worship and false doctrine that denies God that is above is worthy to be punished by the Judges and this is further proved and illustrated that Idolatry is to be punished by Judges corporally by the 9 10 11. verses of this chapter where he speaks the same of adultery that 't is an iniquity to be punished by the Iudges so that the spirit of God here in Iob makes Adultery and Idolatry of the same cognizance and as Adultery is to be punished by the Civill Magistrate so Idolatry and all false wayes whereby men deny the God that is above are by this Scripture to be punished also And that it may further appear the Kings of Iudah and Israel did not qua Kings of Iudah and qua dwelling in such a Land as Kings over such a typicall people bearing visibly and executing typically the kingly office of Christ in his Church meddle in matters of Religion but as Kings in places of authority and power I shall show that other Kings not of the Tribe of Iudah ruling over other Kingdomes and Countries when by any of the great works of God done before them or upon any instinct of the Spirit of God upon them by any message from God by his Prophets and servants they came to be touched in heart and sensible of themselves they used their power in making Lawes and Edicts for the worship of God against Blasphemy and Idolatry and for punishing of those who were Idolaters and Blasphemers Thus Artaxerxes the King of Persia Ezra 7. makes a Decree that whosoever will not do the Law of God judgement shoule be executed speedily upon him whether it be unto death or unto banishment or to confiscation of goods or to imprisonment and Ezra blesseth God for it which showes it was well done of Artâ—xerxes Now whereas Master Goodwin would evade this by saying Ezra blesses God for Artaxerzes beautifying the house of God only not for the Decree of punishing those that would not do the Law of God I answer that 's a part indeed of that he blesses God for but not all as is evident by the 28. verse his blessing God having relation to that also as may appeare by that copulative and hath extended mercy unto me before the King and I was strengthned as the hand of the Lord my God was upon me and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me now let the 23. verse that speaks of Artaxerxes Decree to Ezra to set Magistrates and Judges to judge all the people and thereupon who will not do the Law of God to have judgement executed upon them whether it be unto death c. be laid to the 28. verse wherein hee blesses God for his hand upon him to gather chief men out of Israel to goe up with him which was to make Magistrates and Judges and 't is evident the Decree for punishing is included besides if this Decree of Artaxerxâ—s had beene according to Master Goodwine the Bloudy Tenet and other Libertines opinion such a wicked and bloudy doctrine Ezra the Priest the Scribe of the Law of the God of heaâ—en had beene bound to have instructed Artaxerxes better and humbly entreated him to have reversed that part of the Decree in the 26. verse and certainly would never have built up Artaxerxes in such a great sin by blessing God for his Decree and by taking care to set up Magistrates and Iudges to execute it but would have dealt clearly with the King blessing God for the Decree of the building of the Temple and showing him his mistake in the other part about punishing and to put it past question Ezra 10. verse 7 8. relates this Decree of the King was accordingly put in execution by Ezra and the Princes and Elders Proclamations being made throughout Iudah and Ierusalem unto all the Children of the captivity that they should gather themselves together unto Ierusalem And that whosoever would not come within three dayes according to the Councel of the Princes and the Elders all his substance should be forfeited which was one of the penalties of Artaxerxes Decree viz. confiscation of goods Nebuchadnezar Dan. 3. 28 29 30. as soone as he knew God upon that great work of Gods power in delivering the three children out of the fiery furnace made a Decree that whosoever should speak any thing amisse against him should be cut in pieces and their houses made a dunghill Darius Dan. 6. 25 26. upon Gods great work in delivering Daniel out of the Lions den made a Decree that in every Dominion of his Kingdome men tremble and feare before the God of Daniel Lastly the King of Niniveh upon Ienabs preaching yet forty dayes and Niniveh shall be destroyed did not only in his owne person arise from his Throne and cover himselfe with sackcloth and sit in ashes but caused it to be proclaimed and published by his Decree that all his subjects should do the like cry mightily unto God and turne from their evill wayes and this turning of Niniveh upon the command and edict of the King is blessed by Gods repenting of the evill that he said he would do unto them and so Gods owne seale of approbation set to the King of Ninivebs Edict for commanding in matters of Religion Augusâ—ine in his 50. Epistle ad Bonifacium makes use of the examples of the King of Niniveh Darius and Nebuchadonezar to show how a King must serve God as a King by commanding good things and forbidding the contrary as the King of Niniveh served God by compelling the whole City to please God as Nebuchadnezar served him by recalling all in his Kingdome from blaspheming God by a severe Law 13. THESIS As for that which is commonly said by the Patrons of Tolâ—ration that what the Iudges Magistrates Kings of Israel and Iudah did in a coerâ—ive way in matters of Religion in Israel and Iudah they did it not by vertue of their office as ordinary Kings and Magistrates towards their subjects but as Kings in a peculiar and extraordinary notion as typicall Kings types of Christ the King of the Church executing typically his kingly office the people also and the very Land over which they ruled being typicall which no Kings not people under heaven at this day are and that therefore their practises cannot be drawn into example by any Christian Magistrates now I desire the Reader well to observe these following answers and the rather because the maine strength of the Sectaries discourse upon this subject hangs by this string and this thred runs all along throughout their works M. S. the Bloudy Tenet The Antient bounds or Liberty of Conscience stated The Storming of Antichrist with many others place all their confidence here and this is their Sheild and buckler making much use of this typicalnesse under the Old Testament to evade all the instances of Kings and Magistrates brought from thence First to make this good there are some things supposed or asserted for proof
found out by Libertines deliver from the wrath to come had not Princes need be on better grounds then Apocryphall notions such distinctions of which God in his Word never gave any foundation but besides the Apocryphalnesse of this notion that these Kings reformed Religion not meerly quae Types but as Kings and Princes over subjects may be proved thus First because Magistrates before them and Magistrates of other Common-wealths did so as is largely shown in the twelfth Thâ—sis Secondly Types were not ordained by the Politicall or Morall Law as Magistrates and their authority but by the Ceremoniall Law Thirdly for that which they say the Kings of Israel the Iews and their Land were Types of and that which by their Kings punishing Idolaters and Seducers was typified namely spiritual censures under the Gospel of Excommâ—nication and casting out of the wicked from the Churches of the Gospel 't is denied they were Types of the Christian Church in respect of the Civill State but of the Spirituall and Ecclesiasticall Government by Church Officers so the Land of Canaan was a Type of heaven not as it contained the Civill State but the Church it being a Type of Heaven before they had possession of it or their Civill State and Government set up and yet no Type of Heaven till the people of God had a promise of it 〈◊〉 is evident by laying the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament together And as for those punishments inflicted by Kings typifying the censures under the Gospel we must know that all the Spiritual Censures of Admonition Suspension Excommunication were under the Old Testament in the time of the Kings of Iudah and that not only for Ceremoniall uncleannesses but for morall and scandalous finâ— all which is fully proved by Master Gillaspie at large in his Aâ—rous Rod blossoming 2 Book 4 5 6 7 8 9 10. 12. chapters Fourthly granting what these Libertines say that the Kings of Judah were Types of Christ and in what they did they aypified Christs kingly Office yet this cannot enervate the examples of these Kings unlesse doing things as a Type and as a Morall example could not stand in one and the same person which is not so Some particular persons may be intended by God Types of Christ the highest kind of Type and their action intended to typifie speciall works of Christ and yet those very actionâ— may be Morall and binding all in such relations whose persons nor actions can in no kind be judged typicall and the reason of it is because God may serve himself of a person or office doing things commanded in the Moral law to make a type of â—nd though God intends such a man by such and such actions to make him a Type yet the man may not know so much nor intend any such thing in such actions but do all by vertue of a Morall command and for the better understanding of this let the Reader consider that in some persons the same actions may be both Typicall and Morall extraordinary in regard of the maâ—â—er and some circumstances and ordinary in regard of the matter and substance typicall as typifying Christ and what he should do and yet Moâ—all duties which he ought to do and all others also in such relations so that though some persons be Types and the things they do typicall yet they may be Morall too and so binding which though as they were typicall they may be taken away yet as they were Morall may be in full force As for example Christ was figured in Joseph Ioseph was an eminent Type of Christ in the first â—ank of Types as a singular person typifying him not as a rank or order of men by office only as those kings of Iudah spoken of and among other things he was a Type in feeding his Father and his Brethren that when advanced in the kingdome he provided for and nourished his Fathers house which typified Iesus Christ feeding the Family of God and preserving the Church alive Now though Ioseph in this action was a Type of Christ and did it typically yet not only typically but did this morally and naturally too by vertue of the fifth Commandement and sixth Commandement of childrens duty to their Parents and of preserving life and by vertue of this example of Ioseph every man in high place and rich is bound to send for and provide for Father and Brethren in a necessitous condition and suppose now a man in Iosephs condition should have Father and Brethren in want whom he should neglect and being pressed by Iosephs example to provide for them he should answer Iosephs practise was nothing to him for he was a Type of Christ and typified Christs feeding of his Church not with temporall food only but with the Manna from Heaven the word and Sacraments I aske of those who plead this Argument of typicalnesse whether this were a good Answer and if not neither is theirs against the practise of the kings of Iudah from being Types of Christ and I wish the Pleaders for Toleration would serious consider of and resolve this Question though Ioseph was a speciall Type of Christ and in this action of preserving his Father and Brethren a Type of Christs preserving his Church yet whether this action of his to his Father Brethren and their children do not bind now in the dayes of the Gospel children to their Fathers c. or whether the typicalnesse of it hath caused it to cease and in the resolution of this case the ingenuous Reader may see what to judge of the typicalnesse of the kings of Iudah and that typicalnesse of persons and actions does not presently make all such persons and actions that they cannot be examples or rules to others who are not typicall The Prophets and Propheticall office were Types of Christ as well as the kings of Iudah and yet actions they did that were some way typicall and extraordinary bind Christians under the Gospel for the substance and matter and are set before them for example as Eliâ—â— a Type and in his Prayer a Type yea somewhat in it extraordinary is by Iames propounded in prayer as a patterne and a proof of effectuall servent prayer to righteous men under the Gospel Iames 5. 16 17 18. In Hebrews 11. many are named who in their persons were undoubted Types of Christ as Noah Isaac Joseph Moses Samson David and others who if not Types in their persons yet were in an extraordinary way as Abraham Iacob Gideon Iephtah c. Now in the point of faith and patience though Types or extraordinary persons are set down for examples and patterns to Christians under the New Testament Hebrews 12. verse 1 2. I could give many more instances of Types and extraordinary persons whom in Morall practicall things matters of faith holinesse righteousnes though they did such things extraordinarily and as Types of Christ either personally or officially Christians in an ordinary way are commanded to follow
