Reasons 1. In regard of the Majesty Wisdom and Grace of them from all other Writings for there is a great Glory in these Scriptures as in the making of this wonderful World which is most evidently discerned Heb. 11.1.2 By their Teachings which excel all humane teachings leading us from Satan from this world and our selves to God to holiness faith love fear obedience humility 3. The true events of them or fulfilling of the Prophesies contained in them 4. The consent and agreement of all the parts of them the like whereof cannot be shewed of so many several Writers since the world began 5. The admirable preservation thereof against Time and Tyrants all which could not extinguish them 6. The Devil and his Instruments rage against those that practise the Doctrines contained in them 7. The Conversion of thousands to God by the power of their Doctrine 8. The Vengeance that hath come upon such as have not obeyed them 9. The Acknowledgment of them by the very professed Adversaries thereof 10. The Miracles confirming them from Heaven 11. The fight of a Saviour to man is only by and from them And lastly the simplicity of the Writers and plainness of the Writings for God hath chosen the mean contemptible and despised to manifest unto the world his Mysteries 1 Cor. 1. These are sufficient to perswade that those holy Writings are inspired of God and so able to make wise unto Salvation and perfect to every good work These Scriptures contain the Law and Testimony and if any Church Council Prince or Potentate speak not according to this Word it is because there is not light in them Isa 8.20 And we are commanded to hold them accursed Gal. 1.8 9. For Whosoever shall adde unto these things God shall adde the plagues written herein and whosoever shall take away from these things God shall take his name out of the Book of life and out of the holy City and from those things that are written Revel 22. Much by us shall not need to be written on this Subject the thing is so evident and so generally acknowledged at least in words excepting the Papists with whom we have not here to do only we will adde some humane Testimonies Whites Way to the Church dedicated to two Bishops pag. 12. The learned Protestants affirm and prove that it is the doctrine of the Church of England Artic. 6 chap. That the Scripture comprehended in the Old and New Testament is the Rule of Faith so far that whatsoever is not read therein or cannot be proved thereby is not to be accepted as any point of Faith or needful to be followed but by it all Doctrines taught and the Churches Practice must be examined and that rejected which is contrary to it under what title or pretence soever it come unto us And further they say p. 1. That the Pope or any mortal man should be the Rule that must resolve in questions and controversies of Faith is an unreasonable Position void of all indifferency when common sense teacheth That he that is a party cannot be Judge And again pag. 17. Which is the Church is controversal which is the Scriptures is not therefore let that be the Rule which is out of doubt And again The Scriptures contain the Principles of our Faith and shall we not believe them Or cannot we know them infallibly of themselves without we let in the authority of the Church This and much more the learned Protestants have written and sufficiently confirms that no Church nor man whatsoever may be the Judge Rule or Umpier in matters of Faith but only the holy Scriptures and whosoever teacheth and practiseth otherwise they must hold and maintain the Papists Creed or Colliers Faith which the Protestants so much in words detest pag. 6. and mention our of Staphilus his Apology thus The Collier being at the point of death and tempted of the Devil what his Faith was answered I believe and dye in the Faith of Christs Church Being again demanded what the Faith of Christs Church was That Faith said he that I believe in Thus the Devil getting no other Answer was overcome and put to flight By this Paith of the Collier every unlearned man may try the spirits of men whether they be of God or no by this Faith he may resist the Devil and judge the true interpretation from the false and discern the Catholick from the heretical Minister the true Doctrine from the forged If the Answer of the Collier and the Papists Conclusion upon it be not sound but detestable as the Protestants confess and cry wo unto the Papists for the same and that justly Then is it no less detestable in the Protestants or any other to require or any to yeeld so far in Religion and Faith that upon such a temptation he hath no better answer to make than as the Collier to say I believe and dye in the Faith of the Church or of the Prince or of the Learned for being demanded what that Faith is if he be not able to prove it by Gods Word contained in the Scriptures it is no better nor other than the answer of the Collier The Faith that I believe in Oh how many millions of souls in this Nation not Papists but Protestants live and dye and have never other Faith than this whereunto they are constrained and compelled by persecution without either Faith or Knowledge CHAP. 2. The Interpreter of this Rule is the Scriptures and Spirit of