Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	reason_n	zeal_n	zealous_a	45	3	9.2315	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

good matter without good order is not warrantable The Disciples that would have fire come down from Heaven knew not what spirit they were of Uzzahs dreadfull punishment for touching the Ark should make us look not only to the Duty but to the order of it We must not do evil that good may come of it Rom. 3.8 The damnation of such is just Thirdly A third thing in Division is when men do not keep in their proper places and offices If the foot will be the eye or the hand the head this is monstrous St. Paul teaches every member in the body to keep to its own office and calling And Oh! that our times would learn this lesson we should not have such wofull confusions in Church and State as of late we have had what a blessed Unity and comely Order would Church and State be in if every member would do his proper work What have private men to do in a Pulpit What have souldiers to do in constituting a Civil Government or Governors Where is their Warrant How will they answer it to God or man They are commanded to offer violence to no man and to be content with their wages Luke 3.14 Fourthly I st Division and Faction when the passions of men are sowred and imbittered with any carnal distempers This sin first affects the heart and then breaks out into action Though men be in a good way and are for the Truth and Glory of God yet if they do it in passion and with a froward heart here is a sinful Division Gods Righteousness and Truth needs not our passions Quest Quest Whence else proceed these Divisions Answ Answ First From mens ignorance for so long as we know but in part there will be different opinions and difference in opinions breeds difference in affections Ignorant persons like Children are easily seduced and run into ways of Division Secondly From self-confidence and Arrogancy When men think they have better abilities and more worth in them then indeed they have This makes them bold and disturbers of the Churches peace as we see in Corah Dathan and Abiram Num. 16.3 They thought there was as much in every person as in the Priests that God had set apart for that Office All the Congregation is holy Hence Paul commands us not to mind high things Rom. 12.16 which are above our place or capacity So was it with David Psalm 131.1 Hence 1 Cor. 8.2 If any think that he knows any thing c. Thirdly From worldly hopes and desires of advantage Earthly gain made Judas make such a sad breach Men that judge gain to be godliness soon make shipwrack of faith and a good conscience 1 Tim. 6.5 Many of the Arch-Hereticks formerly made those Divisions because they missed of that worldly Pomp and greatness which they expected 4. Sometimes it proceeds from the Tyranny and scandalous lives of Church-Officers One cause that Tertullian turned a Montanist was the loose lives of the Roman Clergy Q. Quest What are the effects of Division and Disunion in the Church especially in the Ministry Answ First Answ 1 It s apt to beget Atheism and Irreligion in the people It makes them think that Religion is a meer notion or nothing and therefore they will look after it no more But woe to the world because of offences in this kind It had been better for such that they had never been born Secondly It much grieves and unsettles the hearts even of the godly themselves they know not what to pitch upon whilst one godly Minister saith it s a sin others that it is no sin This cannot but exceedingly perplex tender Consciences that would not sin for a world Thirdly At such times prophanness and ungodliness doth exceedingly increase and godliness decaies in the power of it For whereas Ministers should encourage godliness and decry and reprove sin they busie themselves in preaching up their opinions and promoting their particular way which edifieth not Indeed the least Truths of God are not to be neglected yea all things are to be tried but this is not the main business the one thing necessary is to seek the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness Fourthly These Divisions amongst Protestants do exceedingly harden the Papists in their way Quest Quest What then should people do when Ministers and Professors are thus divided Answ Answ 1 First Do not thou by thy pragmatical medling widen the difference and raise more dust the hot indiscret carriages of the Disciples do sometimes make a greater distance amongst the Teachers As Johns Disciples out of envy did what they could to stir up Johns spirit against Christ but he by his humility soon quenched those sparks John 3.30 Secondly Consider that those which are godly do agree in the fundamentals which are necessary to salvation and for other things we cannot expect Unity in this life where some have more knowledge and more grace and self-denial then others Thirdly Labor thou to have thy faith informed and setled out of Gods word The Ministry is that by which we do believe but we do not believe