and Paul the Tent-maker Further I ask Whether that Rule be not constant in the Christian Profession Not many Wise not many Noble not many Mighty And therefore Whether it be not against the purpose and designe of God and aaginst his declared will and course that his Servants should expect many Christian great or noble persons many Christian wife or learned men many Christian mighty men either for wealth or valour many Christian magistrates c. Hence though we finde the Saints in Caesars houshold Phil. 4. yet I ask How many Caesars Masters of those houshoulds do we finde believing in lesus for three hundred years together and therefore shether the poorest Saint in the Houshold or Court of these Caesars were not higher in Spiritual and Christian respects then those Emper ours of the World themselves Thirdly A true Christian who What is it that makes a Christian but the Spirit of Christ in a person manifested in the profession of his Name before the World Mat. 16. Rom 10. And if so I ask Whether that more of the Grace and knowledge of Christ render not persons more and more eminent and glorious in Christianity And consequently Whether the poorest Subject or Servant participating of more of the Grace and spirit of Christ be not invested with more of the Authority and Power of Christ Iesus What Christions the highnest in his affaires and Kingdome then the highest Magrstrates or Superiours that are not so indowed According to that Honour of all his Saints who especially bind Kings in chains c. And that charge from Heaven Iames 2.1 My Brethren have not the Faith of our Lord Iesus with respect of persons a Scripture that being read out in the following words seems at first blush to intrench upon civility and good manners except it be granted this in Christianity the greatest respect is not given to greatness of Place Birth Wealth Autherity Braverie c. but to the greatness of Humility and Grace of Christ according to that of the Lord Iesus Match 18. Whosoever shall humble himself as this little child the same is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven We read of two mighty Princes professing the name of Christ meeting together in England Charles the Fifthe Emperour of Germany Two mighty Princes pretending to glorious Hights in Christianity and Henry the Eighth of England Their names then soar'd so high for Christianity that they were both in Letters of Gold set upon the very Gates of Guildhal in London Carolus Defensor Ecclesiae Henricus Fidei yet when Luther or the poorest follower of the truth of Christ iesus witnessed by Luther were condemned and persecuted by that Charles the Fifth the great defender of the Church I ask Who had the greatest Authority in Christs affaires the great Emperous Charles or the poorest true Christian Yet the poorest witness of any truth of Christ Jesus above them And when that glorious pretended Defendour of the Faith Henry the Eighth with all his Nobles and Bishops sat in person with so much Glory and Majesty Terrour and Authority in that famous Disputation and Condemnation of that faithful witness of Christ Iesus Iohn Lambert I ask where was in truth the true Autority and power of Christ Iesus Whether in the stately assembly of Kings Nobles and Bishops or in the two-edged Sword of the Word and Spirit of God in the mouth of that one single and yet most faithful witness of Christ Iesus Nay further I ask The Authority of reproving in the name of Christ If that rule of Christ Iesus Luk. 17. be not yet in force If thy Brother sin against thee reprove him if he repent for give him Consequently Whether a Magistrate eminent in the grace and knowledge of Christ yet if a Brother in Christ be not to be reproved for sIn by his lowest Groom or handmaid and that by way of Authority in hte Name of Christ Jesus Yea and I add Whether have not such inferiour persOns Authority from Christ upon Repentance to grant a true pardon to such a magistrates penitent Soul then all the Popes and Priests in the World can affoard him And in case of final obstinacy contradicting and blaspheming I ask Whether such a poor Believer in Christ Jesus hath not a power and priviledge to separate from such a Magistrate in spiritual respects and refuse to touch Spiritually sUch a Spiritually unclean person The sum of the seventh Question Whether Artaxerxes and the K. of Nineveh Quest 7 did well in making their decrees c. I ask Answ Whether these two Kings and the Instances be not ill coupled for the one Artaxerxes Ezra 7. gave free liberty of conscience to the Iewes Artaxerxes his decree examined whereas the King of Nineveh forced all his people to a positive Act of Fasting But more particularly as to Artaxerxes 1. Was not an Idolatrous King A Terror of God sometimes causeth dilaters to favour Gods people a stranger from the God of Israel one that held the people of God in slavery one that had no true love to the God of Israel nor his people but onely out of a fear of the wrath of the God of Israel she wed favour to his people granted them free liberty of their conscience to go up to Ierusalem to worship 2. He bountifully incouraged and assisted them 3. He furnished them with a Decree suiting to their National Estate and mixt condition of Church and Comonweal But Secondly I ask Did this Artaxerxes compel any of these Iewes to his owne Religion which he believed to be the onely true the Religion of the Persians Or did he compel the Persians to the worship of the God of Israel Or did he compel the Iewes themselves or any one man of them to go up to the worship of their owne God at ierusalem but verse 13. Let all which are minded of their owne free will go up c. Therefore Thirdly I ask Artaxerxes his edict freely made for soul freedom What Conclusion can be gathered from thence but that it sometime pleaseth God to affect the hearts of Idolatrous Kings with kindness to his people and forceth them to permit his people the liberty of their consciences yea and that with Countenance Incouragements and Authority for which mercy although the Nations where they live and the Princes thereof partake not of such mercies themselves yet ought Gods people to praise God as Ezra doth Fourthly I ask Whether this Instance of Artaxerxes do not absolutely condemn the forcing of all the people and consciences in a Nation to one way of worship whether Popish or Protestant or to any particular sect or way of either of them And Whether it do not absolutely make for Soul-Freedom in spiritual matters in that these very Iewes were not forced to their own Ierusalem but as every one was freely willing c. Secondly As to the proclamation of the King of Nineveh First I ask Whether all
whether to offer to this work one peny or not as appeares both by the Decrees of Cyrus in the first Chapter of Darius in the sixth and of Artaxerxes in the seventh Secondly he decreed bountitiful Assistance out of his owne Treasury toward the building of the Temple the Sacrifices c. Thirdly a Decree against any that should oppose or hinder the building of this House and therefore accordingly whosoever would not do the Law of God and of the King judgement must be executed speedily c. And chap. 6.11 whosoever should alter Darius his decree Timber should be pull'd downe from his house and being set up he must be hanged thereon and his house made a dunghil If any shall say The command of God and the King here mentioned was a command and Law in Spirituals c. I ask What Law was the Law of Artaxerxes the King The Law of Artaxerxes was an absolute Law of Toleration of the Iews Conscience vastly differing from and opposite to his was it of commanding the Iewes to his Worship and Conscience in an Uniformity of Worship to the Nation wherein they were captive Yea was it a commanding of the Iewes to their owne Religion or onely on his part a Law of Toleration and Freedome to practise their owne Religion Conscience and Worship and that with favourable Incouragement from himself For as before if the force were removed although Artaxerxes should have given them no Countenance nor Incouragement Yet I ask whether as Iewes Gods people and subjects they ought not of themselves to have departed from Babylor and from all parts of the World and to have ascended to Ierusalem as the Iews literally dream to their holy City and there have built the Temple