The Sword of Christian Magistracy Supported OR A VINDICATION OF The Christian Magistrates Authority under the GOSPELL To punish Idolatry Apostacy Heresie Blasphemy and obstinate Schism with Corporall and in some Cases with Capitall Punishments Wherein this their Jurisdiction is cleared by Proofs and Arguments from the Old and New Testament by the Laws and Practise of Godly Christian Emperors Kings States and Magistrates The Common and Statute Laws of England the consent of the best Ancient and Modern Authors of all sorts and the most materiall Objections to the contrary made by Donatists Anabaptists c. fully Answered and Refuted By WILLIAM PRINNE of Lincolns Inne Esquire Augustin Epist 48. Vincentio Gratian Causa 23. qu. 4. Melius est cum severitate diligere quam cum lenitate decipere Si quisquam Inimicum poriculosis febribus phreneticum factum currere videret in praeceps nonne tunc potius malum pro malo redderet si sic eum ire permitteret quam si corripiendum ligandumque cur aret Et tamen tunc ei molestissimus avertissimus videretur quando utilissimus et misericordissimus extit isset Sed planè salute reparata tanto ei uberius gracias ageret quando minus sibi pepercisse sensisset Donatistae nimium sunt inquieti quos per ordinatas a Deo potestates singulares cohiberi atque corrigi mihi non videtur inutile nam de multorum jam correctione gaudemus Zech. 13. 3. Thou shalt not live for thou speakest Lyes in the name of the Lord and his Father and Mother shall thrust him through when he prophesieth Levit. 24. 16. He that blasphemeth the Name of the Lord shall surely be put to death and all the Congregation shall certainly stone him as well the stranger as he that is born in the Land when he blasphemeth the Name of the Lord shall be put to death Dan. 3. 29. Therefore I make a Decree that every People Nation and Language that speak any thing amisse against the God of Shadrach Meshach and Abednego shall be cut in peeces and their Houses shall be made a dung-hill Rev. 17. 16. The ten hornes which thou sawest upon the beast are ten Kings these shall hate the Whore and shall make her desolate and naked and shall eate her flesh and burn her with fire LONDON Printed by R. I. for John Bellamy and are to be sold at his shop at the Three Golden Lyons in Cornhill near the Royall Exchange 1653. The Sword of Christian Magistracy Supported OR A FULL VINDICATION OF Christian Kings and Magistrates Authority Under the GOSPELL To punish Jdolatry Apostacy Heresie Blasphemy and obstinate Schism with Corporall and in some Cases with Capital punishments from many late Cavils and exceptions against the same THE authority of Christian Magistrates under the Gospel having of late years been most audaciously oppugned both in Press and Pulpit in sundry particulars especially in points of Church-Government Church Reformation and this principal branch thereof the restraint and punishment of obstinate seducing Idolaters Hereticks false Teachers Schismaticks and Blasphemers by civil sanctions and corporal punishments I thought it not only seasonable but in some sort necessary to debate this question in a plain and plenary manner Whether Christian Kings States and Magistrates under the Gospel may and ought by the Word of God to restrain by Civil Sanctions all Idolatries Heresies Errours Schisms Blasphemies and to Mulct with corporall pecuniary and in some cases with banishment and capital punishments such obstinate seducing Idolaters Apostaces Hereticks false Teachers Schismaticks and Blasphemers who disturbe the Peace of Church State and draw down judgements upon both when Admonitions Exhortations and disputes will not reclaim them I shal maintain the Affirmative that they may nay ought to do it To avoyd mistakes and state the question aright I shal first of all lay down these conclusions as indubitable 1. That there are such sins as Idolatry Apostacy Heresie damnable Errors obstinate Schisms and Blasphemies in Christian Kingdomes States Churches and persons guilty of them 2. That those who are guilty of them are or may be certainly known discovered to and by Christian Princes and Magistrates 3. That these sins draw down Gods Judgments not only on the persons who are guilty of them but likewise on the Christian Rulers States and places which permit tolerate or not severely punish and suppresse them 4. That it is the duty of Christian Princes States Magistrates to use all possible diligence and lawful means to keep their Kingdomes States People from being infected with all or any of these dangerous wrath-provoking sins yea a grand sin and neglect in them not to do it Secondly I shal propound and agree what is not in controversie as 1. That the preaching of the Word Christian Exhortations Reprehentions Conferences and Disputes are the most proper and effectual means to convert reform Idolaters Apostates Hereticks False Teachers Schismaticks and Blasphemers 2. That such as these are first of all to be gently admonished instructed confuted and if possible reformed by the Word or other spiritual and gentle means before the civil Magistate proceed to corporal or capital punishments 3. That the present question is only of Idolaters Apostates Hereticks False Teachers obstinate Schismaticks and Blasphemers not meer tender consciencis in matters of Church Discipline and the like neither yet are all these always to be proceeded against with the self-same rigour and severity but as their obstinacy Idolatries Apostacies Heresies Errors Schisms Blasphemies are more or lesse heinous and pernitious so the proceedings against them ought to be more milde or severe These things premised I shal now proceed to some Arguments to make good my Assertion The first shal be this That which godly Kings and Magistrates in the Old Testament under the Law were enjoyned to do by Gods own express command and did accordingly execute with Gods special approbation Christian Kings and Magistrates under the Gospel may and ought to do and execute by virtue of the self-same commands But godly Kings and Magistrates in the Old Testament under the Law were injoyned by Gods own express command to restrain all Idolatry Apostacy Heresie Errors Schisms Blasphemies yea to punish with corporal and in some cases with capital Punishments such obstinate seducing Idolaters Apostates Hereticks False Teachers Schismaticks and Blasphemers who disturbed the Peace of Church State and drew down Gods Judgments upon either and did accordingly execute the same command with Gods special approbation when admonitions exhortations and Disputes would not reclaim them Therefore Christian Magistrates under the Gospel may and ought to do the like The Major Proposition I shal make good by these undenyable reasons First because God hath ordained and continued Kings and Magistrates under the New Testament as wel as under the Old and enjoyned obedience to them ROM 13. 1. to 6. 1 TIM 2. 1 2 3. TIT. 3. 1. 1 PET. 2. 13 14. c. 4. 15. which none but professed
all though they convert but few even those onely who are elected and onely civilize others and perchance make many of them Hypocrites and because the very Elect themselves even after their conversion may fall into scandalous sinnes and capitall offences though not fall finally nor totally from their state of grace which Magistrates have power and authority as well from God as man to punish both to reforme them deterre and keep others from infection preserve publick peace justice and keep off Gods judgments they and all others who externally embrace the Gospel are in that regard enjoyned to live soberly and godly in this present world to avoyd all sinnes and wickednesses whatsoever yea heresie idolatry blasphemy schisme erronious Doctrines as well as Murder Adultery and the like offences and likewise subject to the Magistrates censures corrections in case they actually or openly transgresse in any kind they being Gods avengers to execute wrath on those that doe evill Therefore the civill Magistrate may â—ay must and ought to use his utmost endeavours to make an externall publick reformation both in Church and State and a totall purgation of all sins offences heresies blasphemies errors and corruptions whatsoever out of both for the welfare and peace of both and diverting of Gods wrath from both though he cannot work an inward reformation in all no more then the Minister or Christ himselfe whiles he was here on earth And therefore this Objection That Christian Princes and Magistrates ought not to restraine or punish Hereticks Schismaticks c. or to intermeddle in the outward Reformation of the visible Churches within their Territories because they cannot inwardly convert and reforme all members of them is a most absurd and ridiculous Objection Sixtly to civilize moralize or restraine Christians from the outward acts of sinnes from which they are not inwardly purged by penall Lawes and corporall Censures as Magistrates oft doe is not to make them Hypocrites and twofold more the children of hell then before as is most falsly objected but to make them actually better and lesse sinfull lesse hurtfull then otherwise they would be were they not restrained for the fewer actuall sins men openly commit the lesse is their condemnation the more their commendation the lesse they infect others the lesse they dishonour and provoke God the lesse they disturb the publick peace the more exorbitant excessive numerous audacious their transgressions are the more is their guilt the heavier their judgment the more pernicious dangerous their example and the more they provoke Gods publick judgments against the places where they live and encrease the guilt of those Magistrates who suffer them to goe unpunished witnesse Foxes Bears Lyons yea the Devil himself who chained ap are nothing so hurtfull as those that run at large though they retaine their natures still the like we may say of chained Hereticks Schismaticks Blasphemers Seducers and all kind of restrained sinners by coercive Lawes or Punishments Oderunt peccare mali formidine poenae Neither makes ill men formall Hypocrites nor worse then if they were unrestrained yea their pretending of an inward reformation or dissimulation of their heresies blasphemies and hereticall opinions is nothing so sinfull so dangerous so hurtfull so damnable as the open practice spreading and profession of them with impunity Seventhly The Magistrates and Gods intention in punishing and restraining Hereticks Schismaticks Blasphemers and other Malefactors is not to make them Hypocrites but really to reclaime or make them better at least if not inwardly to convert them If their restraint or punishment make any formall Hypocrites as the very Gospel preached doth more frequently then the sword of Justice it is not the fault of the Magistrate or the punishment inflicted which are good but of the parties punished who pervert them to a contrary end then they were intended Their abuse therefore of them must not nullisie them neither as to themselves nor others who may profit by them and make better use thereof Eightly Saint Paul hath most fully refuted this Objection in a like case Phil. 1. 15 16 17 18. Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife and some also of good will The one preach Christ of contention not sincerely supposing to adde affliction to my bonds But the other of love knowing that I am set for the defence of the Gospel What then Notwithstanding every way whether in pretencee or truth Christ is preached AND I THEREIN DOE REJOYCE YEA AND WILL REJOYCE compared with the 1 Cor. 1. 18 23 24. For the preaching of the Crosse is to them that perish foolishnesse but unto us that are saved it is the power of God c. But we preach Christ crucified unto the Jewes a stumbling block and unto the Gentiles foolishnesse but unto them which are called both Jewes and Greeks Christ the Power of God and the Wisdome of God 2 Cor. 2. 15 16. For we are into God a sweet savour of Christ in them that are saved and in them that perish to the one we are the savour of death unto death and to the other the savour of life unto life and who is sufficient for these things Though some men preach Christ for good ends others for bad some in pretence others in truth and though the preaching of the Gospell be a stumbling-block to some foolishnesse and a savour of death unto death to others aggravating and encreasing their sinnes and condemnation in an high degree which is worse then outwardly to reformeor make them Hypocrites and the power of God to salvation but to a few working such contrary effects yet it must be preached because God commands it hath glory by it even in those that perish and some are converted thereby though others hardned and damned so though the Magistrates coercive power and punishments inwardly convert not many yet because they restraine most Hereticks Schismaticks Sinners from doing more mischief to others and committing more actuall sinnes in themselves yea make an outward conformity and reformation where Justice is duely executed they must be still continued and conscionably used in the Church though they should make many men Hypocrites and worse then they were before being God's Ordinance for good not ill Ninthly admit the Magistrates punishments and coercive power should actually convert and reforme none in a Gospel way of themselves yet they compell them to resort to the Word and Ordinances and to the use of those meanes which God hath specially appointed to convert and reforme them both in heart and life yea the suppressing of all private meetings and conventicles of Hereticks Schismaticks Anabaptists Papists Blasphemers which confirme and settle them in their damnable heresies errors schismes and constraining them to resort conscionably to our publick Congregations where the Word of God is truly preached expounded the Sacraments duely administred all former grounds of their Separation and Schism fromour Assemblies being fully removed so as there is
Whoredome or Drunkennesse because they committed them onely to satisfie their beloved Lusts and please their carnall appetites but onely chaste and sober men Ergo it is not lawfull for the Christian Magistrate to restraine and punish Whoremasters Adulterers Drunkards for these Sinnes Vices lusts Certainly such an Argument would quite subvert all civill punishments whatsoever for Vnusquisque sui ipsius iniquus Index especially carnall men in all cases which concerne their best beloved sinnes And thus much in answer to his Major Fourchly for his Minor it is a most arrogant false assertion wherein the Objector who never read one quarter of all Books written of the Magistrates power much lesse the hearts and secret thoughts of every conscientious Christian that ever lived under the power of Christian Magistrates dares confidently averre That a coercive power in Magistrates was never acknowledged by any Christian whatsoever but onely those who were well assured it would be used for their turne When this pretending Omniscience can demonstrate this over-bold assertion to be true we may credit his Argument till then we must reject both him and his argument as false and groundlesse Fiftly Christ himselfe together with his Apostles Paul and i Peter acknowledged such a coercive power in the civill Magistrate as I have proved though they beleeved it would be used against themselves and their followets as it was the like did Augustine with sundry other Authors forecited and all Christian Churches at this very day yea Cyprian Luther Melancton Zuinglius and others who lived in the times of persecution did the like as I have formerly proved therefore the contrary groundlesse assertion of this over-confident Arguer is most false impious and his Argument most infirme which is grounded principally upon it The sixteenth Objection is this That power which in the exercise of it directly tends to prevent hinder or suppresse the growth or encrease of the light of the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ in a Church or STATE and the reformation of such things either in Doctrine or Discipline as are unwarrantable therein is not QVESTIONLES of any divine Right or Institution If A. S. deny this proposition at the perill of his modesty and reputation be it But such a power in the civill Magistrate for suppressing Errors Schismes Heresies c. in Religion directly tends to all the mischiefe and inconvenience in the world Ergo. The evidence of the assumption is this When men are obnoxious to the stroke of the civill power and in danger of suffering deeply from the Magistrate for any thing they shall hold or practice in Religion contrary unto him it must needs be a great temptation and discouragement upon them from searching and enquiring into the Scriptures after a more exact knowledge of the good and holy and perfect will of God in things because in case he should discover any thing contrary to what the Magistrate professeth he must run the bazard either of with-holding the Truth he so discerned in unrighteousnesse and so of having both God and his owne conscience his enemy or else of having his bones broken by the iron red of the civill Magistrate for making profession of any thing contrary to that he professeth To this I answer first that this Argument as the former is grounded upon false carnall reasonings and principles warranted by no Scripture to contradict the coercive power of Magistrates warranted by expresse Scriptures Secondly the proposition may very well be denied by A. S. or any other without the perill of his modesty or reputation the utmost hazard he shall incurre by the Objectors confession I am certaine without any danger to his soule or conscience else we must deny the very office and exercise of Kingly and all other Supreame Civill or Ecclesiasticall powers here secretly struck at because in the abused exercise thereof they usually tend not onely to prevent hinder suppresse the growth encrease of the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ in a Church and State with the reformation of such things in Doctrine or Discipline as are unwarrantable therein yea commonly degenerate into oppression tyranny cruelty and injustice to boot as is evident by Psal 2. 