Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	conscience_n	zeal_n	zealous_a	32	3	9.0463	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A79892	Golden apples. Or Seaonable and serious counsel from the sanctuary to the rulers of the earth, held forth in the resolution of sundry questions, and cases of conscience about divisions, schisms, heresies, and the tolleration of them. Collected out of the writings of the most orthodox, and judicious divines, both Presbyterians, and Independents. / By Sa. Clarke, pastor in Bennet Fink.	Clarke, Samuel, 1599-1682.; Anthony, Burgess, d. 1644.	1659 (1659)	Wing C4518; Thomason E1881_3; ESTC R209888	84,688	239

as are cross to the word of God punish only such things as men in conscience should avoid and will this make them to dissemble c. Obj. Such coercive power in matters of Religion is the way to bring in persecution for conscience sake Answ 1. Teaching Magistrates their duty to punish things manifestly cross to the Word of God and that after due means used for conviction is rather a way to restraine them from persecuting the Saints for a good cause or conscience and if accidentally Gods enemies take occasion hence to abuse their power this must not take away the due use of it Papists and Prelates abused Church-censures against the godly yet this their sin dischargeth not the Church from its duty 2. It s an absurd argument to reason thus Men may not be persecuted for a good cause and conscience therefore they may not be punished for maintaining a bad cause c. Obj. The exercise of any such power by godly Rulers is crosse to the meek Spirit of Christ and to that merciful spirit which he requires to be in his Saints Rom. 15.1 Gal. 6.1 2. Eph. 4.32 2 Tim. 2.25 Answ Zeal of God in sharp punishing of such corruptions flood well with Christs Dove-like spirit None so meek as he and yet none so zealous this way The zeal of Gods house even consumed him and made him lay on so hard with his scourge upon those who polluted the Temple John 2.16 with 14.15 16 20. Moses was the meekest of men in his own cause Numb 12.3 yet lion-like in that cause of pollution of Gods worship Exod. 32.26 27 c. Hezekiah was a shadow to the Saints Isa 32.2 Yet a fiery flying Serpent against Gods and the Churches enemies Isa 14 29 30. Quest Quest What other reasons may be rendred why the higher Civil powers ought not to grant a Tolleration to their Christian subjects to hold and professe in matters of Religion what themselves may pretend conscience for their so doing when indeed grosly erring and contemptuously and pertinaciously holding the same forth Ans Answ 1 First because they may not give liberty to their Subjects to live in and practice the works of the flesh But Heresies and Schismes are works of the flesh Gal. 5.20 therefore not to be tollerated Secondly that liberty which suffers men ordinarily to draw persons away from God is not to be granted by Christian Magistrates but to tollerate persons under a pretence of Conscience pertinaciously to hold forth corrupt opinions is to suffer them to draw others from God therefore it s not to be allowed Deut. 13.9 Thirdly that liberty which suffers the sheep of the Lord in an ordinary way to wander from their fold and pasture without restraint or effectual care to reduce them is not to be allowed by political shepherds which God placeth over them This the Lord complains of and sharply reproves Ezek. 34.5 6 7 8. There was no Shepherd neither did my Shepherds search for my flock but they wandred and became a prey were driven away and devoured there were Shepherds but they did not execute their office but suffered Gods flock to be seduced and corrupted by false prophets But the liberty aforementioned doth thus therefore it s not to be allowed Fourthly such a liberty carries a brand of Anarchy in the State yea and of a sad judgement of God upon that State for the provoking sins both of rulers and people 1. It s one brand of Anarchy Judg. 17.6 there was no King in Israel every one did what was right in his own eyes 2. It s a sad judgement of God as appears Zach. 11.9 with 15 16 17. where the Lord threatens to leave those of his flock alone to themselves and to killing courses of sinne that which dieth let it die and the judicial means he useth is in judgement to raise up a foolish Idol Shepherd i.e. such Rulers in Church and State into whose hands the flock is delivered to be spoiled as v. 5 6. such as care not what becomes of their souls So 2 Chron. 