one before another in the profession of the truth till these gracions affections and holie endeavours possesse the harts and spirits of men there can be no hope to see the glorious light of Gods truth in the profession thereof to florrish growe ffor whilst some Church or congregation settled in the dreggs of error and overtaken with a secure cold frozen profession of the gospel and some other church or congregatioÌ„ carried away with a head-stronge blind zeale into manie errors will have all men come and followe Christ or rather go out of the way or be frozen vp with them and while men thinke they are to give them this preferment what hope is there of the groth of pure Religion VVe therefore earnestly beseech all people by the mercies of god in whome there is anie faithfull love of gods truth not to respect anie men neither to followe Christ as you have them for an example but followe Christ as you are taught is his word and as you have the holy mens examples whose holines is approved in the Scriptures And thus in all love wee exhort you to be thus mynded by the name of Iesus Although this that hath bene manifested from the Scriptures may give full satisfaction to every faithfull holie professor of the gospell that Christ by his presence giveth all power to every congregation aswell as to anie one people or congregatioÌ„ gathered together into his name though they be but two or three whether they be first gathered or last gathered whether there beâ—lder or no Elders amongst theÌ„ it is with god all one wet because amongst all almost that professe Christ there is so much a doe about ordination oâ— laying on of hands as though olders hands were onely sanctified to that vse wee pray the godly reader to receive full satisfaction from Act. 13.1.2.3 where it doth evidently appeare that the church or coÌ„gregatioÌ„ at Antiochia where there were no Appostles nor elders by the direction of the holy ghost with fasting praying laying on of hands seperated Paull Barnabas to the worke of their ministerie wherevnto the holy ghost had called them And Paul went not to IerusaleÌ„ to them that were Appostles before him not so much as to consult with them Gal. 1.17 but after they were seperated by the church being sent furth by the holy ghost they came downe to Seleucia Act. 13.4 And froÌ„ this time did first begin to administer in the Office of their Appostle ship in all this let it observed that it is here set downe expresly in the scriptures that they were called vnto their office of god set furth of god that the church did onely ordeyne or separate theÌ„ to that worke and therefore this doth nothinge contradict Gala. 1.1 where it is said Paul an Appostle not of men neither by man for he was called sent of god Thus is it proved that the church or congregatioÌ„ hath power with fasting praier to lay on hands and so to separate ordeyne meÌ„ chosen to administer And this is the ordinatioÌ„ set downe in the scriptures which most men make so gâ—eat an Idoll of And wee hope wee shall not need to prove perticulerly that the church or congregatioÌ„ hath power to Elect or chuse their officers seeing that is so plainely set downe Act. 14.23 6.3.5 Of Magistracie THE fowrth matter that by the assistance of God wee purpose to speake to you of is to prove vnto you and all that are coÌ„trarie mynded That king Princes and Magistrats ruleing governing by the power of god with the sword of Iusâ— may be members of the church of Christ reteyning their Magistracie For proofe hereof Thappostle Paul to the Rom. 13.1 â— first sheweth speaking of the higher powers That all powers are ordeyned of god And who soever resisteth the power resistes the Ordinance of God This then hereby is made most plaine that the power authoritie of Magistrates is the holy ordinance of God They are further called The ministers of god and their administration is set downe To take vengance of them that do evill and to praise them that do well And the instrument wherewith they are to punish evill doers is the sword And in all this they are the ministers of god for good for the good of gods children especially And therefore are they comaunded to pray for them 1. Tim. 2.12 Thus is their power being of god holie good and their office administration holie good being as is heere shewd by Th-appostle appointed of god for good who doth nor can appoint nothinge but that which is holie good and pleasing to himself for he is holines goodnes it self and he may not nor cannot appoint anie thinge contrary to himself God then haveing ordeyned appointed this holy ordinance with the end and vse of it and manner of administration the magistrates applieing them selves for the same thinge they obey the holy comandemeÌ„t and will of god are pleasing and acceptable to the lord in that their obedience for by these wordes Applying themselves there vnto The holy ghost intends and shewes that ther is required a diligent willing faithful obedience in