sense is the harmonious agreement of things attending their orderly composure and motion Peace with God by Christ conjugally embraced produces peace of conscience in man and civil peace among men Our civil peace must still then have reflexion upon our Civil Law and that upon the Divine Law Whilst the Law is thus kept peace is not hurt so the Querist is answered But would not he insinuate that the Quakers and corrupters of our Religion break not the Law and therefore not the Peace Ingenuity it self can make no other construction of his dubious Query compared with his title and scope If so then we Answer 2. Our Lawyers can more exactly acquaint him with the many branches of our Common and Statute Laws which are continually broken by this lawless brood They that make so light of the Divine Law indited by the Spirit of God penned by the Prophets and Apostles of Christ and given to man for his eternal good in conforming him through grace to the Lords Image whose extract and representation it is are not like to be very carefull of mens Law in any sense The beams of that good just and holy Law which do shine through the several parts of our English Laws carry too much light for such birds of darkness who can like and will own none but their light within The light above and about them is so offensive to them and so little valued of them that the brightest beams of Scripture light finde no credit nor favour with them if not suted to their phantasticall light Their own light is their Law as it 's their God their Christ their perfection their righteousness their All All the Laws of God and men must be reduced to that standard They judge themselves still observers of the Law in the most egregious breaches thereof for indeed what Law can they break whose will is their only Law Sometimes they pretend that Will in them not to be their own but Gods Will But that easily appears to be but a cunning shift to father their will on God as they do their light and all As then their Law is in their breast though they be daily convinced by every one that speaks with them who hath not lost his reason and Religion at once and particularly by Authority of their foul transgressions yet are they still faultless They witness perfection You do but mistake them They cannot sin They cannot break the Law All Authority is tyrannical that humours them not The best Ministers are fools and knaves to them None knows and keeps the Laws but themselves and followers Dare you then after this charge or punish these men for breach of any Law No by no means They are but misunderstood Their railing and cursing their slandring and wandering their idleness and irreverence their disobedience and seducing their errors and blasphemies against God and Christ against the Divine Trinity and holy Spirit against the Scriptures and Ordinances of the Gospel their contempt and scorn of all goodness and good men not dancing after their pipe These are no breaches of Law but degrees and signes of their perfection Their pride and passion their malice and hatred their choler and rage their Atheism and ignorance their deceits and charms are but conformities to the light within Yea their Pharisaicall abstinence and fastings their formalities and ostentations their disorderly speeches and carriage their opposing of Orders from God and his servants their self-conceitedness and self-confidence must not be thought breaches of Law but fulfillings thereof In a word if you think they can break the peace by breaking the Law you are much mistaken for they are a Law to themselves and the utmost mischief they can do to us all that comply not with them is but the fulfilling of that Law Qu. 5. Whether corporall punishment either by imprisonment or otherwise for errours is not a means sometimes to destroy mens bodies and possibly prove a prevention of their conversion seeing some are not called till the eleventh hour and if they be cut off the seventh hour for their errours how shall they come in Matth. 20. 6. Ans. Errour is a crooked deviation of a mans judgement from the Truth of God That Truth is considerable either in the Divine Being or in the Emanation thereof Truth in Gods Essence is Essentially and Personally considered Essential Truth is God himself in the eternal Unity of his Divine Excellency Truth Personally expressed sets forth each of the three Divine Persons subsisting in the Divine Essence distinguished by their personal properties the Father is Truth Begetting the Sonne is Truth Begotten the Spirit is Truth Proceeding from the Father and from the Son Truth in the Emanation of the Divine Being or the Truth of God is the conformity of Gods expression to himself which is considered Intentionally Verbally and Actually in his Thoughts Words and Works I. The Truth of his Thoughts is called his Purpose and Decree pleasure and good will to signifie his eternal Councel fore-ordaining all future things This is an absolute entire perfect and unchangeable Act of the Divine Will about the good and evil of future Beings as of themselves especially about rational creatures men and Angels This Divine Truth or Act as it respects evil is called Permission and Regulation as it respects good it 's called fore-ordination As it respects the objects of Divine Benevolence it 's called Election and Predestination Election chusing them in Christ to glory Predestination fore-appointing them to conformity and Adoption by Christ Election called also his fore-knowledge which in the Hebrew imports affect and effect regarding chiefly the End and Predestination the Means to that End That eternal purpose as it regards the objects of Gods disowning is called Reprobation and Predamnation Reprobation being properly an Act of Sovereignty we cannot speak of God but after the manner of men with distinctions and denominations extrinsecal though he be one pure Act all the