20.33 where it appears that to be left by authority to take up corruption in religion under pretence of conscience is a sad judgement of God for the sins of a professing people Fifthly such a tolleration makes Rulers not to be for Christ but in that respect against him for it makes them not to be for one chief end of his coming which was to destroy the works of the devil For a tolleration of errours is a tollerating the works of the devil because erroneous doctrines are forged by the devil and are some of those lies whereof he is the Father John 8.44 Those doctrinal lies are doctrines of devils 1 Tim. 4.2 unclean frogges that come out of the Dragons mouth Rev. 16.13 14. yea lesser errors about meats and marriage are called doctrines of Devils 1 Tim. 4.1 2 3. therefore they ought not to be tollerated Sixthly Such a Tolleration will wound a State in the very continuity of it It breaks the hedge and walls of a State and so lets in manifold mischiefs For 1. Corrupt Doctrines so allowed do mingle with and wil eat out sound Doctrine pure Religion and the Covenant of God which are the ligaments and bands of a Christian State and made Jerusalem so compacted together Psalm 122.1 2 3. For 2 Tim. 2.16 17. They will encrease to more ungodliness and their words will eat as a Canker or Gangrene 2. Corrupt Doctrines tend to the breaking of the peace of such societies where they are tollerated Hence Gal. 5.10 12. I would they were cut off that trouble you And Acts 20.30 They draw away or rent away as members from the body Disciples after them Where there are Heresies amongst Church-members there will be Schisms and Divisions 1 Co● 11.18 19. Such filthy Dreamers Jude 8. are branded for sedicious persons in Common-wealths They despise Dominions and speak evil of Dignities witness the many breakings of our Parliaments and turning of Governments upside down Such justly perish as did seditious Corah verse 11. Hence Seducers are called Traitors heady high-minded Truce-breakers False-accusers fierce c. 2 Tim. ● 1 2 3 4 5. and that he speaks this of Seducers appeares verse 6 7 8 9 13. And Jude 16. They are branded for Murmurers and Complainers quarrelling against matters in Church and State All ages have declared that persons of corrupt Principles in Religion are frequent Movers and Abettors of civil seditions 3. Corrupt Doctrines break the hedges and walls of a Christian Common-wealth and leave it naked to become a prey to its adversaries So was Israel when they had corrupted Religion Exod. 32.25 till Moses commanded Justice to be executed upon some for the terror of others ver 26 27. False Prophets let alone spoil the vines and break the hedges as is implyed Ezek. 13.4 5. So Ezek. 22.26 27. When such corruptions are let alone a gap is made verse 30. and when none in Authority are found to make it up by punishing them God powers out his indignation upon them verse 31. Solomons connivence at Idolatry in his wives rent his Kingdom in pieces but punishing such corruptions puts away evill Deut. 17.2 3 7. 7. Such a tolleration God accounts to be a kicking at Religion and honoring such Corruptors above God himself as appears 1 Sam. 2.12 to 16. with 23 24 25 29. Elies sons corrupted the worship of God by snatching what came first to hand and the Lord saith not only to them but to Eli too Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and honourest thy sons above me c. therefore it ought not to be granted 8. Such a Tolleration of such evils causes those very evils to be charged on Rulers themselves and bringeth the wrath of God upon them So Elies sons sins were charged upon and punished on Elie himself and Solomons connivence at the Idolatry of his wives And Nehemiah contends with the Rulers for not reforming the prophanations of the Sabbath Nehe. 13.10 11 12 16 17 18. the sin of the people in doing corruptly in the matters of God is charged upon Jotham 2 Chron. 27.2 he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord yet the people did corruptly 2 Kin. 15.34 35. and that is charged upon him as his sin 9. Such a Tolleration makes men abhor Religion and to speak evil of the way of truth as Elies sons corruptions being connived at made men abhor the Lords offerings 1 Sam. 2.17 So 2 Pet. 2.1.2 3. 10. Such a Tolleration is intollerable because it is an allowing of Foxes to spoil Christs vines Can. 1.2.16 Of Wolves that spare not Christs flock Acts 20.30 with Ezek. 34.8 10. Of Sorcerers that bewitch men 2 Tim. 3.13 Gal. 3.1 Who hath bewiched you c they are also as Jesabel whom God will punish if men neglect their duty in doing of it Rev. 2.20 21 c. Thus you have the Judgement of Mr. Tho. Cobbet of New England against a General Tolleration See more of this in Mr. Cottons answer to Mr. Williams FINIS Errata Typographica PAg. 2. lin 6. pro Nobathaea leg Nabathaea p. 3. l. 21. pro Saphirus leg Sapphirus p. 4. l. 1. pro phorus leg pharus p. 6. l. 13. pro pollysyllaba leg polysyllaba l. 18. pro ped●x leg pedis in margine pro Harpago est faem leg masc p. 7. l. 26. post silex adde et p. 9. l. 20. pro mine leg minae p. 10. l. 4. pro vendiciae leg vindiciae p. 11. l. 11. pro facinum leg fascinum p. 15. l. 10. pro Ligar leg Ligur p. 20. l. 8. pro areo leg aveo p. 23. l. 6. adde distinguo

