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
little leaven leaveneth the whole lump Answ Answ Profane persons leaven a Church Physically not by their presence simply because they are there For then the presence of an hypoctite being in Church fellowship would leaven all if bare presence did it but morally by his impurity he being suffered without censure for so great an offence doth embolden and harden others in sin whereby the whole Congregation might in time be soured with such leaven The presence of an uncleane person cannot hurt you further then you make his uncleanness yours by not doing your duty against it Obj. But the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 10.17 Object You being many are one bread Answ Answ If an unworthy person coming to Gods Ordinances and enjoying communion with the Saints therein doth obtain this advantage so as by profession to seeme one bread and one body with them yet this doth not imply that the Saints are therefore made one with him in his wickednesse If an unclean person challenge more then is due to him this doth not devest the Saints of what is their due and their priviledge nor must it hinder them from performing that service that they owe to Christ being called to it they must remember Christ and his death though others forget him and their duty towards him Obj. Object But I cannot do those duties expressed Matth. 18.15 c. remaining in communion with such a particular Church may I not then separate Answ Answ 1 First in this case a man had need be clearly satisfied that such duties of admonishing c. there mentioned be his duty pro hic nunc in such and such circumstances Affirmative precepts though they do binde semper yet not ad emper they do not binde me to act in every juncture of things Secondly a man likewise before he separate from a Church because he cannot do his duty therein he had need be sure that his not being in a capacity to do his duty to the full be a sufficient ground of separation the order Mat. 18. is to cast off an Offender if he heare not the Church not to cast off the Church if she censure not him Quest Quest But may we not desire communion with the purest Churches Answ You may Answ yet withal observe how it may be obtained with the peace order and edification of the Churches It s possible to remove to another Church without separation from your owne only let such as think of separating remember these two things First try to promote purity in your own Church and to separate all impurity from it before you separate or gather Churches out of Churches Endeavour to separate the dross from amongst you before you separate your selves from the true gold Secondly if at last you will needs separate do not uncharitably condemne the true Church that you leave when Saints do separate let it be 1. A prudent separation from evil not from good from the vile not from the precious Rom. 12.9 Abhor that which is evil and cleave to that which is good 2. A pious separation from evil unto good not from one evil to another not from Tyranny to Anarchy not from prelatical usurpation to popular licentiousness 3. A peaceable separation Separate from the unclean without a Schisme not rashly condemning all that come not up to your height not as one affecting a proud singularity but as one necessitated to withdraw out of pure tendernesse of conscience and as one who labours to please his neighbour for good to edification Rom. 15.1 2. 4. A loving separation though thou canst not concurre in some opinions and practices wherein the Scripture allows a latitude yet continue united in affection though in divers Churches still striving together for the Faith of the Gospel Phil. 1.27 Dr. Hills good separation Quest Quest What is Schism Answ Answ The word imports a rent or division of things that were or should be undivided and as it s taken in the matters of Religion it signifies a rupture in the communion or from the communion of the Church upon unnecessary and unwarrantable causes and grounds Society and communion are of great importance and the evil of Schism is answerable to the good of communion and if Schisme be made upon a cause not warranted by the word of God it s a sinne of an high nature the formality of Schism consists in the rupture or departing though the coalition or joyning in new bodies which was called setting up Altar against Altar may make it more pernicious So that Schisme simply and nakedly is a breaking off from the communion of the Church upon such grounds as are not warranted by Gods Word as namely when the same Faith and doctrine in the substantials is held yet through passions or private ends and fancies there is offence taken at lesser matters of fact or order and so a divorce is made for such faults in the yoke-fellow as are far short of adultery As if the members of any of those seven Asian Churches should have separated because of some drosse in those golden Candlesticks the Donatists who separated upon that principle that there was no true Church where good and bad are mixed and that the chaffe in the floor made the wheat unclean was an open Schisme both in breaking off from the Churches of Christ and in assuming liberty to erect new Churches which they affirmed to be the only true Churches of Christ Mr. Ri. Vines Parl. Serm. Quest Quest May we not separate from a visible Church for the corruptions in it though they be not in fundamentals Answ Answ No we read not of any of the Prophets in the Old Testament that left the Church but in most corrupt times continued in it reproving and threatning praying and mourning for them but not separating from them St. Austine observes that Ezek. 9.4 they were marked that mourned for the sins of the times not that separated themselves from the Church In the New Testament neither Christ nor his Apostles forsook the Church but continued in it though marvellous corrupt teaching reproving and mourning for it The six Asian Churches are blamed for their corruptions but none bid to separate for them To this purpose is that Heb. 10.24 25 38 39. Quest Quest What reasons may be rendred for this Answ First Answ 1 None ought to separate from a true Church of Christ Now such is an assembly professing the true faith notwithstanding other corruptions Secondly Separation and Excommunication from a true Church is the most heavy and greatest censure of the Church which as no man should incur by his evil behaviour so no man ought to inflict upon himself for the corruptions of others who happily deserve to be separated themselves St. Austin told Petilian that he did not well to leave Christs heap of corn because some chaff was still in it till the great winnowing day and that he shewed himself to be lighter chaff driven out by the wind of tentation that flew out before the coming