change being in the creature is also called Preterition non-Election and non-Predestination properly regarding their State and End absolutely Predamnation being an intended Act of Justice properly considers the Means with tendency to that End viewing such under the consideration of future sinners The like denominations may be given to Divine Purpose about Angels consideratis considerandis Thus of Intentional Truth II. The Verbal Truth of God is called his Word which is the declaration of his Mind and Will revealed to man concerning himself and all his creatures This he did manifest to Adam in his Creation writing it upon his soul in the characters of his own Image in perfect knowledge righteousness and holiness and by positive significations of his pleasure After his fall and successively to others this Truth of God about the salvation of his Elect in and by Christ alone with all things else needfull to be known he did variously reveal unto men
by Inspirations Dreams Visions Oracles Paternall Traditions c. and from Moses time saw it fit to give it in writing for a sure Record to all Ages by inspiring and inditing the same upon the Spirits and by the Pens of his holy Prophets and Apostles successively in an immediate infallible and extraordinary manner Thence are we said to be built upon their doctrinal or Scriptural foundation holding forth Christ as we are properly on Christ himself the personal foundation held forth by them These Writings are called the holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament containing all things needfull to the salvation of Gods Elect and the common good of man called therefore his Laws and Statutes Ordinances and Precepts Testimonies and Judgements c. being the perfect Rule of Truth and Grace faith and obedience Gods mercy and mans duty requiring from man truth mental oral and actual i. e. a due conformity of every thought word and work to that truth of God declared III. The Actual Truth of God is manifested in all his Works of Creation and Providence carrying on a constant perfect conformity to Gods intentional Truth as also to his verbal in order to his supream End his own glory by the seasonable and admirable dispensations of all his Attributes especially mercy and justice towards men and Angels in the most wise holy and powerfull preserving of all his creatures and all their actions as they were all created of nothing by the Word of his power in the space of six daies and all very good Errour then being a crooked deviation of mans judgement from the truth of God revealed will admit of several degrees and considerations according to the varieties and imports of that truth and mans deviating from it Some truth is natural some moral some spiritual about external internal and eternal things Some are Fundamental of salvation some supra fundamentall or juxta others more circumstantial and superficial Errours in Fundamentals about the perfection of God the Trinity of Divine Persons Christ the Mediatour God-man the fall of man his forlorn state his absolute need of regeneration faith repentance obedience as also of the sufficiency of Scripture of mans eternal state c. are properly called Heresies which if obstinately persisted in after due means used of reclaiming such render men unfit for Christian communion Supra-fundamental Truths are the next built on them which admit of various debates among the Learned Errours against them are dangerous but not so pernicious as the former especially if the person erring be humble and teachable Such are many points of worship discipline c. Circumstantial Truths are more external about place and time order and manner c. expressed in that usuall Verse Quis quid ubi quibus anxiliis cur quomodo quando Errours against these are bad but nothing like the former This needful explication will clear and answer to the Query The punishment for errour is not to exceed the nature of that errour and the manner of holding it whether Ecclesiastically by the Church or Civilly by the Magistrate The truth of God gives a rule for all such cases either in express words or in clear consequence to be exactly studied and observed by all persons concerned so that the ends of that punishment be attended viz. Gods honour and the publick good with the parties also as farre as may be The Church meddles not with Civil censures such as imprisoning having its proper way of Admonition Suspension Excommunication c. for its offending members Imprisonment and other corporal punishments for errours require a sufficient cause as in case of herefie endangering mens souls disturbing Gods service and the publick peace c. A godly Magistrate will be heartily glad never to meet with such occasions but when he doth as he cannot but be often forced to in this revolting age it concerns him to attend those forementioned ends with zeal and prudence lest foolish pity spoil the City and lest seeming gentleness prove real cruelty to many Destructive errours specially blasphemous ones are the malignant humours of mens consciences which endanger them and thousands besides in their eternal state Such persons especially if obstinate are the very plagues of the body Politick endangering the whole What mischiefs may not such Pests procure if without restraint as sad experience shew'd in the Familists crue whereof Henry Nichols was leader followed by Hacket Coppinger and Arthington till Hackets execution and Arthingtons recantation had repressed the fury thereof in Q Elizabeths time The Grundletonians in Yorkshire acted divers such mad pranks as Valentinus Basilides and the Carpocratians of old were wont Out of the North have we had the like Impostors of late to confirm the Proverb Omne malum ab Aquilone Such phrenetick persons had need be closely kept and look'd to for their own and others good Such mad folks cannot be kept from hurt but by being kept