Teâ—timonie do in the least prove their Assertion or that others that do not take things meerly upon Trust would be so foolish as to believe them For though God made known and wrote excellent things to Solomon Though Luke wrote unto Theophilus an Account of divers Transactions of Christ's Outward Abode For many were never written Joh. last vers last et 20. 30. And there are also many other things which Jesus did the which if they should be written every one I suppose that even the World it self could not contain the Books that should be written And many other Signs truly did Jesus in the Presence of his Disciples which are not written in this Book Though Christ made use of divers Scriptures against Satan and that Isaiah directed People to the Law and to the Testimony who will be so mad as to say It naturally follows from thence that God has now committed his Will wholely to Writing Such a Consequence is no more deducible from these Scriptures then if I should argue thus The Divines of Westminster have asserted many things without Ground therefore they had Ground for nothing they said Nay it follows not by far so naturally seeing after the writing of all these Passages by them cited according to their own Judgment there were divers Scriptures written so that it had been false for them to assert That Gâ—d had then committed his Counsel wholely to Wâ—iting which indeed was not true So it is most Irrational and Unwarrantable for any to draw such a strange and strained Consequence from their words For the Second That the former Wayes are now ceased they alledge Hebr. 1. 1 2. God who at sundry Times and in divers Manners spake in times past unto the Fathers by the Prophets hath in these last dayes spoken unto us by his Son whom he hath appointed Heir of all things by whom also he hath made the Worldâ— 2 Pet. 1. 19. We have also a More Sure Word of Prophesie whereunto ye do well that ye take heed as unto a Light that shineth in a Dark Place until the Day dawn and the Day-Star arise in your Hearts Which prove thâ— Matter as little as the former If Paul had intended by that to Timothy what those Divines would have Would not they have made the Apostle speak a manifest Untruth seeing they themselves acknowledg that John's Revelation was written long after so that these former Ways were not then ceased As for that of Peter it is to beg the thing in Question To say It is intended of the Scripture and though it were it proves not the Case at all That of Hebr. is so ar from asserting the Matter they would have it that it may be very aptly brought to prove the quite contrary for God indeed speaks to us now by his Son But to infer from thence That the Son speaks only to us by the Scriptures remains yet unproved Aâ—d for the Apostle to have there asserted it had been false seeing the Revelations which he and others afterwards had were inward so such were not ceased And if we may trust the same Apostle better then these Men he tells us that so soon as Christ was revealed in him he went straight and obey'd And the same Apostle tells us that Except Christ be in us we are Reprobates sure he is not dumb in us seeing he sayes He will dwell in us and walk in us and be with us to the End of the World And John tells us that the inward Anointing is to teach us all things so that we need not as to any absolute Necessity any Man to teach us how then is this ceased seeing God speaks to us by Christ and Christ must be in us Surely these Men have not herein followed the Rule of the Scriptures but rather endeavoured most grosly to wrest them and make of them a Nose of Wax notwithstanding their Pretences as to the contrary in their 6th Sect. where they say All things necessary are either expresly set down or by good and necessary Consequences may be deduced Now that these two former Assertions are not expresly set down they will not deny whether they follow by sound Consequence any understanding Man may judge by what is above observed There are divers other things in the same Chapter which will not abide the Test for which the Scripture-Proofs are alledged by them are most ridiculous yet for Brevity's sake I have omitted In Chap. 21. Sect. 7. where they say That the Sabbath from the Resurrection of Christ was changed into the First Day of the Week which in Scripture say they is called the Lord's Day and is to be continued to the End of the World as the christian-Christian-Sabbath In which they assert Three Things First That the First Day of the Week is come in place of the Seventh for a Sabbath To prove which they alledge 1 Cor. 16. 