his humanity the denyal of his death his resurrection or ascension into heaven or that he is not the Son of God the denyal of the Canonical Scriptures to be the Word of God or the Resurrection or the Last Judgement or that Christs death is not meritorious 1. The Law punisheth no man for any of these nor doth it condemn it 2. Nor doth the Gospel punish any man with imprisonment or death nor convict any man of felony In the Act these Truths are called Errours and those professed them adjudged to imprisonment or inforced to deny them which is worse 1. The denyal of Infant-baptism which is agreeable to the precepts practice and qualifications required in men to be discipled 2. To say the soul lieth in the grave which by Acts 2.31 is the truth of God though the Spirit indeed goeth immediately to God Of this see my Treatise of Soul Spirit and Body 3. Or that men baptized in infancy must be again baptized when sure if that Pedobaptism be not of Christ it is no baptism and so if a man will be baptized he must submit to it in the way of God 4. To say the observation of the Lords day as injoyned by the Law of the Land is not according to Gods word or contrary to it 5. Or to say the Church of England is not a true Church the Ministery a true Ministery or the Ordinances not true Ordinances 6. Or that the Presbyterian Government is Antichristian I made bold to mention this Ordinonce 1. because thereby a snare was laid for me from these last supposed Errors but my Adversary giving me notice of it it was broken and I escaped 2. To shew how dangerous a thing it is for men to be Law-makers in the Face of Gods Law I believe many that had a hand herein in heart are now sorry for it who then acted as then were led by their own reason and others perswasion 3. Consider when things are not of God in these times they are quickly laid aside and therefore men in Authority and power should be wise in doing what they do that it be of God that their labour come not to nothing or worse then nothing and still to mind that he that is not with God is against him there is no indifferency or Medium in the thing 4. I could shew how in this Ordinance against Blasphemy Heresie and Error is Blasphemy Error and Heresie so unfit is man to presume above himself to act in the work of God and not rest in his will as revealed in his word 5. I cannot pass by counselling men to take heed of censuring God in his Justice condemning the man for picking Sticks on the Sabbath for appointing death to Idolatry Blasphemy dishonouring of Parents c. for in it is high Blaspemy and if the Magistrate should not execute it he bears the name that is the Authority of God for nothing and as Saul sent against Amalek would spare the best and thought the judgement too severe was justly cut off from the Kingdom for it and had this tingling speech of God for it 1. Sam. 15.23 Rebellion is as the sin of witchraft and stubbornness is an iniquity and idolatry because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord he hath also rejected thee from being King This is Blaspemy against God in his justice and concernes the People in disputing it and the Magistrate in his neglect of executing it which not to do is Rebellion as divination is when to execute Gods decree is better then sacrifice Sauls rebellion is here compared to divination in that it coms from Satan yet pretends to divine light power So Sauls sparing the Cattle to sacrifice seemed better to them then Oods command and bewitched them from obedience to God their own wayes inclining them from it as Rom. 10.3 Being ignorant of the justice of God they sought to establish their own justice and so they submitted not to the Justice of God By this ignorance they could not be said to stand in rebellion against God as Saul that knew it by this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ezek. 21.21 The King of Babel at the Mother of the way where two wayes were divined by Augury which he should go so men having before them Gods way and mans do as he divine which is best profitablest most acceptable to the People and safest and easiest to be undertaken which to God is as the King of Babels divination and inquiry at the Teraphim and looking into the Liver of the Beast and neglecting the counsell of God and his being to them This may seem harsh to be spoke as to him Amos 7.10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17. but if I should say less then the truth I should be unfaithful to God and man and an Enemy to my own peace I must therefore do it and in doing it I do it in love and in good will to the safety of all men God is witness and my heart also that I envy no man but wish all good to my very Enemies and God his glory and praise among us in all I write how then to these preserve me under God Again 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which we read Rebellion Rabbi David Transgredi voluntatem Dei and so the trangressor of Gods will is a lye of Teraphim that is as the Idol into which Idolaters in divinations inspected for direction in their undertakings which was a lye to them the Root 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies cogere and shews that he that compels any thing against God is as the Teraphim to set out a false way to man as by a divination like Jeroboams who made Israel to sinne As concerning the Act in it are considerable the Law the sinne the punishment and of the present Authority I earnestly beg as if God by me desired them to take heed what they do in making Laws and let the Acts made by Hen. 8. and since so much against God be an admonition to them that they give up their account to God for their great trust with joy and not with sorrow in that day The Act was made August 9. 