then if they had forced or ravished the bodies of all the women in the World And that Englands Parliament so famous throughout all Europe and the World should at last turne Papists Prelatists Presbyterians Independents Socinians Familists Antinomians c. by confirming all these sorts of Consciences by Civill force and violence to their Consciences To every Courteous Reader VVHile I plead the Cause of Truth and Innocencie against the bloody Doctrine of Persecution for cause of conscience I judge it not unfit to give alarme to my selfe and all men to prepare to be persecuted or â—â—nted for cause of conscience Whether thou standest charged with 10 or but 2 Talents if thou huntest any for cause of conscience how canst thou say thou followest the Lambe of God who so abhorr'd that practice If Paul if Iesus Christ were present here at London and the question were proposed what Religion would they approve of The Papists Prelatists Presbyterians Independents c. would each say Of mine of mine But put the second question if one of the severall sorts should by major vote attaine the Sword of steele what weapons doth Christ Jesus authorize them to sight with in His cause Doe not all men hate the persecutor and every conscience true or false complaine of cruelty tyranny c. Two mountaines of crying guilt lye heavie upon the backes of All that name the name of Christ in the eyes of Iewes Turkes and Pagans First The blasphemies of their Idolatrous inventions superstitions and most unchristian conversations Secondly The bloody irreligious and inhumane oppressions and destructions under the maske or vaile of the Name of Christ c. O how like is the jealous Iehovah the consuming fire to end these present slaughters in a greater slaughter of the holy Witnesses Rev. 11. Six yeares preaching of so much Truth of Christ as that time afforded in K. Edwards dayes kindles the flames of Q. Maries bloody persecutions Who can now but expect that after so many scores of yeares preaching and professing of more Truth and amongst so many great contentions amongst the very best of Protestants a fierie furnace should be heat and who sees not now the â—ires kindling I confesse I have little hopes till those flames are over that this Discourse against the doctrine of persecution for cause of conscience should passe currant I say not amongst the Wolves and Lions but even amongst the Sheep of Christ themselves yet liberavl animam meam I have not hid within my breast my souls belief And although sleeping on the bed either of the pleasures or profits of sinâ—e thou thinkest thy conscience bound to smite at him that dares to waken thee Yet in the middest of all these civill and spirituall Wars I hope we shall agree in these particulars First how ever the proud upon the advantage of an higher earth or ground or ' clooke the poore and cry out Schismatickes Hereticks c. shall blasphemers and seducers scape unpunished c. Yet there is a sorer punishment in the Gospel for despising of Christ then Moses even when the despiser of Mâ—ses was put to death without mercie Heb. 10. 28 29. He that beleeveth not shall bee damned Marke 16. 16. Secondly what ever Worship Ministry Ministration the best and purest are practised without faith and true perswasion that they are the true institutions of God they are sin sinfull worships Ministries c. And however in Civill things we may be servants unto men yet in Divine and Spirituall things the poorest pesant must disdaine the service of the highest Prince Be ye not the servants of men 1 Cor. 14. Thirdly without search and triall no man attaines this faith and right perswasion 1 Thes. 5. Try all things In vaine have English Parliaments permitted English Bibles in the poorest English houses and the simplest man or woman to search the Scriptures if yet against their soules perswasion from the Scripture they should be forced as if they lived in Spaine or Rome it selfe without the sight of a Bible to beleeve as the Church beleeves Fourthly having tried we must hold fast 1 Thessal 5. upon the losse of a Crowne Revel 13. we must not let goe for all the â—lea bitings of the present afflictions c. having bought Truth deare we must not â—ell it cheape not the least graine of it for the whole World no not for the saving of Soules though our owne most precious least of all for the bitter sweetning of a little vanishing pleasure For a little puffe of credit and reputation from the changeable breath of uncertaine sons of men For the broken bagges of Riches on Eagles wings For a dreame of these any or all of these which on our death-bed vanish and leave tormenting stings behinde them Oh how much better is it from the love of Truth from the love of the Father of lights from whence it comes from the love of the Sonne of God who is the way and the Truth to say as he Iohn 18. 37. For this end was I borne and for this end came I into the World that I might be are witnesse to the Truth A Table of