2 c. Acts 4. 25 to 30. Matth. 10. 17 to 29. cap. 24. 9 10. and the Histories of all Ages Upon which ground the Anabaptists and some of our new Saints of their spawning condemne all Monarchy and Magistracy as the Objectors cunningly do Thirdly I answer that the abuse of any lawfull power or institution doth not nullifie the power or institution it selfe if divine or necessary as the Magistrates is nor the lawfull exercise thereof therefore this accidentall abuse of the Magistrates coercive power the sinne and fault of the persons that manage it onely not of the power it selfe cannot invalid or nullifie the exercise of it no more then the abuse of preaching and arguing abrogate their lawfull use nor the common abuse of eating and drinking to surfeting and drunkennesse or of apparell to pride make the things themselves or the right use of them evill Fourthly the assumption is false contrary to expresse Scriptures as Isa 49. 23. 2 Tim. 2. 1 2. yea the punishment of reall Heresies Errors Schismes Blasphemies the onely thing in dispute by godly Christian Magistrates can never involve them in the objected danger and tends onely to prevent the Objectors mischiefs and to the remotion suppression of those mists of Heresie Error Blasphemy which would eclipse the light the knowledge of God Jesus Christ in Church State and helps to reforme things amisse in Doctrine and Discipline as experience with all Ecclesiasticall Histories and the Chronicles of the good Kings of Judah and Israel manifest Therefore this Objection must needs be exploded as most false and dangerous by all good men Fiftly fear of punishing Hereticks Schismaticks false Teachers and Blasphemers will never retard nor discourage any Orthodox Christian from searching and enquiring into the Scriptures after more exact knowledge of the good and perfect will of God as is falsly alleaged but rather instigate them to such a search and if any accidently by such fear of punishment be deterred from such an enquiry into the Scriptures and induced to with-hold the truth in unrighteousnesse it is their owne sinne not the Magistrates nor the fault of his coercive power rightly managed yea no true Saints of God but onely Hypocrites and such false Saints as the Objectors are will be deterred from searching the Scriptures and induced to with hold the truth in unrighteousnesse by any humane power whatsoever as is evident by the example of the Apostles Acts 4. 5. of the three Children and Daniel Dan. 3. 6. of Paul himselfe Acts 20. 23 24. cap. 21. 11 12 13 14. and by Cel. 1. 27 28 29. Hebr. 10. 32 33 34. Rom. 5. 3 4 5. This Argument therefore must vanish into nothing before these Scriptures and shame the Author of it The seventeenth
of the multitudes of Idolaters round about them of the many strong enticements and their own proneness thereunto So upon the like reason the New Testament is far more frequent in exhorting Christians under the Gospel to beware of Hereticks Schismaticks and False Teachers then of Idolaters and of Heresie and Errors in Religion then of Idolatry because Idolaters under the Gospel when most Idolatrous Nations should be converted and the vanity the false-hood of Idolatry fully discovered should be nothing so dangerous so infectious so numerous so diligent and cunning to seduce men as Hereticks Schismaticks False Teachers and Idolatrie nothing so apt to seduce men to it as heretical and erroneous Tenets which have a more specious shew of truth and greater colour of warrant from the Scriptures then Idolatry Wherefore godly Kings Magistrates States should be more severe and vigilant against obstinate Hereticks Seducers False Teachers Heresie c. then against professed Idolaters or Idolatry wherewith their people are seldom endangered seduced and the many reiterated Caveats against them in the Gospel will warrant them to proceed against such as capitally as severely under the Gospel as godly Magistrates and Princes proceeded against Idolaters and False Teachers under the Law That Christian Kings States Magistrates under the Gospel have the self-same Power and Commission as godly Kings States Magistrates had under the Law I have formerly manifested and is undeniably proved by ROM 13. 1. to 6. 1 TIM 2. 1 2. TIT. 3. 1 2. 1 PET. 2. 13 14 15. compared with 2 SAM 23. 3. 1 KING 10. 9. PSAL. 101. 8. PSAL. 78. 71 72. ISA. 16. 5. c. 32. 1. PROV 20. 2. 8. 20. c. 24. 21 22. c. 25. 5. c. 29. 4. 16. and other texts Yea it is a Maxime under the Gospel as wel as under the Law That a right hand must be cut off and a right eye pulled out any member especially the corrupt Members of a Christian Church or State destroyed by the Magistrate rather then the whole body infected endangered destroyed MAT. 5. 29. 30. c. 18. 8. MARK 9. 45. JOH 11. 50 51 52. c. 18. 14. ROM 5. 7 8. GAL. 5. 12. As therefore pious Kings and Magistrates under the Old Testament might lawfully cut off one or more Idolaters Seducers Blasphemers Apostates to preserve the whole Church and State from destruction infection ruine and avert Gods wrath DEUT. 7. 2. 4. c. 13. 7. 9 10 11. 15 16 17. NUM 16. 26. c. 25. 4. to 14. So by like reason may Christian Kings States Magistrates under the Gospel off rotten Hereticks Seducers Blasphemers and the like putred Members from the body of their Churches and States by capital punishments to ward off Gods Judgements from the rest as wel as Traytors Murtherers Theeves and other Malefactors as the fore-quoted texts together with the 1 COR. 5. 6 7. 13. ROM 13. 3. 4. fully evidence But lest this should not fully satisfie I shal next proceed to Arguments drawn from the New Testament only wherein I shal thus argue in the sixth place Magistrates Kings Rulers and the Higher powers under the Gospel it self are ordained continued by God and men for this very end among others to be a terror to evil doers and workers to be Gods Ministers Avengers to execute wrath upon them that do evil and not to bear the sword in vain being sent FOR THE PUNISHMENT OF EVIL DOERS Nay Christians themselves are to obey submit unto them and injoyned to pray for them that under them they may live a peaceable life IN ALL GODLINESSE and HONESTY they being the Ministers of God for their good ROM 13. 1. to 6. 1 PET. 2. 13 14. TIT. 3. 1. 1 TIM 2. 1 2 3. Yea Christ himself commands his disciples when they should be brought before them nay SCOURGED KILLED and PUT TO DEATH BY THEM not to dispute their power as some do now but to submit unto it as he did to Pilates MAT. 10. 17 18. 21. LUK. 22. 12. 17. JOHN 16. 2 3. Upon which grounds Paul being brought before Festus Felix Agrippa and accused by the Jews of HERESY stirring up of sedition among the Jews throughout the world teaching against the Law and defiling the Temple justified himself and denyed these accusations but demurred not to their Jurisdiction using this notable speech ACT. 25. 10. IF I BE AN OFFENDOR OR HAVE COMMITTED ANY THING VVORTHY OF DEATH IREFUSE NOT TO DYE BUT IF THERE BE NONE OF THESE THINGS VVHEREOF THEY ACCUSE ME NOMAN MAY DELIVER VNTO THEM I APPEAL VNTO CAESAR Where Paul appeals not from but to the Supream Civil Magistrate from the Jews even in a case of Religion yea of Heresie Schism Superstition as it was then accounted not refusing to dye IF HE HAD DONE ANY THING VVORTHY OF DEATH and were guilty of this charge Therefore by these Gospel Texts and Presidents Christian Magistrates Kings Rulers and the Higher Powers under the Gospel have right to inflict corporal pecuniary and capital Punishments upon notorious dangerous Idolaters Apostates Hereticks Blasphemers False Teachers and obstinate Schismaticks who are evil doers in the highest degree dishonoring and blaspheming God undermining Religion subverting the faith of many bringing upon themselves and others swift damnation disturbing the Peace Order Doctrins of the Church and bringing down Gods Wrath Judgements on the Churches States Kingdoms wherein they live and destroy the very stock and faith of Christ as much as in them lies Rom. 16. 17 18. Gal. 5. 19 20 21. Phil. 3. 2 Mat. 7. 15. cap. 23. 14. 26. 27. 28. Acts 20. 29 30. 1 Tim. 4. 1 2. 2 Tim. 2. 17 18. Tit. 3. 10 11. 2 Pet. 2. 1 2 3. Rom. 1. 18. to the end Revel 2. 15. to 24. 1 Cor. 5. 6 7. 13. Heb. 12. 15. I suppose our Oppositers are not so impudent to deny but that Christian Princes States Magistrates under the Gospel may punish Traytors Murderers Theeves Witches and other Idolaters with corporal and capital punishments because they are evill doers even by vertue of the forecited Texts then by the self same reason they must likewise punish all obstinate seducing Hereticks Blasphemers Schismaticks c. with the self-same punishments who are guilty of High Treason and Blasphemy against God himself the Father Son Spirit Gospel Christian Faith Destroyers Murderers of mens very souls and greater disturbers of the States and Churches wherein they live then any Theeves Felons Witches Can any rational Christian think that God would so severely punish Idolaters Blasphemers and seducing Prophets under the Law with inexorable death and yet let them and Hereticks scape unpunished under the Gospel there being no variablenesse nor shadow of turning in him That he would appoint Magistrates to punish only the smallest offences between man and man and not to correct and punish the most heinous offences and Treasons against himself being his own Avengers Ministers Vicegerents Would it not be deemed a grand absurdity in earthly Kings and
authority upon the recited Lâ—ws Punishments and proceedings against obstinate seducing Heretickes 〈…〉 and Blasphemers First that they were generally made and seveâ—rely executed by the most pious Religious and zealous Emperors Kings Princes states in the ages when they lived out of their piety great zeale love to God and Christian Religion not by such as were irreligious prophane carelesse of Gods worship or of a persecuting disposition 2ly That they were made at the desire and earnestrequest of the most godly pious Orthodox Councells Bishops Ministers and zealous Christians living in the times wherein they were enacted witnesse the Epistles Decrees of the second generall Councell of Constantinople to Theodosius the Elder of the councell of Ariminum to the Emperor Constantius of the councell of Africk to the Emperor Honorius Can. 25. to 61. of the c Bishops and Clergy in the third generall Councell of Ephesus to Gallimar King of â—ersia and Theodosius the Emperor The Epistles of Lev the first to the Emperors Theodosius Martianus and others Epist 9. 13. 14. 38. 39. 23. 44. 50. 58. 91. Augustine Epist 48. 50. Gratian caus 23 â— 3. 4. with sundry others 3ly That they were generally applauded by all opposed and writ against by none for ought we find as contrary to the word of God and the Government under the Gospell but only by the â—actious and seditious Donatists 4ly That Gods blessing on these Lawes the severe putting them in execution was the principall meanes to suppresse extirpate the Heresies and Schismes of the Arians Pelagians Maniches Donatists Euticbeans and the like which abounded in those times when preaching and disputations would not do it yea that which stopped the propagation of them to posterity with the growth and spreading of them for the present in those ages as all Ecclesià sticall Hystoriaens evidence And although it be most certaine that all the Lawes and punishments in the world cannot suppresse the true faith and Doctrine of Iesus Christ nor hinder the prevailing progresse of it which commonly spreads fastest under the hottest persecutions yet it is most true that execrable Heresies Errors Blasphemies and Schismes contrary to Gods word may be and alwayes have beene suppressed yea extirpated by temporall Lawes and punishments in all Ages when no other meanes could prevaile to do it and where such Laws are most severely executed there Heresies Errors Schismes blasphemies either break not out at all or are soone suppressed and never grow Epidemicall or of long continuance From all which Lawes and considerations I shall deduce this Argument as auxiliary to the former Those things which the most pious zealous and devout Emperors Kings Magistrates States even at the prayer or request of the most holy Orthodox learnedest Councells Bishops Clergy-men and with the generall approbation and desire of the best and most Zealous Christians with very good successe to the publike tranquility peace of the Church and preservation of the Christian faith in purity have by their Lawes and sanctions punished with corporall or Capitall punishments in all or most Ages and Realmes where there were any Christian Emperors Kings States Magistrates all Christian Princes Magistrates Republikes may with safe consciences and good successe punish ' yea censure now and ought to do it But the most pious zealous devoutest Emperors Kings States Magistrates at the prayer and earnest request of the most holy Orthodox learnedest Councells Bishops Clergy-men and with the generall approbation desire of the best and most zealous Christians with very good successe to the settlement of the peace of the Church and preservation of the Christian faith in purity have by severe Lawes and sanctions punished Hereticks Apostates seducing false Teachers Blasphemers and obstinate dangerous Scismatiks with corporall or capitall punishments in all or most Ages Realmes States where there were any Christian Emperors Kings States Magistrates as the premises manifest Therefore Christian Princes Magistrates Republikes may doubtlesse with safe conscience and like good successe punish them in like manner now yea and ought to do it unlesse they will be reputed lesse pious zealous or devout then they or lesse carefull of the publike peace and peoples soules then they have bin And thus much for the affirmative part I now come to Answer the chiefe Objections lately made in Presse or Palpit to the contrary especially Mr. Dels which are freshest in memory and much relied on by his Independent party An Answer to the contrary Objections The Objections made to the contrary by our Opposite dissenting Brethren Libertins Sectaries Anabaptists are deduced partly from Scripture partly from reason Some of those from Scripture I have already answered in the premises as they lay in my way I shall now propound and answer those only which remaine taken almost verbatim from the Donatists and old Anabaptists The first Objection is from the Parable of the Tares Math. 13. 24. to 31. 36. to 43. Where when the Servants would have gone and gathered up the Tares out of the Wheate before the Harvest the houshoulder said Nay least whiles ye gather up the Tares ye root up also the Wheat with them Let both grow together Vntill the Harvest and in the time of Harvest I will say to the Reapers gather you first the Tares together and binde them in bundells to burne them but gather the Wheat into my Barne Which Harvest Christ interprets to be the end of the World and the Reapers to be the Angells v. 39. Whence they inferre that Hereticks Schismaticks false Teachers and Blasphemers being Tares must bee let alone to grow among the Wheat and not pulled up nor rooted out by the Majestrate till the Harvest at the end of the VVorld and then only to be gathered by the Angells into bundells and â—â—st into Hell fire but notto bee burnt or punished here by the civill Powers So the Donatists and Anabaptists To this I answer First that this being but a parable the whole scope of it must be observed else no lolid Argument can be deduced from it Now the whole drift of this Parable is only to shew there shal not be a total separation of all the Tares from the Wheat all the sheep from the Goates all the Reprobate from the elect all the Children of the wicked the Devill from the Children of the Kingdome till the day of judgement at the end of the World as is undenyable by Christs owne exposition of it v. 27. to 34. by that other Parable of the net v. 47. to 50. and by Math. 25. 31. to the end 2 Thes 1. 8. 9. 10. Iude 14. 15 Re. 20. 12. 13. 14. 15. c. 22. 14. 15. compared The only argument then which can be properly deduced from this Parable is this God will not make a totall separation of al wicked men from the good of all Tares and Children of the Devill from the VVheat and children of the Kingdome in this world nor gather together all