1650. it mentions unheard-of Blasphemies even not to be named among the Heathens when yet the Root of Blasphemy and that the Law condemnes is not mentioned as to deny God his dominion and soverainty over us as King or Judge and his rule in the Law If these had been punished as God requires the rest which come from thence as from the Root of bitterness and the Womb of Hell had never been heard of which now as a leprosie overspreads the Nation As for its punishments That they be sent to the house of correction and bound to good behaviour the first time banishment the second time and their return be death without benefit of Clergy as for the sinne it is such that the house of correction is not an equal punishment not can men be bound for him he shall do no such offence and to banish him is to defile others no less evil before God then our selves but may prove worse and at last to put him to death as a Felon or transgressor of mans Laws and not Gods is no way aceptable to God at all As for the Act against swearing by God or by his Attributes the people of God used it in truth and may do as Paul did yea on civil and ordinary occasions so that it be done in fear and men doing it in that kind ought not to be liable to pecuniary mulcts For the calling of God for witness in truth may be done as lawfully as to do it in judgement as the word of God abundantly witnesseth it 's part of Gods service Deut. 6.13 Jerem. 4.2 But when it is not done in reference to the end of an Oath in righteousness but hellishly vainly profanely then there is a taking Gods name in vain and men to be punished as the Law injoines and no otherwise Lev. 19.19 Ye shall not swear by my Name falsly nor prophane the Name of thy God If they swear falsly they are penable or if prophanely without conscience or fear Or if men swear by them are no Gods Jer. 5.7 in which civil converse as well as Gods glory is destroyed Right honourable consult in the truth of God and that will shew you as in a glass what is to be done by you and what men miscarried in that were before you The word is better then the Urim and Thummim the lights and perfections the high Priest enquired at Whoever among you fear God and love his name looking for salvation by him cannot but give entertainment to what is written in his word to which I commend you all as to the onely light by which in safety you may receive directions from and give stability to your undertakings remaining as before Your servant in God and his truth John Brayne FINIS
A TREATISE OF THE High Rebellion of Man against GOD In Blasphemy Shewing what it is according to God in the LAW And proving that men not knowing the Sin come daily to commit it without sense thereof WITH An Examination of an ORDINANCE made by the LORDS and the ACT made by the late Parliament against the same Written by an unworthy witness of the Name and Soveraignty of the JEHOVAH Elohims JOHN BRAYNE Rabbi Eliezer We say that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Elohim in every place signifieth judgement Numb 15.30 31. The soul that doth ought presumptuously whether he be born in the land or a stranger the same reproacheth the Lord and that soul shall be cut off from the people because he hath despised the word of the Lord and hath broken his command That soul shall utterly be cut off his iniquity shall be upon him 1 Sam. 15.23 Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft c. Acts 19.37 Ye have brought hither these men which are neither sacrilegious persons nor blasphemers of your goddess Gal. 4.16 Am I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth London Printed for Richard Moon at the seven stars in Paul's Church-yard neer the great North-door 1653. To his Excellencie The Lord General CROMWEL and to his honourable Councel Right Honourable I Am emboldened to desire your approbation of this ensuing Treatise in all tenderness of heart humbleness of minde and sincerity of love and affection I present it to you In which I commend to your considerations the most weighty Case of Blasphemy and the rather in that I see the wise of the world are at a to-be-admired loss about the nature and being of it the most wise God as by a veil having hid it from their eyes whose glory is most neerly concerned therein And your selves are never able to discharge your trust to God or Men but in your conscionable declining of it with fear in your selves and suppressing it in others I have no more to commend to you but my remembrances of you to God that he would sanctifie you to the great work he hath to do in the world and that he would also direct you in the way thereof and enlarge your hearts thereunto that glory may dwell in our land that your selves may be accepted with and saved of the Lord in the day of salvation and the people as they are capable by you And so resting I remain as I am bound in duty to be a faithful well-wisher to you all and to all in the nation under you subscribing my self From Winton Novemb. 22. 