part with his Inheritance to King Ahab counting all Ahabs seeming reasonable offers most unreasonable as soliciting him to part with a Garden plot of Canaans land though his refusall cost him his very life What Land what Country now is Israels Parallel and Antitype but that holy mysticall Nation the Church of God peculiar and called out to him out of every Nation and Country 1 Pet. 2. 9. In which every true spirituall Naboth hath his spirituall inheritance which he dares not part with though it be to his King or Soveraigne and though such his refusall cost him this present life CHAP. CXII Peace DOubtlesse that Canaan Land was not a patterne for all Lands It was a none-such unparalleld and unmatchable Truth Many other considerations of the same nature I might annex but I picke here and there a flowre and passe on to a second Head concerning the people themselves wherein the state of the people shall appeare unmatchable but only by the true Church and Israel of God First the people of Israel were all the Seed or Off-spring of one man Abraham Psal. 105. 6. and so downward the Seed of Isaac and Iacob hence called the Israel of God that is wrastlers and prevailers with God distinguished into twelve Tribes all sprung out of Israels loynes But now few Nations of the World but are a mixed Seed the people of England especially the Britaines Picts Romanes Saxons Danes and Normans by a wonderfull providence of God being become one English people Only the Spirituall Israel and Seed of God the New-borne are but one Christ is the Seed Gal. 3. and they only that are Christs are only Abrahams Seed and Heires according to the promise This Spirituall Seed is the only Antitype of the former figurative and typicall A Seed which all Christians ought to propagate yea even the unmarried men and women who are not capable of naturall off spring for thus is this called the Seed of Christ who lived and died unmarried Isa. 59. 21. Secondly this people was selected and separated to the Lord his Covenant and Worship from all the people and Nations of the World beside to be his peculiar and onely people Levit. 20. 26. c. Therefore such as returned from Babylâ—n 〈◊〉 Ierusalem they separated â—hemselves to eat the Passeover 〈◊〉 6 And in that solemne humiliation and confession before the Lord Nehem 9. the children of Israel separated themselves from all strangers This separation of theirs was so famous that it extended not only to Circumcision the Passeover and matters of Gods worship but even to temporall and civill things Thus Ezra 9 they separated or put away their very wives which they had taken of the strange Nations contrary to the Commandement of the Lord. But where hath the God of Heaven in the Gospel separated whole Nations or Kingdomes English Scotch Irish French Dutch c. as a peculiar people and Antitype of the people of Israel Yea where the least footing in all the Scripture for a Nationall Church after Christs comming Can any people in the world patterne this samplar but the New-borne Israel such as feare God in every Nation Acts 10. 35. commanded to come forth and separate from all uncleane things or persons 2 Cor. 6. and though not bound to put away strange wives as Israel did because of that peculiar respect upon them in Civill things yet to be holy or set apart to the Lord in all manner of civill conversation 1 Pet. 1. Only to marry in the Lord yea and to marry as if they married not 1 Cor 7. yea to hate wife and children father mother house and land yea and life it selfe for the Lord Iesus Luc. 14. Thirdly this Seed of Abraham thus separate from all people unto the Lord was wonderfully redeemed and brought from Aegypts bonâ—age through the Red Sea and the Wildernesse unto the Land of Canaan by many strange signes and wonderfull miracles wrought by the ouâ—stretched hand of the Lord famous and dreadfull and to be admired by all succeeding peoples and generations Deut. 4. 32 33 34. Aske now from one side of the Heaven unto the other whether there hath been such a thing as this c And we may aske againe from one side of the Heaven unto the other whether the Lord hath now so miraculously redeemed and brought unto Himselfe any Nation or people as he did this people of Israel Peace The English Scotâ—h Dutch c. are apt to make themselves the parallels as wonderfully come forth of Popeâ—y c. Truth 1. But first whole Nations are no Churches under the Gospel Secondly bring the Nations of Europe professing Protestanisme to the ballance of the Sanctuary and ponder well whether the body bulk the generall or one hundreth part of such peoples be truly turned to God from Popery Who knowes not how easie it is to turne and turne and turn againe whole Nations from one Religion to another Who knowes not that within the compasse of one poore span of 12 yeares revolution all England hath become from halfe Papist halfe Protestant to be absolute Protestants from absolute Protestants to absolute Papists from absolute Papists changing as fashions to absolute Protestants I will not say as some worthy witnesses of Christ have uttered that all England and Europe must againe submit their faire necks to the Popes yoake But this I say many Scriptures concerning the destruction of the Beast and the Whore looke that way And I adde they that feele the pulse of the people seriously must confesse that a victorious Sword and a Spanish Inquisition will soone make millions face about as they were in the Fore-Fathers times CHAP. CXIII Peace O That the Steersmen of the Nations might remember this Bee wise and kisse the Sonne lest he goe on in this His dreadfull anger and dash them in peeces here and eternally Truth I therefore thirdly adde That only such as are Abrahams Seed circumcised in Heart New-borne Israel or wrastlers with God are the Antitype of the former Israel these are only the holy Nation 1 Pet. 2. wonderfully redeemed from the Aegypt of this World Titus 2. 14. brought through the Red Sea of Baptisme 1 Cor. 10. through the wildernesse of afflictions and of the peoples Dent. 8. Ezâ—k 20. into the Kingdome of Heaven begun below even that Christian Land of Promise where flow the everflowing streames and Rivers of Spirituall milke and honey Fourthly All this people universally in typicall and ceremoniall respect were holy and cleane in this their separation and sequestration unto God Exod. 19. 5. Hence even in respect of their naturall birth in that Land they were an holy Seed and Ezrâ— makes it the matter of his great complaint Ezra 9. 12. The holy Seed have mingled themselves But where is now that Nation or Country upon the face of the Earth thus cleane and holy unto God and bound to so many ceremoniall cleansings
God the Spirituall Iewes Christs true followers in all parts and quarters of the World Beside all these without Israel is betraied within her owne bowells bloudy Sauls Absaloms Sheâ—aes Adonljahs Ieroboams Athalâ—ahs raising insurrections conspiracies tumults in the Antitype and Parallell the Spirituall state of the Christian Church Secondly consider we the famous and wonderfull battells victories captivities deliverances which it pleased the God of Israel to dispence to that people and Nation and let us search if they can be paralleld by any State or people but mystically and Spiritually the true Christian Israel of God Gal. 6. How famous was the bondage and slavery of that people and Nation 430 yeares in the Land of Aegypt and as famous glorious and miraculous was their returne through the Red Sea a figure of Baptisme 1 Corinth 10. and Aegypt a figure of an Aegypt now Rev. 11. 8 How famous was the 70 yeares captivity of the Iewes in Babel transported from that Land of Canaan and at the full period returned againe to Ierusalem a type of the captivity of Gods people now Spiritually captivated in mysticall Babel Rev. 18. 4 Time would faile me to speake of Ioshua's conquest of literall Canaan the slaughter of 31 Kings of the miraculous taking of Iericho and other Cities Gideon his miraculous battell against the Midianites Ionathan and his Armour bearer against the Philistims David by his 5 smooth stones against Goliah Asa Iehosaphat Hezechia their mighty and miraculous victories against so many hundred thousand Enemies and that sometimes without a blow given What State what Kingdome what warres and combats victories and deliverances can parallel this people but the Spirituall and mysticall Israel of God in every Nation and Country of the World typed out by that small typicall handfull in that little spot of ground the land of Canaan The Israel of God now men and women fight under the Great Lord Generall the Lord Iesus Christ Their Weapons Armour and Artillery is like themselves Spirituall set forth from top to toe Ephes. 6. So mighty and so potent that they breake downe the strongest holds and Castles yea in the very soules of men and carry into captivity the very thoughts of men subjecting them to Christâ— Iesus They are Spirituall conquerours as in all the 7 Churches of Asia He that overcommeth He that overcommeth Rev. 2. 