semen Ecclesiae i. e. the blood of the Martyrs to be the seed of the Church for said he as one was put to death there came ten in his stead Luther said That the hypocrites Church was to be known by its manners whose Image and figure was Esau yet she boasted of God and would be accounted his Church but lived wholly according to the World Further said he the true Church is not defended by a fleshly Arm which wicked Bishops especially use and cry unto Thaesau Pag. 622. As heretofore he that was born after the flesh Persecuted him that was born after the Spirit even so is it now c. Consider these words of Paul said Castellio Ishmael that was born after the flesh Persecuted Isaac who was born after the Spirit even so now do the fleshly Persecute the Spiritual But Abell did not Persecure Cain nor Lot the Sodomites nor David Saul nor the true Prophets the false nor Christ and his Apostles the Scribes and Pharesees although some of them might have done it yet nevertheless they did it not So is it at this day though the number of the Righteous be but smal who are Persecuted of the wicked yet sometimes they might injury their Persecutors but they are so far from doing that that they are rather helpful to them and do seek their Salvation The false Church is grounded more upon men then upon Christ and she Persecuteth those that live Righteously according to the Word of God and such as reprove her for her failings Damascenus said that the Gospel had been Preached in all the World but did not conquer its opposers with Weapons Arms or Fighting but a few unlearned confounded the Wise ones of the World Oh said Boudaert that the Bishops were so well experienced in the Word of God that they would rather with Reason seek to bring them that go astray to the right way then to compell them by Corporal punishment to adhere unto their Elect. It is impossible said Luther that the Church of Christ should be or should stand without bloodsheding for the Devil who is an Enemy of God's Church is also a Lyar and a Murtherer yet the Church hath alwayes increased in blood said He in the Colloq Sanguine mundata est Ecclesia Sanguine cepit Sanguine succrevit sanguine finis erit Ian Monliu the Bishop of Valence affirmed That it was an Error to molest the publick Peace with Weapons under pretence of Religion a thing saith he which hath been alwayes abhorred by the Antients For Wars and compulsary punishments have never been the means to bring to Unity For Wars and cruelty tend to the destroying both of Body and Soul even of those who peradventure might otherwise have been gained through love and gentleness for that counsel which tends to cruelty is worse then the desease yet notwithstanding it is the manner of such Bishops to plead for Weapons as have lost the Spiritual Sword of Peter and therefore said he do they now make that Sword their Defence which he drew against the servant of the High Priest Chron. vande Rel. uriih pag. 123 124. Anno 1579. The States of Holland said That this they observed finding it by true experience viz. dat gewelt ende wapenen luttel helpen tot verbreijdinghe ende behoudenisse der Religien i. e. That violence and Weapons availed little in spreading and maintaining Religion And further said they as we would not have that men should do violence to our consciences neither will we do violence to the consciences of others for we are not to do that to another which we would not have another to do unto us The Prince of Orange said We are not so unexperienced in the Doctrine of the Christian Religion as that we do not know that all those tyes of Conscience wreathed or turned of men are to no purpose to bind man before God People should not think it strange nor therefore take up Arms said he because that many of the Inhabitants of this Country are become of another opinion and simply declare themselves yea against the Will of the Magistrates which thing the Histories do testifie not to be new but that such differences have been in the World in many Monarchies heretofore To the same purpose did the States of Holland testifie viz. how that difference in doctrine was not strange in the Church but said they it is better rectified through forbearance then through devision Inde Apolog. 