seducing Heretick enticeth to his bed all he can and goes up and down to vent his poyson to the infection of others privily bringing in damnable heresies Quest Quest Whether may any of these be capitally punished by the Civil Magistrate Answ Answ 1 First the Lutherans generally do deny that simple Heresie is to be punished with death and Calvin saith of Servetus vel sola modestia potuisset vitam redimere that he might have saved his life had he been but modest and to such indeed we rather wish light then fire Let the bloody Papists only have this brand of cruelty upon them to confute errours by fire and fagot Secondly for blasphemous and seditious Hereticks all the Protestant Churches do agree that they may be punished with death Neither indeed can Magistrates answer it to God to be so severe in punishing sedition and treason which is against their own name and dignity and stand still and look on with their hands in their pocket whilest the name honour and truths of God are openly blasphemed and traduced Thirdly for the seducing heretick he is to be prohibited and restrained Magistrates will shut up such as have plague-sores running upon them not to punish them for having the sore but to prevent the infection when a mans house is on fire they will command it to be pulled down to prevent burning the whole Town One way to put out the fire in the Oven is to shut it up Many heresies and errours would die of themselves if they had not free vent False teachers saith Calvin sunt Satanae lenones are the devils Panders Would you suffer Panders to come into your houses to solicite the chastity of your wives and children Would you suffer Mountebanks to sell poison upon a stage to destroy the bodies of your Subjects so you that are Christian Magistrates should not neglect the safety of the souls of those that live under your shadow Damnable heresies can never be prevented if false teachers may have liberty to bring them in and vent them Thou hast them that hold the Doctrine of the Nicholaitans Rev. 2.15 Thou sufferest that Woman Jesabel that calls her self a Prophetesse to teach and to seduce my people was a sore charge laid by Christ against those Churches Mr. Vines his Parl. Sermon March 10. 1646. Quest Quest How will it appear that there is so much danger in tollerating Hereticks Answ First In regard of the Church Every one that is versed in Ecclesiastical Historie Answ 1 cannot but know how notoriously destructive Heresies have been to the Church in every Century robbing her not only of her tender grapes but of many choice and learned members that might have been very serviceable to her as Demas Hymenaeus and Philetus Phygellus and Hermogines Nicholus Ebion Cerinthus Menander Saturninus c. yea what Commotions and confusions have proceeded from them witness that fiery contest of Alexandria between the Arians and Orthodox where they fought together and killed each other like swarms of Gnats in the air How have they defiled the Churches purity with foul pollutions in Doctrine and manners witness those filthy dreamers Jude 8. Who defiled the flesh despised Dominions c. Secondly In regard of the Common-wealth damnable errors destroyes its peace by tumultuous insurrections and horrid out-rages witness that terrible tempest raised by the Donatists and Circumcellions mentioned before How have Errors and Heresies overturned the very foundations of flourishing States Some of them in their very natures having been so opposite to the being or binding of love and to the Authority of Magistrates that where they have taken place the sinews of States have been so miserably broken asunder under a pretense of liberty that had not their extirpation been more speedy they had certainly buried those people where they reigned in utter desolation They tend also to the ruine of States as they engage him who is the God of order and truth to be their enemie and to execute his vengeance upon them sometimes by a more immediate hand as Antioch a nursery of Heresies was first defaced by Earth-quake and after consumed with fire from Heaven And Nichomedia a place where the Arians were appointed to meet was swallowed up of an Earth-quake and often mediatly by the sword of the Magistrate whom God stirs up to take vengeance on his behalf as we heard before in the examples of Constantine Theodesius c. 3ly In regard of particular persons to whom they are no lesse pernicious whether ring-leaders or such as have been perverted by them Often it tends to the ruine of their bodies whilest their erronous opinions either make them by excess and riot to overthrow their health as the Libertines of former and later times 2. Pet. 2.10 12 13. Or by too much austerity to destroy their bodies and bring them to Death But if not so yet God is often so far provoked especially against the founders and chiefe maintainers of Heresies that where man hath neglected to doe it he hath taken the sword into his owne hand and destroyed them by some signal judgement or other Thus Arius in the midest of his pomp and pride voided his Guts in a Common Jakes Nestorius his tongue was eaten with wormes Cerinthus was slaine by an house falling on his head Montanus hanged himself See many more the like examples in my Mirrour p. 246. c. But how ever their bodys speed without doubt they are dangerous and destructive to their soules be-nighting their mindes 1 Tim. 5.6 turning their light into darknesse and leaving them to innumerable by-ways of ruine 2 Tim. 3.8 they are men of corrupt mindes reprobate concerning the faith Heresies corrupt mens minds destroy a good Conscience pollute their lives rob them of beauty peace piety yea of all real spirituall growth and exclude from heaven if not repented of Gal. 5.20 21. 2. Thess 2.10 11. 2 Pet. 2.17 Jude 13. Quest Quest What then is incumbent upon Magistrates to doe against them Answ First Answ 1 they must not hearken to those which plead for and seek a Tolleration of Heresies or that would tye their hands from executing judgement upon Hereticall seducers or from preventing the growth or extirpating of so banefull and pernicious a weed as Heresie is Such would engage them in the guilt of soules the ruine of Church and State would have them lose their reputation and leave their names a curse and by-word to posterity Secondly they must not suffer the Church for any by respect whatsoever to be pestred with unsound or illiterate persons who have not the tongue of the learned Isa 50.4 are not wel taught to the Kingdome of Heaven Mat. 13.52 want Judgement Mich. 3.8 and are not able to â—ivide the word aright 1 Tim. 4.16 Thirdly they must take heed of scandalous maintenance It is the way to breed a corrupt and scandalous Ministry Like Jeroboams Priests 1 Kin. 12.31 Or Micha's ten shekels Levite Jud. 17.5.10 Fourthly they must encourage such
esteemed to be Atheists Hereticks Blasphemers of their gods or oppugners of their established Religion Fifthly this coercive power of the Magistrate is every way as useful and necessary now for the glory of God salvation of mens souls and peace of the Church and State as it was then yea in some respects more necessary there being in our dayes not onely the same reasons and causes for the power of the Magistrate but many others also as was shewed by Master Burroughs before Mr. Tho. Edw. against tolleration Quest Quest How may it further appeare that corruption in Religion outwardly breaking forth and expressed may yea and must be restrained and punished by the civil Magistrate Answ Answ From the example of Christ John 1.13 c. who whipped out of the Temple those that sold Oxen and Sheep c. Object But Christ did this as God Object or at lest as the Messias therefore it s not imitable Answ First Answ 1 Civil Rulers are Christs vice-gerents as he was God and therefore they are called Gods Psal 82.1 6. and said to judge for God 2 Chron. 19.6 and are called the Ministers of God Rom. 13.4 who are to take vengeance in Gods stead they are also Christs vice-gerents as Mediator as one that hath all power committed to him in earth as well as in heaven Mat. 28.18 From him therefore as political head of his people Magistrates power on earth must come Prov. 8.15 16. Hence he is called King of Kings 1 Tim. 1.16 17. Rev. 19.16 yea he makes them nursing fathers to his Church and so commits his Church which is his house into their hands as to those who by their civil authority are every way to further its welfare and therefore what Christ did when on earth to purge corruptions out of his Church he now doth by the hands of his vice-gerents Secondly he that was God man who acted here did it in a mixt way not only as God but partly as man also as man he made the whip of cords and smote them therewith his example therefore herein is imitable by men of place and the reason whereby Christs act was justified was the zeale of Gods house John 2.17 which must needs be yeelded to be an apt and just reason sutable to the act and imitable by others which are called thereunto Object Object It was an extraordinary act in Christ as man to punish abuses in Religion in a Corporal way Answ Answ 1 First admit that yet at least the act it self of such punishment of the abuses in religion must needs be in it self that whereon the image of Christs zeal was enstamped and that which in it self is good or else Christ could not have done it without sin and if in its nature it was good its imitable by such as are called thereunto to do that in an ordinary way which he did in an extraordinary Secondly be it that it was extraordinary in Christ as man to act thus So was Phineas his act in killing Zimri and Cozbi Numb 25.7 8. and Samuels in hewing Agag in pieces 1 Sam. 15.33 and Elijahs slaying of Baals Priests 1 King 18.40 yet it must be yeelded that there must be some who by office might and should in an ordinary way have punished such sins the Lord not using to stirre up any in an extraordinary way to do any such acts but in a defect of ordinary power So by these extraordinary acts was a supply made of the defect of Magistratical power which in an ordinary way makes use of the sword or whip for the corporal punishment as Rom. 13.4 rather then such abuses in Religion shal not be in an external coercive way curbed and punished therefore Christ thought it fit to put forth his hand to so good and blessed a work when those whose duty it was to do it would not discharge their trust Quest Quest What corruptions in religion are thus to be punished by the Civil Magistrate Answ Answ We must distinguish of corruptions in Religion and they are First either Dogmatical or Practical and these again are either such as are more grosse and strike at the fundamentals or vitals of Religion whether directly or collaterally or such as are of a more circumstantial and lighter nature Secondly corruptions in religion are either such as are secretly taken up and embraced or such as come under mans view being outwardly expressed by word writing c. and these again are either such as are held forth with meeknesse and real expressions of a cordial readinesse to lay them aside upon better information or such as are carried on in a turbulent way and with contempt of Civil or Church order Againe restraint and punishment of these is either that which is meerly and immediately divine or that which is partly Divine and partly humane in respect either of the agent or manner of acting or that which is properly in the nature of the act person and manner of acting humane and this againe is either Political which is carried on in a Civil way and by Political means or Ecclesiastical which is carried on in a Church-way and by Church meanes Thirdly a call of God to restraine and punish abuses is either immediately Divine as when by Divine vision revelation prophesie inspiration instinct c. or that which is mediately divine in respect of God the author but immediately humane in respect of man designing and inviting Quest Quest What conclusions may be laid down upon these premises Answ We shall shew 1. Answ Negatively what may not be done 2. Affirmatively what may and must First Negatively we say that 1. No private person in these dayes under any pretence whatsoever may take upon him to restraine and punish corruptions in religion in those who are not under their personal charge It 's rash zeal zeal without knowledge to do any thing this way without the bounds of ones particular calling in the limits whereof every one should abide with God 1 Cor. 7.20 24. It tends to confusion and God is no authour of that 1 Cor. 14.33 2. No civil authority nor persons thereunto called may as such punish abuses in Religion in any Ecclesiastical way as excommunication c. Christ never gave the power of the keys to Civil Magistrates but to his Church-Officers Mat. 16.18 19. and 18.17 18. 1 Cor. 5.4 neither may Church-Officers punish in an external way as by imprisonment fines stripes sword c. Mat. 20.25 26. 3. Neither Civil nor Church power may punish a meer supposed corruption in Religion but that which doth manifestly appear to be so by the Word of God they must not make men offenders for a word rightly uttered by the just Isa 29.21 that 's blind zeal as Joh. 16.2 3. 4. Neither of them may censure or punish corruptions in Religion till they break forth in outward expressions For then and not till then they are of legal proof scandalous and infectious Hence Deut. 13.13 14. and 17.2 3 4 5.