in His Church His spirituall judicature and executes this sentence in part at present and hereafter to all eternity Such a sentence no Civill Iudge can passe such a Death no Civill sword can inâ—lict I answer secondly Dead men cannot be infected the civill state the world being in a naturall state dead in sin what ever be the State-Religion unto which persons are forced it is impossible it should be infected Indeed the living the beleeving the Church and spirituall state that and that onely is capable of infection for whose helpe we shall presently see what preservatives and remedies the Lord Iesus hath appointed Moreover as we see in a common plague or infection the names are taken how many are to dye and not one more shall be strucke then the destroying Angel hath the names of So here what ever be the soule infection breathed out from they lying lips of a plague-sicke Pharisee yet the names are taken not one elect or chosen of God shall perish Gods sheep are safe in His eternall hand and counsell and he that knowes his materiall knows also his mysticall stars their numbers and calls them every one by name none fall into the Ditch on the blinde Pharises backe but such as were ordained to that condemnation both guid and followers 1 Pet. 2. 8. Iude 4. The vessells of wrath shall breake and split and only they to the praise of Gods eternall justice Rom. 9. CHAP. XXXIV Peace BUt it is said be it granted that in a common plague or infection none are smitten and dye but such as are appointed yet it is not only every mans duty but the common duty of the Magistrate to prevent infection and to preserve the common health of the place likewise though the number of the Elect be sure and God knowes who are His yet hath He appointed meanes for their preservation from perdition and from infection and therefore the Angel is blamed for suffering Balaams doctrine and Iesabel to seduce Christ Jesus His servants Rev. 2. Tit. 3. 10. Rom. 16. 17. Truth I answer Let that Scripture and that of Titus reject an Hereticke and Rom. 16. 17. avoid them that are contentious c. let them and all of like nature be examined and it will appeare that the great and good Physitian Christ Iesus the Head of the Body and King of the Church hath not been unfaithfull in providing spirituall antidotes and preservatives against the spirituall sicknesses sores weaknosses dangers of his Church and people but he never appointed the civill sword for either antidote or remedy as an addition to those spiritualls which he hath left with his wife his Church or People Hence how great is the bondage the captivity of Gods owne People to Babylonish or confused mixtures in Worship and unto worldly and earthly policies to uphold State Religions or Worships since that which is written to the Angel and Church at Pergamus shall be interpreted as sent to the Governour and City of Pergamus and that which is sent to Titus and the Church of Christ at Creet must be delivered to the civill officers and City thereof But as the Civill Magistrate hath his charge of the bodies and goods of the subject So have the spirituall Officers Governours and overseers of Christs City or Kingdome the charge of their souls and soule safety Hence that charge of Paul to Tim. 1 Tim. 5. 20. Them that sinne rebuke before all that others may learne to fear This is in the Church of Christ a spirituall meanes for the healing of a soule that hath sinned or taken infection and for the preventing of the infecting of others that others may learne to feare c. CHAP. XXXV Peace IT is said true that Titus and Timothy and so the Officers of the Church of Christ are bound to prevent soule infection But what hinders that the Magistrate should not be charged also with this duty Truth I answer many things I have answered and more shall at present I shall only say this If it be the Magistrate duty or office then is he both a Temporall and Ecclesiasticall officer contrary to which most men will affirme and yet we know the policie of our owne Land and Country hath established to the Kings and Queens thereof the supreme heads or governours of the Church of England That doctrine and distinction that a Magistrate may punish an Heretick civilly will not here availe for what is Babel if this be not confusedly to punish corporall or civill offences with spirituall or Church censures the offendour not being a member of it or to punish soule or spirituall offences with corporall or temporall weapons proper to Delinquents against the temporall or civill state Lastly woe were it with the civill Magistrate and most intolerable burthens do they lay upon their backs that teach this doctrine if together with the common care and charge of the Commonwealth the peace and safety of the Towne City State or Kingdome the bloud of every soule that perisheth should cry against him unlesse he could say with Paul Acts 