,note3 ,images of the original pages are available through ,internet ,archive4 ,see https3_/_/archive4org_/details_/bloudyte nentofpe#jjwill#a ,,the ,,bloudy ,,tenent ,,of ,,persecution4 99 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,hanserd ,,knollys ,,society1 ,,for ,,the ,,publication ,,of ,,the ,,works ,,of ,,early ,,english ,,and ,,other ,,baptist ,,writers4 ,treasurer4 ,,charles ,,jones1 ,,esq4 ,honorary ,secretaries4 ,,edward ,b4 ,,underhill1 ,,esq4 ,,rev4 ,,william ,,jones4 ,secretary4 ,,mr4 ,,george ,,offor1 ,,jun4 ,council4 ,,rev4 ,j4 ,,acworth1 ,,ll4,d4 -- ,,joseph ,,angus1 ,m4,a4 -- ,c4 ,m4 ,,birrell4 -- ,,caleb ,,evans ,,birt1 ,m4,a4 -- ,,william ,,henry ,,black4 -- ,,william ,,brock4 -- ,,thomas ,,burditt4 -- ,,jabez ,,burns1 ,d4,d4 -- ,f4 ,a4 ,,cox1 ,d4,d41 ,,ll4,d4 -- ,t4 ,s4 ,,crisp4 -- ,b4 ,,davies1 ,,ph4 ,d4 -- ,b4 ,,evans4 -- ,b4 ,,godwin1 ,d4,d4 -- ,f4 ,w4 ,,gotch1 ,m4,a4 -- ,w4 ,,groser4 -- ,j4 ,h4 ,,hinton1 ,m4,a4 -- ,j4 ,,hoby1 ,d4,d4 ,,charles ,,theodore ,,jones1 ,,esq4 ,g4 ,f4 ,,kemp1 ,,esq4 ,,george ,,lowe1 ,,esq4 ,f4,r4,s4 ,,rev4 ,w4 ,h4 ,,murch1 ,d4,d4 -- ,j4 ,p4 ,,mursell4 -- ,,thomas ,,fox ,,newman4 ,,george ,,offor1 ,,esq4 ,,rev4 ,g4 ,h4 ,,orchard4 -- ,j4 ,j4 ,,owen4 -- ,t4 ,,pottenger4 -- ,,thomas ,,price1 ,d4,d4 ,j4 ,,read1 ,,esq4 ,,rev4 ,,robert ,,roff -- ,,joshua ,,russell4 -- ,j4 ,,sprigg1 ,m4,a4 -- ,,edward ,,steane1 ,d4,d4 -- ,,charles ,,stovel4 -- ,,thomas ,,thomas4 -- ,,frederick ,,trestrail4 ,it has been a matter of regret with many1 that the writings of the early members and ministers of the ,baptist churches of this country should be comparatively so little known4 ,the present appears to be a favourable time to reprint such of them as may be deemed worthy of perpetuation1 from their historical or theological importance4 ,these writings are confined to no peculiarity of sentiment1 but embrace every topic of divine truth1 which the word of ,god presents for the salvation of the believer1 as well as for the regulation of the church of ,christ4 ,to the ,baptists1 belongs the honour of first asserting in this land1 and of establishing on the immutable basis of just argument and scripture rule1 the right of every man to worship ,god as conscience dictates1 in submission only to divine command4 ,rejecting the authority of men in matters of faith1 they wrote with great simplicity and directness of purpose4 ,scripture alone was their authority1 and excepting some of their polemical works1 their productions are remarkably free from that parade of learning which was the fault of their age4 ,they were not1 however1 destitute of learning4 ,most of the early ,baptists had had an university education3 and if this privilege was not enjoyed by their successors1 it was because the national seats of learning denied it to them4 ,the names of ,bampfield1 ,canne1 ,cornwell1 ,danvers1 ,delaune1 ,du ,veil1 ,denne1 ,grantham1 ,jessey1 ,knollys1 ,smyth1 and ,tombes1 are sufficient to prove that the ,baptist churches were not destitute of able and learned expounders of their sentiments1 eminent for their attainments in both classical and divine knowledge4 ,the historical value of the works which it is proposed to reproduce1 is very great4 ,their authors exercised no mean influence on the course of national affairs during the period of ,cromwell's protectorate1 and they became in subsequent reigns1 as they had been in times preceding the ,commonwealth1 the especial objects of ecclesiastical and political persecution4 ,some of the works which it is desired to publish will also embrace the period of the ,reformation1 and illustrate the sufferings endured1 by the baptists of that eventful period1 for conscience sake4 ,as theological writers they are characterized by fervour of spirit2 deep study of the word of ,god2 great facility of application of divine truths to passing events2 a holy attachment to 8the truth as it is in ,jesus20 clear and pungent exhibitions of the word of life2 an uncompromising adherence to the scriptures as the rule of doctrine1 practice1 and ecclesiastical organization and discipline2 and finally1 a fearless following of their convictions1 derived from the divine oracles4 ,works of this kind are also wanting for our congregational and family libraries4 ,it is to be feared that too many of us are ignorant of our own history1 and of the great and good men who lost all in the maintenance of our principles4 ,the series of proposed volumes will include the works of both ,general and ,particular ,baptists2 ,records and ,manuscripts relating to the rise and progress of ,baptist churches2 ,translations of such works as may illustrate the sufferings of the ,baptists and the extension of their principles1 together with such ,documents as are to be found only in large historical collections1 or may not yet have appeared in an accessible form4 ,on the ,baptismal controversy only those treatises will be given1 which are of acknowledged worth or historic value4 ,the whole will be accompanied with biographical notices of the authors1 and with such notes and illustrations as may be essential to their completeness4 ,the publications will consist of works produced before the close of the seventeenth century4 ,the following list comprises the names of some of the authors whose works are intended to form part of the series2--,bampfield1 ,blackwood1 ,bunyan1 ,canne1 ,collier1 ,collins1 ,cornwall1 ,danvers1 ,delaune1 ,denne1 ,du ,veil1 ,drapes1 ,grantham1 ,griffith1 ,helwys1 ,how1 ,jeffrey1 ,jessey1 ,keach1 ,kiffin1 ,king1 ,knollys1 ,lawrence1 ,palmer1 ,powell1 ,pendarves1 ,smyth1 ,stennett1 ,tombes1 ,roger ,williams1 c4 ,terms of ,subscription4 #a4 ,every subscriber of ten shillings and sixpence annually will be entitled to one copy of every work issued during the year of his subscription4 ,two volumes at least will be published for the #ajs4 #f;d4 #b4 ,subscriptions will be considered due1 in advance on the first of ,january of every year4 #c4 ,ministers and ,sunday ,schools obtaining each ten subscribers annually1 will be entitled to one copy of every work published in the year for which such subscriptions are paid4 #d4 ,books will be delivered1 free of expense1 in ,london1 ,edinburgh1 and ,dublin1 from which places they will be sent at the cost of the subscriber by any channel he may appoint4 ,subscriptions will be received by the ,treasurer1 at ,vassall ,road1 ,kennington2 by the ,honorary ,secretaries1 ,mr4 ,,underhill1 of ,newmarket ,house1 ,nailsworth2 ,rev4 ,w4 ,jones1 at ,stepney ,college2 or by any member of the ,council2 also by ,mr4 ,g4 ,,offor1 jun41 ,secretary1 ,baptist ,mission ,house1 ,moorgate ,street1 ,london1 to whom all communications for the ,society should be addressed1 or at the ,depository1 ,b4 ,l4 ,,green',s1 #fh1 ,paternoster ,row4 99 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,bloudy ,,tenent ,,of ,,persecution ,,for ,,cause ,,of ,,conscience ,,discussed3 ,,and ,,mr4 ,,cotton',s ,,letter ,,examined ,,and ,,answered4 ,,by ,,roger ,,williams4 ,,edited ,,for ,the ,hanserd ,knollys ,society1 ,,by ,,edward ,,bean ,,underhill4 ,,london3 ,,printed ,,for ,,the ,,society1 ,,by ,j4 ,,haddon1 ,,castle ,,street1 ,,finsbury4 #ahdh4 ,a ,,biographical ,,introduction4 ,it was on the #ast day of ,december1 in the year #afcj1 that ,mr4 ,roger ,williams1 with his wife1 embarked at ,bristol for ,america1 in the ship ,lyon1 ,captain ,william ,pierce4 ,two years and a half before1 a number of eminent and enthusiastic men had gone forth1 animated by religious principles and purposes1 to seek a home and a refuge from persecution on the wild and untenanted shores of ,massachusetts ,bay4 ,charles ,i4 had announced his design of ruling the ,english people by arbitrary power1 only a few days before a patent for the ,company of ,massachusetts ,bay passed the seals4#a ,no provision was made in this document for the exercise of religious liberty4 ,the emigrants were puritans1 and although they had suffered long for conscience' sake1 on this subject their views were as contracted as those of their brethren who in ,elizabeth's reign sought the overthrow of ,england's hierarchy4#b ,the patent secured to them1 however1 to a great extent1 a legislative independence of the mother country2 but they soon employed that power to persecute differing consciences4 ,the emigrants landed at ,salem at the end of ,june1 #afbi4 ,a few mud hovels alone marked the place of their future abode4 ,on their passage they arranged the order of their government1 and bound themselves by solemn covenant to each other and the ,lord4 ,as religion was the cause of their abandonment of their native land1 so was its establishment their first care4 ,at their request a few of the settlers at ,plymouth1 where in #afbj a colony had been established by the members of ,mr4 ,john ,robinson's church1 came over to assist and advise on the arrangement of their church polity4 ,after several conferences1 the order determined on was the congregational1 and measures were immediately taken for the choice of elders and deacons4 ,a day of fasting and prayer was appointed1 and thirty persons covenanted together to walk in the ways of ,god4 ,mr4 ,skelton was chosen pastor1 ,mr4 ,higginson teacher1 both puritan clergymen of celebrity1 and ,mr4 ,houghton ruling elder4 ,they agreed with the church at ,plymouth1 8,that the children of the faithful are church members with their parents1 and that their baptism is a seal of their being so40#c ,the church was thus self-constituted4 ,it owned no allegiance to bishop1 priest1 or king4 ,it recognized but one authority--the ,king of saints3 but one rule--the word of ,god4 ,the new system did not1 however1 meet with the approbation of all this little company4 ,some still fondly clung to the episcopacy of their native land1 and to the more imposing rites of their mother church4 ,the main body of the emigrants did not altogether refuse to have communion with the church which had so unnaturally driven them away2 but1 as they said1 they separated from her corruptions1 and rejected the human inventions in worship which they discovered in her fold4 ,not so all4 ,liberty of worship they desired indeed1 but not a new form of polity4 ,two brothers1 ,john and ,samuel ,browne1 the one a lawyer1 the other a merchant1 were the leaders of this little band4 ,they wished the continuance of the ,common ,prayer1 of the ceremonies usually observed in the administration of baptism and the ,lord's ,supper1 and a wider door for the entrance of members into a church state4 ,dissatisfied with the new order of things1 they set up a separate assembly4 ,this was a mutiny against the state1 as well as against the church2 and proving incorrigible1 the brothers were sent home in 8the ,lyon's ,whelp40#d ,in the year #afcj1 a large addition was made to the pilgrim band1 on the arrival of ,governor ,winthrop4 ,not less than #aejj persons accompanied him1 to escape the bigotry and persecuting spirit of ,laud4 ,several new settlements were formed1 and the seat of the colonial government was fixed at ,boston4 ,though sincere in their attachment to true religion1 and desirous of practising its duties unmolested by episcopal tyranny1 they thought not of toleration for others4 ,no such idea had dawned upon them4 ,they were prepared to practise over other consciences the like tyranny to that from which they had fled4 ,with nobler views than these did ,mr4 ,williams disembark at ,boston1 after a very tempestuous voyage1 on the #eth of ,february in the year #afca4 ,the infant colony had suffered very much during the winter from the severity of the weather1 and the scarcity of provisions4 ,the arrival of the ,lyon was welcomed with gratitude1 as the friendly interposition of the hand of ,god4#e ,roger ,williams was at this time little more than thirty years of age--8a young minister1 godly and zealous1 having precious gifts40#f ,tradition tells us1 that he was born in ,wales3 that he was in some way related to ,cromwell3 that his parents were in humble life3 and that he owed his education to ,sir ,edward ,coke1 who1 accidentally observing his attention at public worship1 and ascertaining the accuracy of the notes he took of the sermon1 sent him to the ,university of ,oxford4 ,all this may or may not be true2 but it is evident that his education was liberal1 and that he