their administration and not a forced constrained obedience as the devills obey god whose obedience is not acceptable and wel pleasing vnto him further theÌ„ he is wel pleased in sheweing the power of his owne might in that comaunding them they must obey him for the deâ—â— do not willingly obey god in anie thing They do not willingly knowe god as appeareth when they cried Mat. 8.29 Iesus the sonne of god what have wee to do with thee and although they beleâ—â—e there is one god yet they do it not willingly because they tremble Iam. 2.19 there faith increaseth their feare All this wee speake to make it plaine to the simplest ffirst that there is an obedience which god comandes by the word and worke of his power onely where in they that obey please not god as wheÌ„ he comanded the vncleane spirits to come furth and they obeyed him And thus did Pharoh obey when he let the people of Israell go to serve the lord as Moses and Aaron had said Exo. 12.31 this was no willing obedience and therefore not acceptable vnto god Secondly there is an obedience which god comandes by the word and worke of his grace wherein and whereby they that obey please god and are acceptable vnto him This is the obedience that is better then Sacrifice And this is the obedience that god requires of kinges Princes and Magistrates even a diligent willing faithfull obedience as is shewed froÌ„ these words They are the ministers of god applieing them selves for the same thinge And let vs with all grace and holines vnto god and revereÌ„ce vnto this his holy ordinaÌ„ce consider what it is that they are to applie theÌ„selves vnto It is to punish evil doers with the sword and to reward or praise theÌ„ that do well
the lord our 〈…〉 you onely 〈◊〉 you also taught of 〈…〉 humbled and humble your selve 〈…〉 people 〈…〉 If this will not 〈…〉 word 〈…〉 be called 〈…〉 Prophet 〈…〉 Compact together 〈…〉 the Tithes of the 〈…〉 to praise the name of the 〈…〉 you this 〈…〉 Iâ— you be the 〈…〉 but the Tithes must come to 〈…〉 the grace of God 〈…〉 you cannot 〈…〉 but you will 〈…〉 shal be the people And 〈…〉 Mount Syon which cannot be removed and shal you remaine for ever If you can promisse this of your selves you go beyond all the excellent Churches that are spokeÌ„ of in the new testament whereof there remaines no mention at this day to be seene but onely that the scriptures testify that such Churches there were but not one of them hath remained vnto this day Therefore none of them were Mount Syon And will you lift vp your horne on high and be more then they all this is the foolishnes of folly beare with our rudenes The lord knoweth wee seeke his glory and your good herein although our infirmities may too much appeare It is your turning from these your evills that wee disire for Godes glorie and the salvation of your soules and therefore will wee through Gods grace endeavour yet further to shewe you your error in this point The Prophet in the 48. Psal 2.3 Seaketh on this wise Mount Syon Northward is faire in scituation it is the joy of the whole earth the Citie of the great king In the Palaces thereof God is knowne for a refuge and vers 8. God will establish it for ever Selah To add vnto this the glorious discription so at large sett downe by Iohn Reuel 21.10 VVhere he saw that great Citie that holy Ierusalem descending out of heaven from God whose wall had twelve foundations aÌ„d in them the names of the twelve Appostles of the lambe vers 14. wch Citie hath no need of the Sunne neither of the Moone to shinne in it for the glorie of God doth light it and the lambe is the light of it vers 23. And the people that are lived shall walke in the light of it vers 24. And the Nation the kingdome that will not serve thee shall perish and these nations shal be vtterly distroyed Isa 60.12 See your selves now how unlike you are this Citie are you the joy of the whole earth sorrowe is the ioy that wee the poore winesses of Christ have in you for our partes as you shall further heare do the people that are saved walke in the light of you and shall the nation and kingdome that will not serve you perish God forbid be content and glade to have this Citie your joy and to be Citizens of this Citie and to walke in the light of it and to serve it or els you shall perish and be destroyed But this Citie cannot perish nor be destroyed but you may be and therefore you are not this Ierusalem and the world knowes that you are not the earthly Ierusalem wincke not with your eies but see and stâ—pp not your eares but heare how the word of God doth convince you in this your error And now wee beseech the vpright harted amongst you to be willing to heare what Thappostle Paule doth shewe Ierusalem to be and followe not your owne inventions herein Th'appostle to the Gal. 4 22-26 sheweth that Abraham had two sonnes and two wives one sonne by a servant and one by a free woman he wch was borne of the servant was borne after the flesh and he that was of the freewoman