Gospel c. 77 Obj. Famous Princes have spoken against constraint in matters of Religion 79 Obj. Many ancient Writers have written against it 80 Obj. But it s no prejudice to the Common-wealth if liberty of conscience be granted to them that truly fear God 84 Qu. What other remedies may we use against infection by seducers ib. Qu. How do Seducers bring in and disperse their errors 85 Qu. VVhy doth Christ suffer such deceivers in the Church 86 Qu. What motives do seducers usually make use of ib. Qu. How else may it appear that Magistrates may punish an obstinate Heretick with de th 87 Qu. What danger is there in tollerating heresie and hereticks 88 Qu. What rules are Magistrates to observe in tollerating smaller errors 90 Obj. But we see that the States of the united Provinces allow diversity of Religions 91 Qu. How else will it appear that Schisms Heresies and errors are so dangerous 92 Obj. But a Tolleration of all Religions would be a means to cure all dissentions 95 Qu. VVhence is it that Heresies Schisms eat up the power of godliness 98 Q. Whence is it that heresies errors are of so spreading a nature 99 Qu. How then may we prevent being ensnared by them 107 Qu. Seeing the Angel of the Church of Ephesus is commended for not bearing with them which are evill who are those evil ones that must not be tollerated 110 Qu. VVhat doth not bearing with them import 111 Qu. VVhy should such persons be so severely dealt with 112 Obj. But love beareth all things 116 Obj. But Christ saith let both grow together till the harvest 118 Qu. Upon what account may a man be accounted a false prophet or a false Teacher 119 Qu. VVhat may be considered about Heresies 122 Qu. How manifold is Heresie 123 Qu. What is simple Heresie ib. Qu. What is complicate Heresie ib. Qu. VVhether may any of these be capitally punished by the Civil Magistrate 124 Qu. How will it further appeare that there is so much danger in tollerating Hereticks 126 Qu. VVhat then is incumbent upon Magistrates to do against them 129 Obj. But would you have us punish them when many of them are godly persons 131 Qu. How come Heresies that are so destructive to be so prevalent ib. Qu. How will it further appeare that errors and Heresies are so dangerous 137 Qu. What dangerous errors and Heresies are now divulged 146 Qu. VVhat must Magistrates do in such cases 149 Qu. What must private Christians do to prevent infection in such times 151 Qu. Whether are Anabaptists Hereticks 153 Qu. Whether are Arminians Hereticks ib. Qu. Whether are Lutherans Hereticks 154 Qu. Whether are Hereticks to be punished by the Civil Magistrate ib. Qu. Why are hereticks and false teachers called the tail Isa 9.15 156 Qu. What is Mr. Jer. Burroughs his judgement about tolleration 157 Quest Why is Tolleration a dangerous principle ib. Obj. This is Old Testament and we finde it not in the Gospel 158 Obj. Christ hath left spiritual means to prevent Heresies infection 159 Obj. Magistrates have nothing to do in matters of Religion ib. Quest. Are they not excluded from exercising any power in matters of Religion 160 Quest Indeed Magistrates under the Old Testament had power but were they not therein types of Christs Kingly power 161 Quest Why is the Magistrates power needful 162 Quest Doth the holy Ghost justifie this power of the Magistrate in the times of the Gospel 164 Obj. But matters of Religion belong not to his cognizance 165 Obj. Such Scriptures speak only of his power in civil things ib. Qu. How will it appear that Magistracie is appointed for our spiritual good as well as for our civil 166 Qu. How can natural and external things be helps to things spiritual and Divine ib. Obj. Conscience is a tender thing and therefore must not be medled with 168 Qu. What may be done to a man that pleads conscience ib. Qu. How shall we know whether the devil be in the conscience 169 Qu. What may be