A SERMON Preached to the Honourable House of COMMONS IN PARLIAMENT Assembled On January 31. A day of Solemne Humiliation With a Discourse about TOLERATION And the Duty of the Civill Magistrate about RELIGION thereunto Annexed Humbly Presented to them and all Peace-loving Men of this NATION By John Owen Pastor of the Church of Christ which is at Coggeshall in Essex LONDON Printed by Matthew Simmons in Aldersgate Street 1649. Die Mercurij 31. Januarij 1648. ORdered by the Commons Assembled in Parliament That Master Allen do give the Thankes of this House to Master Owen for the great paines he tooke in his Sermon Preached before this House this day at Margarets Westminster And that he be desired to Print his Sermon at large wherein he is to have the like priviledge of Printing it as others in the like kind usually have had Hen Scobell Cler Parl. Dom. Com. To the Right Honourable the Commons of England Assembled in Parliament Sirs IT hath always suited the wisedome of God to do great things in difficult seasons He sets up wals in troublous times Dan. 9. 25. His builders must hold Swords and Spears as well as Instruments of labour Neh. 4. 16. Yea while sin continueth in its course here which began in Heaven and having contemporized with the Earth shall live for ever in Hell Great works for God will cause great troubles amongst men The holy harmlesse Reconciler of heaven and earth bids us expect the Sword to attend his undertakings for and way of making peace Mat. 10. 34. All the waves in the world arise to their height and roaring from the confronting of the breath of Gods spirit and the vapours of mens corruptions Hence seasons receive their degrees of difficulty according to the greatnesse and weight of the workes which in them God will accomplish to their worth and excellency is mans opposition proportioned This the instruments of his glory in this generation shall continually find true to their present trouble and future comfort As the days approach for the delivery of the decree to the shaking of Heaven and Earth and all the powers of the World to make way for the establishment of that kingdom which shall not be given to another people the great expectation of the Saints of the most high before the consummation of all so tumults troubles vexations and disquietnes must certainly grow and increase among the sons of men A dead woman says the Proverb will not be carryed out of her house under four men Much lesse will living men of wisedome and power be easily quietly dispossessed of that share and Interest in the things of Christ which long continued usurpation hath deluded them into an imagination of being their owne Inheritance This then being shortly to be effected and the scale being ready to turn against the man of sin notwithstanding his ballancing it in opposition to the witnesse of Jesus with the weight and poyse of earthly power no wonder if heaven earth sea and dry land be shaken in their giving place to the things that cannot be moved God Almighty having called you forth Right honourable at his entrance to the rolling up of the Nations heavens like a Scroll to serve him in your Generation in the high places of Armageddon you shall be sure not to want experience of that Opposition which is raised against the great work of the Lord which generally swels most against the visible instruments therof And would to God you had only the deuoted sons of Babel to contend withall that the men of this shaking earth were your only Antagonists that the Malignity of the Dragons tayle had had no influence on the Stars of heaven to prevaile with them to fight in their courses against you But jacta est alea the providence of God must be served according to the discovery made of his owne unchangeable will and not the mutable interests and passions of the sons of men For verily the Lord of Hosts hath purposed to pollute the pride of all glory and to bring into contempt all the Honourable of the Earth Isa. 23. 9. The contradictions of sinners against all that walk in the paths of righteousnesse and peace with the supportment which their spirits may receive as being promised who pursue those wayes notwithstanding those contradictions are in part discovered in the ensuing Sermon the foundation of that whole Transaction of things which is therin held out in reference to the present dispensations of providence being nothing but an entrance into the unravelling of the whole Web of Iniquity interwoven of Civill and Ecclesiasticall Tyranny in opposition to the kingdome of the Lord Jesus I chose not to mention Neither shall I at present add any thing thereabout but onely my desire that it may be eyed as the granted Basis of the following discourse Only by your very favourable acceptation of the making out those thoughts which were the hasty conception and like Jonah's Gourd the child of a night or two which with prayer for a rooting in the hearts of them to whom they were delivered had certainly withered in their owne Leaves had they not received warmth and moysture from your commands in general and the particular desires of many of you to give them a life of a few dayes longer I am encouraged to the annexing of a few lines as a free-will offering to attend the following Product of obedience Now this shall not be to the Opposition which you doe and shall yet further meet withall but as to the Causes real or pretended which are held forth as the bottom of that contradiction wherwith on every side you are encompassed The things in reference whereunto your proceedence is laden with such criminations as these sad dayes of recompence have found to be Comets portending no lesse then blood are first Civill then Religious For the First as their being beyond the bounds of my Calling gives them Sanctuary from being called forth to my consideration so neither have I the least thoughts with Absolom of a more orderly carrying of of Affaires might my desires have any influence into their disposall Waiting at the throne of Grace that those whom God hath intrusted with and enabled for the Transaction of these things may be directed and supported in their employment is the utmost of my undertaking herein For the other or Religious things the generall interest I have in them as a Christian being improved by the super-added Title of a Minister of the Gospel though unworthy the one Name and the other gives me not onely such boldnesse as accreweth from enjoyed Favour but also such a Right as will support mee to plead concerning them before the most Impartiall Judicature And this I shall doe as I said before meerly in reference to those criminations which are layd by conjecturall presumptions on your Honourable Assembly and made a cause of much of that opposition and contradiction you meet withall Now in particular
misapprehensions in the matters of Religion and if it proves not that it proveth nothing for slaying is the thing expressed and certainely if proofes be taken from the Letter the Letter must be obeyed or we force the Word to serve our Hypothesis then that place of Joh. 10. He that entereth not by the doore is a thiefe and a robber which Bellarmine strongly urgeth to this very purpose because Theives and Robbers are so dealt withall righteously Bell. lib. de Laicis cap. 21. If such deductions may be allowed it will be easie to prove quidlibet ex quolibet at any time If the Letter be urged and the sense of the Letter as it lyes a indeed the figurative sense of such places is the proper literall sense of them let that sense alone be kept to Let Parents then passe sentence condemne and execute their Children when they turne Seducers And that in any kind whatsoever into what Seduction soever they shall be ingaged be it most pernicious or in things of lesse concernment The Letter allows of none of our distinctions be they convinced or not convinced obstinate or not obstinate all is one so it must be thrust through and slain by their Parents must they fall to the ground Onely observe his Father and his Mother that begat him must be made Magistrates Prophets with uncleane spirits be turned into Hereticks onely thrusting through that must be as it is in the Letter yea though plainely the Party of whom it is said Thou shalt not live v. 3. is found alive v. 6. Surely such an Orleans glosse is scarce sufficient to secure a conscience in slaying Hereticks But when Men please this whole place shall directly point at the