and presented their Sacrifices c. Further The literal and Spiritual Iew. I ask As Artaxerxes made not one Law either how or when the Iewes should pray or fast c. but left them free to their owne Conscience to go up or not to go up to Ierusalem so when these Kings did makes Lawes in Spirituals as concerning prayer whether Daniel did not well in refusing to cease praying or by shutting of his window to give appearance of obedience though to the extream ruine of life c. And consequently Whether as the Iewes refused to be subject to any Judicature but Gods alone revealed by Moses So whether Christian Israel and Iews ought to acknowledge any Tribunal but Gods Thirdly I ask Whether the plain English of not tolerating the Idolater and Heretick hath not been in all Ages since Christ Iesus the not tolerating indeed of Christ Iesus God manifested in flesh and both in his owne Person and in his Followers the hunting or persecuting of him out of the world Was there ever any of the Prophets esteemed so great an Heretick from the Iewish Religion Christ Iesus accounted and hanged as the greatest Blasphemer and Heretick that was as Christ Iesus was was there ever such a Blasphemer of God as the High Priest esteemed him as the blessed Son of God God himself Christ Iesus And doth not the many Books of Martyrs in our owne and other Languages set forth that under this Hood and Vizard the Devil hath cast the Saints into Prison Rev. 2. He hath watched to devour the Man-child Rev. 12. and hunted the Woman the Spouse of Christ Jesus and her seed And the great Whore pretending that she drinks the blood of Hereticks c. hath been drunk with the blood of the Saints and Witnesses of Iesus Rev. 17. Hence will not Reason suspect a Murtherous snare in the Law pretended against Thieves Robbers True grounds of suspition in Spirituals Whores c. and yet most commonly falling upon none but honest and faithful chast and modest Persons Are not these Engines worthily to be questioned which pretending to take none but Birds of prey and Wolves c. and yet ordinarily catch nothing but harmeless Doves the Sheep and Lambs c. If it be said Idolatry Heresie c. are the chiefest Enemies in Religion c. I ask First If those very famous Religions which have pretended themselves the truest in the World have not been found the greatest Idols c. Secondly Christ Iesus his Spiritual provision against Spiritual Adversaries Grant them to be the greatest Enemies yet since Enemies are of two sorts Spiritual and Corporal I ask Whether as Corporal weapon are proper against Corporal so whether Spiritual weapons are not only proper against meerly Spiritual Adversaries Thirdly Could Christ Iesus so forget himselfe as not to take sufficient order for Spiritual weapons against all his Spiritual enemies In a Battel or Fight by Sea or Land how apt are men to charge Generals and Commanders if Ammunition be wanting c. Yea in that case how justly may men complain as in 88 that Powder was said to be wanting in our own Ships at our owne doores And shall iâ— be imagined that the Last Will and Testament of the Son of God his whole Life his 40 daies after his Resurrection and those Gifts which upon his Triumph in Heaven he sent upon men should leave his Army his Family his Kingdome his Wife unprovided c. so that in the very day of the Battel they must be forced to the Forge of the Philistims to borrow Swords Halberts Guns Pikes Prisons Halters against Idolaters Hereticks c. Fourthly I may end and ask in the Proposers owne words whether he be not neer a Curse that would change the two-edged Sword of Gods Spirit the word of God for a Sword of steel in the hand of Civil Officers and the Arme of the eternal Spirit of God for an arme of Flesh c. And if blessed are Christs peace-makers Christs Cursings and Blessings and Christs persecuted Matth. 5. how neer to a curse doth he come that brings not Buckets to quench but Bellowes to kindle the Fire of Gods Jealousie against State Inventions the Fires of persecutions and hunting of Christs Saints the Fires of devouring Wars amongst the Nations for their respective Religions and Consciences How neer to a curse doth he come who under a Cloak of Christian Magistrate True Religion Zeal against Idolaters Hereticks c. shall conceal a Dagger which yet I hope this Proposer knowingly doth not stabbing at the heart of God his Christ his Spirit his Saints his pure Worship yea and at the Heart of all Civil peace and Civil Magistracie and Civility it self throughout the whole World And therefore lastly I ask Whether these two Examining Worthies shall not be wrapt up in the everlasting Armes of Blessedness it self while they improve their Talents uprightly and impartially in the further Examination of this Fire of Zeal in question Yea and whether not onely these two honourable Senatours but the most renowned Senate of the world the Parliament it self shall not be truly crowned with the Lawrells of true Nobility as the Bereans were while they Candidly and Impartially Examine whether these things are so or no FINIS
The Examiner defended IN A Fair and Sober ANSWER TO The Two and twenty QUESTIONS which lately examined the Author of Zeal Examined In this ANSWER are not unseasonably touched Christ's interest in this and all Nations Christ's interest and the Commonweals as to the present affairs The true nature of all Civil States The nature of all Civil Magistracie and of the Civil Sword The Title of Christian Magistrate National Churches and Covenants The world of Religions and Consciences thorowout the world The permission due to Conscience in meerly Spirituals all the world over Idolatry and the kindes of at The Spiritual and Civil Sword and the effects of them in Spirituals The Forms of Worship The causes of destruction to Nations The Violence to the Souls of men and of Interest the cause of it The dangerous consequence of such Violences experimented in so many Nations The difference of the Land of Canaan and the Kings thereof from all Lands and Kings besides Christ Jesus himself and his followers ever accounted and punished as the greatest Hereticks Blasphemers c. The crying guilt of Soul-Rapes and National hypocrisie in Worship The light of Nature in Spirituals The acts of Asa Artaxerxes c. The Fast of Nineveh The Conscientious differences of the most Conscientious in the world about God's Worship The justice and prudence of State-provision against all â—ncivilities both of Popish and Protestant Ranters LONDON Printed by James Cottrel 1652. To the Reader Pious Reader TWo honorable Gentlemen as is said have so far lately honoured Christ Jesus and their honorable stations The occasion of this Discourse and them selves as to try by the Sword of God's Spirit the Word of God whether the World and the Civil States and Nations thereof may permit Idolaters Hereticks c. The first of these Two Worthies published his Zeal Examined The second attempts upon the former with Two and twenty Questions under this Title The Examiner Examined It was desired that the Examiner of Zeal might have examined these Questions also But finding an indisposition of health upon his person and multiplicity of Publike affairs engaging his hours and minutes I have been humbly bold to look up to heaven and to beg the finger of God's most holy and gracious Spirit for the dissolving and untying of them It was a truely-gallant and heavenly speech of the Author of these Questions An heavenly speech whosoever he be in his Epistle or Preface I profess my self a lover of Truth wheresoever I finde it though in an heap of Errours for I know well that it is the high-way to be given up to strong delusions not to receive the love of the Truth yea an universal love of all truth But I had almost said not onely What Saint what Angel but What man will not say Vincat Veritas We know who said Amicus Plato c. magis Amica Veritas Such counsel is like our common counsel of Physick to others but not so pleasing and practical in our own distempers And Oh how many are the Skreens the Veils the Hoods the Vizards the Curtains the Hangings the Cloâ—ks the Clouds and Colours by which the lustre and shining of that which we call Truth is hidden and eclipsed from us For instance 1. Truth suspected for a Novelty This cannot be Truth it is a Novelty What will this babler say said the