from the end to which the civil Magistrate is appointed by God whether that end be more general or special 1. In General he is appointed for the good of his Subjects Rom. 13.4 whether that good be natural as safety of their bodies life c. or moral as Temperance Chastity c. or Civil as Civil liberties mens Lands Goods c. Or spiritual as the free passage of the Gospel the purity of Worship and of the Doctrine and Discipline of Christ c. Now if God hath made him a Minister for good all these ways then he hath armed him with power in a Civil way to promote that good of his Subjects and to rescue them from whatsoever breaks out to impair that good And truly corruptions in matters of Religion do strike at all that good both as they provoke God in Judgment to blast al that good to a people where they do prevail as they occasion breaches in a State to the prejudice of their liberties and peace witnesse the sad fruits of Popery formerly amongst us Of Anabaptisme in Germany and of Levellisme not long since in England and I pray God that these may be the last and to divert that storm which seems to approach by reason of many turbulent and seditious spirits now working amongst us and is not then the Magistrate who in a special manner is appointed for the spiritual good of his Subjects to maintaine and defend them by opposing and punishing all principles and practises which tend to the disturbance of the Church So Rom. 13.4 Isa 60.10 11 12. Obj. What need the Church any such helps It carried on Church-wayes and worship when the Rulers of the earth hindred it and it hath weapons of its own to avenge all disobedience 2 Cor. 10.6 Ans 1. It s true this help of Civil authority is not of absolute necessity to the being of a Church but it s an acumulative good conferred by God upon the Church to curb and hinder whatsoever is destructive to her good 2. When the Church hath used her power against the disturbers of her purity and peace yet even then they may and usually do grow more insolent and turbulent and do more hurt then they did before yea such may go from place to place to make proselytes So that either the Magistrates sword and service is needful or there will be left no ordinary nor orderly power to restrain and punish such grosse offenders Thirdly a third reason is from the prayers which God commands his people to make for this end and the praises which they return to God when such an end is attained 1. For prayers 1 Tim. 2.1 2. I exhort that prayers c. be made for Kings c. that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godlinesse and honesty Whence it follows 1. That we come not to God to desire to be let alone by authority in any way that is contrary to godlinesse or honesty the contrary desire being that which we are taught here to pray for 2. That Magistrates by their office now under the New Testament are to look to matters that pertaine to godliness both Doctrinal and Practical appearing in outward view as well as to matters of honesty 3. If this be a prayer according to the will of God as it must needs be being directed by the Holy Ghost then its Gods will that Magistrates should by their authority see that their subjects lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godlinesse and honesty that is free from disturbance in any such wayes of godlinesse by open and manifest disturbers thereof 2. For praises So in Ezra's dayes they thankfully acknowledged it as put into the hearts of their rulers by God to take such effectual care of pure peaceable and comfortably carrying on the whole work of God committed to them Ezra 7.25 c. So Revel 11.15 they praise God for that the Kingdomes of the earth are become the Kingdomes of Christ and for that he takes to himself the Kingdome Now the Kingdoms of the earth become Christs not onely when the people submit to Christs government but when such as Rule under Christ do rule for him and by their civil power suppresse such as openly oppose or seek to subvert or pervert his royal Laws and blessed institutions held forth in his Word Fourthly another argument may be taken from the zeal foretold to be in private Christians in Gospel-times whereby they should provoke civil authority to use the sword in punishing persons grosly guilty of corruptions in Religion so in that prophesie before spoken of Zach. 13.3 6. Fifthly Another reason is taken from the publick evil removed and good attained by the due use of such power and the sad mischiefs attending either the want or grosse neglect thereof Deut. 17.2 3 5 7. when Idolaters are commanded to be stoned it s added so shalt thou put away the evill from amongst you Good also is attained and that 1. Moral Deut. 17.10 All Israel shall hear and fear and do no more such wickednesse 2. Civil in regard of their outward estate God would then bless them with peace and plenty when the Idolaters were punished God sent raine 1 King 18.40 41. 2 Chron. 14.3 4 5. Consider also what a deluge of evils ensue when such power is wanting or not executed Thence idolatry Jude 17.4 5 6. Thence corruption in Church Discipline v. 12. with ch 18.1 yea it lets in all temporal judgements when there is none to stand in the gap and authoritatively to make up the hedge which is broken down by corrupters of Gods worship then an inundation of ruining judgements follows as Ezek. 21.25 26. with v. 30 31. and as it is mischievous to the Church and State so to the negligent rulers themselves and to their families It was the ruine of Eli's house 1 Sam. 2.22 23 24. with 27.28 c. Sixthly when Magistrates want zeal to restraine and punish Hereticks and corrupters of his Word and worship God stirs up zeal in others in an extraordinary way to do it When Ahab would not Elijah doth it 1 King 18. he will have it some way done and therefore he likes of it Obj. Object But grant such power to Magistrates and its the way to make men either basely to dissemble or to do something against their consciences Answ Answ 1 First you may say as much against that way which Asa and the State took 2 Chron. 15.12 13. when they enacted that whosoever would not serve the Lord should be slaine which they were encouraged unto by the prophecying of Oded ver 1. and for this the Lord gavâ— them rest v. 15. Josias also caused his Subjects to serve the Lord 2 Chron. 34.33 and you may as well say that this caused their Subjects either to dissemble or to sinne against their consciencâ—s the like you may obâ—â—ct against Church-Censures as Gal. 5.10 12. 1 Tim. 1. ult Secondly Magistrates in restraining and punishing such things
GOLDEN APPLES OR Seasonable and Serious Counsel from the Sanctuary to the Rulers of the earth held forth in the Resolution of sundry Questions and Cases of Conscience about Divisions Schisms Heresies and the Tolleration of them Collected out of the Writings of the most Orthodox and judicious Divines Both Presbyterians and Independents By Sa. Clarke Pastor in Bennet Fink Qui non prohibet malum cum potest facit I have a few things against thee because thou sufferest that woman Jesabel which calleth her self a Prophetesse to teach and to seduce my servants c. Rev. 2.20 LONDON Printed by Tho. Ratcliffe for Tho. Underhill at the Blue Anchor in Pauls Church-yard 1659. To the Honourable Sir Arthur Hesilrig Knight and Baronet Sir Henry Mildmay Knight and Collonel George Thompson Esq Noble Gentlemen I Know that time is very precious with you by reason of the multipliplicity of affairs that lie upon your hands you are come to the Helm of a much shaken and almost sinking ship and the winds and waves are still boisterous there are dangerous rocks and shelves to be avoided and therefore the greater Art and Industry is required of those that are the steersmen Yet my humble request to you is that you will be pleased to spare so much time as to peruse this little Treatise It will discover to you one of the must dangerous Rocks which if not carefully shuned will certainly split our ship and endanger all the passengers that are imbarked in it You cannot but be sensible of the many Divisions and subdivisions that are amongst us and our Lord Christ hath told us in his Word of Truth That a Kingdom divided against it self cannot stand Mar. 3.24 You cannot but see what an inundation of Errors Heresies and Blasphemies is broken in upon us and truly it is as evident that Romes Emissaries are both the Fathers and Nurses of most of these Bastards and that which they now hope for and expect from you is a Boundless Tolleration of them that so they may live and prosper under the shadow of your wings But if you please to cast your eies over this book you shall see how inconsistent such a Tolleration would be with the word of God how destructive both to our Church and State How dangerous to those that grant it and pernicious to those that desire it You are Political Shepherds and will you not drive away those wolves that devour the Flock Magistrates are not only Custodes but Vindices utriusque Tabulae and should they not then take care of the Honor and Concernments of God as well as of their own Is it not their duty to take those Foxes that destroy the vines of Christ Can. 2.15 Doth not Paul tell us That they bear not the sword in vain but are the Ministers of God and Revengers to execute wrath upon them that do evil Rom. 13.4 And that Schisms and Heresies are evil The same Apostle makes it as clear when he reckons them up amongst the works of the flesh and joines them with Idolatry Witchcraft c. Gal. 5.20 I know â—hat Politicians give many Rules and Directions for uphouldingâ— and conserving Kingdoms and Common-wealths but that of Solomons is beyond all Prov. 16.12 The Throne is established by Righteousness and to take care of Religion as well as of Righteousness conduceth much to the prosperity and Peace of a Nation Very memorable is that of Asa 2 Chron. 14.2 c. He did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord for he took away the Altars of the strange gods and the high places and brake down the Images aâ—d cut down the groves and commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their Fathers and to do the Law and the Commandment c. and then the Kingdom was quiet before him And chap. 15.3 5. Israel had been for a long season without the true God and without a teaching Priest and without Law and in those times there was no peace to him that went out nor to him that came in but great vexations were upon all the Inhabitants of the Countries and Nation was destroyed of Nation and City of City for God did vex them with all adversity The like we see Judg 5.8 They chose new gods saith Deborah then was War in their Gates It is said also of Jehosaphat 2 Chron. 17.6 10. That his heart was lift up in the wayes of the Lord and that he took away the high places and groves out of Judah and then the fear of the Lord fell upon all the Kingdomes of the Lands that were round about Judah so that they made no war against Jehosaphat I know that common exception against these Scriptures is that these are Old Testament Examples and therefore not binding or imitable under the Gospel which you shall see fully answered and refâ—ted if you please to peruse this Book Neither indeed is the New Testament any more favourable to a Tolleration of Errors Schisms and Heresies then the Old God being as jealous of his honor now as he was then and corruptions in Religion being as detestable to him now as they were then Hence it is that our Saviour Christ and his Apostles give so many Caveats to take heed of and to shun false Doctrines and Teachers of them As Mat. 7.14 Beware of false Prophets which come to you in sheeps cloathing c. Mat. 16.6 Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Saduces Mat. 24.4 5. Take heed that no man deceive you For many shall come in my name saying I am Christ and shall deceive many And verse 11. Many false Prophets shall arise and shall deceive many So verse 23 24. and Rom. 16.17 18. I beseech you brethren mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the Doctrine that ye have learned and avoid them For such serve not the Lord Jesus Christ but their own belly and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple And 1 Cor. 1.10 c. how doth he reprove them for their Schisms and exhorts them to Vnity And 1 Cor. 5.7 Purge out the old leaven that you may be a new lump 2 Cor. 6.14 15.16 What communion hath light with darkness What concord hath Christ with Belial c. And what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols c. Gal. 1.8 9. If an Angel from Heaven preach any other Gospel then that which we have preached let him be accursed c. Gal. 5.12 I would they were even cut off that trouble you Phil. 3.2 Beware of Dogs beware of evil-workers beware of the concision 2 Thes 3.6 We command you brethren in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that ye with-draw your selves from every brother that walketh disorderly and not after the traditions which he received of us 2 Tim. 2 16 17. Shun prophane and vain bablings for they will increase to more ungodliness and their word will eat as doth a Canker c. 2 Tim.