God in whomsoever THe next thing as the immediate Question from this former is Who must interpret this Rule because as is objected There are many dark places in it 2 Pet. 3 hard to be understood Unto which we answer The two Witnesses of God shall be the onely Interpreters therof which are The Word of God contained in the same Scriptures and the Spirit of God so are they called Joh. 15.26 27. Act. 5.32 First for the Scriptures themselves though some Doctrines in some places be dark and obscure as Peter speaketh yet the self-same Doctrines in other places are plain and manifest For all the words of the Lord are plain to him that will understand and streight to them that would find knowledge Pro. 8.9 And knowledge is easie to him that will understand Prov. 14.6 Secondly the Spirit of God So saith the Apostle 1 John 2.6 It is the Spirit that beareth witness for the Spirit is Truth And John 14.26 But the Comforter which is the holy Ghost whom the Father will send in my Name he shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance which I have told you And Joh 16.13 Howbeit when he is come which is the Spirit of truth he will lead you into all truth for he shall not speak of himself but whatsoever he shall hear shall he speak and he will shew you of things to come And 1 Cor. 2.10 For the Spirit searcheth all things even the deep things of God And ver 11. For the
things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit of God And 1 Joh. 2.27 But the Anointing that ye have received of Him dwelleth in you and ye need not that any man teach you but as the same Anointing teacheth you of all things and it is true and is no lye and even as it hath taught you you shall abide in Him And 1 Joh. 3.24 Hereby we know that He abideth in us even by the Spirit that He hath given us And 1 Cor. 12.8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of Wisdom and to another the word of Knowledge by the same Spirit The Scriptures be so plain in this that the greatest adversaries thereof do acknowledge the truth of it only herein lyeth the difficulty Who it is that hath this Spirit of God to interpret the Scriptures which is this sure Rule which in the next place is to be handled CHAP. 3. That the Spirit of God to understand and interpret the Scriptures is given to all and every particular person that fear and obey God of what degree soever they be and not to the wicked PRoved Psal 25.12 What man is he that feareth the Lord him will he teach the way that he shall chuse And ver 14. The secret of the Lord is revealed to them that fear Him and his Covenant to give them understanding And Psal 107.43 Who is wise that he may observe these things he shall understand the loving-kindness of the Lord. And Dan 12.10 None of the wicked shall have understanding but the Wise shall understand For God will do nothing but He revealeth his Secrets to his Servants Amos 3.7 And Psal 119.99 c. I have had more understanding than all my Teachers and than all the Antients because I kept thy Precepts For he that keepeth the Law is a Child of understanding Prov. 28.7 And Joh. 14.15 If ye love me keep my Commandments and I will pray the Father and He shall give you the Spirit of Truth And ver 23. If any man love me he will keep my Word and my Father and I will come unto him and will dwell with him And John 7.17 If any man will do his Will he shall know of the Doctrine whether it be of God or no. And Acts 5.32 Yea and the holy Ghost whom God hath given to all that obey Him And Luke 21.15 I will give you my Disciples that obey me and suffer for my sake a mouth and wisdom c. and Luke 12.12 The holy Ghost shall teach you what ye shall say For Mat. 10.20 It is not you that speak but the Spirit of my Father that speaketh in you And Mark 4.11 To you my followers is given to know the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God but not to them that are without For the Mystery of the Gospel is made manifest to the Saints Col. 2.2 The Church and Saints of God have revealed unto them by the Spirit the things that eye hath not seen c. 1 Cor. 2.9 10. And they have received the Spirit of God that they might know the things that are given them of God But the natural man perceiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned but he that is spiritual discerneth all things c. ver 14. Hence is most plain to whom the Spirit of God is given even to every particular Saint of God And it is no private spirit but even the publick Spirit of God which is in him which enableth him to understand and so to declare the things given him of God 2 Pet. 1.20 That is a private spirit that is not of God though it be in multitudes but the Spirit of God though but in one Saint is not private Gods Spirit is not private for it is not comprehended only within one place person or time as mans is but it is universal and eternal so is not mans therefore mans is private though they be many Gods is publick though but in one person CHAP. 4. Those that fear and obey God and so have the Spirit of God to search out and know the mind of God in the Scriptures are commonly and for the most part the simple poor despised c. PRoved Mat. 11.5 Our Saviour faith The Poor receive the Gospel And