done to such as persist in errors under pretence of conscience 170 Qu. What if mens errors be of less moment can nothing be done to restrain such 172 Qu. Suppose a man doth what he can to informe his conscience and yet cannot yeeld what may be done to him 173 Qu. But by fomenting Divisions such as are in power may rule the people best ib. Qu. How else may the wickednesse of Tollerating heresies blasphemies c. be made out 174 Obj. But Idolatry was the adequate object of the coercive power of Judahs Kings c. but it extended not to hereticks 177 Obj. But still these are Old Testament examples 180 Qu. How else may it appear that corruptions in Religion may be punished by the Civil Magistrate 182 Obj. Christ punished such as God or Messias therefore it s not imitable by Magistrates 183 Obj. It was an extraordinary act in Christ therefore not imitable 184 Quest What corruptions in Religion are thus to be punished 185 Quest What conclusions may be laid down upon these premises 187 Quest How may it be proved to be the Magistrates duty to punish heresies 190 Obj. Still these are Old Testament examples 191 Quest What need the Church any such helps c 196 Obj. But this will make men to dissemble or to sin against conscience 200 Obj. It may bring in persecution for conscience-sake 201 Obj It s crosse to the meek Spirit of Christ c ib. Quest Why may not a Tolleration be granted 202 The names of such English Divines whose judgements are here produced to shew the danger of Divisions Schismes and Heresies and the tolleration of them Mr. Anthony Burges Mr. Edm. Calamy Dr. Tho. Hill Mr. Richard Vines Mr. Richard Stock Dr. Thomas Tailor Dr. Edw. Reynolds Mr. Joh. Cotton of Boston in N. Eng. Dr. Sibs Mr. Tho. Thorowgood Mr. John Mainard Mr. Robert Bailies Mr. Ja. Cranford Mr. Joseph Caryl Mr. Tho. Hodges Dr. Amesius Mr. Obad. Sedgwick Mr. Jer. Burroughs Mr. Tho. Edwards Mr. Tho Cobbet of New Eng. ERRATA PAg. 27. Line 30. put out hath p. 55. l. 3. put out he p. 71. l. 7. for Minister r. Ministry p. 120. l. 7. for Divisions r. visions p. 128. l. 4. for earthquake r. earthquakes p. 115. l. 29. put out not p. 123. l. 5. for which r. with QUESTIONS AND Cases of CONSCIENCE About Divisions Schisms Heresies and a Toleration of them Qu. WHence do Discords Qu. and Divisions arise They are the fruits of the flesh whereas love An. peace c. are the fruits of the Spirit so that a man cannot more demonstrate himself to be in the flesh and devoide of Gods Spirit then by a contentious dividing spirit Some Salamander-like cannot live but only in the fire of contention These like Marcion with great boldness will cry out We will cast fire into the Church and divide it But hereby they shew of what temper they are and who is their father even

by Schisme 3. Of Christian love by contentions in outward matters so there are peculiar remedies proper to each As first for matters of Doctrine these are uniting principles First so farre as there is an agreement in judgement we should close heartily and embrace one another in that It s a mercy that the difference is not in fundamentals Seeing therefore we agree in these let that unity be nourished and it will be a meanes to produce further union So Phil. 3.15 16. wherein we have attained let us walk by the same rule c. Secondly let private Christians highly esteeme and submit to those godly and faithful Pastors that God sets hath over them When men will not own those officers whom God hath set over them then these runne into by paths Ephes 4.12 13. One end of the Ministry is to keep men from being carried about as children c. the other for our spiritual edification till we all come in the unity of faith c. Thirdly get a pitiful and compassionate spirit to those that go astray Indeed we must be zealous in the things of God but it must be mixed with pity Of some have compassion making a difference Jude 22. Consider how prone we are to receive error for truth and that we stand by Gods strength this will move us to pity others Fourthly we must candidly and truly report the opinions of others that dissent from us Nothing hath made the rents in the Church greater then a malevolent perverting the opinions of others when we make them to hold such monstruous things as with all their hearts they do detest How oft was Christ and his Apostles traduced for preaching such things as they never taught which proceeded from the malice of those who laboured to make them odious and to bring them into danger Thus the Papists represent the Protestants as if they were the greatest