Discipline of the Churches and their spirituall censures under the Gospel curing deceivers and bringing them home to confession and acknowledgement of their folly see the late Annot. of the Bible 7. From the asserting of the authority and description of the duty of the Magistrate Rom. 13. the Argument is very easie that is produced for the suppressing by externall force of erronious persons The Paralogisme is so soule and notorious in this arguing hee is to suppresse evill deeds Heresie is an evill deed therefore that also that it needs no confutation That he is to punish all evill deeds was never yet affirmed Vnbeliefe is a worke of the flesh so is Coveting one the root sinne against the first the other against the second Table Yet in themselves both exempted from the Magistrates Cognizance and jurisdiction The evill doers doubtlesse for whose terrour and punishment he is appointed are such as by their deeds disturbe that humane Society the defence and protection wherof is to him committed That among the Number of these are Errours the depravations of mens understandings hath not yet been proved 8. The case of the Seducer from Deut. 13. is urged with more shew of reason then any of the others to the businesse in hand but yet the extreame discrepancies between the proofe and the thing intended to be proved make any Argumentation from this place as to the matter in hand very intricate obscure and difficult For 1. The Person here spoken of pretends an immediate Revelation from Heaven he pretends Dreames and gives signes and wonders v. 1. and so exempts his spirit from any regular tryall Hereticks for the most part offer to be tryed by the Rule that is in Medio acknowledged of all a few distempered Enthusiasts excepted 2. His businesse is to Entice from the worship of Jehovah not in respect of the manner but the object v. 5. All Hereticks pretend the feare of that great Name 3. The accepting and owning Idoll dunghill Gods in his roome is the thing perswaded to v. 2 and those were onely Stocks and Stones and this in opposition to Jehovah who had revealed himselfe by Moses Hereticks worship him owne him and abhorre all thoughts of turning away from following after him according to their Erronious apprehensions Manichees Marcionites Valentinians and such like names of Infidels I reckon not among Hereticks neither will their brainsick Paganish follies be possibly comprehended under that definition of Heresie which is now generally received Mahumetans are farre more rightly tearmed Hereticks then they 4. This Seducer was to dye without mercy And Aynsworth observes from the Rabbines that this Offender alone had traps laid to catch him and were he but once overheard to whisper his seduction though never so secretly there was no Expiation of his transgression without his owne blood but now this place is urged for all kind of restraint and punishment whatsoever Now where God requires blood is it allowed to man to Commute at an inferiour Rate So I confesse it is urged But yet what lyes at the Bottome in the Chambers of their bellyes who plead for the Power of the Magistrate to punish erring Persons from those and such like places as these is too apparent Blood is there swiftly or slowly they walke to the Chambers of death 5. Obstinacy after conviction Turbulency c. which are now laid downe as the maine weights that turne the Scale on the side of Severity are here not once mentioned nor by any thing in the least intimated If he have done it yea but once openly or secretly whether he have been convinced of the sinfulnesse of it or no be he obstinate or otherwise it is not once inquired dye he must as if he had committed Murder or the like indispensable death-procuring crime If the punishment then of erring Persons be urged from this place all consideration of their Conviction Obstinacy Pertinacy must be laid aside the Text allows them no more Plea in this businesse then our Law doth in the case of wilfull Murder 6. Repentance and Recantation will in the judgement of all reprieve an erring person from any sentence of any punishment corporall whatsoever and many reasons may be given why they should so doe Here is no such allowance Repent or not repent recant or not recant he hath no sacrifice of Expiation provided for him dye he must 7. This Law containes the Sanction of the third Commandement as the whole was a Rule of the Jewish politie in the Land of Canaan This amongst us is generally conceived not binding as such 8. The formall reason of this Law by some insisted on because be sought to turne a man from Jehovah 1. Is of force onely in this case of the object whereunto seduction tends viz. strange gods and no other 2. Turning from Jehovah respects not any manner of backslyding in respect of the way of worship but a falling away from him as the object of worship Now there being these and many other discrepancies hindering the cases proposed from running parallell I professe for my part I cannot see how any such evident deductions can possibly be drawne from hence as to be made a bottome of practise and acting in things of so high concernment What may be allowed from the
not others as unworthy to live upon their native soile in our judgements as we our selves in the judgements of them formerly over us Are not groanes for liberty by the warmth of favour in a few yeares hatched into Attempts for Tyranny and for Practise what hold hath former superstition in observing dayes and times laid hold upon the many of the People again witness the late solemn superstition and many things of the like nature 2. For Civill things the closing of so many formerly otherwise engaged with the adverse party in the late Rebellion with the lukewarm deportment of others at the same time is a sufficient demonstration of it And may not the Lord justly complain of all this what iniquity have you seene in mee or my wayes that you are gone farre from me and walked after vanity and are become vaine Jer. 2. 4. Why have you changed your glory for that which doth not profit vers. 11. Have I beene a dry heath or a barren wildernesse to you Oh that men should find no more sweetness in following the Lambe under wonderfull protections but that they should thus turne aside into every Wildernesse What Indignity is this to the wayes of God I could give you many Reasons of it but I have done what I intended a little hinted that wee are a Returning People that so you might be exhorted to help for a Recovery and how shall that be 2. By your owne keeping close to the Paths of Righteousnesse if you Returne not others will look about again This Breach this evill is of you within your own walls was the fountaine of our Backesliding Would you be the Repairers of Breaches the Restorers of Paths for men to walke in doe these two things 1. Turne not to the wayes of such as the Lord hath blasted under your eyes and these may be referred to 3. heads 1. Oppression 2. Selfe-seeking 3. Contrivances for persecution 1. Oppression how detestable a crime it is in the eyes of the Almighty what effects it hath upon men making wise men madde Eccl. 7. 7. How frequently it closeth in the calamitous Ruine of the Oppressours themselves are things known to all Whether it hath not been exercised in this Nation both in Generall by unnecessary Impositions and in Particular by unwarrantable pressures let the mournfull cryes of all sorts of People testifie Should you now Return to such wayes as these would not the Anger of the Lord smoake against you Make it I bseech you your Designe to relieve the whole by all meanes possible and to relieve Particulars yea even of the adverse Party where too much overborn Oh let it be considered by you that it be not considered upon you I know the things you are necessitated to are not to be supported by the aire It is only what is unnecessary as to you or insupportable as to othes that requires your speedy Reforming that so it may be said of you as of Nehemiah Chap. 5. 