1581. fol. 15. CHAP. III. Concerning cruel Lawes against Hereticks how the Bishops and Clergy heretofore have been the cause of them who are the cause of tumults the necessity of just Liberty and the good effect thereof IN the year 553. the Pope Palagius instituted first of all That Hereticks and Apostates should be forced by external compulsion c. Clemens the fifth made Lawes that Hereticks should be burned Gerandus Naviomagus sheweth how that the Laws for putting of Hereticks to death came not by the free will of the Emperours but through the earnest importuning of blood-thirsty Bishops whose constant recourse was a burthen to the Emperours so that finally they obtained what they desired but when the Clergy could not prevail with one Emperour they excluded him out of Italy excommunicated him brought him in suspition freed the Subjects from the Oath and stirred them up against the Power And thus have the Clergy handled when they could not have their wills And it might be plenteously manifested out of the Histories how that it hath been blood-thirsty Bishops with others of the Clergy that have provoked Kings and the Potentates of the Earth to cruelty and who have counselled them to make bloody Lawes like the Bishop Nestorius who in his Sermon spoke unto the Emperour and said O Emperour give me a Land cleansed of Hereticks and I will give thee Heaven help me against the Hereticks and I will help thee to subdue the Persians thy Enemies c. Yet it doth not appear that upright and sincere Teachers have sought the defence or help of the Emperours or Kings against Hereticks but it is evident that banishing and persecuting to death about Religion came not from the example of the Righteous but rather from the Heathen and from Arius Nestorius Palagius and their Proselytes There was a certain man that complained unto the Prince of Orange saying That it was sufficiently known that since the dayes of the Apostles that hurtful and noisom Plague hath reigned and had the Dominion in the Church viz. that the greatest part of the Divines and Clergy have assumed more Authority and Power to themselves yea and have taken it by force then ever God the Father gave them And the aforesaid Prince observed how they sought to usurp Authority over the Conscience and to bring People in subjection to their Lawes and Institutions There are some Teachers said a certain wise man that are exceeding cruel angry passionate full of Covetousness and Pride who judge and reject all things but their own and
Heaven unto Wrath and Indignation and it wounds and oppresses the Immortal Soul unto Death and Damnation Surely It is contrary to the very purpose of God in Order of Creation who made and Ordained Mankind free from Bondage and never brought him forth into the World to be a subjected slave to the will of another man in things Temporal much lesse in things Spiritual and relating to Eternity and this work of Imposing by force in matters of Faith Worship and Duty to God of one man upon another or of some Persons over all is certainly an Act of Bondage and Slavery laid as a grievous yoak upon the necks one of another and subjecting one another in Oppression not unto the good Will of the Creator but unto the evil will of mortal perishing and sinful Creature and this differing from and contrary to the pure and perfect Order and Decree of Creation which was blessed altogether and whatsoever is degenerated by Corruption and Erred through Temptation from that Pure and Holy Order of Creation either in things Wordly or Divine is in the Curse and Oposition against the Holy Creator and so is this thing of which I am now Treating Imposition upon Conscience in matters Divine and Temporal Force exercised in Spiritual Cases is the highest Product of Degeneration and the greater degression from the Holy Order of Creation for without Controversie the Creator himself reserved and retained in his alone onely Power the Priviledge of Supremacy in and over the inward man in all the matters Immortal that he might be the onely Lord in that Case and give Spiritual Law to Command and force thereby to exercise the Soul and heart in Fear Love Faith Worship and Obedience to himself that he might be served as the Lord over all most chiefly in respect of the Inward Spiritual and Immortal man This Power of Supremacy I say he reserved and retained in himself in the Creation to exercise over Mankind and did not commit this Priviledge to any other wherefore without Controversie it is an Usurpation of the Creators rightful Dominion it is a robbing of him of his Dignity and Prerogative it is an Act of Violence done against his Soveraignty an audacious intruding into his proper right and a violating of the Law and Decree of Creation for one Person or one People to assume to themselves Power Authority and Government over other Persons and Peoples in Commanding and Imposing in matters Spiritual over their Consciences in the Worship and Service of God and it is such an abomination against the Creator both in the Cause and End of it That he will arise and take Vengeance upon it and he will ease himself of all such his adversaries Again It is contrary to the Law of Love Unity Fellowship and Concord among the sons of men by order of Creation which God appointed to be among them and by Imposing in matters of Spiritual concern as aforesaid that Love Unity Fellowship and Concord