1 2 Now concerning the Collection for the Saints as I have given order to the Churches of Galatâ—â— even so do ye upon the First Day of the Week Let every one of you lay by him in store as God hath prospered him that there be no Gathering when I come Acts 20. 7. And upon the First Day of the Week when the Disciples came together to break Bread Paul preached to them ready to depart on the morrow and continued his Speech until Midnight That these Proofs assert not the thing expresly we need not I suppose dispute Now to say that because Paul desired the Corinthians to lay somewhat by them in store that day or because he broak Bread and continued his Speech until Midnight therefore the First Day of the Week is come in place of the Sabbath is a Consequence more remarkable for its Sottishness then to be credited for its Soundness Indeed to make so solemn an Article of Faith as these men would have the Morality of the first day of the Week to be would need a more positive and express Authority The Text doth clearly enough tell the Reason of the Disciples meeting so frequently and of Paul's preaching so long because he was ready to depart to morrow it speaks not a word of its being Sabbath Their Second Assertion That the First Day of the Week is therefore called the Lord's Day is drawn yet more strangly from that of Rev. 1. 10. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day and heard behind me a great Voice as of a Trumpet Whereas no particular Day of the Week is mentioned so for them to say John meaned the First Day of the Week hath no more Proof but their own bare Assertion For their Third Assertion That it is to be continued to the End of the World as the christian-Christian-Sabbath they alledge these Scriptures Exod. 20. 8 10 11. Remember the sabbath-Sabbath-Day to keep it Holy but the Seventh Day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God in it thou shalt not do any Work thou nor thy Son nor thy Daughter thy Man-Servant nor thy Maid-Servant
A CATECHISM AND Confession of Faith Approved of and Agreed unto by the General Assembly of the Patriarchs Prophets and Apostles CHRIST himself being chief Speaker In and Among them Which containeth a true and faithful Account of the Principles and Doctrines which are most surely believed by the Churches of Christ in Great Brittain and Ireland who are reproachfully call'd by the Name of Quakers yet are found in the One Faith with the Primitive Church Saints as is most clearly demonstrated by some plain Scripture-Testimonies without Consequences or Commentaries which are here collected and inserted by way of Answer to a few Weighty yet Easie and Familiar Questions fitted as well for the wisest largest as for the weakest lowest Capacities To which is added An Expostulation with and Appeal to all other Professors By R. B. A Servant of the Church of Christ. Search the Scriptures or ye search the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have Eternal Life and they are they which testifie of me and ye will not come to me that ye might have Life John 5. 39 40. THE PREFACE TO THE READER SINCE first that great Apostacy took place in the Hearts Heads of those who began even in the Apostles days to depart from the Simplicity and Purity of the Gospel as it was then delivered in its primitive Splendor and Integrity innumerable have been the manifold Inventions Traditions the different and various Notions and Opinions where-with man by giving way to the vain and airy Imaginations of his own unfâ—able Mind hath burdened the Christian Faith So that indeed first by Adding these things and afterwards by Equalling them if not Exalting them above the Truth they have at last come to be substitute in the stead of it so that in process of time Truth came to be shut out of doors and another thing placed in the room thereof having a Shew Name but wanting the Substance and Thing it self Nevertheless it pleased God to raise up Witnesses for Himself almost in every Age and Generation who according to the Discoveries they receiv'd bore some Testimony less or more against the Superstition and Apostacy of the Time and in special manner through the Appearing of that Light which first broak forth in Germany about One Hundred and Fifty Years ago and afterwards reach'd divers other Nations the Beast received a Deadly Wound and a very great Number did at one time Protest against and Rescind from the Church of Rome in divers of their most gross and sensual Doctrines and superstitious Traditions But alas it is for matter of Lamentation that the Successors of these Protestants are establishing and building up in themselves that which their Fathers were pulling down instead