Isay 2. 3. 4. parallell with it Nation shall not lift up sword against Nation neither shall they learne Warre any more c. Let him therefore give over pressing this Text any further contrary to its scope or if he will have it really verified let him now retract his Petition to the Parliament to suffer separate assemblings of the Saints both publiquely and privatly as occasion serves c. directly contrary to this prophecy and perswade his Armedsaints no more to destroy hurt or kill Cavaliers much lesse any godly Ministers whom some of them have threatned hurt thrust out of their Pulpits unlesse they will likewise permit the Christian Majestrate to hurt and destroy obstinate seducing Heretickes Schismatickes false Teachers Blasphemers notwithstanding this objected Text. As for the Second quotation Isay 60. 18 Violence shall no more be heard in thee c. I answer it is meant of the Church Triumphant not Militant as is cleare by the three next verses compared with Rev. 21. and 22. parallell to this Chapter Iob. 3. 17. 18. 19. and Rev-14 13. And if so then the Argument hence truly Stated stands thus There shall bee no violence wasting and destruction heard in the Church triumphant in heaven which shall be above the reach of force or Enemies Ergo Christian Princes States Majestrates may not make Lawes to punish suppresse incorrigible Heretickes Seducers Schismatickes and Blasphemers in the Church militant here on earth But grant it meant of the Church Militant under the Gospell Is the punishment of men with temporall or capitall punishments for their damnable Heresies Errors Schismes Blasphemies Idolatries violence or ever so called reputed in Scripture phrase which useth it only for Tirany Oppression and Rapine or is it not rather Iustice and executing Iustice and Iudgement in all Scripture language Is the confiscation of the goods imprisonment banishment or putting to death in some cases of the persons of such any wasting or destruction intended in this Text If so let Mr. Dell averre it at the utmost hazard of his Science and Conscience since no sober nor learned man can or dares assert it If not then let him confesse his error in thus wier-drawing and willfully perverting Scripture in so shamefull a manner before so juditious an Auditory as those to whom he preached and that upon a Fast day unfit for strife and debate as this very Prophet will informe him Isay 58. 4. 5. and for such new Logick as this There shall be no violence wasting nor destruction heard in the Church when God shall convert or subdue her Enemies and give her peace at the last Ergo obstinate Heretickes Schismaticks Seducers Blaspemers yea Traitors Murderers Fellons by like consequence must not be corporally nor capitally proceeded against but let alone without any molestation by the Christian Magistrate and the Parliament must by no meanes make any Lawes to restraine them now Can any man but admire that such strange Logick and Theology so purely Independent should dare fly abroad in print to gull poore silly people and bee so confidently averred to be the Lords voyce the truth of Christ the mind of God c. as Mr. Dell asserts The 4th Objection from Scripture is this which seemes more coâ—lerable but is no more substantiall then the former Christ never used the power of the world but did all by the power of the word Neither did Christ command his Disciples to use any such outward power but he sent his Desciples to preach and bid them say into what house soever they entred Peace bee to this house And if men would not receive peace and the Doctrine of Peace not to force them but to depart thence and to shake off the dust of their feet as a witnesse against them that they had beene there according to the will of Christ and the Father and offered them mercy and Salvation which they refused And this is all that the Ministers of the Gospell can doe to any that refuse their Doctrine and not to go to the secular Magistrate to aske power to punish them or imprison them or sell their goods as now is practised in some parts of the Kingdome EVEN VPON THE SAINTS And if men be wicked is it not misery enough for them to refuse eternoll life except also they inflict on them temporall death Is it not misery enough for men to refuse the good things of Heaven except they also deprive them of the good things of this present life And yet as Luther saith of the Clergy Quando non invocat brachium seculare morte utraque terret mundum when doth it not call upon the secular power and terrefies the world with both deaths Surely Christ and the word approve not these wayes For Math. 18. Christ sets no other punishment on them that would not heare the Church then that hee should be reconed as an Heathen And Paul Titus 3. teacheth us after once and twice admonition to avoid an Heretick but not to imprison him or kill him or banish him And againe those that do these things shall not inherit the Kingdome of God And againe he that beleiveth not shall be damned but not one word of outward or corporall punishment in all the Gospell I answer that here is a hotch-potch of many Arguments and Scriptures jumbled together commonly objected by the Donatists and Anabaptists to amuse or delude the simple Auditor and Reader I shall therefore sever and answer them in order The first of them is this Lu. 1. Christ never used the power of the world but did all by the power of the word even his punishments and his destructions were executed by it Ergo Kings and temporall Magistrates must not punish Hereticks Seducers Blasphemers obstinante Hereticks nor use externall force in matters of Religion This was the Argument of the Donatists largely answered by St. Augustine in his 48. 50. Epistles from whom Mr. Dell transcribes it I answer First that Christ in the Old Testament did make use of the power and sword of Godly Kings and Magistrates to punish Idolatrous and falsè Prophets as I have largely proved yea he makes use of the ten hornes who are ten Kings to punish burne and destroy the whore of Babylon under the New-Testament Rev. 17. 16. Besides the Scripture is expresse that Christ is the Head of all Principallity and Power Col. 2. 10. that the powers which are are ordined of God the sword to be used by them for the good of his Church People who are to obey and submit unto them Rom. 13. 1. to 6. 1 Tim. 2. 1. 2. 1. Pet. 2. 13. 14. Tit. 3. 1. Hence is that of Bernard to Pope EVGENIVS Vterque ergo Ecclesiae spiritalis scilicet gladius materialis sed is quidem pro Ecclesia ille verò et ab Ecclesia exercendus est Ille Sacerdotis is militis sed sanè ad nutum Sacerdotis
nothing but obstinacy which now makes them separate would be a ready meanes through Gods blessing to reduce reclaime convert and unite such both to God and us and put a speedy period to all our desperate schismes occasioned meerly by the cowardize or negligence of Magistrates in not censuring and of the people in not informing against and prosecuting such offenders With this kind of compulsion to force men to our publick Ordinances and Assemblies from which there is no just ground of conscience now to separate is no forcing of their consciences nor compelling them to beleeve nor prosecuting of men for conscience as is maliciously objected no more then a Physitians compelling of a Patient to take a bitter Potion against his will to recover his health and save his life or a Parents constraining his Child to goe to Church or Schoole or a Masters compelling his Servant to doe his work or learne his Trade or a Commanders enforcing his Souldiers to fight against their wils or the putting of a lame person into a Bath against his mind to recover his limbs and hath been practised in all Ages by the most religious Princes being warranted by Gods owne dealing with us in our conversion unto him who compels us to come in yea draws us to and after him against our corrupt wils hearts natures lusts and at last through the use of Meanes and Ordinances by little and little of unwilling makes us willing working in us both the will and the deed of his good pleasure Upon this ground the good Kings of Judah Nehemiah and others compelled and commanded their Subjects to enter into Covenant with God yea to destroy the Idols Altars Groves Prophets Priests and Temples of their Idol gods and put away their Idolatrous Wives which they would no wayes tolerate and those that separated from the publick Ordinances and Congregations through negligence or schisme were to be cut off from the people by the hand of publick justice as the marginall Scriptures evidence All which considered this great Objection much magnified pressed by our Opposites will be fully cleered dissipated and vanish into nothing The eighth Objection is this The coercive power and punishments of the Magistrate in matters of Religion brings men into Blind Obedience and makes men obey what is commanded on paine of punishment though they know not whether it be right or wrong with the Word or against the Word so that a man shall say That what I doe I am constrained to doe and therefore I doe it because I am constrained to doe it When a man shall see prisons and banishments and losse of Goods walking up and downe the Kingdome for the reformation of the Church you shall have men say at last We will beleeve and doe as the State pleaseth or as the Counsel pleaseth and hove acceptable such faith and obedience is to God all spirituall Christians know Ergo Magistrates must not punish Hereticks Schismaticks Seducers or Blasphemers with capitall or corporall censures This Argument is borrowed from Master Robinson his Justification of Separation pag. 224. I answer first that Master Dell here confesseth That corporall punishments prisons banishments losse of goods and death walking up and downe a Kingdome is a ready meanes to bring men to unity and conformity in Gods worship when no meanes else will prevaile therefore it is fit to make use of this meanes when there is occasion and certainly there was never more occasion then now when many of his Saints are grown so audacious insolent domineering exorbitant in their Heresies Blasphemies and open affronts used to our Ministers every where disturbing and pulling some of them out of their Pulpits Secondly iâ— the thing commanded be good agreeable to the Will and Word of God as to repaire constantly to the publick Ordinances and Assemblies to heare pray and worship God it is obstinacy and wickednesse to disobey and no blind but just and conscientious obedience to submit if the thing commanded be simply evill and the party commanded be convinced of it by cleer evidences out of Scipture it is his honour and duty to obey God rather then men and cheerfully to suffer for disobeying if the thing commanded be meerly doubtfull to him that is commanded but not to him that commands who deemes it just there the command of the superiour Power ought to poyse the scales of obedience especially in things not apparently sinfull Thirdly Obstinacy Heresie Error Schisme really make men blind in a spirituall sense and those who follow them are more guilty of blind obedience then the Magistrate who by mulcts and punishments would open their wilfully closed eyes and reduce them to the way of truth and unity Fourthly a Blind Seducers are more guilty by farre of leading men into blind obedience then the coercive Lawes and Punishments of Christian States and Magistrates Witnesse Christs Speech of the Pharisos and Jewish Priests Marth 15. 14. They be blind Leaders of the blind and if the blind â—â—â—d the â—â—â—â—d â—â—â—â— shall fall into the Ditch And Matth. 23. 16 24 26. Wer â—â—â—â— you â—â— Scribeâ— Pharises Hypocrites ye blind guides ye fooles and blind thrice repeated in one Chapter and Luke 6. 39. witnesse the 2 Pet. 2. 1 2. There shall be false Teachers among you who privily shall bring in damnable Heresies c. And many shall blindly follow their pernâ—cidus wayes 1 Tim. 4. 1. Now the Spirit speaketh expresly That in the latter times some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing Spirits and Doctrines of Devils compared with the 2 Tim. 3. 1 to 6. cap. 2. 14. Acts 5. 36 37. cap. 20. 30. together with Matth. 24. 11 24. Many false Prophets shall arise and deceive many 2 Thes 2. 10 11. Revel 13. 4 8 15 15. Antichrist the Beast and the false Prophet shall deceive and seduce all that dwell on the earth whose names are not written in the Book of life In all Ages blind Priests Sectaries and false Teachers have been the greatest seducers and most led people into blind obedience witnesse the blind obedience of the Papists to their Priests and Confessors and of most Sectaries and Independents to their blind Teachers who follow them blindly in an Independent Church Government which their chiefe Leaders have not yet agreed on and either cannot or dare not plainly publish to the world though earnestly pressed thereunto by their Opposites and publick authority which Government Master Dell now professedly denies averring That there is no other Reformation under the Gospel BVT ONELY that of the inward man and other Reformation be and the Gospel knows not any Yea this is the misery of miseries in this seeing Age as is pretended that many people zealously affected as if they were all Quicke silver Weather-cocks or waves of the Sea blindly wheel about with every wind of doctrine running after every idle crochet of their Independent wavering Pastors without
Sacrum an holy War because waged in defence of Religion though Idolatrous to punish the contemners of it Yea this was one cause of the Poloponesian War between the Athenians and Lacedaemonians as Thucidides and Grotius record who assert Justius illi punientur qui in eos quos Deos putant irreverentes atque irreligiosi sunt Hence the Athenians banished Protagoras out of their City and territories and burned his Books in a publick assembly because he had written in the beginning of his Book De diis neque ut sint neque ut non sint habeo dicere Hence Antiochus attempting to rob the Temple of Dodona in Syria was together with his whole army slain by the Inhabitants Hence we read in Aelian of a child condemned to death for Sacriledge and offring injury to the Heathen Goddesse Diana in taking away a Golden Plate which had fallen from her Crown And upon this ground Numa Pompilius as Livy Plutarch and Dionysius Haliâ—arnasseus record instituted a Pontifex Maximus or chief Priest at Rome eique omnia ex scripta ex signataque attribuit quibus hostiis quibus diebus ad quae templa sacra fierent c. Pontificiis scitis subjecit vt esset quo consultum plebs veniret ne quid divini juris negligendo Patrios ritus PEREGRINOS-QVE asciscendo turbaretur ne quid praeter LEGITIMA fiat And upon the like reason when the Romans in the time of Manlius had their bodies infected with diverse diseases and their minds with manifold erroneous Religions and Superstitions this publick shame coming to the knowledge of the chief of the City Cernentes in omnibus vicis sacellisque peregrinâ— atque insolita piacula pacis Deum exposcendae they thereupon commanded the Ediles to take care Vt animadverterent ne qui nisi Romani Dii NEV QVO ALIO MORE QVAM PATRIOCOLERENTVR to preserve Uniformity and avoyd all Innovations in their publike worship which they deemed true Whence I conclude that what Pagan Kings Magistrates Nations have usually punished with corporal or capital punishments and restrained by Civil Laws in all ages out of the light of Nature that Christian Kings Magistrates and Nations under the Gospel may lawfully punish in like sort even by the principles of Nature too had they no other Divine Law to warrant them as they have 'T is true most of these erred in the object in deeming that Heresie Schism Blasphemy Error which was not not in the punishment had the object been such as they really deemed it and such as we here dispute of My fourth Argument is this God hath prophecyed That Idolaters Hereticks and False Prophets under the Gospel shal be put to Death Therefore Christian Kings and Magistrates under the Gospel may lawfully put them to death else these Prophâ—sies should be frustrated and not fulfilled The Antecedent I have already made good in part from DEUT. 18. 15. to 21. which relates to the times of the Gospel But the Prophet which presumes to speak a word in my name which I have not commanded him to speak or that shal speak in the name of other gods EVEN THAT PROPHET SHAL DYE to wit by the sword of Justice which is thus repeated ACT. 3. 22 23. And it shal come to passe that every soul that wil not hear that Prophet SHAL BE DESTROYED FROM AMONG HIS PEOPLE even under the Gospel as wel as under the Law either immediately by the hand of God himself or mediately by the Civil Magistrate and Sword of Justice as The despisers of Moses Law were to be destroyed HEBR. 10. 