declare to Mary that he should be the King of Israel and should sit on the Throne of his Father David which yet he never did literally Luke 1. Was he not saluted by his followers Thou art the King of Israel Iohn 1. And was it not for this very cause viz that he was the King of the Iewes that he was Arraigned Condemned and Executed and the crime pretended fixed on his Gibbet in Hebrew Greek and Latin Iesus of Nazareth King of the Iews All which he was not in any temporal or worldly respect for he disclaimed and refused the offer of a temporal Crown but in an absolute spiritual consideration respecting the souls and consciences the Religions and Worships of the children of men Thirdly I ask Whether the Lord Iesus except not expresly against the Magistrates in matters of Religion in that so famous Distinction between Cesars right and Gods give unto Cesar the things that are Cesars and unto God the things that are Gods More particularly and concisely I ask Caesars due is Gods due and yet Gods due distinct from Caesars Whether Cesars Sword was not Gods Sword Rom. 13. And Whether by giving unto Cesar his Submission Honour Tribute c. was not a giving God his due in a true sense by giving this his due to Cesar And if so then what singular and distinct Character is this which gives unto God his due distinct from Cesar And Whether there can be any other Characteristical difference imagined but onely that of matter of conscience spiritual and Religious which Cesar himself as the old Martyrs witness of Iesus were wont to say had no power over Fourthly As to the Apostles I ask The Apostles were the highest and next to Christ Iesus in matters of the christian name and Worship If the book of the Acts and the Epistles c. breathe not forth the most absolute Independency of their Ministery and Apostleship from the highest civil powers in the World T is true Paul makes an humble Appeal against the Persecuters of his life to the highest Magistrate Cesar But as to the matters of Religion and Christianity was not the Church built upon the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Eph. 2 Were not their Commands in spiritual things the command of Christ Iesus 1 Cor. 14. even to the highest Kings and Keysars Was not that an Apostles voice in case of Religion Ye are bought with a price 1 Cor. 7 let no man consequently not the highest c. judge you in respect of meats and drinks or an holy day And what can be more express then such peremptory not onely refusalls to obey ungodly and unchristian commands Act. 4.5 but even to own the very Courts and Judicatures of the highest in the matters of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords Christ Iesus Lastly Since the Magistrates Authority in questioning matter of Religion may be taken two waies First Twofold questioning in Religious matters For demanding a private reason of a Christians Faith or Practice so here it cannot be intended for there is no question but that every Servant of Christ Iesus ought to be ready to give a reason to every one c. 1 Pet. 4. Secondly For Authoritative questioning either by inferiour Magistrates Executive or Superiour Legistative and if Christ Iesus had been subjected and bound to answer any Authority questioning him or his Apostles as to matter of his Kingdom or Christian Worship Christ Jesus the he most absolute Monarck if himself and his Apostles and followers had or should owne any Tribunal in Spirituals but his owne they should have pluckt up the roots of his most glorious and most absolute Government and Headship And if so what kinde of Heresie and Blasphemy against Christ Iesus this is let the Heaven and the Earth be Judges The sum of the ninth Question Whether the Examiner have cause to say Quest 9 that the Believing Magistrates giving wholesome Food and forbidding of Poyson be a ground for a Magistrate to command Poyson c. Unto which may be added the sum of the tenth Question Quest 10 Whether Asa's Authority from God to advance the true Religion were a ground for Manasseh to set up Idolatry and a principle of Persecution to kill those that would not worship his Idols As also the sum of the Eleventh Whether Gods Law punishing Blasphemy unto death Quest 11 laid a principle for Jezabel to kill Naboth And of the Twelfth Whether Paul commanding Parents to bring up their Children in the Nature and Admonition of the Lord Quest 12 laies a principle for Children to be brought up in Idolatry I ask Whether the proposer of the Questions Answ do indeed think the Examiner so void of Zeal and Reason as to imagine that Corruption and Abuses All Gods works and Institutions and God eimself obused by man are sufficient ground to overthrow a truly Christian yea or the least natural or Civil Constitution and Appointment Or rather that he grants all Natural Bodies both Caelestial and Terrestrial yea all Divine and Civil Constitutions from God or Men are Gods works and excellent in their kinde although by man abused to Idolatry Superstition Oppression Gluttony Drunkenness Whoredome Pride Ambition Revenge c. Secondly I ask Whether all the Questions are not built upon these Principles which are not one-in Dispute and not granted but now at this time of the day they do most shamefully beg of Moses of Christ of these late Times and mercifull discoveries of the true principles both of Spiritual and Civil Government I say beg for that which can never more be granted without horrible Oppression and Tyranny over the souls and bodies of all the sons of men viz. To particularize Foundations out of course First That Civil Magistracy is not meerly a Civil Thing in the very nature and essential Qualities and beings thereof but rather some Divinum quid and that Kings and Queens and Magistrates are Gods not onely by way of Allusion and Consimilitude and in a respect but really they are Sacred or holy persons their Majesties Sacred their Crownes Sacred their Thrones Sacred and their very Kingdomes and Empires Sacred The Blasphemies of the Kings Emperous c. Hence that most horrid Blasphemous Character on the Forehead of the Whore and of the Beast Sacrum Romanum Imperium that Sacred or holy Roman Empere Secondly That the People and Inhabitants of the Nations of the Earth are borne Slaves and Villaines and are not the Original and Fountain both of their Offices Officers and of the Authority committed to them Thirdly That no Magistrates in the whole world are lawful Magistrates but Christian and consequently none but the Protestant and among them none but of such a Sect or Conscience Fourthly That the Land of Canaan that Land of Ceremonies Types and Miracles was a Land of patterne and example for all Lands all Nations all Magistrates and that not in matters of Morality Civility and Humanity
The Examiner defended IN A Fair and Sober ANSWER TO The Two and twenty QUESTIONS which lately examined the Author of Zeal Examined In this ANSWER are not unseasonably touched Christ's interest in this and all Nations Christ's interest and the Commonweals as to the present affairs The true nature of all Civil States The nature of all Civil Magistracie and of the Civil Sword The Title of Christian Magistrate National Churches and Covenants The world of Religions and Consciences thorowout the world The permission due to Conscience in meerly Spirituals all the world over Idolatry and the kindes of at The Spiritual and Civil Sword and the effects of them in Spirituals The Forms of Worship The causes of destruction to Nations The Violence to the Souls of men and of Interest the cause of it The dangerous consequence of such Violences experimented in so many Nations The difference of the Land of Canaan and the Kings thereof from all Lands and Kings besides Christ Jesus himself and his followers ever accounted and punished as the greatest Hereticks Blasphemers c. The crying guilt of Soul-Rapes and National hypocrisie in Worship The light of Nature in Spirituals The acts of Asa Artaxerxes c. The Fast of Nineveh The Conscientious differences of the most Conscientious in the world about God's Worship The justice and prudence of State-provision against all â—ncivilities both of Popish and Protestant Ranters LONDON Printed by James Cottrel 1652. To the Reader Pious Reader TWo honorable Gentlemen as is said have so far lately honoured Christ Jesus and their honorable