14 15. And for Particulars pray pardon my folly and boldness I heartily desire a Committee of your Honourable House might sit once a week to relieve poor men that have been oppressed by men sometimes enjoying Parliamentary Authority 2. Selfe-seeking when men can be content to lay a Nation low that they may set up themselves upon the heapes and ruines thereof Have not some sought to advance themselves under that power which with the lives and blood of the People they have opposed Seeming to be troubled at former things not because they were done but because they were not done by them But innocent blood will be found a Tottering foundation for men to build their Honours Greatnesse and Preferments upon O returne not in this unto any If men serve themselves of the Nation they must expect that the Nation will serve it selfe upon them The best security you can possibly have that the People will performe their duty in obedience is the witnesse of your own consciences that you have discharged your duty towards them in seeking their good by your owne trouble and not your owne advantages in their trouble I doubt not but that in this your practice makes the admonition a commendation otherwise the word spoken will certainly witnesse against you 3. Contrivances for persecution how were the hearts of all men hardned like the nether Mill-stone and their thoughts did grinde blood and revenge against their Brethren What colours what pretences had men invented to prepare a way for the Rolling of their garments in the teares yea blood of Christians The Lord so keep your spirits from a compliance herein that with all the Bowe be not too much bent on the other side which is not impossible Be there a Backsliding upon your spirit to these or such like things as these the Lord will walke contrary to you and were you as the Signet upon his hand he would pluck you off 2. Returne not to the open enemies of our peace I could here inlarge my selfe to support your spirits in the work mentioned Job 29. 14 15. but I must on to the following parts of my Text and passe from the Direction given to the Supportment and Assistance promised I will make thee to this people a brazen and a fenced Wall An implyed Objection which the Prophet might put in upon his charge to keep so close to the rule of righteousnesse is here removed If I must thus abide by it to execute whatsoever the Lord cals me out unto not shrinking nor staggering at the greatest undertakings what will become of me in the issue Will it not be destructive to stand out against a confirmed People No saith the Lord it shall not be I will make thee c. God will certainly give in prevailing strength and unconquerable defence unto Persons constantly discharging the duties of Righteousnesse especially when undertaken in times of difficulty and opposition I will make thee c. The like engagement to this you have made to Ezekiel Chap. 3 8 9. Neither was it so to the Prophets alone but to Magistrates also when Joshua undertook the Regency of Israel in a difficult time he takes of his feare and Diffidence with this very incouragement Josh. 1. 5. He saith he will make them a Wall the best defence against opposition and that not a weake tottering Wall that might easily be cast downe but a brazen wall that must needs be impregnable What Engines can possibly prevaile against a Wall of Brasse And to make it more secure this brazen wall shall be fenced with all manner of fortifications and ammunition so that the veriest Coward in the World being behind such a wall may without dread or terrour apply himselfe to that which he findeth to doe God will so secure the Instruments of his glory against a Backeslyding people in holding up the wayes of his Truth and Righteousnesse that all Attempts against them shall be vaine and the most timorous spirit may be secure Provided he goe not out of
men set upon opposition make a diligent enquiry whether there be no hand in the businesse but their owne Whether their counsels be not leavened with the wrath of God And their thoughts mixed with a spirit of giddinesse and themselves carried on to their owne destruction Let me see the opposer of the present wayes of God who upon his oppostion is made more humble more selfe denying more empty of selfe-wisedome more fervent in supplycations and waiting upon God then formerly and I will certainely blot him out of the Roll of men judicially hardened But if therewith men become also proud selfish carnally wise revengefull furious upon earthly Interests full impatient doubtlesse God is departed and an evill spirit from the Lord prevaileth on them O that men would looke about them before it be too late see the Lord disturbing them before the waves returne upon them know that they may pull downe some Anticks that make a great shew of supporting the Church and yet indeed are Pargetted posts supported by it the foundation is on a rock that shall not be prevailed against See the infinite wisedome and soveraignty of Almighty God that is able to bring light out of darknesse and to compasse his owne righteous Judgements by the sinfull advisings and undertakings of men Indeed the Lords Soveraignty and dominion over the Creature doth not in any thing more exalt it self then in working in all the Reasonings debates consultations of men to bring about his owne counsels through their free workings That men should use improve their wisedome freedome choyce yea lusts not once thinking of God yet all that while doe his worke more then their owne This is the Lords doing and it is marvellous in our eyes Of the last part of my Text I shall not speak at all neither indeed did I intend OF TOLERATION And the Duty of the Magistrate About RELIGION THE Times are busie and we must be breife Prefaces for the most part are at all times needlesse in these troublesome Mine shall only be that {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} without either Preface or Passion I will fall to the businesse in hand The thing about which I am to deale is commonly called Toleration in Religion or Toleration of severall Religions The way wherin I shall proceed is not by contest thereby to give occasion for the reciprocation of a Saw of debate with any but by the laying downe of such positive observations as being either not apprehended or not rightly improved by the most yet lye at the bottome of the whole difference betweene men about this businesse and tend in themselves to give light unto a righteous and equitable determination of the maine thing contended about And lastly herein for method I shall first consider the grounds upon which that Non toleration whereunto I cannot consent hath been and is still indeavoured to be supported which I shall be necessitated to remove and then in order assert the positive Truth as to the substance of the businesse under contest all in these ensuing observations 1. Although the expressions of Toleration and Non toleration wherewith the thing in controversie is vested doe seeme to cast the Affirmation upon them who plead for a forbearance in things of Religion towards dissenting persons yet the truth is they are purely upon the Negation and the Affirmative lyes fully on the other part and so the weight of proving which ofttimes is heavy lyes on their shoulders Though non-toleration sound like a negation yet punishment which termes in this matter are {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} is a deep Affirmation And therefore it sufficeth not men to say That they have consulted the minde of God and cannot finde that hee ever spake to any of his Saints or people to establish a Toleration of errour And yet this is the first argument to oppose it produced in the late Testimony of the Reverend and learned Assembly of the Church of Scotland Affirmative precepts must be produced for a non Toleration that is the punishing of erring persons For actings of such high concernment men doe generally desire a better warrant then this There is nothing in the Word against them Cleare light is needfull for men who walke in paths which lead directly to houses of Blood God hath not spoken of Non-Toleratin is a certaine rule of Forbearance But God hath not spoken of Toleration is no rule of acting in opposition thereunto What he hath spoken one way or other shall be afterwards considered Positive actings must have positive precepts and rules for them as conscience is its owne guide If then you will have persons deviating in their apprehensions from the truth of the Gospell civilly punished you must bring better warrant then this that God hath not spoken against it or I shall not walke in your wayes but refraine my foot from your path 2. That undoubtedly there are very many things under the command of the Lord so becomming our duty and within his promise so made our priviledge which yet if not performed or not enjoyed are not of humane cognizance as faith it