Jus Gentium must be rendered to him He doth not examine Pilate's power in case of Blasphemy or Treason but acknowledges it and submits He falls not upon sifting or examining the power of the Sanhedrim either their original power or the power left them by the Romans They sit in Moses Chair c. Whatsoever therefore they bid you do do it Matth. xxiii 2 3. And so likewise the Apostles they seem to be unconcerned as it were in the governing part of Civil Policy No word is found in all their Writings enquiring into the Rights of the Roman Emperours who were sovereign or limiting the Exercise of their Power Only thus much they take for certain such as they were they were ordained of God And they spend all their labour in founding deeply and firmly establishing that other part which concerns Obedience From this Observation it will follow That whatever Things or Persons were not before the times of Christ and his Apostles exempt from the power of the Magistrate are not by the Foundations and Principles of Christianity exempted Non eripit mortalia qui regna dat coelestia And it will only remain for us to enquire what was the manner of the Nations of the World and of God's peculiar people in reference to these Particulars before and at the times of Christ and his Apostles To which if we shall add the practice of the best and most ancient Christian Emperors I know not what more can be desired to clear the present Argument I suppose it needless to put in a Caution that while we speak of the Magistrate's power to order matters of Religion we do not entitle him to the Priest's Office the Spiritual Function or the Execution of it in preaching the word administring the Sacraments exercising the power of Ordination or of the Keys c. Blessed be the Lord God of our Fathers who hath put it into our Sovereign's heart to be tender of the rights of the Church as of the Apple of his Eye This is a Calumny insisted on generally by almost all our Adversaries but it is too rude and gross to be spoken to in this place Rather let us see whether the Sovereigns among all people Heathen Jews Christians have not claimed and exercised power in all Causes over all Persons as well Ecclesiastical as Civil 1. For Causes The New Testament sometimes divides the Gentiles into Greeks and Barbarians sometimes into wise and unwise according to which division the Romans are I suppose reckoned under the Greeks from whence they were mostly extracted and with whom they contended in Civility Briefly 1. the Greeks 2. the Romans 3. the Barbarous Nations did always exercise such a power 1. Aristotle the greatest among the Greeks tells us that the first and principal thing in a Common Wealth is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And accordingly if we consult the Fragments which are left us of the Laws of the most antient Grecian Common-Wealths we shall find nothing so frequent as the Ordinances concerning their Religion 2. Amongst the Romans Cicero the wisest saith that Religion is the Foundation of Humane Society as in truth it is To say nothing of the Ordinances of Numa the Jus Pontificium c. the Titles of the Twelve Tables are many of them concerning Religion 3. As for the Barbarous Nations I shall not multiply Testimonies nor go beyond the line of Scripture In the third of Daniel we find an Edict of the King of Babylon enjoyning all People Languages and Tongues to commit Idolatry Vers. 4. 5. And by and by another Edict that no man should speak amiss of the God of Shadrach Mesech and Abednego Vers. 29. In the sixth we find Darius the Persian by the advice of his Council signing a Decree against petitioning for thirty days any God besides himself Verse 9. and shortly another that all men should tremble and fear before the God of Daniel Verse 26. In the third of Jonah the King of Nineveh and his Nobles proclaim a publick Fast. In the first of Ezra Cyrus puts forth an Edict to build the Temple at Hierusalem In the fourth Artaxerxes reverseth it In the sixth Darius re-inforceth it I suppose it is now evident that Greeks and Barbarians did exercise this power To think to elevate the force of these Instances because all these were Strangers from God and aliens from the Common-Wealth of Israel is to mistake the purpose for which they are alledged However it was not thus among the Kings of the Nations only but among the holiest and wisest of the Governours and Kings of Israel and Juda who for abolishing false Worship and ordaining the true are often highly commended by the Holy Ghost in the Scriptures The time would fail me to speak distinctly and particularly of the Ordinances concerning Religion which were made by Moses Joshua David Solomon Asa Jehoshaphat Hezekiah Manasses also and Josiah concerning whom the Scripture gives these Characters Moses was the man of God Joshua the servant of the Lord. David a man after Gods own heart There was none like unto Solomon Asa his heart was perfect with the Lord. The Lord was with Jehoshaphat Hezekiah did that which