from company If restraint may seem to endanger their bodies they must thank themselves so long as care is taken for sutable accommodations It were to be wished that fair means might prevent that rigor but if the Patient by his folly necessitate his Chirurgion to bind and wound him who must be blamed If such belong to God he will bless that very dressing to the humbling and healing of them whether in the seventh or eleventh hour he best knows how to order it to the fulfilling of his eternal purpose on such vessels of mercy to be prepared for glory through grace Thus Manasseh that bloody wretch was changed in his prison and not till then His heart was there broken and cured wonderfully The hammer of that weighty punishment drave home to the head into his heart the many instructions of Gods Word which he had so long heard and despised being guided by the hand of Christs Spirit Thus the believing thief repented at his execution The prodigall child came not to himself till his misery justly procured was sanctified of God to the opening of his eyes England hath had experience of some late Quakers horriby blaspemous much reclaimed by the prison and lash and Ireland knows others of that tribe who are come back again to sobriety by the sense of that poverty whereinto their idle courses and ill companions had reduced them But if any such grow worse still as is the usual lot of such seducers by a dreadfull judgement of heaven it will fall on their own heads and that penalty will do others much good if it do them but little It may deter many from the like excess so that paena ad paucos proves terror ad omnes It keeps them from doing more mischief and from increasing their sins and eternal sufferings thereby Though Lions and Bears nature be not changed by their chains yet is their
that juncture of affairs required It will be the joy of all Gods friends to see more of the like among us Their success mentioned so remarkably in the context will not be far from us whilst we keep close to God in their way But how farre are our Querists friends from following that good example Do they labour still to disgrace and discourage faithfull Magistrates and Ministers from promoting it Is it not their business day and night every where to obstruct and disturb it what they can If they seem of late to be grown more mild and reserved we may thank the care of such Magistrates who have given them cause to fear the deserved lash Their poyson is but refined by this change and made more taking Ans. 3. He answers again The Kings of Israel had extraordinary Prophets to direct them infallibly Our Kings and Governours have none such to direct them Reply We reply Though many of them had such yet even then the Standard of all Doctrine and Worship was the Law and the Testimony thereby all spirits and pretended Prophets were to be tried The like have we now in Gospel-daies even a more sure word of Prophesie a word surer than the greatest Revelations mentioned in that context of Peter a word sufficient every way to compleat the man of God in the knowledge and doing of his will This is our Doctrinal foundation our infallible Judge whereby all spirits and Doctrines are to be tried If any teach otherwise though he should be an Angel from heaven he is accursed We need then no infallible Prophets or Apostles seeing we have that sure word of theirs which the Spirit of Truth spoke and writ by them confirmed by their miracles and hath infallibly made the perfect rule of our faith and life all differing interpretations thereof may and must be reconciled by the light of that unerring spirit which is inseparable from his Word Though fallible men mistake often yet the sense of Christs Spirit in his Word is clear and sure still Though blind eyes see not at all and sore eyes see but dimly though blood-shot eyes will see amiss the light of that Sun is alwaies clear and sure Though some expressions may seem obscure yet the rest duly compared will sufficiently clear them Though the self-conceited and proud will wrest and mistake it yet the humble will God teach Though a corrupt mind will extract poyson as a spider out of flowers errour out of truth by poysoning it yet Christs Spirit will lead his people thereby into all Truth needfull for them to know Though the carnal heart will still be ignorant yet the teachable heart by that anointing from above will be taught all things gradually proportionably and seasonably so that he shall not need to be taught by any Sect master or Pharisaical Teacher or infallible Pope as too many have been and are still Though this Gospel be hid to them that perish whose eyes are blinded by sin and Satan yet is it plain to him that understands and is tractable in the School of Christ Though it may prove a savour of death to reprobate consciences yet is it still the sweet savour of Christ to his Disciples Though worldly spirits will slight and abuse the simplicity thereof yet spiritual hearts will admire and improve still the Majesty of it Though the perverse minde will account it a self-contradicting word yet the rational Christian will find it still most harmonious in its whole composure Though a vain soul will finde it to be a killing letter yet the wise heart will finde it experimentally to have a most quickning Spirit Though the superficial Reader will finde its shell and bark to be hard and knotty yet the studious Christian will tast the sweetness and tenderness of its kernell and marrow Though deluded Impostors will pervert it still to the taking off the Magistrate from his duty about the first Table yet the Lords servants shall finde every part thereof to be an eminent motive to quicken direct and enable all Superiours to the faithfull preserving and vindicating of it Ans. 4. He answers fourthly The Kings and Rulers of Israel did not imprison Schismaticks Pharisees Herodians Reply 1. The Law of