was borne by promisse By the which thinges another thinge is ment saith Th'appostle for these mothers are the two testamentes The one which is Hagar or Syna is a mountaine in Arabia and it aunswereth to Ierusalem which now is and she is in bondage with hir children But Ierusalem which is above is free which is the mother of us all Thus doth Th'appostle so plainely as is possible for the vnderstanding of all teach that by Hagar the bond woman is mente the old Ierusalem which is the old Testament with all the carnal ordinances there of And by Sarah the free woman is ment the new Ierusa the new Testament with all the spirituall ordinances thereof And this spirituall mother which is Sarah the free woman the new Ierusalem the new Testament is mother of all that are borne after the spirit and they are hir childreÌ„ as Th'appostle saith of himselâ— others vers 31 Now will you be this Ierusalem the mother of all the faith full will it not suffice you to be children but you must be the mother of all Do but see how herein you agree with that Antichrist of Rome that wil be the mother of all Churches How farr contrary is this to all the rest of your profession who professe such humblenes of mynd in all thinges and yet hereyn to seeke thus highly to advice yours selves above the poore servants of God that through his grace and mercie by the power of his word and spirit are borne children of the free woman and though weak childreÌ„ yet borne as free as you or anie what great evill is this in soo maine of you as would to seeke to bring vs in bondage vnto you when you cannot by aine warrant of Gods word have anie more freedome in anie holy thinge or to anie holy thinge then wee if wee be all the Children of one mother for then are wee brethren Synne not thus against God and wronge not vs by seeking to tread vs vnder your feet which you do in advanceing your selves over vs to bring vs in subiection who are borne as free as you This being by the word of God made cleare that neither you nor anie Church congregation or people are Ierusalem it will easily follow that nether you nor anie Church congregation or people are the kingdome of heaven for the heavenly Ierusalem and the kingdome of heaven are all one as all that have anie vnderstanding agree and knowe Therefore it shall not be needfull to vse 〈◊〉 wâ—rds mo in this cause lett vs inshort therefore shewe what the scriptures speaketh of the kingdome of heaven Our Saviour Christ Luc. 4.34 Saith thus Surely I must also preach the kingdome of God to other Cities for therefore am I sent This kingdome cannot in anie vnderstandinge be ment of anie people for it must be preached to a people and this agrees with that before spoken of Ierusalem which is that it is the new Testament And thus speaketh our Saviour Christ Ioh. 3.5 except a man be borne of water and of the spirit he cannot 〈◊〉 into the kingdome of God whereby it is so plaine as anie thinge can be that no people are the kingdome of God but that people ought to enter into the kingdome of God and when they are entred then are of the kingdome of God and children of the kingdome Mat. 13.38 And therefore wee pray the Godly reader to consider that there is
denie and vvee speake to men of vnderstanding And came your first beginner in the power of the spirit in this measure and was all warantable and according to the truth that he did in his ministery will anie affirme that all was warrantable that he did or can anie affirme it and that he could not err-God forbid that anie fearing God should be so foolish nay was he not a man coming furth in some smale measure of the deepe mist of the mistery of iniquitie being then in much error and ignorance yea even in that administration of baptisme orels you haue bene vnprofitable disciples of his And would you tye all the world from the East to the west to come fetch the holy ordinances of Christ from him you his successors through all your errors ignorances and grevious corruptions where of wee knowe so manie and have cause to be jealous of you for maine moe VVhat truth pietie or godlines is there in this that you should seeke to make men either presently swallowe vp all your errors ignorantly to be washed of you with water or els stay vntill they have learned them otherwise they must not be baptized at all And further that men must be forced to learne your language and so vntill the poore disciples of Christ that would followe him English men or aine other nation can speake dutch they are debarred from the holy ordinances of God the meanes of their salvation by this your rule a fearefull mistery of iniquitie Hereby you have wrought such wickednes amongst vs and brought such desolation vpon vs the poore people of God as wee have cause to wish that in our heades were floodes of water and our eies were fontaines of teares that wee might power out a complainte against you for this your abhomination wich you have set vp whereby you have wrought