as are cross to the word of God punish only such things as men in conscience should avoid and will this make them to dissemble c. Obj. Such coercive power in matters of Religion is the way to bring in persecution for conscience sake Answ 1. Teaching Magistrates their duty to punish things manifestly cross to the Word of God and that after due means used for conviction is rather a way to restraine them from persecuting the Saints for a good cause or conscience and if accidentally Gods enemies take occasion hence to abuse their power this must not take away the due use of it Papists and Prelates abused Church-censures against the godly yet this their sin dischargeth not the Church from its duty 2. It s an absurd argument to reason thus Men may not be persecuted for a good cause and conscience therefore they may not be punished for maintaining a bad cause c. Obj. The exercise of any such power by godly Rulers is crosse to the meek Spirit of Christ and to that merciful spirit which he requires to be in his Saints Rom. 15.1 Gal. 6.1 2. Eph. 4.32 2 Tim. 2.25 Answ Zeal of God in sharp punishing of such corruptions flood well with Christs Dove-like spirit None so meek as he and yet none so zealous this way The zeal of Gods house even consumed him and made him lay on so hard with his scourge upon those who polluted the Temple John 2.16 with 14.15 16 20. Moses was the meekest of men in his own cause Numb 12.3 yet lion-like in that cause of pollution of Gods worship Exod. 32.26 27 c. Hezekiah was a shadow to the Saints Isa 32.2 Yet a fiery flying Serpent against Gods and the Churches enemies Isa 14 29 30. Quest Quest What other reasons may be rendred why the higher Civil powers ought not to grant a Tolleration to their Christian subjects to hold and professe in matters of Religion what themselves may pretend conscience for their so doing when indeed grosly erring and contemptuously and pertinaciously holding the same forth Ans Answ 1 First because they may not give liberty to their Subjects to live in and practice the works of the flesh But Heresies and Schismes are works of the flesh Gal. 5.20 therefore not to be tollerated Secondly that liberty which suffers men ordinarily to draw persons away from God is not to be granted by Christian Magistrates but to tollerate persons under a pretence of Conscience pertinaciously to hold forth corrupt opinions is to suffer them to draw others from God therefore it s not to be allowed Deut. 13.9 Thirdly that liberty which suffers the sheep of the Lord in an ordinary way to wander from their fold and pasture without restraint or effectual care to reduce them is not to be allowed by political shepherds which God placeth over them This the Lord complains of and sharply reproves Ezek. 34.5 6 7 8. There was no Shepherd neither did my Shepherds search for my flock but they wandred and became a prey were driven away and devoured there were Shepherds but they did not execute their office but suffered Gods flock to be seduced and corrupted by false prophets But the liberty aforementioned doth thus therefore it s not to be allowed Fourthly such a liberty carries a brand of Anarchy in the State yea and of a sad judgement of God upon that State for the provoking sins both of rulers and people 1. It s one brand of Anarchy Judg. 17.6 there was no King in Israel every one did what was right in his own eyes 2. It s a sad judgement of God as appears Zach. 11.9 with 15 16 17. where the Lord threatens to leave those of his flock alone to themselves and to killing courses of sinne that which dieth let it die and the judicial means he useth is in judgement to raise up a foolish Idol Shepherd i.e. such Rulers in Church and State into whose hands the flock is delivered to be spoiled as v. 5 6. such as care not what becomes of their souls So 2 Chron. 20.33 where it appears that to be left by authority to take up corruption in religion under pretence of conscience is a sad judgement of God for the sins of a professing people Fifthly such a tolleration makes Rulers not to be for Christ but in that respect against him for it makes them not to be for one chief end of his coming which was to destroy the works of the devil For a tolleration of errours is a tollerating the works of the devil because erroneous doctrines are forged by the devil and are some of those lies whereof he is the Father John 8.44 Those doctrinal lies are doctrines of devils 1 Tim. 4.2 unclean frogges that come out of the Dragons mouth Rev. 16.13 14. yea lesser errors about meats and marriage are called doctrines of Devils 1 Tim. 4.1 2 3. therefore they ought not to be tollerated Sixthly Such a Tolleration will wound a State in the very continuity of it It breaks the hedge and walls of a State and so lets in manifold mischiefs For 1. Corrupt Doctrines so allowed do mingle with and wil eat out sound Doctrine pure Religion and the Covenant of God which are the ligaments and bands of a Christian State and made Jerusalem so compacted together Psalm 122.1 2 3. For 2 Tim. 2.16 17. They will encrease to more ungodliness and their words will eat as a Canker or Gangrene 2. Corrupt Doctrines tend to the breaking of the peace of such societies where they are tollerated Hence Gal. 5.10 12. I would they were cut off that trouble you And Acts 20.30 They draw away or rent away as members from the body Disciples after them Where there are Heresies amongst Church-members there will be Schisms and Divisions 1 Coâ— 11.18 19. Such filthy Dreamers Jude 8. are branded for sedicious persons in Common-wealths They despise Dominions and speak evil of Dignities witness the many breakings of our Parliaments and turning of Governments upside down Such justly perish as did seditious Corah verse 11. Hence Seducers are called Traitors heady high-minded Truce-breakers False-accusers fierce c. 2 Tim. â— 1 2 3 4 5. and that he speaks this of Seducers appeares verse 6 7 8 9 13. And Jude 16. They are branded for Murmurers and Complainers quarrelling against matters in Church and State All ages have declared that persons of corrupt Principles in Religion are frequent Movers and Abettors of civil seditions 3. Corrupt Doctrines break the hedges and walls of a Christian Common-wealth and leave it naked to become a prey to its adversaries So was Israel when they had corrupted Religion Exod. 32.25 till Moses commanded Justice to be executed upon some for the terror of others ver 26 27. False Prophets let alone spoil the vines and break the hedges as is implyed Ezek. 13.4 5. So Ezek. 22.26 27. When such corruptions are let alone a gap is made verse 30. and when none in Authority are found to make it up by punishing them God powers out his indignation upon them verse 31. Solomons connivence at Idolatry in his wives rent his Kingdom in pieces but punishing such corruptions puts away evill Deut. 17.2 3 7. 7. Such a tolleration God accounts to be a kicking at Religion and honoring such Corruptors above God himself as appears 1 Sam. 2.12 to 16. with 23 24 25 29. Elies sons corrupted the worship of God by snatching what came first to hand and the Lord saith not only to them but to Eli too Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and honourest thy sons above me c. therefore it ought not to be granted 8. Such a Tolleration of such evils causes those very evils to be charged on Rulers themselves and bringeth the wrath of God upon them So Elies sons sins were charged upon and punished on Elie himself and Solomons connivence at the Idolatry of his wives And Nehemiah contends with the Rulers for not reforming the prophanations of the Sabbath Nehe. 13.10 11 12 16 17 18. the sin of the people in doing corruptly in the matters of God is charged upon Jotham 2 Chron. 27.2 he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord yet the people did corruptly 2 Kin. 15.34 35. and that is charged upon him as his sin 9. Such a Tolleration makes men abhor Religion and to speak evil of the way of truth as Elies sons corruptions being connived at made men abhor the Lords offerings 1 Sam. 2.17 So 2 Pet. 2.1.2 3. 10. Such a Tolleration is intollerable because it is an allowing of Foxes to spoil Christs vines Can. 1.2.16 Of Wolves that spare not Christs flock Acts 20.30 with Ezek. 34.8 10. Of Sorcerers that bewitch men 2 Tim. 3.13 Gal. 3.1 Who hath bewiched you c they are also as Jesabel whom God will punish if men neglect their duty in doing of it Rev. 2.20 21 c. Thus you have the Judgement of Mr. Tho. Cobbet of New England against a General Tolleration See more of this in Mr. Cottons answer to Mr. Williams FINIS Errata Typographica PAg. 2. lin 6. pro Nobathaea leg Nabathaea p. 3. l. 21. pro Saphirus leg Sapphirus p. 4. l. 1. pro phorus leg pharus p. 6. l. 13. pro pollysyllaba leg polysyllaba l. 18. pro pedâ—x leg pedis in margine pro Harpago est faem leg masc p. 7. l. 26. post silex adde et p. 9. l. 20. pro mine leg minae p. 10. l. 4. pro vendiciae leg vindiciae p. 11. l. 11. pro facinum leg fascinum p. 15. l. 10. pro Ligar leg Ligur p. 20. l. 8. pro areo leg aveo p. 23. l. 6. adde distinguo