God directed his servants then to dispense all censures in a way proportionable to the nature of the offence and condition of the offender which faithfull Magistrates observed as hundred instances might demonstrate The King to that end was commanded to have a Copy of the Law by him to direct him still daily Reply 2. As there were divers sorts of Hereticks which the Lords Word bound over to just penalties so was there variety of Schismaticks raised up by Satan to rend the Church as the Hereticks work was to poyson it for a just execution on the spirits of such as had not received the Truth in the love thereof that they might be saved God gave them up to strong delusions to beleeve lies as he doth daily Because they voluntarily separated from God and his Truth to give up themselves to the service of sinne and Satan he justly gave them up to a perverse spirit to break them into fractions and factions both in Church and State even as he doth now by sad experience Because they would not be separated from the evil of men he permitted them to follow those seducers that drove on their own interest by separating from good men Doth he not so still Because they wilfully chose heaps of Teachers self-called to serve their fansies and lusts God also chose their delusions to give them up to the efficaciousness of deceit Is it not so still Because they refused and abused the lights of his own setting up was it not just with him to leave them in darkness to abuse themselves and others even as it 's now Thus Gods refusals are still the devils choice and they that forsake his waies cannot escape the devils crooked paths Whilst Authority kept all in their places close to the Word and Waies of God Jerusalem the Metropolis of Church and State was a glorious and harmonious City But as fast as they declined in their zeal of Gods house towards worldly Politicks they ushered in as fast all sorts of discords and discontents Civil and Ecclesiastical Josephus their Historian and many others compared with Scripture Records will fully demonstrate this to the judicious Reader As before their Babylonian Captivity so after it they gradually lost Purity then Peace inclining still towards Errour and Discord Thence the direfull separations of Pharez and Sadock the Ringleaders of so many Myriads into Pharisaism and Sadducism followed close by the Monkish Essens and the Politick Herodians those State separatists The like befell the Christian Churches in the very Apostles daies and successively more and more The sinfull separations of the Novatians Acesians Donatists c. with
seuding them a strong Reserve of the Magistratical power duly dispensed * We have likewise ground to hope that the followers of Truth in this season also may obtain a favourable success against the recruits which that old enemy hath rallied again under new Colours Yet dare we not limit our General Christ in the time or manner of relieving us Possibly our hour of Temptation is not yet over we may haply undergo yet longer the contradictions of many sinners as our former Worthies did in their opposing the Romish Invasions Our incouragement is that Truth will prevail to Gods honour and to the shame of errour It becomes therefore all Christians to be more zealous and faithfull in their several places for Truth against Errour Magistrates and Ministers being Officers of note under the Lord of Hoasts should be most forward therein as becomes their several Functions that Satans suggestions may be hindred and the vain imaginations of mens hearts That darkness may be expelled thence and light set is stead thereof That great God who hath promised to bring this about eminently in the later daies by the powerfull Word of his holy Spirit that the Purchase of his Son may be compleatly applied to all his Elect according to the eternal purpose of his glorious grace hath also promised to bless the labours of his servants in subordination thereto within their several capacities Blessed are those servants of his whether Superiour or inferiours whom their Master coming shall find so doing It concerns every one to begin at our own hearts that Satans suggestions may not be yielded to but that Christ may garrison them effectually against all the black Regiments of hell We must look therefore more watchfully to the suppressing of those vain imaginations in our hearts which are still acting against the Crown of Christ by corresponding treacherously with the common enemy We are naturally darkness and retain too much of it at the best the more need have we to attend the light of his Truth and Grace that we being made light in the Lord may walk as children of light The sensible experience of that gracious work will render us more capable of furthering it in others To effect such a cure all impediments must be removed former causes prevented and sutable means used as in Ecclesiasticall so in Political relations by the Lords peculiar servants appointed to that work If Seducers be active for evil we have much more cause to be active for good Up therefore and be doing for this work will be rewarded The Lord teach and enable our Magistrates thereto who are entrusted with so much of Christs interest in these three Nations that their comfort in the blessed issue may be answerable to their trust All mountains shall casily become plain before our Zerubbabels when their hearts heads and hands do harmoniously concur in this great enterprize Let 's pray and beleeve wait and labour for it and the Lord shall be with the good Postscript IN the close of our Querists Paper we meet with a Postscript written with another hand which was thought fit to be inserted here that they might not miss of their own nor complain of suppressing any part It runs thus The main end of the Proposer in these modest Questions is to assert Christ to be the sole Lord and Ruler in and over the Conscience