4.14 15. Alexander the Copper-smith did me much evil c. of whom be thou ware also c. Tit. 3.10 11. An Heretick after the first and second admonition reject knowing that he that is such is subverted and sinneth being condemned of himself 2 Pet. 3.17 Seeing ye know these things before beware lest being led aside with the Errors of the wicked you fall from your own stedfastness 2 Epist of John 10.11 If there come any unto you and bring not this Doctrine receive him not into your house neither bid him God-speed for he that bids him God-speed is partaker of his evil deeds Rev. 2.2 The Angel of the Church of Ephesus is commended for that he could not bear with them which were evil and had tried them which said they were Apostles when they were not and had found them lyars As also for that verse 6. He hated the deeds of the Nicholaitans Rev. 2.14 15. The Angel of the Church of Pergamos is reproved and threatned for suffering them that held the Doctrine of Balaam and of the Nicholaitans And verse 20. The Angel of the Church of Thyatira is reproved and threatned for permitting the woman Jesabel to teach and to seduce gods servants c. Rev. 3.15 16. The Angel of Laodicea is reproved for being luke-warm and neither hot nor cold and such are they saith arâ—verend Divine who grant a Tolleration of divers Religions whom God will spue out of his mouth Mr. Gabri Powel It were easie to bring Arguments against such a Tolleration out of the Canons of the first and best Councils and Writings of the Fathers as Tertullian Athanasius Augustine Jerom Gregory Nazianzene Ambrose Chrysostom Irenaeus Cyprian c. As also from the Laws Constitutions Decrees and Edicts of the best Christian Emperors as Constantine the great Valentinian Gratian Theodosius Maior Arcadius and Honorius Theodosius Minor Martian Justinian c. unto which might be added the Judgement of many forreign Divines that were godly learned and judicious besides our English Divines mentioned in this Book and many others that concur with them therein but that it would swell to too great a volumn and prove tedious to the Readers Let me only add this That such Rulers as improâ—e their power against such enemies of God and his Church shall besides the Euge of a good conscience which is far better then the worlds Plaudite delight themselves in the Lord and raign in the hearts and affections of all good men As they do worthily in Ephraca so they shall be famous in Bethlehem Ruth 4.11 Honourable Sirs May I not say to the same purpose to you as Mordecai did to Hester Who can tell but that God hath reserved you for such a time as this I hope you will improve all your abilities and interests for the decrying of such an intollerable Tolleration and for the countenancing and encouraging of the truth and the Assertors of it which will be your joy and the rejoycing in that great and approaching day when you must give up your account to him that is no Respecter of persons but will render unto every one according to his works My prayer for you is That ye may be blameless and harmeless the sons of God without Rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse Nation amongst whom ye may shine as lights in the world desiring to be esteemed as I am Devouted to the service of your Faith From my Study in Thridneedle-street May 25. 1659. SA CLARK A Table Of the Questions and Cases of Conscience that are resolved in this Book Quest WHence do Discords and Divisions arise pag. 1. Quest What doth the word Schism signifie 3 Quest What is Schism ib. Quest Whence doth Schism proceed 4 Quest How many sorts of contentions are there p. 5 Quest What are the causes of contentions 6 Qu. What are the sinful effects of contentions about worldly things and how are they discovered 8 Qu. What are the effects of contentions about religious matters 9 Quest What are the aggravations of the sin of discord 10 Q. How may Schisms be divided 11 Quest What makes Divisions 13 Quest Whence else proceed Divisions 16 Quest. What are the effects of Church divisions especially in the Ministry 17 Quest What should people do when Ministers and Professors are divided 18 Quest Why is unity amongst them so necessary 19 Quest. Seeing God hath promised his people one heart and one way and Christ hath pray'd for it how comes it that there are so many breaches amongst the godly 22 Q. What means may prevent and heal divisions in the Church 24 Qu. What are the remedies of Divisions 27 Qu. What wil preserve unity in the Church and prevent Schism 32 Q. How may Divisions amongst the godly be prevented or healed 34 Qu. Why are Divisions in Church or State so dangerous 35 Qu. Why are they destructive to States Cities and Families 37 Qu. What other mischief proceeds from Church-divisions 40 Q. What sorts of discontented persons nourish our divisions 42 Qu. What may provoke us to endeavour after unity 44 Qu. What means may be used to procure unity and peace 46 Q. Whether Magistrates may meddle with mens consciences 49 Qu. How may Schisms be distinguished 50 Quest What conclusions may be laid down about separation 51 Qu. If wicked persons continue in Church-society is that not a sufficient ground of separation 52 Q. Doth not fellowship with wicked men in the Ordinances make them ineffectual ib. Obj. But a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump 53 Obj. But Paul saith being many we are one bread ibid. Obj. But we cannot do the duties commanded Mat. 18.15 c. if we continue in such a Church may we not then separate 54 Qu. Should we not desire communion with the purest Churches 55 Qu. How else may Schisme be defined 56 Qu. May we not separate from a Church for corruptions in it though they be not in fundamentals 58 Qu. How may this be proved 59 Qu. How may we prevent seduction by Schismaticks 60 Qu. How doth the common enemy instil poison into the people to make foment our divisions 61 Qu. How may these be prevented 62 Qu. These are Old Testament examples and those Kings were types of Christ but now Gods people are a willing people therfore not under any Coertion 64 Q. Doth it not abridg and anul that liberty which should be indulged to the consciences of men 68 Qu. What are the best meanes to be used by Magistrates in these seducing and seduced times 71 Qu. Is not persecution for the cause of conscience against the doctrine of Christ 73 Qu. Christ commands to let the tares grow with the wheat till the harvest 75 Obj. Christ would have the blinde let alone till they fall into the ditch 76 Obj. Christ blames his Disciples that would have fire from heaven to consume the Samaritans c. ib. Obj. But the Prophets foretold that carnal weapons should cease in the times of the
good matter without good order is not warrantable The Disciples that would have fire come down from Heaven knew not what spirit they were of Uzzahs dreadfull punishment for touching the Ark should make us look not only to the Duty but to the order of it We must not do evil that good may come of it Rom. 3.8 The damnation of such is just Thirdly A third thing in Division is when men do not keep in their proper places and offices If the foot will be the eye or the hand the head this is monstrous St. Paul teaches every member in the body to keep to its own office and calling And Oh! that our times would learn this lesson we should not have such wofull confusions in Church and State as of late we have had what a blessed Unity and comely Order would Church and State be in if every member would do his proper work What have private men to do in a Pulpit What have souldiers to do in constituting a Civil Government or Governors Where is their Warrant How will they answer it to God or man They are commanded to offer violence to no man and to be content with their wages Luke 3.14 Fourthly I st Division and Faction when the passions of men are sowred and imbittered with any carnal distempers This sin first affects the heart and then breaks out into action Though men be in a good way and are for the Truth and Glory of God yet if they do it in passion and with a froward heart here is a sinful Division Gods Righteousness and Truth needs not our passions Quest Quest Whence else proceed these Divisions Answ Answ First From mens ignorance for so long as we know but in part there will be different opinions and difference in opinions breeds difference in affections Ignorant persons like Children are easily seduced and run into ways of Division Secondly From self-confidence and Arrogancy When men think they have better abilities and more worth in them then indeed they have This makes them bold and disturbers of the Churches peace as we see in Corah Dathan and Abiram Num. 16.3 They thought there was as much in every person as in the Priests that God had set apart for that Office All the Congregation is holy Hence Paul commands us not to mind high things Rom. 12.16 which are above our place or capacity So was it with David Psalm 131.1 Hence 1 Cor. 8.2 If any think that he knows any thing c. Thirdly From worldly hopes and desires of advantage Earthly gain made Judas make such a sad breach Men that judge gain to be godliness soon make shipwrack of faith and a good conscience 1 Tim. 6.5 Many of the Arch-Hereticks formerly made those Divisions because they missed of that worldly Pomp and greatness which they expected 4. Sometimes it proceeds from the Tyranny and scandalous lives of Church-Officers One cause that Tertullian turned a Montanist was the loose lives of the Roman Clergy Q. Quest What are the effects of Division and Disunion in the Church especially in the Ministry Answ First Answ 1 It s apt to beget Atheism and Irreligion in the people It makes them think that Religion is a meer notion or nothing and therefore they will look after it no more But woe to the world because of offences in this kind It had been better for such that they had never been born Secondly It much grieves and unsettles the hearts even of the godly themselves they know not what to pitch upon whilst one godly Minister saith it s a sin others that it is no sin This cannot but exceedingly perplex tender Consciences that would not sin for a world Thirdly At such times prophanness and ungodliness doth exceedingly increase and godliness decaies in the power of it For whereas Ministers should encourage godliness and decry and reprove sin they busie themselves in preaching up their opinions and promoting their particular way which edifieth not Indeed the least Truths of God are not to be neglected yea all things are to be tried but this is not the main business the one thing necessary is to seek the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness Fourthly These Divisions amongst Protestants do exceedingly harden the Papists in their way Quest Quest What then should people do when Ministers and Professors are thus divided Answ Answ 1 First Do not thou by thy pragmatical medling widen the difference and raise more dust the hot indiscret carriages of the Disciples do sometimes make a greater distance amongst the Teachers As Johns Disciples out of envy did what they could to stir up Johns spirit against Christ but he by his humility soon quenched those sparks John 3.30 Secondly Consider that those which are godly do agree in the fundamentals which are necessary to salvation and for other things we cannot expect Unity in this life where some have more knowledge and more grace and self-denial then others Thirdly Labor thou to have thy faith informed and setled out of Gods word The Ministry is that by which we do believe but we do not believe in it the Samaritans believed Christ upon the womans report at the first but afterwards they believed him for his own sake Fourthly Humble your selves under these differences when you see them not to go the same way or to preach the same things acknowledg that it is for the barrenness unteachableness and other sins of the hearers that God hath raised such contentions amongst us Quest Why is Unity so necessary Quest Answ Answ Because all things in Religion are reduced to one If therefore every thing in Religion tend to Unity why should not the people of God embrace it the several unities are made a notable argument to this purpose Eph. 4.1 where the Apostle having exhorted Christians to walk worthy of their Calling he instanceth in such graces as procure unity as lowliness meekness and forbearing one another the end of which graces is set down verse 3. endeavouring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace then verse 4. he shews the Reason why there should be such Unity there is one body Christ hath not many bodies All the people of God are one body and it s very destructive when one member of the body conspires against the welfare of another Again There is one Spirit there is but one spirit that enlightens and sanctifies the whole Church of God why then should there be so many wayes and opinions yet all pretended to be of the same spirit Indeed there are diversity of gifts and operations yet the same spirit But he doth not say Contrarieties and the same spirit for that is impossible Again There is one hope of our Calling we are called to one inheritance there is but one Heaven why therefore should we be so different by the way when one place of glory must hold all and if one Church cannot now contain us how shall we think that one heaven will Again There is one