20. in spirituall regards I am clear from the blould of all men that is the bloud of soules which was his charge to looke after so far as his preaching went not the bloud of bodies which belongeth to the civill Magistrate I acknowledge he ought to cherish as a foster-father the Lord Iesus in his truth in his Saints to cleave unto them himselfe and to countenance them even to the death yea also to breake the teeth of the Lions who offer Civill violence and injury unto them But to see all his Subjects Christians to keepe such Church or Christians in the purity of worship and see them doe their duty this belongs to the Head of the Body Christ Iesus and such spirituall Officers as he hath to this purpose deputed whose right it is according to the true paterne Abimelech Saul Adonijah Athalia were but usurpers David Salomon Ioash c. they were the true heires and types of Christ Iesus in His true Power and Authority in His Kingdome CHAP. XXXVI Peace THe next Scripture brought against such persecution is Luke 9. 54 55. where the Lord Jesus reproved His Disciples who would have had fire come downe from Heaven and devoure those Samaritanesâ— that would not receive Him in these words You know not of what spirit you are the Son of Man is not come to destroy mens lives but to save them With this Scripture Mr. Cotton joynes the fourth and answers both in one which is this 2 Tim. 2. 24. The servant of the Lord must not strive but must be gentle toward all men suffering the evill men instructing them with meeknesse that are contrary minded and oppose themselves proving if God peradventure will give them repentance that they may acknowledge the truth and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the Divell who are taken captive by him at his will
whether the Church or Magistrates take it first in hand Only with this caution that if the State take it first in hand they are not to proceed to death or banishment untill the Church hath taken their course with him to bring him to Repentance provided that the Church be willing and ready thereunto Secondly in such sinnes wherein men plead Conscience as Heresie c. Truth Here I have many just exceptions and considerations to present First they propose a distinction of some sinnes some are against the light of conscience c. and they instance in Heresie Ans. I have before discust this point of an Heretick sinning against light of conscience And I shall adde that howsoever they lay this down as an infallible conclusion that all Heresie is against light of Conscience yet to passe by the discussion of the nature of Heresie in which respect it may so be that even themselves may be found hereticall yea and that in fundamentalls how doe all Idolaters after light presented and exhortations powerfully pressed either Turkes or Pagans Jewes or Antichristians strongly even to the death hold fast or rather are held fast by their delusions Yea Gods people themselves being deluded and captivated are strongly confident even against some fundamentalls especially of worship and yet not against the light but according to the light or eye of a deceived conscience Now all these consciences walke on confidently and constantly even to the suffering of death and torments and are more strongly confirmed in their beleefe and conscience because â—uch bloudy and cruell courses of persecution are used toward them Secondly speakes not the Scripture expresly of the Jew Isa. 6. Mat. 13. Acts 28. that God hath given them the spirit of slumber eyes that they should not see câ— all which must be spoken of the very conscience which he that hath the golden key of David can only shut and open and all the Picklocks orâ— Swords in all the Smiths shops in the World can neither by force or fraud prevent his time Is it not said of Antichristians 2â— Thessal 2. that God hath sent them strong delusions so strong and efficacious that they beleeve a Lie and that so Confidently and some so Conscientiously that Death it selfe cannot part betweene the Delusion and their Conscience Againe the Magistrate say they keeping him in safe ward that is the Heretick the Blasphemer Idolater c. Peace I here aske all men that love even the Civill Peace where the Lord Jesus hath spoken a tittle of a Prison or safe ward to this purpose Truth We find indeed a prison threatned by God to his irreconciled enemies neglecting to account with him Matth. 5. We finde a prison into which persecuters cast the Saints So Iohn so Paul and the Apostles Matth. 14. 10. c. were cast and the great Commander of and caster into prison is the Devill Revel 2. Wee finde a Spirituall prison indeed a prison for Spirits 1 P. â— 3. 