Lord i.e. Christ who is to be served by us Indeed if there were many Lords as the Papists set up many Saints in heaven all which have their peculiar worship then no wonder if there were several faiths and worships But the Lord Christ is one he is not divided 1 Cor. 1.13 If Christ be not divided there should be no division in the Church Again There is one Faith i.e. One Systeme of Doctrine to be believed Though there be many particulars yet they make up one entire truth Indeed there be many called Religions and called Churches but in truth there is but one true Church Again There is one Baptism i.e. one Profession of the Doctrine of faith so the Sacrament of the Lords Supper is made an Argument of Unity 1 Cor. 10.17 The Sacraments manifest one body one Spirit why then are there so many Rents and Divisions about the Sacraments which yet are the bodies and seals of Unity and Communion Lastly There is one God and Father of all therefore we ought to be at Unity God being but one cannot be divided in himself he cannot command things to be done or believed contrary to himself upon all these considerations we should endeavour after Unity I might add that there is Unity in hell all the Devils agree against the Church If there be Unity against us shall there not be Unity amongst us Quest Quest Seeing God hath promised one heart and one way and Christ hath prayed so earnestly that they may be one John 17.21 How is it that there are so many breaches amongst the godly A. Answ 1 First Though Unity amongst the godly be so necessary yet that necessarily infers Divisions and Oppositions to the world It s no marvel therefore if the Gospel and powerful dispensing of it make Fractions and troubles in the world For the godly cannot have peace with themselves but they must be at open opposition with the world Hence Christ said That he came to send fire and a sword in the earth c. Luke 12.49 which is not from the nature of Christs Doctrine which is the Gospel of Peace but from the corrupt indisposition of the Subject as the Sun offends soar eies so then the godly and the wicked can have no unity Proverbs 29.27 Secondly Seeing there can be no Unity betwixt these therefore in the Church of God seeing there be so many that still retaine their beastly nature though they are called Christians hence it is that in the Church there are often such deadly oppositions It s no marvel though even amongst those that pretend so highly to Christ there be sad divisions for many of them are in the flesh still and savour not experimentally the things of God Act. 20.30 2 Pet. 2.1 There are false Prophets and why because they are men of corrupt minds and 1 John 2.19 They went out from us because they were not of us c. and 1 Cor. 11.19 There must be Heresies that such as are sound may be esteemed Thirdly There is a Unity in Fundamentals or Essentials and a Unity in Circumstantials or less Principals Now Gods Children though in many things they have not attained the same mind and judgement yet they all agree in those things which are necessary to salvation and this is called All truth John 16.13 and the Unction that teacheth them all things 1 John 2.20 A godly man cannot live and die in a fundamental error Fourthly Even in accessaries and less Principals their Unity shall be consummate in heaven then all the godly will lay aside all their bitterness one against another Fifthly God hath not given his Spirit in full measure to his Church in this life therefore they know but in part they love but in part now all Divisions arise from ignorance in the mind and corruption in the heart as long therefore as there be such relicts there will be Divisions Sixthly The Devil here puts forth his Power and his work is to fill the Church with Divisions and to raise up Instruments to foment the same therefore so long as the Devil dies not though some of his Incendiaries die he will still be thrusting in his cloven foot where God raiseth up any Church Quest Quest What means may be used for preventing and healing Divisions in the Church Answ Answ There are two Remedies suggested but they are both in extreams First The Popish party say that the way to prevent Division is a rigid and imperious commanding of uniformity in every punctilio so that no dissent shall be allowed to a man though humble and peaceable and earnestly desiring to finde out the truth Thus Victor Bishop of Rome made a great rent in the Church about the time of keeping Easter whom Iraeneus gravely opposed It s true the least truth of Christ is precious and we are not to deny it yet may we not violently obtrude it except the contrary be damnable Mat. 9.17 If new wine be put into old bottles the bottles will break So whilest men impose opinions and practices of lesse consequence upon a people not prepared instead of promoting unity they make factions yet this way hath much infested the Church when some have been in power they have pressed unity not so much out of love to Christ as to keep up their interest Aut subscribe aut discede was a speech of old in the Church Secondly there is another false way of unity quite contrary to this maintained by the Socinians and that is a licentious and unbounded toleration of all damnable Heresies and opinions and this Julian the Apostate promoted as the most probable way to overthrow the Christian Religion and as the former was maintained by those that had power in their hands so hath this by the oppressed party But the Scripture prescribes a middle way between these two For Rev. 2.2 6. the Angels of the Churches are commended for not tollerating nor bearing with such as taught false doctrines and such as did suffer them are reproved Rev. 2.14 15 20. and the Apostles in their Epistles do oppose false doctrines and false Teachers with as much earnestnesse as false and corrupt practices 1 Tim. 1 20. Paul delivered up to Satan Hymenaeus and Alexander for their blasphemies and false doctrines and commands Tit. 3.10 that we should reject an Heretick after the first and second admonition Whence its clear that Church-censures should be inflicted upon obstinate offenders in this kinde This unbounded tolleration the Remonstrants themselves who yet cried up a liberty of prophecying as their great Diana did condemn and professed that it was better living ubi nulla licent then ubi omnia where there was no latitude then where all things were allowed this licentiousnesse then doth not heal but encrease breaches for it gives way to mens corruptions to vent themselves Quest Quest What then are the true remedies Answ Answ As the breach of unity may be made three wayes 1. Of the true doctrine by heresie 2. Of godly order
Rom. 13.4 5. Though wicked persons may by Gods grace become Disciples yet we may not do evil that good may come thereof but it would be evil to tollerate seducing Teachers or scandalous Livers Christ blames the Angel of Pergamus for tollerating them that held the Doctrine of Balaam and the Angel of Thiatira for tollerating the woman Jesabel to teach and seduce Rev. 2.14.20 Object Object But some famous Princes have spoken against it as Steven of Poland the King of Bohemia and our King James Answ First Answ 1 We acknowledge that none should be persecuted for righteousness-sake Secondly We say that none should be punished for his conscience though mis-informed unless his error be fundamental or seditiously promoted and that after due conviction of conscience that it may appear that he is not punished for his Conscience but for sinning against conscience Thirdly None ought to be compelled to believe or to profess the true Religion till he be convinced in judgement of the truth of it yet ought he to be restrained from blaspheming the truth and from seducing any into pernicious errors Fourthly It s no sufficient rule what Princes profess and practise they many times tollerate that out of State-policy which ought not to be tollerated in point of true Christianity and sometimes they do it out of necessity when the offenders are too many or too mighty for them to punish Thus David tollerated Joab in his murthers but against his will Fifthly