3. Their victories and conquests in this are contrary to those of this World for when they are slaine and slaughtered yet then they conquer So overcame they the Divell in the Roman Emperours Rev. 12. By the bloud of the Lambe 2. By the word of their Testimony 3. The cheerfull spilling of their owne bloud for Christ for they loved not their lives unto the death And in all this they are more then Conquerors through him that loved them Rom. 8. This glorious Armie of white Troopers horses and harnesse Christ Iesus and his true Israel Rev. 19. gloriously conquer and overcome the Beast the false Prophet and the Kings of the Earth up in Armes against them Rev. 19. and lastly raigning with Christ a thousand yeares they conquer the Divell himselfe and the numberlesse Armies like the sand on the Sea shoare of Gog and Magog and yet not a tittle of mention of any sword helmet breastplate shield or horse but what is Spirituall and of a heavenly nature All which Warres of Israel have been may be and shall be fulfilled mystically and Spiritually I could further insist on other particulars of Israels unparalled state and might display those excellent passages which it pleaseth God to mention Nâ—hem 9. CHAP. CXXIII Peace YOu have deare Truth as in a glasse presented the face of Old and New Israel and as in water face answereth to face so doth the face of typicall Israel to the face of the Antitype between whom and not between Canaan and the Civill Nations and Countries of the World now there is an admirable consent and harmony But I have heard some say was not the civill state and Judicialls of that people presidentiall Truth I have in part and might further discover that from the King upon his Throne to the very Beasts yea the excrements of their bodies as we see in their going to War Deut 23. 12â— their civills moralls and naturalls were carried on in types and however I acknowledge that what was simply morall civill and naturall in Israels state in their constitutions Lawes punishments may be imitated and followed by the States Countries Cities and Kingdomes of the World Yet who can question the lawfulnesse of other formes of Government Lawes and punishments which differ since civill constitutions are mens Ordinances or creation 2. Pet. 2. 13. unto which Gods people are commanded even for the Lords sake to submit themselves which if they were unlawfull they ought not to do Peace Having thus far proceeded in examining whether God hath charged the Civill State with the establishing of the Spirituall and Religious what conceive you of that next assertion viz It is well knowne that the remissenes of Princes in Christendome in matters of Religion and Worship divolving the care thereof only to the Clergie and so setting theâ— Hoâ—â—es upon the Churches head hath been the cause of 〈◊〉 invention usurpation and corruption in the Worship and Temple of God Truth It is lamentably come to passe by Gods just permission Sathans policie the peoples sinne and the malice of the wicked against Christ and the corruption of Princes and Magistrates that so many inventions 〈◊〉 and corruptions are 〈◊〉 in the Worship and Temple of God throughout that part of the World which is called Christian and may most properly be called the Popes Christendome in opposition to Christ Iesus his true Christian Common-weale or Church the true Christendome But that this hath arisen from Princes remissenesse in not keeping their watch to establish the Purity of Religion Doctrine and Worship and to punish according to Israels patterne all false Ministers by rooting them and their worships out of the World that I say can never bee evinced and the many thousands of glorious Soules under the Altar whose blood hath beene spilt by this position and the many hundred thousand soules driven out of their bodies by Civill Warres and the many millions of soules forced to hypocrisie and ruine eternall by inforced Vniformities in Worship will to all Eternity proclaime the contrary Indeed it shewes a most injurious idlenes and unfaithfulnes in such as professe to be Messengers of Christ Iesus to cast the heaviest weight of their care upon the Kings and Rulers of the Earth yea upon the very Common-weales Bodies of People that is the World it selfe who have fundamentally in themselves the Root of Power to set up what Government and Governours they shall agree upon Secondly it shewes abundance of carnall diffidence and distrust of the glorious power and gracious presence of the Lord Iesus who hath given his promise and
THE BLOVDY TENENT of PERSECUTION for cause of CONSCIENCE discussed in A Conference betweene TRVTH and PEACE VVHO In all tender Affection present to the High Court of Parliament as the Result of their Discourse these amongst other Passages of highest consideration Printed in the Year 1644. FIrst That the blood of so many hundred thousand souls of Protestants and Papists spilt in the Warâ— of present and former Ages for their respective Consciences is not required nor accepted by Iesus Christ the Prince of Peace Secondly Pregnant Scriptures and Arguments are throughout the Worke proposed against the Doctrine of Persecution for for cause of Conscience Thirdly Satisfactorie Answers are given to Scriptures and objections produced by Mr. Calvin Beza Mr. Cotton and the Ministers of the New English Churches and others former and later tending to prove the Doctrine of Persecution for cause of Conscience Fourthly The Doctrine of Persecution for cause of Conscience is proved guilty of all the blood of the Soules crying for vengeance under the Altar Fifthly All Civill States with their Officers of justice in their respective constitutions and administrations are proved essentially Civill and therefore not Iudges Governours or Defendours of the Spirituall or Christian state and Worship Sixtly It is the will and command of God that since the comming of his Sonne the Lord Iesus a permission of the most Paganish Iewish Turkish or Antichristian consciences and worships bee granted to all men in all Nations and Countries and they are onely to bee fought against with that Sword which is only in Soule matters able to conquer to wit the Sword of Gods Spirit the Word of God Seventhly The state of the Land of Israel the Kings and people thereof in Peace War is proved figurative and ceremoniall and no patterne nor president for any Kingdom or civill state in the world to follow Eightly God requireth not an uniformity of Religion to be inacted and inforced in any civill state which inforced uniformity sooner or later is the greatest occasion of civill Warre ravishing of conscience persecution of Christ Iesus in his servants and of the hypocrisie and destruction of millions of souls Ninthly In holding an inforced uniformity of Religion in a civill state we must necessarily disclaime our desires and hopes of the Iewes conversion to Christ. Tenthly An inforced uniformity of Religion throughout a Nation or civill state confounds the Civill and Religious denies the principles of Chrâ—stianity and civility and that Iesus Christ is come in the Flesh. Eleventhly The permission of other consciences and worships then a state professeth only can according to God procure a firme and lasting peace good assurance being taken according to the wisdome of the civill state for uniformity of civill obedience from all sorts Twelfthly lastly true civility and Christianity may both flourish in a State or Kingdome notwithstanding the permission of divers and contrary consciences either of Iew or Gentile TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE both Houses of the High Court of PARLIAMENT Right Honourable and Renowned Patriots NExt to the saving of your own soules in the lamentable shipwrack of Mankind your taske as Christians is to save the Soules but as Magistrates the Bodies and Goods of others Many excellent Discourses have been presented to your Fathers hands and Yours in former and present Parliaments I shall be humbly bold to say that in what concernes your duties as Magistrates towards others a more necessary and seasonable debate was never yet presented Two things your Honours here may please to view in this Controversie of Persecution for cause of Conscience beyond what 's extant First the whole Body of this Controversie form'd pitch'd in true Battalia Secondly although in respect of my selfe it be impar congressus yet in the power of that God who is Maximus in Miniâ—is Your Honours shall see the Controversie is discussed with men as able as most eminent for abilitie and pietie Mr. Coâ—ton and the New English Ministers When the Prophets in Scripture have given their Coats of Armes and Escutchâ—ons to Great Men Your Honours know the Babylonian Monarch hath the Lyon the Persian the Beare the Grecian the Leopard the Romane a compound of the former 3. most strange and dreadfull Dan. 7. Their oppressing plundring ravishing murthering not only of the bodies but the soules of Men are large explaining commentaries of such similitudes Your Honours have been famous to the end of the World for your unparallel'd wisdome courage justice mercie in the vindicating your Civill Lawes Liberties c. Yet let it not be grievous to your Honours thoughts to ponder a little why all the Prayers and Teares and Fastings in this Nation have not pierc'd the Heavens and quench'd these Flames which yet who knowes how far they 'll spread and when they 'll out Your Honours have broke the jawes of the Oppressour and taken the prey out of their Teeth Iob. 29. For which Act I believe it hath pleased the most High God to set a Guard not only of Trained men but of mighty