was right in the sight of the Lord. Manasseth was heard of God Josiah did that which was right and his Goodness was recorded Now the Acts of every one of these concerning the Worship of God and matters of Religion are recorded and applauded in the Scriptures For these all ordered and regulated Services and Sacraments and Covenants with God they erected Altars and Tabernacles and Temples and dedicated them unto the Lord they destroyed Idolatry reformed abuses in Gods Worship settled both the standing Worship of God and occasional Thanks-givings and Humiliations to omit other matters The whole Aaronical Ministery which consisted in ceremonies and Sacrifices Typical and Carnal Ordinances was not ordered by the hand of Aaron but of Moses who was King in Jesurun The Tabernacle and Temple-service which beside the Mosaical Institutions consisted of Spiritual abiding Ordinances was instituted by David who being the sweet Singer of Israel and acquainted more then ever any man for ought appears with the ways and helps of listing up the Heart to spiritual intercourse with God to that end appointed the use of Musick in the Church and without fear of stinting the Spirit he prescribed Set-forms of Praise and Prayers for the use of the Temple and ordered the service for every day A Psalm consisting partly of the one hundred and fifth ninety sixth and one hundred and eighteenth he first delivered to Asaph and his Brethren at the reduction of the Ark from the house of Obed-Edom 1 Chron. xvi 7. And divers other Psalms were composed by him for the Service of the Church And what he had ordained Solomon put in practice In the fifth Chapter of the second Book of Chronicles we find the pattern of the Service of this Time and Place
hardness of Pharaoh's heart the cruelty of the bondage the weakness of the Egyptians by Plagues the numbers of Israel six hundred thousand and three thousand five hundred and fifty fighting men above twenty years old besides the Tribe of Levi yet he would not lead them into the promised Land without Pharaoh's positive and express consent to their departure 2. As for the Prophets in the third Chapter of Daniel we find three of Gods Children put to the trial the fiery trial of this Doctrine by Nebuchadnezzar an Idolater and a Tyrant acting highly under both those Capacities together They were cast into the fiery Furnace because they would not worship the Golden Image which he had set up And in the sixth we find Daniel thrown into the Lions Den only for praying to the God of Israel Let us consider their Behaviour did they resist or mutiny or labour to alienate or discontent or by denouncing threats or terrours to discourage Subjects from Obedience How had they been instructed by their Prophets Jeremy 2 Chron. xxxvi 13. had taught them that Zedekiah had turned from the Lord God of Israel in rebelling against Nebuchadnezzar who had made him swear by God and that they ought to seek the peace of the City whither they were carried Captives and to pray unto the Lord for it Jer. xxix 7. And therefore the three Children in the third of Daniel only refer themselves to God for deliverance and Daniel in the midst of the Lions Den prays heartily for Darius O King live for ever Dan. vi 21. 3. In the next place let us consider the case of Christ and his Apostles and see whether any such Tenet may be collected from their Doctrine or Practice their Speeches or their Actions As for what concerns our Lord Christ I have had the Honour formerly in this place more at large to vindicate him from such aspersions He paid Tribute at the expence of a Miracle Mat. xvii 27. He submitted himself to all the Powers that were over him to the Sanhedrim and their Delegates to Herod to Pontius Pilate he submitted himself to death by an unjust sentence even to the bitter and accursed death upon the Cross Philip. ii 8. This was his Practise as for his Doctrine He taught men to render to Caesar the things that were Caesars Mat. xxii 21. He acknowledged Pilate's power to be from above John xix 11. He rebuked Peter for smiting with the Sword and told him that Those that take the Sword shall perish by the Sword Mat. xxvi 52. He taught his Difciples to pray for them which should persecure them Mat. v. 44. And the utmost permission which he gave them was when they were persecuted in one City to flee unto another Matth x. 23. 