selfe Yet because the knowledge of the Truth is in that rank of things this also is urged as of weight by the same learned persons to the businesse in hand 3. Errours though never so impious are yet distinguished from Peace-disturbing enormities If Opinions in their owne nature tend to the disturbance of the publike peace either that publick Tranquilitie is not of God or God alloweth a penall restraint of those Opinions It is a mistake to affirme that those who plead for Toleration doe allow of punishment for offences against the second Table not against the first The case is the same both in respect of the one and the other What Offences against the second Table are punishable Doubtlesse not all but onely such as by a disorderly Eruption pervert the course of publicke quiet and society Yea none but such fall under humane Cognizance The warrant of exercising vindictive power amongst men is from the reference of Offences to their common tranquility Delicta puniri publice interest Where punishment is the debt Bonum totius is the Creditour to exact it And this is allowed as to the Offences against the first Table If any of them in their owne Nature not some mens apprehensions are disturbances of publick peace they also are punishable Only let not this be measured by disputable consequences no more then the other are Let the Evidence be in the things themselves and Actum est let who will plead for them Hence Popish Religion warming in its very Bowels a fatall Engine against all Magistracy amongst us cannot upon our Concessions plead for Forbearance It being a knowne and received Maxime that the Gospell of Christ clashes against no righteous ordinance of man And this be spoken to the third Argument of the forenamed Reverend persons from the Analogie of delinquencies against the first and second Table
Servctus in Geneva the pursuit of Gentilis Blandeata and some other mad men in Helvetia for the space well nigh of 700 years the chiefest season of the Reigne of Sathan and Antichrist all punishing for Religion was managed by the Authority of Rome and against the poore witnesses of Jesus prophecying in sackcloth in the severall Regions of the West And what streames of blood were poured out what Millions of Martyrs slaine in that space is knowne to all Hence Bellarmine boasteth that the Albigenses were extinguished by the Sword De Laic cap. 22. It is true there were Lawes enacted of old by Theodosius Valentinian Martian as C. de haereticis L. Manichaeis L. Arriani L. Vnicuique which last provideth for the death of Seducers but yet truely though they were made by Catholicks and in the favour of Catholicks yet considering to what end they were used I can look upon them no otherwise but as very bottome stones of the Tower of Babel This then in its Latitude proving so pernicious to the profession of the Gospell having for so long driven the Woman into the Wildernesse and truth into corners being the maine Engine whereby the Tower of Babel was built and that which at this day they cry Grace unto as the foundation stone of the whole Antichristian Fabrick see Becanus de fide baereticis servanda Bell. de Laicis c. we had need be cautious what use we make as one tearmes it well of the Broome of Antichrist to sweep the Church of Christ Whither that wee are in the Truth and they blinded with Error of whom wee have spoken be a sufficient Plea we shall see anon In the meane time we may doe well to remember what Lewes the twelth of France said yea swore concerning the Inhabitants of Mirindoll whom by the instigation of his Prelates he had ordered to be slaine when newes was brought him what was their conversation and way of life Let them be Hereticks if you please saith he but assuredly they are better then me and my Catholicks Take heed least the punished be better then the punishers Let me add to this Observation onely this that the attempt to suppresse any Opinions whatsoever by Force hath been for the most part fruitlesse for either some few particular persons are proceeded against or else greater multitudes If some particulars only the Ashes of one hath alwayes proved the seed of many Opinionatiists Examples are innumerable take one which is boasted of as a patterne of severity taken from Antiquity About the yeare 390. Priscillianus a Manichee and a Gnosticke by the procurement of Ithacius and Idacius two Bishops was put to death by Maximus an usurping Emperour who ruled for a season having slaine Gratianus as that kind of men would always close with any Authority that might serve their owne Ends Now what was the issue thereof Martinus a Catholick Bishop renounces their Communion who did it The Historian that reports it giving this censure of the whole Sic pessimo exemplo sublati sunt homines luce indignissimi though the men Priscillian and his Companions were most unworthy to live yet their sentence to death was most unjust But no matter for this was not the Heresie suppressed thereby See what the same Historian who wrote not long after and was able to testifie the event sayes of it it is Severus Sulpitius lib. 2. Eccles. Hist. Non solum non repressa est haeresis sayes he sed confirmata Latius propagata est c. The heresie was so farre from being suppressed hereby that it was confirmed and propagated His followers who before honoured him as a Saint now adore him as a Martyr The like in all Ages hath been the issue of the like indeavours But now if this course be undertaken against Multitudes what is or hath been the usuall End of such undertakings Take some examples of late dayes Charles the fifth the most mighty Emperour of Germany undertakes by violence to extirpate the Lutherans and Calvinists out of the Empire After a tedious Warre the death of many thousands the wasting of the Nation in the close of all himselfe is driven out of Germany and the businesse left much where it begun Sleid. Com. Philip of Spaine will needs force the Inquisition upon the Netherlands What is the issue After the expence of an Ocean of blood and more Coyne then would have purchased the Countrey twice over his Posterity is totally deprived of all Sovereignty over those Parts Patrick Hamilton and George Wishard are put to death in Scotland by the procurement of a Cardinall the Cardinall is instantly murthered by some desperate young men and a war raised there about Religion which was never well quieted untill having hunted their Queene out of her native Kingdome she had her head chopt off in England History of Reformation in Scotland The Warres Seditions Tumults Murders Massacres Rapes Burnings c. that followed the same attempt in France cannot be thought of without horror and detestation Neither knew those things any End untill the present forbearance was granted Instances might be multiplyed but these things are knowne to all If any shall say all these Evils followed the attempting to suppresse Truth not Errour I shall answer him another time being loath to doe it unlesse compelled Onely for the present I shall say that Errour hath as much right to a forceable defence as Truth 6. To stirre us up yet further to a serious consideration of the grounds and reasons which are laid downe for the inflicting of punishment upon any for Exorbitancies in things of Religion upon what hath been said the perpetuall coincidence of the causes by them held forth who pretend to plead for just severity with their pretences who have acted unjust persecution would be well heeded The Position is laid downe in Generall on both sides that Erring persons are so and so to be dealt withall That such is the power and duty of the Magistrate in such cases The definition of Heresie is agreed on for the maine onely the Papists place the Churches determination where others thrust in the Hereticks conviction a thing much more obscure to by-standers and Judges also The appellations wherewith truth persecuted and error pursued are cloathed still the same The consequents urged on all sides of dishonour to God trouble to the State and the like not at all discrepant The arguments for the one and other for the most part the same Looke what Reasons one Sect gives for the punishing of another the names being changed are retorted He blasphemeth to the Hereticke who chargeth blasphemy upon him Wee use no other Arguments cite no other Texts presse no other consequencies for the punishing of other Hereticks then the Papists the wisest Hereticks breathing doe for the punishment of us No colour no pretence but hath been equally used in all hands None can say this is mine To Luthers objection that the Church of Christ never burned an Hereticke for Husse
