Isay 2. 3. 4. parallell with it Nation shall not lift up sword against Nation neither shall they learne Warre any more c. Let him therefore give over pressing this Text any further contrary to its scope or if he will have it really verified let him now retract his Petition to the Parliament to suffer separate assemblings of the Saints both publiquely and privatly as occasion serves c. directly contrary to this prophecy and perswade his Armedsaints no more to destroy hurt or kill Cavaliers much lesse any godly Ministers whom some of them have threatned hurt thrust out of their Pulpits unlesse they will likewise permit the Christian Majestrate to hurt and destroy obstinate seducing Heretickes Schismatickes false Teachers Blasphemers notwithstanding this objected Text. As for the Second quotation Isay 60. 18 Violence shall no more be heard in thee c. I answer it is meant of the Church Triumphant not Militant as is cleare by the three next verses compared with Rev. 21. and 22. parallell to this Chapter Iob. 3. 17. 18. 19. and Rev-14 13. And if so then the Argument hence truly Stated stands thus There shall bee no violence wasting and destruction heard in the Church triumphant in heaven which shall be above the reach of force or Enemies Ergo Christian Princes States Majestrates may not make Lawes to punish suppresse incorrigible Heretickes Seducers Schismatickes and Blasphemers in the Church militant here on earth But grant it meant of the Church Militant under the Gospell Is the punishment of men with temporall or capitall punishments for their damnable Heresies Errors Schismes Blasphemies Idolatries violence or ever so called reputed in Scripture phrase which useth it only for Tirany Oppression and Rapine or is it not rather Iustice and executing Iustice and Iudgement in all Scripture language Is the confiscation of the goods imprisonment banishment or putting to death in some cases of the persons of such any wasting or destruction intended in this Text If so let Mr. Dell averre it at the utmost hazard of his Science and Conscience since no sober nor learned man can or dares assert it If not then let him confesse his error in thus wier-drawing and willfully perverting Scripture in so shamefull a manner before so juditious an Auditory as those to whom he preached and that upon a Fast day unfit for strife and debate as this very Prophet will informe him Isay 58. 4. 5. and for such new Logick as this There shall be no violence wasting nor destruction heard in the Church when God shall convert or subdue her Enemies and give her peace at the last Ergo obstinate Heretickes Schismaticks Seducers Blaspemers yea Traitors Murderers Fellons by like consequence must not be corporally nor capitally proceeded against but let alone without any molestation by the Christian Magistrate and the Parliament must by no meanes make any Lawes to restraine them now Can any man but admire that such strange Logick and Theology so purely Independent should dare fly abroad in print to gull poore silly people and bee so confidently averred to be the Lords voyce the truth of Christ the mind of God c. as Mr. Dell asserts The 4th Objection from Scripture is this which seemes more coâ—lerable but is no more substantiall then the former Christ never used the power of the world but did all by the power of the word Neither did Christ command his Disciples to use any such outward power but he sent his Desciples to preach and bid them say into what house soever they entred Peace bee to this house And if men would not receive peace and the Doctrine of Peace not to force them but to depart thence and to shake off the dust of their feet as a witnesse against them that they had beene there according to the will of Christ and the Father and offered them mercy and Salvation which they refused And this is all that the Ministers of the Gospell can doe to any that refuse their Doctrine and not to go to the secular Magistrate to aske power to punish them or imprison them or sell their goods as now is practised in some parts of the Kingdome EVEN VPON THE SAINTS And if men be wicked is it not misery enough for them to refuse eternoll life except also they inflict on them temporall death Is it not misery enough for men to refuse the good things of Heaven except they also deprive them of the good things of this present life And yet as Luther saith of the Clergy Quando non invocat brachium seculare morte utraque terret mundum when doth it not call upon the secular power and terrefies the world with both deaths Surely Christ and the word approve not these wayes For Math. 18. Christ sets no other punishment on them that would not heare the Church then that hee should be reconed as an Heathen And Paul Titus 3. teacheth us after once and twice admonition to avoid an Heretick but not to imprison him or kill him or banish him And againe those that do these things shall not inherit the Kingdome of God And againe he that beleiveth not shall be damned but not one word of outward or corporall punishment in all the Gospell I answer that here is a hotch-potch of many Arguments and Scriptures jumbled together commonly objected by the Donatists and Anabaptists to amuse or delude the simple Auditor and Reader I shall therefore sever and answer them in order The first of them is this Lu. 1. Christ never used the power of the world but did all by the power of the word even his punishments and his destructions were executed by it Ergo Kings and temporall Magistrates must not punish Hereticks Seducers Blasphemers obstinante Hereticks nor use externall force in matters of Religion This was the Argument of the Donatists largely answered by St. Augustine in his 48. 50. Epistles from whom Mr. Dell transcribes it I answer First that Christ in the Old Testament did make use of the power and sword of Godly Kings and Magistrates to punish Idolatrous and falsè Prophets as I have largely proved yea he makes use of the ten hornes who are ten Kings to punish burne and destroy the whore of Babylon under the New-Testament Rev. 17. 16. Besides the Scripture is expresse that Christ is the Head of all Principallity and Power Col. 2. 10. that the powers which are are ordined of God the sword to be used by them for the good of his Church People who are to obey and submit unto them Rom. 13. 1. to 6. 1 Tim. 2. 1. 2. 1. Pet. 2. 13. 14. Tit. 3. 1. Hence is that of Bernard to Pope EVGENIVS Vterque ergo Ecclesiae spiritalis scilicet gladius materialis sed is quidem pro Ecclesia ille verò et ab Ecclesia exercendus est Ille Sacerdotis is militis sed sanè ad nutum Sacerdotis