who obtained the same by vertue of his Death and Resurrection for to this end saith the Scripture Christ died rose and revived that he might be Lord both of the dead and living and that every one might give an account unto God and Christ alone as their own Master unto whom they stand or fall in judgement and are not in these things to be oppressed and brought before the Judgement seats of men for why shouldst thou set at naught thy brother in matters of his faith and Conscience and herein intrude into the proper Office of Christ since we are all to stand before the Judgement seat of Christ whether Governours or governed and with his Decision only are capable of being declared either in the right or in the wrong This specious Conclusion deserves a few Animadversions 1. He would insinuate thereby whoever be the Author that all this labour tends to the Vindication and advance of Christs Prerogative whereas their desire if obtained would prove most destructive thereto as we have demonstrated sufficiently in the preceding Answers 2. He proposes his desires so generally for Universal Toleration in all matters of Worship that the vilest Blasphemies the grossest Idloatry and most desperate Heresies are not to be excluded from it 3. He would perswade that the Scripture is altogether for it whereas it 's as diametrally opposite thereto as heaven is to hell as hath been cleared 4. He strives to strip the Magistrate of the best Jewel of his Crown and the chiefest part of his Authority wherewith he is entrusted by Christ in his stead the preservation and promoting of his Worship according to his own written Word 5. He opens a gap thereby to the greatest flood of Infidelity and wickedness that ever can be imagined to the swift and desperate overwhelming of Truth and Peace both in Church and State 6. He sweetens this poysoned Cup with a handfull of Scripture quotations and plausible expressions of Gods Word but miserably wrested and misapplied as will appear to the Judicious peruser thereof for instance the words of Scripture he uses we find them in Pauls Epistle to the Corinthians whereas as its most clear by comparing them with the context and scope of that Chapter that there is no discourse of the Magistrates power there sufficiently cleared elsewhere but of every Christians liberty in indifferent circumstantials and particularly about Jewish meats drinks and daies wherein he would not have them to offend nor take offence by rashness of judging nor remain unsetled in their conscience about the same shewing that the Kingdom of God consists not in meats drinks or any such externals but in righteousness peace and joy in the holy Ghost That therefore they should use Christian wisdom tenderness and diligence towards each other for their mutual edification There was then a special ground moving thereto because the Jewish Worship having been so long in force and being but lately removed many of the Christian converts the Jews especially thought themselves bound still to the observance thereof which offended others who were better informed Therefore the Apostle who became all things to all in such indifferent matters did use much compllance and forbearance in this case towards weak Christians pressing others to do the like as in other places also yea himself made use sometimes of those Jewish Ceremonials having circumcised Timothy shaven his head made vows c. to win the more upon the Jews his Countrymen who were so desperatly incensed against him for his leaving their way Thus the Ceremonial Rites were gradually to
wade where the Elephant may swimme 4. He hath appointed his Word to be a convincing converting and confirming light to all his people Psal. 19. Psal. 119 c. having promised to lead them thereby into all needfull truth gradually and proportionably Joh. 16. 13. 1 Joh. 2. 20 28. 5. He hath appointed the Ministers of his Gospel to be the instrumentall lights to guide his people thereto Matth. 5. 14 16. assuring them of his presence and speciall blessing to the worlds end Matth. 28. 20. Luke 10. 16. Matth. 10. 40. till all his elect be compleated in the measure of the fulness of Christ Eph. 4. 11 12. and ordained a way of a successive communication thereof 2 Tim. 2. 2. by the solemn calling of persons qualified and duly approved of into the Ministeriall Office according to his rules 1 Tim. 3. Tit. 1. 1 Tim 4. 14. 1 Tim. 5. 22. having appointed them to be the Stewards Shepherds Guides and Rulers of his flock in their severall capacities Act. 14. 22. ch. 20. 28. 1 Pet. 5. 2. 1 Thess. 5. Jer. 3. 14 15. and this to be the ordinary means leading to their salvation Rom. 10. 14 17. 6. Because they are weak fallible men who are to succeed the Apostles Prophets and Evangelists more extraordinarily called gifted and assisted with a measure answerable to the foundation of the Gospel Eph. 2. 20 21. 1 Cor. 3. 9 10 11. he bids Christians not to neglect prophecying yet so as to try all things as to take nothing without triall 1 Thess. 5. 1 Joh 4. 1 2. and to redeem all opportunities of receiving and doing good mutually that they may grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ Heb. 10. 23 24. 2 Pet. 3. 