famous Academians of Athens he feemeth to be a setter forth of new Gods though all the old were false and indeed but new and therefore false because not the Alpha and Omega Quod antiquissimum optimum the First and the Last Thus cry the Papists against the Protestants and the Protestants against each other New Doctrines New Men New Lights New Christs New Gods c. There is no room in the Inne for Christ Jeus his Mother 2. Commonly Truth is outwardly poor ovely among the beasts in the stable in the Manger A poor Carpenters son whence hath be such learning How should such base and unlikely Medicines as Clay and Spittle pâ—n men 〈◊〉 How should the dry and lowe tree be fruitful How poor Fisher-men Tent-makers Mechanicks know and preach Christ Jesits c. He takes away our Hogs say the Gadarenes and therefore beseech him to depart from us 3. Truth is costly By this Trade saith Demetrius and his Crafts men we have our living c. our Popedoms Bishopricks Benefices If we believe this Doctrine the Romanes will come and take away our place and nation c. How can you believe saith Christ Jesus who receive honour from one another 4. Truth is in disgrace and not that honor which comes from God alone How many had been convinced and perswaded that Christ Jesus was the Son of God but that they loved the praise of men more then the praise of God Howsoever sometimes it hath pleasad God to take off the Rod and Plough of the wicked 5. Truth is persecuted from the back of the righteous yet the general Rule is That All that will live godly in Christ Jesus must be hunted The great Lord General Christ Jesus carried his Cross and Gallows and professath it impossible for any to follow him without a denying of himself and taking up his Cross or Gallows also Thus are we saith David and Paul as sheep for the shambles all the day long Thus must those blessed Petitioners under the Altar wait until the rest of their fellow-brethren and servants were slain also Hence though Christ's followers have ever found the sweetest enjoyments of God and Christ and the holy Spirit in sufferings yet how harsh is this Alarm to flesh and blood which therefore rather seeks a thousand shifts to swear to subscribe to conform upon the point to deny Jesus Christ c. Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth 6. Truth is prejudiced Can Micaiah ever speak good to me who never yet spake good to me And Hast thou found me O mine enemy said A had to two Prophets This Stone the builders have abready refused c. This may be Jebovah 's miraculous work to chuse the stones cast by c. but flesh and blood cannot got over this mountain Do any of the Rulers believe in him Do the learned Scribes 7. Truth is followed with sew wise great learned the Reverend Clergie the King the Queen the Parliament the Counced the University the Convocation the Assembly the Synod Oh how thick is this Choud that the eyes of the wisest cannot pierce it for it is God 's designe that few wise and piencing eyes are chosen to see Christ Jesus and his despised Truths and Mysteries How many whom Christ invites send Christ this answer 8. Truth findes few at leasure I have not such time to search the Scriptures as the Bereans had So many are my distractions so neoessary are my occasions about my Farm about my Oxen about my Merchandise about my Marriage Go thy way
the World Will they not be meer Skeletons Shadowes and Carkases without those living Demonstrations and miraculous appearances of God from first to last with that wonderful and typical People Shall we still take the Lord Iesus by force to make him a temporal King and a temporal Iudge Christ Jesus not a temporal King when he peremptorily refuseth and proclaimes that his Kingdome is not of this World c. Will not this be as Iob there saith to deny the God that is above or as the Word seems to cary it the God descending who hath ascended but first descended God in Flesh and dwelt in Flesh of the Lord Iesus Bodily and established a spiritual Kingdom in the Consciences and Worships and Conversations of Men c. And however the Devil despairing to destroy the appearance of God in Flesh either in the Person of Christs humane body or in his mystical Body his Saints by three hundred years persecution hath taken the advantage by the shining of Peace and Favour to the Saints by Constantine to turn the very World it self Christian designing under the Masks and Flag of the Christian name to conceal his Serpentine malice to pure and true Christianity and to effect that by the Roman Popes the Foxes which he could never do by the Roman Lyons the Emperours Yet I ask Shall Gods people still inhabit Babilon or confusion and darkly confound all the most holy Gods people commanded to disobey the civil power in Sptrituals most wise distinct appearances of God together and not rather listen to the holy Spirit of God in that absolute prohibition Col. 2 Let no man judge you in meats and drinks c. that is upon any Spiritual account and Consideration albeit in Civil affaires we ought to be judged and submit to every Ordinance or Creation of man for the Lords sake 1 Pet. 2. Thirdly Two kinder of Idolatry I ask as before Whether the Gospel-light hath not discovered unto us more clearly at least then ever the Old Testament did at twofold Idolatry First Religious which is in a word the fearing or Worshipping of false Deities or Gods or Godheads which all the Nations all the World over live in Secondly Moral Idolatry which is Idolatry in the Hearts and Lives of all mankinde according to that of Paul to the Ephesians and Covetousness which is Idolatry c. According to this Distinction how are all the Nations of the World even that which is called Christian also or'e-spread with these Idolatries Yea and in lamentably too great a measure how are Gods owne people reported at least in the moral sence to be Idolatrous c. For If Coveting of Gold and Silver House and Lands The over-spreaing of Idolatry in England and all Nations be Idolatry and consequently all covetous actions such as raking lying stealing c. are acts of Idolatry in a Gospel-sense Then consequently the goings out of the heart in other Sins Pride Self-love Ambition Whoredom are Idolatry also and all the Acts attending such motions and desires Acts of Idolatry also in all the Inhabitants of the World and then especially and more eminently or rather odiously in such as profess the name of Christ Iesus Oh what an object of the Iealousie of the most High is this Idolatrous Ball of the Earth and even that part above all others which pretends the name of the Son of God and which yet above all others cries out against Idolaters c. Fourthly As to the Light of Nature discovering Idolatry I ask First If there be not a wonderful mistake a fallacie and snare in the term of expression Light of Nature 'T is true The Nature of Gods Children is Light Gods people in a glorious state of Light Ephes 5. Ye are light in the Lord and Phil. 2. They shin as Lights God is a Sun and shield unto them Christ Jesus is a Sun of Righteousness shining on them The holy Scripture is a Light and Lanterne to them The words of the Prophets as a Light shining in a dark place until the Day-star Christ Iesus arise spiritually in their hearts They have glorious promises that the Light of the Moon shall be as the Light of the Sun and the Light of the Sun seven times brighter They expect that time when they shall need no more Candle nor Sun but the Lord God and the Lamb will be their Light and knowing that Light is sown for the Righteous they expect and shall assuredly reap the Harvest of Light to all Eternity But what is this to corrupt Nature Light of Nature in spiritual things but darkness to dark Nature You were not onely in darkness and children of the night but darkness it self Ephes 5. And if that which we call Light in men be Darkness as the Lord Iesus speaks how great is that Darkness But if it be said that Iob and Paul say that the Light of Nature discovers Idolatry I ask Whether Iob say so expresly or by any consequence which may not rather be counterbalanced another way Or if Iob should say so whether upon an equal dispensation when in those times corporal Judgements and in Gospel-times spiritual Judgements are proper as in this very Rom. 1. is abundantly testified It is true as Solomon saith The Spirit of