in them and all sorts of men besides a most pestilent fire-brand of sedition deserving a Tiburn-Saintship as well as Iack Straw or Iack Cade most justly censured imprisoned by the House of Peers for his unparallell'd Insolencies Contempts and Libels deserving a severer doom or his Disciple St. Overton imprisoned for the like offences his Anti-Parliamentary Libels or any other of his seditious sect it is the Parliaments lenity that they enjoy their lives and a man I fear may finde far better Saints in Newgate if not in Hell then these If he mean S. Best that horrible execrable Heretick and Blasphemer for whose impunity some of the Independent saints have both written and pleaded to the very amazement of all true Saints its certaily a greater crime to suffer such an impenitent blaspheming Atheistical saint to live so long then to imprison him and if any New-lights account him for a Saint I may without any breach of Christian charity repute them in this particular to be little better then Devils and no reall saints at all If he intend by Saints S Paul Hobson a preaching but never a fighting Captain formerly a Taylor now an Anabaptist imprisoned by Sir Samuel Luke for his schismaticall and seditious preaching contrary to the Ordinance of Parliament or his blasphemous Chirurgion Iohn Boggis or his companion S. Oates who openly defended maintained that there was no such power in any Christian Magistrate over any member of a Church unlesse first cast out and delivered over by the Church to the secular power to inflict any capitall punishments upon him whatsoever his offence was though MVRTHER OR TREASON oâ— S. Lambe S. Kiffin or any of that Anabaptisticall Dipping lewd fraternity mentioned by Mr. Edwards in his Gangraenaes who have enriched advanced themselves by their gainfull Schismes Heresies Errors Blasphemies fear our Magistrates who have already law and power enough to restrainâ— and punish such without praying aide from both or either Houses will deserve more blame from God the Parliament and all good men for suffering such black saints as these to ramble abroad from County to County preaching their Errors Blasphemies and re-baptizing seduced Proselytes without restraint then demerit any censure for any short restraint of their persons or selling any of their goods who were lately worse then nothing and had no goods to sell yet now are grown brave and wealthy And if our Magistrates imprison fine banish such Saints as these I am confident both Christ and his Apostles will justifie not condemne them for their doings His third Argument is this Is it not misery enough for men to refuse the good things of heaven except they also deprive them of the good things of this present life If there be any Logick or Divinity in this rhetoricall argumentation it is but formally this It is misery enough to wicked men his words are generall and extend to all wicked men of all sorts not Hereticks only that they refuse the good things of Heaven and Eternall Life Therefore the Magistrate ought not to deprive any wicked man whatsoever of the good things of this life nor to inflict upon him temporall death I answer that if this Argument be solid then the Magistrate must punish no wicked men for any offence whatsoever against God or man no not for Atheisme Treason Rebellion Murther Sodomy and the fowlest crimes because the losse of the good things of heaven and eternall life is a sufficient punishment for them as well as for Hereticks Schismaticks and Blasphemers And then how wil it stand with his own concession I fear not from the heart since the whole scope of his Arguments contradict it p. 27. As for those that are outwardly wicked as open professed Hereticks Schismaticks and Blasphemers are the Magistrate is to keep them in order for the quiet of the State he having power over their persons estates LIVES If so then he may deprive them for their wickednesse of the good things of this life and inflict upon them temporal death Let M. Del therefore assoyl his own contradiction here which he thus seconds p 40. Did you ever hear me say or hint that the Magistrate should not punish outward wickednesse Yes here you hint intimate and argue it too and therefore need to reconcile these your contradictions or renounce this Argument Secondly God himself the Fountaine and Rule of justice doth many times punish wicked men who refuse the good things of Heaven and eternall life with the losse of the good things of this life infliction of temporal and eternall death to boot witnesse Deut. 28. 15. to 68. Levit. 26. 14. to 44. and Rev. 18 19 instead of many other texts If God then the standard of justice doth usually this and threatens all wicked men that they shall thus be punished why may not Christian Princes and Magistrates who are his Deputies Ministers Revengers do the like without the least injustice or cruelty Thirdly the Lawes of all Kingdomes and of our own do punish Malefactors as Traytors Murderers and Hereticks among others with confiscation of goods imprisonment banishment and death too not thinking it punishment sufficient that they refuse the good things of heaven and eternall life M. Del then must be wiser then God then al States Lawgivers whatsoever then our own Lawes Parliaments Judges and tax them both of cruelty injustice and adding misery to the miserable if he dare maintaine this absurd Paradox which hath neither reason nor Religion in it His 4th Objection is much of the same straine Christ imposeth no other punishment on those that will not heare the Church then that he should be reckoned as an heathen Math. 18. And Paul Tit. 3. teacheth us after once and twice admonition to avoyd an Heretick but not to imprison him or kill him or banish him Ergo the christian Magistrate must neither imprison nor kill nor banish Hereticks Here Mr. Dell speaks plaine English and out of his aboundant zeale professedly pleads for the impunity even of Hereticks themselves by the civill Magistrate and if we compare this with his p. 29. Take heed you do nothing to the prejudice of the faithfull Gods owne people as he hath warned you by the spirit saying Touch not mine anointed and do my Prophets no harme c. These anoynted ones are the Lords Prophets and the Lord Hath no Prophets but such as are anoynted with the Spirit Thus Christ was made the Lords Prophet and thus are All his Brethren made Prophets being fellowes with him in his unction And therefore take heed how you meddle with the Lords anoynted ones and with the Lords Prophets c. The Lord hath still the same care of the same people and will suffer no man to do them wrong but will reprove Kings and Parliaments and Kingdomes and Cities and Counties and Committees he will reprove them all for their sakes and say touch not mine anoynted and do
all though they convert but few even those onely who are elected and onely civilize others and perchance make many of them Hypocrites and because the very Elect themselves even after their conversion may fall into scandalous sinnes and capitall offences though not fall finally nor totally from their state of grace which Magistrates have power and authority as well from God as man to punish both to reforme them deterre and keep others from infection preserve publick peace justice and keep off Gods judgments they and all others who externally embrace the Gospel are in that regard enjoyned to live soberly and godly in this present world to avoyd all sinnes and wickednesses whatsoever yea heresie idolatry blasphemy schisme erronious Doctrines as well as Murder Adultery and the like offences and likewise subject to the Magistrates censures corrections in case they actually or openly transgresse in any kind they being Gods avengers to execute wrath on those that doe evill Therefore the civill Magistrate may â—ay must and ought to use his utmost endeavours to make an externall publick reformation both in Church and State and a totall purgation of all sins offences heresies blasphemies errors and corruptions whatsoever out of both for the welfare and peace of both and diverting of Gods wrath from both though he cannot work an inward reformation in all no more then the Minister or Christ himselfe whiles he was here on earth And therefore this Objection That Christian Princes and Magistrates ought not to restraine or punish Hereticks Schismaticks c. or to intermeddle in the outward Reformation of the visible Churches within their Territories because they cannot inwardly convert and reforme all members of them is a most absurd and ridiculous Objection Sixtly to civilize moralize or restraine Christians from the outward acts of sinnes from which they are not inwardly purged by penall Lawes and corporall Censures as Magistrates oft