Gospel c. 77 Obj. Famous Princes have spoken against constraint in matters of Religion 79 Obj. Many ancient Writers have written against it 80 Obj. But it s no prejudice to the Common-wealth if liberty of conscience be granted to them that truly fear God 84 Qu. What other remedies may we use against infection by seducers ib. Qu. How do Seducers bring in and disperse their errors 85 Qu. VVhy doth Christ suffer such deceivers in the Church 86 Qu. What motives do seducers usually make use of ib. Qu. How else may it appear that Magistrates may punish an obstinate Heretick with de th 87 Qu. What danger is there in tollerating heresie and hereticks 88 Qu. What rules are Magistrates to observe in tollerating smaller errors 90 Obj. But we see that the States of the united Provinces allow diversity of Religions 91 Qu. How else will it appear that Schisms Heresies and errors are so dangerous 92 Obj. But a Tolleration of all Religions would be a means to cure all dissentions 95 Qu. VVhence is it that Heresies Schisms eat up the power of godliness 98 Q. Whence is it that heresies errors are of so spreading a nature 99 Qu. How then may we prevent being ensnared by them 107 Qu. Seeing the Angel of the Church of Ephesus is commended for not bearing with them which are evill who are those evil ones that must not be tollerated 110 Qu. VVhat doth not bearing with them import 111 Qu. VVhy should such persons be so severely dealt with 112 Obj. But love beareth all things 116 Obj. But Christ saith let both grow together till the harvest 118 Qu. Upon what account may a man be accounted a false prophet or a false Teacher 119 Qu. VVhat may be considered about Heresies 122 Qu. How manifold is Heresie 123 Qu. What is simple Heresie ib. Qu. What is complicate Heresie ib. Qu. VVhether may any of these be capitally punished by the Civil Magistrate 124 Qu. How will it further appeare that there is so much danger in tollerating Hereticks 126 Qu. VVhat then is incumbent upon Magistrates to do against them 129 Obj. But would you have us punish them when many of them are godly persons 131 Qu. How come Heresies that are so destructive to be so prevalent ib. Qu. How will it further appeare that errors and Heresies are so dangerous 137 Qu. What dangerous errors and Heresies are now divulged 146 Qu. VVhat must Magistrates do in such cases 149 Qu. What must private Christians do to prevent infection in such times 151 Qu. Whether are Anabaptists Hereticks 153 Qu. Whether are Arminians Hereticks ib. Qu. Whether are Lutherans Hereticks 154 Qu. Whether are Hereticks to be punished by the Civil Magistrate ib. Qu. Why are hereticks and false teachers called the tail Isa 9.15 156 Qu. What is Mr. Jer. Burroughs his judgement about tolleration 157 Quest Why is Tolleration a dangerous principle ib. Obj. This is Old Testament and we finde it not in the Gospel 158 Obj. Christ hath left spiritual means to prevent Heresies infection 159 Obj. Magistrates have nothing to do in matters of Religion ib. Quest. Are they not excluded from exercising any power in matters of Religion 160 Quest Indeed Magistrates under the Old Testament had power but were they not therein types of Christs Kingly power 161 Quest Why is the Magistrates power needful 162 Quest Doth the holy Ghost justifie this power of the Magistrate in the times of the Gospel 164 Obj. But matters of Religion belong not to his cognizance 165 Obj. Such Scriptures speak only of his power in civil things ib. Qu. How will it appear that Magistracie is appointed for our spiritual good as well as for our civil 166 Qu. How can natural and external things be helps to things spiritual and Divine ib. Obj. Conscience is a tender thing and therefore must not be medled with 168 Qu. What may be done to a man that pleads conscience ib. Qu. How shall we know whether the devil be in the conscience 169 Qu. What may be done to such as persist in errors under pretence of conscience 170 Qu. What if mens errors be of less moment can nothing be done to restrain such 172 Qu. Suppose a man doth what he can to informe his conscience and yet cannot yeeld what may be done to him 173 Qu. But by fomenting Divisions such as are in power may rule the people best ib. Qu. How else may the wickednesse of Tollerating heresies blasphemies c. be made out 174 Obj. But Idolatry was the adequate object of the coercive power of Judahs Kings c. but it extended not to hereticks 177 Obj. But still these are Old Testament examples 180 Qu. How else may it appear that corruptions in Religion may be punished by the Civil Magistrate 182 Obj. Christ punished such as God or Messias therefore it s not imitable by Magistrates 183 Obj. It was an extraordinary act in Christ therefore not imitable 184 Quest What corruptions in Religion are thus to be punished 185 Quest What conclusions may be laid down upon these premises 187 Quest How may it be proved to be the Magistrates duty to punish heresies 190 Obj. Still these are Old Testament examples 191 Quest What need the Church any such helps c 196 Obj. But this will make men to dissemble or to sin against conscience 200 Obj. It may bring in persecution for conscience-sake 201 Obj It s crosse to the meek Spirit of Christ c ib. Quest Why may not a Tolleration be granted 202 The names of such English Divines whose judgements are here produced to shew the danger of Divisions Schismes and Heresies and the tolleration of them Mr. Anthony Burges Mr. Edm. Calamy Dr. Tho. Hill Mr. Richard Vines Mr. Richard Stock Dr. Thomas Tailor Dr. Edw. Reynolds Mr. Joh. Cotton of Boston in N. Eng. Dr. Sibs Mr. Tho. Thorowgood Mr. John Mainard Mr. Robert Bailies Mr. Ja. Cranford Mr. Joseph Caryl Mr. Tho. Hodges Dr. Amesius Mr. Obad. Sedgwick Mr. Jer. Burroughs Mr. Tho. Edwards Mr. Tho Cobbet of New Eng. ERRATA PAg. 27. Line 30. put out hath p. 55. l. 3. put out he p. 71. l. 7. for Minister r. Ministry p. 120. l. 7. for Divisions r. visions p. 128. l. 4. for earthquake r. earthquakes p. 115. l. 29. put out not p. 123. l. 5. for which r. with QUESTIONS AND Cases of CONSCIENCE About Divisions Schisms Heresies and a Toleration of them Qu. WHence do Discords Qu. and Divisions arise They are the fruits of the flesh whereas love An. peace c. are the fruits of the Spirit so that a man cannot more demonstrate himself to be in the flesh and devoide of Gods Spirit then by a contentious dividing spirit Some Salamander-like cannot live but only in the fire of contention These like Marcion with great boldness will cry out We will cast fire into the Church and divide it But hereby they shew of what temper they are and who is their father even
good matter without good order is not warrantable The Disciples that would have fire come down from Heaven knew not what spirit they were of Uzzahs dreadfull punishment for touching the Ark should make us look not only to the Duty but to the order of it We must not do evil that good may come of it Rom. 3.8 The damnation of such is just Thirdly A third thing in Division is when men do not keep in their proper places and offices If the foot will be the eye or the hand the head this is monstrous St. Paul teaches every member in the body to keep to its own office and calling And Oh! that our times would learn this lesson we should not have such wofull confusions in Church and State as of late we have had what a blessed Unity and comely Order would Church and State be in if every member would do his proper work What have private men to do in a Pulpit What have souldiers to do in constituting a Civil Government or Governors Where is their Warrant How will they answer it to God or man They are commanded to offer violence to no man and to be content with their wages Luke 3.14 Fourthly I st Division and Faction when the passions of men are sowred and imbittered with any carnal distempers This sin first affects the heart and then breaks out into action Though men be in a good way and are for the Truth and Glory of God yet if they do it in passion and with a froward heart here is a sinful Division Gods Righteousness and Truth needs not our passions Quest Quest Whence else proceed these Divisions Answ Answ First From mens ignorance for so long as we know but in part there will be different opinions and difference in opinions breeds difference in