a man is the Candle of the Lord searching all the inward parts of the Belly It is an Excuser and an Accuser a Secretary a Sergeant an Adversary a Iudge an Executioner within the bosome of all mankinde But yet I ask What knowledg of God corrupt Nature may attain unto how far this Spirit of Man this Candle of Jehovah hath searched and doth or possibly may search into all the inward parts of the Belly or Hearts of man as touching this great mystery of true of false Deities and their respective Worships And I ask Where lies the Harmonie between these two Scriptures this of Rom. 2. When they knew God they glorified him not as God and that of 1 Cor. 1. The World by Wisdome knew not God And I ask If natural wisdome that Candle or Light remaining in man be not twofold Natural light twofold First That which is Common to all mankinde in general to the people the lowest the vulgar Secondly That which is more Noble and High The highest attainments of the highest sons of nature in spirituals in degrees refined and elevated by finer Animal Spirits by Education by Study by Observation by Experience And I ask Whether these highest Lights and greatest Candles can attaine by their utmost Activity to a true and saving and Gospel-knowledge even of God himselfe And therefore whether the place of Rom. 1. They knew God can amount unto more even in the Princes of natural knowledge Plato Seneca Aristotle c. but unto a confession of a Deity a Godhead above us in us about us an Invisible mighty power Creating Ruling Ordering all things as also a Conviction of Blessedness in the favour
of this Deity and of Cursedness in Disunion from it But now let 's descend to Cultus Institutus and Cultus Naturalis an Instituted and a natural Worship Come to the light of nature worshipping this Deity Come to the seven precepts of Noah which some both Jewes and other ancients talk of and then I ask if it be not a downright Doctrine of Free-will in depraved nature No spirituat object seen with a natural eye If it be not to run point-blank against all the Histories of the Nations and all present Experience of mankind in all known parts of the World to attribute so much light to any of the Eldest and Gallantest sons of Nature as to attain a spiritual and saving knowledge of God to attain a love unto God in all their knowledge to attain the mystery of the Father and of the Son God manifested in Flesh by whom Creation and Redemption are wrought to the matter of true worship or to any thing but Splendidum Peccatum without the Revelation of the Word and Spirit of God out of his absolute free and peculiar Grace and Mercy in Christ Jesus Hence I ask The monstrous opinions of the Nations as to Dieties and their worships If from this Corruption of Nature it have not sprung that the wisest Nations Councels Parliaments have run into such monstrous opinions about the Gods and the number of them and so many monstrous and horrible and some ridiculous kindes and waies of worship Thus did the Chaldeans the Egyptians the Persians the Greeks the Romans and all the Generations and Nations of men unto this day It is true It is charged upon the wisest of the Sons of men Rom. 1. They glorified not God as God that they were not thankful that they gave the glory of the Creator to the Creature and that therefore God delivered them up to those moral filthinesses and defilements It is true Two deep dungeons of moral wickedness into which the conscience of some in worshipping have tumbled That because men received not the Truth in the Love of it God delivered them up to strong Delusions to believe lyes And also these Spiritual Judgements have proceeded so far that the poor deluded Generations of men have tumbled down millions of millions one upon the neck of another into these two deep and doleful Dungeons The first Whoredom and Murder Of practising uncleanness and Whoredome practised by some Nations even upon the very account of Religion and Conscience The second Of Cruelty and Murder as of Baals Priests cutting and launcing themselves and of many Priests and Sects afflicting themselves in some Nations with many Torments and above all that of the abominable and most inhumane Sacrificing mankind In which horrid Worship not onely the Mexicans did abound The Sacrificing of mankind out of conscience in their Sacrificing yearly many thousands Infants to their bloody Dieties before the coming of Pizarro amongst them but also Gods owne people of Israel and none of the very Kings of Iudah before repentance fell into this bloody pit of offering up their Children through the fire to Molech I readily acknowledge that in these cases mentioned The Civil Sword must cut off all Incivilities though under Religions pretences masked and covered and in all other cases wherein Civility is wronged in the Bodies or goods of any the Civil Sword is Gods Sword as well as mans for the suppressing of such Practices and Appearances yea and the very Principles of them and for the Incouragement and applause of the contrary Chastity Humanity c. Hence I honour that noble act of the Emperour of Rome who censured that famous Ovid for that wanton Book of his De Arte amandi as a sparke to immodesty and uncleanness and doubtless it is the the duty of the civil sword to cut off the Incivilities of our times as the monstrous haire of women up-the heads of some men c. But yet I ask Whether Paul speak ought in the first of the Romans of any humane Iudge or Iudgement upon the Nations of the World for their meer Idolatries thus most dreadfully plagued already by the most righteous Iudge of the whole World in those strong Delusions and Lyes and deliveries up to so many Lusts and Sins which also run upon the Civil Sword of God and man for their uncivil and unrighteous practices I ask further All seeming incivilities not to be lookt upon with one eye Whether or no some seeming Incivilities which the Light of Nature more fairly may condemn and hale before the Civil Tribunal yet may not be such and so Circumstantiated with Impressions from Heaven that they ought not so suddenly and easily to be condemned and punished but with a more tender and observant Eye be distinguished For not to instance in any disputable Acts which the holy Scripture and experience presents us with what shall be said to that very common and constant practise of Circumcision The practice of Circumcision a seeming Incivility commanded by God himself to the Iewes and now entertained by one of the greatest Empires of the World the Turks may not it be with faire probability argued to be against the light of Nature For Although the Iewes might plead The Institution of this Ordinance was from Heaven and the Lord of Nature That it was done in so solemn and Religîous a way that it was not performed with any lascivious or uncleane observations or gestures but with Horror and Pain and Bloodshedding and great Affliction of the outward man as we see in the Shechemites And lastly That it was attended with heavenly and mystical significations as a Type and Figure Yet not withstanding how was it branded and blackr with the Scorned and Jeers of the Nations insomuch that the very Sabbath the solemn worshipping of God one day in seven in a most religious acknowledgement of his most glorious Creating of this wonderful frame of the World in six was jeered from this very seeming Incivility of Circumcision Recutitaque Sabbata c. the Circumcised Sabbaths c. If Abraham had lived now in England one of the most zealous Nations of the World Abrahams Sacrificing of Isaak a seeming incivility for inflicting torments on others and being tormented for Religion and Conscience what would our rash Zealots have done with Abraham in case he had Sacrificed his son Isaac c. would they have examined the miraculous conception of the Child a s from Heaven and the reason that that most holy and most glorious hand that so miraculously and supernaturally gave him now call'd againe for him by a Voice miraculous from Heaven also would they have observed the Man so Holy and so Faithful his Addresses to the Act to Holy and so free from Passion from Designe c. Or if the Mother of the Lord Jesus had brought forth her Son amongst us So Maries bringing forth of Christ Iesus and it should have been acknowledged without