stations The occasion of this Discourse and them selves as to try by the Sword of God's Spirit the Word of God whether the World and the Civil States and Nations thereof may permit Idolaters Hereticks c. The first of these Two Worthies published his Zeal Examined The second attempts upon the former with Two and twenty Questions under this Title The Examiner Examined It was desired that the Examiner of Zeal might have examined these Questions also But finding an indisposition of health upon his person and multiplicity of Publike affairs engaging his hours and minutes I have been humbly bold to look up to heaven and to beg the finger of God's most holy and gracious Spirit for the dissolving and untying of them It was a truely-gallant and heavenly speech of the Author of these Questions An heavenly speech whosoever he be in his Epistle or Preface I profess my self a lover of Truth wheresoever I finde it though in an heap of Errours for I know well that it is the high-way to be given up to strong delusions not to receive the love of the Truth yea an universal love of all truth But I had almost said not onely What Saint what Angel but What man will not say Vincat Veritas We know who said Amicus Plato c. magis Amica Veritas Such counsel is like our common counsel of Physick to others but not so pleasing and practical in our own distempers And Oh how many are the Skreens the Veils the Hoods the Vizards the Curtains the Hangings the Cloâ—ks the Clouds and Colours by which the lustre and shining of that which we call Truth is hidden and eclipsed from us For instance 1. Truth suspected for a Novelty This cannot be Truth it is a Novelty What will this babler say said the famous Academians of Athens he feemeth to be a setter forth of new Gods though all the old were false and indeed but new and therefore false because not the Alpha and Omega Quod antiquissimum optimum the First and the Last Thus cry the Papists against the Protestants and the Protestants against each other New Doctrines New Men New Lights New Christs New Gods c. There is no room in the Inne for Christ Jeus his Mother 2. Commonly Truth is outwardly poor ovely among the beasts in the stable in the Manger A poor Carpenters son whence hath be such learning How should such base and unlikely Medicines as Clay and Spittle pâ—n men 〈◊〉 How should the dry and lowe tree be fruitful How poor Fisher-men Tent-makers Mechanicks know and preach Christ Jesits c. He takes away our Hogs say the Gadarenes and therefore beseech him to depart from us 3. Truth is costly By this Trade saith Demetrius and his Crafts men we have our living c. our Popedoms Bishopricks Benefices If we believe this Doctrine the Romanes will come and take away our place and nation c. How can you believe saith Christ Jesus who receive honour from one another 4. Truth is in disgrace and not that honor which comes from God alone How many had been convinced and perswaded that Christ Jesus was the Son of God but that they loved the praise of men more then the praise of God Howsoever sometimes it hath pleasad God to take off the Rod and Plough of the wicked 5. Truth is persecuted from the back of the righteous yet the general Rule is That All that will live godly in Christ Jesus must be hunted The great Lord General Christ Jesus carried his Cross and Gallows and professath it impossible for any to follow him without a denying of himself and taking up his Cross or Gallows also Thus are we saith David and Paul as sheep for the shambles all the day long Thus must those blessed Petitioners under the Altar wait until the rest of their fellow-brethren and servants were slain also Hence though Christ's followers have ever found the sweetest enjoyments of God and Christ and the holy Spirit in sufferings yet how harsh is this Alarm to flesh and blood which therefore rather seeks a thousand shifts to swear to subscribe to conform upon the point to deny Jesus Christ c. Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth 6. Truth is prejudiced Can Micaiah ever speak good to me who never yet spake good to me And Hast thou found me O mine enemy said A had to two Prophets This Stone the builders have abready refused c. This may be Jebovah 's miraculous work to chuse the stones cast by c. but flesh and blood cannot got over this mountain Do any of the Rulers believe in him Do the learned Scribes 7. Truth is followed with sew wise great learned the Reverend Clergie the King the Queen the Parliament the Counced the University the Convocation the Assembly the Synod Oh how thick is this Choud that the eyes of the wisest cannot pierce it for it is God 's designe that few wise and piencing eyes are chosen to see Christ Jesus and his despised Truths and Mysteries How many whom Christ invites send Christ this answer 8. Truth findes few at leasure I have not such time to search the Scriptures as the Bereans had So many are my distractions so neoessary are my occasions about my Farm about my Oxen about my Merchandise about my Marriage Go thy way
such whose either consciences or necessities cannot permit them to practice that notorious Iudaism of Tythes The Nonconformers it 's true were sued and cast and paid but they were never so torn with the three-tooth'd Hook of Elies SOns the Treble da mages and oppressions I as therefore shat Grace what Godliness that is that teacheth us after all our our former sins and judgements and deliverances and vows to stop our Eares from the oppressed their Cries their Teares their Consciences and to imagine that our Commonweal our parliament our Counsel our Commonweal our parliament our Counsel our Army our Navy must prosper in our most knowne oppressings of Him whose is all power in Heaven and Earth the Son of God Christ Iesus The sum of the fourth Question Whether the Magistrate Quest 4 he not bound to love God and to advance his Glory true worship and service and the good of his people with all his might I ask Whether as before the Magistrate being the Civil officer of the People hath any Might Answ Authority or Power but what the People commit unto him And Whether any People will or can betrust such a Power to the civil magistrate to compel their Souls and consciences unto his Secondly Spiritual weapons and carnal compared Whether the Spirit of God speak not expresly that the Weapons of Christians are not Sword and Might but the Spirit and whether his Spiritual Weapons 2 Cor. 10. be not sufficiently and abundantly able and mighty to bring down every strong hold and every high thing and every imagination and thought to the obedience of Iesus Christ And Whether ever any carnal might ever did or can effect ought in Christianity but the storming of the Nations into an Antichristian Hypocrisie and Compliance Thirdly The woful effect of carnal weapons in Spirituals Whether this Principle of the Magistrates putting forth his carnal might in spirituals hath not constantly occasioned the Magistrate according to the mistakes of his owne conscience to promote Superstition and Idolatry And also hath rendred the strongest sword to be the measure and standard of all Religion in the World and the Magistrates thereof the Nimrods and mighty Hunters before the Lord Fourthly I ask Where Christ Iesus the onely Law-giver to Christians hath appointed in his holy Testament Christ Jesus not forgetful to furnish his kingdom with spiritual weapons the civil swrod the judge and defender of his Religion and Worship And why he hath not furnished his civil Magistrates of Iustice in the World with such hearts and spirits but contrarily hath call'd few of them to the profession of his Name And whether he hath not ever furnished and doth and will his spiritual Ministers and Messengers with spiritual might and power sufficiently and abundantly efficacious for the propagating of his holy Name and Truth and for the confounding of Antichrist and all Antichristians by the breath of his Mouth that two edged Sword of his Spirit Fifthly Whether Christianity did ever so flourish The sirst and last times of Constantine considered as when the people of God in the first 300 yers after Christ had no might but that of Christs spiritual weapons Ans when it pleased God to raise up Constantine to give some rest to his people from persecution whether Christianity did most flourish in the first time