19. the Spirits formerly rebellious against Christ Jesus speaking by Noah unto them now kept in safe ward against the judgement of the great day In Excommunication a Soule obstinate in sinne is delivered to Sathan his Jaylour and he keeps him in safe ward untill it pleaseth God to release him There is a prison for the Devill himselfe a thousand yeares Rev. 20. And a Lake of eternall fire and brimstone into which the Beast and False Prophet and all not written in the Lambes booke and the Devill that deceived them shall eternally be there secured and tormented But neither amongst these nor in any other passage of the New Testament doe we finde a prison appointed by Christ Jesus for the Heretick Blasphemer Idolater c. being not otherwise guilty against the Civill State 'T is true Antichrist by the helpe of Civill Powers hath his prisons to keep Christ Iesus and his members fast such prisons may well be called the Bishops prisons the Popes the Devils prisons These inquisition houses have ever been more terrible then the Magistrates At first persecuting Bishops borrowed prisons of the Civill Magistrate as now their successors doe still in the world but afterward they wrâ—ng the keyes out of the Magistrates hands and hung them at their own Girdles and would have prisons of their owne as doubtlesse will that Generation still doe if God prevent them not CHAP. XCIX Peace AGaine say they the Magistrate should send him first to the Church to heale his Conscience Truth Is not this as the Prophet speakes Like mother like daughter So the mother of whoredomes the Church of Rome teacheth and practiseth with all her Hereticks First let the holy Church convince them and then deliver them to the Secular power to receive the punishment of Hereticks Peace Me thinks also they approach neere that Popish Tenent Ex opere operato for their Exhortations and Admonitions must necessarily be so operative and prevalent that if the Heretick repent not he now sins against his Conscience not remembring that Peradventure 2 Tim. 2. If peradventure God will give them repentance and how strong delusions are and believing of lies and how hard it is to be undeceived especially in Spirituals Truth And as it may so prove when an Heretick indeed is brought to this Colledge of Physitians to have his conscience healed and one Heretick is to cure another So also when any of Christs Witnesses supposed Hereticks are brought before them how doth the Lord Iesus suffer whippings and stabs when his Name and Truths and Witnesses and Ordinances are all prophaned and blasphemed Besides suppose a Man to be an Heretick and yet suppose him brought as the Magistrates Prisoner though to a true Church to heale his Conscience What promise of Presence and Blessing hath the Lord Iesus made to his Church and Spouse in such a way and how common is it for Hereticks either to be desperately hardned by such cruell courses yet pretending Soule-healing or else through feare and terrour to practice grosse hypocrisie even against their consciences So that these Chirâ—rgions and Physitians pretending to heale Consciences by such a course wound them deeper and declare themselves Chirâ—rgions and Physitians of no value Peace But what thinke you of the Proviso added to their Proposition viz. Provided the Church bee able and willing Truth Doubtles this proviso derogates not a little from the nature of the Spouse of Christ. For she like that gracious woman Prov. 31. 26. openeth her mouth with wisedome and in her tongue is the Law of Grace she is the pillar and ground of Truth 2. Tim. 2. The golden candlestick from whence true light shineth the Angels or Ministers thereof able to try false Apostles Rev. 2. and convince the Gainsayers Tit. 1. Againe according to their principles of suppressing persons and Churches falsely worshipping how can they permit such a blind and dead Church not able and willing to heale a wounded
the Church constituted and gathered but to such Ministers or Messengers of Christ Iesus whom he is pleased to imploy to gather and constitute the Church by converting and baptizing unto which Messengers if Christ Jesus will be pleased to send such forth that passage Acts 15. will be presidentiall Peace The 14. generall head is this viz. What power particular Churches have particularly over Magistrates First say they they may censure any Member though a Magistrate if by sinne he deserve it First because Magistrates must be subject to Christ but Christ censures all offenders 1 Cor. 5. 45. Secondly Every Brother must be subject to Christs censure Mat. 18. 15 16 17. But Magistrates are brethren Deut 17. 15. Thirdly They may censure all within the Church I Cor. 5. 12. But the Magistrates are within the Church for they are either without or within or above the Church not the first nor the last for so Christ is only above it Fourthly The Church hath a charge of all the Soules of the members and must give account thereof Heb. 13. 17. Fifthly Christs censures are for the good of Soules I Cor. 5. 6. but Magistrates must not be denied any priviledge for their Soules for then they must lose a priviledge of Christ by being Magistrates Sixthly In Church priviledges Christians are all one Gal. 2. 