the company of her Husband Yet who can be so impious against God and so unchristian and blasphemous against Christ Jesus as to question but that the most Civil and the severest Judge upon due Examination of the whole matter might rationally and judicionally have pronounced to have found no violence of Civility no wrong to the Bodies or Goods of any the proper object and cause of all Civil Officers but contrarily a most holy and glorious appearance of the living God and gloriously free from such Impurities with which even the Religion of whole Nations are defiled But The Extreme madness of the Religious zeal of men seldome but in extreams oh the madness of the Children of Men said I yea the precious Children of the very God of Heaven Into what furious Extremes do we leap and run into without the Light and Lanterne of the holy Spirit and Word of God not withstanding our great pretences of such pure Natures light For how fiery would we be to condemn such a Birth as spurious the Parents and the child unclean Bring her forth and burn her as Judah said of Thamar until we owne the Child in Religion ours the Mother 's ours c. And therefore againe how ready to sheath our swords in the bowels of the poor Iew or Gentile which cannot see with our Eyes and spectacles and believe this Child to be the Christ the true Messiah I profess my self unsatisfied as to the Baptisme and Dipping now used I abhor the debauchedness of those poor deluded high Attainers The Incivilities of the Ranters the Mad Folks as Master Pennington well calls them the Ranters And I praise God for the height and prudence of the State to prevent and punish the Practices and Doctrines of such Abominations c. But are there but one sort of Religious Mad Folks Ranters c. What is it but Ranting Reuters and Ranting more sores them one to call Fire from Heaven as the gratious Disciples of Christ Iesus did and may do because as they think men practice Incivilities against the light of Nature refusing to entertain the Son of God Christ Jesus What is it but Ranting to forbid the very casting out of Devils as done by Conjuration Heresie Blasphemy c. because these Exorcists these Castters out they follow not us our Way our Church our Faith our Worship c. Yea what is it but Rantisme May Consciences differing about the blood of Christ to sling stones at the Conscience of any perswaded to finde out the Blood of Christ in the way of dipping into Water or at the Conscience of the poor Iew accounting of that blood as false and Counterfeit or of the Papist perswaded that the Iewes are wanderers but that there 's need of Maries Milk to her Sons blood or at the Consciences of the Turkes the Persians the Pagans the millions of millions of millions of poor deluded Consciences whose oppositions the meek Lamb of God commandeth gently to be born and his Servants patiently to wait if yet it might please the God of Heaven to give Repentance and a Rescue from the snares and chaines of Satan and Destruction Yea If ever there was Ranting in this World what is it but the mad flinging about of Firebrands Arrows and Death which Solomon speaks of to fling all the World topsi-turvy and to Fire the Nations with uncivil and irreligious Heats Tumults Plundrings Ravishings Slaughters about the Hereticks the Blasphemers the Diablo's c. And therefore lastly I ask the Proposer The New Testament in case the Old were not of these Questions Whether in case it had pleased the Lord to conceal the Old Testament from us or that of the New bound up alone as it is frequently should fall into the hands of some people in the World I ask I say Whether therein Christ Iesus hath not left his Followers full and compleat and absolute Directions in all Cases I ask then in what part of his Testament hath he given the least Direction for the Civil Sword to be drawn in his Quarrel Christ Jesus no Author of civil force against the highest of his opposites and Blasphemers for the Body of any man to be afflicted for his sake and therefore in this case proclaims to his zealous Followers who in this case did not know of what Spirits they were that he came not to destroy mens Bodies no not for the highest Opposition made against him no not that of calling him Beelzebub and charging him with Sorcery and casting out of Devils by the Devil himself Yet I ask Whether in the very Old Testament it self such Persons such Nations aw were wholly Idolaters where punished even by David himself as the Moabites the Ammonites c. when they were subdued under him although in the Land of Canaan the onely Church in Covenant with God there were just Lawes in force against such sins and practices I therefore conclude with this Question Whe notwithstanding the Proposers plea of the qurity of the Gospel discovering Idolatry more clearly whether the Gospel and Covenant it self Christ Jesus have not expresly lockt up the hands of all that call his Lord and Master saying Let the Tares alone until the Harvest The sum of the fourteenth Question Whether Quest 14 since Idolatry brings plagues upon the people the Magistrate ought not to deliver the people from those plagues by removing Idolatry I ask First Answ since Idolatry is twofold as before Religious and Moral And making the Belly a God or Gold a God is as real Idolatry as the making of the sun a God and the honouring and loving and serving them before the true God is as real Idolatry as the worshipping of the sun or a Golden Image As also since Christ Iesus commands his people to separate from a Covetous person professing to be a brother in Christ Iesus 1 Cor. 5 With what face then before the flaming Eyes of Christ Iesus can we cry out so much against Idolatry in Worshipping and raise such Sormes and Tempests in the World about Idolatry c. When the whole World and each Nation and our Selves lie in the second kind of Idolatry of many sorts The World lies in Idolatry and this Nation and People Worshipping according to the several Lusts of the Eye the Flesh and the Pride of Life several sorts of Creatures before the Creator God blessed for evermore This kinde of Idolatry especially in Gods people and especially after so much light and experience from God the Lord abhors as much having commanded it not to be named among the Saints yea and in some respect above the grossest Idolatry of all the World beside What Antichristian Blindness and Madness is it therefore to cry out like the Spaniards and Portugals The greater Idolaters cry out against the less against the poor Indians Idolatry when besides their owne Images and Superstitions they were notorious worshippers of and bowed down to the Indians Gold
Spirit which a Follower of Christ Jesus pretends to in setting the words which bear a better sence yea and the Heart of the Examiner upon the Rack by infinuating little less then that he hath set himself to contradict and fight against God himself and his most holy Spirit in Paul his Servant and Penman Whereas a more sober and Dove-like Christian Eye will read no more but a faithful and Christian plea for moderate and Christian thoughts to all the Nations and Generations of the World who although by the hightned power of Reason they may possibly attaine to as above hath been discoursed by the light of Nature many Convictions and Confessions of a Godhead The Natural estute of all and the very best of mankind Yet is it not so facile and easie for them having so many thousand clogs and chaines of barbarous Ignorance and Education and Lusts hanging on them to soare so high with the wings of meer Natural corrupted Reason as to to finde the true God and the true Way of glorifying God acceptably in Christ Iesus Yea I ask Whether this is possible to be attained unto as abovesaid But rather that this place of Paul Rom. 1. implies that the wisest and most industrious of the Sons of Men will be found guilty of gross Negligence and undervaluing of God and of being inslaved by many corrupt Lusts Examples Customes Fear of men Tradition of Fathers and of not improving that Power of Reason and understanding in themselves so far and so high as they ought and might also do Secondly I ask If it be easie for the Nations of the World to escape and miss these Rocks of Idolatry All the Nations of the World wandring in Idolatry and superstition Superstition Will-worship c. how comes it to pass that all the Generations of mankinde