28 29. compared with this text Whereto I shal now subjoyn ZECH. 13. 1 2 3 c. which speaking thus of the time of CHRIST and of his passion In that day shall a fountain be opened to the house of David for sin and for uncleannesse Awake O sword against my shpherd and against the man that is my fellow saith the Lord of hosts Smite the shepherd and the sheep shal be scattered c. applyed to Christ and the times of the Gospel in the New Testament MAT. 26. 32. MARK 14. 27. 1 PET. 1. 6 7. he adds And it shal come to passe IN THAT DAY of the Gospel saith the Lord of hosts I wil cut off the names of Idols out of the Land and they shal no more be remembred and also I wil cause the Prophets and unclean spirits to passe out of the Land And it shal come to passe that when any shal yet prophesie that HIS FATHER and mother which begat him shal say unto him THOV SHALT NOT LIVE FOR THOV SPEAKEST LYES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD and his FATHER and his Mother that begat him SHAL THRVST HIM THROVGH WHEN HE PROPHESYETH And it shal come to passe in that day that the Prophets shal be ashamed every one of his vision when he hath prophesied neither shall hee wear a rough garment to deceive This Prophesy relates wholy to the times of the Gospel The first part thereof concerning the destruction of Idols and Idolaters was in part fulfilled by the Apostles and others preaching and by Constantine the great his subverting of all Idols Temples Groves Statues by his enacting Laws against their worship and putting Lycinius and his complices qui praelii CONTRADEVM SVSCIPIENDI authores fuerunt to death being first condemned by Martial Law for waging war against God and the Christians as we may read at large in Eusebius The latter part concerning Hereticks and false Prophets who speak lyes in the name of the Lord relates likewise to the times of the Gospel wherein two things are considerable First their judgement and punishment Thou shalt not live and they shal thrust him through when he prophesieth A capital sentence and execution to the very taking away of their lives Secondly The parties who are to pronounce and execute this Judgement his Father and Mother that begat him an expression borrowed from Deut. 13. 6 7 8 9. This may have a threefold interpretation First His natural Father and Mother shal do it if living upon lawful conviction before the Christian Magistrate Secondly His Civil or Ecclesiastical Father and Mother especially if his natural Parents be dead to wit the Christian Magistrate Church and people where he liveth Thirdly his very neerest dearest friends and kindred who must cast aside all affection in the cause of God And this part of the Prophecy was fulfilled under the Gospel by the manygodly Laws of Christian Emperors Kings States in all ages for the punishing of Hereticks and seducing false Teachers with Banishment Imprisonment Burning Death and other corporal censures of which more anon Thirdly the good effect of these corporal censures and punishments upon Idolaters Hereticks and False Prophets is thus expressed in the Text. First The name of Idols shal no more be remembred Secondly The false prophet and unclean spirit shal passe out of the Land Thirdly Every other false prophet
Princes to give their Judges power only to enquire of and punish offences against their Subjects but not at all to enquire after or punish Treasons Conspiracies and Rebellions against their own Persons Crowns Kingdoms and shall wee deem the most wise and just God guilty of such a Solecism Doubtless as God himself under the Old Testament commanded Idolaters Blasphemers Seducing Prophets and Achan himself to be stoned to death by all Israel and after that burnt with fire for breaking his covenant and medling with the accursed thing and thereby troubling and bringing Gods wrath upon all Israel so as they fled and fell before the men of Ai Josh 7. 25. 27. So by the like reason justice equity commands Christian Princes Magistrates and people under the Gospell to punish obstinate Heretickes Idolaters Blasphemers False Teachers and pernicious Schismaticks who dishonor his name despite his Spirit subvert his Truth corrupt seduce and destroy others trouble the States and Churches wherein they live and bring Gods wrath upon them with like capital punishments when milder remedies wil not prevail and these recited Texts wil be a sufficient Commission to justifie such their proceedings as all the subsequent Authors as wel ancient as modern Protestants as Papists assert My seventh Argument shal be from our Saviors own words Math. 12. 3â— 32. Whosoever speaketh a word against the son of man it shal be forgiven him but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost and the BLASPHEMY against the Holy Ghost SHAL NOT BE FORGIVEN IN THIS WORLD nor in the World to come I have formerly proved from Levit. 24. 10. to 17. and other Texts That Blasphemy was to be punished with death by the Civil Powers under the Law Our Savior by this Expression Shall not be forgiven in this World which cannot be thought superfluous implies if not asserts That Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost should be thus punished by Christian Magistrates under the Gospel even in this world whence some conceive S. John in his first Epistle c. 5. v. 16. phraseth it in this respect among others A sin VNTO DEATH that is a sin to be punished with temporal as wel as eternal death And that our Saviors words Shal not be forgiven him neither in this world c. imply that the Christian Magistrates must not pardon such Blasphemy but punish it with death in this world as is clear by the next words Neither in the world to come So as the plain sense of these words is That Blasphemy and speaking of words against the Holy Ghost shall not bee forgiven by the Magistrates nor Ministers but punished by temporal death and delivery over to Satan the case of Hymenaeus and Alexander in part in this world nor yet pardoned by God but punished by him with eternall death in the world to come Which being the soundest Exposition of these Words in learned mens opinions which no ways prove a Popish Purgatory as the Papists dream will sufficiently warrant the punishment of such Blasphemy by the Christian Magistrate even with death under the Gospel as wel as under the Law My eighth Argument is drawne from Hebrewes 10. 26. to 31. For if wee sinne wilfully after wee have received the knowledge of the Truth there remaineth no more sacrifice for sinne but a certaine fearefull looking for of Judgement and fiery Indignation which shall devoure the Adversary Hee that despised Moses Law DYED WITHOUT MERCY under two or three witnesses and that in case of Idolatry Apostacy and Blasphemy to which this Text relates Deutronomy 13. Verse 6 7 8 9. Chap. 17. 8 9 10. Leviticus 24. Verse 10. to 17. OF HOW MVCH SORER PVNISHMENT suppose yee SHALL HE BE THOVGHT WORTHY Who hath TRODEN VNDER FOOT the Sonne of God and hath counted the blood of the Covenant where with he was sanctified an unholy thing and hath done despite unto the Spirit of Grace For we know him that hath said Vengeance is mine I wil recompence saith the Lord And again The Lord wil judge his people It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God From this text as likewise from Heb. 2. 1 2. and cap. 6. 1. to 9. which are in some sort paralelled with it it is most apparent First that the sins of Apostacy Blasphemy Heresy contempt of Christ and his blood and despiting of his Spirit by Christians are far more heinous great and more unpardonable under the Gospel then they were under the Law Secondly that they are worthy of much sorer punishment under the Gospel then under the Law Wherefore since those who were guilty of them and despised Moses Law dyed without mercy by the hand of the Magistrate and people under two or three witnesses under the Law those who are guilty of them under the Gospel deserving much sorer punishment may likewise be put to death by the Christian Magistrate without mercy and punished with more severe temporal punishments then any were under the Law because their sin is more hainous and deserves much sorer punishment as the text expresly resolves which I wish our Opposites and all Christian States Magistrates would seriously consider who deem the times of the Gospel times of greater indulgence connivance and mercy towards such capital Transgressors then the times of the Law Thirdly that if Magistrates and others neglect or refuse to punish such enormious Transgressors under the Gospel God himself wil take vengeance on judge and recompence them and they shal fall into the hands of the living God which is a more fearful thing then to fall into the hand of men Now if any should hence infer as our Opposites do that such must be left wholy to the hands judgement and vengeance of God himself who reserves such for his own Tribunal and hath exempted them from the inferior Magistrates Jurisdiction by this text I answer that the text wil warrant no such inference For first it is but a bare recital of Gods own Words in the Old Testament Deut. 32. 35. 39 40 41 42 43. Now in the Old Testament the vengeance punishment inflicted by God himself upon Apostates Idolaters as on the Israelites Midianites Canaanites and others did not exclude but include the Temporal Magistrates Censures and the use of secondary Instruments as is most apparent by Exod. 32. 26. to the end Where Moses SLEW about three thousand men for worshipping the Golden calf and yet God plagued the people for the same sinn too and Numb 25. 3. to 16. Where Moses for the sin of Peor hanged up the heads of the people before the Lord against the Sun the Judges of Israel slew every one his men that were joyned unto Baal Peor and Phineas slew Zimri and Cozbi with a Javelin and yet God himself at the same time slew twenty four thousand more of the people with the Plague for the same sin And by Josh chap. 9. to 13. and Acts 13. 19. Where God himself useth the Israelites to destroy his
enemies the Canaanites and other Idolatrous Nations Therefore this sentence under the New Testament Vengeance is mine c. no more exempts such Malefactors as the text speaks of from the capital punishments of the Magistrates and others under the Gospel then it did under the Law Secondly The Gospel informs us Rom. 13. 4. That every Christian Ruler and Magistrate is the Minister of God and his REVENGER to execute wrath upon him that doth evil And their Vengeance and Judgement is not their own but Gods on whose Tribunal they sit and whose Person they represent as is evident by Deut. 1. 17. Ye shal not respect persons in Judgement for THE JUDGEMENT IS GODS 2 Chron. 19. 6. And Jehoshaphat said to the Judges take heed what ye do for ye iudge not for men but FOR THE LORD who is with you in the Judgement Prov. 29. 26. Many seek the face of a Ruler but every mans Judgement COMETH FROM THE LORD 2 Chron. 9. 8. Blessed be the Lord thy God which delighted in thee to set thee ON HIS THRONE to be KING FOR THE LORD THY GOD because the Lord loved Israel therefore made he thee King over them to do Justice and Judgment Prov. 8. 15. By me Kings reign and Princes DECREE JUSTICE And Dan. 4. 24. The most high RULETH IN THE KINGDOM OF MEN and giveth it to whomsoever he will As God and Christ are said to preach the Gospel in and by the Ministers of it as our Antagonists themselves wil grant So they are likewise said to execute wrath and vengeance in and by the Magistrates Therefore this fond Objection whereon our Opposites much insist must needs evaporate into smoak and this Text remain an unanswerable proof for the Christian Magistrates power to punish Apostates Hereticks Blasphemers Contemners of Christ his blood his Covenant and the Spirit of Grace with more grievous corporal and capital punishments under the Gospel then under the Law My ninth Argument shal be from the 2 Pet. 2. 1. to 14. But there were false Prophets also among the people even as there shal be false Teachers among you who privily shal bring in DAMNABLE HERESIES even denying the Lord that bought them and shall BRING UPON THEMSELVES SWIFT DESTRUCTION And many shal follow their pernicious ways by reason of whom the way of truth shal be evil spoken off And through covetousnesse shal they with fained words make merchandize of you whose judgement now of a long time lingreth not and their damnation slumbreth not For if God spared not the Angels that sinned but cast them down into hell and delivered them into chains of darknesse to be reserved unto Judgement And spared not the old World but saved Noah the eight person a preacher of righteousnesse bringing in the Flood upon the world of the ungodly And turning the Cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly c. The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust unto the day of Judgment to be punished But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleannesse and despise government presumptuous are they self-willed they are not affraid to speak evill of dignities Whereas Angels which are greater in power and might bring not rayling accusations against them before the Lord But these as natural bruite beasts made to be taken and destroyed speak evil of the things they understand not and shal utterly perish in their own corruption And shal receive the reward of unrighteousnesse c. The very same expressions in substance if not in words we have repeated in Jude v. 4. to 23. From these considerable texts I shal Observe First That False Teachers under the New Testament are in the same rank and condition as false Prophets under the Old therefore liable to the like Capital Punishment under the Gospel as false Prophets under the Law which I have formerly proved Secondly That these False Teachers shal privily at first but more openly afterwards bring in Damnable Heresies or as the Greek phrase renders it Heresies of Perdition or Destruction 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Heresies deserving a Sentence of Destruction because they bring Perdition to the souls and bodies of those who broach and embrace them yea to the Churches States wherein they are vented and tolerated Rev. 2. 14 to 24. Thirdly That such false Teacheâ—â— shal bring upon themselves SWIFT DESTRUCTION The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which we English Destruction is oft times in the New Testament â—ied for the cutting off or destruction of a mans person by a violent and unnaturall death by men or other creatures through the just Judgement of God aâ— Luk 17. 27. 29. The flood came and destroyed them all It rained firâ—… heaven and destroyed them all 1 Cor. 10. 9. They were 〈…〉 Matth. 21. 41. He wil miserably destroy those wicked 〈…〉 Barrabas and destroy Jesus And sometimes for a jâ—… way of Censure as Jam. 4. 12. There is one Law-giver who 〈…〉 save and to DESTROY Matth. 10. 28. Fear him who is able 〈…〉 both soul and body in hell From this acception of the word 〈…〉 destroy in the New Testament I conceive the meaning of Peter 〈…〉 false Teachers who bring in damnable and destructive Heresies â—…n themselves by these their Heresies when detected SWâ—…JCTION in a two-fold sense First from the Christian 〈…〉 out of zeal to God and the peoples souls whom they would seduce shall 〈…〉 proceed against and destroy their persons with capital punishments Secondly From God himself in mans default who by some exemplary Judgments wil destroy their persons here yea their souls and bodies in hel for ever hereafter 2 Thes 1. 8 9. Fourthly That such false Teachers Destruction by the Magistrate cannot be called Persecution no more then a Traytors or Murderers because they bring it upon themselves by their Damnable Heresies and obstinate perseverance in them Fifthly That many shal in the last times follow the ways and damnable Heresies of False Teachers and therefore it is no wonder that such multitudes follow after such seducing New-Lights and false Teachers now Sixthly That by reason of these false Teachers calumnies and Heresies the very way of truth shall be evil spoken of and cryed down among their followers as now it is more then ever in our memory by New-Lights and Sectaries who stile all others but themselves The carnal and Antichristian Church The Clergy Antichristian c. and themselves The Saincts The Faithful Gods peculiar Portion the anointed ones c. Seventhly That false Teachers are for the most part exceeding covetous and make Merchandise of mens souls Eighthly That they are very Lascivious and usually walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness as many of our Anabaptists and Dippers of naked women both in the night and day time proclaim themselves to be Ninthly That they are