v. 25. I thank thee Father because thou hast opened these things unto Babes it is so O Father because thy good pleasure was such And Jam. 2.5 Hearken my beloved Brethren hath not God chosen the Poor of this world that they should be rich in Faith and Heirs of the Kingdom which he hath promised c. And 1 Cor. 1.26 c. Brethren you see your calling that God hath chosen the foolish of this world the weak of this world the vile of this world and dispised and which are not Gods dealing is to give unto the Simple sharpness of wit and to the Child knowledge and discretion Prov. 1.4 The Sprit bloweth where it listeth John 3.8 and is not tyed to the Learned Poor persecuted Micaiah had the Truth against four hundred of King Ahabs Prophets 1 King 22. So had Jeremiah against all the Priests and Prophets of Israel The Lord of Life himself in his fleshly being what was he but a man full of sorrows in his Birth laid in a Cratch because there was no room for him in the Inne Luk 2.7 A Carpenter by Trade Mar. 6.3 Having not a hole to rest his head in Mat. 8.20 And in his Death contemned and dispised His Apostles in like manner what were they but mean men Fishermen Tentmakers and such like having no certain dwelling-place 1 Cor. 4.11 which the worldly-wise Scribes and Pharises took notice of and reproachfully said Joh. 7.48 Do any of the Rulers or of the Pharisees believe in him but this people that know not the Law are accursed ver 49. The truth of this is as plain as may be that the Scriptures being the Rule of Faith perfect and absolute and that the plainness of them is such as by the Spirit of God they may be easily understood of those that fear and obey God but of none else and that such are most commonly the poor and dispised for if any man want wisdom be he never so simple let him ask of God and he will give him Jam. 1.5 Which is also confirmed by humane Testimonies The Protestants confess Whit. pag. 7. That in the Primative Church the Doctrines and several points of Religion were known and discovered by the most mean of the people and the Bishops exhorted them thereunto c. Also pag. 9. That this Rule is of that nature that it is able to direct any man be he never so simple yea the most unlearned alive may conceive and understand it sufficiently for his salvation And they relate the Sayings of the Ancient in this thing pag. 32. First Clemens Alexandrinus The Word is not hid from any it is a common Light
ground is manifested in this Dialogue following wherein is shewed their palpable ignorance in that they know not the Mystery of God and therefore have they made this Canon in flattery to the King only to support their Pride and Cruelty For if the Kingdom or Land of Israel or Canaan now under the Gospel be an earthly Kingdom or Land or Israel now a worldly or fleshly Israel as both were under the Law Then we would confess there should be an earthly King thereof But if the Kingdom of Israel now be not earthly but heavenly Joh. 18.36 and the Israelites now not of this world Joh. 15.19 Then the King thereof is not of this world as they are not of this world Joh. 17.16 And if these spiritual Lords confess that Christ is King now of the Land and People of Israel but yet he hath left our Lord the King his Deputy to make such Laws and Lords over the Church as pleaseth him the Word of the Lord is against them There is but one Lord 1 Cor. 12.5 and one Law-giver Jam. 4.12 over his Church Nay his Majesty himself is against them who saith There is no earthly Monarch over the Church whose word must be a Law And saith further Christ is his Churches Monarch and the holy Ghost his Deputy alledging Luk. 22.25 The Kings of the Gentiles bear rule one over another c. but it shall not be so among you Saying further Christ when he ascended left not Peter with them to direct them in all truth but promised to send the holy Ghost to them for that end c. If any will be rebellious against the Word of the Lord herein yet let them not be rebellious against the word of the King Oh that any thing would prevail with them to make them leave off these cruel courses of persecuting poor souls that desire truly to fear God and are most faithful Subjects to the King and desire also the salvation of the souls of these their cruel Persecrutors who do seek their utter undoing by all the fore-named Persecutions only because they cannot of faith offer up such Worship to God as these spiritual Lords command and the rather let them leave off persecuting seeing the Kings Majesty acknowledgeth It is a sure Rule in Divinity That God loves not to plant his Church by Violence and Bloodshed And if it be a Law for all Christians That in indifferent things one must not offend another but the strong to forbear rather than offend his weak brother otherwise he wounds the weak conscience and sins against Christ 1 Cor. 8. Then how much less hath any man power to be Lord over the weak conscience forcing it to practise that it hath not faith in bringing it thereby unto sin and unto condemnation Rom. 14. We do unfainedly acknowledge the Authority of earthly Magistrates God's blessed Ordinance and that all earthly Authority and Command appeartains unto them let them command what they will