other such ought to be restrained and if they commit Idolatry or other corruptions not so great or so grosse yet by way of proportion and equity such ought to be though in a lower kind and way And 't is evident by many instances that the Iewish Magistrates Kings and others as Iosiah Nehemiah c. did punish in a proportion though not with death those who violated the worship of God and the first Table though they were not guilty of Idolatry and Apostafie to worship other gods nor of worshipping the true God by Idols as by the golden Calves of Jeroboam And if that be good Divinity which M. S. the Father of that Evafion of Idolatry and Idolaters being the adaequate object of the coercive power of the Kings of Judah in matters of Religion hath pag. 89. of the same Book That God prohibiting all manner of violence oppression and hard measure among his people one towards another though such Lawes as those in the letter of them respected only Civil transfactions and dealings betweene men yet the equity and spirit of them extends to spirituals also men being every whit as liable to violence oppressionâ— and hard measure from men for their conscience sake as in any other respects or upon any other grounds whatsoever then from that command Deut. 13. 5 6 7 8 9. and from those examples of Asa Iosiah to inferre an equity of punishing other offences in the same kinde though not named in the letter must needs be better Divinity because every one cannot but conceive that the equity and spirit of a Law may upon better grounds extend to things in the same kinde and of the same nature from one spirituall thing to another from Idolatry to Wil-worship or Heresie then from civill things to religious which differ totâ— genere But setting aside M. S. Concession is there not all the equity and reason in the world from those commands forementioned though granting according to the letter of those Lawes no man should be put to death for any thing lesse then that kind of Idolatry with Apostasie worshipping false gods that those who worship the true God by graven Images by making likenesses of him and that corrupt the doctrine of Faith and Religion should also by the Magistrates bee punished as well by suppressing their Conventicles putting them out of places of power c. though not so much as the others Or is there any equity and proportion in this that God should command punishing with death the highest kinde the Magistrate can inflict for Idolatrie in worshipping strange gods and should forbid any punishment or restraint at all of Idolatry and corruption of his worship in the next degree to that According to degrees of faults to have degrees of punishments is of the light of nature and right reason but to have a higher degree of an offence to bee punished with death and all others not to bee punished at all is against the light of nature and all reason Le ts but look into the Scriptures for the violation of other commands of God as in the 6 7 and 8th Commandements and wee shall finde that where the higher degrees and violations had greater punishments the others went not scorfree For example when adultery was punished with death fornication was punished with fifty shekels of silver and witâ—â— paying of money according to the dowry of virgins Exod. 22. 16. 17. compared with Deut. 22. 22. 28 29. So when stealing of men was death stealing of oxen and sheep was restoring five and foure-fold Exod. 21. 16. Exod. 22. 1. Seventhly there is a great agreement between the false Prophets under the old Testament and the false teachers under the New between Idolatry under the old Testament and Heresies now many Heresies being grosse Idolatries as is evident by many Scriptures of the New Testament which lively parallels and resembles these to each other so that it cannot bee upon any good ground conceived that the first sort should bee punished with death and the latter not punished at all but I referre the fuller clearing of this to the 17. Thesis where upon occasion of opening that 13. of Deuteroâ—omiâ— I shall speak more 15. THESIS Besides the full concurrent testimony and judgement of the most learned Protestant Divines Calvin Philip Melancton Beza Peter Martyr Zanchius Bullinger Musculus Chemnitius Gerardus Bucanus Bilson Cartwright Professores Leydenses Voetius Triglandus that the care of Religion and Gods worship belongs to the Magistrate that God hath given him a power and authority objective and externall in Ecclesiasticall causes to look to Religion as to Civil Justice so as he is bound to see the true Religion and service of God set up and maintained in his Dominions being therupon generally by all Divines cal'd Custos Curator utriusque Tabulae God himself in the Scriptures showes at much annexing the care of Religion and keeping the Law the first Table as well as the second to the Magistrate Deut. 17. 18 19. God there appoints that the King over his people when he comes to the Throne of his kingdome should have a Copie of the Law written out of that which was before the Priests the Levites to be alwayes with him Now the Law there spoken of is meant the whole Law of God the first Table as well as the second that which concerned God as well as man because it was a Copie of that Originall which was kept in the Tabernacle for the Priests and Levites whose office was principally about matters of the first Table and then the end expressed in the 19. verse that the King might learne to feare the Lord his God to keep all the words of this Law showes as much that by the name of the Law must be understood the whole Systeme of the Divine Law so that by this place of Scripture 't is evident that not only the second Table of the Morall Law that contains justice and righteousnesse is committed to the Magistrate but the first also concerning the worship of God is given to his custody And as t is understood of the whole Law so the custody of the Law of God is not here a Custodia legum personalis privata meant only of a personall private keeping as the Pleaders for Toleration evade saying that the King in his person as well as others was to keep the Law but also and cheifly of a Custodia Officialis publica quod Rex curare debeat ut Lex Domini pure doceatur ut cultus instituatur a publike keeping out of office it being the Kings office to care that the Law of God should be purely taught and his worship set up and that it must be so understood consider these following Reasons First this King verse 15. was to be one from among themselves a Brother not a stranger who was to know the Law of God and to keep it personally as well before he was a King as after the Law of God being
Scriptures quoted with that received maxime Magistratus est Custos utriusque Tabulae prove the exercising of it by coercive means is no unrighteous way but most sutable to the nature of that Ordinance of Magistracie appointed by God to be the keeper of the first Table quoad externam Disciplinam the due consideration whereof fully answers Hagiomastixs rich sence of the Magistrates being Custos utriusque Tabulae laid down by him page 131 132. and showes both his Senses to be but meere Evasions The fourth Commandement contains the summe of all Religion and the publike worship of God the Commandement is Synechdochicall as the others are containing more things then are experssed in words In this Commandement not only the time to be allowed for publike worship but what ever belongs to this worship are breifely comprehended under the sanctification of the Sabbath 'T is commanded that the Church setting aside all other businesses of this life should meet to worship God to hear his word pray c. For as these things cannot be done without time so not without place Ministers c. Therefore in this Synecdoche are contained the commands of the publike Ecclesiasticall meetings to worship God of places chosen fit for meeting of the Ministers and their office In a word this command of the sanctification of the Sabbath contains all those things which belong to the worship of God and are judged to be necessary Zanchiâ— upon the fourth Commandement page 652. showes this at large Chemnitius also in his Common Places De lege Dei on the forth Commandement with Rivetus in his Explication of the Decalogue page 111. are of the same minde that the worship of God is required under keeping the Sabbath day holy the publick worship and the private serving in reference to the publike being there commanded And 't is the observation of Zanchie on the fourth Commandement page 651. that there is in the manner of delivering the fourth Commandement and the other three before it a three-fold difference 1. All the other are plainly negative Thou shalt not but this of the Sabbath is expressely affirmative and negative too 2. In the others he sets not his owne example but in this he does 3. In them he speaks simply Thou shalt not but here not contended with a simple Commanding hee adds a word Remember by all which God would reach that 't is much in his heart that this Commandement should be kept and that 't is a command of great moment Now this Morall Commandement containing the summe of Religion and Gods publike worship is given in the first place to the Father of the Family directed immediatly to him Thou and thy sonne and thy daughter c. therefore given to the Governours of the Familie that they should see it be observed of their whole Family God having so expressed it as Zanchius * speaks to declaâ—e he would have Governours of the Family to be the Authors and leaders to the whole Family to bring them to the publike Assemblies to sanctifie the Sabbath Now this Pronowne thou being a Synecdoche comprehending more then is expressed by name viz as all Governours of Families Masters c. besides naturall Fathers so Magistrates the Fathers and Governours of their people as many learned Divines upon the place expound it teaches us that this command comprehending the summe of all Religion and publike worship is given to the Magistrates in the first place for their subjects and by this command we are instructed not only what lies upon the Master of the Family but what is the Magistrates duty in Religion viz. that he should doe the will of God himselfe and care that it be done also of others and see Gods Sabbaths be sanctified So that here we have in this fourth command the duty of Magistrates in Religion and how that the care of Gods publike worship and Religion is committed to them that they should look to it Zanchie upon this fourth command speaks much how under the Father by a Synecdoche is meant also the Magistrate and that here the holy Ghost teaches what the office of a Magistrate is in matters of Religion how that he is to command his subjects to the outward worship and to use his endeavour that his subjects may come to the publike assemblies and together with others sanctifie the Sabbath Chemnitius upon the same command writes thus 'T is manifest in this Commandement 't is required of Parents Masters of families and Magistrates not only that themselves sanctifie the Sabbath but that it is their place and duty that they care it be sanctified of others and prohibite and punish its prophanation And God doth shew that the Magistrates ought to care that strangers inhabiting within their gates should conform to the true Religion lest otherwise scandals should arise And that by thou the Magistrate is understood and so by this command the care of the publike worship and Sabbath to see it sanctified is given to the Magistrate is further proved from those words nor the stranger that is within thy gates By gates in that place are understood not only a particular family or city but the whole country of any people as Gen. 22. v. 27. He shall possesse the gates of his enemies and Gen. 24. 60. Deut. 24. 24. So learned Rivet upon the 4. Commandement by strangers within thy gates are meant First strangers who commonly inhabited and lived in the common wealth of Israel Secondly strangers who came from other countries for a time not to remain but either to see the country or to traffick c. both which are to keep the Sabbath the latter sort so far as not to violate it with any externall servile work as is evident by Nehem. 13. v. 19 20 21. Now the meaning of gates strangers fully sheweth the Magistrate is meant in the command for many strangers in the first sense dwelt in houses of their own in the 2d sense the Father of a family had nothing to do out of his house or with travellers merchants who were of no family but the restraining of them belonged properly to the Magistrate Upon which interpretation Rivet and Zanchius do shew how 't is the part of a Magistrate to provide that strangers may not give scandals in a common-wealth but that at least they be made to keep outward discipline with others The strangers among the Jews were compelled not only to stand to their Political laws but to some of the outward precepts of Religion and that partly lest the good manners of the Jewes should be corrupted and disturbed with the Gentiles evil manners and that the strangers among them might be in some sort instructed in the knowledge of the Divine law And whosoever would be fully satisfied in this point that the publike exercise of piety and Religion is commanded in the fourth Commandement and that this Commandement belongs and is given to the Magistrates not only as particular persons
others not only which see but which heare of them have the bridle of fear put upon them whereby they are kept from the like that must needs follow that whosoever maketh our Saviour Christ Author of this loosenesse in punishing such offenders maketh him forthwith to loose the bridle whereby others are afraid from running into wickednesse and what is this but to make Christ a Troubler of Common-wealths Besides if Christ by his comming loosed these civil punishments and purchased this grace of his Father for Blasphemers Idolaters Hereticks that they should escape civil punishments which the Law of God adjudged them to how comes it to passe that the Apostles to whom Christ committed the publishing of all the pardon he obtained for us did never make mention of the releasing of these punishments If Christ had obtained this libertie it was worth the Preaching and therefore unlesse they can show out of the writings of the Apostles to warrant this Sanctuary which they would build to the support of Blasphemers Hereticks that followes that the Apostles have not answered the trust committed to them but in that the Apostle puts a sword in the hand of the Magistrates and in the use of it makes him a Minister of the justice of the Lord against sin he confutes this opinion 3. And Lastly we see clearly that some things that were permitted under the old Testament to the Jewes are not to Christians under the new but expresly and formally declared against by Christ as Polygamie mens putting away their wives giving bils of divorce and marrying others Mat. 5. 31 32. Mat. 19. from v. 3. to the 10. and usury Matth. 5. 42. Luke 6. 34 35. Learned Cameron in his lectures of divorce upon Matth. 19. 3. puts this question why the bill of divorce takes not place in the times of the new Testament and why does not God permit the same thing in the new which he suffred in the old unto which he answers That although there is the same reason of mans nature in the times of the old and new Testament yet there is not the same reason of grace which is much more plentifully and clearly laid open and explained in these last times then before Therefore our lives ought to be ordered in these times much more strictly and holily Those Elders under the old Testment were bound truely to follow the same holinesse of life but we much more for by how much any one hath received more then nnother by so much he owes more Chemnitius in his common places de paupertate cap. 6. de vsura showes though there were two permissions cheifly in the old Testament of Divorce and Usurie yet Christ under the new opposes to either of these permissions the perpetual rule of righteousnesse in God Matth. 5. 32. 42. also cap. 19. verse 8. Luke 6. verse 34. 