affections Ignorant persons like Children are easily seduced and run into ways of Division Secondly From self-confidence and Arrogancy When men think they have better abilities and more worth in them then indeed they have This makes them bold and disturbers of the Churches peace as we see in Corah Dathan and Abiram Num. 16.3 They thought there was as much in every person as in the Priests that God had set apart for that Office All the Congregation is holy Hence Paul commands us not to mind high things Rom. 12.16 which are above our place or capacity So was it with David Psalm 131.1 Hence 1 Cor. 8.2 If any think that he knows any thing c. Thirdly From worldly hopes and desires of advantage Earthly gain made Judas make such a sad breach Men that judge gain to be godliness soon make shipwrack of faith and a good conscience 1 Tim. 6.5 Many of the Arch-Hereticks formerly made those Divisions because they missed of that worldly Pomp and greatness which they expected 4. Sometimes it proceeds from the Tyranny and scandalous lives of Church-Officers One cause that Tertullian turned a Montanist was the loose lives of the Roman Clergy Q. Quest What are the effects of Division and Disunion in the Church especially in the Ministry Answ First Answ 1 It s apt to beget Atheism and Irreligion in the people It makes them think that Religion is a meer notion or nothing and therefore they will look after it no more But woe to the world because of offences in this kind It had been better for such that they had never been born Secondly It much grieves and unsettles the hearts even of the godly themselves they know not what to pitch upon whilst one godly Minister saith it s a sin others that it is no sin This cannot but exceedingly perplex tender Consciences that would not sin for a world Thirdly At such times prophanness and ungodliness doth exceedingly increase and godliness decaies in the power of it For whereas Ministers should encourage godliness and decry and reprove sin they busie themselves in preaching up their opinions and promoting their particular way which edifieth not Indeed the least Truths of God are not to be neglected yea all things are to be tried but this is not the main business the one thing necessary is to seek the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness Fourthly These Divisions amongst Protestants do exceedingly harden the Papists in their way Quest Quest What then should people do when Ministers and Professors are thus divided Answ Answ 1 First Do not thou by thy pragmatical medling widen the difference and raise more dust the hot indiscret carriages of the Disciples do sometimes make a greater distance amongst the Teachers As Johns Disciples out of envy did what they could to stir up Johns spirit against Christ but he by his humility soon quenched those sparks John 3.30 Secondly Consider that those which are godly do agree in the fundamentals which are necessary to salvation and for other things we cannot expect Unity in this life where some have more knowledge and more grace and self-denial then others Thirdly Labor thou to have thy faith informed and setled out of Gods word The Ministry is that by which we do believe but we do not believe in it the Samaritans believed Christ upon the womans report at the first but afterwards they believed him for his own sake Fourthly Humble your selves under these differences when you see them not to go the same way or to preach the same things acknowledg that it is for the barrenness unteachableness and other sins of the hearers that God hath raised such contentions amongst us Quest Why is Unity so necessary Quest Answ Answ Because all things in Religion are reduced to one If therefore every thing in Religion tend to Unity why should not the people of God embrace it the several unities are made a notable argument to this purpose Eph. 4.1 where the Apostle having exhorted Christians to walk worthy of their Calling he instanceth in such graces as procure unity as lowliness meekness and forbearing one another the end of which graces is set down verse 3. endeavouring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace then verse 4. he shews the Reason why there should be such Unity there is one body Christ hath not many bodies All the people of God are one body and it s very destructive when one member of the body conspires against the welfare of another Again There is one Spirit there is but one spirit that enlightens and sanctifies the whole Church of God why then should there be so many wayes and opinions yet all pretended to be of the same spirit Indeed there are diversity of gifts and operations yet the same spirit But he doth not say Contrarieties and the same spirit for that is impossible Again There is one hope of our Calling we are called to one inheritance there is but one Heaven why therefore should we be so different by the way when one place of glory must hold all and if one Church cannot now contain us how shall we think that one heaven will Again There is one
by Schisme 3. Of Christian love by contentions in outward matters so there are peculiar remedies proper to each As first for matters of Doctrine these are uniting principles First so farre as there is an agreement in judgement we should close heartily and embrace one another in that It s a mercy that the difference is not in fundamentals Seeing therefore we agree in these let that unity be nourished and it will be a meanes to produce further union So Phil. 3.15 16. wherein we have attained let us walk by the same rule c. Secondly let private Christians highly esteeme and submit to those godly and faithful Pastors that God sets hath over them When men will not own those officers whom God hath set over them then these runne into by paths Ephes 4.12 13. One end of the Ministry is to keep men from being carried about as children c. the other for our spiritual edification till we all come in the unity of faith c. Thirdly get a pitiful and compassionate spirit to those that go astray Indeed we must be zealous in the things of God but it must be mixed with pity Of some have compassion making a difference Jude 22. Consider how prone we are to receive error for truth and that we stand by Gods strength this will move us to pity others Fourthly we must candidly and truly report the opinions of others that dissent from us Nothing hath made the rents in the Church greater then a malevolent perverting the opinions of others when we make them to hold such monstruous things as with all their hearts they do detest How oft was Christ and his Apostles traduced for preaching such things as they never taught which proceeded from the malice of those who laboured to make them odious and to bring them into danger Thus the Papists represent the Protestants as if they were the greatest Hereticks that ever were The end of such is not to bring dissenters to the knowledge of the truth but to disgrace and defame them therefore it s necessary in all disputations to state the controversie aright without which men may write volumes and bring multititude of arguments and all to no purpose To know therefore the true and proper distance is the best and only way at last to unity Fifthly we must not impose such conclusions and inferences upon the Doctrines maintained by Dessenters that are not the proper and genuine effects thereof To cast that upon them for their Doctrine which is but our owne inference is not fair especially when they do with their soul abhor such conclusions Because the Apostle had taught