such destruction and ruine in the Church of God seeking to pull it downe to build vp your selves Hereby have you glorified your Church sett hir vp to sitt as a Queene takeing vnto your selves all power authoritie yea even to shutt the gates of the holie Cittie the heavenly Ierusalem saieing that none may enter but by your authoritie Oh that you could see your great sinne herein the lamentable evill that you have wrought First against God in destroying his Temple which is built truely though exceeding weakely vpon the foundation the word of God And you have caused the enimies of God to blaspheme to make a mock at the profession of Iesus Christ And you have caused them that were more indifferently mynded to doble their doubtings and rather stepp backward then come forward Thus have you sinned with an high hand against the God of heaven who is able and will fill you the duble for this your iniquitie if you repent not And for vs you have brought much sorrow greife vexation of soule spirit vpon vs. The Lord doth knowe wee speake truely and great hath bene our cause of greife to see the Church of Christ which is his body whereof wee are though vnworthie members thus rent and torne in pecces and our profession and wee made a scorne of men who have wished and wayted for our overthrow and have taken vpon them to foretell of these evills that have come vpon vs which being come to passe according to their foretelling they have triumphed against vs blessed themselves as though their foresaâ—eings must needs come to passe Thus have our enimies reioyced at our miseries but the Lord hath wounded them vpon their right eie and made them a reioyceing to their enimies VVere this all our woe it were at full enough but you have by this your great sinne brought a further evill vpon vs then to make our enimies reioyce over vs saying there there so would wee have it for you have made our frends our enimies yea our familier frends with whome wee tooke sweet counsell went together to the house of God And such is the enmitie betwixt vs and them whereof you have bene cheife instruments as it can neuer have end whilst anie of vs live for it is that enmitie which the Lord put betwene the seed or the woman and the seed of the serpent which can have no end in them except wee fall into the same destruction for there is no pâ—ace to repentance to be found for their trangression For they were once enlightned and had trusted of the heavenly gift and were made partâ—â—â—s of the holy ghost And had tastied of the good word of God and of the powers of the world to come and are fallen away it is impossible they should be renewed againe by repentance seeing they crucifie againe to themselves the sonne of God and make a mock of him Heb. 6.4.5.6 Now to shewe how they were once enlightned First Mr. Iohn Smyâ—h 〈◊〉 vpon whose head the blood of all this people shal be hath by his profession in all his practice and by word and in his sundrie writings with such force of argument and strength of protestation with ground of truth as his writings shewe manifested himself to be enlightned with this truth of God That wheresoever two or three are gathered to gether into Christs name there Christ hath promissed to be in the midst of them Mat. 18.20 and therefore they are the people of god and Church of Christ haveing right to Christ and all his ordinances and need not seeke to men to be admitted to the holie thinges but may freely walke together in the waies of god and enioy all the holie thinges From this truth of god wherewith he was enlightned is he fallen denying the words of our Saviour Christ That saith wheresoever two or three are gathered togither c. And holdeth that the first two or three that are gathered togither have onely right to Christ and all his ordinances and that after all men must come to them restraning the wordes of Christ wch are generall so anie two or three onely to the first two or three and so hath sett vp a SuccessioÌ„ against the wch he hath formerly by all wordes writinges practice sett himself with all detestation And this man like Balaam hath consulted with you and hath putt a stumbling blocke before the people of God who were also enlightned and so are manie as you knowe fallen with him to the same sinne and vnder the same condemnation And M. Iarvase Nevile haveing witnssed not onely this but divers other truths for the which he hath bene long imprisoned and condemned to perpetuall imprisoment yea expecting death for the ame yet notwithstanding all his former fidelity and constancie whereby his bondes were famous through the whole land falling with M. Smyth vpon this your blind Succession forsakeing the rock whereon he stood is now returned beyond his vomytt exclayming against your Succession and strives to build vp the Succession oâ— Rome which he hath formerly with all zeale and holines pulled downe so is