of Constantine when he with his Colleageue Licinius published the edict of Freedome of Religion to hissubjects or in his after-times when he compell'd all the World to Christianity but as is confest by many occasioned the World to put on the bare and empty name of Chrislian c. Lastly I ask Whether this Principle of the Magistrates employing the carnal sword or Might in spirituals The Carnal sword an Spirituats the occasion of so much bloodshed in former and in our late Wars have not in all Histories and Experience been the Firebrand which hath kindled such devouring flames of War about Religion in all both Popish and Protestant Countries And Whether it did not kindle our late Wars and occasion all the dreadfull Calamities between the Bishops and the Presbyters which proved fatal to the both And whether all these Experiences are not the voice of God out of the whirlwind to waken all the Magistrates of the World to keep within the Civil sphere of Civil Jurisdiction and Deminion The sum of the fifth Question Whether the people be not bound to pray for Magistrates Quest 5 that under them we may live a peaceable and quiet life in all Godliness and Honesty and whether the Magistrate is not bound to do that for which the People pray c. 1. I ask Answ Whether as some have urged these words godliness and honesty be rightly translated but rather upon a mistake in the Translation weakly made the ground for the Magistrates being the heeper of godliness in the first and honesty in the second Table 2. I ask The puring and pre-eminence the first Christian times To whom this direction of praying for Magistrates was given Whether they were not the first and purest Saints and those times the most glorious wherein the Saints enjoyed two such helps as no Christians ever since did First the presence of the holy Apostles or messengers of Christ Jesus amongst them Secondly the wonderful effusion of the holy Sourit of God in those rare and miraculous gifts and operations 1 Cor. 12. Now to imagine that those first Saints should pray for the Civil sword to defend I speak not of their persons but their godliness and suppress ungodliness c. doth it not imply this twofold strange and most unchristian Paradox First Two strange Paraderes that those Saints must imagine those Civil Magistrates to have a clearer sight in discerning and an higher Authority in judging of Godliness and Christianity then themselves and the Apostles of Christ Jesus who are call'd expresly the Ministerial Foundations of the Churches Fphes 2. Secondly That they being thus call'd of God and indued with the Spirit of God so savingly so miraculously yet should not be able to live in Godliness and the pure profession of Christ Jesus without the help of a carnal sword to preserve them pure establish and reform them c. Thirdly I ask therefore Whether the scope of the holy Exhortation be not this The scope of 1 Tim. 2. pray for Magistrates That those first Believers and all Believers in the Ages following should be much in prayer with God and not onely for themselves but for all men and especially for Magistrates the Chiefe of men 1. That such as were Gods Elect amongst them might be called 2. For the peace of the Nation and Cities wherein they lived and so consequently that God would gratiously guide the hearts of the Helms-men the Magistrates that the ships of the several states wherein the Saints as Passengers were imbarqued might Sail in peace and safety that in the peace thereof they might have peace according to the
and holding fast to the Death what he believes he hath received from the Father of Lights And yet better sit still then still rise and fall Have all the Spirit the Calling the Gifts the Life and the presence of God with them as those first Messengers the Apostles whose Successours Men yet pretend to be Were it not better for us to acknowledge The danger of our own Inventions in heavenly matters how poor how naked how blind how miserable we are and to listen to the holy Counsel of Christ Jesus c. to buy of him that blessed Gold and Eye-salve that white Rayment and fine Linnen that we may truely see and be truely rich and be truely glorious and beautiful then boasting of our Knowledge and Abundance and want of nothing we prove so grievous to the stomach of Christ Jesus that he vomit us with loathing out of his mouth Lastly I ask In case we had for unquestionable Fundamentals a Creed composed by the twelve Apostles of the Lamb That a Synod of heavenly Angels assembled and concluded of Fundamentals of Forms of Worship External force in Spirituals can onely pierce the outside Ordinations Ministeries Maintenance c. and all without the reach of a Curse for another Gospel Gal. 1. Yet I ask what rule can be produced from the Testament of Christ Iesus that these Forms these Prescripts must be imposed and beaten into not the Braines and Hearts of men which is impossible but into the outsides and knees of men with Swords and Staves that as Christ Jesus said of the Samaritans they might worship they know not what What reason of Christianity or Civility that the Talmud of the Iewes the Alcaron of the Turks and the Canons of all sorts of Popes must not be questioned What Scripture or Reason shall force a man to be a Scholar to a Teacher and force him to pay for his Teaching To trust his Ship with a Pilot and to pay him for his Piloting to trust himself with a Guide and to pay him for his Conduct when he believes that Teacher that Pilot are dangerously ignorant that Guide is blind c. The mystery and and tyranny of persecuting Teachers Yea further from whom he must receive all upon Trust and not dare in the very place and time of Teaching to propose his Doubt his Question his Objection or desire Explanation And I add What Christianity is that which commands that no Churches be gathered no Ministers chosen no Doctrine preached but what the civil Sword shall say is true and Orthodox Nay no Magistrate himself chosen nor any Civil Officer except he be of our Church our Way and Conscience as some say is the Mystery and Tyranny of New-Englands practice The two and twentieth Question If God was to be blessed for putting it into the Heart of a Heathen Magistrate to make Lawes for Religion Isa 7.27 Whether he comes not neer to a curse Quest 22 that would take out of the heart of a Christian Magistrate the advancement of true Religion and perswade him to give a Toleraration to the chiese Enemies of Religion Idolatry and Heresie Sure the Proposer highly esteems this Example of Erra 7. for Answ not content to mention it in the seventh Question he attempts to win it by Force and Storming indeed in a very stormy Language in this last Question To many Branches of the same hath been spoken As to the nature of Civil Magistracie essentially Civil all the world over As to the power of the Magistrates or Officers designed unto them by the people as but their Deputies either Legislative or Executive As to the perfection of Civil Magistracie in its self and in its kind not capable of Diminution or Addition by the Magistrates change of Religion to or from Christianity or any other Religion in the world As to Artaxerxes his fact Artaxerxes his favour to the Iewes not being moved out of any heart to the true Religion for neither did he or his people forsake their owne but out of a Conquering Terrour of God he shews just mercy to his captives and people he feares wrath to himself and his Sons from that God whose love and acquaintance he cared not for But I shall add with Christs help these few Queries First Whether this Supposition of making Laws to advance Religion and especially in a National way doth not overthrow and Evacuate one great end of the comming of the Lord Jesus which was to fulfil all those former shadowes of Temple Altar Priests Sacrifice c. to tear the veil to break downe the partition Wall and with the two edged Sword of his Spirit his Word to conquer poor sinners in a way of love National holiness and shadows c. abolished by Christ Iesus the body and substance For if Ezra's pattern of carrying Lawes and Authority from this King to force men to keep the Law of God in this Iewish Religion Iewish Nation be a president for all Nations where is the abolishing of the holy Nation holy Cities holy Temples Altars Priests c. Or ought we not if Christ Iesus