doe is not to make them Hypocrites and twofold more the children of hell then before as is most falsly objected but to make them actually better and lesse sinfull lesse hurtfull then otherwise they would be were they not restrained for the fewer actuall sins men openly commit the lesse is their condemnation the more their commendation the lesse they infect others the lesse they dishonour and provoke God the lesse they disturb the publick peace the more exorbitant excessive numerous audacious their transgressions are the more is their guilt the heavier their judgment the more pernicious dangerous their example and the more they provoke Gods publick judgments against the places where they live and encrease the guilt of those Magistrates who suffer them to goe unpunished witnesse Foxes Bears Lyons yea the Devil himself who chained ap are nothing so hurtfull as those that run at large though they retaine their natures still the like we may say of chained Hereticks Schismaticks Blasphemers Seducers and all kind of restrained sinners by coercive Lawes or Punishments Oderunt peccare mali formidine poenae Neither makes ill men formall Hypocrites nor worse then if they were unrestrained yea their pretending of an inward reformation or dissimulation of their heresies blasphemies and hereticall opinions is nothing so sinfull so dangerous so hurtfull so damnable as the open practice spreading and profession of them with impunity Seventhly The Magistrates and Gods intention in punishing and restraining Hereticks Schismaticks Blasphemers and other Malefactors is not to make them Hypocrites but really to reclaime or make them better at least if not inwardly to convert them If their restraint or punishment make any formall Hypocrites as the very Gospel preached doth more frequently then the sword of Justice it is not the fault of the Magistrate or the punishment inflicted which are good but of the parties punished who pervert them to a contrary end then they were intended Their abuse therefore of them must not nullisie them neither as to themselves nor others who may profit by them and make better use thereof Eightly Saint Paul hath most fully refuted this Objection in a like case Phil. 1. 15 16 17 18. Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife and some also of good will The one preach Christ of contention not sincerely supposing to adde affliction to my bonds But the other of love knowing that I am set for the defence of the Gospel What then Notwithstanding every way whether in pretencee or truth Christ is preached AND I THEREIN DOE REJOYCE YEA AND WILL REJOYCE compared with the 1 Cor. 1. 18 23 24. For the preaching of the Crosse is to them that perish foolishnesse but unto us that are saved it is the power of God c. But we preach Christ crucified unto the Jewes a stumbling block and unto the Gentiles foolishnesse but unto them which are called both Jewes and Greeks Christ the Power of God and the Wisdome of God 2 Cor. 2. 15 16. For we are into God a sweet savour of Christ in them that are saved and in them that perish to the one we are the savour of death unto death and to the other the savour of life unto life and who is sufficient for these things Though some men preach Christ for good ends others for bad some in pretence others in truth and though the preaching of the Gospell be a stumbling-block to some foolishnesse and a savour of death unto death to others aggravating and encreasing their sinnes and condemnation in an high degree which is worse then outwardly to reformeor make them Hypocrites and the power of God to salvation but to a few working such contrary effects yet it must be preached because God commands it hath glory by it even in those that perish and some are converted thereby though others hardned and damned so though the Magistrates coercive power and punishments inwardly convert not many yet because they restraine most Hereticks Schismaticks Sinners from doing more mischief to others and committing more actuall sinnes in themselves yea make an outward conformity and reformation where Justice is duely executed they must be still continued and conscionably used in the Church though they should make many men Hypocrites and worse then they were before being God's Ordinance for good not ill Ninthly admit the Magistrates punishments and coercive power should actually convert and reforme none in a Gospel way of themselves yet they compell them to resort to the Word and Ordinances and to the use of those meanes which God hath specially appointed to convert and reforme them both in heart and life yea the suppressing of all private meetings and conventicles of Hereticks Schismaticks Anabaptists Papists Blasphemers which confirme and settle them in their damnable heresies errors schismes and constraining them to resort conscionably to our publick Congregations where the Word of God is truly preached expounded the Sacraments duely administred all former grounds of their Separation and Schism fromour Assemblies being fully removed so as there is
of the multitudes of Idolaters round about them of the many strong enticements and their own proneness thereunto So upon the like reason the New Testament is far more frequent in exhorting Christians under the Gospel to beware of Hereticks Schismaticks and False Teachers then of Idolaters and of Heresie and Errors in Religion then of Idolatry because Idolaters under the Gospel when most Idolatrous Nations should be converted and the vanity the false-hood of Idolatry fully discovered should be nothing so dangerous so infectious so numerous so diligent and cunning to seduce men as Hereticks Schismaticks False Teachers and Idolatrie nothing so apt to seduce men to it as heretical and erroneous Tenets which have a more specious shew of truth and greater colour of warrant from the Scriptures then Idolatry Wherefore godly Kings Magistrates States should be more severe and vigilant against obstinate Hereticks Seducers False Teachers Heresie c. then against professed Idolaters or Idolatry wherewith their people are seldom endangered seduced and the many reiterated Caveats against them in the Gospel will warrant them to proceed against such as capitally as severely under the Gospel as godly Magistrates and Princes proceeded against Idolaters and False Teachers under the Law That Christian Kings States Magistrates under the Gospel have the self-same Power and Commission as godly Kings States Magistrates had under the Law I have formerly manifested and is undeniably proved by ROM 13. 1. to 6. 1 TIM 2. 1 2. TIT. 3. 1 2. 1 PET. 2. 13 14 15. compared with 2 SAM 23. 3. 1 KING 10. 9. PSAL. 101. 8. PSAL. 78. 71 72. ISA. 16. 5. c. 32. 1. PROV 20. 2. 8. 20. c. 24. 21 22. c. 25. 5. c. 29. 4. 16. and other texts Yea it is a Maxime under the Gospel as wel as under the Law That a right hand must be cut off and a right eye pulled out any member especially the corrupt Members of a Christian Church or State destroyed by the Magistrate rather then the whole body infected endangered destroyed MAT. 5. 29. 30. c. 18. 8. MARK 9. 45. JOH 11. 50 51 52. c. 18. 14. ROM 5. 7 8. GAL. 5. 12. As therefore pious Kings and Magistrates under the Old Testament might lawfully cut off one or more Idolaters Seducers Blasphemers Apostates to preserve the whole Church and State from destruction infection ruine and avert Gods wrath DEUT. 7. 2. 4. c. 13. 7. 9 10 11. 15 16 17. NUM 16. 26. c. 25. 4. to 14. So by like reason may Christian Kings States Magistrates under the Gospel off rotten Hereticks Seducers Blasphemers and the like putred Members from the body of their Churches and States by capital punishments to ward off Gods Judgements from the rest as wel as Traytors Murtherers Theeves and other Malefactors as the fore-quoted texts together with the 1 COR. 5. 