l. 5. 10. Joan. Witlingius de Anabaptistis Bullinger advers Anabaptistas Guide Bres Contre les Anabaptistes Jo. Gastius de Exordio Anabaptistarum c. Pontanus Catalogus Haereticorum Doctor Daniel Featly his Dippers Dipt Master Robert Bayly his Anabaptism c. and his Disswasive from the Errors of the times Mr Edwards his Gangraenaes Spanhemius Diatribe Historica De Origine Progressu Sectis c. Anabaptistar Joannes Assuerius Ampsingius Disputationes advers Anabaptistar Hartmannus Springelius de Hodiernis Haeresibus Haereticis Conradus Shiressime Vergent Haereticorum Catalogus Conradi Haeresbachii Historia Anabaptistica Una cum Notis Theodori Strackii Lamberti Hortensii Cloppenburgii Gangraena Anabaptistica Nicholaus Blesdikius Historia Davidis Georgij with others who have written of and against the Anabaptists the ignorance of whose abominable Errors Dispositions Blasphemies Seditions Heresies Vices and their late impunity is the only cause of their dangerous increase Theodoret. Eccles Hist lib. 5. cap. 7. Mustering up the names of the Ringleaders of the Arian Haeresy and the Seedsmen who sowed its tares in the Eastern parts and then watred and fostred them adds this as the main reason of this Heresies dangerous growth His malis Agricolis subsidio fuit CUM NIMIA CONSTANTIJ FACILITAS tùm improba Valentis nequitia I pray God the overmuch connivance and indulgence of most and underhand countenanceing of some in Authority of the Ringleaders of this dangerous faction do not nourish such a venomous Cockatrice in our bosome as may sting our Church State Parliament Magistracy and Ministry to death ere long and may yet be crushed though not in the shel by speedy and just severity as it was in former times not only in Germany and other forraign parts but even in ENGLAND some of this Sect of Anabaptists being burned in Henry the eighth and Queen Elizabeths Reign and the rest banished of which more anon These severe prosecutions against them heretofore and many other of like nature since even by Protestant Princes Magistrates shews how dangerous this Sect is now and may make all wary how they revolt unto them To passe from these and come somewhat nearer home I find among the Statutes of Scotland sundry Acts made against Idolatry Popish Masses Apostacy Seminary Priests Jesuites and Noncommunicants punishing them with pecuniary and other corporal and capital punishments and with banishment as James 8. Parl ament 1. c. 2 3. 5. Parl. 3. c. 1. 45 46. 53. Parl. 7. c. 106. Phrl. 10. c. 24. 27. Parl. 12. c. 120. Parl. 13. c. 60. Parl. 14. c. 193. Parl. 16. c. 17 18. Parl. 19. c. 1. and the 2. Parliament of King Charls Session 1. Act. 4. which you may find in Regiam Maiestatem and their Statutes at large Their recital I omit for brevity sake having more largely insisted upon them in my Truth triumphing over Falshood Antiquity over Novelty Wherein I have fully vindicated the Parliaments Legislative Power in all Ecclesiastical matters by Presidents in all ages both forraign and domestick to which I shal refer the Reader for full satisfaction in that particular Controversy there copiously debated and therefore shall not here insist upon it I now proceed to Domestick Presidents Laws of our own which are very full to the point in question in which I shal be a little more copious for the informing and satisfying others of my Profession and the encouraging of them to put the very ancient Common Law of England in execution for the future against Hereticks Apostates Blasphemers Anabaptists and other obstinate Separatists I shal for my more methodical proceeding herein in an historical manner begin with the first proceedings and punishments against Hereticks in this our own I sland long before Popery crept in upon it and then proceed to Laws and Punishments in succeeding times as well under our Popish as Protestant Princes And shal likewise clear it to every mans judgement That Heresie Apostacy Blasphemy and Schism as they are Criminall and Capitall are properly tryable onely by way of Inditement at the Common Law in the Kings temporal Courts before his Temporal Iudges not in Bishops Consistories who usurped the sole Iurisdiction and Cognizance of Heresie by degrees at last whereas they were only consulted with by godly Princes by way of advice counsell or assistance at first to help inform their consciences and judgments what ought to be reputed Heresy or Blasphemy and that usually in general or National Councels and that those who are guilty of these may as legally be tryed before our Iudges now as Seminary Priests and Iesuits against whom the Convocation Bishops in their Consistories never as yet Criminally proceeded as they did formerly against Heretiques but only the Common Law Courts which both convict arraign condemn and execute them too as such How Heretickes have been heretofore and may now be proceeded against in our own Realme I shall give you a breife Account The first Heresie I read of that infected and infested this our Island was the Arrian quae corrupto orbe toto hanc etiam insulam extra orbem tà m longè remotam veneno sui infecit erroris Et hac quasi via pestilentiae trans Oceanum patefacta non mora omnis se lues Haerescos cujusque Insulae NOVI SEMPER ALIQVID AVDIRE GAVDENTI ET NIHIL CERTI FIRMITER OBTINENTI infudit writes our venerable Beda This Haeresie sprung up in the time of Constantine the Great who was crowned Emperour in Britain and was condemned in the Councell of Nice And it together with the Heresies of Novatian Valentinian Paulus the Marcionists Cataphrygians and others which crept in with it were punished by this Emperor Constantine with BANISHMENT and by his Edict all their meetingâ—were suppressed and the places wherein they met confiscated after which the Arrians in Britain were removed from their stations by the Emperour Constantine The next Heresie which grew up at home among us was that of Pelagus alias Morgan a Britton Abbot of Bangor in the reign of Arcadius and Honorius which spreading it's poyson far and neare Honorius and Theodosius the Emperors by their Edict commanded Pelagius and Celestius his companion to be apprehended where ever they should be found by any man whatsoever and to be accused and brought to publick audience by any and by publick sentences to be condemned to INEXORABLE BANISHMENT to preserve others from infection And our learned Bale out of Walden affirms that Pelagius was BANISHED this Island by his Britons for his Heresy and hereticall Bookes This Heresy of his reviving again in Britain there was a Synod assembled at Verolam Anno 446. whereunto a multitude of men and women resorted where Germanus and Lupus two French Bishops so refuted Agricola and his confederates that they silenced them quite Whereupon the people could hardly hold their hands from pulling them in pieces Et post diem illum it a ex animis omnium
and distracted as some esteemed him I cannot certainely determine All these were thus censured and some of them put to death by the common Law since the Statutes against Hereticks were repealed why any scruple of putting such obstinate grosse Haereticks and Blasphemers to death upon a legall Indictment and Conviction before the Judges after the ancient course of the Common Law should now be made I can see no colour unles our love to our zeale for God Religion be farre lesse farre colder then our Predecessors or those very Lordly Prelates whom we have suppressed and our solemne Covenants Protestations to make a thorow Reformation of all corruptions in Doctrine Disciplin life an engagement to us to tollerate such most execrable Heresies Errors and open Blasphemies which the most unreformed times persons would by no meanes suffer without speedy condigne corporall and capitall punishments I shall only adde to this that by the Statutes of 5. Eliz. c. 1. 23. Eliz. c. 1. 3. â—7 Eliz. c. 1. 28. Eliz. c. 6. 35. Eliz. c. 1. 2. 39. Eliz. c. 18. 43. Eliz. c. 9. 1 Jac. c. 4. 3. Jac. c. 4. 5. 7. Jac. c. 6. 3. Car. c. 2. Jesuites Seminarie Priests Monkes Friars who receive Orders by any power derived from the See of Rome if borne within the Kings allegiance are to be indicted in the Kings temporall Courts and condemned yea executed as Traytors if they do but say Masse exercise their Priestly sanctions or endeavour to seduce any of the Kings Subjects from their Religion and Allegiance though they do it as they conceive meerely out of conscience and duty to God and their Ecclesiasticall Superiors upon which Statutes many of them have beene executed as Traytors and some of late by the present Parliaments speciall direction when the King himselfe would have reprived them The voluntarie Harborers of them knowing them to be such are by the Lawes to be indicted and executed as Fellons and the late Archbishops familiarity correspondence and confederacy with Priests and Jeâ—uites to introduce Popish Superstition and subvert the established Protestant Religion was charged against him by the whole House of Commons as a Treasonable and Capitall offence for which among other things he lost his head by the unanimous Judgement of both Houses of Parliament Such Popish Recusants or others who bring in any of the Popes Bulls or Excommunications into this Realme or publish them here though out of a seduced Conscience are to be executed as Felons by these Lawes or at least attainted in a Praemunire to the losse of their Estates and Libertyes Such Popish Recusants who are convicted for not repairing to Church and receiving the Sacraments among us are to forfeit two parts in three to be divided of their whole reall and personall Estates to the King to pay an hundred pounds for every Masse they heare and forfeit twenty pounds a Month for absenting themselves from Divine Service and Sermons in some Church or Chappell which lest eâ—alty of twenty pounds a Month for absence from the publike Ordinances all Schismaticks and Separatists incurre by these Lawes as well as Papist All such Recuâ—ants or Separatists who resuse the Oath of Allegiance and Supremacy incurre a Praemunire are to be imprisoned and made uncapable of any Office The importers of Popish Books Pictures Reliques of any kinde are subject to divers pecuniary Penalties Recusants themselves to be confined to their Houses disarmed secluded from the Court and all places of trust disabled to practise Law or Phisick and in some cases to inherit Lands to sue any Actions to be Executors or Administrators and to forfeit all their goods estates Dowers Iointures during their naturall lives as these Statutes declare at large And besides this they are to be excommunicated ipso facto and so utterly disabled to bring any action at Law and all this in relation to their false hereticall and detestable Religion which oft incites them to sedition Rebellion Treason against the King Kingdome Parliament And are all to be indicted and tried in these cases in the Kings Courts only according to the Rules of the Common Law These Lawes are still in force and executed to the full against them now and it was a great complaint yea charge against the King and his ill Councell in this and former Parliaments that they suspended or mitigated these Lawes against Popish Priests and Recusants And shall we then tollerate other dangerous Hereticks Schismatickes Blasphemers and Enemies of our established Religion yea and plead for a common tolleration of them when our Lawes are so justly rigorous and our selves so vehement against these God forbid As for obstinate Schismaticks who wholy separate from our Churches or publike Assemblies and are no Papists as they forfeit twelve pence for every Lords day and twenty pounds for every month they absent themselves from our publike Congregations by the Statutes of 1. Eliz. c. 2. and other recited Acts So by the Statute of 35. Eliz. c. 1. yet unrepealed they are to be imprisoned without Bayle or mainprise upon conviction untill they conforme themselves and repaire constantly to our Churches and if within three monthes after their Conviction they refuse to conforme and to repaire duly to our Churches or Chapells they are thereupon to take an Oath of Abjuration to depart the Kingdome in the open Quarter-Sessions or Assises before the Justices within such time as shall be limited and in case they refuse to abjure or shall not depart the Realme after such abjuration made or returne into it or into any the Kings Dominions againe without speciall license of the King first obtained then in every such case the person so offending Shall be adjudged A Felon and suffer death as in case of Felony without benefit of Clergy And every person who shall knowingly releive harbour maintaine or keepe in his house or service any such obstinate Separatist or Schismatick who shall-refuse to repaire to our Churches or Chappell 's shall after notice thereof by the Ordinary or any Justice of Peace or the Minister Curate or Churchwardens of the parish where such person shall then be forfeit ten pounds for every Month that he shall so relieve maintaine retaine or keepe any such person so offending Which Act alone if now duly executed would speedily suppresse ot quit our Church our State of all those dangerous Anabaptists Sectaries and seperating Enthusiasts who now so much infest and threaten tuine unto both I wish all such would seriously read Ephes 4. 1. to 7. Rom. 16. 17. 18 1 Cor. 1. 9. 10 14. 2 Pet. 2. Jud. 19. St. Cyprians Book de Vnitate Ecclesiae and St. Augustins Bookes and Epistles against the Donatists which would teach them to renounce their dangerous Schisme and prevent the execution of this good Law against them How variously Hereticks themselves with their Fautors and Followers are to be punished by the Canon Law to wit with excommunicution losse of trading and commerce with others
Pulpit then under the best Presbyterian government or Governour in the world Again It is written Psal 33. 10. The Lord bringing the counsel of the people to nought he maketh the devices of the people of no effect which is likewise seconded Isay 8. 10. cap. 19. 3. as he brought the counsel of the enemy to nought against Ierusalem Nehem. 5. 7. to 19. Will it thence follow Ergo Nehemiah and Gods people did ill in setting a watch in arming themselves and fighting against them to frustrate and resist their counsels as me read they did Will any prudent Prince or State neglect to apprehend and execute the Heads or Ringleaders of a new-plotted Treason or fresh Rebellâ—on and forbeare and let them alone because at last they would come to nought of themselves Will any man be so foolish as not to put out a fire which may endanger his whole house or an whole City because peradventure it will at last go out of it selfe when the whole house or City is consumed Doubtlesse no. Gamaliels atgument therefore and our opposers from his reason is neither agreeable to the rules of Divinity or Policy as these instances manifest and right reason to For though Heresies Blasphemies False-teachers Schismaticks and the like will at last come to nought of themselves yet this is no argument at all to forbear and let them alone First because it may be very long before they will come to nought of themselves if let alone whereas the Magistrate by his censures will speedily suppresse them Secondly because they may spread very far doe much hurt and seduce divers if let alone but not so if speedily suppressed and severely punished by the Magistrates as soon as broached and discovered Thirdly because the letting of them alone will breed much disturbance and schisme for the present discontent the most pious zealous religious yea bring judgments on the Churches States Magistrates people that permit them which a timely suppression execution of justice on them might prevent as I have proved in the premises Fourthly it is a received Maxime both in Politicks Ethicks and Physicks To withstand the rise and first beginnings of evils though at last they may come to nought of themselves It is the advice of agraver Doctor then Gamaliel Prov. 13. 24. He that spareth his rod hateth his sonne but he that loveth him chastiseth him BETIMES yea David would EARLY destroy all the wicked of the land Psal 101. 8. and the reason is rendred Eccles 8. 11. Because sentence against an evil work is not executed SPEEDILY therfore the hearts of the sonnes of men is fully set in them to doe evill The longer evils and evill men are tolerated the more obstinate the more pernicious and incurable they grow and therefore Ezra 7. 26. King Artaxerxes gave this charge to Ezra and the Judges Whosoever will not do the law of thy God and of the King let judgement BE EXECVTED SPEEDILY AGAINST HIM whether it be unto death or to banishment or to confiscation of goods or to imprisonment If Dr. Gamaliel Mr. Goodwin or Mr. Peters had been of this good Kings or of Davids Solomons Privie Counsel or Clerks of their convocations or Burgesses in their Parliaments we should never have heard of such precepts Lawes Texts as these against Idolaters and other Malefactors but Gamaliels absurd Counsell Forbeare these men and let them alone must have controled their more sacred and sage advises If Gamaliel Mr. Goodwin or Mr. Peters should advise Gardiners or Husbandmen not to pluck up the weeds in their Gardens and cornefields whiles they are greene and young but to let them alone till they wither of themselves or counsell sick men when their diseases are but breeding or creeping upon them not to take Phisike to prevent or remove them but to forbeare and let them alone till they wore away of themselves or advise Shepherds not to drive any Wolves and Foxes from their flocks as soon as ever they come near or entred the folds but to let them alone till they had filled their bellieson their flocks then they would depart of themselves they would certainely deride reject them as most absurd impolitick Doctors Phisitians Shepheards rather to be hissed at then followed The case of tollerating and letting alone Heretikes Scismaticks false Teachers Blasphemers is just the same who are as badde nay worse then any weeds Pests sicknesses Cancers Wolves and therefore not to be tollerated or let alone but speedily suppressed Hence St. Iohn who was a better Doctor then either Gamaliel Mr. Goodwin or Mr. Peters commanded Christians not so much as to receive false Teachers into their houses nor yet bid them good speed 2. John 10. And Paul himselfe Gal. 2. 