4. As for the Apostles They taught men to obey them that have the rule over them Hebr. xiii 17. To submit themselves to every Ordinance of man 1 Pet. ii 13. To do all things without murmuring or disputing Philip. ii 14. To pray for Kings and all that are in Authority 1 Tim. ii 2. Saint Peter hath told us that such as despise Dominion and speak evil of Dignities are in an especial manner reserved to Judgment 1 Pet. ii 9 10. and Saint Paul in my Text that they shall receive damnation This Doctrine they Sealed with their blood Saint Peter according to Ecclesiastical Tradition was crucified and Saint Paul beheaded James the Son of Zebedeus slain with the Sword c. Now as for the Powers to which all these Instructions and Behaviours did refer they were for Idolatry and Tyranny and Persecution Humani generis portenta If it be objected That all these submitted because thev were not able to resist the Answer upon Christian Principles might be That He which restrained the Flames and stopped the mouths of Lions could have given his Servants power to resist that Christ could have prayed his Father who would have given him more than twelve Legions of Angels for his relief that the Apostles who wrought mighty signs and wonders could have rescued themselves had it not rather pleased the great Ordainer of Powers by their submission to ratifie and establish the Doctrine of Obedience 5. But the belief and practise of the Primitive Christians will satisfie this Objection even to common Sense and Reason The Instances in this kind are infinite where Christians abounding in numbers being in Arms and abundantly able to make resistance have chosen with the expence of their lives to yield obedience to Idolaters persecuting them for their Religion I shall name but two Examples Tertullian tells the Emperour that his Cities Islands Castles Councils Armies Regiments and Companies the Palace the Senate the Courts of Judicature were filled with Christians and yet they submitted to persecution And we read that the Thebean Legion consisted of six thousand six hundred sixty and six persons every man Christian when they submitted to the Decimation of Maximinian for Religion I shall say no more to the first Pretence II. Now the second is like unto it alike prejudical to Government alike false and scandalous to Religion An House or Kingdom divided cannot stand and God is not the Author of Confusion but of Peace and that especially in Religion If none have this power to order matters of Religion there must be Confusion if any other beside the Supreme Magistrate there will be Division The inevitable Inconveniences of the exemption of religious Things and religious Persons from the power of the Magistrate are abundantly set forth by such as would improve them to the disadvantage of Religion And indeed to go about to deny or to diminish the dismal Consequences of such Pretences were to endeavour to put out the eyes of all the men of Reason and Experience in the world My present Duty is to enquire what relation these Pretences have to the Principles of Christianity and that First As to religious Causes Secondly As to Ecclesiastical Persons Thirdly As to holy or gifted Brethren as they style themselves Now in order to a resolution in these Enquiries I shall as a Lemma humbly propose one Observation It is this That whereas there are two things whereon all Political administration doth depend 1. Concerning the Rights and Bounds and regulation of Sovereign Powers 2. Concerning the Duties and Obedience of Subjects we find both Christ and the Apostles frequently labouring to settle in the Consciences of men that part which concerns Obedience but no where restraining or limiting or particularly regulating the Office of Sovereign Powers but leaving them to those general Rules which concern the Account and Duty of all men in their several stations and to the terms whereupon the Providence of God was wont to settle the Princes and Governours of the World Let the rights of Caesar be what they will in reference to Tribute or other matters Christ will not determine them This he will those things which belong to Caesar according to
And when he had healed him that was born blind they hypocritically bad the man give Glory to God and said they knew that Jesus was a sinner They turn'd his miracles into wantonness fain'd themselves Just men that they might tempt him i. e. put a trick upon him demanding a sign for a sight only to satisfy their wanton Curiosity As for his Countrey men this Prophet had no honour there he did not many miracles among them because of their unbelief His friends said he was beside himself and went to lay hold on him As for the People In the sixth of John we find that Christ fed five thousand men with five loaves and two small fishes so that they said this is of a truth that Prophet But the very next day ver 22. the Very men that had eaten of the loaves 26 Said unto him what sign shewest thou that we may believe what dost thou work 30 as if a miracle had not been a Sign He wrought a miracle among the Gadarens and they besought him to be gone Others were offended at him and cast him out of their City The issue of all his miracles was this Some said he was a good man Others Nay but he deceiveth the people And many said he had a Devil and was mad Nay when he hung upon the cross they acknowledge his miracles and jeered him with them He saved others himself he cannot save let him do one more miracle let him come down from the Cross. and we will believe him So Vain is the pretence of those who think to excuse their Infidelity because they cannot see a miracle So false are the Grounds