of prosecutiug and going on with so Good and Honourable a Work which will thus easily appear The generality of all Protestants though in many other things miserably rent and shatter'd among themselves do agree in Dividing from the Church of Rome in these Two Particulars First That every Principle and Doctrine of the Christian-Faith is and ought to be founded upon the Scripture and that whatsoever Principles or Doctrines are not only not contrary but even not according thereto ought to be denyâ—d as Antichristian Secondly That the Scriptures themselves are plain and easie to be understood and that every private Christian and Member of the Church ought to read and peruse then that they may know their Faith and Belief founded upon them and receive them for that Cause alone and not because any Church or Assembly has compounded and recommended them the choicest and most pure of which they are oblieged to look upon as Fallible Now contrary to this their known and acknowledged Principle they do most vigorously prosecute and persecute others with the like Severity the Papists did their Fathers for believing things that are plainly set down in the Scriptures and for not believing divers Principles for which themselves are forc'd to recur to Tradition and can by no means prove from Scripture To shew which I shall not here insist having allotted a Chapter for it in the Book it self because to put it here would swell beyond the Bounds of a Preface Oh! how like do they shew themselves I mention it with Regreet to the Scribes and Pharisees of old who of all men most cryed up and exalted Moses and the Prophets boasted greatly of being Abraham's Children And yet those were they that were the greatest Opposers and Vilifiers of Christ to whom Moses and all the Prophets gave witness yea their chief Accusations and Exceptions against Christ was as being a Breaker of the Law and a Blasphemer Can there any Comparison run more parallel seeing there is now found a People who are greatly Persecuted and bitterly reviled and Accused as Hereticks by a Generation that cry up and exalt the Scriptures And yet this People's Principles are found in Scripture Word by Word though the most Grievous and indeed the Greatest Calumny cast upon them is That they vilifie and deny the Scriptures and set up their own Imaginations instead of them To disprove which this Catechism and Confession of Faith is compiled and presented to thy Serious and Impartial View If thou lovest the Scripture indeed and desirest to hold the plain Doctrines there delivered and not these Strained and Far-Fetched Consequences which men have invented thou shalt easily observe the whole Principles of the People called QUAKERS plainly couched in Scriptute-Words without Addition or Commentary especially in those things their Adversaries oppose them in where the Scripture plainly decideth the Controversie for them without Nicities and School-Distinctions which have been the Wisdom by which the World hath not known God and the Words which have been multiplied without Knowledge by which Counsel hath been darkned In the Answers to the Questions there is not one Word that I know of placed but the express Words of Scripture And if in some of the Questions there be somewhat subsumed of what in my Judgment is the plain and naked Import of the Words it is not to impose my Sense upon the Reader but to make way for the next Question for the dependence of the Matter 's sake I shall leave it to the Reason of any Understanding and Judicious Man who is not byassed by Self-Interest that great Enemy to True Equity and who in the least measure is willing to give way to the Light of Christ in his Conscience if the Scriptures do not pertinently and aptly answer to the Questions As I have upon serious Grounds separated from most of the Confessions and Catechisms heretofore published so not without Cause I have now taken another Method They usually place their Confession of Faith before the Catechism I judge it ought to be otherwise in regard that which is easiest and is composed for Children or such as are Weak ought in my Judgment to be placed first it being most regular to begin with Things that are Easie and