1653. Your servant and theirs in the truths of God John Brayne A Treatise of the high Rebellion of MAN against GOD in BLASPHEMY BLASPHEMY is against God as it opposeth his Soveraignty and revealed will in the Law made inglorious by it in his Attributes Or 2. as it opposeth Gods love in Christ revealed in the Gospel Jam. 2.7 1 Tim. 1.13 Or 3. as it opposeth the glory of God revealed in the operations of the Holy Spirit as in Matth. 12.24 31. Mark 3.29 30. It 's onely Blasphemy that opposeth God in his Soveraignty and Rule or will in the Law that is intended in this Treatise in that it concerns the Magistrate onely This Blasphemy is of two kindes and forbidden under two of the Commands 1. There is Blasphemy that is directly against Jehovah Elohims or the Lord God in himself which is forbidden in the first Command and opposeth his Soveraignty 2. There is Blasphemy against God in his Name that is in his authority his Power his Justice his Law his Government and this is forbidden in the third Command Under which two heads or Commands all Blasphemy that concerns the Magistrate to judge is comprehended for the Law makes no other Blasphemers but these Blasphemy is in Scripture expressed by three words 1. By 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies lightness dis-esteem or vilifying of a thing and in this is opposed to the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies weight and glory It signifies cursing and is opposed to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 blessing Gen. 27.11 which word is used to set out the evil wishes and contempt of inferiours towards the superiour in his person and rule 2. By 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whose primary signification is to bore or to make hollow a thing in which is a taking away the pith or substance of it and leaving it nothing but the rinde or bark and this word is used to set out blasphemy against the Name that is the authority the power the justice the sufficiencie of the law and government of God Both which are expressed Levit. 24.15 16. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Whatever man shall vilifie lightly esteem or dishonour his Elohims his sin shall be upon him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or shall make empty or nothing the Name the Authority or Law and Government of God shall surely die Which is a blasphemy or evil speaking committed daily among us without fear or remorse of conscience yet ye see it is such a sin that not a pecuniary mulct or bodily imprisonment inflicted on Blasphemers by Civil Sanctions if I may so call them doth suffice but certain death for which among men is no Law and so men committing it daily are not reputed transgressors So that that that is indeed blasphemy is not punished and that that is not blasphemy is punished for it not with the punishment of blasphemy according to God but such as men allow of When sure were that is blasphemy punished according to God the other horrid execrations among men would quickly be done away from among men in the land God sanctifying his own Institutions thereunto when mens prudential rules prove nothing at all effective Blasphemy against God being as he hath instituted punished would bring an awe and a fear of Himself and Name so as that men would tremble to trample his glory under foot or name him but in reverence God will be found in his own way but not in man's Man's justly deserve to be blasted because they neglect the Lord and his law God honouring those honour him when those slight him shall be lightly regarded But to the first word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and how it is used in the case of Blasphemy in the Scriptures 1. As it represents God himself in the first Command it shews that no man is to slight dishonour or vilifie Jehovah as he is Lord and King or to make light of him 1. It is committed in rejecting him with those Luke 19.14 We will not have this man to reign over us vers 27. which were to be destroyed by the Gospel as the Kings enemies 2. Or as the Israelites desired to have a King as the Gentiles Which though then God did not so severely punish it a greeing with his will thereby to set up Types to men of his Son but now to do it were more sinful 3. But perfected in that they alleadge
the third Commandment I read it thus Thou shalt not bear the name of Jehovah thy Elohims for nothing for a vain thing or for a lye 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bears either expression Again I read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thou shalt not bear and not Thou shalt not take from the Prophets who call their prophecies The burden of the Lord Hab. 1.1 Mal. 1.1 Now of any discovery of God the Law is the burden of the Lord which the people on the very knowledge thereof are to bear God laying it on them as appears by the acts of Conscience in their agreeing with it against men themselves And when they acknowledge the Law to be God's then they take it on them as their burden who yet bear it for a vain thing against the command and like Ephraim who as a heifer unaccustomed to the yoke kicks against the pricks and having taken the burden on them would cast it off again O England thou hast the Law thou ownest that Law to be Gods and as God's thou submittest to the teaching thereof but thy self art not governed by it in which is a bearing Gods name