For those three Princes that are named who allowed tolleration we can name more and greater who would not tollerate Hereticks and Schismaticks notwithstanding their pretence of conscience Constantine the great at the request of the council of Nice banished Arius with some of his followers He also made a severe Law against the Donatists and the like did Valentinian Gratian and Theodosius as Saint Austin reports in his Epist 166. Only Julian the Apostate granted liberty to Hereticks that by tollerating all weeds to grow the vitals of Christianity might be choked and destroyed This also was the practise and sin of Valence the Arian Emperour Object Object But many of the ancient Writers yea and the Papists themselves have condemned persecution for conscience-sake Answ It s true Answ 1 The Church doth not persecute but is persecuted but to excommunicate an Heretick is not to persecute but it s a just punishment upon a wicked and damnable person and that not for conscience but for persisting in an error against conscience after conviction Secondly It s true the Apostles did not propagate the Gospel by the sword amongst Pagans which could not be won by the Word yet this hinders not but that if they or any other should blaspheme the true God and his Religion they ought to be severely punished and no less do they deserve it who seduce from the truth to damnable Heresie or Idolatry Thirdly Whereas Tertullian saith that another mans Religion cannot hurt any he means it of private Religion and Worship But a false Religion professed by the members of a Church or by such as have given their names to Christ being tollerated will be the ruine and desolation of the Church as appears by Christs threats to the Church of Asia Rev. 2. Fourthly Whereas Jerom saith that Heresie must be cut down by the sword of the Spirit This hinders not but that being so cut down if the Heretick will still persist in his Heresie to the seducing of others he may be cut off by the civil sword to prevent the destruction of others Therefore Jeroms note upon those words A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump is that a spark so soon as it appears is to be quenched that the leaven is to be removed from the rest of the dough that rotten pieces of flesh are to be cut off and that a scabbed beast is to be driven from the sheep-fold c. Fifthly As for the testimony of Brentius we willingly grant that no man hath power to make Laws to bind the conscience yet this hinders not but that men may see that the Laws of God be observed which do bind the Conscience Sixthly It s well known that St. Austin retracted this opinion of tolleration which he had held in his younger years but in his riper years he recanted and refuted it and shews in his second Book of Retractations and else where that if the Schismatical Donatists were punished with death they were but justly punished For saith he They murther souls and themselves are but afflicted in body they put men to everlasting death and yet complain when themselves are put to suffer a temporal death Seventhly Optatus in his third book justifies Macarius who had put some Hereticks to death saying That he had done no more herein then Moses Phineas and Elias had done before him Eightly Bernard in his sixty six Sermon on the Canticles saith our of doubt its better they should be restrained by the sword of him that beareth it not in vain then that they should be suffered to draw many others into their errors For he is the Minister of God for wrath to every evil doer Rom. 13.4 Ninthly Mr. Calvins Judgement is well known who procured the death of Michael Servetus for his pertinacy in Heresie and defended the fact by a book written upon that argument Tenthly Beza also wrote a book De Haereticis morte plectendis that Hereticks are to be punished with death Arelius also took the same course about the death of Valentius Gentilis and justified the Magistrates proceeding against him in an history written on that Argument Object Object It s no prejudice to the Common-wealth if liberty of Conscience be granted to such as truly fear God Answ Answ We readily grant that liberty of conscience is to be allowed to them that truly fear God as knowning that they will nor persist in Heresie or turbulent Schism when they are convinced of the sinfulness of it But you see it sufficiently proved that an Heretick after once or twice admonition and so after conviction or any other scandalous hainous offender may be excommunicated out of the Church and so examplarily punished by the civil Magistrate as that others may be preserved from their dangerous and damnable infection Thus you see Mr. Cottons judgement about Tolleration Quest Quest What other remedies may we use against infection by Seducers Answ Answ 1. Get fundamental truths into your heart and affect and love them For want hereof the Eastern Churches were given into the hands of Mahumetans and Anti-Christ prevailed over many in these western Churches because they loved not the truth 2 Thes 2.10 None are seduced but such as are cold in love Secondly Labor to practise what we know and then God will give us a fuller measure of knowledge whereby we shall learn to find out and know Seducers John 7.17 If any man will do his will he â—all know Thirdly Pray to God for Wisdom to judg discern of Schisms and Heresies and
Church as well as a willing people against whom we find severity used by Christ himself and his Apostles Christ scourged the buyers and Sellers out of the Temple Joh. 2.15 Peter pronounced a doleful sentence upon Ananias and Saphira Act. 5.4 5 9. which acts though extraordinary yet they teach us that an Evangelical estate hath need as well of a Rod as of a Spirit of meekness 1 Cor. 4.21 Fifthly It s prophesied of the times of the Gospel that Kings shall be nursing fathers to the Church Isa 49.23 and Paul tells us that they are for a terror to evil doers Rom. 13.3 4. which words respect good and evil in the first table as well as in the second We are taught to pray for Kings and for all that are in Authority that we may under them lead quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness and honesty Now that which is the end of our prayer is likewise the end of their Authority and if it be their duty to provide for quiet peace and honesty it is to provide for godliness too 1 Tim. 2 1 2. Constantine Theodosius Valentinian Justinian c. are highly commended for making Edicts calling Councils prohibiting and punishing Heresies as appears in all Authors Sixthly Whatsoever things are in themselves dangerous and destructive to the prosperity of States and Nations come under the proper cognizance of the Civil Magistrate to prevent But Heresies Blasphemies Idolatries and Impieties against God do as much endanger a State as sins against the second Table And that 1. Because God is as much provoked by the one as by the other yea the great sin alledged for the captivity of Juda was their despising Gods Messengers 2 Chron. 36.16 2. Secondly Because such sins do more divide and untie the bonds of love which Christian Truth doth preserve then other civil differences and so loosen the hearts of men more from one another Seventhly Our Learned Writers have maintained this Doctrine against the Popish Doctors who to maintain Papal Supremacy and to keep all Ecclesiastical power within themselves have excluded the civil Magistrate from it whereby we may know what hands they be which sow such Doctrines amongst us that so they may instill corrupt Doctrines into as many as they find to be fit tinder to catch that fire Object Object Is not this to abridge and anul that liberty which should be indulged to the Consciences of men Answ Answ 1 First God forbid that any should assume Dominion over the consciences of men We are not saith Paul Lords over your faith but helpers of your joy 2 Cor. 1.24 It would be an high and withal a vain attempt 1. An high attempt for no man can give Law further then he can reward and punish accuse and convince But no man can either search or reward or punish the conscience therefore none can give Law to it 2. A vain Attempt For none but a divine eye can see the conscience therefore none but a Divine Law can bind it For Writings words if they be blasphemous and subversive to Church or State and highly derogatory to the honour of Christ Civil restraint can reach them but thoughts it cannot reach they are unsearchable to a humane eye and therefore unreducible to a humane power Again God forbid we should straiten liberty which Christ hath purchased for us Let every man shand first in that