among men decreed in Creation is broken and confounded and disannulled among them by reason of the same and Nations and Kingdoms hate and contend one with another Neighbors and Brethren cannot agree but fall into strife one against another Kings and their Subjects Rulers and their People are in discord debate Disobedience and Rebellion one contrary to another by reason that Liberty of Conscience in Worship and Duty to Godwards is wanting in the World and Impositions and force by outward Authority in that Case are prevailing and in Power And thus the Law of Love Unity and Concord Decreed in Creation is violated despised and made voyd and hatred divisions strifes and discords intraduced in its room and abounds in the Spirits and visible actions of the sons of men through the World to the woful effects of killing persecuting and destroying one another Nation of Nation Neighbours of Neighbours and Kings of their Subjects occasioned and grounded upon this thing as the Foundation of the same to wit Imposing by force upon Conscience in matters Divine Wherefore not onely against God is this evil extended to dishonour and disgrace him as is shewed but against man also is this evil and mischief in the effects of it reached forth as ye have seen and the Law of Creation is violated both in respect of Creator and Creature It is in its cause and ground so evil in its works and effects so wicked and mischievous and in its end so provoking and damnable and all this both in respect of God and man that I have not yet Comprehended the height and depth thereof though my Spirit from a Child hath often entered into the serious Considerations of this thing with mourning and sorrow because of it and with testimony and abhorrance against it and at this hour I am a sufferer in body and Spirit because of the same Carnal Imposition upon Conscience in Spiritual things wo unto it my Soul hates and my God will Plague in his season If I should study in searching to find out and to discribe all the evils mischiefs and wofull Inconveniences and effects of this Gulf out of which they ascend I might make this Epistle a large Volumn but since that I have elsewhere written about this matter I shall now Contract this with the saying of the Apostle This Mistery of iniquity doth work untill he be taken out of the way Yea this Imposition upon Conscience opposite to perfect Liberty in the exercise of the same is the onely Main Material Support Prop and Defence of the Kingdome of Antichrist throughout the World at this day and whomsoever as are friends hereunto they are friends to him and they love his wayes and are subjects of his Kingdome and are rebellious against Christ and to his Kingdome they are Enemies Wherefore my heart and soul saith within me would to God I had such a gift of Demonstration by Pen or Tongue and that the same were so forcible and Efficacious to awaken every soul to an abhorrance and dislike of that Spirit Principle and Practice of Imposition upon Conscience that there might be a total turning from the Kingdome of Antichrist which Consists of Falshood Darkness Sin and Enmity of Bondage Oppression and cruel Impositions to the Kingdome of Christ Jesus which Consists of Truth Light and Righteousness of freedome and perfect Liberty in Soul and Spirit Which Kingdome and Government the Lord of Heaven and Earth will promote and Exalt in the Kingdomes of this World which must become the Kingdomes of the Lord and of His Christ according to Promise It hath ever been my Iudgment That want of Liberty and free exercise of Conscience in Spiritual matters and the Contrary Imposed by worldly Power and it remains still with me That this is one main Cause of the woful Distractions in Kingdomes of the unsetledness in States and of many evil Consequences abounding in the Governments of the World and also the Cause wherefore the God of Heaven is angry and provoked
against them and for which Cause he will smite and wound confound and overturn Kingdomes Powers and Authorities even till he Reign whose Right it is who onely and alone will Rule in the free exercise of Soul Spirit and Conscience through the teachings of his own Spirit And though much Opposition and great Contention have been made against this in the World in which men have striven against their own good and welfare yet there is a day and it hastens to come in Power when Imposition upon Conscience by outward worldly force in Cases Divine will be banished the whole Fabrick of the Creation and exiled into the pit of never-rising obscurity and darkness and then shall the Sons of men be delivered from the Violence of it and from all its miserable and mischievous Consequence Then shall the heritage of the Lord rejoyce in Ioy unspeakable being delivered from the oppression under which she hath long mourned