35. In which place he discourses of this how God under the old Testament may be considered as a Divine and as a Legislator in some places of the old Testament laying down how we must serve him in holinesse and righteousnesse in others prescribing certaine political constitutions to that people for the externall societie of Civil life in the Jewish Common-wealth Now in those political Laws which God gave the People of Israel Holinesse and Righteousnesse of the conscience before God was not alwayes prescribed but they were fitted to the preservation of outward and civil societie in that Common-wealth according to the condition and dispositions and manners of that people to whom God himselfe gives the Epithite of a stiffe neck So the Bil of Divorce in the Common-wealth of Israel was permitted but now in the new Testament though Moses suffred it for the hardnesse of their hearts yet Christ declares against it t is not lawfull to be permitted though there were the same manners of men there being now under the Gospel more powerfull remedies of such an evil and a fuller declaration and communication of the grace of God This Distinction may not be allowed now under the new Testament of Theologus and Legislator of jus fori jus poli for all Lawes given by God in the new Testament prescribe the puritie of conscience before God and doe not look particularly to the outward preservation of the Civil societie of one Common-wealth of people peâ—uliarly And so much for the 18. Thesis THESIS 19. Besides all the old Testament proofes both of commands and approved examples before the Law and under the Law before the Captivitie of Babylon and after for the Magistrates coercive power in the matters of the first Table laid down in this Treatise together with Answers to all the evasions brought against such commands and examples as also to that of proofs out of the old Testament I desire the Reader to consider this Thesis that place of Scripture speaking of the days of the new Testament and what should be then done approves of and commends this power of the Magistrate as among other these three places of Scripture Psal 2. 10 11 12. Esay 49. 23. Zach. 13. 2 3. That the second Psalme is a Prophecie of the dayes of the Gospel after Christs comming into the world is clearely demonstrated by Act. 4. 24 25 26 27. where by Peter and John t is applyed to those times In which Psalme King David foreseeing in Spirit that Heathen Kings would hand themselves and assemble together against the Lord and his Christ extendeth the same charge to the Gentiles which the Kings of Jurie received before and warned them all at once Be wise ye Kings understand ye Judges of the world Serve the Lord and t is to be observed in that second Psalme that Kings and Judges quatomes tales are to serve the Lord and kisse the Son Upon which words Austin writes thus All men ought to serve God in one sort by common condition as men in another sort by severall gifts and offices by the which some doe this some doe that no private persons could command Idols to be punished cleane from among mert which was so long before prophecied Therfore Kings Besides their dutie to serve God common with all other men have in that they be Kings how to serve the Lord in such sort as none can doe which are not Kings For in this Kings in respect they be Kings serve the Lord as God by David warneth them if in their Kingdomes they command that which is good and prohibite that which is evill not in Civil affairs only but in matters also concerning divine Religion That Esay 49. 23. is a Prophecie to the Gentiles under the new Testament as is evident by verse 22. Behold I will lift up my hand to the Gentiles and Kings shall be thy nursing Fathers c now they could not be cald the nurses of the Church if they had no care of Religion but those of whom this prophecie was meant and in whom fulfilled did care for Religion did care for the Faith as Constantine
God for it p. 12 13 Magistrates and Judges before Moses time before the Judiciall Lawes or Levitical Priesthood did punish for matters of Religion and command men under their power to worship God p. 13 14 Other Kings besides those of Israel and Iudah used their Power for the worship of God against Idolaters Blasphemers c p. 14 15 16 That objection against the Kings of Israel and Iudahs power in matters of Religion that they were tipes of Christ and that Land typical answered at large in eight distinct Answers where divers things are opened concerning Types and of those Kings being Types and how actions may be Typical and yet morall from p. 16 to 27 Idolatry and Idolaters not the adaequate object of the Magistrates coercive power under the old Testament but the whole worship and truth of God from p. 27 to 34 The 17. of Deut. 18. 19. opened and proved to give Magistrates the care of Religion p. 34 35 36 37 Vnder the Father in the fourth commandement and under sanctifying the Sabbath the Magistrates dutie to see the publick worship of God observed by his subjects proved p. 34 40. 41 The Magistrates dutie qua Magistrate in matters of Religion proved and yet with a difference of the Christian and Heathen Magistrates power in such matters p. 42 43 44 The commands in the Old Testament for Magistrates punishing in matters of the first Table as Exod. 22. 13. Deut. 13. 1 2 5. Deut. 17. 1. 2 3 4 5. Levit. 24. 16. Deut 18 20. 22. with divers others laid down p. 44 45 46 Reasons laid down to prove these commands for punishing Idolaters false Prophets c. Morall of common reason and equity given to all Nations and for all Ages from p. 46. to 53. Of Judiciall lawes under the Old Testament being in force under the New how far and in what respects with the reasons thereof from p. 53. to 58. The Magistrates punishing of sinnes immediately against God as Blasphemy Apostasie c. is of the light of nature p. 58 59 60 61 72 73 The Magistrates coercive power in matters of Religion as necessary under the Gospel for the glory of God salvation of mens soules peace of Church and State as under the Old yea more reasons for it under the Gospel then under the Law p. 62 63 64 The Magistrates punishing false Prophets c. is an act of our love to God and our Brethren p. 66 67 68 69 70 71 The reasons of those commands in 13. and 17. chap. of Deut. concerning putting to death false Prophets Apostates have been were and are stil the same of a like nature and force both before the commands given by Moses in Moses time and now under the Gospel p. 76 77 78 An Answer to that objection that if Moses laws bind now then Moses is alive under the new Testament p. 79 80 A full Answer to that objection If the Law in Deut. 13. be in force now t is in force in all the particulars for the manner of the punishment for a whole City not only al the Inhabitants but the cattell also c. in which answer many things are opened and cleared what 's morall in that Deut. 13. and what ceremoniall and that the law concerning the destroying of a city cattell c. is no part of the command spoken of in the first part of the 13. chap of Deut. p. 81 82 83 84 85 86 87. 173 174 175. 195 196 An answer to that obiection If Moses lawes bind under the New Testament then every person in an idolatrous State is bound to seek the death one of another yea the Magistrate bound to sentence to death all his subiects practising idolatry without exception p. 90 91 92 93 A full answer to that Evasion of Hagiomastix against the Old Testament lawes that the reason why the Magistrates did then punish false Prophets Blasphemers c. was because the Jewes to whom these laws were given in all difficult cases about matters of Religion had the opportunity of immediate consultation with God who did infallibly declare his mind to them in which answer many questions are discussed and cleared severall texts opened as whether God gave answers by Vrim and Thummim in difficulties arising about morall transgressionâ— against the first Table or rather whether those answers were not concerning the events of future things as about the successe of war c. as whether Infallibility or Fallibility be the proper grounds and reasons of punishing or not punishing in matters of faith and morall transgressions as whether there be not and how far and by what means an infallibility and certainty in matters of Religion now as well as under the Law as whether that Deut. 17. 8 9 10 11 12. be any proof for God giving answers by Vrim and Thummim or only a ground in difficult cases to go from lower Courts to higher and the highest of all who by reason of their number and abilities were more able from the law of God to resolve difficult cases then the inferior Courts with divers other particulars usefull to be known in these times from p. 95 to 165 A full answer to that Evasion brought by Hagiomastix and other Patrons of Toleration that the punishments under the Law were more bodily and afflictive to the outward man then under the Gospel and consequently were typicall Cutting off of Casting out now and typicall of eternall damnation and therefore by the comming of Christ ceased p. 165 166 167 168 169 170 A full answer to that objection That supposing all those lawes in Deut. 13. c. were morall and in force yet they could not reach to Hereticks and false Teachers among us as not being those false Prophets Idolaters Blasphemers spoken of in those lawes from p. 171 to 190 An answer to that objection That the Sadduces Herodians Pharises were tolerated by the Jewes and that Christ did never charge that Church and State with sin for not punishing them p. 29 30 compared with 190 191 192 193 194 Severall Reasons laid down to prove that if there were no commands nor examples in the New Testament to prove the Magistrates power of punishing Hereticks false Teachers yet the proofs of the Old Testament were binding p. 199 to 211 Besides all the Old Testament proofs some places of Scripture speaking of the dayes under the New Testament brought for Magistrates power in Religion and punishing false Teachers p. 212 213 214 215 Seven grounds from places of Scripture recorded in the New Testament proving Magistrates coercive power against false Teachers annd Hereticks laid down and cleared p 215 216 217 218. Published by Authority A TREATISE against the Magistrates Toleration And Permission of a Promiscuous use and Profession of all Religions Sects and Heresies and a partiall limited Toleration of some few Sects or of any one Sect way of Worship Church Government different from the true Religion established and setled HAving in my Preface and Prolegomena both
stated the question of Toleration and Liberty of Conscience and laid down many Particulars usefull and necessary to bee known as giving understanding and light into the nature of this Controversie I now come as to the proving of a Toleration in it self of Blasphemies Heresies Errors Schisms unlawfull so of showing the Christian Magistrates Power and Warrant yea necessity that is laid upon him of hindring and suppressing all false wayes and worships and of promoting and commanding by his Authority with all his subjects the true Religion and Faith and this I shall do by laying down divers Theses and Positions one following upon another and each going further and rising higher then the other and the method I propound to follow in this Tractate shall be that of the Title page of this Book First by Scripture Secondly by sound Reasons Thirdly by Fathers Fourthly Councels and so as it there followes setting down upon all those Heads by way of Theses the proofs of the points in hand though upon some more some fewer as the nature of the things may require and I shall judge needfull and convenient CHAP. I. The Theses grounded on expresse Scriptures proving the sinfulnesse and wickednesse of Tolerations and the Magistrates duty withâ—â— his Territories to suppresse Blasphemies Errors Heresies Schisms 1. THESIS AS there is but one God one Lord Christ one Spirit one Heaven so there is but one Faith and that once delivered to the Saints one Truth one Gospel and one Way the Scripture every where speaking of these in the â—ingular number as of one not as of many never calling them Faiths Truths Gospels Wayes but the Faith she Gospel the Truth the way of Truth the good old way one way the right way the way of righteousnesse and such like whereas falshood and error is manifold the Scripture speaking of false wayes 〈…〉 of Antichrists as many Falsum est multiplex verum autem 〈…〉 sibi per 〈◊〉 conforme est 2. THESIS The Scriptures of the Old and New Testament in many placeth old forth and command to aske for follow after walke in that one good way to strive and contend earnestly for that one Faith to hold fast the truth to serve God only and on the contrary reproves prohibits condemns turning afide to the right hand or to the left or halting between two or more Religions and Worships hence those complaints 1 Kin. 18. 21. of the people halting between two opinions between God and Baal of fearing the Lord and serving their owne Gods after the manner of the Nations 2 King 17. vers 33. 41. of worshipping and swearing by the Lord and by Malcham Zeph. 1. 5. and those prohibitions of not letting cattell gender with a diverse kind of not sowing fields with mingled seed of not wearing garments mingled of linned and wollen of not sowing of Vineyards of divers seeds and of not ploughing with an Oxe and an Asse together Levit. 19. 19. Deut. 22. 9 10. 3. THESIS God both foretels and promises in his word and that more particularly of the dayes of the Gospel to give one heart and one way to his people and as there shall be one Lord so his name shall be one and that they shall all call upon the name of the Lord to serve him with one consent Jer. 32. 39. Ezek. 11. 19. Zeph. 3. 9. Zach. 14. 9. Christ praies earnestly to his Father for beleevers that they all may be one and that they may be perfect in one John 17 21 22 23. and there are many exhortations to Christians to be of one mind and of the same mind in the Lord to be of one accord of one mind all to speak the same thing that there be no Schisms among them but that they be perfectly joyned together in the same mind and in the same judgement and that they keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace 2 Cor. 13. 11. Philip. 2. 2. Philip. 4. 2. 1 Cor. 1. 10. Ephes 4. 3. Now what God hath promised and foretold what Christ hath prayed for in a speciall manner what the Apostles in their Epistles have so pathetically intreated and exhorted to that Christians should especially labour after and all the meane tending thereunto which the desiring and granting of a Toleration of all wayes or many wayes must needs be contrary unto 4. THESIS A Toleration and sufferance but of any one or two false ways and worships fights directly against these and many such like places of Scripture For we can do nothing against the truth but for the truth 2 Cor. 13. 8. Buy the truth and sell it not Prov. 23. 23. be valiant for the truth strive for the faith of the Gospel Be zealous beware of false Prophets beware of dogs beware of evill workers beware of the Coucision A man that is an Heretick after the first and second admonition reject They that keep the Law contend with the wicked Pauls not giving place to false brethren no not for an houre that the truth of the Gospel might continue Paul and Barnabas having no small dissention and disputation with those who taught Circumcision If there come any unto you and bring not this Doctrine receive him not into your house neither bid him God speed the Angel of Ephesus his commendation for that he could not beare them which are evill and which say they are Apostles and are not and for hating the deeds of the Nicolaitans the Angels of the Churches of Pergamus and Thyatira being threatned by Christ for suffering them that held the Doctrine of Balaam the Doctrine of the Nicolaitans and that woman Jez abel which called her selfe a Prophetesse to teach and to seduce his servants 5. THESIS Whereas a particular partiall Toleration offends against many particular places of Scripture a Vniversall Toleration is against all Scripture goes against the whole current scope and sense of Scripture both in the Old and New Testament both in matters of Faith and Manners both in the generall rules and commands and the particular and that both in personall actions and in all Relations to others The sum of the Scriptures is Faith and good life and the end of the severall states appointed by God both Politicall Ecclesiasticall and Oeconomicall are to maintain and continue these Now a generall Toleration of all Religions and consciences is diametically opposite to all these against the whole will of God overthrowing all that God in the Scripture expresses of sins duties and relations I would have any thing in the Scripture named in point of faith holinesse in the relations of Magistrates Ministers Governours of Families which this Toleration some way or other does not make void Other Errors and Heresies as Arrianisme Anabaptisme c. do not offend against all Scripture but against such and such places but this generall Toleration throws down all at once it overthrows the Scriptures in that it allowes a Liberty of denying the Scriptures to be the Word of God in that it