liberty wherewith Christ hath made him free and cursed be he that would entangle him in any such yoak of bondage as is contrary to that freedom Secondly Where men agree in fundamental Doctrines of Truth and godliness in the substantials of Faith Worship and Obedience there should be a mutual Love Tolleration and forbearance in differences which are not subversive to Faith and Godliness wherein we differ in such things we are to wait upon God to reveal the same unto us Phil. 3.15 Thirdly Christ did never purchase for any man a liberty to subvert or to endeavour to subvert the foundations of Faith Worship and holy obedience which he hath laid in his Church by blasphemous heretical Idolatrous or wicked opinions Gods great Truths and the Gospels great Interests ought to be dearer to us then the liberty of any blasphemous or impious tongue or pen. Fourthly Magistrates are wisely to distinguish between weak Brethren and wicked malicious disturbers of the Doctrine of salvation and peace of the Church As Paul doth between the bewitched Galatians and the Seducers of them whom he wishes that they were even cut off Gal. 5.12 whom yet he would not have wished so ill to if they had only made use of a lawfull liberty in sowing false Doctrines Fifthly With the word such lenity and moderation is to be used as first to reprove rebuke exhort them with all long-suffering and Doctrine 2 Tim. 4.2 To admonish them once and again and being found unreclaimable then to reject them Tit. 3.10 Sixthly We are to distinguish between the conscience of the Seducer and the spreading of his Doctrine It belongs to the care of the Magistrate to endeavour the reclaiming of the Seducer which if it cannot be effected the next principal care must be to prevent the spreading of his infection Thus the Apostle rejected Hereticks and would have no Communion with them they used effectual means to keep the leaven from the Lump Shew lenity to the persons themselves but be zealous for the purity and peace of the Church which by divisions is weakned distracted and betrayed Quest Quest What are the best means to be used by Magistrates in these seducing and seduced times Answ First Answ 1 They should encourage a godly and learned Minister and the Universities vindicating and protecting them from reproach contempt When Alexander the great sent Ambassadors to Athens requiring them to deliver up their Orators into his hands Demosthenes speaking to the people about it tells them a Fable that the wolves being at war with the sheep sent a message to them that if they desired quietness and to have a firm peace concluded they should deliver up their dogs unto them which as soon as they had done they were devoured by the wolves The like cunning use our Adversaries now that they may make a prey of the people they by all means seek to pull down our Ministry and Schools of learning that the watchmen being removed the sheep may be exposed to ruine Secondly They should take care that all that own the Christian Religion amongst us be required to attend upon the publick Ministry and that they may not presumptuously deprive themselves of the means of grace and salvation as very many do who in these times of licentiousnesse have for divers yeares withdrawn themselves from Christian Assemblies where God is worshipped and his name made known Thirdly they should endeavour to heale and close up breaches amongst brethren that men agreeing in Faith Worship and obedience may no longer be strangers one to another but joyne hand in hand
ungrounded in the principles of Religion become an easie prey to Seducers being like Children c. Eph. 4.14 The sin 〈◊〉 believe every word Prov. 4.15 Sitty women are led captive that are ever learning but come not to the knowledge of the truth 2 Tim. 3.6 Seducers are furnished with subtilty to deceive and people prepared through simplicity to be deceived 2. Through Curiosity men are not content with sound Doctrine and old Truths but Athenian-like spend their time to tell and hear some new thing Act. 17.21 They have itching ears and therefore heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts c. 2 Tim. 4.3 4. Fourthly It may be ascribed to Gods Providence justly permiting it to be so And that 1. As a Punishment for Luke-warmness and want of love to the truth when the light is undervalued darkness is sent in stead thereof The Gentiles that held the truth in unrighteousness and delighted not to have God in their knowledge God gave them over to a reprobate sense Rom. 1.28 They became fooles their foolish hearts were darkened Ahab hated Michaiah for speaking the truth and therefore a lying spirit was sent into his Prophets to seduce him to his destruction 2 Kin. 22. So Mich. 2.7 12. Prophesie not say they They shall not prophesie saith the Lord but if a man walk in the Spirit and lie he shall be a Prophet to this people 2. As a trial of those that are sound 1 Cor. 11.19 There must be Heresies amongst you that the approved may be made manifest If they had been of us they would have continued with us The house founded on the rock falls not The rising of Heresie is a great trial Deut. 13.1 2. c. The Lord your God trieth you saith Moses and the prevailing of Heresie is a greater It s hard to swim against the stream If Peter dissemble Barnabas is carried away with it Quest Quest How then may we prevent being ensnared by them Answ First Answ 1 Cleave to your own Ministry if godly and wait upon those whom God hath set over you God gives us pastors for this end that we should be no longer Children in knowledge tossed to and fro with every wind of Doctrine Eph. 4.14 God will bless and make effectual his own Ordinance Why should we wander abroad to seek when we have food at home Why should we withdraw our selves seeing the mothers milk is most natural for the Infant The sheep that wanders is in most danger of the wolfe Change of diet is not wholesome for the body much less for the soul Another man may have more gifts then thy Pastor but he hath not more love to nor care of thy soul then he that must give an account of it Children that oft change their Masters seldom prove good Scholers nor they solid and understanding Christians that oft change their Ministers How doth this suit with the Apostles Precept Heb. 13.17 Obey them that have the rule over you c. Secondly Try all things believe not every spirit but try the spirits whether they be of God or no for many false Prophets are come into the world 1 Joh. 4.1 1 Thes 5.17 Shall I saith Athanasius believe unreasonably Shall I not search what is possible or profitable or comely or pleasing to God agreeable to nature and consonant to the truth c. But many will not take the pains to do it we say they hear such as are honest and godly c. but will you not tell money after them and weigh gold after them And will you take their Doctrine upon trust without trial Others pretend want of skill they cannot do it But the most silly Creature from the instinct of nature knows wholesome food from unwholsome and art thou a man a Christian a Professor and canst thou not distinguish between light and darkness To what purpose serves the anointing that we have of God 1 John 2.27 but to inform and teach us about those that would seduce us wariness is required in nothing so much as in matters of Religion the rather because some errors are so like the truth that they can hardly be distinguished bring them therefore to the touch-stone of the Scripture and errors will be known from truth Thirdly Avoid the personal Converse with and the congregational meetings of corrupt and heretical persons In times of infection we not only use Antidotes but shun infected persons and places Hence Rom. 16.17 I beseech you Brethren mark those that cause divisions and offences contrary to the Doctrine that you have received and avoid them and 2 John 10 Bid not such God speed c. St. John would not be in the bath with Cerinthus the Heretick Polycarp abhored conference with Martian as the first born of the devil Antonius detested communion with all such as had corrupted the faith and divided the Church Can a man touch pitch and not be defiled May not Satan seise upon thee finding thee amongst his own as he did upon that woman in the Theatre He that would not be drawn away by the workers of iniquity must hate the congregation of evil doers Psalm 26.4 Mr. Cranfords Mischief of Heresies Quest Quest Seeing the Angel of the Church of Ephesus is commended for that he could not bear with them which were evil Rev 2.2 who are those evil ones that must not be born Answ Answ We must distinguish of