had a good acquaintance with the classics and the original languages of the scriptures4 ,he himself informs us1 that in his early years his heart was imbued with spiritual life4 8,from my childhood1 the ,father of lights and mercies touched my soul with a love to himself1 to his only begotten1 the true ,lord ,jesus1 to his holy scriptures40#g ,at this time he must have been about twelve years old4 ,his first studies were directed to the law1 probably at the suggestion of his patron4 ,he became early attached to those democratic principles which are so ably stated in the 8,bloudy ,tenent10 and to those rights of liberty which found so able a defender in the aged ,coke4 ,subsequently1 however1 he turned his attention to theology1 and assumed the charge of a parish4 ,it was during this period that he became acquainted with the leading emigrants to ,america2 and he appears to have been the most decided amongst them in their opposition to the liturgy1 ceremonies1 and hierarchy of the ,english church4#h ,it is probable that it was upon the subject of the grievances they endured1 he had the interview with ,king ,james of which he speaks in a letter written late in life4#i ,it was a notable year1 both in ,old and in ,new ,england1 in which ,williams sought a refuge for conscience amid the wilds of ,america4 ,autocratic rule was decided upon by the infatuated ,charles1 and the utterance of the most arbitrary principles from the pulpits of the court clergy was encouraged4 ,doctrines subversive of popular rights were taught1 and the sermons containing them published at the king's special command4 ,laud assumed a similar authority in ecclesiastical affairs4 ,with unscrupulous zeal and severity he sought to extirpate puritanism from the church4 ,the ,calvinistic interpretation of the articles was condemned1 and ,bishop ,davenant was rebuked for a sermon which he preached upon the #agth4 ,the puritans were to a man ,calvinists1 the ,laudean party were ,arminians4 ,and as if to give the former practical proof of the lengths to which ,laud was prepared to go1 and to shut them up either to silence or to voluntary banishment1 ,leighton1 for his 8,plea against ,prelacy10 was this year committed to prison for life1 fined #aj1jjj1 degraded from his ministry1 whipped1 pilloried1 his ears cut off1 his nose slit1 and his face branded with a hot iron4 ,from this tyranny over thought and conscience ,williams fled1 only to bear his testimony against similar outrages upon conscience and human rights in the ,new ,world--to find the same principles in active operation among the very men who like him had suffered1 and who like him sought relief on that distant shore4 ,no sooner had ,mr4 ,williams landed at ,boston1 than we find him declaring his opinion1 that 8the magistrate might not punish a breach of the sabbath1 nor any other offence1 as it was a breach of the first table40#aj ,moreover1 so impure did he deem the communion of the church of ,england1 that he hesitated to hold communion with any church that continued in any manner favourable to it4 ,this was1 however1 the case with the church at ,boston4 ,it refused to regard the hierarchy and parishional assemblies of the ,english church as portions of the abominations of anti-christ4 ,it permitted its members1 when in ,england1 to commune with it1 in hearing the word and in the private administration of the sacraments4#aa ,thus while separating from its corruptions1 the emigrants clave to it with a fond pertinacity4 ,this was displeasing to the free soul of ,williams4 ,he refused to join the congregation at ,boston4 ,it would have been a weak and sinful compliance with evil4 ,he could not regard the cruelties and severities1 and oppression1 exercised by the church of ,england1 with any feelings but those of indignation4 ,that could not be the true church of ,christ on whose skirts was found sprinkled the blood of saints and martyrs4 ,he therefore gladly accepted the invitation of the church at ,salem1 and a few weeks after his arrival he left ,boston to enter upon the pastorate there4 ,but on the very same day on which he commenced his ministry at ,salem 7,april #ab71 the ,general ,court of the ,colony expressed its disapprobation of the step1 and required the church to forbear any further proceeding4 ,this was an arbitrary and unjust interference with the rights of the ,salem church4 ,as a congregational and independent community1 it had a perfect right to select ,mr4 ,williams for its pastor4 ,the choice of its ministry is one of the church's most sacred privileges1 to be exercised only in subordination to the laws and to the will of its great ,head4 ,this right the ,general ,court most flagrantly violated1 and thus laid the foundation for that course of resistance which eventually led to the banishment of ,mr4 ,williams4#ab ,to the civil government of the colony ,mr4 ,williams was prepared to give all due submission4 ,very soon after his arrival1 he entered his name upon the list of those who desired to be made freemen1 and on the #abth of ,may took the customary oaths4 ,yet as if to bring into conflict at the earliest moment1 and to excite the expression of those generous sentiments on religious and civil liberty which animated the soul of ,mr4 ,williams1 on that very day the court 8ordered and agreed1 that for the time to come1 no man shall be admitted to the freedom of this body politic1 but such as are members of some of the churches within the limits of the same40 ,thus a theocracy was established4 ,the government belonged to the saints4 ,they alone could rule in the commonwealth1 or be capable of the exercise of civil rights4 8,not only was the door of calling to magistracy shut against natural and unregenerate men1 though excellently fitted for civil offices1 but also against the best and ablest servants of ,god1 except they be entered into church estate40#ac ,this was to follow1 according to ,williams' idea1 8,moses' church constitution10 8to pluck up the roots and foundations of all common society in the world1 to turn the garden and paradise of the church and saints into the field of the civil state of the world1 and to reduce the world to the first chaos or confusion40 ,our readers will find his reasons at large1 against this perilous course1 in the subsequent pages of this volume4#ad ,as peace could not be enjoyed at ,salem1 before the end of the summer ,mr4 ,williams withdrew to ,plymouth2 8where10 says ,governor ,bradford1 8he was freely entertained1 according to our poor ability1 and exercised his gifts among us2 and after some time was admitted a member of the church1 and his teaching well approved40#ae ,two years he laboured in the ministry of the word among the pilgrim fathers2 but it would seem not without proclaiming those principles of freedom which had already made him an object of jealousy4 ,for on requesting his dismissal thence to ,salem1 in the autumn of #afce1 we find the elder1 ,mr4 ,brewster1 persuading the church at ,plymouth to relinquish communion with him1 lest he should 8run the same course of rigid separation and anabaptistry which ,mr4 ,john ,smith1 the se-baptist1 at ,amsterdam1 had done40#af ,it was during his residence at ,plymouth that he acquired that knowledge of the ,indian language1 and that acquaintance with the chiefs of the ,narragansetts1 which became so serviceable to him in his banishment4 ,his acceptance of their invitation afforded sincere and great pleasure to the church at ,salem4 ,his former ministry amongst them had resulted in a warm attachment1 and not a few left ,plymouth to place themselves under his spiritual care4 ,two or three weeks only could have passed after his return1 when1 on the #crd of ,september1 ,mr4 ,cotton1 his destined antagonist in the strife on liberty of conscience1 landed at ,boston1 in company with ,mr4 ,hooker and ,mr4 ,stone2 which 8glorious triumvirate coming together1 made the poor people in the wilderness to say1 ,that the ,god of heaven had supplied them with what would in some sort answer their three great necessities3 ,cotton for their clothing1 ,hooker for their fishing1 and ,stone for their building40#ag ,john ,cotton was the son of a puritan lawyer4 ,educated at ,cambridge1 he had acquired a large amount of learning2 and by his study of the schoolmen sharpened the natural acuteness and subtilty of his mind4 ,in theology he was a thorough ,calvinist1 and adopted in all their extent the theocratic principles of the great ,genevan reformer4 ,on his arrival in ,new ,england1 he was immediately called upon to advise and arrange the civil and ecclesiastical affairs of the colony4 ,by his personal influence the churches were settled in a regular and permanent form1 and their laws of discipline were finally determined by the platform adopted at ,cambridge in #afdh4 ,the civil laws were adjusted to the polity of the church1 and while nominally distinct1 they supported and assisted each other4#ah ,matter for complaint was soon discovered against ,mr4 ,williams4 ,at ,plymouth he had already urged objections relative to the royal patent1 under which the colonists held their lands4 ,a manuscript treatise concerning it now became the subject of consideration by the ,general ,court4 ,in this work1 ,mr4 ,williams appears to have questioned the ,king's right to grant the possession of lands which did not belong to him1 but to the natives who hunted over them4 ,equity required that they should be fairly purchased of the ,indian possessors4 ,mr4 ,williams was 8convented0 before the ,court4 ,subsequently1 he gave satisfaction to his judges of his 8intentions and loyalty10 and the matter was passed by4 ,it will be seen1 however1 that this accusation was revived1 and declared to be one of the causes of his banishment4#ai ,for a few months1 during the sickness of ,mr4 ,skelton1 ,mr4 ,williams continued his ministry without interruption1 and with great acceptance4 ,on the #bnd of ,august1 #afcd1 ,mr4 ,skelton died1 and the ,salem church shortly thereafter chose him to be their settled teacher4 ,to this the magistrates and ministers objected4 ,his principles were obnoxious to them4 ,they sent a request to the church1 that they would not ordain him4 ,but in the exercise of their undoubted right the church persisted1 and ,mr4 ,williams was regularly inducted to the office of teacher4#bj ,occasion was soon found to punish the church and its refractory minister4 ,on ,november the #agth1 he was summoned to appear before the ,court1 for again teaching publicly 8against the king's patent1 and our great sin in claiming right thereby to this country3 and for terming the churches of ,england anti-christian40 ,a new accusation was made on the #cjth of the following ,april1 #afce4 ,he had taught publicly1 it was said1 8that a magistrate ought not to tender an oath to an unregenerate man1 for that we thereby have communion with a wicked man in the worship of ,god1 and cause him to take the name of ,god in vain4 ,he was heard before all the ministers1 and very clearly confuted40#ba ,in the month of ,july he was again summoned to ,boston1 and some other dangerous opinions were now laid to his charge4 ,he was accused of maintaining3--,that the magistrate ought not to punish the breach of the first table1 otherwise than in such cases as did disturb the civil peace3--,that a man ought not to pray with the unregenerate1 though wife or child--,that a man ought not to give thanks after the sacrament1 nor after meat4 ,but the aggravation of his offences was that1 notwithstanding these crimes were charged upon him1 the church at ,salem1 in spite of the magisterial admonitions1 and the exhortations of the pastors1 had called him to the office of teacher4 ,to mark their sense of this recusancy1 the ,salem people were refused1 three days after1 the possession of a piece of land for which they had applied1 and to which they had a just claim4#bb ,this flagrant wrong induced ,mr4 ,williams and his church to write admonitory letters to the churches of which these magistrates were members1 requesting them to admonish the magistrates of the criminality of their conduct1 it being a 8breach of the rule of justice40 ,the letters were thus addressed because the members of the churches were the only freemen1 and the only parties interested in the civil government of the colony4 ,they were