in Samson and divers others Secondly when done upon morall grounds and reasons motives drawn from mercies blessings evils and judgements commands and messages from God experiences of God upon Gods convincing and converting men Thirdly when they of such an Order and office are reproved and punished for not doing such things or for not thoroughly doing them whereas I suppose persons typicall and whose actions are intended to be meerly typicall will and shall do such things though they may not know the meaning of them of which many instances might be given in some actions of Samson Jonas and others Fourthly when as their actions are sutable to those qualifications titles and descriptions given in Scripture of Magistrates and that office in generall Fifthly when what they do is agreeable and sutable to the commands and directions given by God to all of that order and rank and they do in the matter of Religion in commanding to good and suppressing evil what all other Magistrates have done in all times and ages who have cared for any Religion at all as Heathen Princes before they knew the true God and others after they have known him however through ignorance or superstition they might mistake about the true way and worship Now let the Reader but consider of all these notes of distinction and others of the like nature that might be given and he will find them agree to those Kings Joâ—iaâ— Hezekiah Manasseh Asa c. for the substance of all they did in commanding their people to the right way and suppressing the false and so much for answering of this evasion of the practise of the Kings of Israel and Judah which I have been the larger in because so great a weight of this controversie on all the Sectaries part lies on this typicalnesse both of the Jewish Magistrates and people 14. THESIS As for that which is said by M. S. pag. 51. that Idolatry and Idolaters were the adaequate object of the coercive power of the Kings of Judah in matters of Religion and that Idolatry meant not of those who worshiped the true God though in a false manner with the violation of the second Commandement but of such who Apostatized from the God of Israel to serve strange gods the gods of other Nations those neither simply as such but as drawing others away unto the same Idolatries with them but we never read of any coercive power or punishment inflicted upon Hereticks or Sismaticks which abounded in great variety and numbers amongst them as the Pharisees Herodians c. I answer First Idolatry and Idolaters were not the adaequate object of the Kings and Magistrates coercive power under the Old Testament but generally the matter of the Covenant the whole worship and truth of God as is apparent by the examples of Josiah Hezekiah Asa and Jehosaphat in putting downe and suppressing other evils besides Idolatry as will-worship things abused to Idolatry prophanation of the Sabbaths marrying of strange wives abuses in Discipline and Church Government prophaning chambers in the Courts of the house of God in commanding to keep the Passeover which though their subjects had not kept they might not have been Idolaters in punishing those who were guilty only of wilworship not of Idolatry as also those who married strange wives who did common works on the Sabbath day who dealt with familiar spirits and Wizards of al which the Reader may find proofs at large in these following Scriptâ— 2 Cro. 34. 31 32 33. There 's a Covenant made to keep al the Testimonies and Statutes of God and the people are made to stand to it From 2 Kings 23. verse 8 9. compared with 2 Chron. 14. 3. 5. 2 Chron. 15. 17. 2 Chron. 33. 17. 't is evident there were in Judah two sorts of high places some on which was God worshipped others on which Idols were worshipped the one sort was the high places of Idolatry the other the high places of will-worship yet the Priests of the latter as well as of the former were punished by Josiah though not with the punishment of death as they were for he caused them to go out of all the Cities of Judah and to cease from the Priests office so that they durst not come up to the Altar of the Lord at Jerusalem So Nehem. 13. 7 8. 15 16 17. 25. 28. 30. Ezra 10. 3. 5. 2 Kings 23 24 25. Secondly the Idolatry removed and punished by the Jewish Kings and Magistrates was as well of worshipping the true God in a false manner as of those who worshipped false gods the gods of the Nations and were Apostates from the true God to other gods as is evident by the instances of worshipping the golden Calfe made by Aaron and worshipping of the golden Calves at Dan and Betâ—el set up by Jâ—roâ—oam called Idolatry as in severall places of Scripture by Moses and some of the good Kings as Josiah removed and the Worshippers punished and yet the people of Israel in worshipping these did not go serve the gods of the Nations but served the God of Israel as appears by those speeches of theirs Exod. 32. 4 5 6. To morrow is a Feast to the Lord not to the golden Calfe 1 Kings 12. 27 28. It is too much for you to go â—p to Ierusalem behold thy gods O Israel which brought thee up out of the Land of Egypt and our most learned Protestants in their writings against the Papists do prove the Papists to be formall Idolaters from their adoration of God and Christ in Images though they do not worship false gods the gods of the Heathen by these two examples of Aarons golden calfe and Ierâ—â—oams golden Calves showing the people of the Jewes were not so mad as to beleeve those Calves to be their God or that brought them out of the â—and of Egypt being brought up hundreds of yeeres before but only outward representations and remembrancers of God to them in which they worshipped the true God their worship being terminative related to God and not to the Image Ioshua 22. 11 12. All the children of Israel gathered themselves together to go up to warre against the children of Ruben the children of Gad and the halfe Tribe of Manasseâ— upon supposition of their building an Altar not to strange Gods but for burnt offerings or for sacrifices besides the Altar of the Lord God that was before his Tacernacle verse 21. 26. 28 29. which they were diverted from upon being satisfied it was not an Altar for burnt Offerings c. but for a witnesse betweene them and the rest of the Tribes that the Lord is God verse 17. 34. Thirdly the Scripture is contrary also to that that the grosest Idolaters were not to be punished if not Sedâ—cers drawing others away from the true God to strange gods for we read that Moses was so angry with the people that were seduced unto a lower kind of Idolatry viz. worshipping the true God by a Calfe that besides the three thousand
committed to private persons equally as to Kings for their particular personall observation and therefore sure in this solemne injunction there 's something new and more required of Kings then was of them before or is of persons meerly private Secondly this was not done till just hee was placed in the throne so saith the text verse 18. The Law was committed to the King as a King at his Coronation which showes it had not reference to the Kings private conversation as a meer man but to his Princely function as a Magistrate which stood in commanding others not in guiding himselfe For no man is a King in respect of himselfe but in ruling his Subjects So Augustin saith of Kings As a man hee serveth God one way as a King another way As a man by faithfull living as a King in setting forth Lawes to command that which is good and remove the contrary So that Kings as Kings serve God in doing that for his service which none but Kings can doe This is also proved from 2 Kings 11. 12. compared with 2 Chron. 23. 11. where to King Jehoash in his solemne inauguration as soon as the Crown is put upon him the Book of the Testimony was given him from the high Priest that hee might know the care and publick custody of the Law was committed to him in his being made a King and in that the command of God with the practise accordingly together with putting the Crown on the head was to give the Law in the Kings hand it showes it was to command it to others and make others keep it And that this was the meaning of it in Jehoash and so in other Princes it may further appeare in that the people at that time being much corrupted in Religion and Jehoaida the high priest desiring much their Reformation and the Restauration of Religion as a meanes to effect it made a covenant between the Lord and the people and as the medium and meanes that that people should bee the Lords people hee brings in the King between them that hee should interpose with his authority to make them the Lords people verse 17. And Iehoiada made a Covenant between the Lord and the King and the people that they should bee the Lords people that hee should set up and maintain the true worship of God and bee for God to bring in the people Thirdly the ends expressed in Deut. 17. Of the Kings prolonging his dayes in his Kingdome hee and his children in the midst of Israel of his not turning aside from the commandement to the right or to the left of his learning to fear the Lord God and keeping all the words of the Law show 't is understood of a publike officiall keeping the Law for the Kings of Israel and Judah could not prolong their dayes in their Kingdomes nor their children enjoy good dayes after them if they suffered Idolatry Apostasie c. in their land though themselves practised it not as may bee seen in Solomon and the stories of the Kings of Israel and Judah neither could they keep all the commands of God there being many commands given to the Iewish Magistrates as is confessed but pleaded to bee Iudiciall and peculiar to them to see their people serve God only and to punish Idolaters and false Prophets Fourthly the practise of the good Kings among the Iewes not only keeping the Law themselves but causing others also as Josiah Hezekiah Asae c. and that from this Text and such like showes it was meant of a publick keeping the Law the diligent execution of their office serves for an evident exposition what God required at their hands And as I have proved that of Deut. 17. speaks of a keeping the Law ex officio as a publick custos so for the taking of another evasion brought by Mr. Goodwin in his Hagiomastix page 132. I desire the Reader to observe that God having given power and authority to the Magistrate to see the first Table kept the duties commanded to bee performed by all under his jurisdiction and to bee guarded against all disobedience and contempt from men it must bee understood in the use of such meanes and wayes God hath allowed the Magistrate as distinct from private persons or ministers viz. such as are proper to him and which God hath given him by virtue of his place to use Now those meanes qua Magistrate are in the exercise of his coercive power by Lawes and Edicts and by the use of the temporall sword given him of God to restrain and hinder such evills and to promote and further such good So Melancton when as the Magistrate is the keeper of the Lawes hee himselfe obeys them and compells others to obey them and defends strongly their authority Therefore he is armed of God with the sword The Minister hee restraines and punishes only with the word of God with preaching and excommunication without bodily force But the Magistrate being armed with the sword punishes those who are conâ—umaicous with punishments of the body Triglandus showes how Ministers Fathers of families Magistrates and all people are commanded to keep the Law and are keepers of the Law and then layes down the difference between all these in keeping the Law The Minister hee teaches whole Assemblies the true rule of holinesse admonishes and exhorts al to subject to the command of Christ and by the power of the keyes casts out from the communion of the faithfull impenitent and refractorie persons The father of a family teaches in his family the exercise of true piety goes before them in example and by his authority restrains his that they shall not turne out of the good way Now he who is Magistrate doth not teach but as a beleever out of the Law of love as other beleevers doe and as a Father of a Family his owne household But as a Magistrate with his coercive power he commands and forces all within his Territories that they shall not outwardly offend against the true Religion and worship of God And so all our Divines who have written of the differences between Civill and Ecclesiasticall power as 〈◊〉 Zâ—â—chiuâ— Amesiâ—â— Apolloâ—â—◠〈◊〉 do show the lawfulnesse of the Magistrates using outward force by pâ—nall Lawes and bodily punishments towards those persons and things whereof God hath given them power I will quote one passage out of Amesiâ—â— Between the Magistrates and the Ministers of the Church there is this difference T is the duty of Magistrates by Civil means and coercive power to procure the common good as well spirituall as bodily of all those committed to their jurisdiction 1. Tim. 2. 2. but of Ministere by Ecclesiasticall means to procure the spirituall good of those committed to them And another out of Bilson Ministers may teach but not command perswasion is their part compulsion is the Princes By all which it appeares the Magistrate having power in matters of Religion as the