6 7. 13. ROM 13. 3. 4. fully evidence But lest this should not fully satisfie I shal next proceed to Arguments drawn from the New Testament only wherein I shal thus argue in the sixth place Magistrates Kings Rulers and the Higher powers under the Gospel it self are ordained continued by God and men for this very end among others to be a terror to evil doers and workers to be Gods Ministers Avengers to execute wrath upon them that do evil and not to bear the sword in vain being sent FOR THE PUNISHMENT OF EVIL DOERS Nay Christians themselves are to obey submit unto them and injoyned to pray for them that under them they may live a peaceable life IN ALL GODLINESSE and HONESTY they being the Ministers of God for their good ROM 13. 1. to 6. 1 PET. 2. 13 14. TIT. 3. 1. 1 TIM 2. 1 2 3. Yea Christ himself commands his disciples when they should be brought before them nay SCOURGED KILLED and PUT TO DEATH BY THEM not to dispute their power as some do now but to submit unto it as he did to Pilates MAT. 10. 17 18. 21. LUK. 22. 12. 17. JOHN 16. 2 3. Upon which grounds Paul being brought before Festus Felix Agrippa and accused by the Jews of HERESY stirring up of sedition among the Jews throughout the world teaching against the Law and defiling the Temple justified himself and denyed these accusations but demurred not to their Jurisdiction using this notable speech ACT. 25. 10. IF I BE AN OFFENDOR OR HAVE COMMITTED ANY THING VVORTHY OF DEATH IREFUSE NOT TO DYE BUT IF THERE BE NONE OF THESE THINGS VVHEREOF THEY ACCUSE ME NOMAN MAY DELIVER VNTO THEM I APPEAL VNTO CAESAR Where Paul appeals not from but to the Supream Civil Magistrate from the Jews even in a case of Religion yea of Heresie Schism Superstition as it was then accounted not refusing to dye IF HE HAD DONE ANY THING VVORTHY OF DEATH and were guilty of this charge Therefore by these Gospel Texts and Presidents Christian Magistrates Kings Rulers and the Higher Powers under the Gospel have right to inflict corporal pecuniary and capital Punishments upon notorious dangerous Idolaters Apostates Hereticks Blasphemers False Teachers and obstinate Schismaticks who are evil doers in the highest degree dishonoring and blaspheming God undermining Religion subverting the faith of many bringing upon themselves and others swift damnation disturbing the Peace Order Doctrins of the Church and bringing down Gods Wrath Judgements on the Churches States Kingdoms wherein they live and destroy the very stock and faith of Christ as much as in them lies Rom. 16. 17 18. Gal. 5. 19 20 21. Phil. 3. 2 Mat. 7. 15. cap. 23. 14. 26. 27. 28. Acts 20. 29 30. 1 Tim. 4. 1 2. 2 Tim. 2. 17 18. Tit. 3. 10 11. 2 Pet. 2. 1 2 3. Rom. 1. 18. to the end Revel 2. 15. to 24. 1 Cor. 5. 6 7. 13. Heb. 12. 15. I suppose our Oppositers are not so impudent to deny but that Christian Princes States Magistrates under the Gospel may punish Traytors Murderers Theeves Witches and other Idolaters with corporal and capital punishments because they are evill doers even by vertue of the forecited Texts then by the self same reason they must likewise punish all obstinate seducing Hereticks Blasphemers Schismaticks c. with the self-same punishments who are guilty of High Treason and Blasphemy against God himself the Father Son Spirit Gospel Christian Faith Destroyers Murderers of mens very souls and greater disturbers of the States and Churches wherein they live then any Theeves Felons Witches Can any rational Christian think that God would so severely punish Idolaters Blasphemers and seducing Prophets under the Law with inexorable death and yet let them and Hereticks scape unpunished under the Gospel there being no variablenesse nor shadow of turning in him That he would appoint Magistrates to punish only the smallest offences between man and man and not to correct and punish the most heinous offences and Treasons against himself being his own Avengers Ministers Vicegerents Would it not be deemed a grand absurdity in earthly Kings and
Mothers for man-slayers c. and ANY OTHER THING CONTRARY TO SOUND DOCTRINE Whereas against the fruits of the Spirit there is no Law Gal. 5. 22 23. that is to punish them or any Christians for them Whence I thus argue If Heresies Idolatry Schisms Blasphemies too as Christ resolves Mat. 15. 19 Mar. 2. 22. be works of the flesh not Spirit as wel as Witchcraft Murders deserving death as wel as they and the Law of God is made for the punishment of the disobedient ungodly unholy and prophane and whatsoever is contrary to sound doctrine as wel as for Murderers of Fathers and Mothers and Man-slayers then the Christian Magistrate under the Gospel when he sees just cause may and ought by the Law of God to punish men with corporal and capital punishments for Heresies Idolatry Blasphemies and dangerous Schismes being works of the flesh as well as for Murther Witchcraft and such as murther and destroy mens souls as wel as those who only murther their bodies since no reason can be rendred out of Scripture why they should punish some works of the flesh only and not others But the Supposition is true and ratified by the forecited texts Ergo the Sequel cannot be gainsaid but must be granted If any Object That the Subjects of Christs Kingdom are a spiritual people born of the Spirit and therefore without the reach of any outward force and beyond not only the power but cognizance of the Magistrate secular powers which are but a carnal and worldly Institution I answer First that the Heresies Errors Schisms Blasphemies of such as are pretended to be a spiritual people and Subjects of Christs Kingdom born of the Spirit are meerly carnal and works of the flesh not Spirit as Paul expresly resolves therefore admit the Magistrate and secular power to be but a carnal Ordinance they are yet within the reach and cognizance both of their power and censure as well as Treasons Murthers and other Felonies of such Saints and spiritual people Secondly The Argument is but a meer fallacy Flesh and blood and the Civil Magistrate hath nothing to do with them that are born of the Spirit in things of the Spirit Ergo It hath nothing to do with them in the fruits and works of their flesh which deserve both punishment and censure Thirdly This Objection casts a scandal reproach upon Magistrates and their Authority in calling them the power of the world flesh and blood a carâ—â—l Ordinance outward and secular power as if they were not Gods Ordinance as wel as Ministers of the Word for the good of men and punishment of all Malefactors as wel Saints as others as is resolved Row 13. 1. to 6. Fourthly It is a meer Popish Argument used by the Pope and Popish Clergy in former times to exempt themselves from all secular power abusing that text of 1 Cor. 2. 15. But he that is spiritual judgeth all thingâ— yet hee himself is judged of no man which I wonder Mr Dell forgot to quote as those who now object it may read at large in Antiqu. Ecclesiae Brit. p. 245. and sundry Popish Authors De Immunitate et Exemptione Clericorum So that these New-Lights who pretend themselves most opposite to Popery do but in truth revive it among us in an higher degree then ever by giving to all those they please to stile Saints spiritual people or the faithful the very same yea a greater exemption from the civil Magistrates power then ever the Papists gave unto their Clergy only and no others My eleventh Argument is this Private Christians are strictly and frequently enjoyned to beware of avoyde turn away from and not to receive or admit into their houses any Hereticks Apostates Schismaticks or false Teachers Matth. 