where sinne abounded there grace abounded much more some wicked persons forced this consequence upon the Apostles doctrine Let us sinne that grace may abound Rom. 6.1 Thus the Papists charge this hideous calumny consequence upon the Doctrine of the Protestants that God is the Author of sinne whereas we use but the words and expressions of the Scripture Indeed what is the evident and plaine consequence of a doctrine that is to be accounted of as the doctrine it self As whatsoever is a clear genuine consequence from Scripture is Scripture but not every consequence that we are apt to deduce Sixthly whatsoever truth God may make known to us or if in our perswasion only we are to be very careful how we publish it This hath always kindled great fires in the Church of God when men have either or in perswasion only some doctrine different from the current way of the Church at that time Now it s a very hard thing thus to be with child as it were and not to be in pain till we have delivered it to the world But such qualifications as these are necessary 1. We should in such cases question and examine our own spirits and not presently believe our own hearts we should have modest doubtings of our own ignorance and pronenesse to erre in every thing that we are so confident of So we see in Paul 1 Cor. 7.12 25 26 40. Wheresoever the Spirit of God leads into all truth there he doth likewise into all humilitie 2. Before we publish it to the world we should communicate it to some able wise and learned persons in the Church of God who have the Spirit of God and his unction as well as we Paul though immediately called by Christ yet went up to Jerusalem to confer with the chief pillars there and though he was miraculously converted yet he must go to Ananias to be further directed So 1 Cor. 14.29 32. those that had extraordinary gifts yet were to submit to the judgements of others Seventhly we must highly prize and delight in the known and plain truths of Christ Paul even after he had been wrapt up into heaven desired to know nothing but Christ crucified Peter thought it not inconvenient to write the same things they knew already Nothing hath caused greater rents in the Church then an affectation of singular and high things To bring in some unheard and unknowne truths It shews great pride when men affect to be accounted the authors of such new notions as the Jesuite of his scientia media Ego primus inveni But to be weary of known truths is to be weary of the same God and the same Christ Quest Quest What will keep up unity in the Churches order and prevent Schism there Answ Answ 1 First if such be the corruptions of the Church that thou canst not keep fellowship with her but by partaking of her sinnes yet before thou leavest her be sure to take the way which Scripture commands Let it not be for some lesser corruptions but for such as eat up the very vitals of Religion Leave not a Church till God leaves it Unchurch it not till God doth Secondly let it be thy endeavour before thou departest in thy place to informe and heale her Plead with thy mother as Hosea 2.2 and if thou must needs depart yet do it unwillingly being compelled to it by the enemies of all godlinesse who will not suffer thee under their power When those in Israel that would not worship the Calves departed from Jeroboam and went to Jerusalem to worship they did not make the Schisme but Jeroboam 2 Chron. 11.13 14 15. the Papists call us Schismaticks because we with-drew from obedience to the Pope as head of the Church but ours was a secession from their errours not a Schisme they are the Schismaticks who fell from the primitive order and the institutions in the Church so that the Pope is the greatest Schismatick that ever was in the Church and drove us from his Church by fire and fagot Thirdly Though there be many corruptions in Government and Administrations yet we are not to make sinfull Rents For these as St. Austin saith do Plus perturbare infirmos bonos quam corrigere animosos malos Only these two things we have to do 1. As our Calling and Relation is so to oppose and reprove the
from Church Divisions Answ Answ 1 First Hereby Gods name is exceedingly dishonoured and the true Religion ill spoken of Julian railed against Religion in his days because as he said Christians lived together as so many dogs and bears rending and tearing one another who then saith he would be so simple as to become a Christian Secondly It s a mighty hinderance to all Reformation as the building of Babel was hindred by the confusion of Tongues so is the building of Zion also For every one strives to promote his own private way of Reformation and to hinder all others Fpiphanius tells a sad story of Meletius and Peter both Bishops both Confessors of the Christian Faith both of them condemned to the mettle mines for their Profession who upon a smal difference fell into so great a Schism that they drew a partition between each other and would not hold Communion together in the same worship of Christ for which notwithstanding they joyntly suffered which dissention of theirs caused such a Schism in the Church as did it greater hurt then any open persecution Thirdly Hereby our common enemie is much encouraged whose hopes of prevailing is built upon our Divisions 4 ly Hereby the hearts of Gods people are mightily distracted many are hindred from Conversion and even the godly themselves have lost much of the power of godliness in their lives and it cannot be otherwise whilst one Minister preacheth one thing as the truth and another preacheth the quite contrary with as much confidence as the former and many are hindred from Coversion For who will venture into a ship that is tossed with contrary waves and ready to sink and the godly themselves are much hindred in the study and practise of faith and Repentance their time being taken up with unnecessary Disputations so that they have little leasure to repent and prosecute the power of godliness Fifthly By our Divisions godly Ministers are mightily discouraged so that many grow weary of their standings in the Church and are ready to leave their places and retire to a private life Sixthly Hereby a door is opened to all kind of Atheism Do not some say we know not of what kind of Religion to be and therefore we will be of none Seventhly These Divisions open a wide door to the utter ruine of our Nation For they bring in deadly hatred that breaketh all the bonds even of nature it self as Christ foretels John 16.2 They shall kill you and therein think they do God good service Quest Quest How many sorts of discontented persons are there amongst us which nourish these Divisions An. Answ First such as are discontented out of Pride and Covetousness because they cannot get those places of profit and honor that they expect or because they have not the credit with the people that others have hence they dislike the publick proceedings and make parties and factions These Whatsoever their pretences are serve not our Lord Jesus Christ but their own belly and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple Romans 16.18 Secondly Such as are discontented out of a blind zeal and because they think that if matters of Religion were once setled their erroneous ways would be discountenanced therefore they labor to put and keep all things in a confusion that thereby their party may encrease For as Toads and Serpents breed and grows in dark and dirty cellars so do Sects Errors and Heresies grow in times of distraction and division These desire to fish in troubled