but as they are Magistrates so that 't is their part to care by their authority that the Sabbath be sanctified that is that Religion bee preserved and the exercises of piety take place in their Countries and Territories and further know what the office of a Magistrate is in matters of Religion both in respect of persons and things and that in the severall particulars let him read learned Zanchius on the fourth Commandement particularly in these pages 651 652. 659 660. and especiaâ—ly 788 789 c. the fifth Common Place De Officiâ— Principum in Religione of the office of Princes in Religion And therefore seeing Magistrates have the care of Religion and Gods worship committed to them being by God appointed to be keepers of the first Table as well as the second among other particulars laid down in the word and branched out by Divines wherein the Magistrates power in matters of Religion stands this must needs be one a power of suppressing false Religions and Heresies and punishing those who by all wayes and meanes go about to destroy the true If the Magistrate be Custos primâ— Tabula he is also Vindex primae Tabulae If the Magistrate have a power of commanding the true and using coâ—rcive meanes to bring his people to it then sure he hath of hindring the false as he that by Law hath the power of keeping the peace hath a power also of suppressing tumults riots râ—uâ—s and the reason is manifest because the one cannot be kept without the other the Physitian who hath a power given him over bodies for their health hath a power over sicknesses corrupt meats poyson and all that would destroy the health and life He who hath the power of keeping a Garden and the precious flowers and fruits in it hath a power of plucking up weeds taking Mouls Snails and such like that would spoile all He who may justly command may justly punish and he that may lawfully punish may certainly command All learning will tell us that contraries be consequent to contraries If Magistrates may lawfully command and establish that which is good then they may forbid and abolish the contrary evill of which see more in Bilsons Difference between Christian subjection and unchristian Rebellion part 2. p. 278 279. And therefore we see Josiah and other Princes who established the true Religion by their kingly authority caused the people to stand to it removed and punished also all persons and wayes contrary thereunto Hence I conceive t is that maxime is generally received among Divines Magistratus est Custos ac vindex utriusque Tabulae the Magistrate is the Revenger of both Tables as well as the Keeper 16. THESIS Magistrates qua Magistrates by vertue of their office as Magistrates simply every of them though Turks Heathen and wicked as well as Christian and Orthodox have an authority right power from God Jure divino in matters of Religion to command for God and his Honor and to forbid and suppresse the contrary The Magistrate in generall being by his proper place the Minister of God Rom. 13. Gods vicegerent governing men in the roome of God even so far as his power and jurisdiction extends is bound to care in matters of Religion As now Parents qua Parents have by the morall law of God a power and a duty lying upon them to command their children to good and to forbid evill and have a rod given into their hands to those ends although being Heathens or wicked for the present they know not or will not exercise it in teaching and bringing them up in the Christian Religion and fear of God So is with Magistrates the Authority and right every of them hath by being a Magistrate who by his place is for the punishment of evill doers and the praise of them that doe well however to the due and right exercise of this a good will and true knowledge out of the word of God may be required Zanehius in his Mâ—scellaniet de Magistratu 167. 169. and De Ecclesiâ— militantis Gubernatione cap. 26. pag. 553 554. showes that every Magistrate as well wicked as godly not Christian as Christian hath this power and so doth Spalatensis in his sixth Book fifth chapter De Republica Ecclesiastica but for the better understanding of it I shall lay downe this twofold distinction First that Heathen Princes so farre as the light of nature teaches them and right Reason are to make Lawes in matters of Religion and whereas the * light of nature leads on straight to the knowledge of one God and Supreme Deity and dictates this God to be just holy good perfect c. and to bee worshipped with reverence they should command so farre remove Idolatry the worship of birds four-footed beasts and creeping things promote the worship of the true God punish blasphemies and wicked opinions contrary to the nature of God and that out of their proper office of being Princes as the immediate Ministers and Vicegerents of God on earth Hence we read in many Writers as Plutarch Aristotle Plato and others that Heathen Princes have made Lawes for God and his worship and have punished Atheists Epicures Blasphemers and Sacrilegious persons and as any of them have come to more knowledge of God and Religion by any extraordinary work of Gods providence or by living among them of the true Religion as the Jews before Christs time and Christians since though not fully converted yet still according to their knowledge and means they were bound and many of them have gone on in promoting the true Religion and forbidding the contrary as the King of Niniveh Darius Nebuchadonezor and Aurelianus at the request of the Church punishing Paulus Samosetenus the Heretick But now if beside the light of nature and dictamen of naturall reason Princes have the light of faith the knowledge of Christ and the Scriptures of Heathens come to be Christians or being borne in Christian Common-wealths have from their child hood beene brought up in the faith of Christ then also out of their kingly office they should throw downe all things contrary to faith and the true worship of Christ and positively by outward acts promote and command the outward worship of God have a care of the Ecclesiasticall Discipline and of all the parts of Religion that they may be preserved Of which the Reader may be further satisfied in the writings of that learned man Marcus Antonius de Dominis Archbish of Spalato Secondly though the care of Religion belongs to al Princes yet in a speciall manner upon speciall obligations the Christian â—aith belongs to Christian Magistrates and Princes whom God hath given to be nursing Fathers and nursing Mothers these have not only a remote power but the next power which they may bring into act by reason of the knowledge of Christ and many helps and this many Reformed Divines affert of the Christian Magistrate in the handling of this question of the
up to obedience and deterre them from the contempt and violation thereof whereas on the contrary for the want of this all Blasphemies Heresies and Errors have abounded of which I could give many instances but shall referre them to the more proper place of handling viz. to the Reasons for Magistrates punishing men for Idolatries Blasphemies Heresies Schismes only for the present shall hint that God himselfe saith twice once in Deut. 13. 11. the other Deut. 17. 13. the Magistrates punishing in such a case shall cause all the people to heare feare and to do no more presumptuously the Lord gives this blessing unto the punishment of such offendors that others not only which see but heare of them have the bridle of feare put upon them whereby kept from the like Thirdly and lastly this coercive power of the Magistrate will be found every whit as usefull and necessary now for the glory of God salvation of mens soules peace of Church and State as it was then yea and in some respectâ— more necessary there being in our dayes not only the same reasons and causes for that power of the Magistrate but others also Were there under the Law many incorrigible presumptuous offendors against God and his worship that could not be otherwise reclaimed and are there not such now were there then many grosse ways of false worship and Religion destroying foundations broacht among the people were they then infectious drawing away and seducing many soules were they then provoking the wrath of God causing it to waxe hot against his people Ought the glory and Name of God to bee then dear to Magistrates Why behold under the Gospel there are as incorrigible desperate persons broaching all kind of damnable Heresies making it their work to lay wast all Religion whom no Admonitions Church Censures can do any good upon Heresies and Errors now are as infectious spreading subverting whole houses eating as a Gaâ—grene and so in the rest Master Burroughs in his Irenicum page 23. confesses there is a necessity of the Magistrates power in matters of Religion 〈◊〉 truth now as there was then and showes though we cannot argue the being of spirituall Ordinances from our need of them but from their institution yet in naturall and civill things this way of arguing is strong enough there is need of such a help and therefore we should seeke to have it And the necessity of the Magistrates coercive power under the Gospel he sets down as follows Now sure the need we have of such a power is exceeding great we were in a most miserable condition if we had no externall civill power to restraine from any kind of Blasphemies and Seducements The condition of the Jewes O how happy was it in comparison of ours if this were denied us for if any of theirs did blaspheme God or seeke to seduce any from him they knew what to doe with him besides perswading of him to the contrary but if any should seeke to seduce the wives of our bosomes children of our bodies friends as deare to us as our owne lives into those wayes that wee thinke in our consciences will undâ—e their soules to all eternity yet we must only desire them they would not doe so we must only admonish or seeke to convince them or remove them but restraine them we cannet If the deliverance of us from the Pedagogy of the Law hath brought us into this condition our burden is greater in this thing then any that the Law laid upon our forefathers Hath Christ delivered us from one burden to lay a greater upon us Must we now see those who are dearest to us drawne into the way of eternall destruction and stand and looks on but no way left to help them or our selves unlesse we can perswade to the contrary Surely our condition is very sad Have we not cause to say Lord let any burden of the Ceremoniall Law be laid upon our necks rather then this If there were a company of mad men running up and downe the streets with knives and swords in their hands endeavouring to mischeif and kill all they meet with and we must doe nothing to restraine them if we could perswade them to doe otherwise well and good but that is all we can doe for helpe what a dangerous thing were this The case is the same when those who are mad with damnable Heresies run from place to place seeking to draw all they can from the truth If we have no meanes of helpe but 〈◊〉 it is ill with us Surely God hath not put his people â—â—to such a sad condition or this is be hath provided better for his people then thus And I appeale to the consciences and experience of men whether this power of the Magistrate of punishing Blasphemies and Heresies be not found to be usefull and necessary both for the honour of God the safety of other mens soules the peace of Church and State and whether all other mens without this when this might have beene had have made good these ends or whether this coming upon other means as Admonitions Instructions Synods Church Censures hath not suppressed Heresies Schisms vindicated the honor and truth of God recovered many souls setled the peace of Churches and States as among the Donatists of old and the Arminians in Holland of late Any mans reason yea sense may tell him that in this sinfull corrupted condition of man there is in coercive power a naturalnesse and sutablenesse to work upon the outward man for the furtherance of spirituall good and that when no other means can this power removes outward things that hindered keeps from outward evils applies outward means And yet further besides the same reasons and grounds now of the necessity of the Magistrates coercive power as well as under the Old Testament there seemes to be new reasons under the Gospel over and above that plead for the necessity of this power As that under the Gospel so many outward visible judgementâ— are not inflicted by God upon offenders as were under the Law whereupon Master Cartwright speaks Certainly if ever there had beene any time wherein the Magistrates sword might have rested in the sheath the time of the Law had of all beene fittest when the Lord did so visibly sit in his judgement seat and himselfe in proper person held the Assise and Gaile delivery For as the Lord doth not now by outward blessings give so plentifull testimony to the obedience of the Gospel as the Law so doth he not with so many and so severe punishments revenge the breach of it as in the time of the Law for in these outward punishments the dispensation of God under the Law is divers from that under the Gospel in that be did more terribly revenge disobedience and therefore God not striking now so often immediately Blasphemers Seducers false Prophets Schismaticks as under the Law the Magistrates have the more need not to beare the sword in vaine lest Hereticks and