7. 15. Rom. 16. 17 18. Phil. 3. 2. 2 Tim. 2. 16. 17. c. 3. 5 6. c. 4. 15. 2 Pet. c. 3. 17. 2 John 10. 11. Yea when and where there were no Christian Magistrates to restrain and punish them the Apostles themselves delivered them unto Satan 1 Tim. 1. 19 20. Wished that they were even cut off for troubling the Church Gal. 5. 12. Willed Ministers to stop their mouthes rebuke them sharply and after the first and second admonition to reject because they subverted whole houses and overthrew the faith of many Tit. 1. 11. 13. c. 3. 10 11. 2 Pet. 2. 1 2. 2 Tim. 2. 18. And the Churches of Pergamus Thyatira and the Angels of them when they had no Christian Magistrates are particularly blamed by God for suffering such who held the doctrine of Baalam and of the Nicholaitans which Christ hated and for SUFFERING that woman Jezebel who called her self a Prophetesse to teach and seduce his servants to commit fornication and to eat things sacrificed unto Idols Threatning to cast her and those that committed fornication with her into great tribulation unlesse they repented Yea saying I WIL KIL HER CHILDREN WITH DEATH and all the Churches shal know that I am he which searcheth the reins and heart and I wil give unto every of you according to your works Rom. 2. 14. to 24. Therefore when and where there are Christian Magistrates they may and must by like reason expel reject banish such out of their Dominions not admit them into their territories cut them off for troubling the Church stop their mouthes and not suffer them to teach and seduce their people yea kil them and their children where there is just cause with death since Christ himself threatens to do it not only immediately by himself but also mediately by the Magistrates who are his Ministers Avengers and must not bear the Sword in vain but punish such evil doers with it Rom. 13. 3 4. and to render to them according to their works The Argument holds undeniably because Christian Princes and Magistrates are the Nursing fathers of the Church to defend protect it against these Seducers and devouring wolves to preserve the peace the unity of it and the purity of Doctrine and worship in it as the Scripture warrants and Divines have ever asserted in all ages of the Church til some New-Lights and Sectaries of late opposed it in others to procure impunity to themselves to vent their Errors without controle My twelfth Argument shal be deduced from these following Gospel Texts Luke 19. 27. Where Christ after the Parable of the Talents concludes thus But those mine Enemies that would not that I should reign over them bring hither AND SLAY THEM BEFORE MY FACE Christ doth not slay them immediately himself but the Magistrates who are his Ministers servants revengers they are to bring and slay them before his face for their Treason and Rebellion against him Mat. 21. 33. to 44. Mark 12. 1. to 12. Luke 20. 9 to 19. Where the Lord of the Vineyard who let it out to husbandmen who stoned his servants and killed his Son when he cometh he wil miserably DESTROY those wicked men and let
and distracted as some esteemed him I cannot certainely determine All these were thus censured and some of them put to death by the common Law since the Statutes against Hereticks were repealed why any scruple of putting such obstinate grosse Haereticks and Blasphemers to death upon a legall Indictment and Conviction before the Judges after the ancient course of the Common Law should now be made I can see no colour unles our love to our zeale for God Religion be farre lesse farre colder then our Predecessors or those very Lordly Prelates whom we have suppressed and our solemne Covenants Protestations to make a thorow Reformation of all corruptions in Doctrine Disciplin life an engagement to us to tollerate such most execrable Heresies Errors and open Blasphemies which the most unreformed times persons would by no meanes suffer without speedy condigne corporall and capitall punishments I shall only adde to this that by the Statutes of 5. Eliz. c. 1. 23. Eliz. c. 1. 3. â—7 Eliz. c. 1. 28. Eliz. c. 6. 35. Eliz. c. 1. 2. 39. Eliz. c. 18. 43. Eliz. c. 9. 1 Jac. c. 4. 3. Jac. c. 4. 5. 7. Jac. c. 6. 3. Car. c. 2. Jesuites Seminarie Priests Monkes Friars who receive Orders by any power derived from the See of Rome if borne within the Kings allegiance are to be indicted in the Kings temporall Courts and condemned yea executed as Traytors if they do but say Masse exercise their Priestly sanctions or endeavour to seduce any of the Kings Subjects from their Religion and Allegiance though they do it as they conceive meerely out of conscience and duty to God and their Ecclesiasticall Superiors upon which Statutes many of them have beene executed as Traytors and some of late by the present Parliaments speciall direction when the King himselfe would have reprived them The voluntarie Harborers of them knowing them to be such are by the Lawes to be indicted and executed as Fellons and the late Archbishops familiarity correspondence and confederacy with Priests and Jeâ—uites to introduce Popish Superstition and subvert the established Protestant Religion was charged against him by the whole House of Commons as a Treasonable and Capitall offence for which among other things he lost his head by the unanimous Judgement of both Houses of Parliament Such Popish Recusants or others who bring in any of the Popes Bulls or Excommunications into this Realme or publish them here though out of a seduced Conscience are to be executed as Felons by these Lawes or at least attainted in a Praemunire to the losse of their Estates and Libertyes Such Popish Recusants who are convicted for not repairing to Church and receiving the Sacraments among us are to forfeit two parts in three to be divided of their whole reall and personall Estates to the King to pay an hundred pounds for every Masse they heare and forfeit twenty pounds a Month for absenting themselves from Divine Service and Sermons in some Church or Chappell which lest eâ—alty of twenty pounds a Month for absence from the publike Ordinances all Schismaticks and Separatists incurre by these Lawes as well as Papist All such Recuâ—ants or Separatists who resuse the Oath of Allegiance and Supremacy incurre a Praemunire are to be imprisoned and made uncapable of any Office The importers of Popish Books Pictures Reliques of any kinde are subject to divers pecuniary Penalties Recusants themselves to be confined to their Houses disarmed secluded from the Court and all places of trust disabled to practise Law or Phisick and in some cases to inherit Lands to sue any Actions to be Executors or Administrators and to forfeit all their goods estates Dowers Iointures during their naturall lives as these Statutes declare at large And besides this they are to be excommunicated ipso facto and so utterly disabled to bring any action at Law and all this in relation to their false hereticall and detestable Religion which oft incites them to sedition Rebellion Treason against the King Kingdome Parliament And are all to be indicted and tried in these cases in the Kings Courts only according to the Rules of the Common Law These Lawes are still in force and executed to the full against them now and it was a great complaint yea charge against the King and his ill Councell in this and former Parliaments that they suspended or mitigated these Lawes against Popish Priests and Recusants And shall we then tollerate other dangerous Hereticks Schismatickes Blasphemers and Enemies of our established Religion yea and plead for a common tolleration of them when our Lawes