Angels to secure your sitting and the Citie I feare we are not pardoned though reprieved O that there may be a lengthning of Londons tranquilitie of the Parliaments safetie by mercy to the poore Dan. 4. Right Honourable Soule yokes Soule oppressions plundrings ravishings c. are of a crimson and deepest dye and I believe the chiefe of Englands sins unstopping the Viols of Englands present sorrowes This glasse presents your Honours with Arguments from Religion Reason Experience all proving that the greatest yoakes yet lying upon English necks the peoples and Your own are of a spirituall and soule nature All former Parliaments have changed these yoakes according to their consciences Popish or Protestant 'T is now your Honours turne at helme and as your task so I hope your resâ—lution not to change for that is but to turne the wheele which another Parliament and the very next may turne againe but to â—ase the Subjects and Your selves from a yoake as was once spoke in a case not unlike Act 15. which neither You nor your Fathers were ever able to beare Most Noble Senatours Your Fathers whose seats You fill are mouldred and mouldring their braines their tonguâ—s c. to ashes in the pit of rottenesse They and You must shortly together with two worlds of men appeare at the great Barre It shall then be no griefe of heart that you have now attended to the cries of Soules thousands oppressed millions ravished by the Acts and Statutes concerning Soules not yet repealed Of Bodies impoverished imprisoned c. for their soules beliefe yea slaughtered on heapes for Religions controversies in the Warres of present and former Ages Notwithstanding the successe of later times wherein sundry opinions have been hatched about the subject of Religion a man may clearly discerne with his eye and as it were touch with his finger that according to the verity of holy Scriptures c. mens consciences ought in no sort
appâ—ove a cutting off by the sword of the Spirit in the Church and the purging out of the leaven in the Church in the Cities of Corinth and Galatia And if Tertullian should so meane as himselfe doth yet First that grant of his that Heresie must be cut off with the sword of the Spirit implies an absolute sufficiencie in the sword of the Spirit to cut it down according to that mighty operation of Spirituall weapons 2 Cor. 10. 4. powerfully sufficient either to convert the Heretick to God and subdue his very thoughts into subjection to Christ or else spiritually to slay and execute him Secondly it is cleare to be the meaning of the Apostle and of the Spirit of God not there to speake to the Church in Corinth or Galatia or any other Church concerning any other dough or house or body or â—lock but the dough the body the house the â—lock of Christ his Church Out of which such spaâ—ks such leaven such rotten slesh and scabbed sheep are to be avoided Nor could the eye of this worthy Answerer ever be so obscured as to run to a Smiths shop for a Sword of iron and steale to helpe the Sword of the Spirit if the Sun of Righteousnesse had once been pleased to shew him that a Nationall Church which elsewhere he professeth against a state Church whether explicite as in Ola England or implicite as in New is not the Institution of the Lord Iesus Christ. The Nationall typicall State-Church of the Iewes necessarily called for such weapons but the particular Churches of Christ in all parts of the World consisting of Iewes or Gentiles is powerfully able by the sword of the Spirit to defend it selfe and â—ffend Men or Devils although the Statâ— or Kingdome wherein such a Church or Churches of Christ are gathered have neither carnall speare nor sword c. as once it was in the Nationall Church of the Land of Canaan CHAP. LXXII Peace BReutius whom you next quote saith he speaketh not to your cause Wee willingly grant you that man hath no power to make Lawes to binde conscience but this hinders not but men may see the Lawes of God observed which doe binde conscience Truth I answer In granting with Breutius that man hath not power to make Lawes to binde conscience hee overthrowes such his tenent and practice as restraine men from their Worship according to their Conscience and beleefe and constraine them to such worships though it bee out of a pretence that they are convinced which their owne soules tell them they have no satisfaction nor faith in Secondly whereas he affirmeth that men may make Lawes to see the Lawes of God observed I answer as God needeth not the helpe of a materiall sword of steele to assist the sword of the Spirit in the affaires of conscience so those men those Magistrates yea that Commonwealth which makes such Magistrates must needs have power and authority from Christ Iesus to sit Iudge and to determine in all the great controversies concerning doctrine discipline government c. And then I aske whether upon this ground it must not evidently follow that Either there is no lawfull Commonwealth nor civill State of men in the world which is not qualified with this spirituall discerning and then also that the very Commonweale hath more light concerning the Church of Christ then the Church it selfe Or that the Commonweale and Magistrates thereof must judge and punish as they are perswaded in their owne beleefe and conscience be their conscience Paganish Turkish or Antichristian what is this but to confound Heaven and Earth together and not onely to take away the being of Christianity out of the World but to take away all civility and the world out of the world and to lay all upon heapes of confusion CHAP. LXXIII Peace THe like answer saith he may bee returned to Luther whom you next alledge First that the government of the civill Magistrate extendeth no further then over the bodies and goods of their subjects not over their soules and therefore they may not undertake to give Lawes unto the soules and consciences of men Secondly that the Church of Christ doth not use the Arme of secular power to compell men to the true profession of the truth for this is to be done with spirituall weapons whereby Christians are to be exhorted not compelled But this saith hee hindreth not that Christians sinning against light of faith and conscience may justly be censured by the Church with excommunication and by the civill sword also in case they shall corrupt others to the perdition of their soules Truth I answer in this joynt confession of the Answerer with Luther to wit that the government of the civill Magistrate extendeth no further then over the bodies and goods of their subjects not over their soules who sees not what a cleare testimony from his own mouth and pen is given to wit that either the Spirituall and Church estate the preaching of the Word and the gathering of the Church the Baptisme of it the Ministry Government and Administrations thereof belong to the civill body of the Commonweale that is to the bodies and goods of men which seemes monstrous to imagine Or else that the civill Magistrate cannot without exceeding the bounds of his office meddle with those spirituall affaires Againe necessarily must it follow that these two are contradictory to themselves to wit The Magistrate power extends no further then the bodies and goods of the subject and yet The Magistrates must punish Christians for sinning against the light of faith and conscience and for corrupting the soules of men The Father of Lights make this worthy Answerer and all that feare him to see their wandring in this case not only from his feare but also from the light of Reason it selfe their owne convictions and confessions Secondly in his joint confession with Luther that the Church doth not use the secular power to compell men to the Faith and Profession of the truth he condemneth as before I have observed First his former Implication vizâ— that they may bee compelled when they are convinced of the truth of it Secondly their owne practice who suffer no man of any different conscience and worship to live in their jurisdiction except that he depart from his owne exercise of Religion and Worship differing from the worship allowed of in the civill State yea and also actually submit to come to their Church Which howsoever it is coloured over with this varnish viz. that men are compelled no further then unto the hearing of the word unto which all men are bound yet it will appeare that teaching and being taught in a Church estate is a Church worship as true and proper a Church worship as the Supper of the Lord Act. 2. 46. Secondly all persons Papist and Protestant that are conscientious have alwayes suffered upon this ground especially that they have refused to come to