Corruptions that do abound Thus the Prophets of old and Christ and his Apostles did with zeal rebuke the prevailing Corruption of their times but separated not 2. When we have thus done our duties if corruptious are still suffered we must leave our Complaints with God who hath promised at last to take all scandals out of the Church and in the mean time we must sigh under this burden patiently Fourthly To prevent Schism in the Church take heed of Pride and Ambition and seeking after preferments in the Church Most of those that have made the greatest Rents in the Church were discontented because with Diotrephes they could not have the preheminence Even Christs Disciples began to quarrel one with another De primatu who should be the chiefest which made Christ so often to press Humility Quest Quest How may Divisions amongst the godly in their particular civil deportments be prevented or healed Answ Answ 1 First Remove the cause kill the Serpent in the egg and that is the lust in the soul Jam. 4.1 From whence come jars and fightings Is it not from your lusts first we have warring within and then one against another Now any lust unmortified is enough to set the Church on fire so Covetousness is a great cause of Discord as the Philistins and Isaac strove about the wels Gen. 26.20 21. we fall out about earthly things because the Creature is too scant to give content to all so envy causeth disunion c. Secondly Be importunate with God by prayer to give thee an humble and peaceable heart Peace is an excellent thing It s called the peace of God and God is called the God of peace and Christ The Prince of Peace and our Peace and he hath prayed for Unity and peace amongst his members John 17.21 Mr. Ant. Burgess on John 17. and 1 Cor. 3. Quest Quest How may it be proved that Divisions in Church or State are so dangerous and destructive Answ By the examples of all ages Answ As long as the Jews were at unity amongst themselves in David's and Solomons time they flourished exceedingly but so soon as they were divided into ten Tribes and two Tribes they presently began to war one against another whereby a door was opened to forraign invasions and at last to their utter destruction As long as Alexander the great lived and kept the Grecian Empire in Unity it greatly flourished but after his death when by his Major Generals it was divided into parts their Divisions encreased till they had destroyed one another Whilst the Empire of Rome continued entire it encreased and flourished exceedingly but so soon as it was divided into the Eastern and western Empire it declined till at last it came to utter destruction When Jersualem was besieged by Titus Vespasianus there were three great factions in it under three chief Captains Jehochanan Eleazar and Simeon who killed more by their mutual quarrels then the Romans without did and this proved the ruine of that famous City The like may be said by Constantinople when it was taken by the Turks But we need to look no further then to England to see how destructive Divisions in a State are When Caesar first entred into Britain he was called in by the faction of Mandubratius And Tacitus acknowledges that the Factions and Divisions which were amongst the Britains gave advantage to the Roman Victories Afterwards Vortigerne that had gotten the British Kingdom by a faction called in the Saxons who taking advantage of those Divisions amongst the Britains made themselves Masters of all So likewise when the Normans conquered England they were called in by Factions that were here especially the faction of Earl Goodwin and his son Tostane But I need not mention the miseries of England in the factious times of the Barons-wars nor in the woful Divisions between the two houses of York and Lancaster Our eyes have seen the sad effects of our late Divisions and our hearts ake to think of the miseries that are coming upon us by reason of the continuance and increase of Divisions amongst us Quest Quest But why are Divisions so destructive to Kingdoms States Cities and Families Answ First Answ 1 Because intestine divisions destroy all those things that are as walls and Bulwarks to preserve a Nation from Ruine As 1. Divisions destroy the peace of a Kingdom Now there is nothing that preserves a Kingdom more then peace The Hebrews comprehend all blessings under the name of Peace Heaven it self is Tranquillitas pacis Take away peace and you destroy a Kingdom Indeed no outward Blessing is real where peace is wanting 2. Divisions take away the Unity of a Kingdom Now Unity is the great preserver of Church and State yea of every thing what preserves the Fabrick of Heaven from falling in peeces but the Union and Conjunction of the parts of it The Church of Christ at first Calente adhuc sanguine Christi as Jerom speaks whilst the blood of Christ was yet warm was at unity in it self and flourished exceedingly Acts 2.46 47. The Church was then like a pure Virgin attended with all the graces of Gods Spirit as with so many handmaids But when it fell into Divisions it lost its Virginity and all her handmaids forsook her Unity is the glew and soder that cements a Kingdom or Church together and therefore Paul calls love the bond of perfection Col. 3.16 Secondly As Divisions take away all those things that are the butteresses to uphold a nation so they open a door to all kind of misery they are like Pandora's box which being once opened out-flew all kind of Sicknesses and Diseases As 1. Where are intestine Divisions there dwells Strife and Envy and where these are there is Confusion every evil work Jam. 3.16 2. They open a door to let in a forraign enemy 3. They so weaken a Kingdom that they make it unable to resist a forraign enemy Unita vis fortior strength conjoined is much stronger but divided is much weakened 4. Divisions set a Kingdom against it self and then it cannot stand Mat. 12.15 they bring in Civil wars which of all others are most uncivil For 1. There are no wars so unnatural as Civil wars The Father fights against the Child the Child against his Father Friend against friend c. 2. There is no war so cruel as Civil War The Hagarens and Ammonites and Moabites and Edomites were the greatest enemies that Israel had because they were nearly related to them Odia proximorum sunt acertima the hatred of brethren is most bitter when they fall out So Jud. 20.28 3. These wars are most treacherous for there will alwayes be false brethren that will labor to betray their brethren into the hands of their enemis Complain therefore as Jer. 9.2 3 4 5. 4. These of all wars are most uncomfortable therefore when Israel had overcome Benjamin instead of rejoycing they all fell a weeping Judg. 21.2 Quest Quest What are the mischiefes which proceede
from Church Divisions Answ Answ 1 First Hereby Gods name is exceedingly dishonoured and the true Religion ill spoken of Julian railed against Religion in his days because as he said Christians lived together as so many dogs and bears rending and tearing one another who then saith he would be so simple as to become a Christian Secondly It s a mighty hinderance to all Reformation as the building of Babel was hindred by the confusion of Tongues so is the building of Zion also For every one strives to promote his own private way of Reformation and to hinder all others Fpiphanius tells a sad story of Meletius and Peter both Bishops both Confessors of the Christian Faith both of them condemned to the mettle mines for their Profession who upon a smal difference fell into so great a Schism that they drew a partition between each other and would not hold Communion together in the same worship of Christ for which notwithstanding they joyntly suffered which dissention of theirs caused such a Schism in the Church as did it greater hurt then any open persecution Thirdly Hereby our common enemie is much encouraged whose hopes of prevailing is built upon our Divisions 4 ly Hereby the hearts of Gods people are mightily distracted many are hindred from Conversion and even the godly themselves have lost much of the power of godliness in their lives and it cannot be otherwise whilst one Minister preacheth one thing as the truth and another preacheth the quite contrary with as much confidence as the former and many are hindred from Coversion For who will venture into a ship that is tossed with contrary waves and ready to sink and the godly themselves are much hindred in the study and practise of faith and Repentance their time being taken up with unnecessary Disputations so that they have little leasure to repent and prosecute the power of godliness Fifthly By our Divisions godly Ministers are mightily discouraged so that many grow weary of their standings in the Church and are ready to leave their places and retire to a private life Sixthly Hereby a door is opened to all kind of Atheism Do not some say we know not of what kind of Religion to be and therefore we will be of none Seventhly These Divisions open a wide door to the utter ruine of our Nation For they bring in deadly hatred that breaketh all the bonds even of nature it self as Christ foretels John 16.2 They shall kill you and therein think they do God good service Quest Quest How many sorts of discontented persons are there amongst us which nourish these Divisions An. Answ First such as are discontented out of Pride and Covetousness because they cannot get those places of profit and honor that they expect or because they have not the credit with the people that others have hence they dislike the publick proceedings and make parties and factions These Whatsoever their pretences are serve not our Lord Jesus Christ but their own belly and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple Romans 16.18 Secondly Such as are discontented out of a blind zeal and because they think that if matters of Religion were once setled their erroneous ways would be discountenanced therefore they labor to put and keep all things in a confusion that thereby their party may encrease For as Toads and Serpents breed and grows in dark and dirty cellars so do Sects Errors and Heresies grow in times of distraction and division These desire to fish in troubled water because then they can catch most fish These are like unto Sanballat and Tobiah who foreseeing that if the Temple were built their way of worship upon Mount Geresin would be contemned therefore they did all they could to disgrace and discourage that business so do these all settlement Thirdly Such as being discontented persons disturb our peace by way of revenge Quest Quest What may move us to endeavour after unity Answ Answ 1 First Consider how pathetically and emphatically God by the Apostle Paul perswades us to it As 1 Cor. 1.10 Now I beseech you brethren by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that you all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions amongst you but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and the same udgements and Again Phil. 2.1 2. If there be therefore any consolation in Christ if any comfort of love if any fellowship of the Spirit if any bowels and mercies fulfill you my joy that you be like minded having the saâ—e love being of one accord of one mind c. Secondly Consider those excellent Arguments laid down Eph. 4.3 4 5 6. of which before 3. Consider what an horrible sin it is to divide one from another and to live in hatred and variance one with another It s a work of the flesh Gal. 5.19 20 21. It excludes from the Kingdom of Heaven So Rev 22.15 Such are dogs that intertear one another It makes unfit to partake of the Sacrament Mat. 5.23 It makes God to abhor our fasting days Isa 58.4 yea it turns our prayers into curses For we pray to be forgiven as we forgive therefore if we live in hatred and variance we pray not to be forgiven Pejus est scindere ecclesiam quam sacrificare Idolo saith Cyprian Schisme in the Church is a greater sin then idolatry Austin saith It s a greater sinne then Heresie As God himself declared saith he when he punished Schismatical Corah and his company with a greater punishment then ever he punished Idolaters or Hereticks Fourthly consider the woful miseries and mischiefs that are brought into our Church and State by reason of our Divisions If all the Jesuites in the Christian world If all the devils in hel should joyne together to conspire our ruine they could not finde out a more ready way then this which they have practised of late years to keep up and encrease our division the woful effects whereof are so obvious that I need not mention them Fifthly consider the great happinesse that would accrue to Church and State if our breaches were healed If all the Saints on earth and Angels in heaven should study to finde out a way to save England from ruine they could not finde out a readier way then by uniting us together England is an Island divided from all the world and if it were not divided within it selfe it need not feare all the world Sixthly the very Heathens were careful to maintaine unity and peace in times of publick danger Plutarch tells us that Aristides and Themistocles from their very child-hoods were oft squabling and could never agree together But when a common enemy came against them Aristides went to Themistocles and said to him Sasapiamus omissa tandem c. If we be wise let us now leave off our former contentions and apply our selves unanimously to promote the publick good Seventhly consider that the very Devils in Hell agree to promote their own