are so justly rigorous and our selves so vehement against these God forbid As for obstinate Schismaticks who wholy separate from our Churches or publike Assemblies and are no Papists as they forfeit twelve pence for every Lords day and twenty pounds for every month they absent themselves from our publike Congregations by the Statutes of 1. Eliz. c. 2. and other recited Acts So by the Statute of 35. Eliz. c. 1. yet unrepealed they are to be imprisoned without Bayle or mainprise upon conviction untill they conforme themselves and repaire constantly to our Churches and if within three monthes after their Conviction they refuse to conforme and to repaire duly to our Churches or Chapells they are thereupon to take an Oath of Abjuration to depart the Kingdome in the open Quarter-Sessions or Assises before the Justices within such time as shall be limited and in case they refuse to abjure or shall not depart the Realme after such abjuration made or returne into it or into any the Kings Dominions againe without speciall license of the King first obtained then in every such case the person so offending Shall be adjudged A Felon and suffer death as in case of Felony without benefit of Clergy And every person who shall knowingly releive harbour maintaine or keepe in his house or service any such obstinate Separatist or Schismatick who shall-refuse to repaire to our Churches or Chappell 's shall after notice thereof by the Ordinary or any Justice of Peace or the Minister Curate or Churchwardens of the parish where such person shall then be forfeit ten pounds for every Month that he shall so relieve maintaine retaine or keepe any such person so offending Which Act alone if now duly executed would speedily suppresse ot quit our Church our State of all those dangerous Anabaptists Sectaries and seperating Enthusiasts who now so much infest and threaten tuine unto both I wish all such would seriously read Ephes 4. 1. to 7. Rom. 16. 17. 18 1 Cor. 1. 9. 10 14. 2 Pet. 2. Jud. 19. St. Cyprians Book de Vnitate Ecclesiae and St. Augustins Bookes and Epistles against the Donatists which would teach them to renounce their dangerous Schisme and prevent the execution of this good Law against them How variously Hereticks themselves with their Fautors and Followers are to be punished by the Canon Law to wit with excommunicution losse of trading and commerce with others
the wicked and cast them into a Furnace of fire where shall be weeping and gnashing of Teeth till the end of the World Ergo Christian Princes and Magistrates must tolerate all Hereticks Scismaticks false Teachers Apostates Idolaters and execrable Blasphemers in the Church and not punish extirpate burne or cut them downe with the sword of Iustice till the generall day of Iudgement at the end of the World If this Argument hold good marke then the necessary absurd consequenses which will likewise follow from it First that no Traytor Murtherer Robber Theefe Sodomite nor hainous Malefactor whatsoever must be once medled with punished or put to death by the Magistrate in this world but all tollerated and let alone till the end of the World and reserved only to Gods Iudgement and eternall punishments in Hell because the Tares here are all the Children of the Devill and wicked one of whatsoever kind not Hereticks Schismaticks Apostates false Teachers and Blasphemers only as is cleare by v. 38. 39. 40. 41. And if no Tares must be pulled up no offendors whatsoever punishedby Kings and civill Majestrates till the worlds end then what will become of the Magistrates Office power of humane society it selfe of all States Republikes which cannot possibly subsist when all capitall offendors of all sorts must be left unpunished unrestiained If this bee our opposites reall position let them speak it out in plaine English and then the world will easily discover what Libertines what ill Statesmen and black Saints they are 2ly Then Parents must not correct their Children Masters their Servants Schoole-Masters their Schollers Superior military Officers or a Councell of Warre their Inferior Souldiers which I hope they doe or should do in all Armies but they must be let alone till the day of Doome or the worlds end without punishment and then what will become of all Families Schooles Armies yea what Monsters of impiety would Children Servants Souldiers prove in a very few yeares space 3ly Then it wil necessarily follow that the Objectors of the Separation have no ground at al to separate from us because some Tares grow in our Churches and we have mixt Congregations Communions the things they so much declaime against and must be really guilty of obstinate Schisme for if the Tares and Wheate must grow together till the Harvest and not be separated till the end of the world and that by the Angells then why or how can they separate themselves from our publike Congregations now because they have some Tares which grow among the wheat Yea why will they as they pretend at least suffer no Tares to grow within their separate fields Congregations here but gather and cast them quite out of their Congregations Troopes Regiments who must all consist wholy of visible Saints and Children of the Kingdome If both must and will grow together till the Harvest why do they not permit them to grow together in their Conventicles where I feare more Tâ—â—â—â— do grow and are â—own then in our publik Assemblies If they Object they â—â—st grow together in the field which Christ interprets to be the world v. 38. not in the church which is not the world I answer First that the world here is not put in opposition to the church but for it as including it for it is put for the world and field wherein there are Tares mingled with the Wheate and the Children of the wicked intermixed together with the Children of the Kingdome Now if you take the world here in opposition or contradistinction to the church then there can be nothing but Tares in it and no Wheat nor children of the Kingdome which grow only in the church not in the world as distinct from it Therefore this evasion will not avoid the objection nor justifie their separation no more then the Donatists of old as Augustine proves at large against Cresconius the Donatist out of Cyprian and others concluding thus Si videntur in Ecclesia esse zizania non tamen impediri debet aut fides aut charitas nostra ut quoniam zizania esse in ecclesia cernimus ipsi de ecclesia recedamus Nobis tantummodo laborandum est ut frumentum esse possumus ut cum caeperit frumentum dominicis horreis condi fructum pro opere nostro labore capiamus Apostolus in Epistola sua dicit In domo autem magna non solum vasa sunt aurea et argentea sed et lignea fictilia et quaedam quidem honorata quaedam inhonorata nos operam demus ut quantum possimus laboremus ut vas aureum et argenteum sumus 2ly The Church is in the field of this world and there noware have bin and ever will be in the most pure and perfectly reformed churches chaffe and Tares as well as Wheat Gotes as well as Sheepe yea more children of the wicked one then children of the Kingdome and they neither can nor shall be totally severed till the Harvest at the worlds end wherefore your separation from our parochial churches because they are mixt and are not all reall and visible Saints but have some Tares among them is point blank against your owne argument from this parable and to the text it selfe 3ly If your separation from our churches because there are Tares growing in them with the VVheat and your casting out from your separate congregations â—uch as you deeme Tares and Gotes be justifiable then the civill Majestrate may and must by the same reason punish banish