in me that I might preach him among the Heathen Gal. 1. 15 10. Q. Is it needful then to know Christ within A. Examine your selves whether ye be in the Faith prove your own selves Know ye not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be Reprobates 2 Cor. 13. 5. Q. Was the Apostle earnest that this Inward Birth of Christ should be brought forth in any A. My little Children of whom I travel in Birth again until Christ be formed in you Gal. 4. 19. Q. What saith the same Apostle of the Necessity of this Inward Knowledge of Christ and of the New Creature beyond the Outward A. Wherefore hence-forth know we no man after the Flesh yea though we have known Christ after the Flesh yet now henceforth know we him no more Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a New Creature Old things are passed away behold all things are become New 2 Cor. 5. 16 17. But ye have not so learned Christ if so be that ye have heard him and have been taught by him as the Truth is in Jesus That ye put off concerning the former Conversation the Old Man which is corrupt according to the Deceitful Lusts and to be renewed in the Spirit of your Mind and that ye put on the New Man which after God is created in Righteousness and true Holiness Ephes. 4. 21 22 23 24. Q. Is this Christ Within the Mystery of God and Hope of Glory which the Apostle preached A. To whom God would make known what is the Riches of the Glory of this Mystery among the Câ—ntiles which is Christ in you the Hope of Glory whom we preach Col. 1. 27 28. Q. Doth the Apostle any where else press the putting on of this New Birth A. Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ and make not Provision for the Flesh to fulfil the Lusts thereof Rom. 13. 14. Q. Doth he write to any of the Saints as having put off the Old and on the New Man A. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ Gal. 3. 27. Seeing that ye have put off the Old Man with his Deeds and have put on the New Man which is renew'd in Knowledge after the Image of him that created him Col. 3. 9 10. Q. What speaketh Christ himself of the Necessity of this New Birth A. Jesus answered and said unto him Verily verily I say unto thee Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of 〈◊〉 Joâ— 3. 3. Q. Of 〈◊〉 Seed 〈…〉 Birth A. Being born again not of Corruptible Seed but of Incorruptible by the Word of God which liveth and abideth forever 1 Pet. 1. 23. Q. What doth the Apestle Paul witness of himself concerning this Nâ—w Life A. I am crucified with Christ nevertheelss I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me Gal. 2. 20. Q. What is the Preaching of the Cross of Christ A. For the Preaching of the Cross is to them that perish Foolishness but unto us that are saved it is the Power of God 1 Cor. 1. 18. Q. What Effect had this Cross in the Apostle and how much preferreth he the New Creature to all outward and visible Ordinances and Observances A. But God forbid that I should Glory save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ by whom the World is crucified unto me and I unto the World For in Jesus Christ neither Circumcision availeth any thing nor Uncircumcision but a New Creature Galat. 6. 14 15. Q. What speaketh Christ of the Vnity of the Saints with him A. At that Day ye shall know that I am in my Father and ye in me and I in you John 14. 20. Abide in me and I in you As the Branch cannot bear Fruit of it self except it abide in the Vine no more can ye except ye abide in me I am the Vine ye are the Branches He that abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth forth much Fruit for without me ye can do nothing John 15. 4 5. Neither pray I for these alone but for them also which shall believe in me through their Word That they all may be One as thou Father art in me and I in thee that they also may be One in us that the World may believe it that thou hast sent me And the Glory which thou gavest me I have given them that they may be One even as we are one I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in One and that the World may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them as thou hast loved me John 17. 20 21 22 23. Q. What saith the Apostle Paul to this Purpose A. For both he that sanctifies and they that are sanctified are all of one for which Cause he is not ashamed to call them Brethren Heb. 2. 11. Q. What saith the Apostle Peter A. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious Promiâ—es that by these you might be Partakers of the Divine Nature having escaped the Corruption that is in the World through Lust 2 Pet. 1. 4. CHAP. V. Concerning the Light wherewith Jesus Christ hath enlightned every man The Universality and Sufficiency of God's Grace to all the World made manifest therein Question WHerein consists the Love of God towards Fallen and Lost Man A. For God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have Everlasting Life John 3. 16. In this was manifested the Love of God towards us because that God sent his only begotten Son into the World that we might live through him 1 John 4. 