from the first Creation and Fall of Man to this day the Phoenicians the Chaldeans the Egyptians the Persians the Grecians the Romans and the many millions of millions of wise and understanding men not onely the Pagans but the Turks the Iewes the Papists and carnal Protestant should so stupendiously and constantly wander from the glorifying of God as God but by invented Images and Representations of Superstition Will-worship darken his Glory c. Thirdly If it be so easie to escape Idolatry Superstition Will-worship c. How is it that the holy Spirit record how easily how wonderfully Gods owne people and choicest Servants hardly kept from Superstition and Will-worship c. and fearfully Gods owne people Aaron the Leader and all Israel with him slipt into the Idolatry of the Golden Calf yea and afterwards the whole ten Tribes of twelve Gods owne people apostate to the Calves againe of Jeroboam How is it that not onely the Godly Kings of Iudah neglected the demolishing of the high places and the reforming of what was notoriously Superstitious and that not onely Solomon built houses for the gods of his Wives but even David and thirty thousand of Israel with him brings up the Arke of God the signe of Gods presence with wonderfull Solemnities shootings and rejoycings until they met with Perez-Uzzah the Breach of Uzzah the signal of Gods displeasure How is it that not onely many shall seek to enter and shall not be able Christ Iesus not easily found of not onely pretenders but Cordial Intenders and Israel obtained not that which they sought for as it is written Rom. 2. But even the tender Love and Dove and undefiled of Christ Iesus Cant. 5. rising up to open to her Beloved she findes him agrieved at her unkindness and gone she sought him but she found him not she called him but he gave no answer Fourthly The divisions of Reuben yea even of Iudah How is it that not onely God sendeth Antichristians strong Delusions which so hold their Understanding Conscience Iudgement and Affections that they really belive Lyes notorious and great Lyes but even at this Day among our selves the Consciences of Gods children and people in whom the blessed fear and love of God hath shined how are they I say divided each from other not onely Ephraim against Manasseh and Manasseh against Ephraim and both against Iudah but even Iudah against Iudah Insomuch that Gods people at this day have not onely occasioned that reproachfull terme of Sectaries because of their separation from the National Churches gathering themselves into separate Congregations but even from their Sects and Divisions among themselves And I ask whether this shall not be and must continue until the blessed time of one Heart and one Spirit and one Lip which God will vouchsafe to all his people Fifthly Since every Way Manner or Form of Worship of Church of Ministery of Prayer of Baptisme c. that onely excepted which the Lord Iesus appointed is an Invention an Image a molten or carved Image And consequently Gods people full of Images how much more the Nations the many strange waies and kindes and formes of Protestant Churches National Provincial Diocesan Parochial Presbyterian Independent Separated Half-separated Baptized one way a second a third way as to their various Formes and Constitutions are but Images and Pictures and none but one of them if any of them be yet according to the first pattern And since Gods own people have had a great share and hand in such framings c. both in England Scotland France Low-Countries c. I ask If it be not much more easie for the poor Nations of the World who sit in darkness as of old to erect Images of Gold and Silver Wood Stone c. and of late Waies and Manners of Worship though more subtle and mysterious yet as real Images as those of the grossest Composition Lastly I ask If there be not a deep and heaven-designe Gods designe to suffer the Nations and his own people to wander and feel the want of his holy Spirit in the use of all means of the most holy and onely wise God thus to suffer the world and his people also to divide and scatter and dissipate themselves Thus to cause the holy Scriptures amongst both Papists and Protestants the pretended Rule of Life and Light unto all their waies and Consciences to be so Pen'd so Written so translated that as it was said of Iesus Christ he was given for a stumbling Block and Rock of offence as well as for a Rock and Foundation to his people So may it not also be said of the holy Scripture and the texts and writings thereof from whence so many and so wonderfully different perswasions and Consciences are risen In particular I ask If it have not been wonderfully easie from the seeming light of Nature and Scripture too to slide into the many wandrings and Labyrinths of consciences now extant which though but Threds and Strawes yet do hold the conscience as with Chaines of Adamant until the holy and blessed Spirit of God discover and dissolve c. If there be any
Bowells therefore of pity in us toward poor sinners like our selves If any sence of the mercies and pitie of Christ Iesus to our selves How should we compassionate the Captivated and sometimes the striving and relucting souls of thousands about these and the like Opinions How many thousands and ten thousands of Gods ancient Friends and Acquaintance The Iewes Conscientious plea from Scripture the Iewes will say unto us How can that Iesus whom you pretend be the true Messiah the anointed of God he whom all the Prophets told of whom all the Fathers lookt for How did he deliver us from the Roman yoakes how hath he redeemed us these 1600 years since from all our Enemies in the Lands of our Dispersions and Scatterings How many thousand Papists will tell us that Iesus the Son of Mary he is the blessed Messiah that was to come and why should we not believe him that plainly said This is my Body Is he not able to make good his word in a real and corporal presence Did he not say to Peter thou art Peter and upon this Rock will I build my Church To thee will I give the Keys of the kingdom of heaven How many thousand will tell us that the great and wonderful mystery of the holy Trinity is beyond their understanding and reach and they cannot believe and die for that which passeth their comprehension as also that the knots of holy Scripture besides those of Reason are very great and wonderful How many thousands are perswaded that the several Orders in the government of Christs House and Kingdom The several conscientious pleas of the more knowing and most godly persons in England are not manifested in vain unto us in the Word of God in particular the order of Bishops Nor are there thousands and then thousands wanting who will triumphantly ask us What that laying on the hands of the Presbytery was How many Consciences will ask how we can dare to say that Christ Jesus died not for all when so many Scriptures speak of the propitiation for the sins of the whole world And why say they shall the power of Nature be so slighted when Christ Jesus tells us that he would but Jerusalem would not And how is that doctrine say they so infallible of the impossibility of a final breach between Christ Jesus and Believers when so many Caveats Warnings Items are given us nor to fall and so many dreadful examples especially in these times of the departure of so many from Christ Jesus to the world with Demas and Judas to honour and preferment with Diotrephes to lusts and pleasures and many abominations with the stony ground How many are assaulted by Satan to question the Godhead of the Son of God and of the Holy Spirit and of the truth of the holy Scriptures Whether there are no more holy Scriptures but these and whether the Translations and infallible and which are to be rested or relied on Oh how merciful how pitiful are the bowels of the Lamb of God to poor wandring sinners And how sierce how cruel are the thoughts of his Corrival Antichrist who makes it so casie to be born againe to have Gods Spirit to the Orthodox to be truely Zealous against Idolaters Blasphemers Hereticks c. The sum of the sixteenth Question Whether Idolaters may not be punished Quest 16 because the Magistrate doth not know the heart of the Idolaters and whether this opposeth not the word of God by Moses and the punishment of the worshippers of the Calfe and Baal and the