without effect4 ,his own people began to waver under the pressure of ministerial power and influence4 ,mr4 ,williams's health too gave way1 8by his excessive labours1 preaching thrice a week1 by labours night and day in the field2 and by travels night and day to go and come from the ,court40 ,even his wife added to his affliction by her reproaches1 8till at length he drew her to partake with him in the error of his way40#bc ,he now declared his intention to withdraw communion from all the churches in the ,bay1 and from ,salem also if they would not separate with him4 ,his friend ,endicot was imprisoned for justifying the letter of admonition1 and ,mr4 ,sharpe was summoned to appear to answer for the same4 ,in ,october he was called before the ,court for the last time4 ,all the ministers were present4 ,they had already decided 8that any one was worthy of banishment who should obstinately assert1 that the civil magistrate might not intermeddle even to stop a church from apostacy and heresy40#bd ,his letters were read1 which he justified2 he maintained all his opinions4 ,after a disputation with ,mr4 ,hooker1 who could not 8reduce him from any of his errors10 he was sentenced to banishment in six weeks1 all the ministers1 save one1 approving of the deed4#be ,before proceeding to detail the subsequent events of his history1 it will be necessary to make a few remarks on the topics of accusation brought against ,mr4 ,williams1 and especially since they are often referred to in the pages of the works now in the reader's hands4 ,the causes of his banishment are given by ,mr4 ,williams in p4 #cge of this volume1 with which agrees ,governor ,winthrop's testimony cited above4 ,mr4 ,cotton1 however1 does not concur in this statement3 the two last causes he denies1 giving as his reason1 8that many are known to hold both those opinions1 and are yet tolerated not only to live in the commonwealth1 but also in the fellowship of the churches40 ,the other two points1 he likewise asserts1 were held by some1 who yet were permitted to enjoy both civil and church liberties4#bf ,what then were the grounds of this harsh proceeding according to ,mr4 ,cotton8 ,they were as follows3--8,two things there were1 which to my best observation1 and remembrance1 caused the sentence of his banishment3 and two other fell in1 that hastened it4 #a4 ,his violent and tumultuous carriage against the patent4444 #b4 ,the magistrates1 and other members of the general ,court upon intelligence of some episcopal and malignant practices against the country1 they made an order of ,court to take trial of the fidelity of the people1 not by imposing upon them1 but by offering to them1 an oath of fidelity4 ,this oath when it came abroad1 he vehemently withstood it1 and dissuaded sundry from it1 partly because it was1 as he said1 ,christ's prerogative to have his office established by oath3 partly because an oath was a part of ,god's worship1 and ,god's worship was not to be put upon carnal persons1 as he conceived many of the people to be40 ,the two concurring causes were3--#a4 ,that notwithstanding his 8heady and turbulent spirit10 which induced the magistrates to advise the church at ,salem not to call him to the office of teacher1 yet the major part of the church made choice of him4 ,and when for this the ,court refused ,salem the parcel of land1 ,mr4 ,williams stirred up the church to unite with him in letters of admonition to the churches 8whereof those magistrates were members1 to admonish them of their open transgression of the rule of justice40 #b4 ,that when by letters from the ministers the ,salem church was inclined to abandon their teacher1 ,mr4 ,williams renounced communion with ,salem and all the churches in the ,bay1 refused to resort to public worship1 and preached to 8sundry who began to resort to his family10 on the ,lord's day4#bg ,on examination1 it is evident that the two statements do not materially differ4 ,mr4 ,williams held the patents to be sinful 8wherein ,christian kings1 so called1 are invested with right by virtue of their ,christianity1 to take and give away the lands and countries of other men40#bh ,it were easy to represent opposition to the patent of ,new ,england as overthrowing the foundation on which colonial laws were framed1 and as a denial of the power claimed by the ministers and the ,general ,court 8to erect such a government of the church as is most agreeable to the word40 ,such was ,mr4 ,cotton's view1 and which he succeeded in impressing on the minds of the magistrates4 ,mr4 ,williams may perhaps have acquired somewhat of his jealousy concerning these patents from the instructions of ,sir ,edward ,coke1 who so nobly withstood the indiscriminate granting of monopolies in the parliament of his native land4#bi ,there can be no question that ,williams was substantially right4 ,his own practice1 when subsequently laying the basis for the state of ,rhode ,island1 evinces the equity1 uprightness1 and generosity of his motives4 ,perhaps too his views upon the origin of all governmental power may have had some influence in producing his opposition4 ,he held that the sovereignty lay in the hands of the people4 ,no patent or royal rights could therefore be alleged as against the popular will4 ,that must make rulers1 confirm the laws1 and control the acts of the executive4 ,before it patents1 privileges1 and monopolies1 the exclusive rights of a few1 must sink away4 ,moreover1 it is clear1 from ,cotton's own statement1 that this question of the patent involved that of religious liberty4 ,the colony claimed under it the right of erecting a church1 of framing an ecclesiastical polity3 and it exercised it4 ,ecclesiastical laws were made every whit as stringent as the canons of the establishment of the mother country4 ,already we have seen that church members alone could be freemen4 ,every adult person was compelled to be present at public congregational worship1 and to support both ministry and church with payment of dues enforced by magisterial power4#cj 8,three months was1 by the law1 the time of patience to the excommunicate1 before the secular power was to deal with him30 then the obstinate person might be fined1 imprisoned1 or banished4 ,several persons were banished for noncompliance with the state religion4#ca ,in #afdd1 a law was promulgated against the baptists1 by which 8it is ordered and agreed1 that if any person or persons1 within this jurisdiction1 shall either openly condemn or oppose the baptizing of infants10 or seduce others1 or leave the congregation during the administration of the rite1 they 8shall be sentenced to banishment40 ,the same year we accordingly find that a poor man was tied up and whipped for refusing to have his child sprinkled4#cb ,heresy1 blasphemy1 and some other the like crimes1 exposed the culprit to expatriation4 ,it was against this course that ,mr4 ,williams afterwards wrote his 8,bloudy ,tenent20 and through the 8sad evil0 8of the civil magistrates dealing in matters of conscience and religion1 as also of persecuting and hunting any for any matter merely spiritual and religious10 which he opposed1 was he banished4#cc ,the question of the patent could not therefore be discussed in the ,general ,court without involving a discussion upon religious liberty4 ,mr4 ,cotton has chosen to make most prominent1 in his articles of accusation1 the question of the origin of the patent2 the magistrate1 whose statement is adduced by ,mr4 ,williams1 places in the forefront that of the magistrate's power over conscience4 ,as the matter stood1 these two subjects were allied4 ,to doubt the one was to doubt the other4 ,but ,mr4 ,williams was decided as to the iniquity of both4 ,on the subject of the denial of the oath of fidelity1 it is evident1 from ,mr4 ,cotton's statement1 that the oath owed its origin to intolerance4 ,episcopacy should have no place under congregational rule1 no more than independency could be suffered to exist under the domination of the ,english hierarchy4 ,but ,mr4 ,williams appears to have objected to the oath chiefly on other grounds3 it was allowed by all parties that oath-taking was a religious act4 ,if so1 it was concluded by ,mr4 ,williams1 in entire consistency with his other views1 that1 #a1 ,it ought not to be forced on any1 so far as it was religious2 nor1 #b1 could an unregenerate man take part in what was thought to be an act of religious worship4 ,whether an oath be a religious act1 we shall not discuss2 but on the admitted principles of the parties engaged in this strife1 ,mr4 ,williams's argument seems to us irrefragable4 ,on the concurring causes referred to by ,mr4 ,cotton1 it will be unnecessary to make extended comment4 ,the first of these is treated of at length in the second piece of this volume4 ,mr4 ,cotton and ,mr4 ,williams were representatives of the two great bodies of dissentients from the law-established church of ,england4 ,one party deemed it to be an anti-christian church1 its rites to be avoided1 its ministry forsaken1 its communion abjured3 these were the ,separatists1 or true ,nonconformists1 to whom ,mr4 ,williams belonged4#cd ,the other party1 although declaiming against the supposed corruptions of the church1 loved its stately service1 its governmental patronage1 its common prayer1 and its parishional assemblies3#ce these were the puritans who1 in ,new ,england1 became ,independents1 or ,congregationalists#cf--;in ,old ,england1 during the ,commonwealth1 chiefly ,presbyterians1 and some ,independents3 to these ,mr4 ,cotton belonged4 ,mr4 ,williams thought it his duty to renounce all connection with the oppressor of the ,lord's people1 and also with those who still held communion with her4#cg ,let us not deem him too rigid in these principles of separation4 ,there can be no fellowship between ,christ and ,belial4 ,and if1 as was indeed the case1 the ,anglican church too largely exhibited those principles which were subversive of man's inalienable rights1 exercised a tyrannous and intolerable sway over the bodies and consciences of the people1 and drove from her fold1 as outcasts1 many of her best and holiest children1--it is no wonder that they should in return regard her touch as polluting1 her ecclesiastical frame as the work of anti-christ4 ,the ,congregationalists introduced her spirit and practice into the legislation of the ,new ,world1 and it behoved every lover of true liberty to stand aloof and separate from the evil4 ,this did ,mr4 ,williams4 ,he was right in regarding the relation of the ,congregational polity to the civil state in ,new ,england as implicitly a national church state1 although that relation was denied to be explicitly national by ,mr4 ,cotton and his brethren4 8,i affirm10 said ,williams1 8that that church estate1 that religion and worship which is commanded1 or permitted to be but one in a country1 nation1 or province1 that church is not in the nature of the particular churches of ,christ1 but in the nature of a national or state church40#ch ,it is1 however1 to this controversy that we are indebted for the second of the pieces reprinted in this volume4 ,while wandering among the uncivilized tribes of ,indians1 ,mr4 ,cotton's letter came into ,mr4 ,williams's hands4#ci ,it seems to have been a part of a somewhat extended correspondence between them1 and to have originated in ,mr4 ,cotton's twofold desire to correct the aberrations1 as he deemed them1 of his old friend1 and to shield himself from the charge of being not only an accessory1 but to some degree the instigator of the sentence of banishment decreed against him4 ,his defence of himself is unworthy of his candour1 and betrays1 by its subtle distinctions and passionate language1 by his cruel insinuations and ready seizure of the most trifling inaccuracies1 a mind ill at ease and painfully conscious that he had dealt both unjustly and unkindly with his former companion in tribulation4 ,by some means1 but without his knowledge1 ,mr4 ,cotton's letter got into print1 to him most 8unwelcome20 and while in ,england1 in #afdd1 ,mr4 ,williams printed his reply4 ,it will be seen that ,mr4 ,williams has given the whole of it3 and with scrupulous fidelity1 adding thereto his remarks and reasonings4 ,mr4 ,cotton1 however1 did not hesitate to aver the righteousness of the persecution and banishment which ,williams