18. Thus his servants are made subordinately Ministeriall Judges by way of declaration and every particular Christians judgement is as unto himself the Judge of discretion ultimately to determine the application of Gods will so revealed to him to the discharge of his duty So farre then as any man keeps close to Gods Word so declared to him so far is he infallible whether he be a Magistrate a Minister or private Christian herein lies our wisdom and safety but not in the pretended infallibility of a Romish supream Judge who doth so often contradict both the truth and himself witness the many Schismes by Antipopes among them to the number of twenty seven at least at severall times sometimes three at once and a fourth Pope set up by putting down the rest witness the gross heresies horrid prophanesses desperate sorceries c. acknowledged by their own authentick records to have been among so many of their Popes and Prelates witness the many contests oppositions and contradictions of their own Councils Popes and chief Doctors to this very day From what hath been said it appears that we make no man supream Judge of truth but give to every man his judgement of discretion for his own practice and among the rest to the Magistrate as in his private so in his publick capacity of both which they are accountable to their own Master Qu. 14. Whether Laws made concerning Religion and proclamation for people to come to their Town or Parish-Church have not alwaies catched the most holy and conscientious men witness Daniel and the three children and the rest will be of what Religion you will Ans. As for an orderly bringing of people to the publick place where the Minister of Christ duly authorized is to dispense the Word the thing it self is very needfull and usefull If any particular branch of our Law be found less expedient that concerns our Lawgivers to look to so that no conscience truly tender and truly enlightned may suffer and no licentious person may be suffered to spend those precious seasons and lose the opportunities of his eternall welfare when godly able Preachers are setled in all Parishes there will be less excuse to idlers and wanderers Till that can be obtained the nearest may be attended If any scruple it upon sufficient ground to be soberly rendered to the Magistrate he may be excused from that penalty which the lazy and careless neglecters may be obnoxious to through their default If good men have suffered sometimes by the wresting of a good Law or executing of an evil Law shall it be a disparagement to good Orders and Laws What is there so good but may be abused Corruptio optimi pessima Shall men for bear their food because many surfet and riot Shall there be no wine in use because some will be drunk This a mad Seyth in Plutarch may think well of but a wise man will improve the good and watch against the evil Are not Magistrates Nurses to their people Shepherds to their flocks Parents to these children Should they not then provide for their good and labour to remove and prevent all evil both spirituall and temporall in their proper places Qu. 15. Whether freedom of censcience will not join all sorts of persons souldiers and others to their Officers and Magistrates because each shared in the benefit Ans. Would you explain what conscientiousness you mean and what freedom we might answer more distinctly and effectually Christian liberty is indeed a choice jewell purchased by Christ and given by Gods Spirit to all his Elect in their Regeneration Thereby they are freed from the guilt of sinne in their justification Rom. 3. 15. ch. 5. 1. ch. 6. 2. From the power and pollution of sinne in their redemption and sanctification Act. 26. 18. 3. From the remainders of sinne gradually in their progressive renovation 4. From the deadly fruits and effects of sinne the curse of the Law the wrath of God the loss of all good and infliction of all evil in their improved adoption 5. They shall be freed from all fear of future evil to enjoy eternall good in their last dissolution from Grace to Glory Heb. 12. 22. 6. Their Christian liberty makes them free to all spirituall good in the right use of every creature and Ordinance so farre as their minde and heart are graciously renewed But for a sinfull liberty to abuse our selves or any creature and Ordinance either in committing evil or omiting good it 's a Satanicall liberty it 's none of Christs purchase nor gift Will any sober conscientious Christian plead for it Surely no Those are the vilest drudges that have most of that freedom Do you desire freedom to say and do what you will Is it not the high way to hell The ruine of Church and State The confounding of all things But you plead conscience Why what do you mean If it be a pure conscience it will thus act by faith in love to good against evil 1 Tim. 1. 5. If it be an erroneous conscience or scrupulous or dubious in lesser things there is a Christian way to satisfie such with tenderness prudence and fidelity to the rectifying and setling of them prescribed Rom. 14. Phil. 3. 15 16. Gal.
for the manner yet in effect he did shew what should be done in the like case by the Magistrate in his place as also by the Church in their place as in the case of Phinehas Numb. 14. of Elijah 1 King 18. 40. of Samuel 1 Sam. 15. 33 c. those malefactours were extraordinarily executed by the Lords servants for breach of the first and second Table because the Magistrates duty was neglected therein 2. That Law of Christ which authorizeth the Magistrate to act for him under him and like him in punishing the breaches of every command whether of the first or second Table doth also regulate him in that execution 1. Declaring his power to be Civil not Ecclesiasticall by civil orders proceedings and censures not by such means as he appoints to his Church Indeed the Magistrate may also be a Church-member but in this he acts not as such but as a civil Officer yet under Christ 2. His power reaches to things that concern the outward man whether verball or actuall not mentall and secret 3. In those externals he must have a clear rule of Gods Word either expresly or by sure consequence not his own conceit or any mans will 4. Therein he must proportion the punishment to the nature of the transgression whether lighter or heavier for matter or manner to avoid foolish pity and rigorous cruelty 5. His end must be a godly peace 1 Tim. 2. 2. that thereby all may be quickned to a peaceable life in all godliness and honesty Thus the Magistrate is given as an Ordinance of God Rom. 13. 