Lawes properly concerning Religionâ— God the Soules of men should be Civill Lawes and Constitutions is as far from Reason as that the Commandements of Paul which he gave the Churches concerning Christs worship 1 Cor. 11. 1 Cor. 14. were Civill and Earthly constitutions Or that the Canon and Constitutions of either oecumâ—nicall or Nationall synods concerning Religion should be Civill and State-conclusions and agreements To that instance of an Oath remaining relâ—gious though conversant about civill things I answer and acknowledge an Oath may be spirituall though taken about earthly businesse and accordingly it will prove and onely prove what before I have said that a Law may be civill though it concerne persons of this and of that religion that is as the persons professing it are concerned in civill respects of bâ—dies or goods as I have opened whereas if it concerne the soules and religions of men simply so considered in reference to God it must of necessity put on the nature of a religious or spirituall ordinance or constitution Besides it is a most improper and fallacious instance for an oath being an invocation of a true or false God to judge in a case is an action of a spirituall and religious nature what ever the subject matter be about which it is taken whether civill or religious but a law or constitution may be civill or religious as the subject about which it is conversant is either civill meerly concerning bodies or goods or religious concerning soule and worship CHAP. XCIV Peace THeir fifth Head is concerning the Magistrates power in making of Lawes First they have power to publish and apply such Civill Lawes in a State as either are exprest in the Word of God in Moses Judicialls to wit so far as they are of generall and morall equity and so binding all Nations in all Ages to bee deducted by way of generall consequence and proportion from the word of God For in a free State no Magistrate hath power over the bodies goods lands liberties of a free people but by their free consents And because free men are not free Lords of their owne estates but are onely stewards under God therefore they may not give their free consents to any Magistrate to dispose of their bodies goods lands liberties at large as themselves please but as God the soveraigne Lord of all alone And because the Word is a perfect rule as wel of righteousnes as of holines it will be therefore necessary that neither the people give consent nor that the Magistrate take power to dispose of the bodies goods lands liberties of the people but according to the Lawes and Rules of the Word of God Secondly in making Lawes about civill and indifferent things about the Commonweale First he hath no power given him of God to make what laws he please either in restraining from or constraining to the use of indifferent things because that which is indifferent in its nature maâ— sometimes bee inexpedient in its use and consequently unlawfull 1 Cor. 2. 5. it having been long since defended upon good ground Quicquid non expeait quatenus non expedit non licet Secondly he hath no power to make any such Lawes about indifferent things wherein nothing good or evill is shewne to the people but onely or principally the meere authority or wil of the imposer for the observance of them Colos. 2. 21 22. 1 Cor. 7. 23 compared with Ephes. 6. 6. It is a prerogative proper to God to require obedience of the sonnes of men because of his authority and will The will of no man is Regula recti unlesse first it bee Regula recta It is an evill speech of some that in some things the will of the Law not the ratio of it must be the Rule of Conscience to walke by and that Princes may forbid men to seeke any other reason but their authority yea when they command frivola dura And therefore it is the duty of the Magistrate in all lawes about indifferent things to shew the Reasons not onely the Will to shew the expediency as well as the indifferency of things of that nature For we conceive in Lawes of this nature it is not the will of the Lawgiver onely but the Reason of the Law which bindes Ratio est Rex Legis Lex est Rex Regis Thirdly because the judgement of expedient and inexpedient things is often difficult and diverse it is meet that such Lawes should not proceed without due consideration of the Rules of Expediency set downe in the Word which are these three First the rule of Piety that they may make for the glory of God 1 Cor. 10. 31. Secondly the rule of Charity that no scandall come hereby to any weake brother 1 Cor. 8. 13. Thirdly the Rule of Charity that no man be forced to submit against his conscience Rom. 14. 14. 23. nor be judged of contempt of lawfull Authority because he is not suddenly perswaded of the expediency of indifferent things for if the people be bound by God to receive such Lawes about such things without any triall or satisfaction to the conscience but must judge them expedient because the Magistrate thinkes them so then the one cannot be punished in following the other in case he shall sinne in câ—lling Inexpedient Expedient but Christ saith the contrary If the blinde lead the blinde they shall both fall Truth In this passage these worthy Men lay downe such a ground as the gates of Hell are not able to shake concerning the Magistrates walking in indifferent things And upon which ground that Towre of Lebanon may be raised whereon there hang a thousand shields and bucklars Cant 4. to wit that invincible Truth That no man is to be persecuted for cause of conscience The ground is this The Magistâ—ate hath not power to make what Lawes he please either in restraining or constraining to the use of indifferent things And further he confesseth that the reason of the Law not the will of it must be the rule of conscience And they adde this impregnable reason viz. If the people be bound to receive such Lawes without satisfaction to conscience then one cannot be punished for following the other in case he shall sinne contrary to Christ Jesus who saith If the blinde lead the blinde they shall both fall Hence I argue If the Civill Magistrate have no power to restraine or constraine their subjects in things in their owne nature indifferent as in eating of meats wearing this or that garment using this or that gesture but that they are bound to try and examine his commands and satisfie their owne reason conscience and judgement before the Lord and that they shall sinne if they follow the Magistrates command not being perswaded in their owne soule and conscience that his commands are according to God! It will be much more unlawfull and heynous in the Magistrate to compell the subjects unto that which according to their consciences perswasion is
to the woman of Samaria Iohn 4. professing that neither at that Mountaine nor at Ierusalem should men worship the Father While that Nationall State of the Church of the Iewes remained the Tribes were bound to goe up to Ierusalem to worship Psal. 122. But now in every Nation not the whole Land or Country as it was with Canaan he that feareth God and worketh righteousnesse is accepted with him Act. 10. 35. This then appeared in that large Commission of the Lord Jesus to his first Ministers Goe into all Nations and not onely into Canaan to carry tidings of Mercy c. Secondly the former Inhabitants thereof seven great and mightie Nations Deuter. 7. were all devoted to destruction by the Lords owne mouth which was to bee performed by the impartiall hand of the Children of Israel without any sparing or shewing Mercy But so now it hath not pleased the Lord to devote any people to present Destruction commanding his people to kill and slay without Covenant or Compassion Deuteronomy 7. 2. Where have Emperours Kings or Generals an immediate call from God to destroy whole Cities City after City Men women Children Old and Young as Ioshua practised Ioshua 6. and 10. Chapters c. This did Israel to these seven Nations that they themselves might succeed them in their Cities Habitations and Possessions This onely is true in a spirituall Antitype when Gods people by the Sword the two-edged Sword of Gods Spirit slay the ungodly and become Heires yea fellow Heires with Christ Iesus Romanes 8. Gods meeke people inherit the earth Matthew 5. They mystically like Noah Hebrewes 11 condemne the whole unbeleeving World both by present and future sentence 2 Corinth 6. 2. CHAP. CXI THirdly the very materials the Gold and Silver of the Idols of this Land were odioâ—s and abominable and dangerous to the people of Israel that they might not desire it nor take it to themselves Deut. 7. 25. 26. lest themselves also become a curse and like unto those cursed abominable things Whereas we finde not any such accursed nature in the materials of Idols or Images now but that the Idolatrous formes being changed the silver and gold may be cast and coyned and other materialls lawfully employed and used Yet this we finde in the Antitype that gold silver yea house land yea wives children yea life it selfe as they allure and draw us from God in Christ are to be abominated and hated by us without which hatred and indignation against the most plausible and pleasing enticings from CHRIST IESVS it is impossible for any man to bee a true Christian Luke 14. 26. Fourthly this Land this Earth was an Holy land Zâ—ch 2. 12. Ceremonially and typically holy Fields Gardens Orchards Houses c. which Holines the World knowes not now in one Land or Country House Field Garden c. one above another Yet in the Spirituall Land of Canaan the Christian Church all things are made holy and pure in all Lands to the pure Tit. 1. meats and drinkes are sanctified that is dedicated to the holy use of the thankfull Believers 1 Tim. 4. vea and the unbelieving Husband Wife and their Children are sanctified and made holy to Believers insomuch that that golden inscription peculiar to the forehead of the High Priest Holines to Iehovah shall be written upon the very Bridles of the Horses as all are dedicated to the service of Christ Iesus in the Gospels peace and holines Fifthly the Lord expresly calls it his own Land Levit. 