be not come to have the Officers commanded by the King to be Tole free verse 24. the Priests the Levites the Singers the Porters the Nethinims or Ministers of the house of God If it be said The Morality of such a Law remaineth I ask Whether according to Heb. 7. there being a necessity of the change of the Priesthood there is not a necessity of the change of the Law also of that Law of Shadows the holy Land holy Temples holy Priests holy Swords c. I further ask If that people of God the figure of Gods Israel in after-Ages to arise in all Nations of the world if they had not been Captivated but had been in their owne Land and not restrained by force whether they ought not to have builded the Altar and Temple without the Kings command yea and against it Yea it is expresly said chap. 4. Gods people in Spirituals know no Caesar but himself and dear Son they were made to cease the building by power and Force yet they went on chap. 5. to build again at the instigation of Haggai and Zachary notwithstanding the prohibition of the King yet lying in force against them And lastly I ask If these things were not Examples 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 10. or Types figuring out the freedomes of Gods people who if not hindred by actual Force and Power ought onely to regard in Spirituals the Scepter and Sword and Crown of the Lord Iesus Christ Secondly I ask What Lawes this Artaxerxes made for the advancement of Religion Is not the first of absolute Freedome and Toleration to these poor captive Iewes Was there any Babylonian or Persian command to go up to Ierusalem any commanded to pay or to offer a peny toward this Expedition Yea were not the Iewes themselves absolutely free whether to go up to Ierusalem or stay in Babel
command of God to his people in Babel Ier. 29. That so the Saints injoying civil peace and also if it may be the holy pleasure of God injoying rest from persecution Act. 9. might multiply walking in the fear of God and Christian Edification whatever the Religions fo the States or the magistrates there should be though Babylonian Roman c. fourthy I ask Whether the blessed Spirit of Life and Regeneration which is in all Gods people be not abundantly sufficient to preserve them in Godliness and true Christianity to preserve them from falling and to reform and restore them from all their Backslidings and declensions I add to preserve them 1 Iohn 3. Rom 6. â— Iohn 5. that sin have no dominion over them that they sin not and watch against the touching of Satan to preserve them in the use of the Word and prayer and all such paths and meanes which in Faith they are perswaded of to be the commands of Christ iesus The most holy and most powerful and eternal indwelling of Gods most holy Spirit in all Gods Children All this and more the holy Spirit of God works in Gods Children although there should not be a Magistrate in the World yea although all the World and the whole World oppose them yea although there were no Heaven nor Hell no Resurrection no Iudgement nor World to come wherein they should be rewarded or punished glorifyed or tormented yea although they should want all Spiritual helps and Teachers which respectively are necessary for they have received an Anointing which teacheth them and abident with them and will abide with them for ever Fifthly I ask Whether in the present state and juncture of affaires in England The divisions of the Clergie now like that of the Friers in Chaucers tiem wherein as Chaucer observes of the four great differing Orders of Friers in his time every Sect every Order and conscience pleads the integrity and purity of their way and the People of God themselves are so divided and differently perswaded as of late in the Scotch wars to blood and dreadfull slaughters I say I ask Whether we may pray without prophaning of the holy Name of God and the guilt of the breach of the civil Peace of the Nation that God would send such Magistrates who should authoritatively judge whose Conscience whose Worship whose Godliness is true What prayers ought to be put up for Magistrates and accordingly maintain that Godliness defend that Faith advance the Worship and service of God c. As also prohibite by his carnal Sword all other Consciences Worships and Godliness as Schismatical heretical Seditious Blasphemous c. How much rather ought we to pray that it may pleasethe most holy and only wise Goe to vouchsafe such a Spirit of Godliness and Wisdomie to the Rulers of this Commonweal that the civil Rights may be preserved and Civilities may flourish in Righteousness and Mercy even in the midst of so much spiritual Division and Opposition which are and must be greater and greater in all Nations of the World when once the Chains and Yoaks of implicite Faith Soul Yoaks believe as the Church believes Decrees and Precepts of Men Tradition of Elders Customes Antiquity c. re torn off and broke from the souls and necks of the People and Inhabitants hereof The sum of the sixth Question Whether Abraban and Jacob Quest 6 and others before the law were not Magistrates in their Families and commanded and reformed their Families in matters of Religion or were meetly fello-Servants with their Servants as the Examiner saith First I ask Whether the Questionist hath dealt fairly with the Examiner Answ in bringing him in s0 odiously to say that Abrahams and Jacobs Housholds might command them as well as Abraham and Jacob might command their Houshoulds And Whether or no did the Examiner once mention Abraham and Iacob It is true he maintaineth and with express words and clear light of holy Scripture well may that in Religious matters the Magistrate and Subject are fellow-Servants but gave he any colour or appearance of Countenance to Servants to be inobsequious to their Masters Children to their Parents Wives to their Husbands people to Magistrates in all their civil spheres and respects I ask further The dispensations of the Fathers and magistrates of Cods Israel figurative and typical Is the consequence fairly gathered that because Abraham I saack and Iacob and those Fathers of Families and Elder Brothers those Saviours Judges Governours and Kings of the Israel and people of God in those sigurative times and typical administrations commanded and punished even with a material and carnal sword in spiritual matters therefore every Master of a Family Husband Father Elder brother Judge governour King Magistrate hath the same Authority in spiritual matters now And that therefore according to Numb 30. an Husbands or Father may now disannul and over-rule the meerly Religious Vowes and Devotions of their Wives and Daughters Or rather since the Lord Jesus the substance of those shadowes is come Whether ti be not one express end of his coming Great diviscons in matters of Conscience necessary c. to set a man at variance which his Father Mat. 10. in a family of five persons to set two against three and three against two that is in the matter of Religion and Canscience And I ask Whether the wife notwithstanding in civil converse she submit with all wife-like submission and affection yet as to Religion ought she not to judge of her Husbands Beliefe or Unbelief in God and may she not joyn with him or separate from him labouring to be a Saviour to him How knowest thou O Wife but that thou mayest save thy Husband c. And so consequently the servant to his Master the Child to his Parent the subject and souldier to the highest Magistrate and Commander For Gal. 3. there is neither Iew nor Greek there is neibond nor free there is neither male nor female for yea are all one in Christ Iesus Secondly I ask Whether it be not the designe of God for the manifestation of his owne most glorious Brightness to cary on the Mystery and Glory of Christianity in the meanest and lowest of Earthen Vessels according to that of Iames 2. Hath not God chosen the poor of this World rich in Faith Gods designe of chusing men of low deeree not many wise noble nor mighty and Heires of the Kingdom Hence in a most stupendious condescension God manifesteth himself in Flesh and that Flesh must be taken from a poor Carpenters wife and she delivered of her blessed fruit in a stable amongst Beasts And however he command thousand thousands of those most blessed Invisible Spirots the Angels yet for his visible attendants and Embassadours to the World were they not ordinarily of a low Ranck and condition even those two Pillars whose names have so sounded in all parts especially at Rome and London Peter the Fishcrman