evill men First Some are private and close offenders others are publick and scandalous Secondly Some are weak and scrupulous others are obstinate and pertinacious Thirdly Some are evil-doers and evil practisers only others are evil Promoters and evil Plotters Fourthly Some are seduced and misled others are Seducers and Leaders into mischeif Fifthly Some are curable and willing to be reformed others are incurable and hate to be reformed Now such as are publick and scandalous such as are obstinate and pertinacious such as are evil-plotters and evil-promoters such as are Seducers and Misleaders such as are incurable and hate to be reformed these and such like ought not to be born As for the others which are private offenders weak and scrupulous or seduced they being willing to be reformed in some cases I say in some cases Justice may bear with them Quest Quest What doth not bearing with them import Answ First Not to bear Answ 1 is not to like or consent to them Secondly Not to countenance or uphold them Thirdly Not to allow or grant them a toleration Fourthly Not to hide or conceal them Fifthly Not to pity or compassionate them Affirmatively Not to bear is 1. To admonish and reprove them 2. To oppose and resist them 3. To censure and punish them 4. To remove and cast them out 5. In some cases to destroy and cut them off either by the sword of the Law or by the Law of the sword Thus we have it in the case of Enticers to Idolatry Deut. 13. If thy brother c. entice thee secretly saying Let us go
our love to others Mat. 19.19 Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self But no man ought so to love himself as to bear with his own sins Holy self-love casts the first stone at a mans own sin therefore it cannot be love to others to bear them in evil yea indeed it is hatred in Gods account Lev. 19.27 Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart but rebuke him and not suffer sin upon him Object Object But. Mat. 13.30 Christ saith Let both grow together untill the harvest Answ Answ 1 First We may not argue from every particular in a Parable but only from the general scope of it Now the scope of the Parable is only this to shew that good and bad will be mixed together to the end of the world It holds forth Gods good pleasure to us to which we must submit not a pattern or rule by which we must walk This is no warrant for us to let tares and wheat to grow together which are in our power to pluck up Secondly Christ only forbids such a plucking up as by which the wheat must be rooted up also i. e. a total extirpation For should God in an instant destroy all the wicked the bands of humane society would be dissolved but we know that the plucking up of many sorts of wicked men is a great advantage to the growth of them that are good So then such acts of justice as will not hinder but promote the growth of the wheat are not at all forbidden in this Text. Thirdly Seeing the Command of God the practise of all good Kings Magistrates Ministers and people in their several places that are recorded in Scripture are clear for this That evil persons and Hereticks must not be born with as is before explained This or the like Texts may not be interpreted against them but by them One Scripture often expounds but never contradicts another Thus you hear Mr. Caryls Judgement about tolleration in his Parliament Sermon upon Rev. 2.2 3. Quest Quest Upon what account may a man be judged to be a false Prophet or a false Teacher Answ Answ He may be so denominated in a two-fold respect First As he teacheth and venteth lies and falshood which is the most common acceptation of the Word Secondly As he teacheth without a commission or calling In the first notion he is a false Prophet that teaches lies or delivers forth the Divisions and Deceits of his own heart which he covers over with Thus saith the Lord Eze. 13.6 Jer. 28.2 and so fathers his false dreams upon God and his chiefest care is not to sting his hearers but to feed his deluded followers with pleasing things and rather to tickle then to prick them saying to Ahab Go up and prosper 2 Kin. 22.12 Or God hath broken the yoke of Babylon Jer. 28.2 And this Character God gives them Lam. 2.14 They have not discovered thine iniquity to turn away thy captivity and they think to cause my people to forget my name Jer. 22.27 Hence it is that they are applauded and spoken well of by all Luke 6.26 They will not mar their own markets by a sharp reproof So false teachers are lying Matters speaking perverse things to draw Disciples after them Act. 20.30 speaking lies in Hypocrisie which they palliate over with It is written or the name of the spirit and therefore are called spirits of error 1 Tim. 4.1 and we are forbidden to believe every spirit 1 John 4.1 i.e. every Doctrine though pretended to be from the spirit they bait also their hook with sweet and pleasing baits They allure as with a bait through the lusts of the flesh and wantonness 2 Pet. 2.18 and they promise liberty verse 19. which are taking things and therefore it s no marvel though they have many followers verse 2. In the second notion he is a false Prophet that runs indeed but is not sent Jer. 23.22 I have not sent these Prophets yet they ran they say I have dreamed I have dreamed verse 25. but they have no mission and such an one is to be accounted a false Prophet sive vera praedicet sive falsa whether he preach true or false These are self-called so that we need not question what such teach but by what warrant As Cyprian answered one that enquired what Doctrine Novatian did teach we need not saith he be carefull to know quid ille docet cum foris doceat what he teacheth when he hath no warrant to teach But of this under another head Quest Quest What may be considered about Heresies Answ Answ 1 First That Heresies are damnable 2 Pet. 2.1 called there Heresies of destruction by way of eminency Judas is called the son of destruction John 17.12 and Anti-christ the man of sin the son of destruction 2 Thes 2.3 because under Christs name he fights against him and therefore shall fall under more eminent destruction so Hereticks who profess Christs name and yet deny him or adulterate his truth for their own ends and lusts shall come under sorer damnation swift destruction 2 Pet. 2.1 their damnation sleepeth not verse 3. They were of old ordained to this condemnation Jude 4. and this mark is set upon Heresie that we may all hear and fear and do no such thing Secondly Damnable Heresies are brought in privily these tares are sown while men sleep in a close and subtil way which men are not aware of as Gal. 2.4 False brethren at unawares privily crept in And Jude 4. Certain are crept in privily meaning Heresie-Masters Heresie is modest at the first and insinuates as the Serpent into Eve by cunning fetches and quaeries Gen. 3.1 or by sweet phrases ye shall not surely die but shall be as Gods c. verse 4 5. they make merchandize of you with fine forms of speech 2 Pet. 2.3 which words composed for the nonce There is a misterie in this trade of corrupting mens minds from the simplicity that is in Christ 2 Cor. 11.2 Eph. 4.14 They draw men as Juglers do a piece of money with a fine invisible hair and mix their dross with good silver that it may pass for currant Quest Quest How manifold is Heresie Answ 1 Answ Heresie is twofold Simple and Complicate Quest Quest What is simple Heresie Answ Answ It s an opinion or assertion holden and maintained contrary to and subersive of the faith by one that professeth the Christian Religion Quest Quest What is complicate Heresie Answ Answ It s that which is attended with Schisme sedition and blasphemy For 1. The Schismaticall Heretick upon his opinion breaks off from the Communion of the Church and runs out into separation setting up his new light as he calls it in a new candlestick 2. The blasphemous Heretick strikes through the name of the great and glorious God or his Truth with despiteful reproaches not fit to be named 3. The seditious Heretick troubles the peace of the Church and State as an Army is troubled by Mutineers 4. The