25 23. Hos. 9. 3 Iehovah his Land a terme proper unto Spirituall Canaan the Church of God which must needs be in respect of his choice of that Land to be the Seate and Residence of his Church and Ordinances Buâ— now the partition wall is broken down and in respect of the Lords speciall proprieâ—ie to one Country more then another what dâ—fference between Asia and Africa between Europe and America between England and Turkie London and Constantinople This Land among many other glorious Titles given to it was called Emanuels land that is God with us Christ his land or Christian land Isa 8. 8. But now Ierusalem from above is not materiall and Earthly but Spirituall Gal. 4. Heb. 12. Materiall Ierusalem is no more the Lords citie then Iericho Ninivie or Babell in respect of place or Countrey for even at Babell literall was a Church of Iesus Christ 1 Pet. 5. It is true that Antichrist hath christned all those Countries whereon the Whore sitteth Revel 17. with the Title of Christs land or Christian land And Hundius in his Map of the Christian World makes this land to extend to all Asia a great part of Africa all Europe and a vast part of America even so farre as his unchristian Christenings hath gone But as every false Christ hath false Teachers false Christians false Faith Hope Love c. and in the end false Salvation so doth he also counterfeit the false Name of Christ Christians Christian land or Countrey Sixthly this Land was to keepe her Sabbaths unto God Sixe yeares they were to sow their Fields and prune their Vines but in the 7. yeare they were not to sow their Fields nor prune their Vineyards but to eat that which grew of it selfe or own accord But such Observations doth not God now lay upon any Fields Vineyards c. under the Gospell Yet in the Spirituall land of Canaan the true Church there is a Spirituall Soule-rest or Sabbath a quiet depending upon God a living by Faith in him a making him our portion and casting all care upon him who careth for us yea sometimes he feedeth his by immediate gracious workes of Providence when comforts arise out of the Earth without secondary meanes or causes as here or as elsewhere Manna descended from Heaven Seventhly such portions and possessions of Lands Fields Houses Vineyards were sold with caution or proviso of returning againe in the yeare of Iubilee to the right owners Levit. 25. 23. Such cautions such provisos are not now injoyned by God in the sale of lands fields inheritances nor no such Iubilee or Redemption to be expected Yet this also finds a fulfilling in the spirituall Canaan or Church of God unto which the silver Trumpet of Iubilee the Gospel hath â—ounded a spirituall restitution of all their spirituall rights and inheritances which either they have lost in the fall of the first man Adam or in their particular falls when they are captive and sold unto sin Rom. 7. Or lastly in the spirituall captivitie of Babele bondage how sweet then is the name of a Saviour in whom is the joyfull sound of Deliverance and Redemption Eightly this Land or Country was a figure or type of the kingdome of Heaven above begun here below in the Church and Kingdome of God Heb. 4. 8. Heb. 11. 9. 10. Hence was a Birthright so pretious in Canaans Land Hence Naboth so inexorable and resolute in refusing to
and purgings Are not all the Nations of the Earth alike cleane unto God or rather alike uncleane untill it pleaseth the Father of mercies to call some out to the Knowledge and Grace of his Sonne making them to see their filthinesse and strangenesse from the Commonweale of Israel and to wash in the bloud of the Lambe of God This taking away the difference between Nation and Nation Country and Country is most fully and admirably declared in that great vision of all sorts of living creatures presented unto Peter Acts 10. whereby it pleased the Lord to informe Peter of the abolishing of the difference between Iew and Gentile in any holy or unholy cleane or uncleane respect Fifthly not only to speake of all but to select one or two more This people of Israel in that Nationall State were a type of all the Children of God in all ages under the profession of the Gospel who are therefore called the Children of Abraham and the Israel of God Gal. 3. Gal. 6. A Kingly Priesthood and holy Nation 1 Pet. 2. 9 in a cleare and manifest Antitype to the former Israel Exod. 19. 6. Hence Christians now are figuratively in this respect called Iewes Rev. 3. where lies a cleare distinction of the true and false Christian under the consideration of the true and false Iew Behold I will make them of the Synagogue of Sathan that say they are Jewes and are not but doe lie Rev. 3. But such a typicall respect we finde not now upon any People Nation or Country of the whole World But out of all Nations Tongues and Languages is God pleased to call some and redeem them to Himselfe Rev. 5. 9. And hath made no difference betweene the Iewes and Gentiles Greekes and Scithians Gal. 3. who by Regeneration or second birth become the Israel of God Gal. 6. the Temple of God 1 Cor. 3. and the true Ierusalem Heb. 12. Lastly all this whole Nation or people as they were of one typicall seed of Abraham sealed with a shamefull painfull Ordinance of cutting off the fore-skin which differenced them from all the World beside So also were they bound to such and such solemnities of figurative worships Amongst many others I shall end this passage concerning the people with a famous observation out of Numb 9. 1 3. viz. All that whole Nation was bound to celebrate and keepe the Feast of the Passeover in his season or else they were to be Put to death But doth God require a whole Nation Country or Kingdome now thus to celebrate the spirituall Passeover the Supper and Feast of the Lambe Christ Iesus at such a time once a yeare and that whosoever shall not so doe shall bee put to death What horrible prophanations what grosse hypocrisies yea what wonderfull desolations sooner or later must needs follow upon such a course T is true the people of Israel brought into covenant with God in Abraham and so successively borne in Covenant with God might in that state of a Nationall Church solemnly covenant and sweare that whosoever would not seeke Iehovah the God of Israel should be put to death 2 Chron. 15. whether small or great whether man or woman But may whole Nations or Kingdomes now according to any one title exprest by Christ Iesus to that purpose follow that patterne of Israel and put to death all both men and women great and small that according to the rules of the Gospel are not borne againe penitent humble heavenly patient c. What a world of hypocrisie from hence is practised by thousands that for feare will stoope to give that God their bodies in a forme whom yet in truth their hearts affect not Yea also what a world of prophanation of the holy Name and holy Ordinances of the Lord in prostituting the holy things of God like the Vessels of the Sanctuary Dan. 5. to prophane impenitent and unregenerate persons Lastly what slaughters both of men and women must this necessarily bring into the world by the Insurrections and Civill Warres about Religion and Conscience Yea what slaughters of the innocent and faithfull witnesses of Christ Jesus who choose to bee slaine all the day long for Christ his sake and to fight for their Lord and Master Christ onely with spirituall and Christian weapons CHAP. CXIV Peace IT seemes deare Truth a mighty Gulfe betweene that people and Nation and the Nations of the world then extant and ever since Truth As sure as the blessed substance to all those shadowes Christ Iesus is come so unmatchable and never to bee paralleld by any Nationall State was that Israel in the Figure or Shadow And yet the Israel of God now the Regenerate or Newborne the circumcised in Heart by Repentance and Mortification who willingly submit unto the Lord Iesus as their onely King and Head may fitly parallell and answer that Israel in the type without such danger of hypocrisie of such horrible prophanations and of firing the Civill State in such bloody combustions as all Ages have brought forth upon this compelling a whole Nation or Kingdome to be the antitype of Israel Peace Were this Light entertained some hopes would shine forth for my returne and restauration Truth I have yet to adde a third consideration concerning the Kings and Governours of that Land and people They were to be unlesse in their captivities of their Brethren members of the true Church of God as appeares in the History of Moses the Elders of Israel and the Iudges and Kings of Israel afterward But first who can deny but that there may be now many lawfull Governours Magistrates and Kings in the Nations of the World where is no true Church of Iesus Christ Secondly we know the many excellent gifts wherewith it hath pleased God to furnish many inabling them for publike service to their Countries both in Peace and War as all Ages and Experience testifies on whose soules hee hath not yet pleased to shine in the face of Iesus Christ which Gifts and Talents must all lye buried in the Earth unlesse such persons may lawfully be called and chosen to and improved in publike service notwithstanding their different or contrary Conscience and Worship Thirdly if none but true Christians members of Christ Iesus might be Civill Magistrates and publikely intrusted with civill affaires then none but members of Churches Christians should be Husbands of Wives Fathers of Children Masters of Servants But against this doctrine the whole creation the whole World may justly rise up in armes as not onely contrary to true Piety but common Humanity it selfe For if a Commonweale bee lawfull amongst men that have not heard of God nor Christ certainly their Officers Ministers and Governours must be lawfull also Fourthly it is notoriously knowne to be the dangerous doctrine profest by some Papists that Princes degenerating from their Religion and turning Heretickes are to be deposed and their Subjects actually discharged from their