we must obey either to do or suffer upon pain of Gods displeasure besides their punishment But all men must let God alone with his Right which is to be Lord and Law-giver to the soul and not command obedience for God where he commandeth none And this is onely that which we dare not but maintain upon the peril of our souls which is greater than bodily affliction And only for the maintenance of Christs right herein do false Prophets and Deceivers who by that craft are cloathed in fine apparrel and fare deliciously every day labour to make us odious in the ears and eyes of Prince and People knowing well that if they had not power by Persecution to force men to dissemble to believe as they their kingdom and gain would soon come to nought the wickedness of which course is discovered in this Writing following For the manner being Dialogue-wise we thought it the fittest in two respects First for the understanding of the simple to whom especially Gods Mysteries appertain more than to the wise and prudent of the world Secondly Because all the Objections that we have met with might be set down and the plainlyer answered And because we have faith and assurance that many will see and acknowledge the unlawfulness of tyrannizing over the Conscience by persecuting the bodies of such as cannot be subject We have also though it meet to manifest the fearful estate of such subjection that they may deliver their souls if they will be saved and also have set down the beginning of that old and good way that John Baptist Christ Jesus and his Apostles have left unto all that will be saved unto the end of the world Beseeching that Almighty worker that he would work in the hearts and consciences of men that they may enquire for it and that out of the Scriptures and walk therein then shall they find Rest unto their souls although Afflictions to their bodies Oh it is time for the Lord to work for they have destroyed his Law and have set up in many Nations such Worship for God as best pleaseth them that are in Authority and have power to persecute the contrary-minded Let all Gods People cry How long Lord when wilt thou come to destroy Antichrists cruel Kingdom and establish Christs meek and peaceable Kingdom As thou hast begun even come Lord Jesus by the Spirit of thy Mouth and the Brightness of thy Coming even come quickly Amen By Christs unworthy Witnesses his Majesties faithful Subjects Commonly but most falsly called ANA-BAPTISTS PERSECUTION for RELIGION JUDG'D and CONDEMN'D In a DISCOURSE between an ANTICHRISTIAN a CHRISTIAN Antichristian VVHy come you not to Church Christian VVhat should I do there Antich Worship God Chr. I must worship God as he requireth and not as any mortal man requireth Ant. True but the Worship that we require you to offer up is the Worship God requireth Ch. If it be so I will with all willingness assent unto it but my conscience must be satisfied thereof by the Word of Truth that I may have faith in it otherwise it is my grievous sin Rom. 14.23 For I may not believe it so to be because you affirm it Ant. Well you must go to Church otherwise you are disobedient to the Law and will fall under punishment Ch. But still remember that you would have me worship God as you pretend therefore let us agree what Worship God requireth Christ saith Joh. 4.24 God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and Truth Here we see what Worship God requireth viz. That we worship him with our Souls and Spirits and also that we worship him according to the Truth of his Word And therefore for your Book-worship if it were according to Truth from the which it is as far as light is from darkness yet if I cannot offer it up with my spirit it is not acceptable to God but most abominable Ant. Well you must come to Church Ch. I pray let me ask you a
that their action The other are not the persons appointed of God to be baptized but sinned in that their action and must repent thereof by your opposits own confession But if this be granted this question ariseth Who shall then baptize after Antichrists exaltation Ch. For answer to this There are three wayes professed in the world One by the Papists and their several successors professing succession from the Pope and his ministers Another by the Familists and scattered flock that none may intermeddle therewith lawfully till their extraordinary men come Another we and others affirm That any Disciple of Christ in what part of the world soever coming to the Lords way he by the Word and Spirit of God preaching that way unto others and converting he may and ought also to baptise them The two former I shall through the help of God confute and confirm the latter by the Scriptures First to the Papists and all their several successors some standing for all by succession from Rome some for more some for less some for nothing but Baptism being of our Judgement for the appointing of their Ministry To them all I answer with the words of the Lord Psa 50.16 What have Antichrists Ministers to do to take Gods Word in their mouths or to declare his Ordinances seeing they hate to be reformed and have cast Gods Word behind their backs If they have nothing to do with his Word and Ordinances then not with Ministry and Baptism Besides God hath forbidden that the adversaries of Him his Temple and them that dwell in Heaven should build according to that of Nehem. 