Hereticks that ever were The end of such is not to bring dissenters to the knowledge of the truth but to disgrace and defame them therefore it s necessary in all disputations to state the controversie aright without which men may write volumes and bring multititude of arguments and all to no purpose To know therefore the true and proper distance is the best and only way at last to unity Fifthly we must not impose such conclusions and inferences upon the Doctrines maintained by Dessenters that are not the proper and genuine effects thereof To cast that upon them for their Doctrine which is but our owne inference is not fair especially when they do with their soul abhor such conclusions Because the Apostle had taught where sinne abounded there grace abounded much more some wicked persons forced this consequence upon the Apostles doctrine Let us sinne that grace may abound Rom. 6.1 Thus the Papists charge this hideous calumny consequence upon the Doctrine of the Protestants that God is the Author of sinne whereas we use but the words and expressions of the Scripture Indeed what is the evident and plaine consequence of a doctrine that is to be accounted of as the doctrine it self As whatsoever is a clear genuine consequence from Scripture is Scripture but not every consequence that we are apt to deduce Sixthly whatsoever truth God may make known to us or if in our perswasion only we are to be very careful how we publish it This hath always kindled great fires in the Church of God when men have either or in perswasion only some doctrine different from the current way of the Church at that time Now it s a very hard thing thus to be with child as it were and not to be in pain till we have delivered it to the world But such qualifications as these are necessary 1. We should in such cases question and examine our own spirits and not presently believe our own hearts we should have modest doubtings of our own ignorance and pronenesse to erre in every thing that we are so confident of So we see in Paul 1 Cor. 7.12 25 26 40. Wheresoever the Spirit of God leads into all truth there he doth likewise into all humilitie 2. Before we publish it to the world we should communicate it to some able wise and learned persons in the Church of God who have the Spirit of God and his unction as well as we Paul though immediately called by Christ yet went up to Jerusalem to confer with the chief pillars there and though he was miraculously converted yet he must go to Ananias to be further directed So 1 Cor. 14.29 32. those that had extraordinary gifts yet were to submit to the judgements of others Seventhly we must highly prize and delight in the known and plain truths of Christ Paul even after he had been wrapt up into heaven desired to know nothing but Christ crucified Peter thought it not inconvenient to write the same things they knew already Nothing hath caused greater rents in the Church then an affectation of singular and high things To bring in some unheard and unknowne truths It shews great pride when men affect to be accounted the authors of such new notions as the Jesuite of his scientia media Ego primus inveni But to be weary of known truths is to be weary of the same God and the same Christ Quest Quest What will keep up unity in the Churches order and prevent Schism there Answ Answ 1 First if such be the corruptions of the Church that thou canst not keep fellowship with her but by partaking of her sinnes yet before thou leavest her be sure to take the way which Scripture commands Let it not be for some lesser corruptions but for such as eat up the very vitals of Religion Leave not a Church till God leaves it Unchurch it not till God doth Secondly let it be thy endeavour before thou departest in thy place to informe and heale her Plead with thy mother as Hosea 2.2 and if thou must needs depart yet do it unwillingly being compelled to it by the enemies of all godlinesse who will not suffer thee under their power When those in Israel that would not worship the Calves departed from Jeroboam and went to Jerusalem to worship they did not make the Schisme but Jeroboam 2 Chron. 11.13 14 15. the Papists call us Schismaticks because we with-drew from obedience to the Pope as head of the Church but ours was a secession from their errours not a Schisme they are the Schismaticks who fell from the primitive order and the institutions in the Church so that the Pope is the greatest Schismatick that ever was in the Church and drove us from his Church by fire and fagot Thirdly Though there be many corruptions in Government and Administrations yet we are not to make sinfull Rents For these as St. Austin saith do Plus perturbare infirmos bonos quam corrigere animosos malos Only these two things we have to do 1. As our Calling and Relation is so to oppose and reprove the