obedience Which doctrine all such must necessarily hold however most loath to owne it that hold the Magistrate Guardian of both Tables and consequently such an one as is inabled to judge yea and to demonstrate to all men the worship of God yea and being thus Governor and Head of the Church he must necessarily be a part of it himselfe which when by Heresie he falls from though it may be by Truth miscalled Heresie he falls from his calling of Magistracy and is utterly disabled from his pretended guardianship and government of the Church Lastly we may remember the practice of the Lord Iesus and his followers commanding and practising obedience to the Higher Powers though we finde not one Civill Magistate a Christian in all the first Churches But contrarily the civill Magistrate at that time was the bloody Beast made up as Daniel seemes to imply concerning the Romane State Dan. 7. 7. of the Lion the Beare and the Leopard Rev. 13. 2. CHAP. CXV Peace BY these waights wee may try the waight of that commonly received and not questioned opinion viz. That the civill state and the spirituall the Church and Commonweale they are like Hippocrates twinnes they are borne together grow up together laugh together weepe together sicken and die together Truth A witty yet a most dangerous Fiction of the Father of â—ies who hardned in Rebellion against God perswades Gods people to drinke downe such deadly poison though he knowes the truth of these five particulars which I shall reminde you of First many flourishing States in the World have beene and are at this day which heare not of Iesus Christ and therefore have not the presence and concurrence of a Church of Christ with them Secondly there have beene many thousands of Gods people who in their personall estate and life of grace were awake to God but in respect of Church estate they knew no other then a Church of dead stones the Parish Church or though some light be of late come in through some cranny yet they seeke not after or least of all are joyned to any true Church of God consisting of living and beleeving stones So that by these New English Ministers principles not onely is the doore of calling to Magistracy shut against naturall and unregenerate men though excellently â—itted for civill offices but also against the best and ablest servants of God except they be entred into Church estate so that thousands of Gods owne people excellently qualified not knowing or not entring into such a Church estate shall not be accounted fit for civill services Thirdly admit that a civill Magistrate be neither a member of a true Church of Christ if any bee in his dominions nor in his person feare God yet may he possibly give free permission without molestation yea and sometimes incouragement and assistance to the service and Church of God Thus wee finde Abraham permitted to build and set up an Altar to his God wheresoever hee came amongst the idolatrous Nations in the Land of Canaan Thus Cyrus proclaims liberty to all the people of God in his Dominions freely to goe up and build the Temple of God at Ierusalem and Artaxerxes after him confirmed it Thus the Romane Emperours and Governours under him permitted the Church of God the Iewes in the Lord Christs time their Temple and Worship although in Civill things they were subject to the Romanes Fourthly the Scriptures of Truth and the Records of Time concurre in this that the first Churches of Christ Iesus the lights patternes and presidents to all succeeding Ages were gathered and governed without the aid assistance or countenance of any Civill Authoritie from which they suffered great persecutions for the name of the Lord Iesus professed amongst them The Nations Rulers and Kings of the Earth tumultuously rage against the Lord and his Anointed Psal. 2. 1. 2. Yet vers 6. it hath pleased the Father to set the Lord Iesus King upon his holy Hill of Zion Christ Iesus would not be pleased to make use of the Civill Magistrate to assist him in his Spirituall Kingdome nor would he yet be daunted or discouraged in his Servants by all their threats and terreurs for Love is strong as death and the coales thereof give a most vehement flame and are not quenched by all the waters and flouds of mightiest opposition Cant. 8. Christ Church is like a chaste and loving wife in whose heart is fixed her Husbands love who hath found the tendernesse of his love towards her and hath been made fruitfull by him and therefore seekes she not the smiles nor feares the frownes of all the Emperours in the World to bring her Christ unto her or keep him from her Lastly we finde in the tyrannicall usurpations of the Romish Antichrist the 10 hornes which some of good note conceive to be the 10 Kingdomes into which the Romane Empire was quartred and divided are expresly said Revel 17. 13. to have one minde to give their power and strength unto the Beast yea ver 17. their Kingdome unto the Beast untill the Words of God shall be fulfilled whence it followes that all those Nations that are guilded over with the name of Christ have under that mask or vizâ—rd as some Executioners and Tormentors in the Inquisition use to torment persecuted the Lord Iesus Christ either with a more open grosse and bloody or with a more subtle secret and gentle violence Let us cast our eyes about turne over the Records and examine the experience of past and present Generations and see if all particular observations amount not to this summe viz. that the great whore hath committed fornication with the Kings of the Earth and made drunke thereof Nations with the cup of the wine of her fornications In which drunkennes and whoredome as whores use to practice she hath robbed the Kings and Nations of their power and strength and Iesabel like having procured the Kings names and seales she drinks drunk Revel 17. with the blood of Naboth who because he dares not part with his rightfull inheritance in the land of Canaan the blessed land of promise and salvation in Christ as a Traitour to the civill State and Blasphemer against God she under the colour of a day of humiliation in Prayer and Fasting stones to death CHAP. CXVI Peace DEare Truth how art thou hidden from the eyes of men in these mysteries how should men weep abundantly with Iohn that the Lambe may please to open these blessed sealeâ— unto them Truth O that Men more prized their makers feare â— then should they be more acquainted with their Makers councells for his Secret is with them that feare him Psal. 25. I passe on to a second Difference The Kings of Israel and Iudah were all solemnly annointed with oyle Psal. 39. 20. I have found David my servant with my holy 〈◊〉 have I annointed him Whence the Kings of Israel and Iudah were
Word to bee with such his messengers to the end of the world Matth. 28. That Dog that feares to meet a man in the path runnes on with boldnes at his masters comming and presence at his backe Thirdly what imprudence and indiscretion is it in the most common affaires of Life to conceive that Emperours Kings and Rulers of the earth must not only be qualified with politicall and state abilities to make and execute such Civill Lawes which may concerne the common rights peace and safety which is worke and businesse load and burthen enough for the ablest shoulders in the Commonweal but also furnished with such spirituall and heavenly abilities to governe the Spirituall and Christian Commonweale the flocke and Church of Christ to pull downe and set up Religion to judge determine and punish in Spirituall controversies even to death or banishment And beside that not only the severall sorts of civill Officers which the people shall choose and set up must be so authorised but that all respective Commonweales or Bodies of people are charged much more by God with this worke and busines radically and fundamentally because all true civill Magistrates have not the least iâ—ch of civill power but what is measured out to them from the free consent of the whole even as a Committee of Parliament cannot further act then the power of the House shall arme and enable them Concerning that Objection which may arise from the Kings of Israel and Iudah who were borne members of Gods Church and trained up therein all their dayes which thousands of lawfull Magistrates in the world possibly borne and bred in false Worships Pagan or Antichristian never heard of and were therein types of the great anointed the King of Israel I have spoken sufficiently to such as have an eare to heare and therefore Lastly so unsutable is the commixing and intangling of the Civill with the Spirituall charge and Government that except it was for subsistence as we see in Paul and Barnabas working with their owne hands the Lord Iesus and his Apostles kept themselves to one If ever any in this world was able to manage both the Spirituall and Civill Church and Commonweale it was the Lord Jesus wisedome it selfe Yea hee was the true Heire to the Crowne of Israel being the Sonne of David yet being sought for by the people to be made a King Joh. 5. he refused and would not give a president to any King Prince or Ruler to manage both swords and to assume the charge of both Tables Now concerning Princes I desire it may bee remembred who were most injurious and dangerous to Christianity whether Nero Domitian Iulian c. Persecuters or Constantine Theodosius c. who assumed this Power and Authority in and over the Church in Spirituall things It is confest by the Answerer and others of note that under these later the Church the Christian State Religion and Worship were most corrupted under Constantine Christians fell asleepe on the beds of carnall ease and Liberty insomuch that some apply to his times that sleepe of the Church Cant. 5. 