is come to passe that men might learne {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} He that desires to see more of this let him consult Tertull. Apol. ad Scap. Euseb. Eccles. Hist. lib. 7. cap. 21. August de civit Dei lib. 18. cap. 52. Eutrop. lib. 8. It would be tedious to descend to examples of latter Ages our owne and the neighbour Nations do so much too much abound with them let this that hath been spoken suffice to cautionate mortall men how they meddle with the Vessels of the Sanctuary But now may some say What will be the Issue of this discourse doe you then leave every one at Liberty in the things of God Hath the Magistrate nothing to doe in or about Religion Is he to depose the care thereof Shall men exasperated in their spirits by different perswasions be suffered to devoure one another as they please c. I have onely shewed the weaknesse of those grounds which some men make the bottome of their Testimonies against the toleration of any thing but what themselves conceive to be Truth as also taken away the chiefe of those Arguments upon which such a proceeding against Erring Persons is bottomed as tends to blood and death What positively the Civill Magistrate may nay ought to doe in the whole businesse of Religion comes in the next place to be considered being the third and last part of our discourse Now my thoughts unto this I shall hold out under these three heads 1. What is the Magistrates duty as to the truth and persons professing it 2. What in reference to the Opposers and Revilers of it 3 What in respect of Dissenters from it And I shall begin with the first which to me is much of chiefest importance His power or rather his duty herein I shall hold out in these ensuing Propositions 1. As all men in Generall so Magistrates even as such are bound to know the minde and will of God in the things which concerne his Honour and Worship They are bound I say to know it This obligation lyes upon all creatures capable of knowing the Creatour answerably to that light which of him they have and the meanes of Revelation which they doe enjoy He of whom we speake is supposed to have that most Soveraigne and supreme of all outward Teachings the Word of God with such other helpes as are thereby revealed and therein appointed So as he is bound to know the will of God in every thing him concerning wherein he failes and comes short of the truth it is his sinne the defect being not in the manner of the Revelation but in the corruption of his darkened mind Now that he is to make this inquiry in reference to his calling is evident from that of David 2 Sam. 23. 3. He that ruleth over men must be just ruling in the feare of the Lord This feare is onely taught by the Word Without a right knowledge of God and his mind there can be no true feare of him That command also for the Jewish Magistrate to study it day and night and to have the Booke of the Law continually before him because it was the Rule of that civill Politie whereof he was under God the head and preserver by Analogy confirmeth this truth Deut. 18. 2. If he desire this wisedome sincerely and the Lord intend him as a light of the morning as a rising Sun a morning without clouds to his people doubtlesse he will reveale himselfe to him and teach him his mind as he did David and Solomon and other holy men of Old And as to this I shall onely with due reverence cautionate the sonnes of men that are exalted in Government over their Brethren that they take heed of a lifted up spirit the greatest closer of the heart against the truth of God He hath promised to teach the humble and the lowly in mind the proud he beholdeth a farre off Is not this the great reason that the Rulers beleeve not on him and the Nobles lay not their necks to the yoake of the Lord even because their hearts are lifted up within them and so lye in an unteachable frame before the Lord 3. The truth being revealed to them and their owne hearts made acquainted therewith after their personall engagements to the practice of the power of godlinesse according to the Revelation of God in the face of Jesus Christ three things are incumbent on him in reference thereunto 1. That according to the measure of its Revelation unto him he declare or take care that it be declared unto others even all committed to his governing charge The general equity that is in the obligation of strengthening others when we are confirmed desiring them to be like our selves in all participations of grace from God the nature of true zeale for the glory and Name of the Lord are a sufficient warrant for this yea demand the performance of this duty So Jehoshaphat being instructed in the wayes of God sent Princes and Priests to teach it in all the Cities and Townes of Judah 2 Chron. 17. 8 9 10. As also did Hezekiah 2 Chron. 30. 6 7 8. Let this then be our first Position 1. It belongs to the duty of the supreme Magistrate the Governour or Shepheard of the People in any Nation being acquainted with the mind of God to take care that the truth of the Gospell be Preached to all the people of that Nation according to the way appointed either ordinary or extraordinary I make no doubt but God will quickly reject them from their power who knowing their Masters will are negligent herein 2. As he is to declare it so he is to protect it from all violence whatever Jesus Christ is the great King of Nations as well as the holy King of Saints His Gospell hath a right to be preached in every Nation and to every creature under heaven Who ever forbids or hinders the free passage of it is not onely sinfull and impious toward God but also injurious towards men Certainly the Magistrate is to protect every one and every thing in their own right from the violence and injury of unruly men In the preaching and receiving the Gospel there is a right acted superior to all earthly priviledges whatever In this then the Magistrate is to protect it that under him the professors thereof may leade a quiet and peaceable life in all godlinesse and honesty And for this cause they to whom the Sword is committed may with the sword lawfully defend the Truth as the undoubted right and priviledge of those who do enjoy it and of which they cannot be deprived without the greatest injury Jephthah layd it down as the ground of the equity of the warres he waged against the Ammonites That they would possesse what the Lord their God gave them to possess the defence whereof he pursued to the subversion of their at first invading enemies Judg. 11. 24. 33. it is no new thing to begin in defence and
end in offence Now if the truth be given us of the Lord our God to possesse certainly it may be contended for by those who owe protection thereunto And if this were not so we may pray and prevail for the prosperity of those in Authority and yet when we have done not have a right to a quiet and peaceable life Let this then be the second assertion The Gospel being preached and declared as of right it ought to be it is the duty of the Magistrate by the power wherewith he is entrusted to protect and defend it against all or any persons that by force or violence shall seek to hinder the progresse or stop the passage of it under what pretence soever And that a neglect of this also will be attended with the anger of the Lord and the kindling of his wrath shall not long be doubted of any Thirdly the protecting assisting and supporting of all the professors of it in that profession and in wayes of truths appointment for the practice of that which is embraced and the furtherance of it towards them who as yet embrace it not is also required and of this there are sundry parts 1. That seeing Christ Jesus hath appointed his disciples to walk in such societies and requireth of them such kinde of worship as cannot be performed without their meeting together {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} in one place that he either provide or grant being provided the use of such places under his protection as may in all or any kinde be suited and fitted for that end and purpose And the ground of this is 1. From the Right which the Gospel of Christ hath to be received amongst men according to his own appointment whether that be the appointment of Christ or no amongst us is