4. 5. when false brethren came to spie out his liberty in Christ bring him and others into bondage writes thus of himselfe and them To whom we gave place by subjection NO NOT FOR AN â—OVRE that the truth of the Gospel MIGHT CONTINVE VVITH YOV which else would have been soone corrupted And v. 11. 12. 13. 14. when Peter came to Antioch and seperated himselfe from the Gentiles fearing them of the Circumscition Paul presently withstood him to his face because he was to be blamed and rebuked him before all Yea he gives this rule concerning Hereticks to Titus himselfe Tit. 3. 10. A man that is an HERETICK AFTER THE FIRST AND SECOND ADMONITION REIECT c. He must noâ— be forborne and let alone till he perish and come to nought of himselfe but convicted and cast out presently after a first and second Admonition at furthest Wherefore Gamaliels reason and advise with reference to Hereticks Idolaters Schismaticks Seducers and Blasphemers to which our opposites apply it is certainly most absurd in point of Divinity of Pollicy and not worthy so grave a Doctor of the Chaire His second reason is not much better then it if seriously considered as applied to knowne Hereticks false-Teachers Schismaticks Idolaters or Blasphemers the subjects now inquestion But if it be of God ye cannot overthrow it lest happily he be found to fight against God Therefore Magistrates must forbeare to punish Idolaters Hereticks false Teachers obstinate Schismaticks and Blasphemers who for certain are not of God but fighters against him and let them alone only upon this ground is a strange Nonsequitur Indeed where Magistrates are certainly perswaded in their consciences that any Doctrine way or counsell is of God himselfe or have sufficient grounds to incline their consciences to beleive that such persons Doctrines wayes are or most probably may be of God there it is safest to forbeare the oppression or suppression of them if it may stand with publike peace and safety and this advise will warrant as much But when there is no such certaine or faire probability but a cleare conviction that such Persons Doctrines wayes Schismes are not of God but against him then this advice and reason of Gamaliel holds not
my Prophets no harme c. We must either conclude that the Prophets and anoynted ones he here pleads for not to bee touched are none else but Hereticks c. who must neither be imprisned nor killed nor banished nor touched nor harmed by Magistrates Parliaments Kings Kingdomes Cities Counties or Committees who now meddle with none but such or else that he assignes the selfe same priviledges even to Here ticks as to Gods faithfull anoynted ones Prophets Sts. since Kings Kingdomes Parliaments Citties Counties Committees Magistrates must no more touch harme imprison kill banish the grossest Hereticks by Mr. Dells expresse Doctrin then these And then where is that grand priviledge which these anointed Saints and Prophets enjoy above the veriest Heretick Schismatick Atheist Apostate Blasphemer in the world Is not this my Brethren strange New-light from such a Comet as he is But to let this passe and come to a punctuall answer As this text of the Psalmist Touch not mine anoynted and do my Prophets no harme will prove no Sanctuary at all for Heretiks Schismatick or Blasphemers who are neither Gods anoynted nor his Prophets against the power of Kings and Christian Magistrates so will not the objected texts of Mathew and Titus For the first of these is spoken only of private crimes and trespasses betweene Brother and Brother not of publike scandalous Heresies Schismes Blasphemies and by the Church there intended as many think is not meant the Ministers of the Gospell but the Iewish Sanhedrin or civill Magistracy or if the Ministers or Church-Elders then it is confined only to their Church-censures not meant of the Magistrates punishments as others assert But let it bee one or other the Argument thence is but this Nonsequitur He that refuseth to give his brother against whom he hath privatly and personally trespassed Satisfaction upon the admonition of the Magistrate Church or Minister is to be esteemed as a Heathen by him to whom he did the injury and the church may duly excommunicate him for his obstinacy Ergo Christian Kings and Magistrates by Christs owne appointment can inflict no corporall punishment fine imprisonment banishment or death upon open obstinate Hereticks Blasphemers Schismaticks or Seducers who disturbe the peace both of Church and State and seduce the soules of many Whether this be a solid Argument let all wise men judge For that of Titus 3. Paul teacheth us after once or twice admonition to avoid an Heretick not to imprison kill or banish him Ergo Hereticks must only be avoyded not imprisoned killed or banished by the christian Magistrate it is a most childish Argument and inconsequent For first Paul writs this to Titus a Minister as a Minister noâ— a Magistrate to avoyd or reject an Heretickeafter the first and second admonition and to treat with him no longer who then as a Minister could by no Law of God or man imprison kil or banish Hereticks nor can our Ministers or Classes do it now nor claime they such a power Wherefore the Argument thence must be Ministers of the Gospell as such have power only to avoyd and reject Hereticks after the first second admonition not to imprison kill or banish them Erge Christian Kings and Magistrates have only authority to avoid reject but cannot imprison kill or banish them If this be good Logick or Divinity then by the selfeâ—ame reason they must neither imprison kill nor banish Murderers Traytors Sodomites Theeves Fellons nor our Army imprison kill plunder any Papists or Cavaliers because Ministers as such cannot do it but only admonish avoyd them Besides if this be granted then it wholly takes away the Magistrates Sword Office Power and makes him no more no other then a Minister first to admonish and then to avoyd and reject Hereticks and other Malefactors not to punish them And how will this agree with his owne contradictory assertion p. 40. The Magistrates power hath under it the whole outward man if an Hereticke or Schismatick by his professed practicall Heresie or Schisme which are outward offences and works of the flesh may exempt himselfe from the Magistrates power aly the scope of the Text is not that Hereticks should only be avoyded by Ministers even as such as Mr. Dell presseth it for certainly Paul himselfe proceeded further against Hyminaeus and Philetus even to deliver them over unto Satan 1 Tim. 1. 19. 20. 2 Tim. 2. 17. 18. which is more then barely to avoyd them as all accord And Peter informes us 2 Pet. 2. 1. That false Teachers who bring in privily damnable Heresies shall bring upon themselves swift destruction even by the hand of humane and divine Justice too Deut. 17. 16. But his scope is that some Hereticks are so obstinate so dangerous that after the first and second admonition he should deale with them no longer but presently avoid them as the very next words imply Knowing that he that is such is subverted and sinneth being condemned of himselfe compared with the 2 Tim. 2. 16. 17. 18. This being the genuine scope of the Text let us turne it into a formall Argument and then it will be no more but this Ministers must not so much as treat with obstinate Heretickes after a first and second admonition but forthwith A void and treat with them no more Ergo Magistrates must neither imprison nor Banish nor put them to death after such admonitions but only punish them by avoyding them neither may the Church so much as excommunicate but only avoyd them Excellent New-light new Logick in good earnest an Ignis Fatuus might yield as good Thirdly the same Apostle Paul in 2 Tim. 3. 1 2 3 4 5. informes us That in the last dayes perilous times shall come for men shall be lovers of their owne selves c. blasphemers disobedient to parents unthankfull unholy without naturall affection truce-breakers false accusers incontinent fierce despisers of those that are good Traytors heady high minded lovers of pleasures more then lovers of God having a form of godlinesse but denying the power thereof and then concludes thus of these as he doth of an Heretick from such turn away or avoide such Will Mr. Dell infer hence as he doth from Titus that blasphemers obstinate and disobedient children to their parents punishable with death by an expresse law Exod. 21. 17. Deut. 21. 18. 19 20 21. Truce-breakers Traytors are only to be avoided and turned from but not whiped imprisoned banished fined nor put to death by the Magistrate because Paul here writes to Timothy and others only to avoid or turn away from such but not to whip imprison kill fine or banish them Or will he argue from Prov. 1. 10. to 17. that murderers and theeves who lye in wait and make haste to shed blood are not to be imprisoned banished or put to death because Solomon adviseth men not to walk in the way with them and refrain their feet from their path but commands theÌ„ not to be put to death If yea
Elect from eternall death and destruction 2ly They must be thus understood that the principall end of Christs comming was not to destroy mens lives with temporall or spirituall destruction but to save them or at least not to destroy them without just grounds or not in any extraordinary manner with fire from Heaven or upon so slight an occasion as the Apostles would have him here but not his only end For Christ hhmselfe is a Rock of offence a stumbling blocke yea a savour of death unto death unto many and will grind some unto pouder 1. Pet. 2. 7. 8. 2. Corinth 2. 15. 16. Lu. 2. 34. Math. 21. 44. yea the very Angell of the Lord smote Herod that he was eaten up of Wormes and gave up the Ghost Acts 12. 23. And Christ by Peters ministery smote Ananias and Saphyra with temporal death Acts 5. 1. to 10. Since then this Text is to be understood in these senses and like that of Paul 1 Cor. 1. 17. For Christ sent me NOT to baptize that is not simply not to baptize any for that he did v. 14 15 16. but chiefely and principally but to preach the Gospel which is my principall and main businesse it will no wayes warrant Mr. Dels Anabaptisticall sense of or conclusion from it to wit that Christ came so to saveâ—mens lives as that he exempts the lives and persons even of Hereticks Blasphemers yea all malefactors from the power of Kings and Christian Magistrates so as they may not justly put them to death for any offences though most capitall Finally admit that Christ came to preserve the naturall lives of Hereticks Schismaticks Blasphemers and the grossest malefactors from the sword of justice and the Christian Magistrates power yet this extends not to secure them from imprisonments fines banishments and such other corporall punishments which are not capitall as Mr Dell here infers Therefore it no wayes warrants his conclusion against all corporall and outward punishments And so I have scattered this Brigade of his for ever rallying again The 6 Objection is this made by Mr Del and others God hath appointed his Word and the Ministery of it to be the instruments of converting men and stopping the mouths of gainsayers Tit. 1. 9. 11. for the casting down of imaginations and every high thing that exalts it self against the knowledge of Christ and for bringing every thought into captivity and into obedience to Christ 2 Cor. 10. 5. Yea God hath appointed the Ministers in meeknesse to instruct those that oppose themselves if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledgement of the truth 2 Tim. 2. 24. 25. and to edifie the body of Christ till they all come in the unity of the Spirit unto a perfectman unto the measure and stature of the fulnesse of Christ Ephes 4. 11. 12. Yea Christ addes Mr Dell doth ALL THAT EVER HE DOTH in his Kingdome by his Word and Christ sent forth his Apostles not with any power of swords or guns or prisons to reform the world or with any power of States or Armies but sent forth poor illiterate mechanick men and only armed them with the power of the Word and behold what wonders they wrought by that power alone They turned the world up-side down they changed the manners customes religions worship lives and natures of men c. And all this they did not with any earthly or secular power but by the ministery of the Gospel alone Christs great and only instrument for the conquering subduing and reforming of the Nations By it and his Spirit he reformes not only all sinnes in the Church but Heresies Errors and False-doctrines which it seemes he counts no sins because not included in the former general ALL SINNES Ergo Heresies False religions Sects and Schismes ought to be tolerated by the Magistrate and reformed only by the Word but not suppressed and punished by a strong hand as by fining imprisoning disfranchising banishment death or the like which being outward cannot reach to reform or convert the inner-man which is beyond not only the power but cognisance of the Secular powers This was the Donatists and Anabaptists objection of old from whom Mr Dell hath borrowed it To this I answere 1. that though the word and Ministry of it be the principall meanes of converting reforming and convincing Hereticks Blasphemers Errors Schismes as is objected yet it no wayes justles out or destroyes the coercive power the corporall and capitall punishments of the Christian Magistrate for suppressing Heresies Errors Schismes Blasphemies and punishing those who are guilty of them under the Gospel no more then it did their suppressing and punishing of Idolatry and Blasphemy under the Law with temporall death and censures as I have formerly proved To make this apparent I shall lay down these Positions First that the greatest part of such who professe themselves Christians and converted to the outward imbracing and profession of the Gospel are yet not really nor inwardly converted to the saving obedience and practise of it Secondly that inward imbracing or outward profession of the Gospel doth not exempt Christians either from the power or punishment of the Magistrate for any evill deeds nor from committing such crimes or evill actions as may deserve the Magistrates censure and fall under his coercive and avenging power as is clear by Rom. 13. 1. to 7. 1 Pet. 2. 13. 14. Tit. 3. 1. Thirdly that obstinate Hereticks false Teachers Blasphemers Schismaticks are evill doers and Heresie Blasphemy Errors Schismes meer works of the flesh are under the proper jurisdiction and subject to the censures and coercive power of the Magistrate as well as other malefactors and carnall crimes Fourthly that conversion of Infidels and Pagans to christianity and the reclaiming of Hereticks Schismaticks Blasphemers Idolaters Seducers or other Malefactors from their evill wayes is one thing usually wrought by one kinde of instrument to wit the Word and ministery of it and the punishing suppressing restraining of such as these from the publick practise or venting of their Heresies Errors Schismes Blasphemies Idolatries or other crimes to the provoking of Gods wrath the hurt infection disturbance of others a quite other thing wrought by different meanes and instruments to wit by the civill Magistrates Sword and corporall censures To argue then as the Objectors doe That the word and Ministry of it are the vsuall and principal meanes appointed by Christ inwardly to convert men from Paganisme Heresie Idolatry Error Schisme unto the orthodox truth and to inward piety and Sincerity Ergo the Magistrate may not punish nor suppresse these crimes sinnes to hinder their outward spreading infecting of others or to prevent or remove Gods judgements or preserve the peace of Church State is a most grosse Non sequitur since both of them are co-ordinate and consistent together not jusling out one another 2ly I answere That the Apostles were no Magistrates but Preachers nor yet illiterate mechanicks as