receivers of them Quest What is Mr. Jer. Quest Burroughs his Judgement about Tolleration Answ His Judgement is Answ that nothing makes more stir amongst us this day then this principle of absolute liberty in matters of Religion The wantonness saith he of mens spirits their extream boldness about the matters of God and Christ is such as should cause our hearts to tremble Such horrid Blasphemous opinions are amongst us owned and professed with so much impudence that our Duty to God our love to and care of the preservation of Religion calls every consciencious person to set himself against such a false sinful and dangerous Principle as this is Quest Why Quest what is the danger of this principle Answ First Answ 1 it s an abhorring thing to any mans heart in the world that men should suffer that God to be blasphemed whom they honour and that nothing should be done for their restraint but ask them why they do so and to perswade them to doe otherwise Secondly it s against the light of Scripture Deut. 13.16 If thy brother or thy sonne or thy daughter c. shall secretly entice thee saying Let us go and serve other gods c. Thou shalt not consent nor hearken to him nor pity nor spare nor conceale him but thou shalt surely kill him c. Obj. Object This is the Old Testament and we finde no such thing in the Gospell Answ Answ We finde the same thing and almost in the same words used in a Prophesie of the times of the Gospel Zach. 13.3 In the latter end of the 12. chap. it s prophesied that those which pierced Christ should look upon him and mourn c. and then ch 13.1 There shall now a fountaine be opened for sin and for uncleannesse and ver 3. It shall come to pass that he that takes upon him to prophesie his Father and mother that begat him shall say unto him Thou shalt not live For thou speakest lies in the Name of the Lord and his father and his mother that begat him shall thrust him thorow when he prophesieth the meaning is that though they begat him yet they should be the means to bring him to condigne punishment even to the taking away of his life Thirdly by this principle the reins are let loose to all kindes of wantonness and spirits of opposition in matters of Religion and then the pride of mens hearts will carry them forth to infinite jarrings and divisions Obj. Object But Christ hath left spiritual means to prevent this Answ Answ Christs spiritual meanes are to work in a spiritual way upon the heart to change it and then upon the outward man But whilest Christs means are thus working externall means may keepe evil from breaking forth in the outward man Christ hath not left the outward man to do what it will till spiritual means work upon the heart especially considering that if you grant this liberty men may choose whether any of those spiritual means should at all come at them Object Object But Magistrates have nothing to do in matters of Religion Answ Answ It s granted that a Magistrate is not an Officer of Christ in his Mediatory Kingdom For Christs Government is two-fold First As he is God equal with the Father and together with the Father ruling Heaven and Earth Secondly As he is God and Man Mediator in a peculiar Kingdom of his that he hath by way of dispensation from the Father Now the Magistrate is an Officer of God the Father and Son in the general government of the world but not an Officer of Christ in his Mediatory Kingdom Quest Quest But doth not this then exclude him from exercising any power in matters of Religion Answ Answ No For God in the exercise of his Power in Governing the world hath a special aim at promoting the Kingdom of Christ the Mediator therefore Magistrates exercising this power of God ought to aim at the same ends that God himself aims at in the exercise of his own Power i.e. to be usefull to Christs Covernment in his Church and for the good of his Church God from the beginning of the world aimed at the setting of his Son to be King upon his holy hill at the promoting of the Glory of him who is God-man And if Magistrates make not use of their Power to this end he will require it at their hands Quest Quest It s granted that Magistrates under the Old Testament had power but they in the exercise of such power were Types of the Kingly Power of Christ Answ Answ Were there nothing but meer examples and Laws from the Old Testament to confute this general tolleration they would hardly be cogent and binding only so far as there is equity in them and so the Judicials bind now as well as they did then But There is common Reason and Equity from one civil Ordinance to prove another though it be conversant about spiritual things For 1. It s the Dictate of nature that Magistrates should have some power in matters of Religion all people have ever thought it equal The Heathens would never suffer their Gods to be blasphemed but punished such as were guilty thereof by their Magistrates 2. Sure there is a common equity for there is a necessity for it as well now as then In natural and civil things its a good Argument there is need of such an help therefore we should seek to have it Quest Quest How will it appear that there is need of it Answ Answ Because we were in a most miserable condition if we had no external civil power to restrain from blasphemies and Seducements then the condition of the Jews was far more happy then ours For if any of theirs blasphemed God and sought to seduce any from him they were to put him to death But now if such do seduce our nearest and dearest relations into such ways as we judge will turn to the everlasting damnation of their souls yet we must only desire them to forbear admonish or reprove them but restrain them we may not If our deliverance from the Pedagogy of the Law hath brought us into this condition our burden is herein greater then any that the Law hath laid upon our Forefathers Hath Christ delivered us from one burden to lay a greater upon us Must we now stand and see those which are dearest to us drawn away into damnable wayes and stand and look on but no way help them surely then our condition is very sad and have we not cause to say Lord let any burden of the Ceremonial Law be laid upon us rather then this If mad-men were running up and down the streets with knives and swords in their hands and we might only speak to them but not restrain them what a mischievous thing were this The case is the same when those who are mad with damnable Heresies may run from place to place and draw all they can from the truth and we may only admonish them surely
devil be in the conscience yea or no Answ First Answ 1 If you see a mans private Interest is much engaged in what he pretends Conscience for you may then justly suspect him Secondly If in other things it appears that the man is not much under the command of conscience but he can take liberty as he pleaseth you may justly suspect him 3. Thirdly When the account a man gives cannot in a rational way be judged such as should probably mislead him so grosly as is apparent he is misled Fourthly If a man be proud and turbulent in his carriage then the devil is rather in the will then in the conscience when a man by reason of his conscience differs from his brethren he should carry himself with all humility and meekness and self-denial in all other things that thereby he may manifest that it s not from wilfulness but meerly from tenderness of conscience that he cannot do as others do Fifthly If a man be not willing to use means for the informing of his conscience no not of those means which are not against his own principles but goes on peremptorily and stoutly Sixthly When a man by reason or Scripture is so put to it that he must either renounce his Error or fly from some of his own principles he will rather deny his principles then yield himself convinced of his Error This is such an one as the man spoken of Tit. 3.11 that is self-condemned and therefore ought to be rejected Quest Quest But what may be done to such as persist in an Error under the pretence of conscience Answ Answ 1 First After other means used if he persist in such an Error as cannot stand with the Power of godliness notwithstanding his conscience he is to be cast out of the society of the Saints Secondly If his Error with the profession of it be dangerous to the state and he cannot be reclaimed he may be cut of from it also notwithstanding his plea of Conscience Thirdly Pretence of conscience cannot excuse a man in matters of apparent injustice done to another either in his state or goods Fourthly A man may bring himself both under the Civil and Ecclesiastical sword not only for sins injurious to our brother but for sins against God as Blasphemy gross Idolatry c. Yea the heathens cannot by violence be compelled to profess the Christian Religion yet notwithstanding any plea of conscience they may be restrained and that by violence from blaspheming Christ the Scriptures or doing acts of any open dishonour to them Fifthly Notwithstanding any mans conscience he may be kept from seduceing and endangering the salvation of others The light of nature teaches us that such may be cut off as strengthen