travelled and groaned in deep distresse Then shall Nations delight in amity one with another then shall Neighbours rejoyce in Society one among another and then shall Kings and Rulers love their Subjects and People freely and People shall Obey and serve their Rulers with a willing and chearful heart and mind Hereby the God of Heaven should be Glorified and all People become Blessed Amity Love Unity and Concord and the first Creation order and Decree would be restored between God and his Creatures and also between man and man in holy Covenant And this matter to wit Concerning Liberty of Conscience in the free exercise of Godliness hath been of these late years in great Debate and Contest among men in these Nations and some have been of one Iudgement and others of a contrary about this matter and the Contention hath arisen very high even unto Blood and losse of all and is yet remaining undetermined in the minds and Spirits of many people which ought to be resolved in every heart through conviction by sound Arguments of Truth and Divine reason and men ought then to obey the same according to inward Spiritual Conviction and this Case ought not to be determined by Carnal weapons forcibly Compelling people in the Case by the Impositions of Conquest in a Violent way of outward Power And since that This is a Case dubious whether free Liberty of Conscience in the exercise of Worship or Imposition about the same is most worthy I therefore upon this necessity calling upon me with my willingness to assist in such a work would add my mite and grain of Knowledge and Wisdome towards the resolving of such a dubious and needful Case And have taken this opportunity and occasion thus to declare my mind and shall leave the effect hereof to the purpose and Providence of the Lord who onely is Wise to work whatsoever he will by whomsoever he pleases for he never yet limited himself to any one Instrument in the bringing forth and accomplishing his purpose however no man is to dispute the Leadings and Commands of God nor yet to measure his obedience to him by either objected or real Consequence in the fruits and effects of his obedience And this is that warrant to wit the leadings of God under the Commission of which the Servants of God do Act in their Obedience and disputes not the Authority nor the Consequence but leaves the Issue of all things to him that Commands The total sum of this matter to wit Liberty of Conscience is very large and requires multitude of Words and many arguments to unfold the Truth of it the vertue of it and the Evil Causes Works and effects of the Contrary but at this time I shall contract the sum into state it in this total head Whether it is not perfect Reason Justice and Equity and that without all Exceptions that every man upon the Earth be permitted in the free exercise of Conscience without any kind of Force put upon him by any man to the contrary to follow that Religion and to live in such Faith and perform such Worship to God as he dares trust his own Soul withal and give account thereof before God in the day of dreadful Judgement My Iudgement is on the affirmative Part in answer to this Question and it is my Iudgement in the Fear and Spirit of the Lord that 't is perfectly reasonable Just and Equal that every man in the World be permitted his Liberty in the free exercise of his Conscience and that without any force imposed upon him to the Contrary to follow that Religion and live in that Faith and perform that Worship to God with which he dares trust his own Soul to the Salvation thereof and the contrary is Unreasonable Unjust and Unequal and this might be amplified in a large manner upon occasion And this is not only my Iudgement alone nor the false Fancy of a single Person but it is the Faith and Judgement of many more and that not of Fools altogether but of the Wise not only of some few men of our Age but of many Ages past whose Principles were for the Toleration of Liberty in the exercise of Conscience in matters Spiritual as in this smal Treatise following more at large appears to which for proof of this Particular and to second the Truth of my Iudgement I do refer the serious and well considerate Reader in which small Piece he may find the Iudgements of divers Persons asserted by their own Sayings concerning the very Case of Liberty of Conscience and what esteem some Kings and Princes and Religious Men have had of the same for this following Piece to which I am now prefacing is no other than a certain sum of brief Collections of the Sayings of Emperors Kings and Potentates of former Ages contracted into this short method for the better Intelligence of all that are inquiring about this occasion and such is mine affection to the present Contraction collected that I wish that all the Rulers and Princes of our Age