endured4#dj ,in the ,colonial ,records1 the date of ,mr4 ,williams's sentence is ,november #c1 7#afce74 ,he immediately withdrew from all church communion with the authors of his sufferings4 ,a few attached friends assembled around him1 and preparations were made for departure4#da ,it would seem that he had1 for some time1 contemplated the formation of a settlement where liberty1 both civil and religious1 should be enjoyed4 ,this reached the ears of his adversaries4 ,his ,lord's day addresses were attractive to many1 and withdrew them from the congregations of the dominant sect4 ,provoked at 8the increase of concourse of people to him on the ,lord's days in private10 and fearing the further extension of principles so subversive of their state-church proceedings1 they resolved on ,mr4 ,williams's immediate deportation4 ,two or three months had to elapse1 of the additional time granted for his departure1 before their sentence could take effect4 ,delay was dangerous3 therefore the ,court met at ,boston on the #aath of ,january1 #afcf1 and resolved that he should immediately be shipped for ,england1 in a vessel then riding at anchor in the bay4 ,a warrant was despatched summoning him to ,boston4 ,he returned answer that his life was in hazard2 and came not4 ,a pinnace was sent to fetch him2 8but when they came at his house1 they found he had been gone three days before2 but whither they could not learn40#db ,his wife and two children1 the youngest less than three months old1 were left behind4 ,by a mortgage on his property at ,salem he had raised money to supply his wants4 ,he then plunged into the untrodden wilds2 being 8denied the common air to breathe in1 and a civil cohabitation upon the same common earth2 yea1 and also without mercy and human compassion1 exposed to winter miseries in a howling wilderness40#dc ,after fourteen weeks' exposure to frost and snow1 8not knowing what bread or bed did mean10 he arrived at ,seekonk1#dd on the east bank of ,pawtucket river4 ,here he began to build and plant4 ,in the following expressive lines he seems to refer to the kind support afforded him by the ,indians3-- 8,god's providence is rich to his1 ,let none distrustful be2 ,in wilderness1 in great distress1 ,these ravens have fed me40#de ,their hospitality he requited throughout his long life by acts of benevolence1 and by unceasing efforts to benefit and befriend them4 ,he taught them ,christianity2 and was the first of the ,american pilgrims to convey to these savage tribes the message of salvation4 ,before his crops were ripe for harvest1 he received intimation from the governor of ,plymouth1 that he had 8fallen into the edge of their bounds10 and as they were loath to offend the people of the ,bay1 he was requested to remove beyond their jurisdiction4 ,with five companions he embarked in his canoe1 descending the river1 till arriving at a little cove on the opposite side1 they were hailed by the ,indians with the cry of 8,what cheer80#df ,cheered with this friendly salutation they went ashore4 ,again embarking1 and descending the stream1 they reached a spot at the mouth of the ,mohassuck river1 where they landed1 near to a spring--remaining to this day as an emblem of those vital blessings which flow to society from true liberty4 ,that spot is 8holy ground10 where sprung up the first civil polity in the world permitting freedom to the human soul in things of ,god4 ,there ,roger ,williams founded the town of ,providence4 ,it was1 and has ever been1 the 8refuge of distressed consciences40 ,persecution has never sullied its annals4 ,freedom to worship ,god was the desire of its founder--for himself and for all1 and he nobly endured till it was accomplished4 ,it has been generally held that the fourteen weeks above referred to were spent by ,mr4 ,williams in traversing the wilderness1 and in penetrating the vast forests which separated ,salem from ,seekonk by land4 ,some doubts have of late1 however1 been thrown upon this view4 ,it can scarcely be supposed that so long a time could have been occupied in the land journey from ,salem to ,seekonk4 ,the distance is about fifty miles4 ,even if we allow a considerable addition to this1 occasioned by the detour rendered necessary to avoid the settlements on the ,bay1 the time consumed cannot be accounted for4 ,he himself has given us no details of this eventful journey4 ,only passing references to it occur in his various works4 ,yet these are of such a kind as to render it more probable that his journey was made by sea1 coasting from place to place1 holding intercourse with the native tribes1 whose language he had previously acquired4#dg ,his route by sea would be not less than #bjj miles1 to accomplish which by his own unaided arm1 together with the interviews he undoubtedly held with the aborigines1 and the time necessarily allotted for repose1 or spent in waiting for favourable weather1 might well fill the fourteen weeks he tells us his journey lasted4 ,his language supports this view1 8,mr4 ,winthrop1 he says1 privately wrote me to steer my course to the ,narraganset ,bay4 ,i took his prudent motion1 and waiving all other thoughts and emotions ,i steered my course from ,salem1 though in winter snow1 into these parts40 ,again1 8,it pleased the ,most ,high to direct my steps into this bay20 which words would seem only applicable to a voyage by water4 8,i was sorely tossed for one fourteen weeks40 ,this language is evidently such as would be most natural in referring to a passage by sea4#dh ,but there is one paragraph in the present volume which would seem to decide the question4 ,it is found at page #chf4 8,had his soul ,cotton's been in my soul's case1 exposed to the miseries1 poverties1 necessities1 wants1 debts1 hardships of sea and land1 in a banished condition1 he would1 ,i presume1 reach forth a more merciful cordial to the afflicted40 ,here distinct reference is made to the sea as the scene of some of those hardships he endured4 ,it is moreover known that travelling at that time was chiefly by water1 that ,williams was a skilful boatman1 and that he possessed a boat of his own soon after his settlement at ,providence4 ,in the view of these particulars1 we are constrained to the conclusion that ,mr4 ,williams journeyed by sea1 often landing to seek for food1 and to hold intercourse with the natives as to his final settlement4#di ,on reaching ,providence1 the first object of ,mr4 ,williams would be to obtain possession of some land4 ,this he acquired from the ,narragansett ,indians1 the owners of the soil surrounding the bay into which he had steered his course4 ,by a deed dated the #bdth ,march1 #afch1 certain lands and meadows were made over to him by the ,indian chiefs which he had purchased of them two years before1 that is1 at the time of his settlement amongst them4 ,he shortly after reconveyed these lands1 to his companions4 ,in a deed dated #affa1 he says1 8,i desired it might be for a shelter for persons distressed for conscience4 ,i then considering the condition of divers of my distressed countrymen1 ,i communicated my said purchase unto my loving friends whom he names1 who then desired to take shelter here with me40#ej ,this worthy conception of his noble mind was realized1 and he lived to see a settled community formed wherein liberty of conscience was a primary and fundamental law4 ,thirty-five years afterward he could say1 8,here1 all over this colony1 a great number of weak and distressed souls1 scattered1 are flying hither from ,old and ,new ,england1 the ,most ,high and ,only ,wise hath1 in his infinite wisdom1 provided this country and this corner as a shelter for the poor and persecuted1 according to their several persuasions40#ea ,the year #afch witnessed the settlement of ,rhode ,island1 from which the state subsequently took its name1 by some other parties1 driven from ,massachusetts by the persecution of the ruling clerical power4 ,so great was the hatred or the envy felt towards the new colony1 that ,massachusetts framed a law prohibiting the inhabitants of ,providence from coming within its bounds4#eb ,this was a cruel law1 for thus trading was hindered with the ,english vessels frequenting ,boston1 from whence came the chief supplies of foreign goods4 ,so great was the scarcity of paper from this cause among the ,rhode ,islanders1 that 8the first of their writings that are to be found1 appear on small scraps of paper1 wrote as thick1 and crowded as close as possible40 8,god knows10 says ,williams1 8that many thousand pounds cannot repay the very temporary losses ,i have sustained10 by being debarred from ,boston4#ec ,in ,march #afci1 ,mr4 ,williams became a baptist1 together with several more of his companions in exile4 ,as none in the colony had been baptized1 a ,mr4 ,holliman was selected to baptize ,mr4 ,williams1 who then baptized ,mr4 ,holliman and ten others4 ,thus was founded the first baptist church in ,america4#ed ,on the #ast of the following ,july1 ,mr4 ,williams and his wife1 with eight others1 were excommunicated by the church at ,salem1 then under the pastoral care of the celebrated ,hugh ,peters4 ,thus was destroyed the last link which bound these exiles to the congregational churches of ,new ,england1 where infant baptism and persecution abode1 as in other churches1 in sisterly embrace together4#ee ,mr4 ,williams appears to have remained pastor of the newly formed church but a few months4 ,for1 while retaining all his original sentiments upon the doctrines of ,god's word1 and the ordinances of the church1 he conceived a true ministry must derive its authority from direct apostolic succession or endowment3 that1 therefore1 without such a commission he had no authority to assume the office of pastor1 or be a teacher in the house of ,god1 or proclaim to the impenitent the saving mercies of redemption4 ,it is1 however1 by no means clear that he regarded the latter as wrong1 for we find him in after days desiring to print several discourses which he had delivered amongst the ,indians4#ef ,he seems rather to have conceived that the church of ,christ had so fallen into apostacy1 as to have lost both its right form and the due administration of the ordinances1 which could only be restored by some new apostolic1 or specially commissioned messenger from above4 ,various passages in the present volume will be met with which favour this view3#eg the following is from his 8,hireling ,ministry30 8,in the poor small span of my life1 ,i desired to have been a diligent and constant observer1 and have been myself many ways engaged1 in city1 in country1 in court1 in schools1 in universities1 in churches1 in ,old and ,new ,england1 and yet cannot1 in the holy presence of ,god1 bring in the result of a satisfying discovery1 that either the begetting ministry of the apostles or messengers to the nations1 or the feeding and nourishing ministry of pastors and teachers1 according to the first institution of the ,lord ,jesus1 are yet restored and extant40#eh ,from this passage it would seem that his objections were rather owing to the imperfection of the church in its revived condition1 than to the want of a right succession in the ministry4 ,these imperfections could be removed by a new apostolic ministry alone4 ,he therefore was opposed to 8the office of any ministry1 but such as the ,lord ,jesus appointeth40 ,perhaps in the following assertion of ,mr4 ,cotton we have the true expression of ,mr4 ,williams's views4 ,he conceived 8that the apostacy of anti-christ hath so far corrupted all1 that there can be no recovery out of that apostacy till ,christ shall send forth new apostles to plant churches anew40#ei ,the constantly increasing number of settlers in the new colony rendered a form of civil government necessary4 ,a model was drawn up1 of which the essential principles were democratic4 ,the power was invested in the freemen1 orderly assembled1 or a major part of them4 ,none were to be accounted delinquents for doctrine1 8provided it be not directly repugnant to the government or laws established40 ,and a few months later this was further confirmed by a special act1 8that that law concerning liberty of conscience in point of doctrine1 be perpetuated40 ,thus liberty of conscience was the basis of the legislation of the colony of ,rhode ,island1 and its annals have remained to this day