of that opinion 3. Briefly to bring this Argument to an issue If it were granted to these persons to see a miracle what kind of miracle would they chuse to convince their understandings and settle them in religion We are here I confess in loco conjecturali and no man can tell what miracle another man would chuse but I am perswaded that which most men would agree upon as most conducing to that purpose whereof we are speaking would be this that to assure them of the Immortality of the Soul and of the rewards and punishments of the world to come and to satisfie their Curiosity in some other doubts and scruples They might once be allowed to see and converse with some one that might rise from the dead who might resolve their Questions concerning the condition of those that are in Hades 3. I say then that our Saviour who knew what was in man and needed not that any one should tell him foreseeing this Phantastical conceit hath shewed the folly of it and preoccupated this vain resort In the 16 of Luke 27. Dives makes it his request to Abraham that he would send Lazarus from the dead to testify to his brethren those things which these men dream of Abraham refers them to the Scriptures which were in the same manner recommended to them as our Scriptures are to us They have Moses and the Prophets c. let them hear them He saith unto him Nay father Abraham but if one went to them from the dead they would believe And he Abraham said If they hear not Moses and the Prophets neither will they be perswaded though one rose from the dead This I take to be a clear and a full determination of the matter in Question And if any one should magine that this determination was but Conjectural Our Saviour afterward tries the Experiment and raises another Lazarus from the dead What was the effect of this mans coming from the dead did it Convert the High Priest or the Scribes the rulers or the people nay but from that very day they took counsel together how they might put Jesus to death And the Chief Priests consulted how they might put Lazarus to death also Upon these Considerations we may infallibly Conclude that Infidelity in Such times as ours is no more excusable then it was in the days of Christ or his Apostles the times of mir cles and prophesies So much of the first Supposition in the Caveat of the Text the Sinfulness of Infidelity in General at all times And the Inexcusableness in our times which makes it our Duty to take heed of it II. I pass to the second supposition concerning the Danger of falling into it which makes it our concernment and Interest to beware of it For if this be clear the Exhortation will be powerful take heed brethren c. Now the Danger of falling into infidelity is in it self so conspicuous and made so sensible by every day's experience that I wish the proof of it were difficult so as to Justify a studious and laborious demonstration of it At once to shorten my discourse and to remove the suspicion of any Satyrical reflexion upon those that hear me I shall shew that the Greatest Advantages have not preserved the best of men from sometimes falling into Infidelity Take heed therefore brethren The greatest Helps and Advantages against unbelief I conceive to be these ensuing 1. Evidences of Gods presence 2. Or these lighting on a good understanding 3. At least upon the Ablest of men 4. Such as have held Communion with God 5. Or have been eminent for the habit and exercise of faith 6. Or these with warnings to prevent the Danger of falling 7. And those reiterated Yet all these have not preserved good men from sometimes falling A word of each 1. First then to begin with the persons in the Context What greater Evidences of the Presence of God can be Imagined then they enjoyed In Egypt in their passage over the red Sea in the Wilderness my presence saith God shall go along with you They were conducted by a Pillar of a Cloud c. they were supported and Corrected by Visible and palpable instances of Gods power and presence Yet they tempted and grieved the Spirit of God by their Infidelity for they believed not for all his Wonderous Works 2. But these Jews were a dull and stupid people If God should once manifest himself to a wise and understanding person such as we take our selves to be We may think it impossible to fall into unbelief I suppose it will be no disparagement to these Objectors to say that Solomon might be as Wise and Knowing as Wary and Philosophical as they And as for the manifestation of Gods presence the Scripture tells us Expresly that God appeared to him at Gibeon Where he made a promise to him which he performed Yet Solomon fell into the grossest Infidelity to think there were Gods and Goddesses To worship Ashtaroth the Goddess of the Sidonians and Milcom the Abomination of the Ammonites 3. But it may be yet Objected that Solomon did this in the Dotage of his years and his Dotage upon his Idolatrous wives which turned away his heart but that it could not have proceeded from him before his understanding