28. Col. 3. 11. 2. Magistrates may be censured for apparent and manifest sinne against any Morall Law of God in their judiciall proceedings or in the execution of their office Courts are not Sanctuaries for sin and if for no sin then not for such especially First because sinnes of Magistrates in Court are as hatefull to God 2. And as much spoken against Isa. 10. 1. Mic. 3. 1. Thirdly God hath no where granted such immunity to them Fourthly what a brother may doe privately in case of private offence that the Church may doe publikely in case of publike scandall But a private brother may admonish and reprove privately in case of any private offence Mat. 18. 15. Luc. 19. 17. Psal. 141. 5. Lastly Civill Magistracy doth not exempt any Church from faithfull watchfulnesse over any member nor deprive a Church of her due power not a Church member of his due priviledge which is to partake of every Ordinance of God needfull and requisite to their winning and salvation Ergâ— CHAP. CXXXV Truth THese Arguments to prove the Magistrate subject even for sinne committed in judiciall proceeding I judge like Mount Zion immoveable and every true Christian that is a Magistrate will judge so with mee Yet a Quaerie or two will not be unseasonable First where they name the Church in this whole passage whether they meane the Church without the Ministry or Governours of it or with the Elders and Governours joyntly and if the latter why name they not the Governours at all since that in all administrations of the Church the duty lies not upon the body of the Church but firstly and properly upon the Elders It is true in case of the Elders obstinacy in apparent sinne the Church hath power over him having as much power to take down as to set up Col. 4. Say to Archippus c. Yet in the ordinary dispensations and administrations of the Ordinances the Ministers or Elders thereof are first charged with duty c. Hence first for the Apostles who converted gathered espoused the Churches to Christ I question whether their power to edification was not a power over the Churches as many Scriptures seem to imply Secondly for the ordinary Officers ordained for the ordinary and constant guiding feeding and governing the Church they were Rulers Shepheards Bishops or Overseers and to them was every letter and charge commendation or reproofe directed Revel 2. 3. Acts 20. And that place by them quoted for the submission of the Magistrates to the Church it mentions only submission to the Rulers therof Heb. 13. 17. Those excellent men concealed not this out of ignorance and therefore most certainly in a silent way confesse that their doctrine concerning the Magistrates power in Church causes would too gâ—osse if they should not have named the whole Church and but silently implyed the Governours of it And is it not wonderfull in any sober eye how the same persons Magistrates can be exalted over the Ministers and Members as being bound to establish reforme suppresse by the civill sword in punishing the body or goods and yet for the same actions if the Church and Governours thereof so conceive be liable to a punishment ten thousand times more transcendent to wit excommunication a punishment reaching to their soules and consciences and eternall estate and this not only for common sins but for those actions which immediately concerne the execution of their civill office in judiciall proceeding Peace The Prelates in Q. Elizabeths dayes kept with more plainnesse to their principles for acknowledging the Queen to be Supreme in all Church causes according to the Title and Power of Henry the 8. her Father taken from the Pope and given to him by the Parliament they professed that the Queen was not a sheepe but under Christ the chiefe Shepheard and that the Church had not power to excommunicate the Queen Truth Therefore sweet Peace it was esteemed capitall in that faithfull witnesse of so much truth as he saw even unto death Mr. Barrow to maintaine before the Lords of the Councell that the Queen herselfe was subject to the power of Christ Iesus in the Church which Truth overthrew that other Tenent that the Queene should be Head and Supreme in all Church causes Peace Those Bishops according to their principles though bad and false dealt plainly though cruelly with Mr. Barrow but these Authors whose principles are the same with the Bishops concerning the power of the Magistrate in Church affaires though they wave the Title and will not call them Heads or Governors which now in lighter times seems too grosse yet give they as much spirituall power and authoritie to the civill Magistrates to the full as ever the Bishops gave unto them although they yet also with the same breath lay all their honour in the dust and make them to lick the dust of the feet of the Churches as it is prophesied the Kings and Queens of the Earth shall doe when Christ makes them nursing fathers and nursing mothers Isa 49. The truth is Christ Jesus is honoured when the civill Magistrate a member of the Church punisheth any member or Elder of the Church with the civill sword even to the death for any crime against the civill State so deserving it for he beares not the sword in vain And Christ Iesus is againe most highly honoured when for apparent sinne in the Magistrate being a member of the Church for otherwise they have not to meddle with him the Elders with the Church admonish him and recover his Soule or if obstinate in sin cast him forth of their Spirituall and