for nothing a professing we know God but in works we deny him By this Command the Magistrate is to punish false swearing and in that there is a great evil committed in the nation by swearing men Note that the oath of God was ministred onely in cases where was want of witnesses to assist in judgement and not else as in Exod. 22.8 9 11. Cases to prove the practice in all other like kindes 2. It was never the minde of God that Witnesses and Juries should be sworn at all they were appointed for tryal of things by matter of fact proved by testimony of men that saw it The one is commanded in the third Command the other in the ninth The ones punishment is by Retaliation the others by Satisfaction So that it is a sad thing to swear Constables Churchwardens Officers Juries Witnesses that God hath not appointed because if they swear falsly they sin against their souls a sin to death and so it becomes a grievous snare to men 1 Kings 2.43 44. In which comes to be considered the Magistrates just authority to give unto men the oath of God not onely about things lost c. but Neh. 13.25 he made the Jews swear by God that they should not give their sons nor take their daughters to their sons or themselves which before they had done and was against the Covenant 1. To binde them from future breach thereof he swore them by God 2. So that if after they had done the same they had died not for marrying but for breaking the Oath of God 3. He could not have put them to the Oath but that they broke the Covenant when the Oath was instituted to preserve it and men from breach of it or it was death to them 4. They promised not to do it more and for confirmation of their promise he required an Oath of them Nehem. 10.28 29 30. Lev. 5.4 was not an Oath put on men by a Magistrate 5. It is true that the thing that was committed to a man and he hid it and sware falsly to conceal it was to be restored and a fifth part to it because it was committed to his trust and violently as in case of theft he took it not out of the owners possession Lev. 6.3 5. 6. Leagues with people are confirmed by Oath Josh 9.15 See how it was kept vers 19 20. And the sin of the Princes is reproved in making their League v. 14. They were cursed for their deceit in swearing v. 22 23. It is a very remarkable case that the Israelites were not to cause to swear by the name of Idol-gods Isa 65.16 Josh 23.7 See how God revenged the breach of the Oath by Saul with the Gibeonites 2 Sam. 21.2 In that vers 1. there was famine three yeers for Saul's slaying them The Gibeonites must have satisfaction David must give it which was not in silver or gold vers 6. Seven men of Saul's sons must be delivered them and they hanged them up to the Lord in Gibeah of Saul when the love of Rispah was such that she continued with the carcases a long time keeping the fowls by day and beasts by night from them who was Saul's concubine After which God was intreated for the land Yea the Covenant on mans part was done to God by an Oath 2 Chron. 15.14 15. Ezra 10.3 5. Neh. 10.29 and by a curse by the Prince of the peoples writing and sealing to it Nehem. 9.38 But to return to the second word used of the Spirit to set out blasphemy by and that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which properly is applyed to the boring hollowing or taking forth the substance of a thing and fitly agrees with taking God's Name for vain or a making it nothing empty and insubstantial Against this Command is the despising of the Law as well as authority of God of which says Paul Heb. 10.28 He that despised Moses law died without mercy And it is blasphemy for men to say of the Law of God It is insufficient to rule men by It 's no fit government for people is contained in the word and to say that any other is as good or better then that or to say it is too severe too hard too strict they take out the substance of the Law hollow it and make it nothing Deut. 17.12 The man that will do presumptuously not hearkning to the judge that man shall die which was in a difficult case onely What is it then not to hearken to the Law in clear cases And proves that for the difficult cases may arise or be supposed to be the Law is not to be layd aside because though we see them not stated in the Law God doth admit that men search the Word and see his wisdom in it Of this sin of Presumption see Numb 15.30 31. The soul that doth ought presumptuously which is to be understood in judgement or actions that do appertain thereunto when they do them otherwise then God commands in his Word 1. Reproacheth the Lord in his authority over them 2. He despiseth the Word of the Lord. 3. He hath broken his Command to which the word despised did pertain for which the soul was to be cut off and is a word concerns Judges and Judgment primarily Now as it is Blasphemy to impair the Law of its glory to take ought from it so is it much more blasphemy to take from the name of God in his Authority or Soveraignty in like kinde and according to God Herein great and grievous is the blasphemy that is committed in the Nation daily the Lord pardon it as done in ignorance among us yet the Law saith The Lord will not he be free from punishment that beareth his name for nothing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 guiltless or punishless As for the third word it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and