no question 2ly Because the Magistrate hath the sole power of all publick places and the protection of them is committed to him alone by virtue of that consent into government which is among any people This proved as above 2ly A protection in the use of those places and all things exercised in them answerable to that which he doth and is bound to grant unto men in their own private dwellings and families The Reason why I am protected from all hurt or violence in my family is because I have a Right to dispose of all things in my family being mine own and so hath not another It was asserted before that Christians have a Right to the ordinances of Christ and Truth a Right to be at liberty And therefore if any shall invade disturbe or trouble them in their rights and liberties he is bound ex officio to give them a protection not bearing the sword in vain Now being in my family in my private house the assistance of those in Authority is due 1. In respect of them without 2. In respect of them within 1. For them without if any one will against my consent intrude himself upon my family enjoyments to share with me or violently come to take away that is mine or distub me in the quiet possession of it the Magistrate takes cognizance of such disturbances and punisheth them according to equity Suteably if any person or persons whatsoever shall with violence put themselves upon the enjoyments of such ordinances as those enjoying the Rights of the Gospel have obtained to themselves or shall come in their celebration of them to cause disturbance certainly that Magistrate protects not every one in his undoubted Rights who doth not accommodate the wronged parties with the assistance of his power to the punishment of the transgressors 2. For house dwellers servants or any others who may break out into such offences and incorrigiblenesse as the amendment thereof may be beyond what I am intrusted to do to any by Law of God or man and shall not the Magistrate here also interpose is not his assistance here abundantly required and alwayes granted From parity of Reason is it not as due for their protection who in the enjoyment of their publick religious Rights may receive disturbance and be under force from some incorrigible by any Rule among themselves For instance suppose a person justly excommunicated and ejected any society of Christians as to any spirituall communion yet will with outward force and violence put himself upon them in their closest acts of communion doubtlesse their Rights are here to be by power preserved 3. That whereas the Preachers of the Gospel are now to be maintained in an ordinarie way and to expect their supportment in an usnall course of providence and seeing that many to whom we have proved that the Gospel is to be declared by the care of the Magistrate will not or cannot make such provisions for them as is needfull in these last evil daies of the world it is incumbent on those nursing Fathers to provide for them who because of their continuall labours in the work of the Lord are dis-inabled to make provision for themselves Where Churches are setled according to the Rule of the Gospel and not too much straightned by reason of want there may be an alteration as to this proposall That this ingagement lyes first upon the Churches was seen of old Hence that caution or Canon of the Councell of Chalcedon cap. 6. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} let none be ordained at large Ne dicatur mendicat in palaestra infoelix Clericus saies the Scholiast lest he should be driven to begge for want of maintenance This being the summe of what as to this head I have to assert I shall give in the proofs of it and then draw some further Positions 1. The bottome of the whole ariseth from that right which the Gospel hath to be preached to all Nations and people and that right paramount to all civill sanctions and constitutions which every soul hath to receive it in the profession thereof And all this flows from the donation of the Father unto Jesus Christ whereby he is made heir of all things Hebr. 1. 3. Having the Nations given him for his inheritance the utmost parts of the earth for his possession Psal. 2. 8. Being also Lord of lords and King of kings acting nothing in taking possession of his own but what his soveraignty bears him out in 2. All this tends to the apparent good of those committed to his charge that they may leade their lives in godlinesse and honesty which is the very chief end of Magistracy committed unto men This is directly intended all other things come in by accident and upon suppositions 3. No person living can pretend to the least injury by this none is deprived none wronged 4. The precepts given unto them and the promises made concerning them do abundantly confirm all that hath been asserted Psal. 2. 10 11. they are commanded as Kings and Judges to serve the Lord in promoting the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ And it is promised Isa. 49. 23. that they shall be
nursing Fathers and nursing Mothers to the Church of Christ even then when she shall suck the brests of Kings earthly things are the milk of kingly brests when her officers shall be peace and her exactors righteousnesse Isa. 60. 16 17. This at least reacheth to all we have ascribed to them All is but bowing the knee of Magistracy at the Name of Jesus Hence are these Positions The providing or granting of places requisite for the performance of that worship which in the Gospel is instituted is the duty of the Christian Magistrate Protection as to peace and quietnesse in the use of the ordinances of the Lord Jesus Christ from violent disturbers either from without or within is also incumbent on him Supportment and provision as to earthly things where regularly failing is of him required And in the neglect of any of these that takes place which is threatned Isa. 60. 12. Two or three consectaries added hereunto shall close this part of the Magistrates power or rather duty about the things of Religion as Positive actings by way of supportment and assistance maintenance allowance of publick places and the like in the behalf of persons deviating from the truth in those things wherein they deviate is contrary to the rule of the Word and duty of them in Authority For Error hath neither right nor promise nor is any precept given in the behalf thereof The defence and protection of erring persons from violence and injury in those things wherein they have a right is no acting of his duty about religious things but a meer dealing for the preservation of humane society by the defence of persons not acting against the rules thereof Every particular minute difference among the professors of the truth cannot be proved to come under the cognizance of the Magistrate he being to attend the worship which for the main is acceptable to God in Christ neither do any testimonies extend his duty any further Hence Corola The present differences about Church society and the subject or seat of discipline which are between those dissenters who are known by the names of Presbyterians and Independents as they are in themselves not heightned by the prejudices lusts corruptions and interests of men hinder not at all but that the Magistrate is bound to the performance of the duties before mentioned unto both parties And the Reasons of this are because 1. The things wherein they are agreed are clearly as broad as the Magistrates duty can be stretched to cover them 2. Neither party I am perswaded in their retyred thoughts dare avow the main of the worship by their dissenters embraced to be as such rejected of the Lord 3. No example in the world can be produced out of the old Testament or New or Ecclesiasticall History of a forcible decision of such minute differences See Socrat Eccles. Hist. lib. 6. cap. 20. 