externall and grosse sinnes Master Dell in the objected passage and elswhere confesseth it doth work and tyes up mad Dogges Beares and Tygars c. must they therefore be cast aside as uselesse and have no use at all among Christians in reforming them and the Church of God God forbid for this very bringing of men to a constant outward conformity in the practice of holy duties and attendance on Gods Ordinances is a greater honour to God a greater benefit and credit to a Christian State and farre better in it selfe then open contempt or neglect of the outward Ordinances or professed impiety atheisme and prophanenesse Is not a morall outward reformation of mens lives the restraining of them from grosse enormities sinnes errors heresies schismes blasphemies and chaining them up from infecting others by severe Lawes and corporall or capitall punishments far more beneficiall to the parties restrained to the Churches States wherein they live and lesse dishonourable offensive unto God and all good men then the open unrestrained unpunished licentious practice of all sorts of wickednesse and actuall villanies or the lawlesse preaching printing writing all kind of damnable heresies errors blasphemies whimsicall and scismaticall Tenets without any check Yea is not a generall externall reformation of mens lives and outward actions without an inward conversion of their hearts more pleasing to God more advantagious to men then open prophanenesse impiety and unreformednesse both in life heart Yea verily witnesse Ahabs meer outward humiliation and reformation without inward which pleased God so well that he did not bring the evill threatned against him and his house in his dayes and the meere outward morall reformation of the Heathenish Ninevites which caused Cod to spare and not to destroy the City within forty dayes as he had threatned If so as the very Objectors and all rationall men must grant then the civill Magistrates coercive power his corporall and capital censures are necessary and useful at lest to work such an external reformation in the Church though it should make no reall Saints or Converts Fourthly the inward change of the heart and conversion of the soule to God is neither in the power of the Minister nor Magistrate the Word or Sword but of God and his Spirit alone the preaching of the Word by Ministers and the welding of the Sword by Magistrates cannot change the hearts and spirits of men of themselves but God alone by them as is cleere by the 2 Timâ— 2. 25. Psal 51. 10. Ezek. 36. 25 26 27. Jer. 31. 33 34. Eph. 2. 1 4 5 8. John 3. 5 6 7 8. 1 Cor. 3. 4 to 10. Shall we then deny the use of the Word and Ministry as Master Dell and his confederates deny the use of the Sword and Magistracy in the reformation of the Church because they commonly reforme the outward man in some measure and that hardly too without the Magistrate but not change and convert the inward man of themselves no more then the Sword or Magistrate without Gods owne blessing on and concurrence with them The Objectors certainly will answer No Therefore I may say and they must grant the same of the Sword and Magistracy What then must be done I answer both must do their bounden duties Ministers must preach down sins heresies errors schismes blasphemies with the Word though they inwardly reforme and convert few or none or make some Hypocrites by it and Magistrates must beat and cut them downe with the sword of Justice and corporall punishments though they really convert none but onely restraine their outward exorbitances and spreading infection or make some Hypocrites and dissemblers and leave the issue of their endeavours to God whose onely work it is to reforme and convert mens soules in sincerity from sinne and errour and unite them to himselfe God neither requires nor expects that they should inwardly reforme mens spirits or infuse saving grace into their soules that is his owne and his spirits proper work not theirs wherefore they must doe what God enjoynes them and not neglect their severall duties because they cannot effect what he requires not of them even reform mens inner parts as the Objectors themselves confesse and therefore would reject the Magistrate and his Sword as having no place at all in the reformation of the Gospel Fiftly there is a double reformation under the Gospel which Master Dell confounds to delude his Auditors Readers and if distinguished would have rendred most of his Sermon impertinent to his drift The first private and personall consisting in mortification of mens sinfull lusts renewing of their depraved natures and turning the whole frame of their soules and spirits from sinne and Satan unto God 5 not a destroying and utter abolishing out of the faithfull and the Elect ALL THAT SINNE corruption lust and evill that did flow in through the fall of Adam as Master Dell defines it since no Saint is or can be so exactly reformed in this present world much lesse no Church how pure soever Now this as it is wrought by God alone so it is peculiar to the Elect alone after their effectuall calling and conversion which is still accompanied with many remainders of sinne and corruption whiles they live Secondly a publick outward reformation of a visible society of men professing the faith of Christ consisting in the purity due decent orderly Administration of Gods Ordinances Sacraments Word Worship among them according to his revealed Will and the externall holinesse unblamablenesse of their lives and outward Christian deportment one towards another in all peaceablenesse and honesty This Reformation is common to all Members of any Christian Church State as well Elect as Reprobate Sheep as Coats and belongs properly to the Magistrates and Ministers to effect according to their respective callings to the one by preaching catechizing admonitions repoofs and Ecclesiastical Censures where established to the other by rewards and encouragements to the good and admonitions to reprehentions of and outward corporall or capitall punishments inflicted upon evill doers as I have formerly proved at large and is cleer by Rom. 13. 1 to 7. 1 Pet. 2. 13 14. 1 Tim. 2. 1 2. Revel 17. 16 17. Isa 49. 23. Now the number of the Elect being very few in comparison of the Reprobate and by farre the smallest number even in the most reformed Christian Church or State be it never so small or separate from others no reasonable creature can expect the first kind of reformation peculiar to the Saints to be ever wrought in the major part of any Christian Church or Society whatsoever much lesse in a whole Christian Congregation or Kingdome yet because no Magistrate no Minister nor other person knowes who or what number of any Church or Christian Society are predestinated to eternall life or are already actually or hereafter may be inwardly converted reformed therefore the Word must be preached and the meanes of salvation dispensed unto
examination beleeving it as an Oracle sent from Heaven because they vent it though there be no ground in Sctipture for it and cry it up for NEW LIGHT when in truth it is onely OLD HERESIE revived or NEW BLASPHEMY or Error guilded over with the name of Gospel-Light How many poor souls Master John Goodwin Master Peters Master Dell Master Saltmarsh Paul Hobson the Taylor now a shining light and their Confederates have thus captivated and led away with blind obedience is too well knowne to the world Ergo by Master Dâ—i's owne Doctrine since they have brought men with their New light and Crotchets â—â— beleeve and doe even what they please or prescribed though they know not whether it be with the Word or against the Word they must be from henceforth quite exploded out of the Church as well as the Magistrates coercive power prisons banishments losse of Goods or death or if they deny this consequence they must still admit of these in the Church to suppresse and punish Herefies Hereticks Schismes Blasphemies though they bring some into blind obedience as Ministers and their erronious New lights daily doe who produce more and farre worse blind obedience then the Magistrates coercive Lawes or Punishments Fiftly it is most evident that there alwayes hath been and ever will be much blind obedience in the Church of God arising principally from the Ignorance Idlenesse want of love to the truth and inconstancy of men and till God himselfe by his Spirit shall fully open the eyes of mens understandings to behold and their hearts to receivâ— love and hold fast the Truth the happinesse of few or none but the Elect they will be still possessed more or lesse with such a Blindnesse This therefore being the misery and punishment of mankind for their originall disobedience to God in Adams sinne of two inevitable blind obediences it is farre better fafer for people to beleeve as the State and Councell shall please and what the Parliament Assembly after much fasting prayer seeking unto God studying and searching of the Scriptures settle then what Mr Dell shall decree who understood not the very meaning of his Text as Mr Love hath proved and scarce of any one Scripture he quotes as I have evidenced or what Master Goodwin Master Peters Master Saltmarsh Paul Hobson or any other New light shall prescribe and set up of themselves without and against Authority especially since they beleeve and prescribe all with a Sâ—epticall Faith and reserve to change and alter at their pleasure and not to be bound by their present judgment or practice which for ought men know may alwayes ring the changes till their knels be rung they having been so variable heretofore and yet not fixed at the last certainly such a blind obedience to the Parliament State Councell and supreame Powers to whom God enjoynes Obedience in all lawfull and indifferent things will be farre more acceptable to God and all good men and freer from the brand of Popish Obedience then blind obedience to Master Dell or any other New Comet whatsoever with wilfull disobedience both to our Church State Parliament Lawes established Religion and Government the practice of the best and purest Churches of ancient and latter times from which these New lights vary out of affected singularity or to maintain a faction to bring about their owne worldly designes Finally the blind obedience of Hereticks Schismaticks false Teachers Sectaries and the like to Lawes and Punishments which would both restraine and reclaime them is farre more acceptable to God more profitable lesse hurtfull lesse damnable to themselves lesse pernicious to others lesse hurtfull scandalous to the Church and State wherein they live and more pleasing unto both then their obstinate Heresies Errors Schismes blasphemies are or can be and may through Gods blessing prove an effectall meanes of their reformation if not of their reall conversion to the Truth therefore ex duobus malis minimum the danger of â—lind obedience must neither exempt such from the Magistrates jurisdiction nor from his corporall or capitall punishments which are just and lawfull in themselves and may prove beneficiall or at lest lesse hurtfull to them of the two Finally the Magistrates compelling Hereticks and Schismaticks seduced to blind Obedience by their blind Leaders to come to the publick Ordinances where they may be truly informed instructed and converted to the truth is so farre from working blind obedience in them that it brings them to true and solid obedience upon just grounds of Scripture reason conviction and so is quite contrary to what is here objected And thus I have blowne up this strong Hold of this great Man of Warre as well as the former His next Objection is this 〈◊〉 Reformation or suppressing Heresies false Doctrines Blasphemies Schismes by externall Censures causes disturbances and tumults in the world when men are caused by outward power to act against their inward principles in the things of God what disturbances this hath bred in States and Kingdomes who knowes not So that they who lay hold on the power of men and goe abovt to reforme hearts and consciences by outward violence are never the cause of Reformation but alwayes of tumult And this renders the cause of the Gospel grievous and odious to the world rather then commendable and therefore let all that love the Gospel of Christ abstaine from outward violence for they that use the Sword in this kind shall in the end perish by the Sword This Argument and misapplication of our Saviours words is borrowed from the old Donatists and late Anabaptists as is evident by August Cont. Lit. Petilian Donatist l. 2. c. 88. Epist 48 50. Lucas Osiander Enchirid. contr cum Anabaptistis c. 9. qu. 1. p. 188. I answer first That this Argument is grounded on deduced from no Text of Scripture but meerly on and from worldly policy which Master Dell tels us must have no place in the Church of God no more then worldly power Secondly as we must not do evil that good may come of it so the Magistrate must not neglect to do justice and punish Hereticks Schismatick Seducers Idolaters and Blasphemers though outward mischiefes seditions tumults which they cause may ensue thereupon Master Dell I hope never preached this Doctrine either to our Victorious General or the Army that the taking up Armes against the King and his Malignant Forces in defence of our Parliament Religion Lawes Liberties would cause very great disturbances tumults murders and distractions in the Kingdome farre more far greater then the suppression of obstinate Hereticks or Schismaticks Ergo it was utterly unlawfull for them to take up Armes or fight or draw blood in this cause as Doctor Ferne and other Royallists argue from this very ground if he had preached any such Doctrine to them no doubt they would have casheered sequestred him longere this for such Malignant Divinity
willing people but the major part of them at least are unregenerate backward and unwilling to all that is good yea need upon occasion by Lawes and outward punishments to be constrained to resort to the pnblick Ordinances and to forsake their errors schismes To argue therefore against the coercive power of the Magistrate in Christian Churches States because the Saints are a willing people when as the most in the Church are neither Saints nor willing and so need coercive Lawes and punishments is most absurd Yet this is Master Dels Logick and Divinity He might as well conclude the Saints are a willing people Ergo the Magistrate cannot punish Traytors Murderers Theeves Rebels as Ergo they must not punish Hereticks Schismaticks Blasphemers Thirdly Admit the Saints to be a willing people and that some of them may be Hereticks and Schismaticks for a time will it therefore follow they need no Rods nor Spurs to stir them up reduce or punish them when or where they are dull negligent erronious or doe amisse Will you argue thus Christs Saints and People are a willing People Ergo they need not the exhortations preaching or instructions of Ministers of private Christians the exercise of holy duties the threats and terrors of the Law or Gospel to excite and stirre them up Doe not the willingest Christians Saints need Rods Spurs sometimes as well as others to quicken them and doth not God himselfe many times scourge excite them with outward and inward afflictions and chastisements of all sorts to make them mend their pace Did Master Dell or his Saints in the Army never spuâ—re nor whip their free Horses or doe Schoolmasters never whip or ferrula their Schollars that are most forwards to learne because they are willing Boyes No verily Their willingnesse at one time will not excuse their deadnesse dulnesse lazinesse much lesse their deviations at another Therefore though people be willing yet they need the Spurs the Rods both of the Minister and Magistrate to quicken or mend their speed and reclaime them when they erre ubi desinit Theologus ibi incipit Magistratus where the Ministry of the Word will not quicken and reforme Christians the Magistrates Sword must doe it Christs Power must make men willing when his Mercy and Gospel will not prevaile and Magistrates Lawes duly executed must bring Hereticks Schismaticks Blasphemers to conformity and our publick Congregations when the Word will not effect it And thus much for his Argument Fourthly for his Authorities cited That Faith is not to be forced but perswaded by the Word I grant it true in the Authors sence but not in Master Dels For first their meaning is not like his that Christian Magistrates may not by coercive Laws and punishments suppresse obstinate seducing Idolaters Heretickes false Teachers Schismaticks or Blasphemers which they all unanimously grant they may as I shall prove anon and is farie different from enforcing faith but their sence la that Christian Princes or Magistrates oughtâ— oâ— by force of warre or outward violence to compell Pagan Nationâ— who never embraced the Gosple to baptisme and externall profession of the Gospel against their wils without any previous instructions God having appointed his word not sword to convert such Matth 28 19 20. Mark 16. 15 16. Acts. 7. 