through the World would seriously read and rightly study the same and improve it to their own advantage in practising the Sayings of their Grave and Wise Progenitors and oh that they would engross this small Piece in their Records and enclose it in their Closets and use the same as Counsel and Instruction to themselves in the Premises the effect of it might prove happy to them if their present Practise would be answerable to the Intimations of the Antients And this small Piece happily ariving the harbour of my hands through the tedious industry of the Collector and through other passages of tempestious Dangers which it lay liable unto I have transported it over a serious view and am affected with it unto my Commendation and approof first of the matter it self and secondly of its Author's pains and Industry in forming of it into this method in which it now appears both of which I cannot but commend and do also herewith recommend to the View Consideration and Instruction of
of the Popes Maxim's viz. that when he sees the Spiritual Weapons are not sufficient for him then doth he fly unto the carnal therewith to help himself Int Duiiâ—se 244. And others have been and are of that opinion That Religion could not be preserved without the Magistrates Sword therefore understood they that they were to be cryed unto for help as many do now But Ireneus Philaletius said That this was but a humane invention of the Natural understanding which would gladly change the Nature of the Church of Christ but it is in vain said he The States of Holland said That the true Ministers of Christ who did perfectly trust in the Lord had no External Sword nither did they call unto any civill Power for Protection but they used the Sword of the Spirit which is the living Word of God with which they defended the Church c. vide urede Handel van Colen Pag. 198. Barnardus said That the Kindome of Christ was Spiritul and as it was builded by Spiritual Vertues so was it spread preserved and established with Spiritual Weapons for its Enemies were and are Spiritual Eph. 6.11 2.2 Lactantius said If you will with blood with evil and with torments defend the Worship it shall not thereby be defended but polluted Lib. 5. Chap. 20. The Apostles had not the assistance of Emperours Kings Princes nor Lords but had even the whole World against them said a certain Wise Man wherefore how can this stirring up and instigating of Magistrates be Evangelical or according to the Gospel Or how can this work of tumultuous Teachers bring honour to Gods Word and his Truth Who hath heretofore defended the Church of Christ was it defended by Pilate Or was the Church of the Apostles no Church What coercive Power or outward Protection had they Or what external Power or outward defence had their Church in the Beginning And cannot the true Church now subsist with that which she had in the Begining And it is evident that many who have suffered much Persecution for the exercise of their conscience have been thereby strengthened and have therein multiplyed therefore it is apparent that the fruit of Persecuting to death in matters of Religion is wholly contrary to the determination of Persecutors Castellius said That Paul strove with Spiritual Weapons and thereby overcame hundreds but we alas said he are together by hundreds to put to death one single man and appear for Christ with fleshly Weapons to the end that People might understand that we are stripped of the Spiritual Weapons and will have a fleshly Christ. But seeing the Apostles who Planted the Church were satisfied with their Spiritual Weapons it is then evident that they who make use of carnal Weapons confide not sufficiently in the Spiritual which they would confide in no doubt if they had them seeing they are alsufficient as shall appear at the coming of the Lord who will conquer Antichrist his greatest Enemy with no other Weapon then with the Sword of his Mouth Constantinus the Emperour said That it was enough that he preserved the unity of the Faith that he might be excusable before the judgement Seat of God and that he would leave every one to his own understanding according to the account he will give before the judgement Seat of Christ hereto may we stir up People said he not compel them beseech them to come into the unity of the Christians but to do violence to them we will not in no wise Nota Herein was Constantinus much commended because that he tollerated every one to believe and to serve God as he was perswaded in his own heart esteeming his gentleness and mercy more available then severe Proclamations and in this particular he was not deceived Sabast. Frank. Chron. fol. 127. The Christian Religion said the States of Holland is a great Mistery for the furtherance of which God doth not make use of wicked Souldiers nor of Bow nor of