these wordes might coÌ„vince you all of your error in this point and they shall condemne you all if you repent not of your reaching and stiftly mainteyning that these Ministers of god retayning this their Office from god may not be members of the Church of Christ Hearken to their Office or ministery yet againe It is to punish evill doers and to reward or praise them that do well in which holy administration they are like vnto god and in applieing them selves faithfullie therein they do the worke that is proper to god for to execute justice vpon the wicked and shewe mercie vnto them that do well is the divine propertie and worke of god and so farr as the lord hath comitted auctoritie to Magistrats to administer therein they do the proper worke of god and therefore doth the holy ghost by the Prophett David speaking of Magistrats say Psal 32.6 I have said yee are gods speaking in respect of the great honor that is due vnto them by their holie Office where vnto he hath appointed them The some scope of that which is heare sett downe in this point is to shewe vnto you that the Appostle doth heâ—e teach that the Office ministery of Magistrats is an holy Office appointed of god and that the lord requires of Magistrats a diligent willing faithfull obedience which is pleasing vnto the lord the which obedience they preforming vprightly though weakely and fayling in manie thinges as Th-appostle confesseth he all the children of god did Iam. 3.2 yet beleeving the gospell of Iesus Christ and repenting of their sinnes how can it be denyed them to be admitted members of the bodie of Christ Is this a good exception because they are Magistrats why then you except against them because they are the holy ministers of god and do his will in faithfull obedience VVhat a doctrine of devills is this that anie should be denyed to be members of the body of Christ for executing an holie Office appointed of god For further proofe that it is an holy ordinance or office pleasing vnto god it is shewed in that wee are comanded to obey of conscience that is onely in that which is holy good for god forbidd that his children should be tyed of conscience to obey in anie thinge that is vnholy not good Th-appostle shewes heere that the holy ghost intends no such thinge when he saith vers 3. Magistrats are not to be feared for good works and 1. Pet 2.17 Feare god honor the kinge therefore if Magistrats shall comaund anie thinge against god or Godlines the people of god are not bound to obey for this cause Th-appostles when they were comaunded of the Rulers Elders of Israell that in no wise they should speake or teach in the name of Iesus answered whether it be right in the sight of God to obey you rather then god judg yee All this doth still give further proofe that Magistracie is a holy ministery or Office appointed of god onely for good and therefore none bearing that Office or ministery is for that cause to be debarred froÌ„ being meÌ„bers of the body of Christ which is his church except men for executing an office comaunded of Christ should be debarred from Christ which is more then madnes for anie that professe Christ to affirme Furthermore hath god by reason of that high power auctoritie which he hath given to Magistrats comaunded such feare such obedieÌ„ce so great honor to be given vnto them of all men and shall they whome god hath so greatly honored with such auctoritie dignitie power for bearing this honor which god hath putt vpon theÌ„ shall they for this be accounted vnworthy to be meÌ„bers of Christes church This is to bring the greatest dishonor that possiblie caÌ„ be before god his people vpoÌ„ that ordinance the ministers thereof vpon which and vpoÌ„ whome the lord hath putt most honor on for it is a most miserable wretched dishonorable ordinaÌ„ce office or calling that debarrs meÌ„ froÌ„ being meÌ„bers of Christes body And let all knowe that have anie vnderstaÌ„ding in the misterie of godlines that if Magistrats ought not to be meÌ„bers of Christs church they cannot be childreÌ„ of the kingdome of Christ and if they be not children of the kingdome they cannot be heires of the promisse for those that are worthy to be heires of saluation must needs first be children of the kingdome being begotten by the â—mortall seed of the word and borne a new 1. Pet. 1.23 all such are worthy to be members of Christs Church Therefore if you vnderstand your selves se this to be the end of your opinion That if you denying Magistrates and hold them vnworthy to be members of Christes Church you much more deny them to be worthy of saluatioÌ„ for if by reason of their Office they be vnworthie to be of the comunioÌ„ of the saintes vpon earth they must nedes thereby much more be made vnworthy to be of the comunion of the Saintes in heaveÌ„ And thus do you by this your opinion hold and mainteyne that god hath appointed an ordinance and they that are his ministers therein by his owne appointement are by that their Office and ministery debarred of saluation Your sinne herein is no