2.20 The God of Heaven he will prosper us and we his Servants will rise up and build but as for you you have no portion nor right nor memorial in Jerusalem Secondly to that fantastical Sect I answer It is their dream and false vision to look for extraordinary men for God hath not spoken it For if an Angel from Hevven should come and preach otherwise than those extraordinary men the Apostles have preached which none else could preach and which is written in Christs Testament we are to hold them accursed Gal. 1.8 9. Which Truth none need go into Heaven to seek but every one that searcheth the Scriptures may find by the direction of the holy Ghost which God hath promised to all that obey him Acts 5. and ask it Mat. 6.1 Indif Now I pray you let me hear your confirmation of your practice Ch. As it was in the second building of the material Temple after the captivity of Babylon in Caldea so according to the true proportion it is to be in the second building of the spiritual Temple after the captivity of spiritual Babylon Now this is to be observed in the former that every Israelite with whom the Lord was and whose spirit the Lord stirred up was commanded to go and build Ezra 1.3 5. though some were more excellent in the business than others So now every spiritual Israelite with whom the Lord is and whose spirit the Lord stirreth up are commanded to go and build and the Lord will prosper them in rising up and building though some be more excellent in the business than others the beginning of which spiritual building is first to beget men anew by the immortal seed to Gods Word so making them living stones and thereupon to comple them together a spiritual house unto God 1 Pet. 2. upon the confession of their Faith by Baptism as the Scriptures of the New Testament every where teach as before is shewed Indif It is confessed of many that any that have gifis may preach and convert but not baptize Ch. Such our Saviour accounteth Hypocrites and reproveth Mat. 23. that held it was lawful to swear by the Temple but not by the Gold on the Temple by the Altar but not by the Offering on the Altar to whom he saith Wether is greater the Gold or the Temple that sanctifieth the Gold the Offering or the Altar that sanctifieth the Offering So may I say Whether is greater the Water and Washing or the Word that sanctifies the Water Indif What other example have you in the Scriptures that an unbaptized person may baptize Ch. If there were no other than that afore-mentioned it were sufficient An Israelite circumcised in flesh God stirring up his heart was to build the Temple made with hands from the first stone to the last So an Israelite circumcised in heart God stirring him up is to build the Temple made without hands from the first stone to the last beginning with Go preach and baptize teaching to observe all that God commands as Christ teacheth his Disciples to the end of the world But further we have the particular example of John Baptist who being unbaptised preached converted and baptised Indif But John Baptist was an extraordinary man it will be objected for God spake to him extraordinarily Ch. What then Is not his practice written for our instruction God hath spoken at several times after sundry manners Heb. 1.1 c. yet all to one end As for this of John Baptist the same God that spake to John Baptist in the wilderness his Word the same God speaketh to us in his Scriptures the same Word he spake to John and therefore seeing the Lord hath spoken who shall not preach and practise according to his Word seeing now God speaketh to no particular persons For whatsoever things were written afore time were written for every mans instruction Rom. 15.4 Indif Many famous men as Mr. Perkins and others confess that if a Turk should come to the knowledge of the Truth in Turkey he might preach the same to others and converting them baptize them though unbaptized himself Ch. True but this Mystery of Iniquity so prevaileth perswading many that they are Christians because they had Baptism in their Infancy when it appertained not to them that they think their case is better than the Turks though alas it is much worse for it shall be easier for the Turks than for them if Gods VVord be true Are not all Jews and Gentiles in one estate by nature and is there more than one way of coming to Christ for them both namely to be the Sons of God by Faith and to put on Christ by Baptism Gal. 3.26 27. Who hath set up his new way Christ or Antichrist Indif Many of those called Brownists do confess that they are reasonably perswaded that Antichristians coming to the Truth may be baptized and they would not differ with you concerning that but that you deny Infants Baptism What say you may not the Infants of the Faithful be baptized Ch. No except God have appointed it Indif You know it is granted that there is neither plain command nor example for it in Christs Testament but from the consequence of Circumcision in that Covenant that God made with Abraham and his seed Gen. 17. and other places agreeing therewith Ch. Let us endeavour to put an end to this if it