Church as well as a willing people against whom we find severity used by Christ himself and his Apostles Christ scourged the buyers and Sellers out of the Temple Joh. 2.15 Peter pronounced a doleful sentence upon Ananias and Saphira Act. 5.4 5 9. which acts though extraordinary yet they teach us that an Evangelical estate hath need as well of a Rod as of a Spirit of meekness 1 Cor. 4.21 Fifthly It s prophesied of the times of the Gospel that Kings shall be nursing fathers to the Church Isa 49.23 and Paul tells us that they are for a terror to evil doers Rom. 13.3 4. which words respect good and evil in the first table as well as in the second We are taught to pray for Kings and for all that are in Authority that we may under them lead quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness and honesty Now that which is the end of our prayer is likewise the end of their Authority and if it be their duty to provide for quiet peace and honesty it is to provide for godliness too 1 Tim. 2 1 2. Constantine Theodosius Valentinian Justinian c. are highly commended for making Edicts calling Councils prohibiting and punishing Heresies as appears in all Authors Sixthly Whatsoever things are in themselves dangerous and destructive to the prosperity of States and Nations come under the proper cognizance of the Civil Magistrate to prevent But Heresies Blasphemies Idolatries and Impieties against God do as much endanger a State as sins against the second Table And that 1. Because God is as much provoked by the one as by the other yea the great sin alledged for the captivity of Juda was their despising Gods Messengers 2 Chron. 36.16 2. Secondly Because such sins do more divide and untie the bonds of love which Christian Truth doth preserve then other civil differences and so loosen the hearts of men more from one another Seventhly Our Learned Writers have maintained this Doctrine against the Popish Doctors who to maintain Papal Supremacy and to keep all Ecclesiastical power within themselves have excluded the civil Magistrate from it whereby we may know what hands they be which sow such Doctrines amongst us that so they may instill corrupt Doctrines into as many as they find to be fit tinder to catch that fire Object Object Is not this to abridge and anul that liberty which should be indulged to the Consciences of men Answ Answ 1 First God forbid that any should assume Dominion over the consciences of men We are not saith Paul Lords over your faith but helpers of your joy 2 Cor. 1.24 It would be an high and withal a vain attempt 1. An high attempt for no man can give Law further then he can reward and punish accuse and convince But no man can either search or reward or punish the conscience therefore none can give Law to it 2. A vain Attempt For none but a divine eye can see the conscience therefore none but a Divine Law can bind it For Writings words if they be blasphemous and subversive to Church or State and highly derogatory to the honour of Christ Civil restraint can reach them but thoughts it cannot reach they are unsearchable to a humane eye and therefore unreducible to a humane power Again God forbid we should straiten liberty which Christ hath purchased for us Let every man shand first in that liberty wherewith Christ hath made him free and cursed be he that would entangle him in any such yoak of bondage as is contrary to that freedom Secondly Where men agree in fundamental Doctrines of Truth and godliness in the substantials of Faith Worship and Obedience there should be a mutual Love Tolleration and forbearance in differences which are not subversive to Faith and Godliness wherein we differ in such things we are to wait upon God to reveal the same unto us Phil. 3.15 Thirdly Christ did never purchase for any man a liberty to subvert or to endeavour to subvert the foundations of Faith Worship and holy obedience which he hath laid in his Church by blasphemous heretical Idolatrous or wicked opinions Gods great Truths and the Gospels great Interests ought to be dearer to us then the liberty of any blasphemous or impious tongue or pen. Fourthly Magistrates are wisely to distinguish between weak Brethren and wicked malicious disturbers of the Doctrine of salvation and peace of the Church As Paul doth between the bewitched Galatians and the Seducers of them whom he wishes that they were even cut off Gal. 5.12 whom yet he would not have wished so ill to if they had only made use of a lawfull liberty in sowing false Doctrines Fifthly With the word such lenity and moderation is to be used as first to reprove rebuke exhort them with all long-suffering and Doctrine 2 Tim. 4.2 To admonish them once and again and being found unreclaimable then to reject them Tit. 3.10 Sixthly We are to distinguish between the conscience of the Seducer and the spreading of his Doctrine It belongs to the care of the Magistrate to endeavour the reclaiming of the Seducer which if it cannot be effected the next principal care must be to prevent the spreading of his infection Thus the Apostle rejected Hereticks and would have no Communion with them they used effectual means to keep the leaven from the Lump Shew lenity to the persons themselves but be zealous for the purity and peace of the Church which by divisions is weakned distracted and betrayed Quest Quest What are the best means to be used by Magistrates in these seducing and seduced times Answ First Answ 1 They should encourage a godly and learned Minister and the Universities vindicating and protecting them from reproach contempt When Alexander the great sent Ambassadors to Athens requiring them to deliver up their Orators into his hands Demosthenes speaking to the people about it tells them a Fable that the wolves being at war with the sheep sent a message to them that if they desired quietness and to have a firm peace concluded they should deliver up their dogs unto them which as soon as they had done they were devoured by the wolves The like cunning use our Adversaries now that they may make a prey of the people they by all means seek to pull down our Ministry and Schools of learning that the watchmen being removed the sheep may be exposed to ruine Secondly They should take care that all that own the Christian Religion amongst us be required to attend upon the publick Ministry and that they may not presumptuously deprive themselves of the means of grace and salvation as very many do who in these times of licentiousnesse have for divers yeares withdrawn themselves from Christian Assemblies where God is worshipped and his name made known Thirdly they should endeavour to heale and close up breaches amongst brethren that men agreeing in Faith Worship and obedience may no longer be strangers one to another but joyne hand in hand
against dangers threatened from a common enemie Fourthly they should secure and set bounds about fundamental doctrines for which end they should take care and promote the dutie of Catechising Fifthly they should provide that Ministers may be known to be Orthodox in the great and weighty Controversies between us and the Hereticks of our times that woâ—ves may not privily creep in under sheeps cloathing Sixthly they should hinder the printing and spreading of dangerous and infectious books either from Ports or Presses and all other ways of diffusing leaven into the people Dr. Reynolds Peace of Jerusalem A certain friend having sent to Mr. Cotton of Boston in New England sundry Arguments against persecution for cause of conscience Mr. Cotton returned him this answer Quest Quest Your question saith he which you put is whether persecution for cause of conscience be not against the Doctrine of Christ who is King of Kings Answ Answ By persecution for cause of conscience I conceive you mean either for professing some point of doctrine which you believe in conscience to be truth or for practising some work which in conscience you believe to be a religious duty Now in points of Doctrine some are fundamental without a right beliefe whereof a man cannot be saved others are circumstantial and less principal wherein men may differ in judgement without endangering their salvation So in points of practice some concern the weightier duties of the Law so as if it be right fellowship with God is held If corrupt fellowship with him is lost Again in points of doctrine or worship less principal they are either held forth in a meek and peaceable way or in so arrogant and violent a way as tendeth to the disturbance of civill peace Lastly when we are persecuted for conscience sake it s either for conscience rightly informed or for an erronious and blinde conscience These things premised the answer is laid down in these conclusions First it s not lawful to persecute any for conscience-sake rightly informed for then Christ himself is persecuted in them Act. 9.4 Why persecutest thou me Secondly for an erroneous and blind conscience even in fundamentals it s not lawful to persecute any till after once or twice admonition Tit. 3.10 where the Apostle gives the direction and the reason viz. because in fundamental points of Doctrine and Worship the Word of God is so clear that he cannot but be convinced in conscience of the dangerous error of his way after one or two admonitions wisely and faithfully dispensed and then if he persist it s not out of conscience but against his conscience as ver 11. He is subverted and sinneth being condemned of himself If then such a man be punished he is not persecuted for his conscience but justly punished for sinning against his conscience Thirdly in things of lesser moment whether in doctrine or worship if they be held forth in a spirit of meeknesse and love he is not to be persecuted but tollerated till God shall please to manifest his truth unto him Phil. 3.17 Rom. 14.1 2 3 4. Fourthly but if a man hold forth any error or false way with a boisterous and proud spirit to the disturbance of civil peace he may be justly punished according to the quality of the disturbance made by him Obj. Object But Christ commands to let the tares and wheat grow together till the harvest Mat. 13.30 c. Answ Answ Tares are not Briars and Thornes but partly hypocrites like unto the godâ—y as tares are like the wheat or partly such corrupt doctrine or practises as are indeed insound but yet such as come nere the truth and so neere as good men may be taken with them and so the persons in whom they grow cannot be rooted out but the good will be rooted up with them and in such a case Christ calls for a tolleration not for a penal prosecution Obj. Object But Christ Mat. 15.14 would have the blinde let alone till they fall into the ditch therefore he would have their punishment deferred till their final destruction Answ Answ Christ speaks not there to publick Officers whether in Church or State but to his private Disciples concerning the Pharisees over whom they had no power But this makes nothing to the matter in hand Obj. Object But Luk. 19.54 Christ blames his Disciples who would have fire to come down from heaven to consume the Samaritans who refused to receive him Answ Answ This directs Ministers of the Gospel how to deal not with obstinate offenders who sinne within the Church against conscience but either with men without as the Samaritans were and many unconverted Christians in Creet whose conversion Titus was to seek or at best with some Jews and Gentiles within the Church who though carnal yet were not convinced of the errour of their way and so indeed it became not the spirit of the Gospel to convert aliens to the faith of Christ by fire and brimstome nor to deal harshly in their Ministry or private conference with all contrary minded men as either had not entred into Church fellowship or if they had did yet hitherto sin of ignorance not against conscience But neither of these do hinder Ministers from proceeding in a Church-way against Church-members when they become scandalous either in life or doctrine much lesse do they speak at all to the civil Magistrates Obj. Object But the Prophets foretold that carnal weapons should cease in the dayes of the Gospell as Isa 2.4 and 11.9 Micha 4.3 4. and Paul saith our weapons are not carnal 2 Cor. 10.4 and Christ bids his disciples not to persecute but to pray for their persecutors because they who are now persecutors may be converted Answ Answ The Prophets predictions do shew First with what kind of weapons God would subdue the Nations not by fire sword but by the power of the word and spirit 2. They shew what a meek and peaceable temper true Converts would be of not Lions Leopards c. not biters one of another but this forbids not to drive ravenous wolves from the sheepfold and to restraine them from devouring Christs sheep and when Paul saith our weapons are not carnal he â—enies not weapons of justice to the Civil Magistrate but onely to Church-Officers and yet he allows them such weapons as are ready to take vengeance on all disobedience 2 Cor. 10.6 which refers to the censures of the Church against scandalous Offenders 3. When Christ commands his Disciples to bless them that cursed and persecuted them he gives not a rule to publick Officers either in Church or State to suffer gross sinners either in life or doctrine to passe unpunished but teaches private Christians to suffer persecution patiently and to pray for their persecutors 4. Christ indeed would have his Disciples far from persecuting for that is a sinful oppression of men but this hinders not but that he would have them execute upon all disobedience the vengeance required in the word 2 Cor. 10.6