unsullied by the blot of persecution4#fj ,but many were the examples of an opposite course occurring in the neighbouring colony of ,boston4 ,not satisfied with having driven ,williams and many more from their borders by their oppressive measures against conscience1 the ,general ,court laid claim to jurisdiction over the young and rapidly increasing settlements of the sons of liberty4 ,this1 concurring with other causes1 led the inhabitants of ,rhode ,island and ,providence to request ,mr4 ,williams to take passage to ,england2 and there1 if possible1 obtain a charter defining their rights1 and giving them independent authority1 freed from the intrusive interference of the ,massachusetts ,bay4 ,in the month of ,june #afdc1 ,mr4 ,williams set sail from ,new ,york for ,england1 for he was not permitted to enter the territories of ,massachusetts1 and to ship from the more convenient port of ,boston1 although his services in allaying ,indian ferocity1 and preventing by his influence the attacks of the native tribes upon their settlements1 were of the highest value and of the most important kind4#fa ,at the time of his arrival in ,england1 the country was involved in the horrors of civil war4 ,by an ordinance dated ,nov4 #c1 #afdc1 the affairs of the colonies were intrusted to a board of commissioners1 of which ,lord ,warwick was the head4 ,aided by the influence of his friend1 ,sir ,henry ,vane1 ,mr4 ,williams quickly obtained the charter he sought1 dated ,march #ad1 #afdd1 giving to the 8,providence ,plantations in the ,narragansett ,bay10 full power to rule themselves1 by any form of government they preferred4#fb ,with this charter ,mr4 ,williams1 in the summer of the same year1 returned to ,new ,england1 and landed at ,boston1 ,sept4 #agth1 emboldened to tread this forbidden ground by a commendatory letter to the ,governor and ,assistants of the ,bay1 from several noblemen and members of parliament4 ,the first elections under this charter were held at ,portsmouth in ,may #afda1 when the ,general ,assembly then constituted1 proceeded to frame a code of laws1 and to commence the structure of their civil government4 ,it was declared in the act then passed1 8that the form of government established in ,providence ,plantations is ,,democratical1 that is to say1 a government held by the free and voluntary consent of all1 or the greater part of the free inhabitants40 ,the conclusion of this ,magna ,charta of ,rhode ,island is in these memorable words3 8,these are the laws that concern all men1 and these are the penalties for the transgression thereof1 which1 by common consent1 are ratified and established throughout the whole colony4 ,and otherwise than thus1 what is herein forbidden1 all men may walk as their consciences persuade them1 every one in the name of his ,god4 ,,and ,,let ,,the ,,saints ,,of ,,the ,,most ,,high ,,walk ,,in ,,this ,,colony ,,without ,,molestation1 ,,in ,,the ,,name ,,of ,,jehovah ,,their ,,god1 ,,for ,,ever ,,and ,,ever40#fc ,mr4 ,roger ,williams was chosen assistant1 and in subsequent years governor4 ,thus under the auspices of this noble-minded man was sown the germ of modern democratic institutions1 combining therewith the yet more precious seed of religious liberty4 ,we here trace no further the history of ,roger ,williams in relation to the state of which he was the honoured founder4 ,to the period at which we have arrived1 their story is indissolubly allied together4 ,others1 imbued with his principles1 henceforth took part in working out the great and then unsolved problem--how liberty1 civil and religious1 could exist in harmony with dutiful obedience to rightful laws4 ,posterity is witness to the result4 ,the great communities of the ,old ,world are daily approximating to that example1 and recognizing the truth and power of those principles which throw around the name of ,,roger ,,williams a halo of imperishable glory and renown4 ,the work of this eminent man1 reprinted in the following pages1 owes its origin to the events we have detailed1 and to some other very interesting circumstances4 ,in the first volume of the publications of the ,hanserd ,knollys ,society1 will be found a piece1 entitled 8,an ,humble ,supplication to the ,king's ,majesty1 as it was presented1 #afbj40 ,this was a baptist production4 ,it is a well arranged1 clear1 and concise argument against persecution1 and for liberty of conscience4 ,mr4 ,williams informs us that this treatise was written by a prisoner in ,newgate for conscience' sake4 ,so rigid was his confinement that paper1 pens1 and ink were denied him4 ,he had recourse to sheets of paper sent1 by a friend in ,london1 as stoppers to the bottle containing his daily allowance of milk4 ,he wrote his thoughts in milk on the paper thus provided1 and returned them to his friend in the same way4 8,in such paper1 written with milk1 nothing will appear2 but the way of reading it by fire being known to this friend who received the papers1 he transcribed and kept together the papers1 although the author himself could not correct1 nor view what himself had written40#fd ,from this treatise was taken those arguments against persecution1#fe which being replied to by ,mr4 ,cotton1 gave rise to the work of ,mr4 ,williams1 and which he has so significantly called 8,the ,bloudy ,tenent of ,persecution ,discussed40 ,mr4 ,cotton tells us that this excerpt was sent to him about the year #afce1 by ,mr4 ,williams1 and that ,mr4 ,williams1 against the 8royal law of the love of the gospel1 and without his knowledge1 published it1 with his reply1 adding thereto a refutation40#ff ,a contradictory and more particular account is1 however1 given of the affair by ,mr4 ,williams4 ,no such letter or intercourse1 he tells us1 passed between him and ,mr4 ,cotton on this subject4 ,the prisoner's arguments against persecution were presented to ,mr4 ,cotton by ,mr4 ,hall1 a congregational minister at ,roxbury1 to whom also ,mr4 ,cotton's answer was addressed4 ,mr4 ,hall not being satisfied1 sent the papers to ,mr4 ,williams already printed1 who1 therefore1 conceiving that being printed they were no longer private papers1 felt at liberty to publish his discussion of ,mr4 ,cotton's principles4#fg ,at the time when ,mr4 ,cotton wrote the letter to ,mr4 ,hall1 he tells us that ,mr4 ,williams 8did keep communion with all his brethren1 and held loving acquaintance with myself40 ,it must therefore have been written some time before the banishment of ,mr4 ,williams1 and soon after the arrival of ,mr4 ,cotton in ,new ,england4 ,at the close of ,mr4 ,cotton's letter is found a reference to 8a treatise sent to some of the brethren late of ,salem1 who doubted as you do40 ,this treatise is the 8,model of ,church and ,civil ,power10 the examination of which forms the second part of the 8,bloudy ,tenent40#fh ,the authorship of it is attributed to ,mr4 ,cotton by ,mr4 ,williams4 ,this ,mr4 ,cotton denies4 ,he charges ,mr4 ,williams with a 8double falsehood30 ,first1 in saying that he wrote it2 second1 that the ministers who did write it sent it to ,salem4#fi ,this 8blustering charge0 ,mr4 ,williams repudiates4 ,he refers to the closing paragraph of ,cotton's own letter1 and avers1 8to my knowledge it was reported1 according to this hint of ,mr4 ,cotton's1 that from the ministers of the churches such a model composed by them was sent to ,salem40 ,he then adds1 that hearing of it he wrote to 8his worthy friend ,mr4 ,sharp1 elder of the church at ,salem1 for the sight of it1 who accordingly sent it to him40 ,moreover1 ,mr4 ,cotton approved of it1 promoted it1 and directed others to repair to it for satisfactory information3#gj it was therefore unworthy of him to pass so 8deep censures for none or innocent mistakes40 ,the real author of it was probably ,mr4 ,richard ,mather1 of whom we are told that 8when the platform of ,church ,discipline was agreed--in the year #afdg1 ,mr4 ,mather's model was that out of which it was chiefly taken40#ga ,or perhaps it may preferably be regarded as the result of an act passed by the ,general ,court in the year #afcd1 wherein the elders of every church were entreated to 8consult and advise of one uniform order of discipline in the churches 444 and to consider how far the magistrates are bound to interpose for the preservation of that uniformity and peace of the churches40#gb ,certain it is1 that the principles of this document pervade all the subsequent legislation of the colony1 and many of its conclusions were embodied in the ecclesiastical and civil laws4 ,mr4 ,williams did well in selecting these two pieces for discussion4 ,they broadly state those views which are antagonist to intellectual and religious freedom4 ,other treatises were published to defend ,new ,england practices against the observations of friends in ,old ,england1 which are occasionally referred to by ,mr4 ,williams2 but in none of them were developed to the same extent1 that persecuting spirit and theocratic legislation which ,mr4 ,williams so ably1 so patiently1 and so thoroughly confronts and confutes in the following pages4 ,the 8,bloudy ,tenent0 was published in ,england in the year #afdd1 and without the name either of the author or publisher4 ,it was written while he was occupied in obtaining the charter for ,rhode ,island4 ,in many parts it bears evident tokens of haste1 and occasional obscurities show that he had found no time to amend his work4 ,indeed he tells us1 8that when these discussions were prepared for public in ,london1 his time was eaten up in attendance upon the service of the parliament and city1 for the supply of the poor of the city with wood1 during the stop of coal from ,newcastle1 and the mutinies of the poor for firing40#gc ,nevertheless1 his style is generally animated1 the discussion acutely managed1 and frequent images of great beauty adorn his page4 ,although not the first in ,england among the baptist advocates for the great principle of liberty of conscience1 ,roger ,williams holds a preeminent place4 ,previous to the ,bloudy ,tenent1 several pieces had been published1 of great interest and value4 ,some of these have been reprinted2#gd and we have already seen how one of them gave rise to the present work of ,williams4 ,in #afdb we find a baptist asserting as one of the results of infant baptism1 that 8hence also collaterally have been brought the power of the civil magistrate into the church 444 being willingly ignorant that the state and church of the ,jews is to be considered in a twofold respect1 one as it was a civil state and commonwealth and kingdom1 in respect whereof it was common to other civil states and kingdoms in the world2 the other as it was the church of ,god1 and in relation thereto had worship1 commandments1 a kingly office1 and government1 which no other state and kingdom had or ought to have3 for herein it was altogether typical4 ,this state 7the church7 being spiritual admits of none but ,him1 their spiritual ,head1 ,lawgiver1 ,james iv4 #ab40ge ,in #afdc another most able piece appeared1 entitled1 8,liberty of ,conscience2 or the sole means to obtain peace and truth40 ,the author expresses his opinion that the distractions and troubles of the nation were owing in great measure to the general obstinacy and averseness of most men of all ranks and qualities to tolerate and bear with tender consciences1 and different opinions of their brethren4 ,the same year in which the 8,bloudy ,tenent0 was published1 there issued from the press 8,the ,compassionate ,samaritan1 ,unbinding the ,conscience1 and pouring oil into the wounds which have been made upon the separation40 ,this piece likewise asserts the rights of conscience with great clearness and power4 ,until now the baptists stood alone in this conflict1 they were the only known advocates for perfect liberty2 but in this year ,mr4 ,john ,goodwin also came forth to aid them1#gf and by his powerful writings did much to disseminate right views on this great subject4 ,the activity of ,mr4 ,williams1 and his deep interest in whatever concerned the well-being of his fellow countrymen1 are still more illustrated by the publications which he put forth while in ,england4 ,for he not only published his 8,key into the ,language of ,america10 composed while on his voyage to this country1 and the two treatises reprinted in this volume2 but also an anonymous