9. Q. What is intended here by the World all and every man or only a few A. But we see Jesus who was made a little lower then the Angels for the suffering of Death crowned with Glory and Honour that he by the Grace of God should taste Death for every man Hebr. 2. 9. And if any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous and he is the Propitiation for our Sins and not for ours only but also for the Sins of the whole World 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. Q. Methinks the Apostle John is very plain there in mentioning the whole World which must be not only the Saints but all others seeing he distinguisheth the World from himself and all the Saints to whom he then wrote What saith Paul else-where in this Matter A. Christ in you the Hope of Glory whom we preach warning every man and â—eaching every man in all Wisdom that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus Col. 1. 27 28. I exhort therefore that first of all Supplications Prayers Intercessions and Giving of Thanks be made for all men For this is good and acceptable in the Sight of God our Saviour who will have all men to be saved and to come to the Knowledge of the Truth who gave himself a Ransom for all to
the Wisdom of this World For after that in the Wisdom of God the World by Wisdom knew not God it pleased God by the Foolishness of Preaching to save them that believe 1 Cor. 1. 20 21. Q. It seems then the Preachings of the true Ministers are not gathered together by Wisdom and Learning It hath been supposed that a Man must be greatly skilled in Learning to make a good Sermon what is the Apostles Judgment in the Case A. For Christ sent me not to baptize but to preach the Gospel not with Wisdom of Words lest the Cross of Christ should be made of none Effect 1 Cor. 1. 17. And I was with you in Weakness and in Fear and in much Trembling and my Speech my Preaching was not with enticing Words of Man's VVisdom but in Demonstration of the Spirit and of Power that your Faith should not stand in the VVisdom of Men but in the Power of God 1 Cor. 2. 3 4 5. Q. I perceive the Apostle layes far more Stress upon the Demonstration and Power of the Spirit in a Preacher then upon human Literature ought Ministers then to preach as the Spirit teacheth them A. Also we speak not in the Words which Man's Wisdom teacheth but which the holy Ghost teacheth 2 Cor. 2. 13. And they were all fill'd with the holy Ghost and began to speak as the Spirit gave them Utterance Acts 2. 4. Q. Is it Christ then that speaketh in and through his Ministers A. For it is not ye that speak but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you Mat. 10. 20. For it is not ye that speak but the holy Ghost Mark 13. 11. For the holy Ghost shall teach you in the same Hour what ye ought to say Luke 12. 12. Since ye seek a Proof of Christ speaking in me which to you ward is not weak but is mighty in you 2 Cor. 13. 3. Q. What is the Apostle's Mind of that human Learning which some cry up so much and think so needful in a Minister A. Beware leâ—t any Man spoil you through Philosophy and vain Deceit after the Tradition of Men after the Rudiments of the World and not after Christ Col. 2. 8. O Timothy keep that which is committed to thy Trust avoiding prophane and vain Babling and Oppositions of Science falsly so called 1 Tim 6. 20. Q. Though true Ministers speak not by the natural Wisdom of Man yet is their Testimony altogether void of Wisdom A. Howbeit we speak Wisdom among them that are perfect yet not the Wisdom of this World nor of the Princes of this World that come to nought but we speak the Wisdom of God in a Mystery even the hidden Wisdom which God ordained before the World to our Glory 1 Cor. 2. 6 7. Q. What is the Reason that Man by his natural Wisdom is not capable to minister in the Things of God A. For what Man knoweth the Things of a Man save the Spirit of a Man which is in him Even so the Things of God knoweth no Man but the Spirit of God But the natlural Man receiveth not the Things of the Spirit of God for they are Foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned 1 Cor. 2. 11 14. Q. These Scriptures do sufficiently hold forth that the true Call to the Ministry is from God that which maketh a true Minister is the Gift and Grace of God that the true and effectual Preaching of a faithful Minister is such as 〈◊〉 from the inward Teaching and Leading of the Spirit of God But what say the Scriptures touching the Maintenance of Ministers A. Let him that is taught in the VVord communicate unto him that teacheth in all good Things Gal. 6. 