8. This is all that Melanctons Master Tindiâ—â— or Polanus objected words import Which opinion I readily subscribe to asserted by Hugo Grotius De Jure Belli l. 2. c. 20. sect 48. where he affirmes Bella juste non inferri iis qui Christianam Religionem complecti nolunt to which he addes sect 50. Nec etiam his qui circa legis divinae imâ—erpretationem balluâ—inantur This he illustrates and proves by the Authorities of Tertullian Clemens Romanus Athanasius Chrysostome Lactantius Augustine Sâ—â—viarlus a French Synod Josephus Cyprian Gregory Nazianzen Antonius Valenâ—tinian the Emperour Ammianus Marcellinus and the Councel of Toledo with whom as touching the enforcing of Pagans in this manner to the Christian Faith Chytraeus Purchas and Master Rutherfurd concuâ—â—e though they all maintaine the Magistrates power to suppresse Hereticks Schismaticks Blasphemers by coercive lawes and civill punishments yeâ— the very popish Doctors and Jesuits themselves who are most violent â—oâ— the Magistrates suppressing and punishing Heresie Blasphemy and Schisme with severest lawes and punishments even to death it selfe assert it to be unlawfull for Christian Princes by warre and outward force to compell Pagan Nations to embrace the Christian Faith against their â—â—ls wâ—â—nesse Josephus Acosta De procuranda Indorum salute cap. 3. Vega de Fide Operibus qu. 3. Bartholomaeus â—e las Casas de Hispan Crudelitate â— Covaâ—â—vias in Reg. Peccati p. 2. sect 10. Tannerus the Jesuit Gregory de Valentia Gaâ—â—achous Malderus Alphonsus a Castro Hâ—nce Procopius blames Justinian for compelling the Samaritans by outward power to Embrace the Christian Religion and Chytraeusâ—â—xeth â—â—xeth the Archbishops of â—iga and Knights of the Teutonick Ordâ—â— instituted for that purpose for oâ—deavouring rather with force and Armes to compell the Pagan 〈…〉 and Laplanders to embrace the Christian Faith then by the Word and good Example to induce them to it Yet Master Rutherfurd Aegidius â—oâ—â—â—ck Lorca Aquinas Cajetan and others assert That a Christian Prâ—â—â—â— subdâ—ing a heathen Nation may compell them â—o deâ—â—st from blaspheming and dishonâ—â—â—â—g Christ from exteâ—â—all false â—oâ—ship of Idol goâ—s offering up their Children to 〈…〉 and from â—pposing and himdring Ministers to 〈…〉 the Gospâ—â— to such among them who are destrous â—â— beare them as the 〈…〉 Constaâ—… 〈…〉 â—â—â—â—â—â— Temples of that Pâ—gâ—ngâ—ds to be closed uâ— or 〈…〉 and Idols demâ—lâ—shedâ— which Act is commended both by Eusebius Ambrose and Augustus yea â—â—Wpanâ—â— and commanded all the Jeâ—â—â— who â—â—â—ld â—â—◠〈…〉 to be â—â—â—â—shed and removed out of Spaâ—… and we â—â—ad in the Spâ—… Hâ—stoâ—â—ds that divers Jewes Moâ—â—es have been compelled to be 〈…〉 in 〈…〉 and many Indâ—anâ—â—â— â—â— the West Indies even by 〈…〉 which divers of their Wâ—iâ—â—â—s approve as lawfull though others 〈…〉 iâ— However that act of Joviâ—â—â—n was most Christian and Heroical who being elected Emperour after the death of Julian the Apostate by the unanimous consent of all the Captaines Souldiers and People he absolutely refused the Empire saying That he being a Christian would not be an Emperour over Infidels But all were so well pleased with his election that they presently cryed out We are Christians and for his sake those who were not so before resolved to become Christians upon condition he would accept the Empire which thereupon he accepted Whereupon they all turned Christians and were by this meanes converted to the Christian Faith Secondly I answer that the Christian Magistrates may indirectly force men to beleeve in some sense though not directly As first they may enforce them to the outward Ordinances and meanes of Faith even
thereof to wit the reall conversion and reformation of Hereticks Schismaticks and Blasphemers not the pollution of their consciences a meer contingent not proper effect which effect I have proved at large it usually produceth and was ordained purposely to produce by Gods owne institution Fiftly the two objected inconveniences arising from the use of this coercive power are produced very rarely and that in few or none but the contrary effect ordinarily in many yea I dare assert it to be a lesse sinne to the party punished farre lesse dishonour to God and lesse mischiefe to a Christian Church or State for Hereticks Schismaticks Blasphemers to embrace the true Religion and worship of God established by the State to repair to join w th our Assemblies in all publick Ordinances contrary to the graine of his own seduced judgment erronious inclination then to persevere in damnable Heresies Schismes Blasphemies which his erronious conscience apprehends to be agreeable to the Truth Therefore this pretended mischief must vanish into smoak and can no wayes impeach the use of the Magistrates coercive power Sixtly I retort that the first of these two pretended effects not usually appearing in any one restrained Heretick Schismatick or Blasphemer is experimentally verified in the highest degree in many of the Objectors unrestrained unpunished Saints faithfull and anointed spirituall ones whom they so much exalt in a superlative manner for their transcendent holinesse their very impunity for three yeers space hath caused God so farre to withdraw himselfe from their formerly tender consciences and to leave them so farre unto themselves as he did the Circumcellioes among the ancient Donatists that they have many of them by degrees contracted such a boldnesse impudence and desperatenesse-in sinning inventing most damable execrable horrid Blasphemies Heresies Errors Tenets concerning the Father Sonne and holy Ghost and their respective Deity Unity the sacred Scriptures all Gods Ordinances almost the immortality of the soule the salvaâ—ion of all men and devils and the like committed such horrid outrages maintained the lawfulnesse of such prodigious sinnes practises and printed such scurrilous malicious railing slanderous Libels against both Houses of Parliament the Assembly Scots our Religion Worship Directory Minister Churches Ordinances Lawes and persons of greatest eminency and desert as all the Ages from Adam till 1642. are unable to paralleâ— as Master Edwards hath largely demonstrated in his Gangraenaes beyond contradiction All which such a severe execution of our Laws against Hereticks Schismaticks Blasphemers Sectaries Anabaptists would have prevented and crushed in the shell from which I may justly conclude That God will take no more pleasure in them or their consciences and if he ever give them grace to reflect upon these Enormities their Heresies Blasphemies Schismes it will bring them into such grievous agonies of perplexity horror as I doubt they will never recover out of them afterward and for which they are already for ever lost in the opinions of all truly pious and conscientious Christians who have been made acquainted with these their exorbitances And thus I trust I have unanswerably answered those Arguments which the Author of A Reply of two of the Brethren to A. S. to wit John Goodâ— in challengeth A. S. to answer solidly and thologue-like BY REASON he addes not Scripture which he excludes not by vote which he professeth himselfe unable to answer and to make him seperate in judgment from A. S. and others in the point in hand There is one grand Objection more much insisted on in former times by Donatists and Anabaptists and that is from the 1 Cor. 11. 19. For there must be also Heresies or Sects among you that they which are approved may be made manifest among you Whence they argue thus That which must needs be that they who are approved may be made manifest may not nor ought not to be punished nor suppressed by the civill Magistrate But such are Heresies and Sects as this Text defines Therefore they are not to be punished nor suppressed by the civill Magistrate I answer first that the proposition is meerly false in sundry particulars I. There is no absolute necessity that there should be Heresies and Sects in the Church of God nor yet in this or that particular or Nationall Church but it is meerly contingent through Gods permission Satans malice Mens pravity pride and corruption as Authors who have written of Heresies and Comentators on this Text accord II. This Text speaks not properly of Heresies but rather of Divisions and Sects as is cleere by comparing it with the next preceding words I heare there be Divisions or SCHISMES among you and I partly beleeve it for there must be also Sects as the margin of our new Translation and others render it among you not in every Church in every Age that those who are approved may be made manifest among you and with chap. 1. v. 10 to 17. Now there may be Schismes without Heresies properly so called as all accord though seldome or never any grosse Heresie without Schisme III. Admit there were an absolute necessity of Heresies in every particular or Nationall Church in all Ages more or lesse which this Text imports not yet it followes not thence Ergo they must be tolerated and not suppressed nor Hereticks punished and put to death for by such Logick and Divinity no sin nor wickednesse nor Malefactor whatsoever should be punished or suppressed but all tolerated without impunity There is as great a necessity in regard of mans corrupt nature since his fall that there should be Traytors Murderers Theeves Idolaters Sodomites and hainous capitall offences and offenders of all sorts in all Ages especially in the last times as well as Heresies and Hereticks as is cleer by Gal. 5. 19 20 20 21. Rom. 1. 26 to 31. 1 Cor. 5. 1 Tim. 3. 1. to 7. 2 Pet. 2. and daily experience will it therefore follow that Traytors Murderers Theeves Idoloters Sodomites and the most detestable crimes and Malefactors of all sorts must neither be restrained nor punished especially with death Impudency it selfe dares not assert it If therefore the necessity of these sinnes and hainous Malefactors will not excuse nor exempt them from punishment no more will the necessity of Heresies or Hereticks in the Church exempt them from suppression and punishment by the civill Magistrate and the Objectors may as well argue Men must not write preach pray nor dispute against them as that they must not punish them Our Saviour himself refutes this consequence as absurd Luke 17. 1 2. Matth. 18. 6 7 8 9. But whosâ— shall offend one of these little ones which beleeveth in me it were better that a Milstone were hanged about his neck and that he were drowned in the depth of the Sea Woe unto the world because of offences for IT MUST NEEDS BE THAT so Matthew or IT IS IMPOSSIBLE BUT THAT OFFENCES WILL COME so Luke but WOE to the man by
other Fundamentals of Religion and all Heresies or Blasphemies concerning them are or may be infallibly knowne and so corporally and capitally punished in some cases but especially by such godly Magistrates and Christian States who certainly know and beleeve them the Haeresie or infidelity of the Heretick Schismatick or Blasphemer being an Argument of his obstinacy not a supersedeas to the beleeving Magistrates punishments who is assured both of their Heresie and Blasphemy and of his owne authority topunish them Having now runne thorough and satisfactorily as I humbly conceive refelled all the principall Arguments and in them all others of lesser moment reduceable unto these fully answered by Master Beza de Haereticis Capitali supplicio afficiendis Bellarmine de Laicis cap. 22. of late produced against the Christian Magistrates Legislative and Coercive power to suppresse or punish Idolaters Apostates Hereticks false Teachers Schismaticks Blasphemers the most of them if not all being borrowed verbatim from the Hereticall Donatists heretofore and Anabaptists of later times and now new-minted and obtruded upon ignorant people under the specious title of NEW GOSPEL LIGHT AND THE VERYMIND AND WILL OF JESUS CHRIST I shall here openly challenge Master Dell Master Peters Master Goodwin yea the whole rout of Sectaries Anabaptists Independents to rally and re-enforce these their routed scattered Forces Argumeuts by a solid Reply or to yeeld the field and cause for ever lost past all recovery And I shall also cordially desire all those who have been seduced by their sophistry seriously to ponder my Replies to all their Objections and if they find them satisfactory no longer obstinately to maintaine a State-Church-Soule-destroying Paradox or Schismaticall Anti-Magistraticall Error to encrease or support an Anabaptisticall or Anarchicall Faction who endeavour all they can to subvert both our Magistracy and Ministry and thereby our Church and State to bring meer Anarchy and confusion into both at first covertly but now professedly in Pulpit in Presse without a vaile Certainly afrer a serious survey of all their Arguments Practises Aimes I cannot but pronounce that sentence of the Apostle against them Rom. 3. 12 to 19. They are all gone out of the way they are altogether become unprofitable there is none that doth good no not one Their throat is an open Sepulcher with their tongue their have used deceit the poyson of Aspes is under their lips Destruction and misery is in their wayes and the way of peace they have not knowne there is no feare of God before their eyes And therefore cannot but admonish all men in his following words Ro. 16. 17 18. Now I beseech you Brethren mark them which cause Divisions and Offences CONTRARY TO THE DOCTRINE WHICH YEE HAVE LEARNED AND AVOYD THEM For they that are such serve not the Lord Jesus Christ but their owne belly and by good words and faire speeches deceive the hearts OF THE SIMPLE Now because all of this rank who pretend themselves the onely Saints and Gods peculiar Portion are apt to cry out PERSECUTION PERSECUTION with open mouth when any the least motion is made to restraine or suppresse their growth or insolency proclaiming to all the world their fear of persecution in Presse and Pulpit before ever they have suffered in the lest degree in purse or person and perchance will tearm me a persecuter of the Saints a Blood-sucker c. for publishing this Treatise as they have formerly done for barely opposing them by way of Argument in their erronious wayes of Schisme I shall onely answer this malicious calumny as a further Objection and then conclude First then I affirme That it is an Argument of a very bad cause of a base unregenerate Spirit a carnall unzealous heart and self-seeking disposition clamorously to cry out against and professe an extraordinary feare of persecution or to endeavour to prevent it by such exclamations A truly gracious Heroick Christian spirit disdaines all such exclamations Never doe we read in Scripture of any such degenerous expressions of fear of persecution made by Christ or any of his Apostles or Saints nor yet in Ecclesiastical Stories or Martyrologies by any godly Martyrs but contrarily they all generaly accounted their Sufferings their Torments yea their very bloodiest Martyrdomes to be not onely their Crownes and Glory but their Option and the thing they most desired Our blessed Saviour foretelling his Disciples of his Death and Passion Peter tòereupon cut of a carnall love to Christ took him aside and began to rebuke him saying Be it farre from thee Lord this shall not be done unto the◠But he turned and said unto Peter Get thee behind me Satan for thou savourest not the things of God but of men And speaking of his Death he saith Luk. 22. 50. I have a Baptisme to be baptized with and how am I pained till it be fulfilled Yea Christ for the joy that was set before him desired and endured the Crosse but despised the shame leaving us an example that we should follow his stepts Wee read of Paul Acts 20. 22. 23. 24. That he went bound in the spirit to Ierusalem though the holy Ghost witnessed in every City that bondes and imprisonments did abide him yea he addes of himselfe But none of these things move mee neither count I my life deare unto my selfe so as I may finish my course with joy and the Ministry which I have received of the Lord Iesus to testifie the Gospell of the grace of God And Acts 21. 11. 12. 13. When the Prophet Agabus prophesied that the Iewes should binde Paul hand and foot at Jerusalem and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles and thereupon some of his followers and others of Cesarea desired Paul not to go up to Jerusalem Paul would by no meanes be perswaded but answered them with this increpation What meane yee to weep and to breake my heart for I am ready not to be bound only but also to die at Ierusalem for the name of the Lord Iesus Yea as He and Silas sung praises unto God at midnight even when they were scourged cast into the inner Prison and their feet made fast in the stocks never once crying out of persecution So a little before his Martyrdome at ROME he brake forth into this triumphant expression I am now ready to be offered and the time of my departure is at hand I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith henceforth there is laid up for me a Crowne of Righteousnesse which God the righteous Iudge shall give me at that day It is Recorded of MOSES Hebr. 11. 25. 26. That he refused to be called the sonne of Pharaoh his Daughter chusing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God then to enjoy the pleasures of sinne for a season esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches then the treasures of Egypt for he had respect unto the recompence of reward And we read of the