came the same he taught and practised as begore so did his Apostles after him for the weapons of his warfare are not carnal c. 2 Cor. 10.4 But he charged strictly that his Disciples should be so far from persecuting those that would not be of their Religion that when they were persecuted they should pray Mat. 5. when they were cursed they should bless the reason is because they that are now Tares may hereafter become Wheat tehy who are now blind may hereafter see they that now resist him may hereafter receive him they that are now in the Devils snare in adversness to the Truth may hereafter come to repentance they that are now Blasphemers Persecutors Oppressors as Paul was may in time become Faithful as he they that are now Idolaters as the Corinths once were 1 Cor. 6.9 may hereafter become true worshippers as they they that are now no People of God nor under mercy as the Saints sometimes were 1 Pet. 2.20 may hereafter become the People of God and obtain mercy as they Some come not till the eleventh hour Mat. 20.6 if those that come not till the last hour should be destroyed because they came not at the first then should they never come but be prevented And why do men call themselves Christians and do not the things Christ would CHAP. 7. Persecution for cause of Conscience is against the profession and practice of famous Princes First we beseech your Majesty we may relate your own worthy Sayings in your Majesties Speech at Parliament 1609. Your Highness saith It is a sure Rule in Divinity that God never loves to plant his Church by violence and bloodshed c. And in your Highness Apol. pag. 4. speaking of such Papists as took the Oath thus I gave a good proof that I intended no persecution against them for Conscience cause but only desired to secured for civil obedience which for Conscience cause they were bound to perform And pag. 60. speaking of Blackwel the Arch-Priest your Majesty saith It was never my intention to lay any thing to the said Arch-Priests charge as I have never done to any for cause of Conscience c. And in your Highness Expos on Revel 20. printed 1588 and after 1603. your Majesty truly writeth thus Sixtly The compassing of the Saints and besieging of the beloved City declareth unto us a certain note of a false Church to be Persecution For they come to seek the Faithful the Faithful are those that are sought the Wicked are the besiegers the Faithful be besieged Secondly the saying of Stephen King of Poland I am King of men not of Consciences a Commander of bodies not of Souls c. Thirdly the King of Bohemia hath thus written And notwithstanding the success of the later time wherein sundry opinions have been hatched about the subject of Religion may make one clearly discern with his eye and as it were touch with his finger that according to the verity of holy Scripture and a Maxime heretofore held and maintained by the ancient Doctors of the Church That mens Consciences ought in no sort to be violated urged or constrained and whensoever men have attempted any thing by this violent course whether openly or by secret means the issue hath been pernicious and the cause of great and wonderful Innovasions in the principallest and mightiest Kingdoms and Countries of all Christendom c. And further his Majesty saith So that once more we do protest before God and the whole world that from this time forward we are firmly resolved not to persecute or molest or suffer to be persecuted or molested any person whosoever for matter of Religion no not they that profess themselves to be of the Roman Church neither to trouble or disturb them in the exercise of their Religion so they live conformable to the Laws of the States c. And for the practice of this Where is Persecution for cause of Conscience except in England and where Popery reigns and not there neither in all places as appeareth by France Poland and other places Nay it is not practised among the Heathen that acknowledge not the true God as the Turk Persian and others CHAP. 8. Persecution for cause of Conscience is condemned by the ancient and later Writers yea by Puritans and Papists HIllary against Anxentius saith thus The Christian Church doth not persecute but is persecuted and lamentable it is to see the great folly of these times and to sigh at the foolish opinion of this world in that men think by humane aid to help God and with worldly pomp and power to undertake to defend the Christian Church I ask of you Bishops what help used the Apostles in the publishing of the Gospel With the aid of what Power did they preach Christ and converted the Heathen from their Idolatry to God When they were Imprisoned and lay in Chains did they praise and give thanks to God for any dignities graces and favours received from the Court Or do you think that Paul went about with Regal Mandates or Kingly Authority to gather and establish the Church of Christ Sought he Protection from Nero Vespatian c. The Apostles wrought with their hands for their own maintenance travelling by land and water from Town to City to preach Christ yea the more they were forbidden the more they taught and preached Christ But now alas humane help must assist