others in soul-damning principles Sixthly In some cases a private man himselfe may use violence to restraine men from evill If a man should come to seduce my wife or child in a matter which I know would endanger their souls if I could have no help by the Magistrate I may if I have power keep him off Now what I may doe by my owne strength I may call in the help of the Magistrate to do for me when there is a Magistrate and he is bound to use his Authority therein Quest Quest But what if errors be of less moment can there be nothing done to men to restraine them from such Answ Answ Yea such may be troubled for such ways of evill that their Consciences put them upon so far as to take off the wantonness of their spirits their neglect of means In times of Liberty there is a great wantonness upon mens spirits they are equally ballanced to receive truth or error and every little thing casts the ballance as interest in a friend esteem from such men of repute c. Now to help against such tentations if an erroneous person shall see that there is somthing to be suffered in that way it may be a meanes to restraine him from embracing it Quest Quest Suppose a man be not wanton but serious and neglects no meanes to inform his Conscience and yet he cannot yeild what may be done to such a man Answ Answ He should be dealt with in much tendernesse and love yet in such things as by his weakness he makes himselves less serviceable to the Common-wealth or Church then other men he may be denyed some benefits and priviledges which are granted unto others Quest But by fomenting Divisions Quest those which are in authority may rule the people best the divisions of the times are their advantages and their ends are best served when Church and State are most divided Answ Answ But let men that for such ends love division consider that 1. To maintaine that which is evill 2. To aime at their owne ends not regarding what publick mischiefes follow so their private advantages might be served 3. Not careing what the divisions are if so be their turne may be served this is abominable and cursed is that man that wishes for or rejoyceth in or seeks the continuance of divisions for such base ends yea he is not worthy to breath in so good an air as Englands is that would not willingly lay down his life to cure the present divisions that are amongst us Just it were that such a man should be separated to evil and that his name should be blotted out from under Heaven Mr. Burroughes his Irenicum Quest Quest How else may the wickedness of a tolleration of Heresies Blasphemies c. be made out Answ Answ 1 First The Scriptures of the Old and New Testament do oft command us to ask for follow after and to walk in that one good way and to contend earnestly for that one Faith to hold fast the truth c. and reproves and condems turning aside to any false way or halting between two or more Religions or Worships So 1 King 18.21 2 Kin. 17.33 41. Zeph. 1.5 Secondly God fore-tels and promises especially in the days of the Gospel to give one heart and one way to his people and that as there is but one Lord so his name shall be one and that all shall call upon and serve him with one consent Jer. 32.39 Ezek. 11.19 Zac. 14.9 And there are many exhortations to Christians to be of one mind and that there be no Schisms amongst them c. 2 Cor. 13.11 Phil. 2.2 4.2 1 Cor. 1.10 Eph. 4.3 therefore the toleration of all or many ways is contrary hereunto Thirdly A tolleration of false ways fights directly against many places of Scripture as 2 Cor. 13.8 We can do nothing against the truth but for the truth Pro. 23.23 Buy the truth and sell it not So Be valiant for the truth Strive for the faith of the Gospel They that keep the Law contend with the wicked Paul would not give place to false brethren no not for an hour and many other places named before Fourthly The sum of the Scripture is faith and a good life and the end
of all Estates both Political Ecclesiastical and Oeconomical are to maintain and continue these But a general tolleration is against all these in that it allows a liberty of denying the Scriptures to be the Word of God and sets up the conscience above the Scriptures making every mans conscience even the polluted and seared conscience the rule of faith and holiness before the pure and unerring Word of God whilst they cry out Men must go according to their consciences but never speak of going according to the Word of God Fifthly What God in his Word commands or forbids single persons for themselves and their own practise he commands or forbids the same not only for themselves but to them for all under their command and they must see to it to use their power Authority and interest to cause all under them to do so likewise and not to suffer them to go on in any false ways as these Texts amongst many others prove Gen. 18.19 Exod. 20.28 Deut. 6.4 5 6 7. Eph. 6.4 Sixthly The Patriarchs godly Judges Kings and other good Magistrates did make use of their Authority to suppress false Doctrine false Worship false Prophets and Seducers and to bring those under them to the true Worship and fear of God as Abraham Jacob Moses Joshua Gideon Jehosaphat Asa Hezekiah Josia Nehemiah c. Seventhly Yea They did not only do it but therein did their duty as is clear from the approbations special Testimonies Promises Rewards and Blessings given by God of them made to them and bestowed upon them by God for so doing It s said that therein they did that which was right in the sight of God 2 Chr. 14.2 3 4. and many other places Eighthly such Magistrates as were dear to God yet if out of carnal respects to Wives Children or other Interests they tollerated Idolatry and other evils and used not their power to restrain and punish them have been sharply reproved and severely punished by God for it as Solomon 1 King 11.4 c. Eli c. Object But Idolatry Object and Idolaters were the adaequate Object of the coercive power of the Kings of Judah and that Idolatry not meant of those that worshiped the true God in a false manner but of such as left the God of Israel to worship false gods and those neither simply as such but as seducing others but this power extended not to Hereticks Schismaticks c. though there were amougst them Pharisees Saduces Herodians c. Answ First Idolaters Answ 1 and Idolatry only were not the adaequate object of the Magistrates coercive power but generally the matter of the Covenant the whole worship and truth of God For Josiah Hezekiah Asa and Jehosaphat suppressed other evils besides Idolatry as Wil-worship things abused to Idolatry and prophanation of the Sabbaths marrying of strange wives c. as appears 2 Chron. 34.31 c. 2 Kin. 23.8 9. with 2 Chron. 14.3 5. 15.17 33.17 Neh. 13.7 8 15 16 17 28 30. Ezra 10.3 5. 2 Kings 23.24 25. Secondly The Idolatry which these godly Kings punished and reformed was as well the worshiping of the true God after a false manner as the worshiping of false Gods as appears in the Golden Calf Exod. 32.4 5.6 and Jeroboams Calves 1 King 12.27 28. they did not believe these Calves to be Gods but worshiped Jehovah by them And Josh 22.11 12. All Israel gathered together to war against Reuben c. not for making an Altar to a strange god but for making an Altar to offer upon to the true God besides the Altar which was in his Tabernacle verse 21.26 28 29. Thirdly They did not only punish gross Idolaters which were Seducers but such as were seduced Moses punished 3000 with death for their Calf-worship So 2 Chron. 