before Moses from this command of God used this sword And this law therefore God inserted in the Israelitical laws which is not now taken away by Christs coming as a mosaicall coaction because Christ abrogated not the policie and law of nature Musculuâ— in his common places De Magistratibus shewing the Magistrates coercive power in matters of religion to be so manifest a truth as that the heathen could nor be ignoraÌ„t of it concluds t is to be much more acknowledged by Christians neither is it that any man should say it s not for us Christians to harken in points of religion what the light of our nature dictates unto us but what the Scripture speaks to us of which are given for that end that we may be instructed to every good work For although in those things which concerne the mysteries of our Faith the Law of nature is not to bee consulted with but rather the Scriptures yet also-those things ought not to be contemned which by God are written in our â—earts by nature as is that law of nature whose direction both the Prophets Christ and his Apostles commend to us Is not that power which fathers have over their children of the law of nature which the Scripture also confirms And who wiâ—l deny that it specially belongs to Parents to bring up their children in true religion and the feare of God In Abraham this was praised Gen. 18. Now if wee consider the Magistrate what is hee otherwise to be accounted of then the supreme Father of all his subjects whose power is much greater then of a Father over children and therefore it belongs more to him then to a Father that be should take upon him the care of Religion and among â—is subjects set it up As for Musculus Authority which is so much urged by Minus Celsus Senenfis Sect tertia page 183. that all the judiciall lawes are by the Gospell wholly antiquated and therefore those of Deut. 13. Deut. 17. c. concerning the killing of false Prophetâ— Blasphemers I answer t is evident that is not Musculus meaning that under the Gospell Magistrates may not make lawes or punish for points of Religion for in many of his writings he pleads for this coercive power as in the second Psal verse 11. Serve the Lord with feare Let them note this place who deny kingly and saecular power that the Magistrate bâ—th to doe in the cause of religion The spirit of God admonishes Kings and Judges of the earth to serve the Lord. But hee understands it of that service which is due to the Sonne of God Let them answer here in what thing Princes ought to serve Christ if in religion there be nothing at all which ought to be done by them When therefore Princes by their power doe care that the Doctrine of Gods word be kept in the Church Idolatry and false worships taken away Ministers conveniently provided for and adversaries suppressed forbidding also that the name of God be blasphemed and â—aring that those who live godly may be safe but the wicked and turbulent may be punished do they not serve Christ then So in his commentaries on the fifth of the Gal. 12. verse he is for cutting off false Teachers by the Christian Magistrate which Mr. Goodwiâ—â— page 74. of his Hâ—giomastix confesses of him So in his Common Places De Magistratibus and De Haeresi hee pleads for at large the coercive power of the Magistrates in matters of Religion and particularly of restraining and imprisoning Hereticks yea in case they be blasphemous against God of cutting them off by death For saith hee the law of God doth not suffer a Blasphemer to live By which testimonies of Musoulus and divers others that might be taken out of his writings t is apparent whatever his meaning was of the Abrogation of the whole judiciall law it could not bee that all the commands concerning the Magistrates coercive power against Hereticks false Prophets Blasphemers were by the comming of Christ wholly taken away For whereas Musoulus his expresse judgement is though against the Magistrates cutting off by death a simple Heretick for putting to death blasphemous Hereticks his proof is the law of God doth not suffer a blasphemer to live which law was given by Moses as well as those in the 13. and 17. chapter of Deut. and I find no law spoken of or example recorded in the new Testament for putting Blasphemers to death but what hath immediate reference to that law in Lâ—vit 24. 16. or was founded on the law of nature common to all Nations Now for that abrogation of the mosaicall law in Musâ—ulus common places de legibus spoken of by Minus Celsus Senensis t is not of the abrogation of the judiciall law only but of the morall also which is equally pleaded by Musculus in that chapter and yet t is well known that Musculus was no Antinomian So that however he differed in the way of his expressions from other great Divines about the manner how the morall law in the ten commandements binds us Christians viz. not as delivered by Moses legally to the Israelites but as agreeing with the law of nature justice and equity commanding good just and holy things so far tying all men to observance Musculus explains his own meaning that the observation of the Decalogue did not belong simply to the Israelites alone but secundum quid in some respects as given by Moses upon Mount Sinai and as it contained the Tables of a Covenant made by God with Israel So farre it binds not Heathens nor Christiens but only Israelites But the things containeâ— in the Decalogue the matter of it concernes all The Decalogue so farr as to be under Moses and his Paedagogie doth not binde Christians but as it contains things agreeable or contrary to righteousnesse and the law of Christ t is in force to and therfore coÌ„mands the one and forbids the other Musculus saith he is so farre from condemning the use of the ten Commandements in the Church of God that he greatly praises their study and diligence who first brought that in for a part of the Catechisme of the Church So that notwithstanding any thing Musculus hath of the abrogation of the mosaical law Moses Laws for punishing Idolaters false Prophets Blasphemers are in force now for the generall equity and reason of them as containing matter agreeable to the rules of reason and justice as well as the Decalogue and indeed confidering what Musculus in his Tractate de legibus writes of the judiciall lawes that they are Appendixes of the morall commands inserted here and there in Moses writings and added for exposition of the Decalogue as also what he saith De Magistratibus that the Magistrates power in matters of Religion is of the light of nature nature dictates it and that the law is still in force against Blasphemers then wee cannot understand the abrogation of these lawes of Moses of punishing
my pen to writefully against every particular passage in the 39. and 40. Section of Hagiomastix as I have done of some of them I should make his folly and weaknesse manifest to all but having hinted already his mistakes and the utter dissimilitude betweene that command in Deut. 13. and all his instances of an Idolatrous state and a Magistrate bound to make a bloudy desolation throughout al his Dominions c. I say no more but here is a great cry and a little wool and so come to the fixt head to give Answer to something that seems more materiall Sixthly to that Hagiomastix saith page 46. There is this cleer reason why that old Testament law for putting of false Prophets Blasphemers and Seducers to Idolatry to death should not now bee in force upon any such terms as it was when and where it was given because in all difficult cases that happened about maters of Religion the Iewes to whom this Law was given had the opportunity of immediate consultation with the mouth of God himselfe who could and did from time to time infallibly declare what his own mind and pleasure was in them So that except those that were to give sentence in cases of Religion had been desperately wicked and set upon bloud and despised that glorious Ordinance of the Oracle of God amongst them they could not doe injustice God being alwayes at hand to declare unto them what kind of Blasphemer and what kind of Idolater it was that hee by this Law intended should be put to death Whereas now the best Oracles that Magistrates and Iudges have to direct them in doubtfull cases about matters of Religion are men of very fallible judgemeÌ„ts and every way obnoxious to error and mistake Yea confident I am that the wisest most learned of them are not able cleerly or demonstratively to informe the Magistrate what Blasphemie or what Idolatry it was which was by God sentenced to death under the Law Therefore the going about to prove that the Law for putting Blasphemers and Seducers to Idolatry to death is now or amongst us in force because it was once given to the Jewes is as I should prove that a man may safely without danger walk among bogs praecipices ditches at midnight because he may well do it at noon day I answer in the generall this Section is full of many unsound and dangerous passages very prejudicial to the perspicuity perfection and certainty of the Scriptures very derogatorie to the state of the Church under the new Testament preferring the old before it for cleernesse and light as much as noon day before midnight which is contrary to many Prophecies in Scripture of the times under the Gospell and to divers texts in the new Testament 2 Cor. 3. 8 9 10 11 12 18. 2 Cor. 4. 4 6. and tending to bring in with a high hand Scepticisme and Pyrronian uncertainty in all poynts of Religion into the Church of God passages becomming a Iesuite and an Atheist but altogether unbeseeming a Protestant Minister and one who would bee accounted to have laboured more abundantly in vindicating the Authority of the Scriptures and building men on a rock then all other men Whoever does but compare the Iesuits Papists writings Stapleton Bellar. Turnebull Fisher c with learned Whittaker Chamier Rivet Cameron Doctor White Baron Willet and other Protestant Divines who have written of the Authority perspicuity perfection c of the Scriptures against the Papists and then look but upon this Section hee must needs say Higiomastix writes as one brought up in the Schools of the Iesuits and had sucked their breasts as also he that reads but Minus Celsus Senenses and the Socinians with the Netherland Arminians will confesse these lines are the very breathings and actings of that Spirit which dwels in that generation of men I could out of the writings of our Orthodox Divines written against Papists Socinians Arminians upon those heads of the authority perfection perspiculty certainty of the Scriptures and points of Christian faith at large confute him but these belong not properly to this Controversie about Toleration and therefore I shall not insist on them and further I desire the Reader to observe what followes that this cleere reason as Hagâ—omastix termes it may be resolved in that common evasion of Socinians and Armâ—nians and all our Sectaries of Infallibility and Fallibility Whoever well weighâ— that 36. Section of Hagiomastix with that part of the 107. Section page 130. fifth Answer will find the Summe and substance of all that discourse to be nothing else but the usuall Plea of the Patrons of Toleration in their late Libertine Pamphlets as Bloudy Tenet Storming of Antichrist Compassionate Samaritane Justification of Toleration Quaeres upon the Ordinance for preventing of Heresies c. that there is no infallible Iudge now all men are fallible subject to error or mistake and therefore the proper place of speaking to this will be in answering their Grounds for Toleration and pretended liberty of conscience where I hope by the grace of God to speak so fully to that particular of Infallibility and Fallibility that I doubt not to promise the Reader such ample satisfaction to that grand Argument as by the blessing of God all men who have not sold themselves to Libertinisme will never againe after that object it yet however for the present I shall hint these things by way of Reply 1. This very point of Infallibilitie and Fallibilitie was the main rise and cause of setting the Pope in his chair of making one that must be an infallible judge in the Church and so is the ground work of the Popes Authoritie and Tyrannie over the Church which all who understand the Controversies between the Papists and the Reformed Churches De Papa doe well know And on the other hand t is made the foundation of bringing in all Anarchie and Libertinisme into the Church to overthrow all power of Magistrates and of Synods and Councels in matters of Religion so that at on the one hand it hath exalted the Pope and given him an unjust Domination and usurpation so on the other it casts down the use of all civil and Ecclesiasticall power for the good of the Church so that the same thing that set up the Pope and made Antichrist sets up a Toleration and universall libertie of conscience which is a new and worse Popâ— But as the want of infallibility was no good ground for â—etting up the Pope as I suppose Hagiomast and all the Sectaries will grant so will it be found no good argument for a generall Toleration of all Religions a farre greater evill then a Pope Secondly I deny that which Hagiomastix takes for granted the reason it self upon which he founds why the old Testament law for the putting of false Prophets Blasphemers and Seducers to Idolatry to death should not now be in force I desire him to prove the Vrim and Thummim of the
Malefactors for offences against the second Table should not bee in force now and whatever is said by Hagiomastix in this reason against all bodily and civill punishment for transgressions of the first Table holds in all respects as strongly against the Magistrates punishing for killing stealing c and the Anabaptists Socinians and other Hereticks who wholly deny the Christian Magistrates sword or at least the use of it in point of death under the N. Testament against any transgression viz. Treason Murder adulterie c as well as Blasphemie Idolatrie may say the same for themselves and among all other Arguments brought by them against the Christian Magistrates killing or punishing Murder Theft Adulterie c they may adde this new one of Master Goodwins There is this cleere Reason why the old Testament Law for punishing of Murtherers Theeves Adulterers c should not now be in force upon any such terms as it was when and where it was given because in all difficult cases that happened about matters of the Second Table the Jewes to whom this Law was given had the opportunitie of immediate consultation with the mouth of God himselfe who could and did from time to time infallibly declare what his owne mind and pleasure was in them So that except those that were to give sentence in cases of bloud theft c had been desperately wicked and set upon bloud and had despised that glorious Ordinance of the Oracle amongst them they could not do injustice because God himselfe was alwayes at hand to declare unto them what was meet to be done and what kind of man-slayer was to be put to death and whether the person killed the man casually or wilfully c whereas now the best Oracles that Magistrates and Iudges have to direct them in doubtfull cases about matters of life estate c are men of very fallible judgements and the Lawes they are to proceede by of doubtfull Interpretation in many cases and therefore to goe about to prove that the Law for punishing Murtherers Theeves c is now or amongst us in force because it was once given unto the Jewes is as if men should prove that a man may safely and without danger walk among â—ogs Praecipices and ditches at midnight because he may well doe it at noon day I will undertake to make it good against Master Goodwin that whatsover he saith in this his cleere Reason for the Magistrates punishing in matters of Religion under the old Testament but against it now to show it was the same in matters of Iustice and Right among men then and is as strong against Magistrates coercive Power now in those things as in matters of Religion yea upon that head of difficult and doubtfull cases and danger of Magistrates erring and mistaking in judgement thereupon to give severall Reasons of the danger of Magistrates mistaking rather in difficult cases of the second then of the first Table Whoever hath but read and observed the Scriptures yea but the five Books of Moses must acknowledge there were many difficult and doubtfull cases under the old Law upon the commandements of the second Table as well as of the first and therefore superior and higher Courts divers one above another were appointed by God under the Law to which in hard matters concerning the second Table as of the first they might resort for advice and resolution Whoever doth but consider the many Questions and cases handled and written upon by the School-men Casuiâ—ls Canonists Civilians upon matters of the second Table as well as of the first together with the errrors and diversitie of Opinions that have been in the Church from the Apostles dayes down to this time upon every one of the commandements of the second Table as about Magistracie Polygamâ—e Communitie of Wives and Communitie of Goods about Christians being Magistrates the Lawfulnesse of Christians going to war about the Lawfulnesse of Lying dissimulation and aequivocation in divers cases c must confesse there are many Controversies and doubts about the Contents of the second Table That place in Deuteronomy 17. from the eigth verse to the twelfth brought by Master Goodwin for the judgement of Vrim in difficult cases about matters of Religion and so made the ground of Magistrates punishing for Religion then but not now speaks as well of hard matters in civill things betweene man and man as in the things of God There are some Divines who understand the Place wholly or Principally of hard matters and Controversies about the second Table so Luther upon the place laboring to free it from the corrupt Interpretation and sense put upon it by the Papists saith Moses doth here deale not concerningâ— the word or Doctrine or as they speake of the questions of faith which they would have referd to the Pope but of the sentence of Publick and Prophane Crimes So Aâ—â—sworth and our English Divines on the Place by blood and blood understand Murder of which the Iudges may be doubtfull and unable to find out whether it were wilfull which deserved death or unwilling for which exile into the Cities of Refuge was appointede by Plea and Plea pleading for and against in the same cause some accusing some denying as in 1 Kings 3. 