Seducers God hath promised whatsoever is necessary for our strengthning and bringing to heaven therefore he will not denie us so necessary an aid as this is Fourthly See that thou preserve in thee a holy fear and reverence of God Psalm 25.12 What man is he that feareth the Lord him shall he teach in the way he shall chuse Dr. Sibs on Phil. Quest How do Seducers bring in Quest and disperse their errors Answ By creeping into houses Answ and secretly depraving and corrupting that Doctrine which is publickly taught and acknowledged to be the truth of God 2 Tim. 3.6 They creep into houses and imitating Satans subtilty they set upon women who can least resist and lead them captive who yet are cunning enough to seduce their husbands and thus not one but many houses are subverted Tit. 1.11 Such were the Pharisees Mat. 23.14 So 2 Pet. 2.2 They privily bring in damnable Doctrines Quest Quest Why doth Christ suffer such Deceivers in his Church Answ Answ 1 First To trie the faith of his and their love to the truth whether they will abide with him in tentation Secondly To rouse us out of security that the more snares are laid for us we might be the more circumspect c. For Error is of a very spreading and infectious nature hence it s compared to Leaven Mat. 16.22 To a Gangrene 2 Tim. 2.17 So also is error in manners Gal. 2.13 If Peter dissembles a number will fall with him and Barnabas also will be drawn into the dissimulation Quest Quest What motive do Seducers usually make use of Answ Answ Filthy lucre usually is that which sets them on work whilst the Priests and the Prophets could bite with their teeth i. e. while they are well fed all is peace to the feeders Mich. 3 5 11. but if their greedy apperites are not satisfied they prepare war against them as if they were enemies to God and man So Eze. 13.18 19. The false Prophets polluted the Lord amongst his people for an handfull of barley pieces of bread and would sew pillows under every arm-hole promising them ease and prosperity and made vailes for every head thereby promising Gods protection and so preached peace where God had not spoken it and all to feed their covetousness Such Merchants the Apostle speaks of 2 Pet. 2.3 Who through covetousness with fained words would adulterate the truth and make merchandize of souls so 2 Cor. 2.17 Phil. 3.18 19. Their belly is their God Quest Quest How else will it appear that Magistrates may punish an obstinate Hetick with death Answ 1. There is precept for it Answ 1 as Deut. 13.5 Deut. 17.5 Secondly There is President and Example for it Exod. 32.35 Mâ—ses commanded 3000 of the Leviteâ— to be â—ain for their Idolatry And 1 Kin. 18.40 Elias caused 400 of Baals Priests to be slain when there was no Magâ—â—â— are â—o do it So of Josias 2 Kin. 23.6 Jehu 2 Kin. 10.25 Yea even Nebuchadnezzar made a Decree That whosoever blasphemed the God of Shadrach c. should be cut in peices c. Dan. 3.29 It s foretold that under the Gospel false Prophets should be punished with death Zach. 13.3 c. Quest Quest What danger is there in tollerating Heresie and Hereticks Answ Answ 1 First Hereby the Command of God is broken Deut. 29.18 Secondly This mixture exposeth a Nation to Gods revening hand and it s stil'd Rebellion Josh 22.17 Thirdly It s dangerous to the sound as afore Fourthly It threatens ruine both to Church and State By it publick justice is corrupted peoples affections are distracted and distempered and way is made for tumults and Massacres as experience hath taught Dr. Tailor on Titus Fifthly Such allowance would prove destructive to holiness both personal and domestical Omnis Religio nulla Religio every Religion and no Religion will soon be the same suppose the husband is of one opinion the wife of another children and servants embracing others what shall the Master of the house do here how shall he perform family duties Diveâ—sity of opinions wiâ—l interrupt their prayers 1 Pet. 3.7 New opinions suffered will devoure the old and a tolleration of every Religion will destroy all Religion Sixthly this liberty is inconsistent with civil tranquility the woful condition of our own Nation is a living nay almost a dying witnesse of this whilest every paâ—tie endeavours to support it selfe by the ruine of the rest Seventhly the late Bishops of Irland may shame and silence such as plead for a general tolleration For when a tolleration of Popery in that Nation was proposed by the Lord Deputy and his adherents they gave in their unanimous judgement in writing that it was a grievous sinne to tollerate Popery and would make all that granted it accessary to all their abominations and guilty of the destruction of seduced souls Eightly this indeed is the Doctrine of the Turks to tollerate all religions but though it finde allowance in the Turks Paradise yet it should never be admitted in the Paradise of God It was a prodigious thing in the dayes of Jeremiah ch 2.28 According to the number of thy Cities so are thy gods O Judah Mr. Thorowgoods Parl. Serm. Decem. 25. 1644. Quest Quest What rules are Magistrates to observe in tollerating smaller errours Answ Answ 1 First they must see that the persons tollerated be known to be modest pious and peaceable lest some of an evil spirit should for evil ends lay claime to and so abuse such libertie Secondly that all bitternesse insolency turbulency of spirit all reproachful language and tumultuous carriages be forborn Thirdly that no Church-meetings for worship be allowed but in places known that there may be free accesse for any to them It shewed great prudence and ingenuity in the French Protestants who in one of their treaties of Peace made this motion that some Officer of the Kings might be deputed to be present at their Assemblies for preventing of State jealousies and vulgar calumnies For John 3.21 He that doth truth cometh to the light that his deeds may be manifest that they are wrought in God Mr. Mainard in his Parl. Sermon Feb. 26. 1644. Object Object But we see that the States of the united Provinces allow diversity of Religions Answ First Answ 1 where the will of God is evident the contrary example of men is not to be regarded Secondly the evil example of one State is not to be imitated contrary to the example of all other Protestant Churches Thirdly these States were nver bound to God by such a Covenant for uniformity as we are Fourthly In these States there hath been a connivance at errours by particular Magistrates for their private gaine But to this houre there was never any Sect amongst them so impudent as to offer a petition for tolleration by a Law and when not long since some assayed to do it they repented since of that folly Fifthly hath not the Magistrates connivance without any legal tolleration so
our love to others Mat. 19.19 Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self But no man ought so to love himself as to bear with his own sins Holy self-love casts the first stone at a mans own sin therefore it cannot be love to others to bear them in evil yea indeed it is hatred in Gods account Lev. 19.27 Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart but rebuke him and not suffer sin upon him Object Object But. Mat. 13.30 Christ saith Let both grow together untill the harvest Answ Answ 1 First We may not argue from every particular in a Parable but only from the general scope of it Now the scope of the Parable is only this to shew that good and bad will be mixed together to the end of the world It holds forth Gods good pleasure to us to which we must submit not a pattern or rule by which we must walk This is no warrant for us to let tares and wheat to grow together which are in our power to pluck up Secondly Christ only forbids such a plucking up as by which the wheat must be rooted up also i. e. a total extirpation For should God in an instant destroy all the wicked the bands of humane society would be dissolved but we know that the plucking up of many sorts of wicked men is a great advantage to the growth of them that are good So then such acts of justice as will not hinder but promote the growth of the wheat are not at all forbidden in this Text. Thirdly Seeing the Command of God the practise of all good Kings Magistrates Ministers and people in their several places that are recorded in Scripture are clear for this That evil persons and Hereticks must not be born with as is before explained This or the like Texts may not be interpreted against them but by them One Scripture often expounds but never contradicts another Thus you hear Mr. Caryls Judgement about tolleration in his Parliament Sermon upon Rev. 2.2 3. Quest Quest Upon what account may a man be judged to be a false Prophet or a false Teacher Answ Answ He may be so denominated in a two-fold respect First As he teacheth and venteth lies and falshood which is the most common acceptation of the Word Secondly As he teacheth without a commission or calling In the first notion he is a false Prophet that teaches lies or delivers forth the Divisions and Deceits of his own heart which he covers over with Thus saith the Lord Eze. 13.6 Jer. 28.2 and so fathers his false dreams upon God and his chiefest care is not to sting his hearers but to feed his deluded followers with pleasing things and rather to tickle then to prick them saying to Ahab Go up and prosper 2 Kin. 22.12 Or God hath broken the yoke of Babylon Jer. 28.2 And this Character God gives them Lam. 2.14 They have not discovered thine iniquity to turn away thy captivity and they think to cause my people to forget my name Jer. 22.27 Hence it is that they are applauded and spoken well of by all Luke 6.26 They will not mar their own markets by a sharp reproof So false teachers are lying Matters speaking perverse things to draw Disciples after them Act. 20.30 speaking lies in Hypocrisie which they palliate over with It is written or the name of the spirit and therefore are called spirits of error 1 Tim. 4.1 and we are forbidden to believe every spirit 1 John 4.1 i.e. every Doctrine though pretended to be from the spirit they bait also their hook with sweet and pleasing baits They allure as with a bait through the lusts of the flesh and wantonness 2 Pet. 2.18 and they promise liberty verse 19. which are taking things and therefore it s no marvel though they have many followers verse 2. In the second notion he is a false Prophet that runs indeed but is not sent Jer. 23.22 I have not sent these Prophets yet they ran they say I have dreamed I have dreamed verse 25. but they have no mission and such an one is to be accounted a false Prophet sive vera praedicet sive falsa whether he preach true or false These are self-called so that we need not question what such teach but by what warrant As Cyprian answered one that enquired what Doctrine Novatian did teach we need not saith he be carefull to know quid ille docet cum foris doceat what he teacheth when he hath no warrant to teach But of this under another head Quest Quest What may be considered about Heresies Answ Answ 1 First That Heresies are damnable 2 Pet. 2.1 called there Heresies of destruction by way of eminency Judas is called the son of destruction John 17.12 and Anti-christ the man of sin the son of destruction 2 Thes 2.3 because under Christs name he fights against him and therefore shall fall under more eminent destruction so Hereticks who profess Christs name and yet deny him or adulterate his truth for their own ends and lusts shall come under sorer damnation swift destruction 2 Pet. 2.1 their damnation sleepeth not verse 3. They were of old ordained to this condemnation Jude 4. and this mark is set upon Heresie that we may all hear and fear and do no such thing Secondly Damnable Heresies are brought in privily these tares are sown while men sleep in a close and subtil way which men are not aware of as Gal. 2.4 False brethren at unawares privily crept in And Jude 4. Certain are crept in privily meaning Heresie-Masters Heresie is modest at the first and insinuates as the Serpent into Eve by cunning fetches and quaeries Gen. 3.1 or by sweet phrases ye shall not surely die but shall be as Gods c. verse 4 5. they make merchandize of you with fine forms of speech 2 Pet. 2.3 which words composed for the nonce There is a misterie in this trade of corrupting mens minds from the simplicity that is in Christ 2 Cor. 11.2 Eph. 4.14 They draw men as Juglers do a piece of money with a fine invisible hair and mix their dross with good silver that it may pass for currant Quest Quest How manifold is Heresie Answ 1 Answ Heresie is twofold Simple and Complicate Quest Quest What is simple Heresie Answ Answ It s an opinion or assertion holden and maintained contrary to and subersive of the faith by one that professeth the Christian Religion Quest Quest What is complicate Heresie Answ Answ It s that which is attended with Schisme sedition and blasphemy For 1. The Schismaticall Heretick upon his opinion breaks off from the Communion of the Church and runs out into separation setting up his new light as he calls it in a new candlestick 2. The blasphemous Heretick strikes through the name of the great and glorious God or his Truth with despiteful reproaches not fit to be named 3. The seditious Heretick troubles the peace of the Church and State as an Army is troubled by Mutineers 4. The