in it the Samaritans believed Christ upon the womans report at the first but afterwards they believed him for his own sake Fourthly Humble your selves under these differences when you see them not to go the same way or to preach the same things acknowledg that it is for the barrenness unteachableness and other sins of the hearers that God hath raised such contentions amongst us Quest Why is Unity so necessary Quest Answ Answ Because all things in Religion are reduced to one If therefore every thing in Religion tend to Unity why should not the people of God embrace it the several unities are made a notable argument to this purpose Eph. 4.1 where the Apostle having exhorted Christians to walk worthy of their Calling he instanceth in such graces as procure unity as lowliness meekness and forbearing one another the end of which graces is set down verse 3. endeavouring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace then verse 4. he shews the Reason why there should be such Unity there is one body Christ hath not many bodies All the people of God are one body and it s very destructive when one member of the body conspires against the welfare of another Again There is one Spirit there is but one spirit that enlightens and sanctifies the whole Church of God why then should there be so many wayes and opinions yet all pretended to be of the same spirit Indeed there are diversity of gifts and operations yet the same spirit But he doth not say Contrarieties and the same spirit for that is impossible Again There is one hope of our Calling we are called to one inheritance there is but one Heaven why therefore should we be so different by the way when one place of glory must hold all and if one Church cannot now contain us how shall we think that one heaven will Again There is one

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

danger unto a Church by Heresies they are quickly conceived and brought forth Though truth gets on very slowly because of the incapacity of mans Judgment for supernaturalls because of that naturall opposition in man to the things of God because of the subtile interposition of the Prince of darkenesse who blindes the minds of men Lest the light of the Go●●el should shine into them yet errors break out easily and spread swiftly There needs no preparation of the ground for nettles If the seeds do but drop downe you may soone have a full crop How soone doth a litle leaven leaven the whole lump Paul wondered that the Galatians were so soone turned to another Gospel Gal. 1.6 The good man slept but one night and the field was sowen all over with tares How quickly did the world turne Arian How suddenly did the Anabaptists indanger Germany Fourthly Heresies are an encreasing and swelling floud False Doctrines at first seem to be modest they will be but scruples and quaere's and then they become to be probabilityes and then to be tollerable conclusions and then they rise to be unquestionable tenents then first to be made publick Articles and then necessary to be held and then the contrary not to be mantained and held nay to be disdained and reproached yea they do not only rise thus to be greater and greater but they multiply also like circles in a pond one Heresie begets another a lesser begets a greater If you consult Historicall Antiquity it s a wonder to behold the great flames that were kindled out of small sparks what monstrous opinions have been built upon errors which seemed but little at first c. Fifthly Heresies are more dangerous then any other floud by reason of their diverse qualities in them Other flouds are quickly up and quickly down these are quickly up but abate very slowly they are like diseases they come upon us flying but goe from us creeping For one Heretick who hath been poysoned in his judicials you may finde a thousand converted who have been only stained in their morals Heresie is shored up by all the parts arguments shifts and learning of carnall reason and it s born up by an haughty and proud spirit it s so fallacious that when you come to handle it it s so rammed in with obstinatnesse that it s almost a miracle to work effectually upon an Heretick Quest Quest Why what dangerous errors and Heresies are now divulged amongst us Answ Answ Take a brief Catologue of some of them 1. that God is the Authour of sin yea of the very sinfulnesse of the sinfull action 2. That the Saints in this life are fully perfect as omniscient as God 3. That the fulnesse of the God-head doth dwell bodily in every Saint in the same measure as it did in Christ whilest he dwelt here on earth 4. Then when the fulnesse of the Godhead shall be manifested in the Saints they shall have more power then Christ had and doe greater works then he did that then they shall have Divine honour 5. One was complained of for saying that Christ was a Bastard 6. Others that themselves were Iesus Christ the Messias 7. That Jesus Christ is not God essentially but nominally 8. That his humane nature was defiled with originall sin as