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A70295 The humble petition and representation of the sufferings of several peaceable, and innocent subjects, called by the name of Anabaptists, inhabitants in the county of Kent, and now prisoners in the goal of Maidstone, for the testimony of a good conscience. Together with their free and faithful acknowledgement of the King's authority and dignity in civil things, over all manner of persons, ecclesiastical and civil, within His Majesties dominions. With their reasons, meriting the King's protection in their civil and spiritual rights, equal with other His Majesties obedient subjects. Humbly offered to the King's Majesty, and the consideration of our fellow brethren and subjects. Well worthy general observation. Jeffery, William, 1616-1693. 1661 (1661) Wing H3444; ESTC R214927 7,358 20

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Thou art a Magistrate or as Thou art a Christian but that Thou hast no such power given unto Thee of God as thou art a Magistrate appears 1. Because if Magistrates as such have such an Authority then all Magistrates in all Nations have the same Power then if we lived in Turky must we receive the choran and be a Worshipper of Mahomet if in Spain be a Papist in England sometimes a Papist as in Henry the 8th dayes a Protestant in Edvvard the 6th a Papist again in Queen Maries and a Protestant again in Queen Elizabeths and so for ever as the Authority changes Religion we must do the same but God forbid 2. Because the Apostles themselves that gave forth those commandements that are written in Scripture to be obedient to Magistrates refused to be obedient to their Rulers when they were commanded to forbear Acts 4.19 chap. 5.29 that which they judged part of the Worship of God and said Whether it be right in the sight of God to harken unto you more than unto God judge ye 3. All the Scriptures of the New Testament that enjoyns obedience unto Magistrates were written when the Romans had the Empire of the world whose Emperours were for the most part if not all Heathenish Idolators for the first 300 years until Constantines time it therefore cannot be supposed that any of these Texts of Scripture that calls for obedience to Magistrates intends an obedience in matters of Faith or Worship for then the Christians that lived under those Emperours must needs have denyed Christ and worshiped the Roman gods as some of the Emperours commanded And now O King that no man as he is a Christian hath power to be a Lord over anothers Faith or by outward force to impose any thing in the Worship of God is as clear 1. Because the Lord Jesus Himself nor his Disciples would never by any outward force compel men to receive them or their Doctrine for when the Disciples of Christ supposing they might use violence as under the Law would have commanded fire to come from Heaven as Elias did to consume them that would not receive them Christ turned and rebuked them saying Ye know not what spirit ye are of for the Son of man is not come to destroy mens lives but to save them 2. If any men under Heaven have had any such power in the dayes of the Gospel the Apostles and Elders in the primitive times must needs have had it but this they disowned the Apostle Paul in 2 Cor. 1.24 saith thus Not for that we have dominion over your Faith but are helpers of your joy for by Faith you stand yea the Lord Jesus when he strove for Domination forbids it saying Ye know that the Princes of the Gemiles exercise Dominion over them Mat. 25.26 and they that are great do exercise authority upon them but it shall not be so amongst you Even so saith Peter speaking to the Elders Feed the flock of God which is amongst you taking the oversight thereof not by constraint but willingly not for filthy lucre but of a ready mind neither as being Lords over Gods Heritage but be examples to the flock and in truth the Apostles and Disciples were not to use any external force to carry on their Masters work but onely by shewing the terrours of the Lord were to perswade men and in case of resistance to shake the dust from their feet as a witnesse against their opposers 3. It is very plain that the Lord Jesus himself in his parrable of the Tares and Wheat forbid and force to be exercised upon false Worshippers as such Mat. 13. for by the Tares which he forbids the pulling up cannot be intended the transgressors of the second table such as Thieves Murderers c. because all confesseth with one consent that the Magistrates Authority reaches such but those that Christ Jesus would have remain amongst his Wheat in the field of the world is the Children of the wicked One through Idolatry and Will-worship this will further appear if the 28 29 30. vers be compared with the 38 39. of the same Chapter and the reason the Lord Jesus gives why both Tares and Wheat must grow together O King that it were engraven with the point of a Diamond and often laid before Thee is least in gathering up the Tares the Wheat also be rooted up with them How sad is it to remember how in all ages since Christ very strange mistakes have been on this account Matth. 26.65 the Lord of Life himself was put to death for supposed Blasphemy and wickednesse John 19.12 and accused for being an enemy to Cesar and this done unto him by a people that had the Law of God amongst them and were famous in the world for their Earthly Wisdom and Knowledge Stephen was stoned Acts 6.13 14. chap. 12.2 and James the Apostle killed with the Sword supposed to be Tares or the Children of the Wicked One when they were the Pretious Wheat of God the Christians that suffered in the ten Persecutions Were they not accused of being pestilent fellows movers of Sedition Act. 24.5.12 chap. 17.6 7. turners of the world upside down Enemies to Cesar when the contrary was most true and they will be found to be the Faithful Martyrs of Jesus So in latter times many of those that have been put to death for Heresie and Blasphemy are by this Age acknowledged to be the Saints of God O King that our Words might be acceptable to thee consider that neither Thy self nor Councellors have the spirit of infallability if the Apostles that had an extraordinary spirit of discerning must not pluck up the Tares left they root up the Wheat also How can any Prince on Earth undertake a work so dangerous It is possible many of those that are accounted false Worshippers and Hereticks in this day may at the time when God shall Judge the World in Righteousness be found the Servants of the Most-High God Remember we pray Thee that those that lived in the dayes of the Lord Jesus accused their Fathers for being guilty of the blood of the Prophets saying If we had been in the dayes of our Fathers we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the Prophets Math. 23.29 30. yet themselves killed the Lord of Life The Romish Church also saith if they had lived in the dayes of the Heathen Emperors we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the Christians yet puts to death many as righteous as they were and now many of thy Subjects in this Nation are ready to say If we had lived in the dayes of Queen Mary we would not have been guilty with our Fathers in the blood of those good men that then suffered yet such a spirit of Persecution is now risen up as if not restrained will terminate in the blood of many good men and so bring down the wrath of God upon this