root cast such out of their christian Republiks there being no ground why the Majestrate should admit such to grow together with the wheat in the field of the christian State or church when as the Ecclesiasticall Officers ought not to suffer them in their particular churches so as this Parable contradicts your owne practise of separation and this your objection from it against the civill Magistrates power 2ly To answer more particularly the Objectors may with better probability ague hence that Husbandmen must not weed their corne nor pluck up the Tares that grow together with it before the Harvest corne which would be strang new-light new doctrine to all good Husbandmen living in the country because this Husbandman bid his Servants here let the Tares alone till the Harvest least they should pluck up the wheat together with them as conclude hence that Hereticks Schismaticks Idolaters Blasphemers and the like are to be tollerated and not punished nor rooted out by the civill Magistrate but let to grow untill the end of the world when the generall Harvest comes First because the Tares here spoken off are all sorts of wicked men whatsoever and all Children of the Devill living in the world collectively considered not such or such particular pestilent Heretickes Schismaticks false Teachers Apostates or Blasphemers who are more mischievous and notoriously obnoxious then others so that the argument hence is only this All Tares and wicked men shall not be
in the least proportion but in such cases the Temporall Magistrate ought to proceed to corporall and in some cases to capitall punishments And this I shall cleare from the Text it selfe beyond contradiction This Councell whereof Gamaliel was a Member being cut to the heart with Peters Speech tooke Counsell to slay the Apostles as obstinate Hereticks and Schismaticks Gamaliel doubting and not being resolved that they were such disswaded them from it upon this ground because their way and Counsell in respect of the extraordinary miracles they had wrought and other particulars in the foregoing Chapter might very probably be of God and then they could not overthrow it and if they opposed it might hapily be found to be fighters against God whereas if he had deemed them absolute Hereticks Schismaticks and had not heard or seene their extraordinaty Miracles he would have readily consented with the rest to put them to death and not advised them to refraine from them and let them alone Therefore the application of this advise to undoubted Hereticks Idolaters false-Teachers Schismaticks and Blasphemers who never wrought such extraordinary Miracles as Gamaliel and the Counsell saw and knew the Apostles did is neither consonant to Gamaliels reason nor advise Finally it is observable that though upon Gamaliels advise the Councell spared the Apostles lives and set them free yet they left them not altogether alone or unpunished For first they did publikly beat them v. 40. a corporal punishment 2ly They laid a strict command upon them that they should not after that speake in the name of Iesus v. 40. Therefore there is direct warrant from this very Text to restraine such as we repute Herericks and false Teachers from preaching and private meetings and to punish them with corporall punishments though we doubt and conceive that hapily they may be right in some things Wherefore this Text is so farre from ayding that it utterly refutes and confounds the Objectors The 3. Objection is this in Esay 11. 9. God hath said concerning his Kingdome There shall be none to kill or hurt in all my holy Mountaine And againe Isay 60. 18. Violence shall no more be heard in thy Streets wasting nor destruction within thy borders Ergo the Temporall Christian Magistrate must use no outward force nor imprison kill banish Hereticks Blasphemers or obstinate Schismaticks I answer that this is a strange Independant Argument borrowed from the Anabaptists no wayes waranted by the objected texts here miserably perverted For in the first of them Isay 11. 7. to 11. there is a Prophecy that the Wolfe shall dwell with the Lambe and the Leopard shall lye downe with the Kid and the Calfe and the young Lyon and the suckling together and a little child shall lead them and the cow and the Beare shall feed together and the Lyon shall eat straw like the Ox and the sucking child shall play upon the hole of the Aspe and the weaned child shall put his hand upon the Cockatrice den They to wit the Wolfe Leopard young Lyon Beare Aspe Cockatrice all hurtfull and ravenous Creatures shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy Mountaine Which is againe repeated Isay 65. 25. Now who are meant by these hurtfull creatures and who are they whom they shall not hurt nor destroy and in what manner is the only question Mr. Dell intimates that christian Princes States Magistrates are the Wolves Leopards Lyons Beares Aspes and Cockatrices meant in the Text let him then speake it out plainly and prove it from the Text which no wayes warrants such an Anabaptisticall or Anarchicall Interpretation both scandalous and destructive to christian Magistracy and directly contrary to Isay 49. 23. And Kings shall he thy nursing Fathers and Queenes thy nursing Mothers But if it be intended only of persecuting Sauls converted into Pauls of men of Wolvish aspish cruell ravenous dispositions like to these destructive or poysonous creatures converted and quite transformed from their naturall dispositions by the power of Christ and of the great peace and amity that shall be betweene all sorts of men of contrary humours and tempers when converted and brought into Christs holy Mountaine as all Expositors generally accord then it is nothing to purpose and miserably perverted by Mr. Dell the forme of whose argument must then be this Men who before their conversion were as contrary to Christs Sheepe Lambes Oxen and little Children as the Wolfe is to the Lambe the Leopard to the Kid the young Lyon to the Calfe the Beare to the Cow the Lyon to the Ox the Aspe and Cockatrice to the little Child that playes upon its hole shall after their conversion lye downe feed and converse together without hurting or destroying one another and live in a blessed sweet peace and unity together under the Gospell Ergo Christian Princes States Magistrates under the Gospell must not restraine imprison banish hurt destroy nor put to death notorious Hereticks Seducers Blasphemers Scismaticks Apostates as bad as Wolves Aspes c. Ridiculous Logicke and Nonsence Divinity But whom shall not these hurt nor destroy in all Gods holy Mountaine the Lambes Kiddes and little Children of Iesus Christ not Lyons Beares Aspes Cockatrices wolves such as Heretickes are here put in contradistinction to them Ergo Christian Magistrates must not hurt banish or destroy damnable obstinate Hereticks Seducers Blasphemers Schismaticks c. is as strange an inconsequent as the former yet this is all Mr. Dell can truly inferre from the genuine meaning of these words I shall only adde that this parabolicall Text saith the Wolves Lyons Leopards Beares Aspes Cockatrices shall not hurt Christs Lambes Sucklins and little Children in all his holy Mountaine but he adds not on the contrary that if they come as such to hurt and destroy his flock as Heretickes false-Teachers Schismaticks and Blasphemers do that then the Shepherds and Civill Pastors of Christs Lambes Sheeps may by no meanes hurt or destroy them the point in question This Text therefore is strangely misapplyed in all particulars by the objector Finally if this text be meant of the times of the Gospell and of that sweet peace and amity that shall be between all converted members of Christs Kingdome one towards another that they shall all feed eat and lye downe together one with another and not hurt nor destroy in all Gods Holy Mountaine then how comes it to passe that the Objector and those he frequently stiles the faithfull the Spirituall people the Saints the Anoynted ones c. doe not come to this Mountaine the Church but separate themselves from our Congregations and will not lye downe feed play eat nor pray together with those they deeme Wolves Lyons Leopards Aspes and Cockatrices contrary to this prophecy to the great disturbance of Christs Kingdome yea why do they all generally betake themselves to the Warres to kill hurt and destroy in all the holy Mountaine contrary to the very letter of this Text and