as can be proved to be Hereticall and Blasphemous Fourthly A setting up of Church Discipline in its full power that so it may reach these Heresies and Blasphemies Were this done you should not have an Heresie or Blasphemie shew its head but there would be a timely discovery of it and a spirituall remedy to recover erring persons to prevent their further growth Fifthly An encouraging and heartning the godly Orthodox and painfull Ministers of the Gospell in their assertings and vindicating the truths of Christ and in their oppugning of wicked dangerous and damnable opinions Not suffering them to be abused for opposing the adversaries of the truth Why should the shepherd be discouraged because he keeps off Wolves from the sheep Sixthly Using their Authority in a timely causing to be sent forth more faithfull and able Ministers such as are thorowly tried approved to be sound in the faith and skilful to convince gainsayers and seducers Seventhly Using their Coercive power with such Methods and proportions as the reall safety of truth and soules doth require and the repression of dangerous errors doth need Not under the pretence of sanctity to favour the growth of Heresie Quest Quest What must private Christians doe to prevent infection in these times Answ First be not light Answ 1 or proud Christians Errors are most apt to breed in a proud braine and a gracelesse heart Proud and Blasphemers are joined together 2 Tim. 3.2 It s the proud man that consents not to the wholesome words of Christ but dotes about questions 1 Tim. 6.3 4. Secondly Be not loose Christians If ungodliness be in the heart error will easily get into the head A loose heart can best comply with loose principles Thirdly Be not weak Christians He whose faith is implicit and leaning on man doth often trust out his Judgement and soul The weaker light you have of truth the more easily may you be cheated with error instead of truth Fourthly Be not low Christians A wordly heart is a very low heart It will be bought and sold upon every turn to serve its own turn If thou beest the servant of truth for gain thou wilt be a slave to error for more gain Fifthly Be not rotten and hypocritical Christians Such are given up to believe lyes who receive not the truth in the love of it It s just with God that such should fall into real error whose hearts did never love real truth The deceitfull heart proves at lenth a deceived heart Sixthly Be not tottering and unstable Christians Halt not between two opinions He whose mind is but indifferent about a truth is more then half on his way to Error Seventhly Be not venturous and soul-tempting Christians Julian sipt in his Apostacy by going to hear Libanius Satan is ready enough to tempt you be not forward to tempt him Eve lost all by hearing one Sermon from the mouth of the Serpent That man that will expose himself to hear new truths doth oft come back with old Errors newly dressed Mr. Obad. Sedgwick's Parl. Sermon Jan. 27. 1646. Dr. Amias in his Cases of Conscience propounds these Questions Quest Quest Whether are Anabaptists to be accounted Hereticks Answ Answ They are not properly to be accounted Hereticks which only deny Infant-Baptism yet is this such an Error as is not to be tollerated in the Church But those of them which deny original sin and the humane nature of Christ born of the blessed Virgin c. are Hereticks Quest Quest Whether are the Arminians Hereticks Answ Answ The opinions of the Arminians as they are received and held by the common people are not properly Heresies though they are grievous Errors tending to Heresie but as they are defended by some of them so they are the Pelagian Heresie because they deny the efficacious operation of internal grace to be necessary to Conversion and begeting faith in us Quest Quest Whether are the Lutherans Hereticks Answ Answ Such amongst them as pertinaciously hold the Ubiquity of Christs humane nature cannot be excused from Heresie because that opinion doth directly overthrow the humane nature of Christ But because many amongst them do disown that opinion and others of them defend it rather in the heat of contention then because they believe it to be so therefore they are rather to be accused for stupidity or madness or Schism then for Heresie Quest Quest Whether are Hereticks to be punished by the civil Magistrate Answ Answ 1 First It s an undoubted truth that Hereticks are to be suppressed by all godly persons according to their calling and that power which they have received from God and the reason is because all the godly are called to the Christian War-fare that in their several stations they should oppose themselves to the kingdom of Darkness Secondly The place and office of a Magistrate is that he should as there is need suppress all wicked disturbers of the peace of Church or State by his Authority and the sword which he bears not in vain Rom. 13.4 1 Tim. 2..2 Thirdly Hereticks therefore that are manifest and publick disturbers of the peace ought to be restrained by the publick Authority of the Magistrate Fourthly Such of them as proceed to Blasphemy and are pertinacious and obstinate therein may be cut off by death according to that Law Lev. 24.15 16. He that curseth his God or he that blasphemeth the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death c. For though this doth not bind Christians as it was a Law given to the Jews yet as it was the Command of God himself it serves for direction to Christians what to do in the like cases When therefore the glory of God and the Well-fare of the Church do require that such exemplary punishments should be inflicted the Magistrates may ye ought to make use of this when other means will not prevail to amend them Amesii Cas Consc l. 4. c. 4. Quest Quest Why are Hereticks and false Teachers called the tail Isa 9.15 Answ Answ 1 First For baseness and contempt Let them pride themselves never so much in their wit learning and others admiration of them yet God accounts them base Secondly For their base flattery and playing the Parasites fawning on Princes and Patrons as dogs do on their Masters for a bone or crust Thirdly For their inconstancy as Dogs move their tails easily every way so they in their Doctrine and Conversation are here and there and buzzing every where for advantage Fourthly Especially for their poysonfull and hurtfull disposition and effects For as Serpents hide their venom in their tails by which they do much hurt and mischief so false-Teachers by their Eloquence Sophistry and base shifts hide the poison of their false Doctrines whereby they infect and corrupt the Church of God Hence false-Doctrine is compared to Cokatrice eggs Isa 59.5 which if eaten cause present death Such Doctrines are pernicious Authoribus to the inventers of them and Auditoribus to the hearers and
devil be in the conscience yea or no Answ First Answ 1 If you see a mans private Interest is much engaged in what he pretends Conscience for you may then justly suspect him Secondly If in other things it appears that the man is not much under the command of conscience but he can take liberty as he pleaseth you may justly suspect him 3. Thirdly When the account a man gives cannot in a rational way be judged such as should probably mislead him so grosly as is apparent he is misled Fourthly If a man be proud and turbulent in his carriage then the devil is rather in the will then in the conscience when a man by reason of his conscience differs from his brethren he should carry himself with all humility and meekness and self-denial in all other things that thereby he may manifest that it s not from wilfulness but meerly from tenderness of conscience that he cannot do as others do Fifthly If a man be not willing to use means for the informing of his conscience no not of those means which are not against his own principles but goes on peremptorily and stoutly Sixthly When a man by reason or Scripture is so put to it that he must either renounce his Error or fly from some of his own principles he will rather deny his principles then yield himself convinced of his Error This is such an one as the man spoken of Tit. 3.11 that is self-condemned and therefore ought to be rejected Quest Quest But what may be done to such as persist in an Error under the pretence of conscience Answ Answ 1 First After other means used if he persist in such an Error as cannot stand with the Power of godliness notwithstanding his conscience he is to be cast out of the society of the Saints Secondly If his Error with the profession of it be dangerous to the state and he cannot be reclaimed he may be cut of from it also notwithstanding his plea of Conscience Thirdly Pretence of conscience cannot excuse a man in matters of apparent injustice done to another either in his state or goods Fourthly A man may bring himself both under the Civil and Ecclesiastical sword not only for sins injurious to our brother but for sins against God as Blasphemy gross Idolatry c. Yea the heathens cannot by violence be compelled to profess the Christian Religion yet notwithstanding any plea of conscience they may be restrained and that by violence from blaspheming Christ the Scriptures or doing acts of any open dishonour to them Fifthly Notwithstanding any mans conscience he may be kept from seduceing and endangering the salvation of others The light of nature teaches us that such may be cut off as strengthen others in soul-damning principles Sixthly In some cases a private man himselfe may use violence to restraine men from evill If a man should come to seduce my wife or child in a matter which I know would endanger their souls if I could have no help by the Magistrate I may if I have power keep him off Now what I may doe by my owne strength I may call in the help of the Magistrate to do for me when there is a Magistrate and he is bound to use his Authority therein Quest Quest But what if errors be of less moment can there be nothing done to men to restraine them from such Answ Answ Yea such may be troubled for such ways of evill that their Consciences put them upon so far as to take off the wantonness of their spirits their neglect of means In times of Liberty there is a great wantonness upon mens spirits they are equally ballanced to receive truth or error and every little thing casts the ballance as interest in a friend esteem from such men of repute c. Now to help against such tentations if an erroneous person shall see that there is somthing to be suffered in that way it may be a meanes to restraine him from embracing it Quest Quest Suppose a man be not wanton but serious and neglects no meanes to inform his Conscience and yet he cannot yeild what may be done to such a man Answ Answ He should be dealt with in much tendernesse and love yet in such things as by his weakness he makes himselves less serviceable to the Common-wealth or Church then other men he may be denyed some benefits and priviledges which are granted unto others Quest But by fomenting Divisions Quest those which are in authority may rule the people best the divisions of the times are their advantages and their ends are best served when Church and State are most divided Answ Answ But let men that for such ends love division consider that 1. To maintaine that which is evill 2. To aime at their owne ends not regarding what publick mischiefes follow so their private advantages might be served 3. Not careing what the divisions are if so be their turne may be served this is abominable and cursed is that man that wishes for or rejoyceth in or seeks the continuance of divisions for such base ends yea he is not worthy to breath in so good an air as Englands is that would not willingly lay down his life to cure the present divisions that are amongst us Just it were that such a man should be separated to evil and that his name should be blotted out from under Heaven Mr. Burroughes his Irenicum Quest Quest How else may the wickedness of a tolleration of Heresies Blasphemies c. be made out Answ Answ 1 First The Scriptures of the Old and New Testament do oft command us to ask for follow after and to walk in that one good way and to contend earnestly for that one Faith to hold fast the truth c. and reproves and condems turning aside to any false way or halting between two or more Religions or Worships So 1 King 18.21 2 Kin. 17.33 41. Zeph. 1.5 Secondly God fore-tels and promises especially in the days of the Gospel to give one heart and one way to his people and that as there is but one Lord so his name shall be one and that all shall call upon and serve him with one consent Jer. 32.39 Ezek. 11.19 Zac. 14.9 And there are many exhortations to Christians to be of one mind and that there be no Schisms amongst them c. 2 Cor. 13.11 Phil. 2.2 4.2 1 Cor. 1.10 Eph. 4.3 therefore the toleration of all or many ways is contrary hereunto Thirdly A tolleration of false ways fights directly against many places of Scripture as 2 Cor. 13.8 We can do nothing against the truth but for the truth Pro. 23.23 Buy the truth and sell it not So Be valiant for the truth Strive for the faith of the Gospel They that keep the Law contend with the wicked Paul would not give place to false brethren no not for an hour and many other places named before Fourthly The sum of the Scripture is faith and a good life and the end