and protect the Faith and give the same countenance To and by vain and worldly honours do men seek to defend the Church of Christ as if He by his Power were unable to perform it The same against the Arians The Church now which formerly by enduring Misery and Imprisonment was known to be a true Church doth now terrific others by Imprisonment Banishment and Misery and boasteth that she is highly esteemed of the world whereas the true Church cannot but be hated of the same Tertul. ad Scapul It agreeth both with humane Equity and natural Reason that every man worship God uncompelled and believe what he will for another mans Religion or Blief neither hurteth nor profiteth any man neither beseemeth it any Religion to compel another to be of their Religion which willingly and freely should be imbraced and not by constraint for asmuch as the Offerings were required of those that freely and with a good will offered and not from the contrary Jerom. in Proaem lib. 4. in Jeremiam Heresie must be cut off with the sword of the Spirit Let us strike through with the arrows of the Spirit all sons and disciples of misled Hereticks that is with testimonies of holy Scriptures The slaughter of Hereticks is by the Word of God Brentius on 1 Cor. 3. No man hath power to make or give Laws to Christians whereby to bind their Consciences For willingly freely and uncompelled with a ready desire and chearful mind must those that come run unto Christ Luther in his Book of the Civil Magistrate The Laws of the Civil Government
Conscience and persecute all that submit not to them 2. Let it be well observed only the Kings of Israel had this power but no other Kings whose Commonwealths did flourish to them and their seeds after them to many generations and it must be granted that he that is King of Israel now which is Jesus Christ the truth of those typical Kings of Israel he hath the power according to the proportion the temporal Kings had temporal power to compel all to the observation of those carnal or temporal Commandments Heb. 7.16 and 9.10 So Christ the Spiritual King hath Spiritual Power to compel all to the observation of his Spiritual Commandments For when he came himself said Joh. 4.23 The hour cometh and now is when the true Worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth for the Father requireth even such to worship him If Christ be only King of Israel that sits upon Davids Throne for ever as he is Acts 2.30 far be it from any King to take Christs seat from him The Wisdom of God foresaw that seeing the Misteries of the Gospel are such spiritual things as no natural men though they be Princes of this world can know them he left not Kings and Princes to be Lords and Judges thereof seeing they are subject to erre but he left that Power to his beloved Son who could not erre and the Son left his only Deputy the holy Ghost and no moral man whatsoever as your Highness worthily acknowledgeth in Apol. pag. 46. I utterly deny that there is any earthly Monarch over the Church whose word must be a Law and who cannot erre by an infallibility of spirit Because earthly Kingdoms must have earthly Monarchs it doth not follow the Church must have a visible Monarch too Christ is the Churches Monarch and the holy Ghost his Deputy The Kings of the Gentiles reign over them but you shall not be so c. Luke 22. Christ when he ascended left not Peter with them to direct them into all truth but premised to send the holy Ghost unto them for that end c. Further these Learned alledge the Commandments Exod. 23.33 Deut. 7. and Deut. 13. where Israel are commanded to destroy all the Inhabitants of the Land lest they intice them to serve their gods and to slay all false prophets c. These they collect from the time of the Law for in the time of the Gospel they have nothing to alledge for Rom. 13. maketh nothing for their purpose Caesar being a Heathen King For answer unto the places of Moses first The sins of this people the Canaanites were full and the Lord would destroy them and give their possessions unto the Israelites but the sins of the refusers of Christ are not full until the end or last hour as before is proved 2. The Children of Israel had a special Commandment from the Lord to destroy them but the Kings of the Nations have no Command at all to destroy the bodies of the contrary-minded nay they are expresly forbidden it Mat. 13.29.3 The Canaanites would have rebelled against Israel and have des troyed them but the contrary-minded will not rebell against their Kings but give unto them the things that belong unto them not so much for fear as of conscience and of this the GOD of Gods is Witness 4. The Heads and Rulers of Israel could command and compel the people to observe those carnal Rites and Ordinances of the Law even as CHRIST the Head and Ruler of Israel can compel to the observations of his spiritual Ordinances of the Gospel but the Heads of the Nations cannot compel their Subjects to believe the Gospel for Faith is the gift of God which Faith if they want all they do in Gods Worship is sin Rom. 14.23 Heb. 11.6 Therefore they cannot compel any to worship because they cannot give them Faith for which cause the Lord in wisdom saw it not meet to