piece1 entitled 8,queries of ,highest ,consideration proposed to ,mr4 ,thomas ,goodwin--presented to the ,high ,court of ,parliament10#gg containing clear and accurate observations on the respective provinces of civil and ecclesiastical authority4 ,the publication of the 8,bloudy ,tenent0 was most offensive to the various parties into which the ruling powers of the ,state were divided4 ,the presbyterians exclaimed against it as full of heresy and blasphemy4 ,if we may believe ,mr4 ,richardson1 they even proceeded so far as to burn it4#gh ,to this we are inclined to attach some confidence1 as thereby we may account for the extreme rarity of the book1 and for what is in fact a second edition1 published in the same year4 ,the existing copies of the work do not quite agree4 ,while they are page for page and line for line the same1 they differ in the fact of a table of errata being found in some1 which errata are corrected in others4 ,there is also a slight difference in the type and orthography of the title page4#gi ,baillie informs us that ,williams's work did not meet with the approbation of the ,english ,independents4 ,its toleration was too unlimited for their taste4 ,they were willing to grant liberty only to those sound in fundamentals--the identical views of their brother ,congregationalists of ,america4#hj ,yet we are informed in a subsequent work by ,mr4 ,williams1 that it operated most beneficially on the public mind4 8,these images and clouts it hath pleased ,god to make use of to stop no small leaks of persecution1 that lately began to flow in upon dissenting consciences1 and to ,master ,cotton's own1 and to the peace and quietness of the ,independents1 which they have so long and so wonderfully enjoyed40#ha ,in the year #afdg1 ,mr4 ,cotton attempted a reply to ,mr4 ,williams4 ,he entitled his work1 8,the ,bloudy ,tenent washed1 and made white in the bloud of the ,lambe3 being discussed and discharged of blood-guiltinesse by just ,defence1 c4 ,whereunto is added a ,reply to ,mr4 ,williams's ,answer to ,mr4 ,cotton's ,letter4 ,by ,john ,cotton1 ,batchelor in ,divinity1 and ,teacher of the ,church of ,christ at ,boston in ,new ,england4 ,london4 #afdg40 #dto4 pp4 #aie and #add4 ,in the notes of the present volume1#hb various examples are given of the character of this reply1 and of the tortuous constructions adopted to escape the home thrusts of ,mr4 ,williams4 ,as compared with ,williams's work it displays great unfairness1 and a most lamentable want of ,christian temper and spirit--it is 8wormwood and gall10 to use ,mr4 ,williams's own words4 ,a rejoinder appeared in the year #afeb4 ,it is entitled 8,the ,bloody ,tenent yet more ,bloody by ,mr4 ,cotton's endevour to wash it white in the blood of the ,lambe1 c4 ,by ,r4 ,williams1 of ,providence in ,new-,england4 ,london1 #afeb40 #dto4 pp4 #cgc4 ,it is characterized by the kindest tone1 the most affectionate spirit1 and a considerate treatment of ,mr4 ,cotton's perversions1 errors1 and mistakes1 which he did not deserve4 ,it is proposed to reprint this volume as necessary to the completeness of the present4 ,the work it is now the editor's great pleasure and satisfaction to place in the hands of the subscribers is of great rarity4 ,but six copies are at present known to exist of the original editions4 ,three of these are in ,america2 two in the ,library of ,brown ,university1 ,rhode ,island1 and one in the library of ,harvard ,college4 ,three are in this country2 one in the library of the present ,american ,consul1 ,colonel ,aspinall2 one in the ,british ,museum2 and one in the ,bodleian ,library4 ,from the latter the present reprint is made by the kind permission of the ,librarian4 ,it is a volume of two hundred and forty-seven pages1 in small quarto4 ,the original table of ,contents is given with the pagination only altered4 ,mr4 ,williams's ,reply to ,mr4 ,cotton's ,letter1 is of still greater rarity4 ,two copies are in ,america2 one in ,yale ,college which is much mutilated1 and one in the possession of the family of the late ,moses ,brown1 ,esq41 of ,providence4 ,two are in this country2 one in the ,british ,museum1 and one in the ,bodleian ,library1 which is also somewhat mutilated4 ,this reprint is from the latter4 ,the proof sheets have been compared with the very fine copy in the ,british ,museum1 by my kind friend ,george ,offor1 ,esq4 ,e4 ,b4 ,u4 ,newmarket ,house1 ,august #ith1 #ahdh4 ,a ,,table ,,of ,,the ,,principal ,,contents ,,of ,,the ,,book4 ,,page4 ,,syllabus ,,of ,,the ,,work #a ,,address ,,to ,,parliament #c ,,address ,,to ,,every ,,courteous ,,reader #g ,,scriptures ,,and ,,reasons ,,against ,,persecution #aj ,,mr4 ,,john ,,cotton',s ,,answer ,,to ,,the ,,aforesaid ,,arguments #ai ,a ,,reply ,,to ,,the ,,aforesaid ,,answer ,,of ,,mr4 ,,cotton4 ,truth and ,peace1 their rare and seldom meeting #ca ,two great complaints of ,peace #cc ,persecutors seldom plead ,christ but ,moses for their author #cd ,strife1 ,christian and unchristian #cd ,a threefold doleful cry #ce ,the wonderful providence of ,god in the writing of the arguments against persecution #cf ,a definition of persecution discussed #cg ,conscience will not be restrained from its own worship1 nor constrained to another #ch ,a chaste soul in ,god's worship compared to a chaste wife #ch ,god's people have erred from the very fundamentals of visible worship #ci ,four sorts of spiritual foundations in the ,new ,testament #ci ,the six fundamentals of the ,christian religion #dj ,the coming out of ,babel not local1 but mystical #dj ,the great ignorance of ,god's people concerning the nature of a true church #da ,common prayer written against by the ,new ,english ministers #dc ,god's people have worshipped ,god with false worships #dc ,god is pleased sometimes to convey good unto his people beyond a promise #dd ,a notable speech of ,king ,james to a great nonconformist turned persecutor #de ,civil peace discussed #de ,the difference between spiritual and civil state #df ,six cases wherein ,god's people have been usually accounted arrogant1 and peace breakers1 but most unjustly #dh ,the true causes of breach and disturbance of civil peace #eb ,a preposterous way of suppressing errors #ec ,persecutors must needs oppress both erroneous and true consciences #ec ,all persecutors of ,christ profess not to persecute him #ee ,what is meant by the heretic1 ,tit4 iii4 #eh ,the word heretic generally mistaken #ei ,corporal killing in the law1 typing out spiritual killing in the gospel #fb ,the carriage of a soul sensible of mercy1 towards others in their blindness1 c4 #fd ,the difference between the church and the world1 wherein it is1 in all places #fe ,the church and civil state confusedly made all one #ff ,the most peaceable accused for peace breaking #fg ,a large examination of what is meant by the tares1 and letting of them alone #fh ,satan's subtlety about the opening of scripture #fi ,two sorts of hypocrites #gd ,the ,lord ,jesus the great teacher by parables1 and the only expounder of them #ge ,preaching for conversion is properly out of the church #gf ,the tares proved properly to signify anti-christians #gg ,god's kingdom on earth the visible church #gh ,the difference between the wheat and the tares1 as also between these tares and all others #gh ,a civil magistracy from the beginning of the world #gi ,the tares are to be tolerated the longest of all sinners #ha ,the danger of infection by permitting of the tares1 assoiled #hb ,the civil magistrate not so particularly spoken to in the ,new ,testament as fathers1 masters1 c41 and why8 #he ,a twofold state of ,christianity3 persecuted under the ,roman emperors1 and apostated under the ,roman popes #he ,three particulars contained in that prohibition of ,christ ,jesus concerning the tares1 ,let them alone1 ,matt4 xiii4 #hf ,accompanying with idolaters1 #a ,cor4 v4 discussed #hh ,civil magistrates never invested by ,christ ,jesus with the power and title of defenders of the faith #ib ,god's people ,israel ever earnest with ,god for an arm of flesh #ic ,the dreadful punishment of the blind ,pharisees in four respects #id ,the point of seducing1 infecting1 or soul-killing1 examined #if ,strange confusions in punishments #ajj ,the blood of souls1 ,acts xx41 lies upon such as profess the ministry3 the blood of bodies only upon the state #ajj ,usurpers and true heirs of ,christ ,jesus #aja ,the civil magistrate bound to preserve the bodies of their subjects1 and not to destroy them for conscience' sake #ajc ,the fire from heaven1 ,rev4 xiii4 #ac1 #b ,tim4 ii4 #be1 #bf1 examined #ajd ,the original of the ,christian name1 ,acts xi4 #aje ,a civil sword in religion makes a nation of hypocrites1 ,isa4 x4 #ajg ,a difference of the true and false ,christ and ,christians #aji ,the nature of the worship of unbelieving and natural persons #aji ,antoninus ,pius's famous act concerning religion #aaj ,isa4 ii4 #d1 ,mic4 iv4 #c1 concerning ,christ's visible kingdom1 discussed #aaj ,acts xx4 #bi1 the suppressing of spiritual wolves1 discussed #aab ,it is in vain to decline the name of the head of the church1 and yet to practise the headship #aad ,titus i4 #i1 #aj1 discussed #aae ,unmerciful and bloody doctrine #aaf ,the spiritual weapons1 #b ,cor4 x4 #d1 discussed #aag ,civil weapons most improper in spiritual causes #aah ,the spiritual artillery1 ,eph4 vi41 applied #aai ,rom4 xiii41 concerning civil rulers' power in spiritual causes1 largely examined #aba ,paul's appeal to ,csar1 examined #abh ,and cleared by five arguments #abh ,four sorts of swords #aca ,what is to be understood by evil1 ,rom4 xiii4 #d #acc ,though evil be always evil1 yet the permission of it may sometimes be good #acf ,two sorts of commands1 both from ,moses and ,christ #ach ,the permission of divorce in ,israel1 ,matt4 xix4 #ag1 #ah #ach ,usury in the civil state lawfully permitted #aci ,seducing teachers1 either pagans1 ,jewish1 ,turkish1 or anti-christian1 may yet be obedient subjects to the civil laws #ada ,scandalous livers against the civil state #adb ,toleration of ,jezebel and ,balaam1 ,rev4 ii4 #ad1 #bj1 examined #adc ,the ,christian world hath swallowed up ,christianity #ade ,christ ,jesus the deepest politician that ever was1 yet commands he a toleration of anti-christians #adi ,the princes of the world seldom take part with ,christ ,jesus #aej ,buchanan's item to ,king ,james #aea ,king ,james's sayings against persecution #aea ,king ,stephen's1 of ,poland1 sayings against persecution #aeb ,forcing of conscience a soul-rape #aeb ,persecution for conscience hath been the lancet which hath let blood the nations4 ,all spiritual whores are bloody #aeb ,polygamy1 or the many wives of the fathers #aec ,david advancing of ,god's worship against order #aec ,constantine and the good emperors1 confessed to have done more hurt to the name and crown of ,christ1 than the bloody ,neros did #aed ,the language of persecutors #aef ,christ's lilies may flourish in the church1 notwithstanding the weeds in the world permitted #aef ,queen ,elizabeth and ,king ,james1 their persecuting for cause of religion examined #aeg ,queen ,elizabeth confessed by ,mr4 ,cotton to have almost fired the world in civil combustions #aeh ,the wars between the papists and the protestants #aei ,the wars and success of the ,waldensians against three popes #aei ,god's people victorious overcomers1 and with what weapons #afj ,the ,christian church doth not persecute1 but is persecuted #afj ,the nature of excommunication #afa ,the opinion of ancient writers examined concerning the doctrine of persecution #afc ,constraint upon conscience in ,old and ,new ,england #afd ,the ,indians of ,new ,england permitted in their worshipping of devils #afe ,in two cases a false religion will not hurt #afg ,the absolute sufficiency of the sword of the ,spirit #afh ,a national church not instituted by ,christ #afi ,man hath no power to make laws to bind conscience #afi ,hearing of the word in a church estate a part of ,god's worship #agc ,papists' plea for toleration of conscience #agc ,protestant partiality in the cause of persecution #agd ,pills to purge out the bitter humour of persecution #age ,superstition and persecution have had many votes and suffrages from ,god's own people #agf ,soul-killing discussed #agf ,phineas's act discussed #agi ,elijah's slaughters