12. being a power ordained of God for a terrour to all evil works v. 3. yea the Ministry of God for mans good v. 4. and that for conscience sake v. 5. to be done and obeyed Thus acted pious Job ch. 29. declaring corruption of worship in covetous idolaters to be punishable by the Judge Job 31. 24 28 c. Thus Moses the Magistrate by Gods command punished the breaches of the Sabbath abuse of Gods Name Idolatry c. Thus Joshua that noble conquering Protector of Israel resolved himself and advised others Josh. 22. 23. 24. chap. Thus Abraham that faithfull Prince ordered his charge and was so favoured of God for it Gen. 18. 18 19. Thus victorious David wise Solomon valiant Asa zealous Jehoshaphat heroicall Josias noble Nehemiah acted Gods part in ordering the affairs of Gods house directing his people punishing the abuses of his worship c. which the Lord records for a monument and Crown of glory to them Thus for the New Testament God himself promiseth Isa. 49. 23. to give such nursing fathers and mothers of a Royall bloud and spirit who shall instrumentally build up Zion in mercy and pull down Babylon in justice Rev. 12. compared with Rev. 17. ch. 18. ch. 19. When Christ is Generall of the field his followers Jews and Gentiles the two Armies portraied out Cant. 6. 13. Zach. 12. 6 7 8. shall be more zealous for his house than for their own But our Querist pekes Qu. 2. Whether persecution for conscience doth not harden men in their way and make them cry out of oppression and tyranny Ans. Persecution of good is evil but persecution of evil is good 2. A good conscience must be preserved an evil conscience must be renewed 3. A godly conscience will abhorre every evil but a pretended conscience will plead for evil 4. A true conscience will thank the Physician that cures it though with smart a false conscience will cry out against the Physician and smart to retain its evil 5. A wise conscience will cry up the judicious care of Gods servants for good against evil but a foolish conscience will cry down both for evil against good 6. God gives not over his care of mens souls for causless out-cries neither will his servants neglect their duty for groundless calumnies Qu. 3. Whether to convert an heretick and to cast out unclean spirits be done any other way than by the finger of God by the mighty power of Gods Spirit in the Word Ans. 1. Heresie is described Tit. 3. 10. to be a self condemning errour perverting Gods truth and mens souls What course is to be taken by the Church with a member pertinaciously offending is there also declared It 's a work of the flesh and what course is to be taken with a member of the State by the Magistrate for such an evil work we reade also Hereticks in all ages have troubled the Church and very few were ever reclaimed For 300 years after Christ Satan employed many such Engineers to undermine Religion and disparage the profession of Christ Thus Simon and Cerinthus Menander and Ebion disturbed the Apostolicall daies Sabellius and Marcion Priscillian and Samosatenus Arrius and Macedonius Nestorius and Eutyches with many more succeeded them in opposing the Person and Office the Nature and Grace the Spirit and Truth the Sabbath and Ordinances of Christ The Roman Antichrist contracted the substance of all them and no sooner did Reformation dawn but all parts of Europe were infested anew with that poisonous vermine Mans dunghill heart yielded still matter and help to such a hellish brood What the Gnosticks did of old and the ranting crue of Germany in the last age we finde sadly revived among us now The conversion of such is very rare and difficult witness the Apostle such being given up to the raign and vigour of delusion Those spirituall judgements that give up mens consciences to that efficacious power of hell are the most dreadfull judgements bringing most of them to that sin unto death which puts them into an impossibility of repentance and salvation It 's indeed the finger of God by the mighty power of his Spirit in his Word that must do the work when ever it s done There is the more need therefore that all means should be used with diligence in subordination to that powerfull Spirit and Word of his Thereby some German and Brittish Jesuites have been converted and Indian * Pawawes reduced to Christian faith The Magistrates help hath often been found very effectuall thereto if not to convert the seducers yet to prevent their infection from spreading and plucked many as brands out of the fire Their mouth is to be stopped from biting and their hands to be kept from abuse whilst their phrensie rages and ranges like a gangrene A Bedlam may cure many such mad pranks or at least tame them The prudent zeal of one Magistrate doth often in such a case more good than the labours of many Ministers To be plucked out of the devils snares is a mercy that God affords by blessing the endeavours of his servants as by his Word Ecclesiastically so by his Sword Magistratically Such seducers being reclaimed by those censures sanctified to them will bless God and man for these healing wounds received in the house of friends 2. Unclean spirits denote in Scripture sometimes