Prophets of Baal Unto which may be added the seventeenth Question viz VVhether Idolaters may not be convinced by Acts Quest 17 as well as a Murtherer and thereby the heart of the Idolater is discovered for the Murtherer is discovered guilty because of Malice in his heart As also the eighteenth VVhether of two sins Quest 18 that which is discerned ought not to be punished because the other is not punished for want of discerning First Answ Not to respect what hath been said as to the Distinction of Idolatry as to the nature of civil Magistracie and its power the different dispensations of God divers times and divers waies and at last by his Son To the Fathers in familes to Moses and the Prophets in the typical Land of Ganaan and at last all the world over by his most glorious and dear Son God blessed for ever I ask first Whether the Examiner can be fairly charged to bring it in as a reason that Idolatry should not be punished because the Magistrate doth not know the heart of the Idolater The Spaniards sacrificing millions of mtn to that grand Ido of the world the Indian gold And will all that the Examiner speaks there of the heart be fairly cast up and amount to more then the forementioned distinction of Religious and moral Idolatry and that opened by that so famous instance of the Spaniards in the West-Indies who cryed out against the poor Indians Idolaters Idolaters Heathens worshippers of the Sun and yet themselves did most notoriously bow down to the Golden God the Indians Gold as all Europes Nations and England more or less and in a sordid and bloody devotion did sacrifice to that Golden Images so many thousands yea millions of the Inhabitants It is incredible how many millions of mankind were there destroyed as their own Cardinal wrote to the Emperour Charles the fifth as Idolaters Blasphemers c. But it is very credible and easie to believe what stumbling blocks such their Covetousness and Cruelties were to the poor Indians insomuch that they abhorr'd to hear the Spanish Priests to talk of Heaven whither the Spaniards were said to go whose Covetousness and Cruelties they thought would never send them to a place of Blesedness Secondly I ask Whether those Examples of punishing the Worshippers of the Calfe and of Baal and of Baals Priests are presidential and binding unto all the Nations of the World And whether the Paralleling of all Times to that ceremonial Time The new piecing up of the vaile of the temple and all places to that typical and ceremonial place be not indeed upon the point a new piecing up of the vaile of the Temple which the right hand of the God of Heaven hath rent and a preferring of Moses the Servant before the Lerd Fesus the Son yea and consequently a denying of the Lord Iesus the great Messiah to be yet come Thirdly I ask If these Examples be now presidential The Bishops root and branch and all faise Ministers ought to be put to death Whether if there were such Civil Magistrates Monarchs of the world as formerly yea and however whether it be not the duty of all the Magistrates in the World to destroy even beyond all compare and Imagination the greatest part if not almost all the Inhabitants of the whole World for some false Worship Idolatry and one Golden Calf or another Yea I ask Whether by this rule the
thoughts of the Heart Secondly I ask If this poor Nation of England and Scotland c. have not heard the voice of the God of heaven out of the whirlwind as in Iob declaring himself in thundring language and dialects of Blood Distractions and Destructions about this National League and Covenant The wonderful Character of Gods jealousie upon the Scorish National Covenant Were ever two Nations so solemnly and with such seeming glorious Holiness united to make this Island an holy Land and to purge out as out of an holy Land and Aire as Canan was all Idolatry Schisme and Hereticks And were there ever more evident Characters of the Iealousie and displeasure of the most High written upon such Covenants such Conjunctions Or was there ever almost such a miraculous Decision of the controversie between the Covenanters themselves about the Interpretations of it And hath not the most holy and invisible God made bare his holy Arme and written it in National letters of blood that he that runs may read it That this National Covenanting and National Churching and National compelling and National conforming as to the Soules and Consciences of men and as to the worship of the God of heaven is but Levitical and Ceremonial but Mosaical and Iewish but Unchristian and destructive to the New Testament of Christ to the freedome of the soul and conscience to the gratious free breathings of the most holy Spirit of God perswading and spiritually compelling the Spirits and Souls of men to knit the onely true Lovers Knot and Covenant that Death and Hell and all the powers of Earth and Hell Men and Devils shall never be able to untie Thirdly It was no guilt of Hypocrisie in Asa to compel that whole Nation which according to those figurative times and old Covenant were miraculously brought and kept in Covenant with God The Hypocrisie of Nationall Covenants upon which the Examiner doth not fix the least charge of Hypocrisie but now he may and all men may ask why other whole Nations and all Natitions should be forced like Cattel by thousands and ten thousands Cities Nations c. to a Religion and Covenant and Worship which their Forefathers knew not which their Souls owne not and their Consciences secretly disclaim as false c. Doth not this as Isaiah tels us fill a Nation with Hypocrisie And hath not this Doctrine filled this Nation if ever any with wonderful Hipocrisies as the Civil Sword and power of compulsion hath fallen by Gods most holy providence into the hands of Pagan or Popish or Protestant or Presbyterian or Independent if perse cuting Consciences I ask further Is there not a two fold Hypocrisie First A tu of old Hypocrisie amongst Pro 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that which is more hidden and secret such as Achitophels with David and Fudas with Christ Iesus Thieves and Traytors in the Bosome c. Yet outwardly true faithful holy Cordial c. Secondly That which is more open evident and plausible such as that of the ten Tribes pro fessing the name of the God of Israel and yet with-all the Worship of the Calves and Ieroboams Feasts and Priests and other his Inventions and moreover living without the life of the true God of Israel In the late Wars some that professed to side with the Parliament voted in the House sat in Committees yea fought for the Parliament Lawes and Liherties c. yet lay they like Traitours in the Bosome as after was discovered Others fought for the Parliament Lawes and Liberties and yet joyn'd openly with the King fought under his Colours and pretended onely the name of that to wit holiness and the Love of God which they hated more then Sin and Hell and Damning Or as in our Streets dayly we finde two sorts of Beggers one speaks such wants Antichristian hypocrisie illstrated so predicates Christ Iesus so prayes for you that many are taken moved to real pity and compassion and yet deceived A second sort profess the Trade of Begging they keep open those Sores which they will not have heal'd they steal or get Children to beg with they abhor to labour and make a Trade of Hypocrisie T is true that they crie up the name of Christ Iesus too and pray for you but if you put not into their mouth how soon fall they from blessing to cursing c. Of this second sort The pretended Christian Nations found Antichristian are not the Christian Nations so call'd made up and constituted whether East or West Greek or Latine the Popish or Protestant Churches who like the ten Tribes and many of them like the strange Nations brought in after the Captivity by Salmanasser 2 King 17. They feared the God of Israel and served him and their owne Gods too and the Spirit of God concludes of them that they served their owne Gods and served not the true God at all Is not this apparently the state of thousands and ten thousands and millions of named Christians professing Christ in Word Tit. 1. but in works denying of him overspread with the Abominations of Religious and moral Idolatries spiritual and corporal Murthers Whoredomes Oppressions Drunkenness c. either as the