of this Deity and of Cursedness in Disunion from it But now let 's descend to Cultus Institutus and Cultus Naturalis an Instituted and a natural Worship Come to the light of nature worshipping this Deity Come to the seven precepts of Noah which some both Jewes and other ancients talk of and then I ask if it be not a downright Doctrine of Free-will in depraved nature No spirituat object seen with a natural eye If it be not to run point-blank against all the Histories of the Nations and all present Experience of mankind in all known parts of the World to attribute so much light to any of the Eldest and Gallantest sons of Nature as to attain a spiritual and saving knowledge of God to attain a love unto God in all their knowledge to attain the mystery of the Father and of the Son God manifested in Flesh by whom Creation and Redemption are wrought to the matter of true worship or to any thing but Splendidum Peccatum without the Revelation of the Word and Spirit of God out of his absolute free and peculiar Grace and Mercy in Christ Jesus Hence I ask The monstrous opinions of the Nations as to Dieties and their worships If from this Corruption of Nature it have not sprung that the wisest Nations Councels Parliaments have run into such monstrous opinions about the Gods and the number of them and so many monstrous and horrible and some ridiculous kindes and waies of worship Thus did the Chaldeans the Egyptians the Persians the Greeks the Romans and all the Generations and Nations of men unto this day It is true It is charged upon the wisest of the Sons of men Rom. 1. They glorified not God as God that they were not thankful that they gave the glory of the Creator to the Creature and that therefore God delivered them up to those moral filthinesses and defilements It is true Two deep dungeons of moral wickedness into which the conscience of some in worshipping have tumbled That because men received not the Truth in the Love of it God delivered them up to strong Delusions to believe lyes And also these Spiritual Judgements have proceeded so far that the poor deluded Generations of men have tumbled down millions of millions one upon the neck of another into these two deep and doleful Dungeons The first Whoredom and Murder Of practising uncleanness and Whoredome practised by some Nations even upon the very account of Religion and Conscience The second Of Cruelty and Murder as of Baals Priests cutting and launcing themselves and of many Priests and Sects afflicting themselves in some Nations with many Torments and above all that of the abominable and most inhumane Sacrificing mankind In which horrid Worship not onely the Mexicans did abound The Sacrificing of mankind out of conscience in their Sacrificing yearly many thousands Infants to their bloody Dieties before the coming of Pizarro amongst them but also Gods owne people of Israel and none of the very Kings of Iudah before repentance fell into this bloody pit of offering up their Children through the fire to Molech I readily acknowledge that in these cases mentioned The Civil Sword must cut off all Incivilities though under Religions pretences masked and covered and in all other cases wherein Civility is wronged in the Bodies or goods of any the Civil Sword is Gods Sword as well as mans for the suppressing of such Practices and Appearances yea and the very Principles of them and for the Incouragement and applause of the contrary Chastity Humanity c. Hence I honour that noble act of the Emperour of Rome who censured that famous Ovid for that wanton Book of his De Arte amandi as a sparke to immodesty and uncleanness and doubtless it is the the duty of the civil sword to cut off the Incivilities of our times as the monstrous haire of women up-the heads of some men c. But yet I ask Whether Paul speak ought in the first of the Romans of any humane Iudge or Iudgement upon the Nations of the World for their meer Idolatries thus most dreadfully plagued already by the most righteous Iudge of the whole World in those strong Delusions and Lyes and deliveries up to so many Lusts and Sins which also run upon the Civil Sword of God and man for their uncivil and unrighteous practices I ask further All seeming incivilities not to be lookt upon with one eye Whether or no some seeming Incivilities which the Light of Nature more fairly may condemn and hale before the Civil Tribunal yet may not be such and so Circumstantiated with Impressions from Heaven that they ought not so suddenly and easily to be condemned and punished but with a more tender and observant Eye be distinguished For not to instance in any disputable Acts which the holy Scripture and experience presents us with what shall be said to that very common and constant practise of Circumcision The practice of Circumcision a seeming Incivility commanded by God himself to the Iewes and now entertained by one of the greatest Empires of the World the Turks may not it be with faire probability argued to be against the light of Nature For Although the Iewes might plead The Institution of this Ordinance was from Heaven and the Lord of Nature That it was done in so solemn and Religîous a way that it was not performed with any lascivious or uncleane observations or gestures but with Horror and Pain and Bloodshedding and great Affliction of the outward man as we see in the Shechemites And lastly That it was attended with heavenly and mystical significations as a Type and Figure Yet not withstanding how was it branded and blackr with the Scorned and Jeers of the Nations insomuch that the very Sabbath the solemn worshipping of God one day in seven in a most religious acknowledgement of his most glorious Creating of this wonderful frame of the World in six was jeered from this very seeming Incivility of Circumcision Recutitaque Sabbata c. the Circumcised Sabbaths c. If Abraham had lived now in England one of the most zealous Nations of the World Abrahams Sacrificing of Isaak a seeming incivility for inflicting torments on others and being tormented for Religion and Conscience what would our rash Zealots have done with Abraham in case he had Sacrificed his son Isaac c. would they have examined the miraculous conception of the Child a s from Heaven and the reason that that most holy and most glorious hand that so miraculously and supernaturally gave him now call'd againe for him by a Voice miraculous from Heaven also would they have observed the Man so Holy and so Faithful his Addresses to the Act to Holy and so free from Passion from Designe c. Or if the Mother of the Lord Jesus had brought forth her Son amongst us So Maries bringing forth of Christ Iesus and it should have been acknowledged without
the company of her Husband Yet who can be so impious against God and so unchristian and blasphemous against Christ Jesus as to question but that the most Civil and the severest Judge upon due Examination of the whole matter might rationally and judicionally have pronounced to have found no violence of Civility no wrong to the Bodies or Goods of any the proper object and cause of all Civil Officers but contrarily a most holy and glorious appearance of the living God and gloriously free from such Impurities with which even the Religion of whole Nations are defiled But The Extreme madness of the Religious zeal of men seldome but in extreams oh the madness of the Children of Men said I yea the precious Children of the very God of Heaven Into what furious Extremes do we leap and run into without the Light and Lanterne of the holy Spirit and Word of God not withstanding our great pretences of such pure Natures light For how fiery would we be to condemn such a Birth as spurious the Parents and the child unclean Bring her forth and burn her as Judah said of Thamar until we owne the Child in Religion ours the Mother 's ours c. And therefore againe how ready to sheath our swords in the bowels of the poor Iew or Gentile which cannot see with our Eyes and spectacles and believe this Child to be the Christ the true Messiah I profess my self unsatisfied as to the Baptisme and Dipping now used I abhor the debauchedness of those