this proclaimes him a professed Anabaptist denying all Magistracy and the power of the sword under the Gospel yea contradicts his own concession p. 27. That the Magistrate hath power over the persons estates and lives of those who are outwardly wicked as open Hereticks Schismaticks and Blasphemers arâ— If no then his argument for not punishing Hereticks with imprisonment banishment death from Titus will no more hold nor satisfie then my objection for the not punishing of Traytors Blasphemers Murderers Theeves with corporall or capitall punishment from Timothy and the Proverbs since the word avoiding is used in all three Texts alike without any mention of corporall or capitall punishments fines death Wherefore they may inflict such punishments on them if they see cause as Tit. 3. 1. will sufficiently warrant compared with Rom. 13. 3 4. Fourthly there is no inhibition to Magistrates in any of these texts not to punish obstinate Hereticks with imprisonment fines death and expresse warrant to do it in others Therefore this objection is a meer absurdity His fifth Objection is more absurd Again Those that do these things shall not inherit the kingdome of God And again He that believeth not shall be damned but not one word of outward or corporall punishment in all the Gospel I shall adde nor yet one word against it Ergo Hereticks Schismaticks Blasphemers are not to be punished by the Christian Magistrate with outward or corporall punishment but only with the losse of Heaven and eternal damnation Learnedly argued Had Mr. Dell cited his first text fully and thus applyed it his auditory might well have hissed him out of the Pulpit and his very Saints if they had any Saintship or Sanctity in them blushed at such licentious and prophane Divinity wherefore to right the Truth and shame him out of his absurd wrestings of Scripture I shall quote the first text intirely and then apply his inference to it The text though it seemes he was afraid to quote it is Gal. 5. 19 20. 21. Now the workes of the flesh are manifest which are these Adultery Fornication uncleanesse Lasciviousnesse Idolatry Witchcraft Hatred variance emulations Wrath strife seditions HERESIES Envyings MVRDERS Drunkennesse Revellings and such like of which I tell you before as also I told you in times past here comes in Mr. Dells quotation that they which doe such things shall not inherit the Kingdome of God Here saith Mr. Dell is not one word of outward or corporall punishment nor in all the Gospell Therefore Ministers must not goe to Magistrates nor ought Magistrates ex officio nor upon any complaint to punish all or any of these workes of the flesh with imprisonment sale of goods death banishment or any outward or corporall punishment but they must be punished only with the losse of the Kingdome of God This is the formall Argument in Blessed God what strange Divinity and New-light is this to be preached on a Fast day before a religious and learned Parliament and then printed and published after a manifestation of the house of Commons dislike FOR THE GOOD OF THE FAITHFVLL AND AT THEIR DESIRE and averred in his Epistle Dedicatory to the Commons house with infinite confidence and artogance to be the minde of God the doctrine of Iesus Christ the true Doctrine of the Gospell c. Will Mr. Dell with his Saints his faithfull and anoynted ones GODS PECVLIAR PORTION IN THE KINGDOME so he most arrogantly stiles them as if God had no portion Saints faithfull ones Church amongst us but those alone now proclaime to all the world in print even in a Fast Sermon that none of all these workes of the flesh No not Adultery Fornication uncleanesse Idolatry Witchcraft Seditions Heresies Drunkenesse Murder nor any other suppose Sodomy Treason Rebellion Atheisme Blasphemy or the most horrid outrages especially if the offendors therein think any of them lawfull in point of conscience are so much as once to be punished with any outward corporall or Capitall punishment whatsoever by any Christian Magistrate Master Tutor or Parent but only with the losse of heaven Is this the Reformation that these New-lights intend the Liberty of Conscience they preach for write for fight for the Kingdome and Discipline of the Lord Jesus Christ which these Saints ' these faithfull ones this peculiar portion of the Lord will set up among us ' as Mr. Dell at their desires and for their benefit here proclaimes it is without blushing If so then it is high time for us to looke after these Black-Saints designes to blow up all Magistracy Parliaments Lawes Divine and humane to introduce Anarchy Libertinisme impunity of all Hereticks Blasphemers Seducers Malefactors how pernitious soever to let corrupt Nature and gracelesse Heresies loose to take their full swing and plung men into all sorts of wickednesses crimes villanyes outrages with impunity in this world which could not once have entred into my heart to beleeve had not Mr. Dells words and Arguments enforced me thereunto Certainely if this bee the Liberty of Conscience they desire plead fight for the blessed Reformation they intend Heaven and Earth may judge what Saints they are and I may without breach of charity averre that the very worst of Presbiterians nay of Heathens are in this particular better Saints then they who never pleaded for out alwayes against the impunity of such workes of the flesh as these and have severel punished them with outward corporall punishments from the very light of nature only But to let this passe which I could not but take notice of ouâ— of zeale to God and our distracted Republike the force of Mr. Dells argument hence is only this Paul and all Ministers by and from this Text are to warne and informe men that those who doe the workes of the flesh forementioned shall not inherit the Kingdome of God since they name no outward punishment in this text he cites though he doth in sundry others forecited Ergo Magistrates under the Gospell cannot punish Heretickes Schismaticks Seducers Blasphemers or any work of the flesh with any outward or corporall punishment Did ever any man so confidently propound such shallow Independent Arguments before a most juditious Parliament in a Pulpit and then dedicate the same to them with such boldnesse in print before Mr. Dell What if Paul writing as an Apostle to the Galathians only as private Christians to beware of these workes of the flesh because those who commit them shall not inherit the Kingdom of God will it therefore follow that Magistrates may not punish any for these workes with corporall or capitall punishments If so then they must not punish Murther Witchcraft Sedition Adultery Drunkennesse no more then Heresie Schisme or Idolatry Had Paul writ this Epistle to Christian Kings Magistrates and told them that these workes of the flesh must â—…er the Gospell be punished only with losse of Heaver the objection had â—in considerable but writing here neither of nor