15.13 they that would not seek the Lord whether small or great were to be punished Deut. 13. all a City that was drawn to serve other gods was to be slain Fourthly The Pharisees Saduces Herodians c. were not punished 1. Because Religion was then mightily corrupted and all things were out of order in Church and State which hastened their destruction 2. The Jews were not then a free people nor had the civil power absolutely in their hands 3. God permitted those times to abound with Sects because he had a purpose to destroy their Common-wealth and the Tolleration of those Sects made way for hastened their ruine as it hath done many others 4. There is a great agreement between the false Prophets under the Old Testament and the false-Teachers under the New as is evident in many Scriptures of the New Testament which lively resemble these each to other so that it cannot be imagined that the first sort should be punished with death and the later not punished at all Ninthly we have the full concurrent testimony and judgement of the most Godly and learned Protestant Divines as Calvin Zanchy Melancthon Beza P. Martyr Bullinger Musculus Chemnitius Gerard Bucanus Bilson Cartwright the Leiden Professors Voetius Triglandus c. that the care of Religion and Gods worship belongs to the Magistrate and that God hath given him power objective and external in Ecclesiastical causes to look to Religion as well as to civil Justice Tenthly there are many commands in Scripture given to Magistrates to punish oftenders against the first Table as idolaters blasphemers false Prophets seducers witches wizards profaners of the Sabbath c. as Exod. 22.20 Deut. 13.1 2 5. and 17.2 3 4 5 12 13. Lev. 24.16 23. and 20.2 3 4 27. Deut. 18.20 22. Object Object But these are Old Testament examples Answ Answ First its evident that some of these commands as against offering their children to Molech and dealing with familiar spirits deserve and are punished now under the Gospel as well as under the Law why not then those other of blasphemy false prophets idolatry c. Secondly these precepts for the Magistrates punishing idolaters blasphemers c. extended not to the punishment of Jews only but of all strangers in the land both Proselytes that dwelt amongst them and passengers that travelled thorow and came into their countrey for traffique So Lev. 20.2 Lev. 24.16 He that blasphemes the Name of the Lord shall surely be put to death as well the stranger as he that is born in the land Thirdly the reasons and grounds of these Laws with the use and end of them are of common equity and concern us Christians as well as they did the Jews Fourthly even before Moses his time in other Countreys Idolatry deserved punishment by the Magistrate as Job tells us Job 31.26 27 28. and Artaxerxes Nebuchadnezzar c. made Laws for punishing those that blasphemed the Lord and transgressed his Laws as we heard before Master Prin in his Sword of the Christian Magistrate supported doth largly and excellently shew that by the Light of Nature in all ages even Heathen Magistrates have made Lawes against and punished such as they
esteemed to be Atheists Hereticks Blasphemers of their gods or oppugners of their established Religion Fifthly this coercive power of the Magistrate is every way as useful and necessary now for the glory of God salvation of mens souls and peace of the Church and State as it was then yea in some respects more necessary there being in our dayes not onely the same reasons and causes for the power of the Magistrate but many others also as was shewed by Master Burroughs before Mr. Tho. Edw. against tolleration Quest Quest How may it further appeare that corruption in Religion outwardly breaking forth and expressed may yea and must be restrained and punished by the civil Magistrate Answ Answ From the example of Christ John 1.13 c. who whipped out of the Temple those that sold Oxen and Sheep c. Object But Christ did this as God Object or at lest as the Messias therefore it s not imitable Answ First Answ 1 Civil Rulers are Christs vice-gerents as he was God and therefore they are called Gods Psal 82.1 6. and said to judge for God 2 Chron. 19.6 and are called the Ministers of God Rom. 13.4 who are to take vengeance in Gods stead they are also Christs vice-gerents as Mediator as one that hath all power committed to him in earth as well as in heaven Mat. 28.18 From him therefore as political head of his people Magistrates power on earth must come Prov. 8.15 16. Hence he is called King of Kings 1 Tim. 1.16 17. Rev. 19.16 yea he makes them nursing fathers to his Church and so commits his Church which is his house into their hands as to those who by their civil authority are every way to further its welfare and therefore what Christ did when on earth to purge corruptions out of his Church he now doth by the hands of his vice-gerents Secondly he that was God man who acted here did it in a mixt way not only as God but partly as man also as man he made the whip of cords and smote them therewith his example therefore herein is imitable by men of place and the reason whereby Christs act was justified was the zeale of Gods house John 2.17 which must needs be yeelded to be an apt and just reason sutable to the act and imitable by others which are called thereunto Object Object It was an extraordinary act in Christ as man to punish abuses in Religion in a Corporal way Answ Answ 1 First admit that yet at least the act it self of such punishment of the abuses in religion must needs be in it self that whereon the image of Christs zeal was enstamped and that which in it self is good or else Christ could not have done it without sin and if in its nature it was good its imitable by such as are called thereunto to do that in an ordinary way which he did in an extraordinary Secondly be it that it was extraordinary in Christ as man to act thus So was Phineas his act in killing Zimri and Cozbi Numb 25.7 8. and Samuels in hewing Agag in pieces 1 Sam. 15.33 and Elijahs slaying of Baals Priests 1 King 18.40 yet it must be yeelded that there must be some who by office might and should in an ordinary way have punished such sins the Lord not using to stirre up any in an extraordinary way to do any such acts but in a defect of ordinary power So by these extraordinary acts was a supply made of the defect of Magistratical power which in an ordinary way makes use of the sword or whip for the corporal punishment as Rom. 13.4 rather then such abuses in Religion shal not be in an external coercive way curbed and punished therefore Christ thought it fit to put forth his hand to so good and blessed a work when those whose duty it was to do it would not discharge their trust Quest Quest What corruptions in religion are thus to be punished by the Civil Magistrate Answ Answ We must distinguish of corruptions in Religion and they are First either Dogmatical or Practical and these again are either such as are more grosse and strike at the fundamentals or vitals of Religion whether directly or collaterally or such as are of a more circumstantial and lighter nature Secondly corruptions in religion are either such as are secretly taken up and embraced or such as come under mans view being outwardly expressed by word writing c. and these again are either such as are held forth with meeknesse and real expressions of a cordial readinesse to lay them aside upon better information or such as are carried on in a turbulent way and with contempt of Civil or Church order Againe restraint and punishment of these is either that which is meerly and immediately divine or that which is partly Divine and partly humane in respect either of the agent or manner of acting or that which is properly in the nature of the act person and manner of acting humane and this againe is either Political which is carried on in a Civil way and by Political means or Ecclesiastical which is carried on in a Church-way and by Church meanes Thirdly a call of God to restraine and punish abuses is either immediately Divine as when by Divine vision revelation prophesie inspiration instinct c. or that which is mediately divine in respect of God the author but immediately humane in respect of man designing and inviting Quest Quest What conclusions may be laid down upon these premises Answ We shall shew 1. Answ Negatively what may not be done 2. Affirmatively what may and must First Negatively we say that 1. No private person in these dayes under any pretence whatsoever may take upon him to restraine and punish corruptions in religion in those who are not under their personal charge It 's rash zeal zeal without knowledge to do any thing this way without the bounds of ones particular calling in the limits whereof every one should abide with God 1 Cor. 7.20 24. It tends to confusion and God is no authour of that 1 Cor. 14.33 2. No civil authority nor persons thereunto called may as such punish abuses in Religion in any Ecclesiastical way as excommunication c. Christ never gave the power of the keys to Civil Magistrates but to his Church-Officers Mat. 16.18 19. and 18.17 18. 1 Cor. 5.4 neither may Church-Officers punish in an external way as by imprisonment fines stripes sword c. Mat. 20.25 26. 3. Neither Civil nor Church power may punish a meer supposed corruption in Religion but that which doth manifestly appear to be so by the Word of God they must not make men offenders for a word rightly uttered by the just Isa 29.21 that 's blind zeal as Joh. 16.2 3. 4. Neither of them may censure or punish corruptions in Religion till they break forth in outward expressions For then and not till then they are of legal proof scandalous and infectious Hence Deut. 13.13 14. and 17.2 3 4 5.