2. I sleep though mine heart waketh CHAP. CXXIV Peace YEs but some will say this was not through their assuming of this power but the ill managing of it Truth Yet are they commonly brought as the great Presidents for all succeeding Princes and Rulers in after Ages and in this very controvesiâ— their practices are brought as presidentiall to establish persecution for conscience Secondly those Emperours and other Princes and Magistrates acted in Religion according to their consciences perswasion and beyond the light and perswasion of conscience can no man living walk in any feare of God Hence have they forced their subjects to uniformitie and conformitie unto their own consciences what ever they were though not willing to have been forced themselves in the matters of God and Conscience Thirdly Had not the light of their eye of conscience and the consciences also of their Teachers been darkned they could not have been condemned for want of heavenly affection rare devotion wonderfull care and diligence propounding to themselves the best patternes of the Kings of Iudah David Salomon Asa Iehosaphat Iosiah Hezekiah But here they lost the path and themselves in perswading themselves to be the parallels and antytipes to those figurative and typicall Princes whence they conceived themselves bound to make their Cities Kingdomes Empires new holy lands of Canaan and themselves Governours and Iudges in spirituall causes compelling all consciences to Christ and persecuting the contrary with fire and sword Upon these rootes how was how is it possible but that such bitter fruits should grow of corruption of Christianitie Persecution of such godly who happily see more of Christ then such Rulers themselves their Dominions and Jurisdictions being overwhelmed with inforced dissimulation and hypocrisie and where power of resistance with flames of civill combustion as at this very day he that runs may read and tremble at Peace They adde further that the Princes of Christendome setting their Hornes upon the Churches head have been the cause of Antichristian inventions c. Truth If they mean that the Princes of Europe giving their power and authoritie to the seven-headed and ten-horned Beast of Rome have been the cause c. I confesse it to be one concurring cause yet withall it must be remembred that even before such Princes set their hornes or authoritie upon the Beasts head even when they did as I may say but lend their hornes to the Bishops even then rose up many Antichristian abominations And though I confesse there is but small difference in some respect betweene the setting their hornes upon the Priests heads whereby they are inabled immediately to push and gore whoever crosse their doctrine and practice and the lending of their hornes that is pushing and goriâ—g such themselves as are declared by their Bishops and Priests to be hereticall as was and is practised in some Countries before and since the Pope rose yet I confidently affirme that neither the Lord Iesus nor his first ordained Ministers and Churches gathered by such Ministers did ever weare or crave the helpe of such hornes in Spirituall and Christian affaires The spirituall power of the Lord Iesus in the hands of his true Ministers and Churches according to Balaams prophesie Num. 23. is the horne of that Vnicorne or Rhinocerot Psal 92. which is the strongest horne in the world in comparison of which the strongest hornes of the Bulls of Basan breake as sticks and Historieâ—ells â—ells us how that Vnicorne or one-horned Beast the Rhinocerot tooke up a Bull like a Tennis ball in the Theater at Rome before the Emperour according to that record of the Post Quantâ—â—s erat cornu cui pila Taurus erat Unto this Spirituall power of the Lord Iesus the soules and thoughts of the highest Kings and Emperours must subject Math. 16. 18. 1 Cor. 5.
roots and foundations of all common societie in the World to turne the Garden and Paradice of the Church and Saints into the Field of the Civill State of the World and to reduce the World to the first Chaos or confusion CHAP. CXXXVIII Peace DEare Truth thou conquerestâ— and shalt triumph in season but some will say How answer you those Scriptures alleadged Truth I have fully and at large declared the vast differences between that holy Nation of typicall Israel and all other Lands and Countries how unmatchable then and now and never to be parallel'd but by the true Israel and particular Churches of Christ residing in all parts and under the severall civill Governments of the world In which Churches the Israel of God and Kingdome of Christ Iesus such only are to be chosen spirituall Officers and Governours to manage his Kingly power and authoritie in the Church as are according to the Scriptures quoted not Pope Bishops or Civill powers but from amongst themselves Brethren fearing God hating coveâ—ousnesse or filthy lucre according to those golden Rules given by the Lord Iesus 1 Tim. 3. Tit. 1. The want of discerning this true parallel between Israel in the type then and Israel the antitype now is that rock whereon through the Lords righteous jealousie punishing the World and chastising his people thousands dash and make wofull Shipwrack The second branch viz. that all Freemen elected be only Church members I have before shewne to be built on that saudy and dangerous Ground of Israels patterns O that it may please the Father of Lights to discover this to all that fear his name I then would they not sin to save a Kingdome nor run into the lamentable breach of civill peace and order in the world nor be guilty of forcing thousands to Hypocrisie in a State worship nor of prophaning the holy name of God and Christ by putting their Names and Ordinances upon uncleane and unholy persons nor of shedding the blood of such Hereticks c. whom Christ would have enjoy longer patience and permission untill the Harvest nor of the blood of the Lord Iesus himselfe in his faithfull Witnesses of Truth nor lastly of the blood of so many hundred thousands slaughtred men women and children by such uncivill and unchristian wars and combustions about the Christian faith and Religion Peace Deare Truth before we part I aske your faithfull helpe once more to 2 or 3 Scriptures which many alleadge and yet we have not spoken of Truth Speake on here is some sand left in this our houre glasse of mercifull opportunitie One graine of Times inestimable sand is worth a golden mountaine let 's not lose it Peace The first is that of the Ninevites fast commanded by the King of Ninevie and his Nobles upon the preaching of Ionah succeeded by Gods mercifull answer in sparing of the Citie and quoted with honorable approbation by the Lord Iesus Christ Jonah 3. Math. 12. Truth I have before proved that even Iehosaphats fast he being King of that Nationall Church and people of Israel could not possibly be a type or warrant for every King or Magistrate in the World whose Nations Countries or Cities cannot be Churches of God now in the Gospel according to Christ Iesus Much lesse can this patterne of the King of Ninevie and his Nobles be a ground for Kings and Magistrates now to force all their Subjects under them in the matters of Worship Peace It will be said why did God thus answer them Truth Gods mercy in hearing doth not prove an action right and according to rule It pleased God to heare the Israelites cry for Flesh and afterward for a King given both in anger to them It pleased God to heare Aâ—abs prayer yea and the prayer of the Devils Luc. 8. although their persons and prayers in themselves abominable If it be said why did Christ approve this example I answer the Lord Iesus Christ did not approve the King of Ninevies compelling all to Worship but the men of Ninevies repentance at the preaching of Ionah Peace It will be said what shall Kings and Magistrates now doe in the plagues of sword famine pestilence Truth Kings and Magistrates must be considered as formerly invested with no more power then the people betrust them with But no People can betrust them with any spirituall power in matters of worship but with a Civill power belonging to their goods and bodies 2. Kings and Magistrates must be considered as either godly or ungodly If ungodly his own and peoples duty is Repentance and reconciling of their persons unto God before their sacrifice can be accepted Without Repentance what have any to doe with the covenant or promise of God Psal. 50. Againe if Godly they are to humble themselves and beg mercles for themselves and people Secondly upon this advantage occasion they are stir up their people as possibly they may to Repentance but not to force the consciences of people to worship If it be said What must be attended to in this example Two things are most eminent in this example First the great worke of Repentance which God calls all men unto upon the true preaching of his Word Secondly the nature of that true repentance whether Legall or Evangelicall The people of Ninevie turned from the violence that was in their hands And confident I am if this Nation shall turne though but with a Legall repentance from that violent persecuting or hunting each of other for Religion sake the greatest violence and hunting in the wildernesse of the whole World even as Sodome and Gomorrah upon a Legall repentance had continued untill Christs day so consequently might England London c. continue free from a generall destruction upon such a turning from their violence untill the Heavens and the whole World be with fire consumed Peace The second Scripture is that speech of the Lord Christ Luc. 22. 