6. If we have sown unto you spiritual Things is it a great Matter if we shall â—eap your carnal Things If others be Partakers of this Power over you are not we rather Nevertheless we have not used this Power but suffer all Things lest we should hinder the Gospel of Christ Do ye not know that they which minister about holy Things live of the Things of the Temple and they which wait at the Altar are Partakers with the Altar even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel 1 Cor. 9. 11 12 13 14. For the Scripture saith Thou shalt not muzle the Ox that treadeth out the Corn and the Labourer is worthy of his Reward 1 Tim. 5. 18. Q. I perceive by these Scriptures that there lyeth an Obligation upon the Saints to help with outward Things such as truly minister unto them spiritual but this seems to be voluntary ought not therefore true Ministers to preach whether they be sure of this or not What saith the Apostle of himself in this Case and what adviseth he others A. But I have used none of these Things neither have I written those Things that it should be so done unto me for it were better for me to dye then that any Man should make my Glorying void for though I preach the Gospel I have nothing to glory of for Necessity is laid upon me yea Wo is unto me if I preach not the Gospel For if I do this Thing willingly I have a Reward but if against my Will a Dispensation of the Gospel is committed unto me what is my Reward then Verely that when I preach the Gospel I make the Gospel of Christ without Charge that I abuse not my Power in the Gospel 1 Cor. 9. 15 16 17 18. I have coveted no Man's Silver or Gold or Apparel yea ye your selves know that these Hands have ministred unto my Necessities and to them that were with me I have shewed you all Things how that so Laboâ—ring ye ought to support the Weak and to remember the Words of the Lord Jesus how he said It is more blessed to give then to receive Acts 20. 33 34 35. Q. It s observable that the Apostle every where makes special mention among the Qualifications of Teachers that they be not given to Filthy Luchre What ought we then to think of these Teachers as will not preach without Hire yea that will by Violence take from those who receive no Spirituals from them are they like to be the Ministers of Christ or what else saith the Scripture of such A. Yea they are greedy Dogs which can never have enough and they are Shepherds that cannot understand they all look to their own Way every one for his Gain from his Quarter Isa. 56. 11. Son of Man Prophesie against the Shepherds of Israel Prophesie and say unto them Thus saith the Lord God unto the Shepherds Wo be to the Shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves Should not the Shepherds feed the Flock Ye eat the Fat and ye cloath you with the Wool ye kill them that are fed but ye feed not the Flock As I live saith the Lord God Surely because my Flock became a Prey and my Flock became
and came upon him and caught him and brought him to the Council Acts 6. 11 12. And when they found them not they drew Jason and certain Brethren unto the Rulers of the City crying These that have turn'd the World upside down are come hither also Acts 17. 6. But this I confess unto thee that after the Way which they call Heresie so worship I the God of my Fathers believing all things which are written in the Law and the Prophets Acts 24. 14. Being defamed we entreat we are made as the Filth of the World and are the Off-scouring of all things unto this Day 1 Cor. 4. 13. By Honour and Dishonour by Evil Report and Good Report as Deceivers and yet true 2 Cor. 6. 8. Q. It is easily apparent from what is mentioned that Christians are to expect Persecution and Tribulation and that they are always the Sheep and never the Wolves the Persecuted and never the Persecutors the Afflicted and not the Afflicters the Reproached and not the Reproachers Is it not fit then that Christians be so far from persecuting others that they ought to pray for the Persecutors is this Christ's Command A. But I say unto you Love your Enemies Bless them that Curse you do Good to them that hate you Pray for them which despightfully use you persecute you Ma. 5. 44. Q. Was this Christ's own Practice A. Then said Jesus Father forgive them for they know not what they do c. Luk. 23. 24. Q. Is Christ herein to be our Example A. For even hereunto were ye called because Christ also suffered for us leaving us an Example that ye should follow his Steps who did no Sin neither was Guise found in his Mouth who when he was reviled reviled not again when he suffer'd he threatned not but committed himself unto him that judgeth righteously 1 Pet. 2. 