Ministers of the Gospel The civill Magistrate not so particularly spoken to as Fathers and Masters in the New TestameÌ„t and why Eph. 5. 6. Col. 3. 4. c. A twofold state of Christianity the persecuted under the Roman Emperors and the Apostate ever since Christs Messengers receive a threefold charge in that prohibition of Christ Let them alone Gods people not to pray for â—hâ— present ruine and destruction of idolaters although their persecutors but for their peace and salvations The word of God â—â—ghtly deâ—ounced plucks up kâ—ngâ—â—ms Gods Ministers are 〈◊〉 to provoke 〈…〉 1 â—et 2. 9. 1 Cor. 5. Companying with 〈…〉 1 Cor. 5 discussed Lawfull converse with idolaters in civill but not in spirituall things Dangerous and ungâ—ounded zeale Mâ—â—th 15. 14. the seâ—â—â—â— Scripture controvâ—rted in this cause Christ Jesus never directed his Disciples to the civill Magistrate for help in his cause Pauls appealing to Caesar. Civill Magistrates never appointed by God Dfenders of the Faith of Jesus Every oâ—â— is bound to put forth him selfe to his utmost power in Gods businesse whâ—re it stops the guilt will lie Christ could have easily been furnished with godly Magistrates if he had so appointed Gods Israel earnest with God for in Arme of Flesh which God gives in his anger and takes away in his wrath The punishment of blind Pharises though let alone yet is greater then any corporall punishment in the world in 4 respects The eye of the 〈◊〉 struck out is worse then for both right and left eye of the body to be 〈◊〉 out tenne thousand times Some soules incurable whom not only corporall bâ—â— spirituall physâ—â—ke can nothing availe The bottom 〈…〉 blind â—all Soul killing the châ—efest murder No Magistrate can execute true justice in killing soule for soule but christ Jesus who by typicall death in the Law typed out spirituall in the Gospel A great mistake in most to conceive that dead men that is soules dead in sin may be infected by false doctrine All naturall men being dead in sin yet none die everlastingly but such as are thereunto ordained The Lord Jesus hath not lest his Church without spirituall antidotes and remedies against infection The miserable bondage Gods people live in The Kings and Queens of England Governours of the Church Strange confusion in punishments Woe were it with the civill Magistrate if he bloud of soules beside the ordinary care of the boâ—ies â—â—d goods â—f 〈…〉 shâ—uld â—â—ry 〈◊〉 him The Magistrates duties toward the Church the Spâ—â—se of Christ. Usurpers and true heires of the spirituall Crowne of Jesus Luke 9. 54. 55 discussed An excellent saying of persecutors themselvesâ— The Answerer when he should speake to toleration in the State â—unnes to punishments in the Church which none can deny If the Civill Magistrate be a Christian he is bound to be like Christ in saving not destroying mens bodies The civill Magistrate bound not to inflict nor to suffer any other to inflict violence stripes or any corporall punishment for evill against Christ. Revel 13. 13. Fire from heaven What the fire from heaven is which the fals Prophet bringeth downe 2 Tim. 3. 25. 26. examined A quaere what the Answerer meanes by his unconverted Christian in Crete The originall of Christians The Answerer yet in the unconverted Churches and worships Gods people sleepy in the matters of Christs Kingdome Cant. 5. 2. 1 Cor. 14. Patience and â—eeknesse required in all that open Christs mysteries The civill Sword may make a Nation of Hypocrites Antichristians but not one Christian Wonderfull changes of Religion in England Englands changes in point of Religion The miserie of opposites against the Truth A difference between the true and false Christ and Christians The worship of unbelieving unregenerate persons The danger mischiefe of a civill sword in Soule matters which makes the civill Magistrate deeply guilty of all those evils which he aims to suppresse That cannot be a true Religion which needs carnall weapons to uphold it Persecutors beget a perswasion of their crueltie in the hearts of the persecuted Antoninus Pius his golden act Isa. 2. 4. Mic. 4. 3. Isa. 11. 9. concerning Christs peace able Kingdom discussed Mr. Cottons excellent interpretation of those Prophecies His doctrine and practice condemned by that interpretation Spirituall and mysticall Wolves Act. 20. 