well as ours 9. That he is not of an holier nature then men 10. That it is as possible for Jesus Christ to sin as it is for a Child of God to sinne 11. That there is no such thing as a Trinity of persons 12. That the Scriptures are but a humane invention a meer shadow a false History and ought not to be the foundation of any mans Faith more then the Apocrypha and other Books 13. That the Scriptures of the Old Testament doe not bind us Christians nor those of the New neither any further then the spirit for the present reveales to us that such a place is the Word of God 14. That God never loved one man more then another before the world and that the Decrees are all conditionall 15. That there is no Originall sin 16. That the will of man is still free even to supernaturals 17. That the Saints may fall totally and finally from grace 18. That Christ dyed alike for all yea that the salvificall virtue of his death extends to all Reprobates as well as to the Elect yea to the very Devills as well as unto men 19. That Christ came into the world not for satisfaction but for publication Not to procure for us and unto us the love of God but only to be a glorious publisher of the Gospell to us 20. That God is not displeased at all if his children doe sin and that its no less then Blasphemy for a child of God to ask pardon for his sins 21. That sanctification is a dirty and dungie qualification 22. That the Doctrine of Repentance is a soule-destroying Doctrine 23. That fastings and humblings are Legall and abominable 24. That the soules of men are mortall 25. That there is no heaven for the godly nor hell for the ungodly 26. That Civill Magistracy is Antichristian and but a usurpation 27. That the whole Ministry of the land as to their ordination and standing is Antichristian 28. That it s as lawfull to Baptize Dogs and Cats and Horses as Infants of Believers 29. That there is noe true Ministery c. This day in the world nor was since the generall Apostacy which they say began at the Death of the last Apostle 30. That there will be none til some Apostles be raised up and sent and when those Apostles come then there will be true Evangelists also and Pastors and not till then Quest Qust What must Magistrates doe in such cases as these Answ Answ They must doe their uttermost to restraine and repress them It was a scornfull speech of Tiberius that the Gods alone must remedy the jnjuries offered unto them O no Magistrates are made keepers of both Tables Are designed to be nursiing Fathers they receive the sword to be a terror to the evil Learned and pious Amesius handling the question whether Hereticks are to be punished by the civill Magistrate Answers that it is his place and duty to repress and restraine them and if they be noxious and turbulent if they be manifestly blasphemous and pertinacious they may saith he be punished with death as Lev. 24.15 16. Now that which is required of our Magistrates at this time is First A peremptory abhoring and crushing that abominable maxime viz a Catholicke liberty and tolleration of all opinions If men may be suffered to step from one Religion to another they will soone fall from all Religion to none Secondly A publick declaration against all Heresies and Blasphemies known to be spoken and printed When Ostorodius and Vaidovius declared their Socinian Heterodoxies in the Low Countries the States Generall banished those seducers and burnt their Books Thirdly Making some standing Lawes against such oppinions

from the end to which the civil Magistrate is appointed by God whether that end be more general or special 1. In General he is appointed for the good of his Subjects Rom. 13.4 whether that good be natural as safety of their bodies life c. or moral as Temperance Chastity c. or Civil as Civil liberties mens Lands Goods c. Or spiritual as the free passage of the Gospel the purity of Worship and of the Doctrine and Discipline of Christ c. Now if God hath made him a Minister for good all these ways then he hath armed him with power in a Civil way to promote that good of his Subjects and to rescue them from whatsoever breaks out to impair that good And truly corruptions in matters of Religion do strike at all that good both as they provoke God in Judgment to blast al that good to a people where they do prevail as they occasion breaches in a State to the prejudice of their liberties and peace witnesse the sad fruits of Popery formerly amongst us Of Anabaptisme in Germany and of Levellisme not long since in England and I pray God that these may be the last and to divert that storm which seems to approach by reason of many turbulent and seditious spirits now working amongst us and is not then the Magistrate who in a special manner is appointed for the spiritual good of his Subjects to maintaine and defend them by opposing and punishing all principles and practises which tend to the disturbance of the Church So Rom. 13.4 Isa 60.10 11 12. Obj. What need the Church any such helps It carried on Church-wayes and worship when