great Whore probably the Whore of Rome actually drunk with the blood of the Saints and Prophets of Iesus or else thirsting after the day of their bloody fils c. Fourthly Religious Ravishments and horrid Abominations I ask Whether as to force the Consciences of the Unwilling is a Soul Rape so to force the Ignorant prophane and unregenerate Nations into a pretended holy fellowship and Communion with God be not ten thousand fold more unholy and unrighteous then to force into the Beds of any Men of Honour ugly and deformed strangers yea enemies yea and impudent Whores and Strumpets Would the Proposer stile their commands holy just good did the matter concerne but his owne Bed as who can but know the matter in question so neerly concernes the Lord being communion which Cant. 1. is no other then the mystical and spiritual Bed of the Lord Iesus Did ever God or Man command to do well The methods of Friendship with God and men before a ceasing from Evil Doth God or man ever strike up Covenants of Love Leagues of Amisy yea or admit a treaty before Repentance and Satisfaction for former Injuries before the Removeall of Force the laying down of Armes and the acknowledging the Power and State of such with whom they treat If these be waies of civility rightecusness order prudence what commands shall they be call'd what holiness and goodness shall be found in them which carry written like the Whores forehead Rev. 18. Mysteries Babylon Hypocrisies Dissimulations c. Therefore lastly I ask how much infinitely sweeter are Gods Methods delighting onely in a willing people how sweet are the paths of the Lamb of God Christ Jesus whose true Messengers are Maidens Pro. 9. who with Virgin-Chastity and Modesty invite poor sinners to the heavenly Feast
and holding fast to the Death what he believes he hath received from the Father of Lights And yet better sit still then still rise and fall Have all the Spirit the Calling the Gifts the Life and the presence of God with them as those first Messengers the Apostles whose Successours Men yet pretend to be Were it not better for us to acknowledge The danger of our own Inventions in heavenly matters how poor how naked how blind how miserable we are and to listen to the holy Counsel of Christ Jesus c. to buy of him that blessed Gold and Eye-salve that white Rayment and fine Linnen that we may truely see and be truely rich and be truely glorious and beautiful then boasting of our Knowledge and Abundance and want of nothing we prove so grievous to the stomach of Christ Jesus that he vomit us with loathing out of his mouth Lastly I ask In case we had for unquestionable Fundamentals a Creed composed by the twelve Apostles of the Lamb That a Synod of heavenly Angels assembled and concluded of Fundamentals of Forms of Worship External force in Spirituals can onely pierce the outside Ordinations Ministeries Maintenance c. and all without the reach of a Curse for another Gospel Gal. 1. Yet I ask what rule can be produced from the Testament of Christ Iesus that these Forms these Prescripts must be imposed and beaten into not the Braines and Hearts of men which is impossible but into the outsides and knees of men with Swords and Staves that as Christ Jesus said of the Samaritans they might worship they know not what What reason of Christianity or Civility that the Talmud of the Iewes the Alcaron of the Turks and the Canons of all sorts of Popes must not be questioned What Scripture or Reason shall force a man to be a Scholar to a Teacher and force him to pay for his Teaching To trust his Ship with a Pilot and to pay him for his Piloting to trust himself with a Guide and to pay him for his Conduct when he believes that Teacher that Pilot are dangerously ignorant that Guide is blind c. The mystery and and tyranny of persecuting Teachers Yea further from whom he must receive all upon Trust and not dare in the very place and time of Teaching to propose his Doubt his Question his Objection or desire Explanation And I add What Christianity is that which commands that no Churches be gathered no Ministers chosen no Doctrine preached but what the civil Sword shall say is true and Orthodox Nay no Magistrate himself chosen nor any Civil Officer except he be of our Church our Way and Conscience as some say is the Mystery and Tyranny of New-Englands practice The two and twentieth Question If God was to be blessed for putting it into the Heart of a Heathen Magistrate to make Lawes for Religion Isa 7.27 Whether he comes not neer to a curse Quest 22 that would take out of the heart of a Christian Magistrate the advancement of true Religion and perswade him to give a Toleraration to the chiese Enemies of Religion Idolatry and Heresie Sure the Proposer highly esteems this Example of Erra 7. for Answ not content to mention it in the seventh Question he attempts to win it by Force and Storming indeed in a very stormy Language in this last Question To many Branches of the same hath been spoken As to the nature of Civil Magistracie essentially Civil all the world over As to the power of the Magistrates or Officers designed unto them by the people as but their Deputies either Legislative or Executive As to the perfection of Civil Magistracie in its self and in its kind not capable of Diminution or Addition by the Magistrates change of Religion to or from Christianity or any other Religion in the world As to Artaxerxes his fact Artaxerxes his favour to the Iewes not being moved out of any heart to the true Religion for neither did he or his people forsake their owne but out of a Conquering Terrour of God he shews just mercy to his captives and people he feares wrath to himself and his Sons from that God whose love and acquaintance he cared not for But I shall add with Christs help these few Queries First Whether this Supposition of making Laws to advance Religion and especially in a National way doth not overthrow and Evacuate one great end of the comming of the Lord Jesus which was to fulfil all those former shadowes of Temple Altar Priests Sacrifice c. to tear the veil to break downe the partition Wall and with the two edged Sword of his Spirit his Word to conquer poor sinners in a way of love National holiness and shadows c. abolished by Christ Iesus the body and substance For if Ezra's pattern of carrying Lawes and Authority from this King to force men to keep the Law of God in this Iewish Religion Iewish Nation be a president for all Nations where is the abolishing of the holy Nation holy Cities holy Temples Altars Priests c. Or ought we not if Christ Iesus be not come to have the Officers commanded by the King to be Tole free verse 24. the Priests the Levites the Singers the Porters the Nethinims or Ministers of the house of God If it be said The Morality of such a Law remaineth I ask Whether according to Heb. 7. there being a necessity of the change of the Priesthood there is not a necessity of the change of the Law also of that Law of Shadows the holy Land holy Temples holy Priests holy Swords c. I further ask If that people of God the figure of Gods Israel in after-Ages to arise in all Nations of the world if they had not been Captivated but had been in their owne Land and not restrained by force whether they ought not to have builded the Altar and Temple without the Kings command yea and against it Yea it is expresly said chap. 4. Gods people in Spirituals know no Caesar but himself and dear Son they were made to cease the building by power and Force yet they went on chap. 5. to build again at the instigation of Haggai and Zachary notwithstanding the prohibition of the King yet lying in force against them And lastly I ask If these things were not Examples 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 10. or Types figuring out the freedomes of Gods people who if not hindred by actual Force and Power ought onely to regard in Spirituals the Scepter and Sword and Crown of the Lord Iesus Christ Secondly I ask What Lawes this Artaxerxes made for the advancement of Religion Is not the first of absolute Freedome and Toleration to these poor captive Iewes Was there any Babylonian or Persian command to go up to Ierusalem any commanded to pay or to offer a peny toward this Expedition Yea were not the Iewes themselves absolutely free whether to go up to Ierusalem or stay in Babel