against dangers threatened from a common enemie Fourthly they should secure and set bounds about fundamental doctrines for which end they should take care and promote the dutie of Catechising Fifthly they should provide that Ministers may be known to be Orthodox in the great and weighty Controversies between us and the Hereticks of our times that wo●ves may not privily creep in under sheeps cloathing Sixthly they should hinder the printing and spreading of dangerous and infectious books either from Ports or Presses and all other ways of diffusing leaven into the people Dr. Reynolds Peace of Jerusalem A certain friend having sent to Mr. Cotton of Boston in New England sundry Arguments against persecution for cause of conscience Mr. Cotton returned him this answer Quest Quest Your question saith he which you put is whether persecution for cause of conscience be not against the Doctrine of Christ who is King of Kings Answ Answ By persecution for cause of conscience I conceive you mean either for professing some point of doctrine which you believe in conscience to be truth or for practising some work which in conscience you believe to be a religious duty Now in points of Doctrine some are fundamental without a right beliefe whereof a man cannot be saved others are circumstantial and less principal wherein men may differ in judgement without endangering their salvation So in points of practice some concern the weightier duties of the Law so as if it be right fellowship with God is held If corrupt fellowship with him is lost Again in points of doctrine or worship less principal they are either held forth in a meek and peaceable way or in so arrogant and violent a way as tendeth to the disturbance of civill peace Lastly when we are persecuted for conscience sake it s either for conscience rightly informed or for an erronious and blinde conscience These things premised the answer is laid down in these conclusions First it s not lawful to persecute any for conscience-sake rightly informed for then Christ himself is persecuted in them Act. 9.4 Why persecutest thou me Secondly for an erroneous and blind conscience even in fundamentals it s not lawful to persecute any till after once or twice admonition Tit. 3.10 where the Apostle gives the direction and the reason viz. because in fundamental points of Doctrine and Worship the Word of God is so clear that he cannot but be convinced in conscience of the dangerous error of his way after one or two admonitions wisely and faithfully dispensed and then if he persist it s not out of conscience but against his conscience as ver 11. He is subverted and sinneth being condemned of himself If then such a man be punished he is not persecuted for his conscience but justly punished for sinning against his conscience Thirdly in things of lesser moment whether in doctrine or worship if they be held forth in a spirit of meeknesse and love he is not to be persecuted but tollerated till God shall please to manifest his truth unto him Phil. 3.17 Rom. 14.1 2 3 4. Fourthly but if a man hold forth any error or false way with a boisterous and proud spirit to the disturbance of civil peace he may be justly punished according to the quality of the disturbance made by him Obj. Object But Christ commands to let the tares and wheat grow together till the harvest Mat. 13.30 c. Answ Answ Tares are not Briars and Thornes but partly hypocrites like unto the god●y as tares are like the wheat or partly such corrupt doctrine or practises as are indeed insound but yet such as come nere the truth and so neere as good men may be taken with them and so the persons in whom they grow cannot be rooted out but the good will be rooted up with them and in such a case Christ calls for a tolleration not for a penal prosecution Obj. Object But Christ Mat. 15.14 would have the blinde let alone till they fall into the ditch therefore he would have their punishment deferred till their final destruction Answ Answ Christ speaks not there to publick Officers whether in Church or State but to his private Disciples concerning the Pharisees over whom they had no power But this makes nothing to the matter in hand Obj. Object But Luk. 19.54 Christ blames his Disciples who would have fire to