poor deluded high Attainers The Incivilities of the Ranters the Mad Folks as Master Pennington well calls them the Ranters And I praise God for the height and prudence of the State to prevent and punish the Practices and Doctrines of such Abominations c. But are there but one sort of Religious Mad Folks Ranters c. What is it but Ranting Reuters and Ranting more sores them one to call Fire from Heaven as the gratious Disciples of Christ Iesus did and may do because as they think men practice Incivilities against the light of Nature refusing to entertain the Son of God Christ Jesus What is it but Ranting to forbid the very casting out of Devils as done by Conjuration Heresie Blasphemy c. because these Exorcists these Castters out they follow not us our Way our Church our Faith our Worship c. Yea what is it but Rantisme May Consciences differing about the blood of Christ to sling stones at the Conscience of any perswaded to finde out the Blood of Christ in the way of dipping into Water or at the Conscience of the poor Iew accounting of that blood as false and Counterfeit or of the Papist perswaded that the Iewes are wanderers but that there 's need of Maries Milk to her Sons blood or at the Consciences of the Turkes the Persians the Pagans the millions of millions of millions of poor deluded Consciences whose oppositions the meek Lamb of God commandeth gently to be born and his Servants patiently to wait if yet it might please the God of Heaven to give Repentance and a Rescue from the snares and chaines of Satan and Destruction Yea If ever there was Ranting in this World what is it but the mad flinging about of Firebrands Arrows and Death which Solomon speaks of to fling all the World topsi-turvy and to Fire the Nations with uncivil and irreligious Heats Tumults Plundrings Ravishings Slaughters about the Hereticks the Blasphemers the Diablo's c. And therefore lastly I ask the Proposer The New Testament in case the Old were not of these Questions Whether in case it had pleased the Lord to conceal the Old Testament from us or that of the New bound up alone as it is frequently should fall into the hands of some people in the World I ask I say Whether therein Christ Iesus hath not left his Followers full and compleat and absolute Directions in all Cases I ask then in what part of his Testament hath he given the least Direction for the Civil Sword to be drawn in his Quarrel Christ Jesus no Author of civil force against the highest of his opposites and Blasphemers for the Body of any man to be afflicted for his sake and therefore in this case proclaims to his zealous Followers who in this case did not know of what Spirits they were that he came not to destroy mens Bodies no not for the highest Opposition made against him no not that of calling him Beelzebub and charging him with Sorcery and casting out of Devils by the Devil himself Yet I ask Whether in the very Old Testament it self such Persons such Nations aw were wholly Idolaters where punished even by David himself as the Moabites the Ammonites c. when they were subdued under him although in the Land of Canaan the onely Church in Covenant with God there were just Lawes in force against such sins and practices I therefore conclude with this Question Whe notwithstanding the Proposers plea of the qurity of the Gospel discovering Idolatry more clearly whether the Gospel and Covenant it self Christ Jesus have not expresly lockt up the hands of all that call his Lord and Master saying Let the Tares alone until the Harvest The sum of the fourteenth Question Whether Quest 14 since Idolatry brings plagues upon the people the Magistrate ought not to deliver the people from those plagues by removing Idolatry I ask First Answ since Idolatry is twofold as before Religious and Moral And making the Belly a God or Gold a God is as real Idolatry as the making of the sun a God and the honouring and loving and serving them before the true God is as real Idolatry as the worshipping of the sun or a Golden Image As also since Christ Iesus commands his people to separate from a Covetous person professing to be a brother in Christ Iesus 1 Cor. 5 With what face then before the flaming Eyes of Christ Iesus can we cry out so much against Idolatry in Worshipping and raise such Sormes and Tempests in the World about Idolatry c. When the whole World and each Nation and our Selves lie in the second kind of Idolatry of many sorts The World lies in Idolatry and this Nation and People Worshipping according to the several Lusts of the Eye the Flesh and the Pride of Life several sorts of Creatures before the Creator God blessed for evermore This kinde of Idolatry especially in Gods people and especially after so much light and experience from God the Lord abhors as much having commanded it not to be named among the Saints yea and in some respect above the grossest Idolatry of all the World beside What Antichristian Blindness and Madness is it therefore to cry out like the Spaniards and Portugals The greater Idolaters cry out against the less against the poor Indians Idolatry when besides their owne Images and Superstitions they were notorious worshippers of and bowed down to the Indians Gold
State of England then favouring the Nonconformitant and Presbyterian ought not onely to have abolished Episcopacy branch and root but also to have slain the Bishops by the sword And by this rule whether all false and Antichristian Ministers whether Bishops Priests Monks Friers Parsons Vicars Curates Deanes Doctors Chaplains c. yea and all several Priests in the World ought not without mercy to be put to death Yea I ask If this State of England should resent the Presbytery of England Scotland c. as false Presbyterian and Independent Ministers put to death And if another Power or Parliament should revolve in the constant turning of the Wheeles of Providence and should condemn the Independent Ministers to be as false as Presbyters Where will this bloody Issue stop What Heaps upon Heaps How would by this Doctrine not onely this hopeful Commonweal but also the whole world be turned to Shambles and Akeldama's Fields of blood for must we not slay the worshippers of Calves as Baal as Moses and Elias did Fourthly As to the instance of Murther I ask If there be not three apparent differences between civil crimes against the State and those of spiritual nature against God his worship c. First There are no generations of men nor never were in the world but by the dark light of nature have condemned these four sins viz. Murther Four sins which all mankinde have agreed to condemn not so about Religion Adultery Thest Lying as inconsistent to the converse of man with man But all the Generations and Nations of men have most constantly differed and varied into many thousand differences about the true God and his waies of worship c. Secondly Those four sorts of Sinners Murtherers Adulterers Thieves and Lyers are easily convinced and ashamed Ier. 6. they cannot but confess themselves sinners and justly punished c. But Idolaters all the world over are ready to cry out houres and yeares Civil transgressions more discernable them Spirituals and ages together Great is our Diana And however Tit. 3. an Heretick or obstinate withdrawn from Christs admonition hath some checkings and convincings in his owne conscience yet both Papists and Turkes and Iews and Pagans that are serious have trampled over Posts and Prisons Torments and Deaths to keep their Consciences Thirdly Without Civil Order no Civility without spiritual no Christianity Without some Order of Civiltie more or less some civil Officers of Iustice to punish those four sins especially it is impossible that men can live as men and not as Beasts or worse together c. But notwithstanding several Religions in one Nation in one Shire yea in one Family if men be either truly Christian like unto Christ Fesus whom they pretend to follow or but truly Civil and walk but by the rules of Humanity and Civility Families Townes Cities and Commonweals in the midst of Spiritual Differences may flourish Fourthly Spiritual plagues the sorest I ask As to the punishing of the Idolatry and all other transgressions of Spiritual account Are the wounds and deaths of the two edged sword proceeding from the mouth of Christ Fesus little and of no estimation with us Are