2. Corol All the plea of persons erring in doctrine or worship is not from what the Magistrate must do but from what he may not do And this for the first part shall suffice Secondly there is another part of the Magistrates power the other side of his sword to be exercised towards the opposition of that truth which he hath embraced and this hath a twofold object 1. Things 2. Persons Things are of 2. sorts 1. Wayes of worship 2. Outward Appearances Monuments Accommodations and Declarations of those wayes Of the first I shall speak afterwards By the second I mean all the outward attendencies of any false or erronious worship which are either helps to or declarations of the superstition idolatry error or falsenesse of it as Temple for idolatrous service Crosses pictures and the like abused Relicks of old unwarranted zeal Now concerning these I affirm 1. That the Magistrate ought not to make provision of any publick places for the practise of any such worship as he is convinced to be an abomination unto the Lord When I say he ought not to make provision I understand not onely a not actuall caring that such be but also a caring that such may not be He should not have a negation of acting as to any thing of publick concernment His not opposing here is providing For instance He must not allow that is it is his duty to oppose the setting apart of publick places under his protection for the service of the Masse as of late in Sommerset House or for any kinde of worship in it self disallowed because not required and so not accepted This were to be bound to help forward sin and that such sin whereof he is convinced which is repugnant to the whole revealed will of God A Magistrate I told you before is not to act according to what he may do but what he must do Now it cannot be his duty to further sin 2. Outward monuments wayes of declaring and holding out false and idolatrous worship he is to remove as the Papists Images Altars Pictures and the like Turks Mosckes Prelates Service book Now these are of two sorts 1. Such things as in their whole use and nature serve onely for the carrying on of worship in it self wholly false and meerly invented As Altars Images Crosses 2. Such as were used for the carrying on of worship true in it self though vilely corrupted as praying and preaching such are those places commonly called Churches The first are to be abolished the latter aright used I speak as to publick appearances for private disquisitions after such things I may be otherwise minded The Reason of this difference is evident to all Thus in dayes of old Constantine shut up Pagans Temples Euseb. de vita Constant lib. 4. cap. 23 24. and demolished some of the most filthy of them lib. 3. cap. 52. Theodosius utterly cast them to the ground though not without some blows and bloodshed Socrat Eccles. Hist. lib. 5. ca. 16. The command of God for the abolishing all monuments of Idolatry Deut. 12. 1 2 3. with the commendation of those Kings of Judah who accordingly performed this duty 2 Chron. 17. 6. and 30. 14. are enough to confirm it and to bottome this Position It is the duty of the Magistrate not to allow any publick places for in his judgement false and abominable worship as also to demolish all outward appearances and demonstrations of such superstitions idolatrous and unacceptable service Let Papists who are Idolaters and Socinians who are Anthropolatrae plead for themselves Now secondly for persons there seems something more of difficulty yet certain clear rules may be proposed concerning them also to hold out when they and their proceedings come under the cognizance of the Civill Magistrate and are obnoxious to the sword which he beareth And they are these 1. Such persons as having embraced any false principles and perswasion in or about things concerning God and his worship do pursue the upholding or propagating of such principles in a disorderly manner to the disturbance of civill society
errors and false doctrines we finde them appointed and a lawfull Judge as to the determining concerning them divinely instituted so that in such wayes they may be warrantably proceeded against Revel. 21. 3. But now for any Judge that should make disquisition concerning them or proceed against them as things criminall to be punished with civill censures I conceive the Scripture is silent And indeed who should it be The custome of former ages was that some persons of one sort should determine of it as to right viz that such or such a thing was heresie and such or such a one an Heretick which was the work of Priests and Prelates and persons of another sort should de facto punish and determine to be punished those so adjudged by the former and these were as they called them the secular Magistrates officers of this world And indeed had not the God of this world blinded their eyes and the God of the spirits of all flesh hardened their hearts they would not have so given up their power to the Man of sin as to be made so sordidly instrumentall to his bloody cruelty We read Jer. 26. 10 11. that the Priests and Prophets assemble themselves in judgement and so pronounce sentence upon the Prophet Jeremy that he should dye for a false Prophet v. 12. Jeremy makes his appeal to the secular Magistrate and all the people who taking cognizance of the cause pronounce sentence in the behalf of the condemned person against the Priests and Prophets and deliver him whether they will or not v. 16. I spare the Application of the story but that Princes and Magistrates should without cognizance of the thing or cause proceed to punishment or censure of it upon the judgement of the Priests condemning such or such a man for an heretick or a false prophet blessed be the Lord we have no warrant Had this proceeding been regular Jeremy had dyed without mercy for a false prophet as thousands since standing before the Lord in his spirit have done This course then that the civill Magistrate should proceed to sentence of corporall punishment upon others judging of the fault is vile sordid unwarrantable and exceedingly unworthy of any rationall man much more such as are set over the people of the Land that the same persons must determine of the cause and appoint the punishment is clear Now who must these be are they the Ministers of the Gospel of all others they are the most likely to be the most competent Judges in spirituall causes let it then be so but then also they must be the determiners and inflicters of the punishment upon default now let them powre out upon obstinately erring persons all the vengeance that God hath betrusted them withall The weapons of our warfare are not carnall but mighty through God c. By this course Admonition Avoiding Rejection Excommunication will be the utmost that can be inflicted on them which for my part I desire may be exercised to the utmost extent of the rule 2ly shall the Magistrate be made Judge of the cause as well as of the person is he entrusted to determine what is error what not what heresie what not who is an Heretick who not and so what punishment is due to such and such errors according to the degrees wherein they are Why first I desire an institution of this ordinance in the Church where is the Magistrate entrusted with such a power where are rules prescribed to him in his proceedings 2ly is not a judiciary determination concerning truth and error I mean truths of the Gospel a meer Chruch act and that Church power whereby it is effected must not then the Magistrate quâ talis be a Church officer will men of this minde tolerate Erastianisme 3ly if there be a twofold judicature appointed for the same person for the same crime is it not because one crime may in divers respects fall under severall considerations and must not these considerations be preserved immixed that the formall reason of proceeding in one Court may not be of any weight in the other We proved before and it is granted of all that the Church is Judge in case of heresie and error as such to proceed against them as contrary to the Gospel their opposition to the faith delivered to the Saints is the formall reason upon which that proceedeth to censure if now this be afterwards brought under another sentence of another Judicature must it not be under another consideration Now what can this be but its disturbance of civill society which when it doth so not in pretence but really and actually none denyes it to be the Magistrates duty to interpose with his power 4ly if the Magistrate be Judge of spirituall offences and it be left to him to determine and execute judgement in such proportion as he shall think meet according to the qualitie and degrees thereof it is a very strange and unlimited arbitrarinesse over the lives estates of men and surely they ought to produce very clear testimonies that they are entrusted from the Lord herewith or they can have no great quiet in acting 5ly it seems strange to me that the Lord Jesus Christ should commit this Architechtonicall power in his house unto Magistrates foreseeing of what sort the greatest number of them would be yea determining that they should be such for the tryall and affliction of his own View the times that are past consult the stories of former ages take a catalogue of the Kings and Rulers that have been since first Magistrates outwardly embraced Christian Religion in this and other Nations where the Gospel hath been planted and ask your own consciences whether these be the men to whom this high trust in the house of God is committed The truth is they no sooner left serving the Dragon in the persecution of the Pagans but presently in a very few yeers they gave up their power to the beast to set up another State in opposition to the Lord Jesus Christ and his Gospel in the supportment whereof the most of them continue labouring till this very day Hae manus Trojam exigent What may be added in this case I refer to another opportunity 2. Gospel constitutions in the case of heresie or error seems not to favour any course of violence I mean of civil penalties Foretold it is that heresies must be 1 Cor. 11. 