16. 17. 18. by stroake and stroake may be also meant stroaks and Wounds that one man gave unto another whether of Malignitie or Casualtie and Hagiomastix in Section 107. in Answer to the Vindication of the Ordinance against Heresies which brought Deut. 17. 12. for a proofe of God making controverted points in Religion a matter of death or imprisonment carries his first and second Answers so as if that place were understood wholly or Principally of Controversies about the second Table between blood and blood between stroake and stroake Plea and Plea and if he meant not so those Answers are nothing to the Position of the Vindicator affirming that God in the old Testament gave Authority to make a controverted point in Religion for of Religion he speaks a matter of death or imprisonment But all Divines generally who write upon the place by way of exposition or who have written of the Judicatories among the Jewes and of Appeales from lower Courts to higher and of the distinction between Civill and Ecclesiasticall Courts do understand the hard matters in judgment and the matters of Controversie within the gates to bee meant of criminall matters in Civill things belonging to the second Table as sixth and eight Commandement as well as of Ecclesiasticall things the matter too hard between blood and blood between Plea and Plea is interpreted by learned Jâ—nius in his Analysis upon Deuterononie of shughter and killing and of contention in Civill causes about such things as belong to the accommodations of life as between stroak and stroak is of diseases as of the plague of Leprofie which was in an Ecclesiasticall and ceremoniall way according to the Law to be distinguished and therefore in this place the argument
not cause to say Lord let any burthen of the Ceremoniall Law be laid upon our necks rather then this Thirdly unto the end of Christian Religion and the knowledge of it as it is written in the Scriptures particularly of the new Testament which is that Christians may have consolation and hope in life and death Rom. 15. 4. 1 Epist John 1. 4. Now there can be no solid comfort without certaintie and assurance of the truth of the thing in it felse at least which wee professe but in doubts fears uncertainties the soule must needs be in perplexities anxieties as upon the rack Feare hath torment 1 Iohn 4. 18. But Secondly the infallibilitie and certaintie under the old Testament by Vrim and Thummim of the Priest so much spoken of and magnified by Hagiomastix above that under the new was as much liable to questioning and doubts by cavilling and contentious Spirits as the way under the new and many exceptions might be made and Controversies to arise whether those who were to give sentence in cases of Religion upon the Answer by Vrim did according as they received it from God or according to their own corrupt affection and interest which considering what many of the Priests were under the old Testament corrupt and partiall and the silent manner of Gods Answer by Vrim might give occasion of questioning yea Hagiomastix himselfe supposes and implies in some cases a possibilitie of a wrong Answer and doing injustice after consultation with the glorious Ordinance of the Oracle of God as these words show So that except those that were to give sentence in cases of Religion had been desperately wicked end set upon bloud and had despised the glorious Ordinance of the Oracle of God amongst them they could not doe injustice Now t is evident there were high Priests among them and such who had power of sentence in cases of Religion that were desperately wicked who either might passe sentence without enquiring by Vrim or else not goe according to Gods Answer by Vrim but according to the lusts of their owne hearts Whosoever does but consider these examples following recorded in Scripture both of the Priests and other men going flat contrary to the mind of God and immediate Answers from him will not wonder but be satisfied The Priests in Ieremiahs time were desperately wicked and set upon bloud even upon having Ieremiahs bloud pronouncing sentence upon him This man is worthy to die and Thou shalt surely die Jerem. 26. 8 11. and there were many complaints by Ieremiah Ezekiel and other Prophets of the Priests and cheife Priests being out of the way through strong drink erring in vision and stumbling in judgement saying to a stock Thou art my Father and to a stone Thou hast brought me forth c offering violence to the Law and Prophaning of holy things putting no difference between the holy and prophane hiding there eyes from the Sabbaths the chiefe of the Priests transgressing very much and polluting the house of the Lord which he had hallowed in Ierusalem Esay 28. 7. Ierem. 2. 27. Ezek. 22. 26. 2 Chron. 36. 14. Now if the Priests would doe all this when they degenerated offer violence to the Law say to a stock thou art my Father pollute the house of the Lord and much more that is recorded in the Scripture of them then there is no question to be made but they might pervert the sentence by Vrim and give an Answer quite contrary to what they received immediately and infallibly from God therby condemning the innocent and clearing the guiltie making that prophecying falsly as in Ieremiahs case which was Prophecying truly making that Blasphemie which was none Yea they are particularly taxed for erring in vision and stumbling in judgement which words probably may be meant of their judgement by Vrim the Priests Answers in that way being cald the judgement of Vrim and judgement in divers places of Scripture as Numb 27. 21. Exod. 28. 15 29 30. So that for all Hagiomastixs cleer reason if the Priests were corrupt and partiall under the Law as some good Priests in some particular cases might be and were as Aaron in the golden calse Eli in the matter of his sonnes Hophni Phinehas and wicked ones would certainly be the Iews might be in danger in matters of Religion to be punished unjustly then in those dayes notwithstanding their Priests had immediate and infallible Answers from God as well as Christians now under the new Testament besides if we consider what the way of Answering by Vrim was and that as distinguished by Rabbins and other Divines from some other wayes of Gods Answers not by a loud voice that all who came to enquire might heare the Answer as well as the Priest but in a silent way and manner revealed only to the Priest either by inspiration or by looking into his breast-Plate upon the darknesse or brightnesse of his Iewels by which he knew or by some letters in the breast-Plate in which he read the will of God and so by the Priest communicated to the Iudges and standers by but if the Priests would pretend other Answers from God then he gave how should the Iewes disprove them and what more certaintie had those who in difficult doubtfull cases came to the high Priest to enquire by Vrim seing they received the Answers not from God immediately but from the high Priest and the Priest might possibly deceive them in cases falling out about their own children or neer bloud showing partialitie and affection then may be had by us now in these times nay going according to Master Goodwins Principles that the sentence of the high Priest was by Vrim and not by the Law the judgement of Vrim from the Priest was the supreme and last Iudge in case the Priests would be false as in some particular cases they might the Iewes were in a more uncertaine and worse condition then if to be judged by the Law or wee in these dayes who if our Magistrates and Iudges should degenerate might appeale to the Scriptures and urge them to them whereby to convince them but so could not the Iewes according to Hagiomastixs Doctrine the Priest by Vrim being appealed to in cases where they suppose the Law could not helpe and lastly if wee consider how Prophets under the old Testament who were as immediately and infallibly inspired as the high Priest by Vrim yet in all their Answers and Dictates were not without all possibilitie of mistake as is evident by Nathans Answer to David 2 Sam. 7. 4 5. c nor without all danger of deceiving those they spake to as is to be seen in that example of the old Prophet in Bethel 1 Kings 13. 11 17 18 21. and divers other places of Scripture speaking of Prophets wee may easily conceive how Magistrates and Iudges then might be liable to error as well as now especially if they tooke all the Priests and Prophets said without comparing and examining
same reason the Decalogue the whole ten commandements are overthrown too for both in Moses his giving the moral Law and in the commands themselves with the preface from the second verse of the 20. of Exod. to verse 18. there are divers particulars typical and figurative of things under the Gospel temporall corporall things of spiritual and heavenly of which I having spoken before in this Book pag. 24. 25 83 85. and many learned Divines giving instances in this kind * as Zepperus Rivitus Master Burgesse I shall inlarge no further but referre the Reader to those Books Having laid downe divers reasons to prove the commands under the old Law for Magistrates punishing false Prophets Apostates Blasphemers to be of common reason and equity given to all Nations and for all Ages and having answered the most materiall grounds brought by the Patrons of Toleration to make void those commands as not binding under the new Testament I come in the third place to answer those evasions and shifts brought by Iacobus Acontius Minus Celsus Senensis and Hagiomastix `that if it should be granted that all and every the Lawes contested about as well that for putting to death the false Prophet as those for inflicting punishment upon the Idolater and Blasphemer were moral and still in force under the Gospel yet these could not reach unto Hereticks and false Teachers among us at not being those false Prophets Idolaters Blasphemers spoken of in the old Law If it can be proved that Hereticks are those Blasphemers false Prophets Apostates which Moses commands to be killed then it shall be acknowledged Hereticks are to be killed but there is a large difference between a Heretick and such a false Prophet or Apostate as the Presbyterians in their owne definition of Hereticks make A Heretick does not deny God the Creator of heaven and earth neither doth he teach that other gods are to be worshipped a Heretick does not deny the name of Christ a Heretick does not deny the word of God which an Apostate does So that the word of God may be used as a weapon against Hereticks which against an Apostate cannot A Heretick therefore is not mentioned nor touched in any one word of these Lawes But if any will go about to draw these Lawes unto an Heretick that cannot be done by the proper force of the words but as the Lawyers speake per extensionem latamque interpretationem by stretching of them and far fetched interpreation And it would first be well considered of whether every Law does admit of such extensions and if not every one which of them then does admit and wherfore and whether in this Law there are those things for which an extension is to be made By the false Prophet who was commanded to be put to death Deut. 13. 5. was not meant every Heretick or erroneous person nor yet those who taught or published any false Doctrine though of dangerous consequence but only those who endeavoured to perswade men to the worship of a false god that by affirming that they spake by the inspiration of some deitie and that their sayings were to be esteemed Oracles What Doctrine it was which made the Prophet or Teacher of it guilty of death is expresly determined in the Law it selfe and asserted to be this Let us goe after other gods which thou hast not known and let us serve them And that the Law of God made against false Prophets and worshippers of false Gods was not intended against those who otherwise held that the Law of God was to be kept but were infected with some other error is sufficiently evident from hence because in former times among the Iewes who were affected with a vehement love and zeale towards their law Hereticks notwithstanding were tolerated and particularly the Sadduces These although the greatest part of the people and the Rulers beleeved them to erre exceedingly neverthelesse they were not expelled the Citie neither exempted from being Magistrates or bearing any other Civill office yea they were not hindred from coming to the Temple or the Synagogues The Scribes and Pharisees also both held and taught many most dangerous and erroneous Doctrines yet were they also in great honor and esteeme in this Church and state And though our Saviour upon occasion reasoned against yea and reproved them all for holding and teaching these errors and gave warning to take heed of them yet did he never charge this Church or State or those that bare office in either with sin or unfaithfulnesse in their places for not proceeding against them in regard of their errors either by imprisonment or death And yet we know that the Zeale of his Fathers House did eat him up and that he attempted a reformation amongst them yea Christ did teach and presse upon men all and all manner of duties from judgement mercy and faith even to the paying tithe of Mint Annise and Cummin Now unto these and other such like besides some hints I have already given upon the 14. Thesis which may serve in part for satisfaction to some of these evasions I desire the Reader to mind these following Answers First there are other places of Scripture both of commands or else examples approved by God concerning the punishing with death or restraining by Civil power the last of which makes good the point in hand against Hagiomastix and other Libertines as well as that of death for other faults in matters of Religion besides Blasphemie Apostasie and false Prophecying in the sense now alledged by Hagiomastix and his Compeers which these following instances prove First in Deut. 13. 6 7 8 9 10 that very chapter verse 5. brought by Hagiomastix to prove only those were to be put to death who endeavoured to perswade men to the worship of a false God and that by affirming that they spake by the inspiration of some deitie and that their sayings were to be esteemed by Oracles the Holy Ghost layes downe the contrary giving a distinct Precept and command from that of the false Prophet or dreamer of dreams who publickly and openly sollicites to Apostasie concerning the killing of such who in a hidden and clancular way seduce T is observed by learned Junius in his Analytical explication on Deut. 13. that there are two sorts of Seducers to Apostasie commanded to be put to death the one of such who publickly and boldly sollicite who are spoken of in the 5 first verses the other of such who secretly intice in verse 6. and the five following Now however the false Prophet or dreamer of dreames might pretend to speak by the inspiration of some deitie for which the 5 verse of the 13. is quoted by Hagiomastix yet the private enticers to Apostasie as the daughter the wife of the bosome the Son besides that they are made a different sort from the Prophet and dreamer of dreams and those six verses from the sixt to the twelfth containe a distinct command from the five first