charge Kings with a duty which they cannot perform God will never require it at their hands the blood of the faithless and unbelieving shall be on their own heads He that will not believe shall be damned Mark 16.16 Again Seeing it is true as your Majesty well observeth in your Highness speech at Parl. 1609. That the Judicials of Moses were only fit for that time and those persons And also it is confessed the Law for Adultery Theft and the like is not now to be executed according to the Judicials of Moses nor directions for the Magistrates of the Earth to walk by Why should these be any directions for them seing also our Savior and his Apostles have taught the contrary as before hath been proved If all false Prophets should be now executed according to Deut. 13. the Kings of the Earth would not onely be deprived of many of their Subjects but the Cities of their habitation with all the Inhabitants of the Cities must be destroyed with the edge of the sword the cattel thereof and all the spoyl thereof must be brought into the midst of the City and the City and all therein by burnt with fire be made a heap of stones for ever and never be built again which God forbid such execration should ever be seen And if these Judicials of Moses be not now directions for the Kings of Nations we reade not in all the Book of God any directions given to Kings to rule in matters of Conscience and Spiritual Worship to God But often we reade that the Kings of the Nations shall give their power to the Beast and fight against the Lamb Rev. 16.14 and 17.2 12 13 14 18. and 18. 3 9. and 19.19 as lamentable experience hath plainly taught it Thus all men may see there is only deceit in these Learned mens comparisons of the Kings of Israel in the Law with the Kings of Nations in time of the Gospel in matters of Religion Much might be written to prove that Kings are not deprived of their power by permitting of Freedom of Religion but are rather deprived thereof by using compulsion to the contrary-minded and do sin grievously in causing them to sin for want of Faith but this may suffice the Almighty blessing it with his blessing which we humbly-beseech Him for his Christs sake for his own Glory sake for the prosperity and welfare of these Kingdoms and for the comfort of your faithful and true-hearted Subjects that are now distressed by long and lingring Imprisonments and otherwise who of conscience give unto Caesar the things which are his Which is to be Lord and Law-giver to the Bodies of his Subjects and all belonging to their outward-man for the preservation of himself and his good Subjects and for the punishment of the evil In which preservation the Church of Christ hath a special part when their outward Peace is thereby preserved from the fury of all adversaries in which respect Princes are called Nursing Fathers as many are at this day blessed be our Lord. Oh be pleased to consider why you should persecute us for humbly beseeching you in the words of the King of kings Mat. 22.21 To give unto God the things which are Gods which is to be Lord and Law-giver to the soul in that Spiritual Worship and Service which he requireth If you will take away this from God What is it that is Gods Far be it from you to desire to sit in the Consciences of men to be Law-giver and Judge therein This is Antichrists practice perswading the Kings of the Earth to give him their power to compel all hereunto But whosoever submitteth shall drink of Gods fierce wrath Revel 14.9 10. You may make and mend your own Laws and be Judge and Punisher of the transgressors thereof but you cannot make or mend Gods Laws they are perfect already Psal 19.7 You may not adde nor diminish Deut. 4.2 Rev. 22.18 19. Nor be Judge nor Monarch of his Church that is CHRISTS Right he left neither you nor any mortal man his Deputy but only the holy Ghost as your Highness acknowledgeth And whosoever erreth from the Truth his Judgment is set down 2 Thess 1.8 c. Rom. 2.8 c. and the time thereof Matth. 13.40 and 25.31 c. Rom. 2.16 This is the Sum of our humble Petition That your Majesty would be pleased not to persecute your faithful Subjects who are obedient to you in all Civil Worship and Service for walking in the practice of what Gods Word requireth of us for his Spiritual Worship as we have Faith knowing as your Majesty truly writeth in your Medit. on Mat. 27. pag. 69. in these words We can use no Spiritual Worship or Prayer that can be available to us without Faith This is the sum of our most humble Petition thus manifoldly proved to be just O LORD GOD of Glory raise up in this High Assembly the heart of some Nehemiah of some Ebed-melech That may open their mouthes for the Dumb that cannot speak for themselves in a Truth so apparant as this is lest it be said as Isa 59.16 And when he saw that there was no man he wondred that none would offer himself Therefore his Arm did save it and his Righteousness it self did sustain it And now we cease not to pray for the King and his Son and his Seed and this whol High and Honourable Assembly now and alwayes Calling the all-seeing God to witness that we are your Majesties loyal Subjects not for fear only but for Conscience sake Unjustly called ANA-BAPTISTS