21 22 23. Q. Is there an Instance of any Saint in Scripture who follow'd his Example herein A. And he kneeled down and cryed with a loud Voice Lord Lay not this Sin to their Charge c. Acts 7. 60. Q. It appears by all these Scriptures that Christianity consisteth in the Exercise of Fear and Trembling Humility Patience and Self-Denyal What ought we then to think of such who place much of their Religion in abstaining from Marriage and certain Meats Worshipping of Angels and other such Acts of voluntary Humility A. Now the Spirit speaketh expresly That in the latter Times some shall depart from the Faith giving heed to Seducing Spirits and Doctrines of Devils speaking Lyes in Hypocrisie having their Conscience â—eared as with a Hot Iron forbidding to Marry and commanding to abstain from Meats which God hath created to be received with Thanksgiving of them which believe and know the Truth 1 Tim. 4. 1 2 3. Let no man beguile you of your Reward in a voluntary Humility and worshipping of Angels intruding into these things which he hath not seen vainly puft up by his Fleshly Mind Col. 2. 18. CHAP. XIII Concerning Magistracy Question VVHat is the Duty of a Magistrate A. The God of Israel said the Rock of Israel spake to me he that Ruleth over men must be Just Ruling in the Fear of God 2 Sam. 23. 3. Q. What do the Scriptures speak of the Duty of such as are under Authority A. Let every Soul be subject to the Higher Powers for there is no Power but of God the Powers that be are ordained of God Whosoever therefore resists the Power resists the Ordinance of God they that resist shall receive to themselves Damnation For Rulers are not a Terror to Good Works but to the Evil Wilt thou then not be afraid of the Power Do that which is Good and thou shalt have Praise of the same for he is the Minister of God to thee for Good But if thou do that which is Evil be afraid for he beareth not the Sword in vain for he is the Minister of God a Revenger to execute Wrath upon him that doth Evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject not only for Wrath but also for Conscience sake Rom. 13. 1 2 3 4 5. Submit your selves to every Ordinance of Man for the Lord's sake whether it be to the King as Supream or unto Governours as unto them that are sent by him for the Punishment of Evil-Doers and for the Praise of them that do well for so is the Will of God that with Well-doing ye may put to Silence the Ignorance of Foolish Men 1 Pet. 2. 13 14 15. Q. Ought Tribute to be paid to them A. For for this Cause pay we Tribute also for they are God's Ministers attending continually upon this very thing Render therefore to all their Dues Tribute to whom Tribute is due Custom to whom Custom Fear to whom Fear Honour to whom Honour Rom. 13. 6 7. Then saith he unto them Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's Mat. 22. 21. Q. Are we obliged to obey Magistrates in such things as we are perswaded in our Minds are contrary to the Commands of Christ A. And they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the Name of Jesus But Peter and John answered and said unto them Whether it be right in the Sight of God to hearken unto you more then unto God judge ye for we cannot but speak the things which we have seen heard Acts 4. 18 19 20. And when they had brought them they set them before the Council and the High-Priest asked them saying Did not we straightly command you that ye should not teach in this Name And behold ye have filled Jerusalem with your Doctrine and intend to bring this Man's Blood upon us Then Peter and the other Apostles answer'd and said We ought to obey God rather then Men Act. 5. 27 28 29. Q. What ought to be Magistrates Behaviour in such Cases according to the Counsel of wise Gamaliel A. Then stood there up one in the Council a Pharisee named Gamaliel a Doctor of Law had in Reputation among the People and commanded to put the Apostles forth a little space and said unto them Ye men of Israel take heed to your selves what ye intend to do as touching these men And now I say unto you Refrain from these men and let them alone for if this Counsel or this Work be of men it will come to nought but if it be of God ye cannot overthrow it lest happily ye be found even to fight against God Acts 5. 34 35 38 39. Q. What Command giveth Christ to his People under the Gospel in relation to this matter How doth he hold forth their Duty under the Parable of Tares A. So the Servants of the Houshold came and said unto him Sir Didst thou not sow good Seed in thy Field from whence then hath it Tares He said unto them An Enemy hath done this The Servant said unto him Wilt thou then that we