the nature of those commands and examples recorded in the old Testament and indeed considering how clearly largely and importunately the Magistrates power and dutie in punishing in matters of Religion is set down and pressed by the Holy-Ghost in the old Testament it had been no wonder if nothing had been said of the new the abundant urging in the old serving for a reason of silence in the new But because this rule is so fully and judiciously handled in a late Book cald Sabbatum Rediviâ—â—um viz. A Law instituted in the old Testament not abrogated in the new is of perpetuall obligation though it have not expresse â—atification in the Gospel I shall referre the Reader thither where he shall find many grounds brought to prove it extracting only one passge out of the Book Whatsoever Law in once delivered to the Church and accordingly recorded in the Law Booke the holy Scriptures even of the old Testament whosoever would claim exemption from it whether particular Person or Church must produce some what to prove that that Law is now under the Gospel repealed or at least expired more then bare saying that it is no longer in force It is so in the statute Law of our Kingdome and of all Kingdomes if a man can alledge for himselfe in point of Right or Priviledge or the Kings Councell for the Kings Rights and Pâ—erogatives any statute that was once made it stands good for all purposes unlesse they who would gainsay it can alledge and prove that such a Statute is out of date by expiration or repeale So that the proofe lies originally upon the refuser of the Law and they that would maintaine it and urge it need plead nothing more then the enacting of it once till the abrogation of it can be verified and if it be so in the Statutes of men and the positive Lawes of Kingdomes much more in those of God whose Authority in unquestionably more absolute and whose wisedome Holinesse Justice and Goodnesse is infinitely beyond that of all Princes and States in the world 3. T is granted Princes and Magistrates under the old Law before Christs comming had a coercive power in matters of Religion and did punish Blasphemers c Now 1. seeing they long had it can any proofe be brought how and upon what occasion it was taken from them can any man shew any text out of the new Testament where Christ and his Apostles took away this power from Princes or declared that however under the old Seducers and false Prophets were to be dealt with by the Civil powers yet not under the new but only with the word of God Bullinger in his fifth Book against the Anabaptists chapter 3. page 169. pleading for Magistrates power in matters of Religion speaks thus to them Are Princes and Magistrates of the new Testament endorred with lesse Spirit and power then those of the old Or in what place have Christ and his Apostles removed Christians Princes from this power of Magistrates Whatever reasons or grounds any way or in any kind there were under the old for this power of Magistrates the very same remaine now were errors and Heresies then deadly and damnable so they are now were they then spreading as a Gangrene and corrupting many so they do now were they then hateful to God so they are still were false Teachers in those times unreasonable perverse obstinate not to be convinced by words behold they are as froward and desparate in these were Princes and Magistrates then to be zealous of Gods honor and to serve the Lord not only as private persons but as Magistrates so they ought to be now and t is by the Spirit of God foretold they should Now where there is the selfe same reason there is ever the selfe same Law and Equity both under the Law and Gospel for the further proofe of which the Reader may consult Master Prynnâ— Sword of Christian Magistracy supported pag. 21. 22 23 2. It cannot seem reasonable that all other relations Parents Masters Husbands should have the same authority over their children servants wives under the Gospel as they had under the Law and that in spiritual things and the Christian Magistrate should not nay that the Power of Parents Masters Husbands should be confirmed strengthned and more largely set forth Ephes 5. 22 23 33. Ephes 6. from verse 1. to 10. Col. 3. from verse 18. to 23. 1 Pet. 2. 18 19. and the Power of Magistrates only taken away Musculus in his common places De Magistratibus speaking of the power that Fathers have over their children in matters of Religion reasons from thence that to the Magistrate the supreme Father of all his subjects whose Power is far greater then that of a Father the care of religion more belongs then to Fathers In Magistrates there is an Authoritie of supereminencie excelling all then which there cannot be a greater on earth Therefore shall not that be lawfull for such an Authority and Power which is lawfull for every Father in his owne House yea by that divine command is it not required that that should belong to the greater which belongs to the lesse that to the publick Father of the people which belongs to the private 3. God under the new Testament allowes and approves of the calling of Princes and Magistrates giving many expresse commands to Christians of subjection and obedience to them Rom. 13. from verse 1. to 6. Tit. 3. 1. 1 Pet. 2. 13 14 17. 1 Tim. 2. 1 2 3. the ends and uses also for which Magistrates were instituted are the same under the new Testament and old besides there is not any one text in the new Testament limiting or restraining the Power given them by God in the old and therefore their calling and Power must needs be the same Learned Bilson in his true Difference between Christian subjection and unchristian Rebellion proving the Princes power and charge by Gods Law of Deut. 17. 18 19. and by the example of the godly Kings of Israel and Judah reaching as well unto matters of Religion as other things that the sword is given them to provide that as well true Religion be maintained in their Realms as civill justice ministred that they forbid prevent and punish in all their subjects not only murders thefts and such like breaches of the second Table but also Schismes Hereâ—ies Idolatries and other offences against the first Table pertaining only to the service of God and matters of Religion answers thus the Jesuits objection the very same evasion the Sectaries have now This charge concerned none but the Kings of Israel and Iudah That refuge doth rather manifest your folly then satisfie my reason Did I pray you Sir the comming of Christ abolish the Vocation of Princes I trow not Then their office remaining as before per consequens both the same precept of God to them still dureth and also the like power to force their subjects to serve
THE CASTING DOWN of the last and strongest hold of Satan OR A TREATISE Against Toleration And pretended Liberty of Conscience Wherein by Scripture sound Reason Fathers Schoolmen Casuists Protestant Divines of all Nations Confessions of Faith of the Reformed Churches Ecclesiastical Histories and constant practise of the most pious and wisest Emperours Princes States the best Writers of Politicks the experience of all Ages yea by divers Principles Testimonies and Proceedings of Sectaries themselves as Donatists Anabaptists Brownists Independents the unlawfulnesse and mischeif in Christian Common-wealths and Kingdoms both of a Vniversal Toleration of all Religions and Consciences and of a limited and bounded of some Sects only are clearly proved and demonstrated with all the materiall Grounds and Reasons brought for such Tolerations fully answered By THOMAS EDVVARDS Minister of the Gospel The First Part. 2 Chron 34. 32 33. And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the Con 〈…〉 that pertained to the childreâ— of Israel and made all that were present in Israel to serve even to sâ—ve the Lord their God And caused all that were present in Jerusalem and Beniamin iâ—stand to it London Printed by T. R. and E. M. for George Calvert and are to be sold at the golden Fleece in the Old-Change 1647. To the Christian Reader GOod Reader I fully intended and accordingly had provided that this first Part of Anti-Toleration should have come into thy hands more compleat and perfect then it does for the present I prepared an Epistle Dedicatory to the Honourable Houses of Parliament sutable to the nature of Toleration and the Times as also a Preface and Introduction to that Argument and Subject wherein laying down the Prolegomena Praecognita of this Noble and famous Question of Liberty of Conscience as certain Distinctions about Magistrates and their Power of Errors and Opinions of Persons holding them of Toleration and Liberty as some Concessa some Negata certain mistakes and misrepresentations of the state of the Question with divers other Particulars I drew up the true state of the Question both Theologically and Politically it being a mixt question besides I purposed to have added to this Part further proofs out of the New Testament against Toleration and for the Magistrates power But these Preparatives and Additionals amounting to about some â—en sheets the reviewing perfecting and printing whereof would take up at least twenty dayes and not knowing what a Day might bring forth the Storm comming on so fast I thought it best for fear this Book might be suppressed at the Presse and never see the Sun to send it forth as it was that the Church of God at home and abroad might have the benefit of it and to reserve the rest for a second Part if God spare life and liberty In this present Tractate is handled the Scripturall part of Anti-Toleration the best foundation and only ground-work to build on wherein there are not only the Scriptures produced for proof but made good by severall reasons from the text and context with all the evasions to clude and put them off fully answered The subject matter of this Book is the great Controversie of the times Toleration being that very thing for which God hath a controversie with the Parliament and Land having most justly however t is most unjust on their part raised up that Generation not to suffer them because they have against the councel of God yea against all sense and reason let them alone and suffered them to grow to this Head I remember what God said to his people Israel that if they did not drive out the Canaanites and destroy their pictures c. they should be pricks in their eyes and thorns in their sides and should vex them with their wiles What of the King of Israel because that he let go out of his hand a man appointed to destruction therefore his life should go for his life and his people for that people as also what of the Angel of Thyatira that Christ had a quarrell with him for suffering that woman Jezabel to teach and to seduce his servants And we may see how God hath now fulfilled this upon the Parliament Ministry City Kingdome vexing us and threatning heavy things against us by the Sectaries punishing us wherein we have offended In all ages and histories of the Church we shall find that Hereticks and Sectaries however whilst weak and few have pleaded for Toleration and Liberty yet when they have come to grow strong and to have power in their hands they never would suffer the Orthodox but have been the greatest tyrants and persecutors as the Arrians Donatists Anabaptists Arminians It was the observation of Augustine many hundred yeers ago and his answer to Petilian That the Donatists however they pleaded far be it from them to compell any one to their Tenets where they had power used to force the Orthodox violently and where they did not it was not for want of will but because they could not for fear of the laws or the multitude of refusers yea if any of their own party left them and came to the Orthodox they would fall upon them and beat them yea kill them and that Sect of the Donatists which was strongest would implore the help of the Magistrate against their Schismaticks the Maximinianistae and Rogatistae all which Austin shows But for a conclusion I shall turn my prayers unto God that he would give us to see and know our sin in our punishment and to give him glory in saying Righteous art thou O Lord and just are thy judgements And for the time to come to give Magistrates Ministers and his People more zeal and wisdome then to tolerate and suffer Errors Heresies and Schismes And so commending these labours to the blessing of Christ who yet lives and raigns as Luther speaks and will raign till he hath made all his enemies his footstool I remain Yours in Christ THOMAS EDWARDS The TABLE containing some of the principall Heads of this Book AVniversall Toleration is against the whole current scope and sense of all Scripture and sets up the polluted defiled consciences of men above the Scriptures p. 4 5 What God commands Persons for themselves and their own Practise he commands to them being in Power and Authoritie for all under them p. 6 7 There can be no reason given why all other persons in Authoritie as Fathers Masters c should be bound to have a care in matters of Religion over children Servants and Magistrates should have none p. 7 8 The godly Magistrates spoken of in Scripture did de facto make use of their Power to suppresse false Doctrine Seducers c 8 9 10 11 They did not only doe it de facto but de jure were approved of and rewarded by God for so doing p. 11 12 Those Magistrates who were good that out of any carnall respects forbore to use their power were sharply reproved and punished by