lesse then blasphemy against god in that you charge the most holy to have appointed an ordinance the executing whereof debarrs men from saluation wee hope you do it ignorantly as also your leaders Let not the antiquitie of this your error make it precious vnto you but rather vile and sinne not by tradition after the doctrines of men but be brought to try your waies by the word of god and set his spirit be your teacher and leader into all truth be not led by men for all men are gone out of the way and are full of ignorance error And to make it appeare how you are misledd in this be witched opinion VVe wil come to some of your cheife holdes herein whereof this is one Mat. 20.25.26 Luk. 22.24.25.26 Mâ—k 10.5 45. There arose a strife among Christes disciples which should be the greatest And he said vnto them The kinges of the gentiles reigne over them and they that beare rule over them are called gracious lords but ye shall not be so but let the greatest be as the least and the cheifâ—st as him that serveth From hence you gather that kings Magistrates that beare rule in the world may not be of the Church To come by the grâ—tions direction of the spirit of god vnto a due vnderstanding of this scripture wee must first seeke to knowe wherein the disciples of Christ did seeke to be greater one then another and if they did strive for worldly preferment then may your ground prove partly true but if they did not strive for preferment in the world or worldly preferment then is there no cullor that your collected ground should be true for our saviour Christ his speach is to
not have Magistrats administer with the sword for Sathan deceaves you thereby and makes you more pitifull then god therein you sinne most greviouâ—ly when you reioyce in your selves and thinke you do exceeding well But the thinge that miâ—leads you all is this because you can see no sworde but the sword of the spirit and no armor but spirituall armor in the kingdome of Christ and therefore the disciples of that kingdome say you must have no other weapons nor put on no other armor and then can there be no putting to death nor anie warr neither ought to be but all spirituall Suffer our folishnes if wee seeme as fooles to speake thus vnto you Even so in the kingdome of Christ there is no treasure but spirituall treasure no baggs but spirituall baggs Luk. 12.33 No buildings but spirituall buildings No apparell but spirituall apparell 1. Pet. â— 3 No meate but spirituall meate Rom. 14.17 If then you will cast away all weapons and armor but such as the disciples of Christ vse in his Kingdome so must you also cast away all your baggs and treasure and all your buyldings and houses and you must weare no apparell but spirituall apparel eate no meate but spirituall meate If to all this it be answered that in the new Testament the lawfull vse of al these things be allowed wee answere even so is the lawfull vse of Magistracie with the sword to punish evill doers allowed and approved in the new Testament as is proved from Rom. 13. which no man with anie good conscience shall ever be able to gain say To conclude wee in love beseech you to see what an extreame straite you are brought vnto wee meane all these that hold Magistrats may not be of the Church of Christ and retaine their Magistracie that you must say that Magistracie is not an holie ordinance of god and that all that is done by the power and aucthoritie thereof is sinne and therefore Magistrats may not be admitted to be of the Church of Christ except they cast away their Magistracie for if you confesse that it is an holie ordinance of god and that the administration and execution thereof and whatsoever is done by the power and authoritie of the same according to the word of god in the punishing of evil doers and praising rewarding the weldoers be good and holie iust in the sight of God then may Magistrats be of the Church of Christ and retaine their Magistracie for no man may be debarred out of the church of Christ for doeing of that which is holie and iust good But to deale yet more plainely with you that the vttermost depth of your error may be discovered that you and all men may vtterlie detest and abhorr it If you will say that Magistrats are no otherwise the ministers of god but as the devills are which one of our owne countrimen the forenamed Mr. lervase Nevile falling vpon this and others your errors most blasphemously hath affirmed except you will also hold the same which god forbid that anie child of god should do you can never deny Magistrats for being of the Church of Christ for if you confesse that they are the holie and good ministers of god applieing then selves there vnto then how can you deny them as vnfitt to be members of the Church of Christ and that onely because they the holie and good ministers of god retayne that their ministerie office and calling wherevnto they are appointed of God And now may you see that wee had iust cause in the begining