water because then they can catch most fish These are like unto Sanballat and Tobiah who foreseeing that if the Temple were built their way of worship upon Mount Geresin would be contemned therefore they did all they could to disgrace and discourage that business so do these all settlement Thirdly Such as being discontented persons disturb our peace by way of revenge Quest Quest What may move us to endeavour after unity Answ Answ 1 First Consider how pathetically and emphatically God by the Apostle Paul perswades us to it As 1 Cor. 1.10 Now I beseech you brethren by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that you all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions amongst you but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and the same udgements and Again Phil. 2.1 2. If there be therefore any consolation in Christ if any comfort of love if any fellowship of the Spirit if any bowels and mercies fulfill you my joy that you be like minded having the saâ—e love being of one accord of one mind c. Secondly Consider those excellent Arguments laid down Eph. 4.3 4 5 6. of which before 3. Consider what an horrible sin it is to divide one from another and to live in hatred and variance one with another It s a work of the flesh Gal. 5.19 20 21. It excludes from the Kingdom of Heaven So Rev 22.15 Such are dogs that intertear one another It makes unfit to partake of the Sacrament Mat. 5.23 It makes God to abhor our fasting days Isa 58.4 yea it turns our prayers into curses For we pray to be forgiven as we forgive therefore if we live in hatred and variance we pray not to be forgiven Pejus est scindere ecclesiam quam sacrificare Idolo saith Cyprian Schisme in the Church is a greater sin then idolatry Austin saith It s a greater sinne then Heresie As God himself declared saith he when he punished Schismatical Corah and his company with a greater punishment then ever he punished Idolaters or Hereticks Fourthly consider the woful miseries and mischiefs that are brought into our Church and State by reason of our Divisions If all the Jesuites in the Christian world If all the devils in hel should joyne together to conspire our ruine they could not finde out a more ready way then this which they have practised of late years to keep up and encrease our division the woful effects whereof are so obvious that I need not mention them Fifthly consider the great happinesse that would accrue to Church and State if our breaches were healed If all the Saints on earth and Angels in heaven should study to finde out a way to save England from ruine they could not finde out a readier way then by uniting us together England is an Island divided from all the world and if it were not divided within it selfe it need not feare all the world Sixthly the very Heathens were careful to maintaine unity and peace in times of publick danger Plutarch tells us that Aristides and Themistocles from their very child-hoods were oft squabling and could never agree together But when a common enemy came against them Aristides went to Themistocles and said to him Sasapiamus omissa tandem c. If we be wise let us now leave off our former contentions and apply our selves unanimously to promote the publick good Seventhly consider that the very Devils in Hell agree to promote their own
as are Orthodox and discountenance erroneous persons and opinions cherish truths Champions but discourage erronious hucsters Stop seducers mouths but command the truth to be taught By their punishments to let all the world know that they are sensible of Gods dishonor and that they affect nothing more then to do him service in so necessary a business Object Object But would you have us punish them when many of them are honest and pious men Answ First 2 Tim. 3.5 Answ 1 Many have a form of godliness and yet deny the power of it The wolf in the Fable that he might the easilier deceive and make a prey of the sheep put on a sheeps-skin and did much mischief the shepherd discovered the guile and hangs him up in his disguise His fellow-shepherds blame him for cruelty in hanging up a sheep he to undeceive them wishes them to open his skin which when they had done they found the fraud and justified the fact I need not make application Secondly You will not allow the Plea He is an honest and godly man in the abuse of Coin Theft Treason c. why then should it be of force in this greater and more horrid mischief Quest Seeing Heresies are so wasting Quest dangerous and destructive how come they to be so prevalent and to infect so many Answ First Answ 1 Because of the quallity and condition of those that broach them either they are persons of learning and parts as were Valentinus Socinus Simachus c. Or such as are of Repute for piety They have a form of godliness and in their words and deportments are transformed into Angels of light 2 Cor. 11.14 As were Montanus Novatus Arius and the Munster-Anabaptists who at first exceedingly prevailed by their discourses which were of nothing but mortification fasting praying c. they pretended to more then ordinary piety which made them to be indulged in some perty differences by those that were in Authority pitied by the Reforming Ministers and followed by many pious but inconsiderate persons who were so gulled by their specious shews that they little dreamed of the mischief that some of their Ring-leaders aimed at Or such as have been sufferers for Religion whereby they have grown into esteem with well meaning pious people Thus David Georg at first was cast into prison and bored through the tongue for speaking against Popish Idolatry which made him highly esteemed amongst the godly yet afterwards he became a most blasphemous Heretick affirming that the Scriptures even those of the Apostles were lame childish and ineffectual for the understanding of the things of God that he was greater then Christ in the flesh c. and by reason of his former sufferings he drew many Disciples after him Secondly Because of their manner in dispersing their Errors they have their guiles and Arts to insnare poor souls Eph. 4.14 They study the persons and wait their opportunities to deceive Rom. 16.18 They use fair speeches to beguile the hearts of the simple they profess Love and Charity to be eies to the blind feet to the lame guides to the erring c. and yet they are ravening wolves Mat. 7.15 They seek to gain credit by laying open and rebuking the faults of others which they curiously pry into and like flesh-flies passing over what is sound and right light only upon what is sore and putrid in them They are vehement bold confident and resolute being men of seared consciences and brazen faces that cannot blush like Simon Magus they cry up themselves to be some body yea the mighty power of God Act. 8.9 10. They use swelling words of vanity 2 Pet. 2.18 whereby they gain upon the simple that understand them not and have their persons in admiration They pretend to high Misteries being vainly puffed up in their fleshly minds intruding themselves into things they understand not Col. 2.18 They blasphemously father their Errors on the Spirit of Truth wracking and wresting his Word to their purpose 2 Pet. 3.16 or if they cannot do that then they boast that they have their direction from immediate Revelation c. Thirdly Because of the matter which they broach which perhaps is something new and men naturally have itching ears 2 Tim. 4.3 and Athenian-like are greedy of new things they are weary of old truths being they never saw their beauty nor tasted their