means which might prevent such evils of sin and sorrow Qu. 9. Whether he was not reproved that would have fire from heaven to devour those that rejected Christ Luk. 9. 54 55. Ans. 1. That we mistake not Christs meaning in this and other Scriptures we must wisely compare the context and scope with the Text and other Scriptures for through ignorance and unstableness Scriptures are wrested to mens perdition The scope here appears clearly to be a condemning of the Disciples rashness whose blind zeal would have carried Christ beyond his present work in that state of humiliation for the conversion of souls 2. Distinguish between Christs humiliation and exaltation In the former he acted as the son of man in all parts of humane weakness conforming to us sin only excepted Therein was he to act as a servant not intending to take on him the Magistrates Office in any such cases Luk. 12. 14. nor was it fit that harsh means should be used to those strangers at his first coming which might have scared them away from Christ and his salvation But in his state of exaltation he is King of Kings and Lord of Lords by him Kings reign and Princes execute justice who hath all power given him in heaven and earth and he gives his Witnesses whether Magistratical or Ministerial or both power to consume his enemies with fire out of their mouth 3. Distinguish between Samaritan strangers and Jewish rebels between the grosly ignorant heathens and the wilfully obstinate Christians Against Jewish rebels the Lord sent his Armies to destroy the destroyers and abusers of his Embassadors though he would not fetch fire from heaven against the mongrel heathenish Samaritans 4. Distinguish between Magistratical and Ministerial censures on offenders Christ would not have his Disciples and Ministers to usurp the Magistrates work in civil bodily censures but to keep within their sphere with spiritual weapons such as are answerable to the nature of their Ministry as admonition c. towards their members ordinarily The case of Ananias and Sapphira was extraordinary was extraordinary as also was the Call Abilities and Work of Apostles The Civil sword still being left to the Magistrates right use who is regulated about it so frequently in the Old and New Testament Qu. 10. Whether it 's not a burden enough for the Magistrate to govern and judge in Civil causes to preserve the subjects right and safety Ans. 1. The Magistrates burden is great indeed Honos and Onus Honour and Burden ever went together Providence orders all things so wisely that they who have most from God should be obliged to do most for God It 's more Royal to give than to receive in Christs account Magnates are Magnetes Great Men are Precious Loadstones They should be Optimi that are Maximi to answer Gods Title and Nature whom they represent The highest Spheres of heaven carry the most influence of light and life to all inferiours Magistrates have a greater burden of care and trouble of danger and account to make them the more humble and holy the more diligent and self denying the more active and zealous in their places 2. The choice part of the Magistrates business is to be most for God in being most like God whose substitute and Vice-Gerent he is What the Lord tenders most should be most rendred by him God begins still at his Glory in the matter and means in the manner and time of his Worship The first Table therefore should be the Magistrates first care Those that honour him he will honour but they that despise him though never so great shall be vilified Is it not most rational that the best things should have the best care from the best men Doth not Gods honour deserve the preeminence still Doth he not still appear against the neglecters and slighters thereof Even Pagan Monarchs could easily discern it Observe the special working of Gods Spirit directing Ezra to request and the King to grant that Magistratical power of corporal punishment against offenders of his worship by comparing Ezra 7. 6. with Ezra 7. 11 27. How little beholding is the Lord to those Rulers that care more for their honour than for his that defend their Word more than his that will not suffer personal injuries but regard not what affronts are put on Christ They that tender not his Name and Truth his Worship and Ordinances are like to smart dearly for it at last Can you think that those persons will spare you that spare not what is dearest to God Will they honour you that vilifie God Remember Eli's case that you may repent who have made light of Christs great concernments Did not Salomon find it the best way to Wisdom and Glory to peace and plenty thus to begin with God A Jove principium was the great Maxim even of Heathen Schools to the shame of most Christians Is not Christs interest the best way to settle yours Can you be safe when that miscarries The Lord awaken all our Magistrates to mind this in earnest This Principium is certainly dimidium totius yea dimidium plus toto Will not the late experiences of our English Worthies with those of the former Champions of Christ demonstrate fully this Was it not their zeal for God that made them great before God and good men Consult all Records Hebrew and Greek Latin and French German and English for proof Our famous Alfred our conquering Edward 3d in the very heat of continual Warres made it their chief work to preferre Christ in all and to cast all their Crowns at his feet Their glorifying of him so eminently made them truly glorious in their own and future ages Such a Whet will never prove a Let to any from any true good Are not the subjects right peace and safety the proper gifts of God Can we finde out any better way of procuring or preserving them than by keeping close to him and being active for him Whilst we cordially mind his interest will not he surely minde ours If we forget him can we look to be remembred of him Qu. 11. If Magistrates must judge and punish of matters of Religion the Magistrate must ever be troubled with such persons and such causes and if after his conscience be convinced he had no such power what horrors of conscience is he like to possess Ans. The Magistrate is the Lords Shepherd as he cals Cyrus and must look for contest against Foxes and Wolves from time to time He is Gods Lieutenant that must still be in a posture of warre against his Sovereigns enemies He is Pater patriae the Father of his Country who cannot but be often taken up in composing the differences of that great Family He is the Lords Gardiner and will not think much to be still troubled with weeding work He is a Nursing father and knows what renewed troubles attend that employment