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A41782 The loyal Baptist, or, An apology for the baptized believers ... occasioned by the great and long continued sufferings of the baptized believers in this nation / by Thomas Grantham ... Grantham, Thomas, 1634-1692. 1684 (1684) Wing G1540; ESTC R26748 84,492 109

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of the Commission given to Ezra by Artaxerxes that these Things are evident 1. That the King did not himself embrace the Religion of the Jewish Nation but retained still his former Religion for tho he did fear the God of Israel yet he never calls him his God but the God of Heaven and the God of Ezra c. 2. That God had by a special Providence and Motion from himself disposed the Heart of the King of Persia to give free Liberty to the Jews which were Captives in his Dominions to go forth to serve their God vers 13. I make a Decree that all they of the People of Israel and of his Priests and Levites in my Realm which are minded of their own free Will to go up to Jerusalem to go with thee to do whatsoever shall seem good to them after the Will of your God 3. The King does not only give a present Supply to Ezra as a Free-Will-Offering to the God of Israel vers 15. but also provides for his necessary Supply for the future out of the King's Treasury vers 20. 4. The King fearing the Displeasure of the God of Israel against himself and his Sons does require Ezra that whatsoever was required by the God of Heaven should be diligently done 5. The King also empowers Ezra to set Magistrates and Judges over the People and in so doing gave Ezra a Magistratical Power or made him a Magistrate and so gives Order that whosoever would not be obedient to him should be punished vers 25 26. This is the Sum of the Commission given to Ezra by the King of Persia In all which nothing appears that any of his Subjects should be compelled to alter their Religion nor be forced to be all of one Religion But a free Liberty is given to the Jews as well as to others to serve their God according to his Law and a Restraint laid upon them that would hinder them And Ezra is empowered indeed to punish those that were under the Law of Moses according to that Law if they would not do it and such as withstood his Authority as a Magistrate which he received from the King were to be punished by the Law of the King of Persia who had the Power of Life and Death in his hand which the Jewish Nation had not at this time 6. We may learn hence that it is indeed a blessed Thing for all Kings to fear the God of Heaven and to advance the Interest of Religion in their Dominions and it is as evident that Religion must always be setled according to the Law of God with the greatest Care that may be and none punished for keeping the Law of God but for breaking the Law of God and the Law of the King which did concur with the Law of God Here were great Punishments assigned and yet not to be insisted on too rashly in the Times of the Gospel nor in Cases purely Evangelical or of the Christian Religion as it is dignified above the Principles of common Reason and Morality In these Cases I cannot see how it should be in the power of Magistrates to compell any against their Will seeing it's God not Man that makes Christians Ephes 2. 10. We are his Workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good Works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them And God gives none the Privileges of his Children until they be his Children nor are they his Children till they be born not of Blood nor of Flesh nor of the Will of Man but of God John 1. 12 13. 7. Nor must we deny but acknowledg that God's Vicegerents are authorized by the Almighty to be Keepers of both Tables so as to defend his Sovereignty and to encourage true Religion against Atheists and Idolaters that worship a Creature instead of the Creator for so it is written Job 31. 26 27 28. If I beheld the Sun when it shined or the Moon walking in Brightness and my Heart hath been secretly enticed or my Mouth hath kissed my Hand this also were an Iniquity to be punished by the Judge for I should have denied God that is above Now let us write or desire the Lord to write the Words of our Text in our Hearts Honour all Men Love the Brotherhood Fear God Honour the King Surely that Christian that shall make it his Business to do these things heartily shall be acceptable to God and approved of Men there shall be no occasion of stumbling in him But if Christians be too busy to inspect Matters of State or to meddle with those that contrive or project any thing to the disturbance and subversion of the Government in the Kingdoms where they live they shall never be able to recommend their Religion be it never so good in it self to the acceptance of their Governors nor to obtain from them to be Nursing-Fathers to it but shall certainly expose themselves to the Displeasure of God as well as to the Wrath of Princes And God himself will vindicate the Honour of his Ordinance of Worldly Government against all that despise it as well as against all that abuse their Power in it for there is no Respect of Persons with God Rom. 2. 11. Let me therefore exhort you my Brethren as you know it has been my manner these thirty Years to follow Peace with all Men and Holiness to study to be quiet and especially in troublesom Times to fear the Lord and the King and meddle not with them that are given to change Prov. 24. 21. Many have undone themselves by itching after Changes in Worldly Government God only knows what is best for you and for the Nation They that are weary of this are soon weary of that few know what they would have and who is able to devise any thing that will please all Humors and suit all Interests Bless God for your Prince and for the Peace you have enjoyed under him and pray for him and for all that are in Authority that under them if the Will of God be so you may lead quiet and peaceable Lives in all Godliness and Honesty They that will not pray for all that are in Authority do not fear God for they contemn his Word 1 Tim. 2. 1. They do not love and so they cannot honour the King You are at present under Sufferings for the consciencious performance of what you believe to be your Duty towards God in Matters of Religion humble your selves under the mighty Hand of God and suffer patiently what Trials it shall please God to exercise you under that as our Apostle hath it 1 Pet. 1. 7. the Trial of your Faith being much more precious than that of Gold that perisheth tho it be tried with Fire might be found unto Praise and Honour and Glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ I say no more the Lord direct you AMEN NOW if it shall please God to bring this faithful tho unpolished Discourse to his Majesties Royal Hand I do hereby