of all Estates both Political Ecclesiastical and Oeconomical are to maintain and continue these But a general tolleration is against all these in that it allows a liberty of denying the Scriptures to be the Word of God and sets up the conscience above the Scriptures making every mans conscience even the polluted and seared conscience the rule of faith and holiness before the pure and unerring Word of God whilst they cry out Men must go according to their consciences but never speak of going according to the Word of God Fifthly What God in his Word commands or forbids single persons for themselves and their own practise he commands or forbids the same not only for themselves but to them for all under their command and they must see to it to use their power Authority and interest to cause all under them to do so likewise and not to suffer them to go on in any false ways as these Texts amongst many others prove Gen. 18.19 Exod. 20.28 Deut. 6.4 5 6 7. Eph. 6.4 Sixthly The Patriarchs godly Judges Kings and other good Magistrates did make use of their Authority to suppress false Doctrine false Worship false Prophets and Seducers and to bring those under them to the true Worship and fear of God as Abraham Jacob Moses Joshua Gideon Jehosaphat Asa Hezekiah Josia Nehemiah c. Seventhly Yea They did not only do it but therein did their duty as is clear from the approbations special Testimonies Promises Rewards and Blessings given by God of them made to them and bestowed upon them by God for so doing It s said that therein they did that which was right in the sight of God 2 Chr. 14.2 3 4. and many other places Eighthly such Magistrates as were dear to God yet if out of carnal respects to Wives Children or other Interests they tollerated Idolatry and other evils and used not their power to restrain and punish them have been sharply reproved and severely punished by God for it as Solomon 1 King 11.4 c. Eli c. Object But Idolatry Object and Idolaters were the adaequate Object of the coercive power of the Kings of Judah and that Idolatry not meant of those that worshiped the true God in a false manner but of such as left the God of Israel to worship false gods and those neither simply as such but as seducing others but this power extended not to Hereticks Schismaticks c. though there were amougst them Pharisees Saduces Herodians c. Answ First Idolaters Answ 1 and Idolatry only were not the adaequate object of the Magistrates coercive power but generally the matter of the Covenant the whole worship and truth of God For Josiah Hezekiah Asa and Jehosaphat suppressed other evils besides Idolatry as Wil-worship things abused to Idolatry and prophanation of the Sabbaths marrying of strange wives c. as appears 2 Chron. 34.31 c. 2 Kin. 23.8 9. with 2 Chron. 14.3 5. 15.17 33.17 Neh. 13.7 8 15 16 17 28 30. Ezra 10.3 5. 2 Kings 23.24 25. Secondly The Idolatry which these godly Kings punished and reformed was as well the worshiping of the true God after a false manner as the worshiping of false Gods as appears in the Golden Calf Exod. 32.4 5.6 and Jeroboams Calves 1 King 12.27 28. they did not believe these Calves to be Gods but worshiped Jehovah by them And Josh 22.11 12. All Israel gathered together to war against Reuben c. not for making an Altar to a strange god but for making an Altar to offer upon to the true God besides the Altar which was in his Tabernacle verse 21.26 28 29. Thirdly They did not only punish gross Idolaters which were Seducers but such as were seduced Moses punished 3000 with death for their Calf-worship So 2 Chron. 15.13 they that would not seek the Lord whether small or great were to be punished Deut. 13. all a City that was drawn to serve other gods was to be slain Fourthly The Pharisees Saduces Herodians c. were not punished 1. Because Religion was then mightily corrupted and all things were out of order in Church and State which hastened their destruction 2. The Jews were not then a free people nor had the civil power absolutely in their hands 3. God permitted those times to abound with Sects because he had a purpose to destroy their Common-wealth and the Tolleration of those Sects made way for hastened their ruine as it hath done many others 4. There is a great agreement between the false Prophets under the Old Testament and the false-Teachers under the New as is evident in many Scriptures of the New Testament which lively resemble these each to other so that it cannot be imagined that the first sort should be punished with death and the later not punished at all Ninthly we have the full concurrent testimony and judgement of the most Godly and learned Protestant Divines as Calvin Zanchy Melancthon Beza P. Martyr Bullinger Musculus Chemnitius Gerard Bucanus Bilson Cartwright the Leiden Professors Voetius Triglandus c. that the care of Religion and Gods worship belongs to the Magistrate and that God hath given him power objective and external in Ecclesiastical causes to look to Religion as well as to civil Justice Tenthly there are many commands in Scripture given to Magistrates to punish oftenders against the first Table as idolaters blasphemers false Prophets seducers witches wizards profaners of the Sabbath c. as Exod. 22.20 Deut. 13.1 2 5. and 17.2 3 4 5 12 13. Lev. 24.16 23. and 20.2 3 4 27. Deut. 18.20 22. Object Object But these are Old Testament examples Answ Answ First its evident that some of these commands as against offering their children to Molech and dealing with familiar spirits deserve and are punished now under the Gospel as well as under the Law why not then those other of blasphemy false prophets idolatry c. Secondly these precepts for the Magistrates punishing idolaters blasphemers c. extended not to the punishment of Jews only but of all strangers in the land both Proselytes that dwelt amongst them and passengers that travelled thorow and came into their countrey for traffique So Lev. 20.2 Lev. 24.16 He that blasphemes the Name of the Lord shall surely be put to death as well the stranger as he that is born in the land Thirdly the reasons and grounds of these Laws with the use and end of them are of common equity and concern us Christians as well as they did the Jews Fourthly even before Moses his time in other Countreys Idolatry deserved punishment by the Magistrate as Job tells us Job 31.26 27 28. and Artaxerxes Nebuchadnezzar c. made Laws for punishing those that blasphemed the Lord and transgressed his Laws as we heard before Master Prin in his Sword of the Christian Magistrate supported doth largly and excellently shew that by the Light of Nature in all ages even Heathen Magistrates have made Lawes against and punished such as they
as are cross to the word of God punish only such things as men in conscience should avoid and will this make them to dissemble c. Obj. Such coercive power in matters of Religion is the way to bring in persecution for conscience sake Answ 1. Teaching Magistrates their duty to punish things manifestly cross to the Word of God and that after due means used for conviction is rather a way to restraine them from persecuting the Saints for a good cause or conscience and if accidentally Gods enemies take occasion hence to abuse their power this must not take away the due use of it Papists and Prelates abused Church-censures against the godly yet this their sin dischargeth not the Church from its duty 2. It s an absurd argument to reason thus Men may not be persecuted for a good cause and conscience therefore they may not be punished for maintaining a bad cause c. Obj. The exercise of any such power by godly Rulers is crosse to the meek Spirit of Christ and to that merciful spirit which he requires to be in his Saints Rom. 15.1 Gal. 6.1 2. Eph. 4.32 2 Tim. 2.25 Answ Zeal of God in sharp punishing of such corruptions flood well with Christs Dove-like spirit None so meek as he and yet none so zealous this way The zeal of Gods house even consumed him and made him lay on so hard with his scourge upon those who polluted the Temple John 2.16 with 14.15 16 20. Moses was the meekest of men in his own cause Numb 12.3 yet lion-like in that cause of pollution of Gods worship Exod. 32.26 27 c. Hezekiah was a shadow to the Saints Isa 32.2 Yet a fiery flying Serpent against Gods and the Churches enemies Isa 14 29 30. Quest Quest What other reasons may be rendred why the higher Civil powers ought not to grant a Tolleration to their Christian subjects to hold and professe in matters of Religion what themselves may pretend conscience for their so doing when indeed grosly erring and contemptuously and pertinaciously holding the same forth Ans Answ 1 First because they may not give liberty to their Subjects to live in and practice the works of the flesh But Heresies and Schismes are works of the flesh Gal. 5.20 therefore not to be tollerated Secondly that liberty which suffers men ordinarily to draw persons away from God is not to be granted by Christian Magistrates but to tollerate persons under a pretence of Conscience pertinaciously to hold forth corrupt opinions is to suffer them to draw others from God therefore it s not to be allowed Deut. 13.9 Thirdly that liberty which suffers the sheep of the Lord in an ordinary way to wander from their fold and pasture without restraint or effectual care to reduce them is not to be allowed by political shepherds which God placeth over them This the Lord complains of and sharply reproves Ezek. 34.5 6 7 8. There was no Shepherd neither did my Shepherds search for my flock but they wandred and became a prey were driven away and devoured there were Shepherds but they did not execute their office but suffered Gods flock to be seduced and corrupted by false prophets But the liberty aforementioned doth thus therefore it s not to be allowed Fourthly such a liberty carries a brand of Anarchy in the State yea and of a sad judgement of God upon that State for the provoking sins both of rulers and people 1. It s one brand of Anarchy Judg. 17.6 there was no King in Israel every one did what was right in his own eyes 2. It s a sad judgement of God as appears Zach. 11.9 with 15 16 17. where the Lord threatens to leave those of his flock alone to themselves and to killing courses of sinne that which dieth let it die and the judicial means he useth is in judgement to raise up a foolish Idol Shepherd i.e. such Rulers in Church and State into whose hands the flock is delivered to be spoiled as v. 5 6. such as care not what becomes of their souls So 2 Chron. 20.33 where it appears that to be left by authority to take up corruption in religion under pretence of conscience is a sad judgement of God for the sins of a professing people Fifthly such a tolleration makes Rulers not to be for Christ but in that respect against him for it makes them not to be for one chief end of his coming which was to destroy the works of the devil For a tolleration of errours is a tollerating the works of the devil because erroneous doctrines are forged by the devil and are some of those lies whereof he is the Father John 8.44 Those doctrinal lies are doctrines of devils 1 Tim. 4.2 unclean frogges that come out of the Dragons mouth Rev. 16.13 14. yea lesser errors about meats and marriage are called doctrines of Devils 1 Tim. 4.1 2 3. therefore they ought not to be tollerated Sixthly Such a Tolleration will wound a State in the very continuity of it It breaks the hedge and walls of a State and so lets in manifold mischiefs For 1. Corrupt Doctrines so allowed do mingle with and wil eat out sound Doctrine pure Religion and the Covenant of God which are the ligaments and bands of a Christian State and made Jerusalem so compacted together Psalm 122.1 2 3. For 2 Tim. 2.16 17. They will encrease to more ungodliness and their words will eat as a Canker or Gangrene 2. Corrupt Doctrines tend to the breaking of the peace of such societies where they are tollerated Hence Gal. 5.10 12. I would they were cut off that trouble you And Acts 20.30 They draw away or rent away as members from the body Disciples after them Where there are Heresies amongst Church-members there will be Schisms and Divisions 1 Coâ— 11.18 19. Such filthy Dreamers Jude 8. are branded for sedicious persons in Common-wealths They despise Dominions and speak evil of Dignities witness the many breakings of our Parliaments and turning of Governments upside down Such justly perish as did seditious Corah verse 11. Hence Seducers are called Traitors heady high-minded Truce-breakers False-accusers fierce c. 2 Tim. â— 1 2 3 4 5. and that he speaks this of Seducers appeares verse 6 7 8 9 13. And Jude 16. They are branded for Murmurers and Complainers quarrelling against matters in Church and State All ages have declared that persons of corrupt Principles in Religion are frequent Movers and Abettors of civil seditions 3. Corrupt Doctrines break the hedges and walls of a Christian Common-wealth and leave it naked to become a prey to its adversaries So was Israel when they had corrupted Religion Exod. 32.25 till Moses commanded Justice to be executed upon some for the terror of others ver 26 27. False Prophets let alone spoil the vines and break the hedges as is implyed Ezek. 13.4 5. So Ezek. 22.26 27. When such corruptions are let alone a gap is made verse 30. and when none in Authority are found to make it up by punishing them God powers out his indignation upon them verse 31. Solomons connivence at Idolatry in his wives rent his Kingdom in pieces but punishing such corruptions puts away evill Deut. 17.2 3 7. 7. Such a tolleration God accounts to be a kicking at Religion and honoring such Corruptors above God himself as appears 1 Sam. 2.12 to 16. with 23 24 25 29. Elies sons corrupted the worship of God by snatching what came first to hand and the Lord saith not only to them but to Eli too Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and honourest thy sons above me c. therefore it ought not to be granted 8. Such a Tolleration of such evils causes those very evils to be charged on Rulers themselves and bringeth the wrath of God upon them So Elies sons sins were charged upon and punished on Elie himself and Solomons connivence at the Idolatry of his wives And Nehemiah contends with the Rulers for not reforming the prophanations of the Sabbath Nehe. 13.10 11 12 16 17 18. the sin of the people in doing corruptly in the matters of God is charged upon Jotham 2 Chron. 27.2 he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord yet the people did corruptly 2 Kin. 15.34 35. and that is charged upon him as his sin 9. Such a Tolleration makes men abhor Religion and to speak evil of the way of truth as Elies sons corruptions being connived at made men abhor the Lords offerings 1 Sam. 2.17 So 2 Pet. 2.1.2 3. 10. Such a Tolleration is intollerable because it is an allowing of Foxes to spoil Christs vines Can. 1.2.16 Of Wolves that spare not Christs flock Acts 20.30 with Ezek. 34.8 10. Of Sorcerers that bewitch men 2 Tim. 3.13 Gal. 3.1 Who hath bewiched you c they are also as Jesabel whom God will punish if men neglect their duty in doing of it Rev. 2.20 21 c. Thus you have the Judgement of Mr. Tho. Cobbet of New England against a General Tolleration See more of this in Mr. Cottons answer to Mr. Williams FINIS Errata Typographica PAg. 2. lin 6. pro Nobathaea leg Nabathaea p. 3. l. 21. pro Saphirus leg Sapphirus p. 4. l. 1. pro phorus leg pharus p. 6. l. 13. pro pollysyllaba leg polysyllaba l. 18. pro pedâ—x leg pedis in margine pro Harpago est faem leg masc p. 7. l. 26. post silex adde et p. 9. l. 20. pro mine leg minae p. 10. l. 4. pro vendiciae leg vindiciae p. 11. l. 11. pro facinum leg fascinum p. 15. l. 10. pro Ligar leg Ligur p. 20. l. 8. pro areo leg aveo p. 23. l. 6. adde distinguo