sweetness which if they had they could never have sleighted yet many times it is not so much new matter as a new dress in hard and unintelligible words which Paul counsels Timothy to shun 1 Tim. 6.20 and hereby they conceal their meaning lest if it come to light it should appear what adulterate ware they obtrude upon the people for the truths of God Fourthly Because of the negligence of those servants whom Christ hath imployed about his Vineyard to take care that the seed of Truth be sown and every plant of the envious mans planting be plucked up and these are 1. Ministers who should preach frequently hold forth the whole truth clearly confute gain-sayers solidly Tit. 1.9 If after one or two admonitions they refuse to be gained avoiding their perverse Disputes and company and warning others to beware of them 2 Tim. 2.16 17. using gentleness to them that are Seduced 2 Tim. 2.24 c. proving if at any time God will give them Repentance c. 2. Magistrates who ought to suppress and punish Heresies and Hereticks as afore was shewed But if the foundations be removed what can the righteous do Psalm 11.3 O how sad was it with the Church when Arianism had invaded the Throne it self for then the people conforming to the Princes Judgement were easily infected with it Or suppose Magistrates are not tainted themselves yet if they sleight differences in Religion as Festus did the business of Paul Act. 25.19 20. Or if they be afraid to displease of a low spirit backward to enact and execute according to the de merit of the Error or Heresie how can it be expected that either the truth should be righted or the madness of Hereticks repressed Fifthly Because peoples hearts like a prepared soil are ready to intertain these damnable Errors their minds are filled with darkness and therefore they are unable to judge of the things of God For they are spiritually discerned 1 Cor. 2.14 Neither is this only natural but adventitious also frequently because their frozen hearts are void of the love of the truth But in some are the beginnings of knowledge yet do they hang too equally poised between Truth and Error being full of doubts which makes them a prey to Seducers they are very credulous like Solomons fool Prov. 14.25 perhaps through sluggishness being rather willing to take things on trust then to take pains to try what conformity they hold with the truth Sometimes they have corrupt consciences which must be boulstered Ezek. 13.18 20. corrupt affections which must be humoured 2 Tim. 4.3 and corrupt practises which must be concealed which makes
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.
the text saith If it be told thee and if thou hast heard it c. 5. Though such as are in authority should be in a holy manner jealous and carry a watchful eye in case of hints given of such corruptions as the Heads of the Tribes were when they heard of the new Altar Josh 22.11 c. and Paul of the Church of Corinth 2 Cor. 11.2 3. yet they may not by external violence as by Oaths ex officio imprisonment wrack c. bring that under censure which Gods providence ripeneth not for it The Heathen Romans would not do so Act. 22.30 and 23.28 c. 35. and 24.22 23. and 25.5 7 8. 6. Though the corruptions in Religion be manifest to the Civil or Church-Officers yet they are not punishable till sufficient means of conviction be used So we see in the example of the heads of the Tribes Josh 22.11 to 20. An Heretick must not be rejected by the Church till after once or twice admonition 7. Though neither Civil nor Church-Officers may impose upon Aliens from the true Religion any of the wayes of it yet the Civil Magistrate may not suffer such openly to vilifie or blaspheme the true Religion or to abuse the Ministers and professors of it or any wayes to disturb them in the holy exercise of it 8. Neither powers may equally censure or punish all sorts of corruptions in religion which come into publick view but as the corruptions are more grosse or the persons more turbulent in their way so they are to punish them more severely Secondly Positively we affirme that both Church and Civil Officers the one in a Church-way the other in a Political way may yea must restraine and seasonably and sutably punish all grosse corruptions in Religion manifestly crosse to the Word when they are outwardly and openly expressed to the just offence of the Saints and the hurt of others We say they may and must do it for it s not left to their liberty to do or not to do it but it s their duty which they may not dispense with Quest Quest How can this be proved to be the Civil Magistrates duty Answ Answ 1 First because such restraint and punishment is a choice piece of service to the Lord from them and no usurpation but their duty and wel-becoming them When Moses would call forth some to punish with the temporal sword the open corruptions in Religion Exod. 42.4 c. 26. He asks who was on the Lords side or who is for the Lord viz. to punish such corruptions in such offenders and ver 29. speaking of the same work he bids them Consecrate your selves to the Lord every one upon his sonne and upon his brother that he may bestow a blessing upon you to day Acts of justice against the Churches enemies are a choice service and sacrifice to God Hence when God by mans sword punisheth the Churches enemies Isa 34.6 he calls it his sword that is filled with blood So Rev. 19.17 c. when the overthrow of the supporters of the Man of sinne is spoken of it s called the Supper of the great God so delightful and pleasing to the great God are such acts of justice by the Civil sword upon such as are grosly corrupt in matters of Religion It s to him as a sacrifice as a Supper Obj. Object But still these are Old Testament examples Answ Answ Surely this is New Testament doctrine and that which Christ commanded Saint John to communicate to his Churches Would not underminers of the Magistrates power have godly Magistrates to be for the Lord and on his side as well now as formerly would they not have them do him such choice service which may be to him as a Sacrifice as well now as then Again such as are zealous in doing acts of Civil Justice upon corrupters of Religion they also are said to be with the Lamb and on his side Rev. 17.14 and they that are with him are called and chosen and faithful and Chap. 19.19 they are called Armies in Heaven i.e. persons of heavenly spirits aimes and conversations arrayed in white Neither can this be evaded by saying that they fought against Antichrists adherents by the sword of the Spirit the Word of God or by the sword of excommunication but it s meant by the temporal sword of Christ as he is King of Kings and Lord of Lords by which he bids his Magistrates from him to avenge his quarrel upon the Beast of Rome and his adherents and the judgment so executed is called the Lords Deut. 1.17 and this punishment upon persons so corrupt in Religion is in the dayes of the Gospel set out to be a renowned and accceptable service to the Lord as is foretold Isa 66.19 20 21 c. The Lord will judge with his sword all flesh and his slain shall be many ver 16. to wit of those as purifie themselves in gardens eating unclean things c. these shall be consumed together even these that are corrupt in matters of Religion by Gods sword verse 16. not alone immediately but mediately even by the Civil Magistrate who beares Gods sword for this end as v. 24. Again Cant. 2.15 Take us the Foxes c. they are the words of Christ and the word Take in the most usual and proper sence signifies a taking by external