of this question to endeavor to shewe that the lord requireth a diligent faithfull willing obedience of Magistrats But the devills obey of force and against their will And God doth never make them ministers of his mercie to anie but wee see heere God hath ordeyned Magistrats his ministers for good both in mercie and justice aswell to reward the weldoers as to punish the evill doers Of all the people vpon earth none have more cause to be thankfull to God for this blessed ordinance of Magistracie then you and this whole countrie and nation in that God hath by his power and aucthoritie given vnto you magistrats who have so defeÌ„ded deliuered you froÌ„ the haÌ„d of a cruell distroyer will you not withstanding contemne this his holie ordinance and accounte it as a vile thinges far be it from you to continewe in this your so great evill Thinke not that in the handling of this point wee seeke to bring your persons in question or contempt with the higher powers the lord knowes wee have no such intent wee knowe their worthie patience in bearing with your great weaknesses herein but to bring this error into contempt amonge you that you might forsake it that is it wee seeâ—e and that the simple harted might not be betrayed with it as they are not knoweing how farr that deâ—pfull opinion leads them and all vnder a shewe of Godlines Much more might be said then wee are able to say and wee would willingly have said something◠〈…〉 this point of others but that it is so difficult to get it sett over into you 〈…〉 say thus much more vnto you 〈…〉 you to tread vnder foote this vnholie disposition that seemes to be so holie and makes you flatters your selves and thinke your selves most holie herein and that is in that you would not have evill doers punished with the sword You please your selves much in your pittifull dispositions herein and thinke you please God when it is most evident that you sinne greviously herein for it is the good will pleasure and comaundement of God that evill doers should be punished by the sword and to that end he hath given power and aucthoritie to Magistrats and you contrarie to the good will and pleasure of God would not have evill doers punished with the sword Is not this your great sinne to be contrarie mynded to God take heed least by this your disposition you could also wish or disire that wicked men dieing in their sinne might not be damned whereby you should wish the vtter dishonor of God for then should the enimies of God triumphe over him and then would they much God to scorne and have him in great derision but God shall laugh at their distruction and mocke when their feare cometh Pro. 1.26 And all the Saincts of God shall reioyce with him Reuel 18.20 And if the Saincts in heaven reioyce and praise God when he punisheth and taketh vengance on the wicked ought not the Saincts vpon earth to reioyce and praise God when they see or heare that the evill doers are punished heere on earth by such power and aucthoritie as god hath appointed And they are the more to praise God seeing the holie ghost doth testifie that it is for their wealth what great sinne of ingratitude and vnthankfulnes is this then in all you that so disaprove of Magistrats and of their punishing of evill doers by the
sword the which Ordinance if it were not all the Godlie on earth should be destroyed and the most Godly first Now wee know that God is able to defend his without the sword but in that he hath appointed this holy ordinance of Magistracie for the preservation and defence of all good men for the subdueing keeping vnder and cutting of the evill doers let none make the selves more wise and more holie then God which you all do that disaprove of Magistracie Repent for your sinneing with a high hand herein in dishonoring God by disaproveing his holie ordinance of Magistracie which he hath comaunded should be honored with all godly feare reverence and obedience And if you will repent and truely obey god herein then must you being comaunded by the aucthoritie of the Magistracy be ready with your owne persons and all that you have to support defend that sword of justice which they beare and wherewith they administer by that power and aucthoritie which they have from god for who are fitter to support and mainteyne the holy ordinance of god then they that professe to be the children of god and who are fitter to feight iust and good battells then good and iust men and what simplicitie is this to thinke that it is more lawfull to hier men to feight a battle then to feight it them selves The people of Israell that were the people of god never did so but they fought the battles of the lord them selves and theÌ„ the lord went farth with their armies and gave them victory over their enimies and put their adversaries to flight and if magistracie be a holy ordinance of God now as it was then it is as lawfull for them to defend their countries and people as it was then and so is it is