the Rulers of the earth hindred it and it hath weapons of its own to avenge all disobedience 2 Cor. 10.6 Ans 1. It s true this help of Civil authority is not of absolute necessity to the being of a Church but it s an acumulative good conferred by God upon the Church to curb and hinder whatsoever is destructive to her good 2. When the Church hath used her power against the disturbers of her purity and peace yet even then they may and usually do grow more insolent and turbulent and do more hurt then they did before yea such may go from place to place to make proselytes So that either the Magistrates sword and service is needful or there will be left no ordinary nor orderly power to restrain and punish such grosse offenders Thirdly a third reason is from the prayers which God commands his people to make for this end and the praises which they return to God when such an end is attained 1. For prayers 1 Tim. 2.1 2. I exhort that prayers c. be made for Kings c. that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godlinesse and honesty Whence it follows 1. That we come not to God to desire to be let alone by authority in any way that is contrary to godlinesse or honesty the contrary desire being that which we are taught here to pray for 2. That Magistrates by their office now under the New Testament are to look to matters that pertaine to godliness both Doctrinal and Practical appearing in outward view as well as to matters of honesty 3. If this be a prayer according to the will of God as it must needs be being directed by the Holy Ghost then its Gods will that Magistrates should by their authority see that their subjects lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godlinesse and honesty that is free from disturbance in any such wayes of godlinesse by open and manifest disturbers thereof 2. For praises So in Ezra's dayes they thankfully acknowledged it as put into the hearts of their rulers by God to take such effectual care of pure peaceable and comfortably carrying on the whole work of God committed to them Ezra 7.25 c. So Revel 11.15 they praise God for that the Kingdomes of the earth are become the Kingdomes of Christ and for that he takes to himself the Kingdome Now the Kingdoms of the earth become Christs not onely when the people submit to Christs government but when such as Rule under Christ do rule for him and by their civil power suppresse such as openly oppose or seek to subvert or pervert his royal Laws and blessed institutions held forth in his Word Fourthly another argument may be taken from the zeal foretold to be in private Christians in Gospel-times whereby they should provoke civil authority to use the sword in punishing persons grosly guilty of corruptions in Religion so in that prophesie before spoken of Zach. 13.3 6. Fifthly Another reason is taken from the publick evil removed and good attained by the due use of such power and the sad mischiefs attending either the want or grosse neglect thereof Deut. 17.2 3 5 7. when Idolaters are commanded to be stoned it s added so shalt thou put away the evill from amongst you Good also is attained and that 1. Moral Deut. 17.10 All Israel shall hear and fear and do no more such wickednesse 2. Civil in regard of their outward estate God would then bless them with peace and plenty when the Idolaters were punished God sent raine 1 King 18.40 41. 2 Chron. 14.3 4 5. Consider also what a deluge of evils ensue when such power is wanting or not executed Thence idolatry Jude 17.4 5 6. Thence corruption in Church Discipline v. 12. with ch 18.1 yea it lets in all temporal judgements when there is none to stand in the gap and authoritatively to make up the hedge which is broken down by corrupters of Gods worship then an inundation of ruining judgements follows as Ezek. 21.25 26. with v. 30 31. and as it is mischievous to the Church and State so to the negligent rulers themselves and to their families It was the ruine of Eli's house 1 Sam. 2.22 23 24. with 27.28 c. Sixthly when Magistrates want zeal to restraine and punish Hereticks and corrupters of his Word and worship God stirs up zeal in others in an extraordinary way to do it When Ahab would not Elijah doth it 1 King 18. he will have it some way done and therefore he likes of it Obj. Object But grant such power to Magistrates and its the way to make men either basely to dissemble or to do something against their consciences Answ Answ 1 First you may say as much against that way which Asa and the State took 2 Chron. 15.12 13. when they enacted that whosoever would not serve the Lord should be slaine which they were encouraged unto by the prophecying of Oded ver 1. and for this the Lord gav● them rest v. 15. Josias also caused his Subjects to serve the Lord 2 Chron. 34.33 and you may as well say that this caused their Subjects either to dissemble or to sinne against their conscienc●s the like you may ob●●ct against Church-Censures as Gal. 5.10 12. 1 Tim. 1. ult Secondly Magistrates in restraining and punishing such things