29. opened What those Wolves were Act. 20. 29. Charges directed to Ministers of the spiritual kingdome fasly applyed to the Magistrates of the civill No word of Christ to the civill Magistrate to feed his flock but to his Ministers who if true have spirituall power sufficient against spirituall Wolves Magistrates decline the name of Head of the Church and yet practise the headship or government The Elect shall not be devoured Christ Jesus furnisheth his Shepherds with power sufficient to drive away Wolves Tit. 1. 9. 10. opened Job 26. 1 2. Unmercifull and bloody doctrine John 6. 15. 2. Cor. 10. 4. discussed The difference of the civill spirituall estate Civill weapons most improper in spirituall causes fitly exemplified by that similitude 2 Cor. 10. 4. Spirituall weapons only effectuall in spirituall soule causes Civill weapons not only improper but unnecessary in spirituall causes No earthly Kings or Governours will be so served as we pretend to serve the King of Kings Psal. 45. The white Troopers Spirituall Ammunition Eph. 6. applied Materiall and Spirituall â—â—htly joyned together An alarme to civill or earthly Rulers Concerning the civill Rulers power in spirituall causes discust Rom. 13. speakes not at all of spirituall but civill affaires The scope of Rom 13. Love to man the duty of the whole second Table How love fulfilleth the Law Rom. 13 so interpreted even by them that held persecution for conscience Calvins judgement of Rom. 13. Gods people loath to be found yet proved persecutors Caelvin confesseth that the first Table concerning Gods worship is not here in Rom. 13. touched Beza upon Rom. 13. Paul writes not to the Romane Governors to defend the truth and to punish hereticks Pauls appeale to Caesar discussed If Paul had appealed to Caesar in spirituall things he had committed 5. evils Imperours than them selves if Christians subject to the Apostles and Churches in spirituall things Lawfull appeales in civill things to Civill Magistrates Foure sorts of swords mentioned in the New Testament The Civill Sword Tribute Custome c. meerly civill recompences for civil work Magistrates called by God Gods Ministers The spirituall Ministery The civill Ministery or service What is to bâ— understood bâ— Evill Rom. 13 4. Some give to the Magistrate what is not his and take from him that which is proper to him Toleration discussed Upon this point hath Mr. John Goodwin excellently of late discoursed Evill is always Evill yet permission of it may in case be good Deut. 24. Two sorts of commands both by Moses and Christ. Math 16. 17. 18. The permission of divorce in Israel Usurie in a Common-weale or Civill State lawfully permitted
Timothy Gods people must pray for and endeavour the peace of the State they live in Although Pagan or Popâ—sh Forcing of men to godlinesse or Gods worship the greatest cause of breach of Civill peace The Roman Caesars described Not appointed by Christ Jesus keepers and guardians of his Church It pleased not the Lord Jesus in the first institution of his Church to furnish himselfe with any such Civill Governours as unto whom hee might commit the care of his worship The true Keepers which Christ Jesus appointed of his Oâ—dinances and Worship The Kings of the Assyrians c. not charged with Gods worship as the Kings of Judah in that Nationall and typicall church Constantine Theodosius c. misâ—â—formed Masters of families under the Gospel not charged to force all under him from their owne consciences to his If the charge of Gods worship was left with the Romane Emperour then was he bound to turne the whole world into the Garden Flock and Spouse of Christ. Millions put to death Christ never sent any of his Ministers or Servants to the Civil Magistrate for help in spirituall matters Christ Jesus hath left power in his Church to preserve her selfe pure though in an idolatrous Countrey Gods people have used to shine in brightest godlinesse when they have enjoyed least quietnes Few Mâ—gistrates few men spiritually and christianly good Yet divers sorts of goodnesse nâ—turall artificiall ciâ—vill c. The Civill Goodnes of Cineâ— Kingdomes Subjâ—cts Mâ—gistrates must be owned although Spirituall goodnes proper to the Christian State or Church be wanting Civill power originally and fundamentally in the people Mr. Cotton and the New-English Ministers give the Government of Christs Church or Spouse into the hands of the people or Common-weale The very Indian Americans made Governours of the Church by the Authors of these Positions Many Civill States in flourishing peace and quiet where â—he Lord Jesus is not â—ounded Lawes concerning Religion either Religious oâ— Civill The very Indians abhor to disturbe any Conscience at Worship Canons and Constitutions pâ—etended Civill but indeed Ecclesiasticall Laws meerely concerning spirituall things must needs be spirituall The Authors large confession of the liberty of conscience from the Laws of Civill authority in spirituall cases Civill Magistrates confessed not to have power to urg the conscience in indifferent things A threefold guiltâ—lyâ—ng upon Civil powers commanding the subjects 〈◊〉 worship Persons may 〈◊〉 sin 〈◊〉 to many whom tâ—â—y 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to worship where they cannot beleeve Gods Israel desâ—oâ—s of Saulâ—arme of flesh The 7 headed Beast and the Lambe differ in their weapons Naboths case typicall Civill Powers abused as a Guard about the Bed of Spirituall whoredomes â—zra 7. 