come down from heaven to consume the Samaritans who refused to receive him Answ Answ This directs Ministers of the Gospel how to deal not with obstinate offenders who sinne within the Church against conscience but either with men without as the Samaritans were and many unconverted Christians in Creet whose conversion Titus was to seek or at best with some Jews and Gentiles within the Church who though carnal yet were not convinced of the errour of their way and so indeed it became not the spirit of the Gospel to convert aliens to the faith of Christ by fire and brimstome nor to deal harshly in their Ministry or private conference with all contrary minded men as either had not entred into Church fellowship or if they had did yet hitherto sin of ignorance not against conscience But neither of these do hinder Ministers from proceeding in a Church-way against Church-members when they become scandalous either in life or doctrine much lesse do they speak at all to the civil Magistrates Obj. Object But the Prophets foretold that carnal weapons should cease in the dayes of the Gospell as Isa 2.4 and 11.9 Micha 4.3 4. and Paul saith our weapons are not carnal 2 Cor. 10.4 and Christ bids his disciples not to persecute but to pray for their persecutors because they who are now persecutors may be converted Answ Answ The Prophets predictions do shew First with what kind of weapons God would subdue the Nations not by fire sword but by the power of the word and spirit 2. They shew what a meek and peaceable temper true Converts would be of not Lions Leopards c. not biters one of another but this forbids not to drive ravenous wolves from the sheepfold and to restraine them from devouring Christs sheep and when Paul saith our weapons are not carnal he ●enies not weapons of justice to the Civil Magistrate but onely to Church-Officers and yet he allows them such weapons as are ready to take vengeance on all disobedience 2 Cor. 10.6 which refers to the censures of the Church against scandalous Offenders 3. When Christ commands his Disciples to bless them that cursed and persecuted them he gives not a rule to publick Officers either in Church or State to suffer gross sinners either in life or doctrine to passe unpunished but teaches private Christians to suffer persecution patiently and to pray for their persecutors 4. Christ indeed would have his Disciples far from persecuting for that is a sinful oppression of men but this hinders not but that he would have them execute upon all disobedience the vengeance required in the word 2 Cor. 10.6

devil be in the conscience yea or no Answ First Answ 1 If you see a mans private Interest is much engaged in what he pretends Conscience for you may then justly suspect him Secondly If in other things it appears that the man is not much under the command of conscience but he can take liberty as he pleaseth you may justly suspect him 3. Thirdly When the account a man gives cannot in a rational way be judged such as should probably mislead him so grosly as is apparent he is misled Fourthly If a man be proud and turbulent in his carriage then the devil is rather in the will then in the conscience when a man by reason of his conscience differs from his brethren he should carry himself with all humility and meekness and self-denial in all other things that thereby he may manifest that it s not from wilfulness but meerly from tenderness of conscience that he cannot do as others do Fifthly If a man be not willing to use means for the informing of his conscience no not of those means which are not against his own principles but goes on peremptorily and stoutly Sixthly When a man by reason or Scripture is so put to it that he must either renounce his Error or fly from some of his own principles he will rather deny his principles then yield himself convinced of his Error This is such an one as the man spoken of Tit. 3.11 that is self-condemned and therefore ought to be rejected Quest Quest But what may be done to such as persist in an Error under the pretence of conscience Answ Answ 1 First After other means used if he persist in such an Error as cannot stand with the Power of godliness notwithstanding his conscience he is to be cast out of the society of the Saints Secondly If his Error with the profession of it be dangerous to the state and he cannot be reclaimed he may be cut of from it also notwithstanding his plea of Conscience Thirdly Pretence of conscience cannot excuse a man in matters of apparent injustice done to another either in his state