force So 2 Sam. 1.10 David took the Amalekite and slew him So Judg. 12.6 and 16.21 and such external forcible taking is proper for Foxes that destroy the Vines and therefore this text must be referred to an act in an external forcible way of taking and punishing such Foxes which spoile the Churches of Christ So false prophets are compared to Foxes Ezek. 13.4 so then this is cleare from that in Canticles 1. That this is a charge of Christ as Mediatour to all such as being in place and office under him are to restrain and punish even by the temporal sword as our Civil Rulers who in a Politicall way are herein enjoyned forcibly to take such corrupters and disturbers of Religion as well as of good manners 2. That such taking of Foxes is a service very acceptable to Christ as Mediator and Political head of the Church yea and to the blessed Father and Spirit in whose name it s done and to the Church in whose behalf it is done So Num. 25.11 with 1 2 6 7 8 God saith that Phineas his act of zeal was for his sake Verse 11. So Psal 2.10 11 12. The Kings and Judges of the earth are required to serve the Lords anointed verse 6. which being spoken to Kings cannot be restrained to service which other godly persons performe but extends to authoritative service as Civil Rulers and this was no Mosaical injunction that concerned only Judahs Kings but the Psalm being Prophetical of Gospel-times shews that its a command lying upon Gentile-Rulers to serve Christ with their Authority in restraining and punishing corruptions in Religion Secondly A second Reason is taken
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
danger unto a Church by Heresies they are quickly conceived and brought forth Though truth gets on very slowly because of the incapacity of mans Judgment for supernaturalls because of that naturall opposition in man to the things of God because of the subtile interposition of the Prince of darkenesse who blindes the minds of men Lest the light of the Goâ—â—el should shine into them yet errors break out easily and spread swiftly There needs no preparation of the ground for nettles If the seeds do but drop downe you may soone have a full crop How soone doth a litle leaven leaven the whole lump Paul wondered that the Galatians were so soone turned to another Gospel Gal. 1.6 The good man slept but one night and the field was sowen all over with tares How quickly did the world turne Arian How suddenly did the Anabaptists indanger Germany Fourthly Heresies are an encreasing and swelling floud False Doctrines at first seem to be modest they will be but scruples and quaere's and then they become to be probabilityes and then to be tollerable conclusions and then they rise to be unquestionable tenents then first to be made publick Articles and then necessary to be held and then the contrary not to be mantained and held nay to be disdained and reproached yea they do not only rise thus to be greater and greater but they multiply also like circles in a pond one Heresie begets another a lesser begets a greater If you consult Historicall Antiquity it s a wonder to behold the great flames that were kindled out of small sparks what monstrous opinions have been built upon errors which seemed but little at first c. Fifthly Heresies are more dangerous then any other floud by reason of their diverse qualities in them Other flouds are quickly up and quickly down these are quickly up but abate very slowly they are like diseases they come upon us flying but goe from us creeping For one Heretick who hath been poysoned in his judicials you may finde a thousand converted who have been only stained in their morals Heresie is shored up by all the parts arguments shifts and learning of carnall reason and it s born up by an haughty and proud spirit it s so fallacious that when you come to handle it it s so rammed in with obstinatnesse that it s almost a miracle to work effectually upon an Heretick Quest Quest Why what dangerous errors and Heresies are now divulged amongst us Answ Answ Take a brief Catologue of some of them 1. that God is the Authour of sin yea of the very sinfulnesse of the sinfull action 2. That the Saints in this life are fully perfect as omniscient as God 3. That the fulnesse of the God-head doth dwell bodily in every Saint in the same measure as it did in Christ whilest he dwelt here on earth 4. Then when the fulnesse of the Godhead shall be manifested in the Saints they shall have more power then Christ had and doe greater works then he did that then they shall have Divine honour 5. One was complained of for saying that Christ was a Bastard 6. Others that themselves were Iesus Christ the Messias 7. That Jesus Christ is not God essentially but nominally 8. That his humane nature was defiled with originall sin as well as ours 9. That he is not of an holier nature then men 10. That it is as possible for Jesus Christ to sin as it is for a Child of God to sinne 11. That there is no such thing as a Trinity of persons 12. That the Scriptures are but a humane invention a meer shadow a false History and ought not to be the foundation of any mans Faith more then the Apocrypha and other Books 13. That the Scriptures of the Old Testament doe not bind us Christians nor those of the New neither any further then the spirit for the present reveales to us that such a place is the Word of God 14. That God never loved one man more then another before the world and that the Decrees are all conditionall 15. That there is no Originall sin 16. That the will of man is still free even to supernaturals 17. That the Saints may fall totally and finally from grace 18. That Christ dyed alike for all yea that the salvificall virtue of his death extends to all Reprobates as well as to the Elect yea to the very Devills as well as unto men 19. That Christ came into the world not for satisfaction but for publication Not to procure for us and unto us the love of God but only to be a glorious publisher of the Gospell to us 20. That God is not displeased at all if his children doe sin and that its no less then Blasphemy for a child of God to ask pardon for his sins 21. That sanctification is a dirty and dungie qualification 22. That the Doctrine of Repentance is a soule-destroying Doctrine 23. That fastings and humblings are Legall and abominable 24. That the soules of men are mortall 25. That there is no heaven for the godly nor hell for the ungodly 26. That Civill Magistracy is Antichristian and but a usurpation 27. That the whole Ministry of the land as to their ordination and standing is Antichristian 28. That it s as lawfull to Baptize Dogs and Cats and Horses as Infants of Believers 29. That there is noe true Ministery c. This day in the world nor was since the generall Apostacy which they say began at the Death of the last Apostle 30. That there will be none til some Apostles be raised up and sent and when those Apostles come then there will be true Evangelists also and Pastors and not till then Quest Qust What must Magistrates doe in such cases as these Answ Answ They must doe their uttermost to restraine and repress them It was a scornfull speech of Tiberius that the Gods alone must remedy the jnjuries offered unto them O no Magistrates are made keepers of both Tables Are designed to be nursiing Fathers they receive the sword to be a terror to the evil Learned and pious Amesius handling the question whether Hereticks are to be punished by the civill Magistrate Answers that it is his place and duty to repress and restraine them and if they be noxious and turbulent if they be manifestly blasphemous and pertinacious they may saith he be punished with death as Lev. 24.15 16. Now that which is required of our Magistrates at this time is First A peremptory abhoring and crushing that abominable maxime viz a Catholicke liberty and tolleration of all opinions If men may be suffered to step from one Religion to another they will soone fall from all Religion to none Secondly A publick declaration against all Heresies and Blasphemies known to be spoken and printed When Ostorodius and Vaidovius declared their Socinian Heterodoxies in the Low Countries the States Generall banished those seducers and burnt their Books Thirdly Making some standing Lawes against such oppinions