36. He that hath not a sword let him fell his coat and buy one Truth For the cleering of this Scripture I must propose and reconcile that seeming contrary command of the Lord Iesus to Peter Mat. 26. Put up thy sword into his place for all that take the sword shall perish by it In the former Scripture Luc. 22. it pleased the Lord Iesus speaking of his present trouble to compare his former sending forth of his Disciples without scrip c. with that present condition and triall comming upon them wherein they should provide both scrip and sword c. Yet now first when they tell him of two swords he answers It is enough which shewes his former meaning was not literall but figurative foreshewing his present danger above his former Secondly in the same case at the same time Mat. 26 commanding Peter to put on his sword he gives a threefold Reason thereof 1 vers 52. from the event of it for all that take the sword shall perish by it 2 The needlesnes of it
type out a Civill but a Spirituall Sword of the Christian Church No man should be bound to worship nor maintaine a Worship against his own consent Christs labourers worthy of their hire but from them that hire them What maintenance Christ hath appointed his Ministers in the Gospell Universities of Europe a cause of universall sins plagues yet Schooles honourable for Tongues and Arts. Christs church his Schoole and all Believers Scholars Who knowes but God may againe powre forth the gifts of Tongues Tongues attainable out of Oxford or Cambridge Mr. Ainsworth King Henry the 8. set downâ—â— the Popes chaire in England If the Mgistrate must punish in Spirituall 〈◊〉 he must 〈◊〉 be judge 〈◊〉 Spirituall causes also Apocripha Common-Prayer and Homilies pretious to our forefaâ—hers A case Reformations are fallible Bloudy conclusions 11 Head The argument from the Babylonian and Persian kings re-minded The president of the Kings and Governoâ—â—s of Israel and Iudah examined The state of Israel relating to spirituall matters proved typicall The Persian Kings make evidently against such as produce them for maintenance of the doctrine of persecution The Land of Canaan chosen by God to be the seat of the Church but under the New Testament all Nations alike The inhabitants of Canaans Land every soule to be put to death that the Israelites might enjoy their possessions not so now The very 〈◊〉 silver of Caraâ—aesâ— Images 〈◊〉 to be abhorred The Land of Canaan ceremonially holy Greater holynesse in the Antitype under the Gospel then in the types under the Law The Land of Canaan Jehorahs Land Emanuels Land so no Land or country more then another The Blasphe mâ—us titles of the Christned and Christian World The materiall Land of Caâ—aâ—n was to keep her Sabboths so no materiall land or Country now God feedeth his sometimes immediately The Jâ—bilee of Canaan a type of restitution and redemption in the Gospell Canaans land a type of 〈◊〉 Kingdome of God on Earth and in Heaven Why Naboth refused to part with a Garden plot to his King upon hazard of his life The difference of the people of Israel and all other Peoples The people of Israel the seed of one man Only made good in the Spirituall seed the regeneâ—ate or new-borne The people of Israel separate from all Nations in Spâ—â—â— all and in some Civill things No Nation so sâ—parated to God in the Gospel but only the new borne Israel that feare God in every Nation The whole people of Israel 〈…〉 of Egypt Not so any whole Nation now Popeâ—y not so easily turned from as iâ— conceived Wonderfull turnings in Religion in 12 yeares conpasse in England The Pope not unlike to recover his Monarchie over Europe before his downfall Who are now the true Seed of Abraham The people of Israel all holy in a typicall 〈◊〉 All Nations now alike since the comming of the Lord Jesus The children of Israel a figure of the Israel or people of God only uâ—der the Gospel The people of Israel 〈◊〉 rent from all the world in their figurative and ceremoniall worships Israel Gods only Church might well renew that Nationall Covenant and ceremoniall worship which other Nations cannot imitate The hypocrisies prophanations and slaughters which such imitation now in the Gospell produce The difference of the Kings and Governours of Israel from al Kings Governors of the world First they were all members of the Church Excellent Talents vouchsafed by God to unregenerate persons A doctrine contrary to all true Piety and Humanity it selfe The Papists doctrine of deposing Magistrates confessed in effect to be true by the Pâ—â—cestants No civill Magistrate Christian in Christs time Five demonstrative arguments proving the unsoundnesse of that Maxime The Church and Common-wealth are like Hypocrates twins Many flourishing States without a true Church Many of Gods people 〈…〉 from a true Church state Yet â—it for civill services Gods people permitted and favoured by Idolaters Christs church gathered and governed with out the helpe of an arme of flesh Christs true â—pouse 〈◊〉 and faithfull to Christ Jâ—sus in the 〈…〉 or 〈◊〉 from the World The 10 horns Revel 13. 17. The great mysterie of Persecution unfolded Christian Naboths slaughtered 2. Difference The mysterie of the anointing the Kings of Israel and Judah The Name Christian or Anointed A Sacrilegious Monopolie of the Name Christian. The Crown of Christs Kingly power 3. The Kings of Israel and Judah invested with aâ— Spirituall power David immeately inspired by the Spirit of God in his ordering of Church maâ—ters Salomons deposing Abiathar â— Kings 2. 26. 27â— discussed Salomon his putting Abiathar from the Priesthood examined A case put upon occasion of Abiathars case Another â—ase The liberties of Christs Churches in the choice of their officers A civill influence dangerous to the Saints liberties Jehosaphats â—ast examined If civill powers may injâ—yâ—e the time oâ— the Churches wâ—rship the may also forbid her times God will not wrong Caesar and Caesar should not wrong God The famous acts of 〈◊〉 examined Mâ—gistracy in generall from God the particular formes from the people Israel confirmed in a Nationall Covenant by revelations signes and miracles but so not England Henry 8. the first head and governour of the Church of England The wonderfull formings and reformings of Religion by Englands Kings Kings and States often plant and often pluck up Religions A Nationall Church ever subject to turne and returne c. A woman Papissa or head of the Church The Papists neerer to the Truth concerning the government of the Church then most Protestants The Kingly power of the Lord Jesus troubles all the Kings and Rulers of the Woâ—ld A twofold exaltation of Christ. The world â—â—oâ—meth at both A fourth difference Kings of Israel â—ypes They wore a double Crown The Saviours of the Jewes â—igures of the Saviour of the World The Monarchicall and Ministeriall power of Christ. 3 Great Competitours for the Ministeriall power of Christ. The Popes great pretenders foâ— the Ministeriall power of Christ. They also upon the point chalenge the Monarchicall also The second great pretender the Civill Magistrate 3 Great factions chalenging an Arme of Flesh. 1. The Preâ—aciâ— 2. The Presbyterie The Pope and Presbyteâ—iâ— make use of the Civill Magistrate but as of an Executioâ—er 3. Independents The Independents who come neerest to the Bishops The third competition of those that seperate Their neerer conformitie to Christ. The Churches of the Seperation ought in Humanitie and Subjects Libertie not to be oppressed but at least permitted â— Reasons proving that the Kings of Israel and Judah cannot have any other but a Spirituall Antitype Civill Types and figures must needs be answered by Spirituall Antitypes Civill compulsion was proper in the Nationall Church of the Jewes but most improper in the Christian which is not Nationall Neither Christ Jesus nor his Messengers have made the Civill Magistrate Israels Antitype but the contrary Civill Magistracie essentially civill and the same in