examined #ahj ,dangerous consequences flowing from the civil magistrate's power in spiritual cases #ahc ,the world turned upside down #ahd ,the wonderful answer of the ministers of ,new ,england to the ministers of ,old #ahd ,lamentable differences even amongst them that fear ,god #ahe ,the doctrine of persecution ever drives the most godly out of the world #ahf ,a ,,model ,,of ,,church ,,and ,,civil ,,power1 composed by ,mr4 ,cotton and the ministers of ,new ,england1 and sent to ,salem1 7as a further confirmation of the bloody doctrine of persecution for cause of conscience7 examined and answered #ahi ,christ's power in the church confest to be above all magistrates in spiritual things #aij ,isa4 xlix4 #bc1 lamentably wrested #aij ,the civil commonweal1 and the spiritual commonweal1 the church1 not inconsistent1 though independent the one on the other #aib ,christ's ordinances put upon a whole city or nation may civilize them1 and moralize1 but not christianize1 before repentance first wrought #aic ,mr4 ,cotton and the ,new ,english minister's confession1 that the magistrate hath neither civil nor spiritual power in soul matters #aid ,the magistrates and the church1 7by ,mr4 ,cotton's grounds7 in one and the same cause1 made the judges on the bench1 and delinquents at the bar #aif ,a demonstrative illustration1 that the magistrate cannot have power over the church in spiritual or church causes #aig ,the true way of the ,god of peace1 in differences between the church and the magistrate #aih ,the terms godliness and honesty explained1 #a ,tim4 ii4 #a1 and honesty proved not to signify in that place the righteousness of the second table #bja ,the forcing of men to ,god's worship1 the greatest breach of civil peace #bjc ,the ,roman ,csars of ,christ's time described #bjd ,it pleased not the ,lord ,jesus1 in the institution of the ,christian church1 to appoint and raise up any civil government to take care of his worship #bje ,the true custodes utriusque tabul1 and keepers of the ordinances and worship of ,jesus ,christ #bjf ,the kings of ,egypt1 ,moab1 ,philistia1 ,assyria1 ,nineveh1 were not charged with the worship of ,god1 as the kings of ,judah were #bjg ,masters of families not charged under the gospel to force all the consciences of their families to worship #bjg ,god's people have then shined brightest in godliness1 when they have enjoyed least quietness #baj ,few magistrates1 few men1 spiritually good2 yet divers sorts of commendable goodness beside spiritual #baa ,civil power originally and fundamentally in the people ,mr4 ,cotton and the ,new ,english give the power of ,christ into the hands of the commonweal #bad ,laws concerning religion1 of two sorts #bag ,the very ,indians abhor to disturb any conscience at worship #bag ,canons and constitutions pretended civil1 but indeed ecclesiastical #bag ,a threefold guilt lying upon civil powers1 commanding the subject's soul in worship #bbb ,persons may with less sin be forced to marry whom they cannot love1 than to worship where they cannot believe #bbc ,as the cause1 so the weapons of the beast and the lamb are infinitely different #bbf ,artaxerxes his decree examined #bbg ,the sum of the examples of the gentile king's decrees concerning ,god's worship in scripture #bcj ,the doctrine of putting to death blasphemers of ,christ1 cuts off the hopes of the ,jews partaking in his blood #bcb ,the direful effects of fighting for conscience #bcc ,error is confident as well as truth #bcd ,spiritual prisons #bcf ,some consciences not so easily healed and cured as men imagine #bcg ,persecutors dispute with heretics1 as a tyrannical cat with the poor mouse3 and with a true witness1 as a roaring lion with an innocent lamb in his paw #bci ,persecutors endure not the name of persecutors #bci ,psalm ci41 concerning cutting off the wicked1 examined #bda ,no difference of lands and countries1 since ,christ ,jesus his coming #bdb ,the ,new ,english separate in ,america1 but not in ,europe #bdd ,christ ,jesus forbidding his followers to permit leaven in the church1 doth not forbid to permit leaven in the world #bdf ,the wall 7,cant4 viii4 #i47 discussed #bdf ,every religion commands its professors to hear only its own priests or ministers #bdh ,jonah his preaching to the ,ninevites discussed #bdh ,hearing of the word discussed #bdh ,eglon his rising up to ,ehud's message1 discussed #bdh ,a twofold ministry of ,christ3 first1 apostolical1 properly converting4 ,secondly1 feeding or pastoral #bdi ,the ,new ,english forcing people to church1 and yet not to religion 7as they say71 forcing them to be of no religion all their days #bdi ,the civil state can no more lawfully compel the consciences of men to church to hear the word1 than to receive the sacraments #bej ,no precedent in the word1 of any people converting and baptizing themselves #bec ,true conversion to visible ,christianity is not only from sins against the second table1 but from false worships also #bed ,the commission1 ,matt4 xxviii41 discussed #bed ,the civil magistrate not betrusted with that commission #bee ,jehoshaphat1 #b ,chron4 xvii41 a figure of ,christ ,jesus in his church1 not of the civil magistrate in the state #bef ,the maintenance of the ministry1 ,gal4 vi4 #f1 examined #beg ,christ ,jesus never appointed a maintenance of the ministry from impenitent and unbelieving #beg ,they that compel men to hear1 compel them also to pay for their hearing and conversion #beh ,luke xiv41 ,compel them to come in1 examined #beh ,natural men can neither truly worship1 nor maintain it #bei ,the national church of the ,jews might well be forced to a settled maintenance3 but not so the ,christian church #bfa ,the maintenance which ,christ hath appointed his ministry in the church #bfb ,the universities of ,europe causes of universal sins and plagues3 yet schools are honourable for tongues and arts #bfc ,the true church is ,christ's school1 and believers his scholars #bfd ,mr4 ,ainsworth excellent in the tongues1 yet no university man #bfe ,king ,henry the ,eighth set down in the pope's chair in ,england #bff ,apocrypha1 homilies1 and common prayer1 precious to our forefathers #bff ,reformation proved fallible #bfg ,the precedent of the kings of ,israel and ,judah largely examined #bga ,the ,persian kings' example make strongly against the doctrine of persecution #bgb #a4 ,the difference of the land of ,canaan from all lands and countries in seven eight particulars #bgc #b4 ,the difference of the people of ,israel from all other peoples1 in seven particulars #bgh ,wonderful turnings of religion in ,england in twelve years revolution #bhj ,the pope not unlike to recover his monarchy over ,europe before his downfall #bhj ,israel1 ,god's only church1 might well renew that national covenant and ceremonial worship1 which other nations cannot do #bhc ,the difference of the kings and governors of ,israel from all kings and governors of the world1 in four particulars #bhd ,five demonstrative arguments proving the unsoundness of the maxim1 viz41 the church and commonweal are like ,hippocrates' twins #bhf ,a sacrilegious prostitution of the name ,christian #bij ,david immediately inspired by ,god in his ordering of church affairs #bia ,solomon's deposing ,abiathar1 #a ,kings ii4 #bf1 #bg1 discussed #bib ,the liberties of ,christ's churches in the choice of her officers #bic ,a civil influence dangerous to the saints' liberties #bic ,jehoshaphat's fast examined #bid ,god will not wrong ,csar1 and ,csar should not wrong ,god #bid ,the famous acts of ,josiah examined #bie ,magistracy in general from ,god1 the particular forms from the people #bie ,israel confirmed in a national covenant by revelations1 signs1 and miracles2 but not so any other land #bie ,kings and nations often plant and often pluck up religions #bif ,a national church ever subject to turn and return #big ,a woman1 ,papissa1 or head of the church #big ,the papists nearer to the truth1 concerning the governor of the church1 than most protestants #big ,the kingly power of the ,lord ,jesus troubles all the kings and rulers of the world #bih ,a twofold exaltation of ,christ #bih ,a monarchical and ministerial power of ,christ #cjj ,three great competitors for the ministerial power of ,christ #cjj ,the pope pretendeth to the ministerial power of ,christ1 yet upon the point challengeth the monarchical also #cjj ,three great factions in ,england1 striving for the arm of flesh #cjj ,the churches of the separation ought in humanity and subjects' liberty not to be oppressed1 but at least permitted #cjb ,seven reasons proving that the kings of ,israel and ,judah can have no other but a spiritual antitype #cjc ,christianity adds not to the nature of a civil commonweal2 nor doth want of ,christianity diminish it #cjd ,most strange1 yet most true consequences from the civil magistrates being the antitype of the kings of ,israel and ,judah #cje ,if no religion but what the commonweal approve1 then no ,christ1 no ,god1 but at the pleasure of the world #cje ,the true antitype of the kings of ,israel and ,judah #cjf #d4 ,the difference of ,israel's statutes and laws from all others in three particulars #cjf #e4 ,the difference of ,israel's punishments and rewards from all others #cjh ,temporal prosperity most proper to the national state of the ,jew #cjh ,the excommunication in ,israel #cjh ,the corporal stoning in the law1 typed out spiritual stoning in the gospel #cjh ,the wars of ,israel typical and unparalleled1 but by the spiritual wars of spiritual ,israel #cji ,the famous typical captivity of the ,jews #caa ,their wonderful victories #caa ,the mystical army of white troopers #cab ,whether the civil state of ,israel was precedential #cac ,great unfaithfulness in magistrates ministers to cast the burden of judging and establishing ,christianity upon the commonweal #cad ,thousands of lawful civil magistrates1 who never hear of ,jesus ,christ #cae ,nero and the persecuting emperors not so injurious to ,christianity as ,constantine and others1 who assumed a power in spiritual things #caf ,they who force the conscience of others1 cry out of persecution when their own are forced #caf ,constantine and others wanted not so much affection1 as information of judgment #cag ,civil authority giving and lending their horns to bishops1 dangerous to ,christ's truth #cag ,the spiritual power of ,christ ,jesus compared in scripture to the incomparable horn of the rhinoceros #cah ,the nursing fathers and mothers1 ,isa4 xlix4 #cai ,the civil magistrate owes three things to the true church of ,christ #cai ,the civil magistrate owes two things to false worshippers #cbj ,the rise of high commissions #cba ,pious magistrates' and ministers' consciences are persuaded for that1 which other as pious magistrates' and ministers' consciences condemn #cba ,an apt similitude discussed concerning the civil magistrate #cbb ,a grievous charge against the ,christian church and the king of it #ccj ,a strange law in ,new ,england formerly against excommunicate persons #cca ,a dangerous doctrine against all civil magistrates #cca ,original sin charged to hurt the civil state #cca ,they who give the magistrate more than his due1 are apt to disrobe him of what is his #ccb ,a strange double picture #ccf ,the great privileges of the true church of ,christ #ccf ,two similitudes illustrating the true power of the magistrate #ccg ,a marvellous challenge of more power under the ,christian1 than under the heathen magistrate #cci ,civil magistrates1 derivatives from the fountains or bodies of people #cda ,a believing magistrate no more a magistrate than an unbelieving #cda ,the excellency of ,christianity in all callings #cda ,the magistrate like a pilot in the ship of the commonweal #cdb ,the terms heathen and ,christian magistrates #cdc ,the unjust and partial liberty to some consciences1 and bondage unto all others #cdd ,the commission1 ,matt4 xxviii4 #ai1 #bj1 not proper to pastors and teachers1 least of all to the civil magistrate #cde ,unto whom now belongs the care of all the churches1 c4 #cde ,acts xv4 commonly misapplied #cdf ,the promise of ,christ's presence1 ,matt4 xviii41 distinct from that ,matt4 xxviii4 #cdg ,church administrations firstly charged upon the ministers thereof #cdi ,queen ,elizabeth's bishops truer to their principles than many of a better