as can be proved to be Hereticall and Blasphemous Fourthly A setting up of Church Discipline in its full power that so it may reach these Heresies and Blasphemies Were this done you should not have an Heresie or Blasphemie shew its head but there would be a timely discovery of it and a spirituall remedy to recover erring persons to prevent their further growth Fifthly An encouraging and heartning the godly Orthodox and painfull Ministers of the Gospell in their assertings and vindicating the truths of Christ and in their oppugning of wicked dangerous and damnable opinions Not suffering them to be abused for opposing the adversaries of the truth Why should the shepherd be discouraged because he keeps off Wolves from the sheep Sixthly Using their Authority in a timely causing to be sent forth more faithfull and able Ministers such as are thorowly tried approved to be sound in the faith and skilful to convince gainsayers and seducers Seventhly Using their Coercive power with such Methods and proportions as the reall safety of truth and soules doth require and the repression of dangerous errors doth need Not under the pretence of sanctity to favour the growth of Heresie Quest Quest What must private Christians doe to prevent infection in these times Answ First be not light Answ 1 or proud Christians Errors are most apt to breed in a proud braine and a gracelesse heart Proud and Blasphemers are joined together 2 Tim. 3.2 It s the proud man that consents not to the wholesome words of Christ but dotes about questions 1 Tim. 6.3 4. Secondly Be not loose Christians If ungodliness be in the heart error will easily get into the head A loose heart can best comply with loose principles Thirdly Be not weak Christians He whose faith is implicit and leaning on man doth often trust out his Judgement and soul The weaker light you have of truth the more easily may you be cheated with error instead of truth Fourthly Be not low Christians A wordly heart is a very low heart It will be bought and sold upon every turn to serve its own turn If thou beest the servant of truth for gain thou wilt be a slave to error for more gain Fifthly Be not rotten and hypocritical Christians Such are given up to believe lyes who receive not the truth in the love of it It s just with God that such should fall into real error whose hearts did never love real truth The deceitfull heart proves at lenth a deceived heart Sixthly Be not tottering and unstable Christians Halt not between two opinions He whose mind is but indifferent about a truth is more then half on his way to Error Seventhly Be not venturous and soul-tempting Christians Julian sipt in his Apostacy by going to hear Libanius Satan is ready enough to tempt you be not forward to tempt him Eve lost all by hearing one Sermon from the mouth of the Serpent That man that will expose himself to hear new truths doth oft come back with old Errors newly dressed Mr. Obad. Sedgwick's Parl. Sermon Jan. 27. 1646. Dr. Amias in his Cases of Conscience propounds these Questions Quest Quest Whether are Anabaptists to be accounted Hereticks Answ Answ They are not properly to be accounted Hereticks which only deny Infant-Baptism yet is this such an Error as is not to be tollerated in the Church But those of them which deny original sin and the humane nature of Christ born of the blessed Virgin c. are Hereticks Quest Quest Whether are the Arminians Hereticks Answ Answ The opinions of the Arminians as they are received and held by the common people are not properly Heresies though they are grievous Errors tending to Heresie but as they are defended by some of them so they are the Pelagian Heresie because they deny the efficacious operation of internal grace to be necessary to Conversion and begeting faith in us Quest Quest Whether are the Lutherans Hereticks Answ Answ Such amongst them as pertinaciously hold the Ubiquity of Christs humane nature cannot be excused from Heresie because that opinion doth directly overthrow the humane nature of Christ But because many amongst them do disown that opinion and others of them defend it rather in the heat of contention then because they believe it to be so therefore they are rather to be accused for stupidity or madness or Schism then for Heresie Quest Quest Whether are Hereticks to be punished by the civil Magistrate Answ Answ 1 First It s an undoubted truth that Hereticks are to be suppressed by all godly persons according to their calling and that power which they have received from God and the reason is because all the godly are called to the Christian War-fare that in their several stations they should oppose themselves to the kingdom of Darkness Secondly The place and office of a Magistrate is that he should as there is need suppress all wicked disturbers of the peace of Church or State by his Authority and the sword which he bears not in vain Rom. 13.4 1 Tim. 2..2 Thirdly Hereticks therefore that are manifest and publick disturbers of the peace ought to be restrained by the publick Authority of the Magistrate Fourthly Such of them as proceed to Blasphemy and are pertinacious and obstinate therein may be cut off by death according to that Law Lev. 24.15 16. He that curseth his God or he that blasphemeth the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death c. For though this doth not bind Christians as it was a Law given to the Jews yet as it was the Command of God himself it serves for direction to Christians what to do in the like cases When therefore the glory of God and the Well-fare of the Church do require that such exemplary punishments should be inflicted the Magistrates may ye ought to make use of this when other means will not prevail to amend them Amesii Cas Consc l. 4. c. 4. Quest Quest Why are Hereticks and false Teachers called the tail Isa 9.15 Answ Answ 1 First For baseness and contempt Let them pride themselves never so much in their wit learning and others admiration of them yet God accounts them base Secondly For their base flattery and playing the Parasites fawning on Princes and Patrons as dogs do on their Masters for a bone or crust Thirdly For their inconstancy as Dogs move their tails easily every way so they in their Doctrine and Conversation are here and there and buzzing every where for advantage Fourthly Especially for their poysonfull and hurtfull disposition and effects For as Serpents hide their venom in their tails by which they do much hurt and mischief so false-Teachers by their Eloquence Sophistry and base shifts hide the poison of their false Doctrines whereby they infect and corrupt the Church of God Hence false-Doctrine is compared to Cokatrice eggs Isa 59.5 which if eaten cause present death Such Doctrines are pernicious Authoribus to the inventers of them and Auditoribus to the hearers and