Sword but his Spirit and the Shepherds that are sent by him further they said it was not their intention to compell any to their Religion c. CHAP. VII How the Inquisitioners and Clergy have stirred up the Powers to Persecute and what fair pretences Persecutors have had how dangerous it is to root out the Tares before the time and wherein the Ancient Protestants have been more Noble than the Clergy now IT is a common thing with many to accuse those with troubling of the Churches peace and with disturbing of the publick peace said a certain wise Man who teach otherwise than the Church or who speak any thing against the Clergy or dispute with any of their restless Priests or hold their Meetings apart though it be in all civility and stilness In like manner hath the Inquisitioners and the Clergy said he stirred up the Emperour the King of Spain and of France to terrible Persecution laying it upon their consciences to quit themselves severely against the Hereticks if they would escape the Lords reproof though most of their Subjects and Land should perish And when the Clergy had prevailed with them then they declared in their Proclamations and Edicts That their intent was onely the Glory of God and the Salvation of the Hereticks Souls and to prevent the peoples being drawn to any cursed Error or Sect but that they should continue in subjection and in the old observations of the Mother the H. Church and H. Christians Faith and Sacraments as appears from their Proclamations Annis 1538 1546 1560 1564. Erasmus said How that sometime it cometh to passe that those who with more fury then with good understanding carry on matters do sometime not only root out the Wheat with the Tares which Christ hath forbidden but also in place of rootting out the Tares do root out the Wheat seeing they Judge before they have understanding or will make that odious which is well spoken by perverting of it And they will have that to be a Zeal for Religion and a detesting of Heresie when it is the onely destroying of Godliness and Unity Chron. van de Rel. urijh 2 Deel pag. 33. Augustinus said Some disturbed the peace of the Church while they went about to root out the Tares before the time and through this Error of blindness said he are they themselves seperated so much the more from being united unto Christ. Retnaldus testified That he who with Imprisoning and Persecuting seeketh to spread the Gospel and greaseth his hands with blood shall much rather be looked upon for a wild Hunter then a Preacher or a Defender of the Christian Religion Erasmus said That the World had common Lawes for to punish offenders but the Christian meeknesse must rather use diligence to reform men then to judge them In the begining of Reformation saith the Chron. the Church gloried of the Truths Weapons and desired that those that had any thing to say concerning their Doctrine should freely reprove them and they would defend the same with
that hath been alwayes so meek that it is as possible to find an Example of a Lambs devouring of a Wolf as of that putting a Heretick to Death by the Sword and they in whom his Spirit dwelleth are minded like him But as concerning Persecutors while in the New-Testament they find nothing but Meekness which is directly contrary to their Persecution said he therefore are they necessitated to fly unto the Old by which they suffiiently manifest whose Spirits Children they are This doth the multitude of the Martyrs testifie with their Innocent Blood how that the true Believers have Suffered as Hereticks Blasphemers Uproar-makers Contemners of Religion and Seducers c. Yet it is a fast and certain Rule saith the History That where the Spirit of God and his truth hath place that there must all Consultations of Persecutions cease then much more the thing it self knowing that their Weapons are wholly Spiritual even as God and his whole Kingdom is which must be used and Felt and keep the Authority for there are saith he Weapons of Love of Prayer of Peace and of Patience whereby the inward Understanding of the Heart and Soul may be brought unto the right Way But what is Flesh and Blood with fleshly Weapons alas said he in no wise fitting but like unto the World which run on in the broad Way to Destruction Moreover it is evident enough for in the whole Europa Experience hath learned it that the cruel Condemning Banishing Persecuting and putting Hereticks to Death about Matters of Faith and Religion is an absolute contrary means for to rout out Hereticks for to unite the divided Christendom and to quiet its Disturbances And it hath also been found by Experience that External Peace and Unity can and may be better preserved in a Kingdom or Common-wealth through forbearance and by Suffering of contrary Opinions through Love and Christian Meekness than by Banishing