or goods Fourthly A man may bring himself both under the Civil and Ecclesiastical sword not only for sins injurious to our brother but for sins against God as Blasphemy gross Idolatry c. Yea the heathens cannot by violence be compelled to profess the Christian Religion yet notwithstanding any plea of conscience they may be restrained and that by violence from blaspheming Christ the Scriptures or doing acts of any open dishonour to them Fifthly Notwithstanding any mans conscience he may be kept from seduceing and endangering the salvation of others The light of nature teaches us that such may be cut off as strengthen others in soul-damning principles Sixthly In some cases a private man himselfe may use violence to restraine men from evill If a man should come to seduce my wife or child in a matter which I know would endanger their souls if I could have no help by the Magistrate I may if I have power keep him off Now what I may doe by my owne strength I may call in the help of the Magistrate to do for me when there is a Magistrate and he is bound to use his Authority therein Quest Quest But what if errors be of less moment can there be nothing done to men to restraine them from such Answ Answ Yea such may be troubled for such ways of evill that their Consciences put them upon so far as to take off the wantonness of their spirits their neglect of means In times of Liberty there is a great wantonness upon mens spirits they are equally ballanced to receive truth or error and every little thing casts the ballance as interest in a friend esteem from such men of repute c. Now to help against such tentations if an erroneous person shall see that there is somthing to be suffered in that way it may be a meanes to restraine him from embracing it Quest Quest Suppose a man be not wanton but serious and neglects no meanes to inform his Conscience and yet he cannot yeild what may be done to such a man Answ Answ He should be dealt with in much tendernesse and love yet in such things as by his weakness he makes himselves less serviceable to the Common-wealth or Church then other men he may be denyed some benefits and priviledges which are granted unto others Quest But by fomenting Divisions Quest those which are in authority may rule the people best the divisions of the times are their advantages and their ends are best served when Church and State are most divided Answ Answ But let men that for such ends love division consider that 1. To maintaine that which is evill 2. To aime at their owne ends not regarding what publick mischiefes follow so their private advantages might be served 3. Not careing what the divisions are if so be their turne may be served this is abominable and cursed is that man that wishes for or rejoyceth in or seeks the continuance of divisions for such base ends yea he is not worthy to breath in so good an air as Englands is that would not willingly lay down his life to cure the present divisions that are amongst us Just it were that such a man should be separated to evil and that his name should be blotted out from under Heaven Mr. Burroughes his Irenicum Quest Quest How else may the wickedness of a tolleration of Heresies Blasphemies c. be made out Answ Answ 1 First The Scriptures of the Old and New Testament do oft command us to ask for follow after and to walk in that one good way and to contend earnestly for that one Faith to hold fast the truth c. and reproves and condems turning aside to any false way or halting between two or more Religions or Worships So 1 King 18.21 2 Kin. 17.33 41. Zeph. 1.5 Secondly God fore-tels and promises especially in the days of the Gospel to give one heart and one way to his people and that as there is but one Lord so his name shall be one and that all shall call upon and serve him with one consent Jer. 32.39 Ezek. 11.19 Zac. 14.9 And there are many exhortations to Christians to be of one mind and that there be no Schisms amongst them c. 2 Cor. 13.11 Phil. 2.2 4.2 1 Cor. 1.10 Eph. 4.3 therefore the toleration of all or many ways is contrary hereunto Thirdly A tolleration of false ways fights directly against many places of Scripture as 2 Cor. 13.8 We can do nothing against the truth but for the truth Pro. 23.23 Buy the truth and sell it not So Be valiant for the truth Strive for the faith of the Gospel They that keep the Law contend with the wicked Paul would not give place to false brethren no not for an hour and many other places named before Fourthly The sum of the Scripture is faith and a good life and the end