23. discussed Gods people not subject to â—he Kings of Babell or Perâ—â— in Spirituals Tyrants hearts sometimes wonderfully moâ—â—ified towards Gods people Nabuchadnezzar Dâ—riâ—us and Aâ—ta â—erxes thâ—ir decrees examined Ezra's thanksgiving for the Kings decree examined The duty of all Civill States toward the Consciences of their Subjects Christ needs no humane confirmations The sum of the Examples of Gentile Kings decreeing for Gods Worship in Scripture The Law of putting to death blaspheâ—â— of Christ cuts off I hopes from the Jewes of part kiâ—g in his blouâ— The dirâ—full effects of sighting for conscience Eâ—lour is confident as well as Truth Gods people as well as others will be found obstinate in fundamentall errors in which sufferings and persecution doth harden Strong delusions Spirituall prisons Christ Jesus appointed no materiall prisons for Blasphemers of him c. The Bishops prisons Like mother like daughter Conscience not so easily healed and cared Wounding instead of healing of Consciences Christs Spouse able and willing to be â—e wounded consâ—â—â—nces A persecuting Church disputes with an Heretick as a Cat with the Mouse and with a true Witnes as a Lyon with a Limbe in his paw Persecutours endure not so to be called Psal. 101. 8. concerning the cutting off the wicked examined No Land of Canaan nor holy City now No difference of Lands and Cities since the comming as was before the comming of the Lord Jesus The bloudy interpretation of Psal. 101. The New Englâ—sh seperate in America but not in Europe The New Engâ—ish permit not their brethren of Old England to enjoy their consciences left thâ—ir owne numbers might exceed their owne or at least the greatnesse of their owne Assemblies maintenances decrease Christ Jesus never appointed all Religions but his owne to be cut off by the Civill Sword A bloudy mother Christ Spirituall power most powerfull Christ forbidding his followers to permit leaven in the Church doth not forâ—bid to permit leaven in the World The Wall Cant. 8. 9. discussed A spirituall wall cannot properly impaire the civil Many flourishing Civill States where true Churches are not found Hearing discussed Every Religion prefers its owne Priests and Ministers before all other Jonahs preaching to the Ninevites and their hearing of his message examined Eglon his rising up to Ehuds message examined A two fold Ministry of Christ converting and feeding Paul never used any civill compulsion The New English forcing their subjects to church all their daies and yet forcing them not to any Religion as they say they force the people then to be of no religion all their dayes The Civill State can no more lawfully compell the Consciences of men to Church to heare the Word then to receive the Sacraments In the first patterne there is a converting Ministrie to gather the Church or Floâ—k of Christ. No president of any people in the Gospell converting gathering themselves without some Messenger sent from the Lord to effect those ends Professed publique conversion is not onely from sinnes against the second Table in personall Repentance but from false worship also A true Ministery necessary before conversion and therefore before the Church in the first patterne The true way of the Mâ—â—â—stâ—y sent with that commission Maâ—â—h 28. discussed The Civill Magistrate not betrusted with gathering of Churches If the Magistrate then much more the people of the world from whom the Magistrates receive their power Iehosaphat 2 Chron. 17. a figure of Christ Jesus in his Church not of the Civill Magistrate in the State Gal. 6. 6. Concerning the maintenance of the Ministry examined Christ Jesus never appointed a maintenance of his Ministers from the unconverted and unbeleeving They that compell men to heare compell men also to pay for their hearing and conversion Two sorts of compulsion Morall and Civill Compulsion The Ministers of Christ Jesus compell with no other sword then that of Christs mouth the sword of the Spirit with two edges The maintenance of the Ministry spirituall Naturall men can neither truly worship nor maintain it Rebels not subdued by compliance but resistance The nationall Church of the Jewes might well be forced to a settled maintenance of their priests but not so the Christian Church The Civill Sword of the Nationall Church of the Jewes could not