and Persecuting People to Death about Matters of Faith and Religion CHAP. XII When the Bishops began to seek the help of the Magistrate How it then Ministered Offence What Punishment the Church heretofore had according to the Will of the Lord for Hereticks And how difficult a thing it is for Magistrates to judge aright in Matters of Heresie ERasmus Testified That for above 400. Years the Bishops did not seek the help of the Emperors against the Hereticks and when they did seek it against the insufferable Wickedness of the Donatisten it did not please the good Party that they should then seek the help of the Civil Power for they then Judged that it became not the Bishops to use any other Weapons or to have any other Help than the Sword of the Spirit the Word of God although the Evil was incurable yet would they have excluded it by Excomunication which is said to be the greatest Judgment or Punishment that then the Church had Now it is confessed that the Lord Jesus Christ hath manifested his Will by that which is left upon record and which was delivered by his Apostles who have shewn us how we should carry our selves 1. Towards them that resist the Truth 2 Tim. 2.24 25. Chap. 3.6.8 Chap. 4.15 2. Towards Back-sliders 1 Tim. 1.20 3. Towards them that deny the Resurrection 2 Tim. 2.16 18. 4. Towards them that Teach what they ought not Titus 1.11 13. 5. Towards them that cause Divisions and Offences Rom. 16.17 6. Towards false Prophets Mat. 7.15 Chap. 16.11 12. 7. Towards them that Walk Disorderly 2 Thes. 3.6 8. Towards Pharisaical Hypocrites that have the Form of Godliness and not the Power Luke 12.1 2 Tim. 3.5 9. Towards false Brethren 1 Cor. 5.11 10. Towards Hereticks Titus 3.10 11. Towards Fornicators and Idolaters 1 Cor. 5.11 12. Towards the Disobedient 2 Thess. 3.14 13. Towards the Stiff-necked Mat. 18.17 Thus it appears from the Scripture of Truth that it was not the Will of our Lord and Lawgiver That they should be punished with severe Punishments in Prisons or by Banishment or by having their Goods spoyled or by being put to Death nay but he hath rather commanded 1. That with Meekness we should Instruct 2 Tim. 24.25 2. Deliver unto Satan 1 Tim. 1.20 3. Sharply to rebuke Tit. 1.11 13. 4. To avoid them Rom. 16.17 2 Thes. 3.6 2 Ioh. 10.11 5. To beware of them Mat. 7.15 6. To have no fellowship with them 1 Cor. 5.11 7. To reject them Tit. 3.10 2 Tim. 4.15 8. To let them alone Mat. 15.14 9. To esteem them as Heathens or Publicans Mat. 18.17 Thus we see the Laws that the Lord Jesus Christ hath ordained for their Punishment to the end that the Fruits hereafter mentioned might be brought forth for God willeth not as many blood thirsty Men that they should die and perish but the Will of God is That they all should repent 2 Pet 3.9 2 Tim. 2.25 That they cease from mens Traditions That they might be ashamed 2 Thes. 3.14 That they might learn not to Blaspheme 1 Tim. 1.20 That they might be found in the Faith Tit. 1.13 That the Spirit might be saved 1 Cor. 5.5 For the Power which the Lord hath given the Apostles was to Edification and not to Destruction 2 Cor. 13.10 Erasmus said The Christian Meekness must satisfie it self with these Punishments to Stone that is the Jewes work but the true Christians work is to Heal. Ambrosius said That Hereticks were only to be Punished by Excomunication and not to be Beat and Persecuted for so did the Heathen said he that knew not God And Ignatius said you shall seperate your selves from them and exhort them to Repentance In Haereticis coercendis quatenus progredi liceat ubi nominatius eos ultimo supplicio affici non deberi aperte demonstratur Christlinge Impressum Anno 1577. Sectio 2. Chrisostomus said That he was not such a Fool as that he would suffer them to be his Judges who were his open Enemies for it is against all right and reason that he who is the Accuser and Witness should also be Judge Every one saith he will be judge over another yet none acknowledging the other to be his Judge Tell me then ye wise Men who would have the Hereticks Punished or Persecuted to Death by the Magistrate who shall be the Judge the Magistrate the Church or the Doctrin which is spoken against And how shall the Magistrate be assured of the Odiousness of the Blasphemy and Crimes And how shall the Magistrate know certainly who are punishable Sismaticks Apostates false Teachers Hereticks and Seducers who they are that set up a Sect or a Church Who believe well or Evil Who Teach according too or contrary to the Scripture Who are moved of God or by his own Zeal Who do according to a good Conscience or contrary Who are wounded and judged in themselves and who are not And who are obstinate and stiff-necked Hereticks or constant upright Christians But suppose the Magistrates should refer this to the Divines or Clergy said he