lawfull for the servants of god and they ought being comaunded by the magistrats to go to warr as well now as then and the servants of god might with better consciences and more comfort 〈◊〉 to battle them selves being comaunded by the higher powers that â—e of god although they died in battle then to hier meÌ„ to be slaine for them to whome the cause belonges not There is no religion in this that magistrats by reason of your vnwillingnes to go to battle for the cause of god and for your owne safeties preservation should be forced to hier men to feight for you although you pay for it and in all this you pretend Religion and conscience but it is evident by the word of god that if magistracie be a holie ordinance of god it is to be supported by all holy and good men and meanes And if it be not a holy Ordinance of god then are magistrats but the ministers of god as the devills are then are they not to be obeyed for conscience sake not to be honored for wee are not bound of conscience to honor and obey the power aucthoritie and ministery of devills but to resist it and so Th-appostle Pauls doctrine Rom. 13. and Th-appostle Peters doctrine 1. Pet. 2.3.17 Is all made false and erronious But far be it from anie that have anie touch of true godlines to deny that holy ordinance of magistracie and so to overthrowe the holy doctrines of Th-appostles Let the godly bewarr of such Th-appostle Peter hath foretold of them and of their manner of proceding for First he sheweth that there shal be false teachers which privilie shall bring in damnable heresies even denying the lord that hath bought them and by their followers the way of truth shal be evill spoken of And these are they which shall dispise gouerment which are bould and stand in their owne conceipt and feare not to speake evill of them that are in dignitie 2. Pet. 2 1-10 let vs applie this to the persons and cause in hand These men that most stifely stand against magistracie have they not brought in damnable heresies do they not deny the lord that hath bought them are not these they that deny the true humanitie of Christ denying him to have had a true earthly naturall bodie wherewith he bought them which they that deny or are ignorant of that he had a true naturall earthly bodie they deny and are ignorant that the lord hath bought them VVee will not now speake to the rest of their damnable heresies but to come to this which is one of them they dispise goverment and speake evill of them that are in dignitie Can there be greater dispisers of goverment then they that deny it to be lawfull to punish evill doers with the sword for take away the sword and where is goverment will evill doers be governed with a â—od of reed do wee not see daylie that manie feares not the sword and if the sword of justice were taken away all goverment were overthrowne and can there be greater dispisers of goverment then they that would altogether over throwe it And they speake evill of them that are in dignitie and aucthoritie Do not thâ—se men speake evill of them when then teach and condemne them for evill doers in their execution of justice against offenders and can they speake greater evill then to say they are 〈◊〉 evill doers as are not worthie to be members of the Church of Christ what greater evill 〈◊〉 â—â—tempt can be cast vpon them both before God and 〈◊〉 people 〈◊〉 hereby they are absolutely 〈◊〉 to be the ministers of god but â—s the devills are Can there greater evill be spoken then this To make it more plaine that you which touch these thinges against Magistracy are these false The achers that the Appostle Peter heere speaketh of This is one â—peciall maâ—ke that you do it privilie for can false 〈…〉 teach more privilie then you that teach this 〈◊〉 you do not vnderstand teaching privily to be in corners and privie places Th appostle she 〈…〉 meaning 〈◊〉 for he speakes of bringing in heresies privily in teaching of doctrine and is not this heresie against Magistrats most privily brought in vnder a culler from our Saviour Christs owne words where he saith It shall not be so among you And from Th-appostles words The weapons of our warfare are not carnall Is it not privily done to wrest the scriptures so deceitfully from a shewe of words leaving the true sence of the place and hereby concluding most privilie and deceitfully that Magistrats bearing the sword may not be of the kingdome of Christ not of his Church but let that suffice which is spoken before of the misvnderstanding of these Scriptures And see further how vnder this first damnable heresie of denying Magistrats to be of the Church most privily is this heresie brought in that Magistracie is vtterly vnlawfull and all that is done by the power and aucthoritie thereof is sinne for as wee have shewed there is nothinge but sinne debarrs anie from being members of Christs Church they then that hold that Magistracie debarrs men from being members of Christs Church must needs hold that