Levi's impartiall slayings of Brethren Sisters Fathers Mothers c. Deut. 33. Is the delivering up of the Nations of the world Rom. 1. to such unnatural and monstrous Lusts And the Chaines of strong Lyes and Delusions upon all the Antichristian World no dread nor terrour with us Ephraim is joyned to Idols let him alone especially now in more spiritual and Gospel-times is far more dreadfull and horrible ten thousand sold then cutting off for murther c. And I end this Question A fourth plague added to the three of Davids choice with this Quere If it had pleased the most holy and onely wise to have added one Judgement more to Davids choice of the three sore plagues Sword Famine and Pestilence I say If he had been pleased to add a fourth to wit a giving up to the least of sins the least hiding of his holy Countenance c. would not David yea our selves if our Hearts be after Gods and Davids chuse ten thousand times all the first three then the least Spiritual stroke of Blindness Hardness from the sear of God Isa 63. The nineteenth Question Whether Asa did well in bringing the the people into Covenant Quest 19 since as the Exminer saith he might thereby have made many turn Hypocrites whereas the people swore with all their heart c. And although Hypocrisie do follow yet this flows from the Corruption of the hypocrite and not from the holiness of the command I have before and it is else where discovered Answ the figurative Nature of this Land of Canaan that people miraculously cast out and the seed of Abrabraham and Israel miraculously brought in their Kings Judges immediately designed and stirred up by God as the Saviours and types of the great Saviour to come these were anointed as also were their Prophets and Priests in figure of that great King Prophet and Priest Christ Fesus All which with all those figurative Ceremonies and miraculous goings of God with that people is acknowledged by so many of Gods people and by Master Cotton in this Controversie and that the people of God in the New Testament is the onely Antitype as also that there is no Footstep nor Colour in the New Testament of Christ Fesus for a National Church or Covenant And therefore I ask First Whether this be not an overthrowing of the whole designe of God concerning Christ Iesus and a denying of him yet to be come and to have fulfilled the National and Ceremonial figures But since we say he is come Christ Fesus his Testament enough for Christians although we had never heard of Moses and hath brought the discovery of his Fathers displeasure otherwise dispensed then was in former times to the Fathers and the Prophets Is not his Testament compleat and the Revelation of his Fathers minde full in all matters as to his Servants and Followers although we had never heard of Meses and although it should have pleased God to have concealed the whole Old Testament from us I Further ask The difference between Israel and other Nations Whether Asa did compel any Nation that had not been so miraculously bought and brought by God as Israel was into Covenant with him And may indeed a King now if he conquer all Nations compel and force them all to swear to serve his God to make a Covenant and Contract with him and this under pain of death as Asa did Did or might Asa or any of the Kings of Israel or Iudah so compel other Nations which they did or might have conquered and that under pain of death Is not Christ Iesus the truly and onely King of Israel And is not his sword his two-edged sword and his mighty weapons spiritual 2 Cor. 10. entering into the very Hears and Spirit and Conscience and
Paul and Peter and Christ and God saith Festus until I have a more convenient time c. It is the voice of my Beloved saith the soul Cant. 1. yea Martha knows 't is Christ 's voice but dinner must be drest and 't is for Christ himself also c. This Jesus say the Jews cannot be He This man is a Glutton a Drunkard a Company-keeper And just as John because austere and harsh came from hell and had a devil was Jesus a Glutton c. because of a mire loving and sociable of a more merciful and pitiful disposition and cenversation I acknowledge the followers of Christ Jesus The lives of Gods children causing his name to be blasphemed like to kindle Fares of persecution by unchristian courses may cause the Name of Christ to be blasphemed as questionsess the lives of many Papists and Protestants cause both Jews and Turks and Pagans to stumble at him and therefore were there no slaughter of Witnesses in question I cannot but suspect a storm a fire â— straight impending which shall bring forth a more refined and purer Edition of Christianity to the whole world yet since the devil in English is an Accuser standeres c. it is but devilish to reproach and it is but foolish to stumble at reproaches There is another of a finer spun and thread 10. Our spiritual sences may deceive us which damps the ingennous searchings after Truth and that is like unto deceptio visus a Delusion from our very Senses and from our very experiments of our good canditions Truth kept out by experience Thus not onely ignorant souls plead for the old Religion and the Jews for their cakes to the Queen of heaven then 't was better c. but what rejoycing findes the heart of David himself and so wany thousands of Israel with him even in a false carrying of the Ark the signe of God 's most holy presence Yea is it not one of the unkindest Answers that ever was given to so dear a Saviour Cant 5. My feet are washed how shall I defile them c. Lastly 11. Hatred of Truth the highest wall against it What trembling calls for that most black and horrid sackcloth of hell it self to the weaving of which many of the former contribute to wit a malicious hatred of the very purity and holiness of the Son of God There is a twofold hatred of Christ Jesus Two walls of hatred of Truth First Natural The wisdom of the flesh is enmity with God But this wall is saltable and breakable and blessedly gives way in Gods chosen to reconciliation and leagues of eternal loves with Jesus Christ The second is a wall so high and strong as it stands for ever This is a malice and hatred after light Such probably was Saul 's against David the shadow and the Pharisees against Christ Jesus himself They hated him and said He shall not raign over us Thus among the many hundreds of false Prophets there is one more saith Ahab Micaiah but I hate him c. The result of all these gentle Reader is too often even in the heart of the greatest lover of Truth in the world a seeret prejudice Resolutions against truth a barricado a resolution against some Truths of God Such a resolution was that of the Captains consulting Jeremiah about their stay in Caldea yet secretly resolved to go down to Egypt Thus like those fourty resolved to kill Paul they pretend to enquire something more perfectly The truth is Truth is a prisoner upon suspition How many millions are the conspirators against the life of it And yet let 's examine the prisoner call Assemblies Classes Synods Councels c. appoint Disputations Conferences c. But before the prisoner come to the Governour the Parliament the Councel c. stab it kill it Yet God forbid we should wound the Truth but the Heretick the Seducer the Disturber c. My humble prayer therefore is presented to the Father of lights who is light and love and truth that these honorable Examiners and all those noble Bereans who candidly shall please to examine them and this may cry with David sensibly and cordially Psal 119. I am a stranger in the earth O hide not thy commandments from me ERRATA Page 10. read shadowing rocks and trees p. 27. l. 4. put out but. p. 41. for Religions r. religious p. 42. for ought they r. ought they not p. 54. l 24. for height and prudence r. high prudence p. 56. l. 29. for Wheâ— r. Whether p 57. l. 12. for Sorms r. Storme p. 61. l. 2. r. Canaan p. 74. in the margin r. whether the pishops p. 76. for the Idolatry r. Idolatry The EXAMINER DEFENDED THe Ship of the Commonwealth like that gallant * The Soveraign or Commonwealth Ship now going forth so called must share her weals and woes in common As the one so the other hath its dangers of Rocks and Sands Common Woes Storms and Tempests Want of Provisions Sicknesses and Diseases treacherous and professed enemies Fires Leaks Mutinies and c. I humbly beg of God and wish