19. but this for the manifesting of those that are approved not the destroying of those that are not I say destroying I mean with temporall punishment that I may adde this by the way for all the arguments produced for the punishment of hereticks holding out capitall censures and these being the tendance of all beginnings in this kinde I mention onely the greatest including all other arbitrary penalties being but steps of walking to the utmost censures Admonitions and Excommunication upon rejection of admonition are the highest constitutions I suppose against such persons Waiting with all patience upon
them that oppose themselves if at any time God will give them repentance to the acknowledgement of the truth imprisoning banishing slaying is scarcely a patient waiting God doth not so wait upon unbeleevers Perhaps those who call for the sword on earth are as unacquainted with their own spirits as those that called for fire from heaven Luk. 11. And perhaps the parable of the tares gives in a positive rule as to this whole businesse occasion may be given of handling it at large for the present I shall not fear to assert that the answers unto it borrowed by our Divines from Bellarmine will not endure the triall we hope that spirituall quiet and inoffensivenesse in the whole mountain of the Lord which is wrapt up in the wombe of many promises will at length be brought forth to the joy of all the children of Sion 3. Sundrie other arguments taken from the nature of faith heresie liberty of Conscience the way of illumination means of communication of truth nature of spirituall things pravitious tendence of the doctrine opposed if it should be actually embraced by all enjoying authority and the like I thought at present to have added but I am gone already beyond my purposed resting place Come we in a few words to the last thing proposed wherein I shall be very brief the main of what I intended being already set down the power of the Magistrate to compell others to the embracing of that Religion and way of worship which he shall establish and set up which for the greater advantage we shall suppose to be the very same both for the things proposed to be beleeved and also practised which God himself hath revealed and requireth all men every where to embrace What is to be done for the setling and establishing of the profession of the Gospel and the right apprehension of the minde of God therein contra-distinct from all those false and erronious perswasions which in these or former dayes are or have been held forth in opposition thereunto was before declared how it is to be supported maintained protected defended safe-guarded from all oppositions disturbances blasphemings was then and there set down Now supposing that sundry persons living under the power and owning civill obedience to the Magistrate will not consent to sound doctrine nor receive in some things fewer or more lesse or greater that form of wholsome words which he holds forth and owns as the minde of Christ in the Gospel nor communicate with him in the worship which by the Authority of those words or that truth he hath as before established it is inquired what is the duty of the Magistrate in reference to the bringing of them into that subjection which is due unto and acknowledgement of the truth And to this I shall briefly give in my Answer in these following Positions 1. In reference unto us in this Nation the greatest difficulty in giving a full return to this question ariseth from the great disorder of the Churches of God amongst us were the precious distinguished from the vile Churches rightly established and Church discipline exercised that Christians were under some orderly view and men might be confidered in their severall capacities wherein they stand an easie finger would unty the knot of this quaere but being in that confusion wherein we are gathering into any order being the great work in hand I suppose under favour that the time is scarce come for the proposall of this question but yet something may be given in unto it though not so clear as the former supposall being effected would cause it to be 2. The constant practise of the Churches in former ages in all their meetings for advise and counsell to consent into some form of wholsome words that might be a discriminating tessera of their communion in doctrine being used in prime Antiquitie as is manifest in that ancient Symbol commonly esteemed Apostolicall of the chief heads whereof mention in the like Summary is made in the very first writers among them having also warrant from the Word of God and being of singular use to hold out unto all other Churches of the world our apprehensions of the minde of God in the chief heads of Religion may be considered If this be done by the authority of the Magistrate I mean if such a declaration of the truth wherein the Churches by him owned and protected do consent be held out as the confession of that truth which he embraceth it will be of singular use unto yea indeed must necessarily precede any determination of the former question of the nature and use of confessions c. so much hath of late been learnedly disputed that I shall not powre out any of mine own conceptions for the present about them in that hasty tumultuary manner wherein I am enforced to expose this essay 3. Those who dissent from the truth so owned so established so decreed do so either in lesse matters of small consequence and about things generally confessed not fundamentall or in great and more weighty heads of doctrine acts of worship and the like both agreeing in this that they will not hold communion as either to all or some parts and duties thereof which those Churches and persons who do embrace the truth so owned as before and act accordingly For the first of these or such as dissent about things of no great concernment in comparison of those other things wherein they do agree with them from whom they do dissent I am bold positively to assert that saving and preserving the Rules and qualifications set down under the second head the Magistrate hath no warrant from the Word of God nor command rule or precept to enable him to force such persons to submit unto the truth as by him established in those things wherein they expresse a conscientious dissent or to molest them with any civill penalty in case of refusall or non-submission nor yet did I ever in my life meet with any thing in the shape of Reason to prove it although the great present clamor of this Nation is punctually as to this head what ever be pretended this is the Helena about which is the great contest What I pray will warrant him then to proceed Will the Laws against Idolatry and Blasphemy with their sanctions towards the persons of blasphemers and idolaters for I must ingenuously confesse all that which in my poore judgement looks with any appearance of pressing toward Haereticidium is the everlasting equity of those judiciall Laws and the Arbitrarinesse of Magistrates from a divine rule in things of the greatest concernment to the glory of God if free from them and that these Laws I doubt will scarcely be accommodated unto any thing under contest now in this age of the world among Christians but shall I say a warrant taken from hence for the compelling of men sound in so many fundamentals as were it not for the contest with them we would acknowledge sufficient for the entertainment