to both their Fair Windes and Weathers Plentiful provisions Unanimity and Peace Preservations Victories Boon Voyages Weals and joyful Anchoring in their desired Ports and Harbours Such woes and weals are common to all that sail in either Now in a Ship there is the whole and there is each private Cabbin A private good engageth our desires for the publike and raiseth cares and fears for the due prevention of common evils Hence is it Common Duty that in a Ship all agree in their commanding orders and obeying stations to give and take the Word to stand to the Helm and Compass to the Sails and Tackling to the Guns and Artillery This is this must be done in Artificial and in each Civil Ship and Commonweal Hence not to study and not to endeavour the common good and to exempt our selves from the sense of common evil is a treacherous Baseness a selfish Monopoly a kinde of Tyranny and tendeth to the destruction both of Cabin and Ship that is of private and publike safety I hope it will not therefore be offensive Christs Interest the Commonweals that into the great and common treasury I cast my mite and say Christs interest is the Commonweals Christs interest is that Sheat Anchor at which this Ship hath rid and can onely ride in safety All power in heaven and earth is his If England make peace with him ally with him c. though every dust of the field were an army and every drop of the Ocean sprung up a Navy against us yet our tranquillity should not be shortned our Commonweal our Parliament our Peace should flourish But where is that man whose Case is not right Where is the conscientious Papist or Prelatist or Presbyterian Every Christ but one the true calls for the Civil sword and maintenance or Independent that assumes not
thus Christs interest is mine And in some sense I verily believe they all say true plainly thus As no Religion in the world can justly chalenge the drawing of the sword for its defence so least of all desires it that which is of all the best and onely true the Christian I know each Sect is apt to plead Mine interest being Christs the Purse and Sword of the State is not onely mine but 't is Christs due But I also maintain that 't is not true Civility Christs Interest in any Nation is soul-freedom not true Christianity that draws the Sword for one or other Christs Interest in this Commonweal or any is the freedom of the souls of the People I confess that all Nations all Peoples Kings Princes Iudges c. ought to kiss the Son to be nursing fathers and mothers to Christ Iesus and his followers But what a dreadful mistake is this that no people must live but Christians That the many millions of millions in our own and other Nations of the world must either at the shaking of a sword fall down before Christ or with the edge of it be cut off for Idolaters Hereticks Blasphemers or evil speakers against Christ and his Religion Hath not the God of heaven the Father of lights written it with the beams of the noon-day-sun that notwithstanding pretences the truth is That the Parliament of England and the Religion of England The Parliament and the Religion of England have ever followed the Sword of England hath ever followed the Sword of England Was not the Parliament and the Religion of England all Popish in Henry the seventh's days But in his son's Henry the eighth the Parliament and Religion divided and turned half Popish half Protestant In Henry the eighth his three children's days what turns what wonders Was not the Parliament and the Religion all Protestant in that most hopeful Edward's spring c. and as altogether Popish when the Sword-fell into the hands of that bloody Mary And when Gods providence and vengeance wrung the Sword from the paw of that Lioness and reacht it to the hands of that tender Lamb Elizabeth how hath the Parliament and the Religion of England since her time carried the face and hung out the flag of all Protestants c. In these late Earthquakes and Combustions which the late King begun by imposing upon the consciences of the Scotch Presbyters in favour of his Prelates how dreadfully hath a naked Arm from heaven snatcht away the Sword from both and fixt it in a hand more merciful I hope to the souls of all men Iews and Gentiles Who sees not this to be the designe and the decree of Heaven Gods present designe in England To bring into the light and to break to pieces the more-then-iron Yokes and Chains upon the souls and consciences of men Who sees not with holy fear and wonder that this his Decree hath begun to break the arms and necks of all both Popish and Protestant persecutore What eye so weak but may observe how little and how seldom it pleased the God of heaven to go out with our Armies The Goings of God in the late Wars until this interest of the Son of God soul-freedom begun to be seen and served by our Armies and that they fought not for one sect or conscience but as to Religion against tyranny and persecution of any conscience Till then the Balance turned not and our Armies could hardly be said to prosper And ever since they never did but prosper and I verily believe still shall and the Commonwealth of England and the Parliament thereof still flourish till that fatal hour when they shall cease to break the yokes soul-yokes especially and to let the oppressed go free One of the greatest Knots this day in England concerns the rising of this Parliament and the sitting of the next I confess Alexander's sword will cut all Gordian knots but none but the finger of Christ's interest will untie them There was none in heaven nor earth nor under the earth that could open the seals but the Lamb did The same blessed Lamb of God and the interest of soul-freedom to all men can One of the greatest knots this day in England untied and can onely maintain this Commonweal in the freedom and glory of it for Who but soul-oppressors can be unwilling that mens Consciences be free to see with their own eyes and themselves be judges of the path they chuse in which they hope to finde eternal life and Blessedness Who but Tyrants and Oppressors can be grieved that the souls of men should chuse whom to hear what and with whom to pray whom and how to pay and maintain according to their Abilities and Consciences Who but such as buy and sell Christ Jesus and make a trade and living of Heaven and Hell can cry out Great is Diana for hours and yeers together Will not all the people of the Nation stand obliged The onely woy according to God of obliging the people of this Nation to the present Government and Governours as one man to live and die with such Saviours and Deliverers and to elect and chuse such Vindicators of their spiritual Freedoms How will all men be enforced either from the freedom of their consciences or from the freedom of their purses which is their due I say be obliged and enforced to send such Representatives as have stood for and may maintain the Common Freedoms and Liberties especially the soul-freedoms of the Commonweal of England Against many Objections I briefly oppose my Answer to these two and twenty Questions onely to one Objection thus Object That I answer with Quections Answ First it was frequent with our Founder Christ Jesus Secondly in justice this Re-examiner cannot refuse his own coyn I confess my Principle of Soul-freedom commands me to applaud and honour this searching and proposing from the holy Scripture yet since the Sun of righteousness is risen so high as to soul-freedom and darts the beams of his Light upon the very eyes of all that love his Name especially I plead for a more gentle censure if in any line or letter I speak too loud to such a most unseasonable sleeper The sum of the first Question Whether the Civil Magistrate Quest 1 who knows the Doctrine of Salvation c. be not bound as a nursing father to provide saving food for the people and to provide that poyson be kept from them Answ I answer The prophecie of Kings and Queens nursing fathers and mothers and ask first Whether this Prophecie of Kings and Queens being nursing fathers and nursing mothers to the Saints be not as many wise and godly take it a peculiar prophecie and promise to that peculiar and distinct Nation and People of God the Jews And whether these words vers 22 of that 49 of Isaiah I will lift up mine band to the Gentiles c. be not a character fixing this Prophecie unto