spirit and profession #cej ,mr4 ,barrowe's profession concerning ,queen ,elizabeth #cej ,the inventions of men swerving from the true essentials of civil and spiritual commonweals #cec ,a great question1 viz41 whether only church members1 that is1 godly persons1 in a particular church estate1 be only eligible into the magistracy #cec ,the world being divided in thirty parts1 twenty-five never heard of ,christ #ced ,lawful civil states where churches of ,christ are not #cee ,few ,christians wise and noble1 and qualified for affairs of state #cee ,the ,ninevites' fast examined #ceg ,luke xxii4 #cf discussed #cei ,rev4 xvii4 #af discussed #cfa ,conclusion #cfc ,,mr4 ,,cotton',s ,,letter ,,examined ,,and ,,answered4 ,to the ,impartial ,reader #cfg ,if ,jesus ,christ bring more light he must be persecuted #cga ,public sins1 the cause of public calamities1 must be discovered #cgb ,grounds of ,mr4 ,williams's banishment #cge ,persecutors do no good to men's souls #cgg ,mr4 ,cotton's proof from ,prov4 xi4 #bf discussed #cgi ,spiritual offences only liable to spiritual censure #chb ,mr4 ,cotton ignorant of the cause of ,williams's sufferings #chc ,civil peace and magistracy blessed ordinances of ,god #chd ,the mercies of a civil state distinct from those of a spiritual state #che ,affliction for ,christ sweet #cij ,the state of godly persons in gross sins #cic ,god's mystical ,israel must come forth of ,babel before they build the temple #cie ,new ,england refuses church fellowship with godly ministers of ,old ,england #cih ,christ considered personally and in his people #cih ,mr4 ,cotton confessing the true and false constitution of the church #dja ,difference between ,god's institutions to the ,jews and anti-christian institutions #djc ,coming forth of ,babel not local #djf ,the polygamy of the fathers #daj ,every true church separate from idols #daa ,the substance of true repentance in all ,god's children #dab ,the first ,christians the best pattern for ,christians now #dac ,mr4 ,cotton against a national church1 and yet holds fellowship with it #dae ,the ,jewish national church not to be separated from #dag ,mr4 ,cotton extenuates national churches #dbj ,mr4 ,cotton guilty of cruelty in persecuting1 yet cries out against due severity in the church #dbc ,god's controversy for persecution #dbd ,the puritans and separatists compared #dbd ,mr4 ,ainsworth's poverty #dbf ,four sorts of backsliders from separation #dbh ,mr4 ,canne's ,answer to ,mr4 ,robinson's ,liberty of ,hearing #dbi ,preachers and pastors far different #dcj ,the fellowship of the word taught in a church estate #dcb ,false callings or commissions for the ministry #dcc ,the ,nonconformists' grounds enforce separation #dcf ,mr4 ,cotton's practice of separation in ,new ,england #dcf ,persecution is unjust oppression wheresoever #dch ,,the ,,blovdy ,,tenent of ,,persecution1 for cause of ,,conscience1 discussed1 in ,a ,conference betweene ,,trvth and ,,peace4 ,,who1 ,in all tender ,affection1 present to the ,high ,court of ,parliament1 7as the result of their ,discourse7 these1 7amongst other ,passages7 of highest consideration4 ,illustration ,london ,printed in the ,year #afdd4 ,first4 ,that the blood of so many hundred thousand souls of protestants and papists1 spilt in the wars of present and former ages1 for their respective consciences1 is not required nor accepted by ,jesus ,christ the ,prince of ,peace4 ,secondly4 ,pregnant scriptures and arguments are throughout the work proposed against the doctrine of persecution for cause of conscience4 ,thirdly4 ,satisfactory answers are given to scriptures and objections produced by ,mr4 ,calvin1 ,beza1 ,mr4 ,cotton1 and the ministers of the ,new ,english churches1 and others former and later1 tending to prove the doctrine of persecution for cause of conscience4 ,fourthly4 ,the doctrine of persecution for cause of conscience1 is proved guilty of all the blood of the souls crying for vengeance under the altar4 ,fifthly4 ,all civil states1 with their officers of justice1 in their respective constitutions and administrations1 are proved essentially civil1 and therefore not judges1 governors1 or defenders of the spiritual1 or ,christian1 state and worship4 ,sixthly4 ,it is the will and command of ,god that1 since the coming of his ,son the ,lord ,jesus1 a permission of the most ,paganish1 ,jewish1 ,turkish1 or anti-christian consciences and worships be granted to all men in all nations and countries3 and they are only to be fought against with that sword which is only1 in soul matters1 able to conquer3 to wit1 the sword of ,god's ,spirit1 the word of ,god4 ,seventhly4 ,the state of the land of ,israel1 the kings and people thereof1 in peace and war1 is proved figurative and ceremonial1 and no pattern nor precedent for any kingdom or civil state in the world to follow4 ,eighthly4 ,god requireth not an uniformity of religion to be enacted and enforced in any civil state2 which enforced uniformity1 sooner or later1 is the greatest occasion of civil war1 ravishing of conscience1 persecution of ,christ ,jesus in his servants1 and of the hypocrisy and destruction of millions of souls4 ,ninthly4 ,in holding an enforced uniformity of religion in a civil state1 we must necessarily disclaim our desires and hopes of the ,jews' conversion to ,christ4 ,tenthly4 ,an enforced uniformity of religion throughout a nation or civil state1 confounds the civil and religious1 denies the principles of ,christianity and civility1 and that ,jesus ,christ is come in the flesh4 ,eleventhly4 ,the permission of other consciences and worships than a state professeth1 only can1 according to ,god1 procure a firm and lasting peace2 good assurance being taken1 according to the wisdom of the civil state1 for uniformity of civil obedience from all sorts4 ,twelfthly4 ,lastly1 true civility and ,christianity may both flourish in a state or kingdom1 notwithstanding the permission of divers and contrary consciences1 either of ,jew or ,gentile4 ,,to ,,the ,,right ,,honourable ,,both ,,houses ,,of ,,the ,,high ,,court ,,of ,,parliament4 ,,right ,,honourable ,,and ,,renowned ,,patriots1 ,next to the saving of your own souls in the lamentable shipwreck of mankind1 your task as ,christians is to save the souls1 but as magistrates the bodies and goods1 of others4 ,many excellent discourses have been presented to your fathers' hands and yours1 in former and present parliaments4 ,i shall be humbly bold to say1 that1 in what concerns your duties as magistrates towards others1 a more necessary and seasonable debate was never yet presented4 ,two things your honours here may please to view1 in this controversy of persecution for cause of conscience1 beyond what is extant4 ,first4 ,the whole body of this controversy formed and pitched in true battalia4 ,secondly4 ,although in respect of myself it be impar congressus1 yet1 in the power of that ,god who is ,maximus in ,minimis1 your ,honours shall see the controversy is discussed with men as able as most1 eminent for ability and piety--,mr4 ,cotton1 and the ,new ,english ministers4 ,when the prophets in scripture have given their coats of arms and escutcheons to great men1 your ,honours know the ,babylonian monarch hath the lion1 the ,persian the bear1 the ,grecian the leopard1 the ,roman a compound of the former three1 most strange and dreadful1 ,dan4 vii4 ,their oppressing1 plundering1 ravishing1 murdering1 not only the bodies1 but the souls of men1 are large explaining commentaries of such similitudes4 ,your ,honours have been famous to the end of the world for your unparalleled wisdom1 courage1 justice1 mercy1 in the vindicating your civil laws1 liberties1 c4 ,yet let it not be grievous to your ,honours' thoughts to ponder a little1 why all the prayers1 and tears1 and fastings1 in this nation1 have not pierced the heavens1 and quenched these flames2 which yet who knows how far they will spread1 and when they will out6 ,your ,honours have broke the jaws of the oppressor1 and taken the prey out of his teeth1 ,job xxix4 #ag4 ,for which act1 ,i believe1 it hath pleased the ,most ,high ,god to set a guard1 not only of trained men1 but of mighty angels1 to secure your sitting1 and the city4 ,i fear we are not pardoned1 though reprieved4 ,oh6 that there may be a lengthening of ,london's tranquillity1 of the parliament's safety1 by shewing mercy to the poor6 ,dan4 iv4 #bg4 ,right ,honourable1 soul yoke1 soul oppressions1 plunderings1 ravishings1 c41 are of a crimson and deepest dye1 and ,i believe the chief of ,england's sins--unstopping the vials of ,england's present sorrows4 ,this glass presents your ,honours with arguments from religion1 reason1 experience3 all proving that the greatest yokes yet lying upon ,english necks1 the people's and your own1 are of a spiritual and foul nature4 ,all former parliaments have changed these yokes according to their consciences1 popish or protestant4 ,it is now your ,honour's turn at helm1 and as is your task so ,i hope is your resolution--not to change3 for that is but to turn the wheel1 which another parliament1 and the very next1 may turn again2 but to ease the subjects and yourselves from a yoke 7as was once spoke in a case not unlike1 ,acts xv4 #aj7 which neither you nor your fathers were ever able to bear4 ,most noble senators2 your fathers1 whose seats you fill1 are mouldered1 and mouldering their brains1 their tongues1 c41 to ashes in the pit of rottenness3 they and you must shortly1 together with two worlds of men1 appear at the great bar4 ,it shall then be no grief of heart that you have now attended to the cries of souls1 thousands oppressed1 millions ravished1 by the acts and statutes concerning souls not yet repealed--of bodies impoverished1 imprisoned1 c41 for their souls' belief3 yea1 slaughtered on heaps for religious controversies1 in the wars of present and former ages4 ,sidenote3 ,the famous saying of a late king of ,bohemia4 8,notwithstanding the success of later times1 wherein sundry opinions have been hatched about the subject of religion1 a man may clearly discern with his eye1 and as it were touch with his finger1 that according to the verity of holy scripture1 c41 men's consciences ought in no sort to be violated1 urged1 or constrained4 ,and whensoever men have attempted any thing by this violent course1 whether openly or by secret means1 the issue hath been pernicious1 and the cause of great and wonderful innovations in the principallest and mightiest kingdoms and countries10 c4#hc ,it cannot be denied to be a pious and prudential act for your ,honours1 according to your conscience1 to call for the advice of faithful counsellors in the high debates concerning your own1 and the souls of others4 ,yet1 let it not be imputed as a crime for any suppliant to the ,god of heaven for you1 if1 the humble sense of what their souls believe1 they pour forth1 amongst others1 these three requests at the throne of grace3 ,first4 ,that neither your ,honours1 nor those excellent and worthy persons whose advice you seek1 limit the ,holy ,one of ,israel to their apprehensions1 debates1 conclusions1 rejecting or neglecting the humble and faithful suggestions of any1 though as base as spittle and clay1 with which sometimes ,christ ,jesus opens the eyes of them that are born blind4 ,secondly4 ,that the present and future generations of the sons of men may never have cause to say that such a parliament1 as ,england never enjoyed the like1 should model the worship of the living1 eternal1 and invisible ,god1 after the bias of any earthly interest1 though of the highest concernment under the sun4 ,and yet saith the learned ,sir ,francis ,bacon#hd 7however otherwise persuaded1 yet thus he confesseth71 8,such as hold pressure of conscience1 are guided therein by some private interests of their own40 ,thirdly4 ,that whatever way of worshipping ,god your own consciences are persuaded to walk in1 yet1 from any bloody act of violence to the consciences of others1 it may never be told at ,rome nor ,oxford1 that the parliament of ,england hath committed a greater rape than if they had forced or ravished the bodies of all the women in the world4 ,and that ,england's parliament1 so famous throughout all ,europe and the world1 should at last turn papists1 prelatists1 ,presbyterians1 ,independents1 ,socinians1 ,familists1 ,antinomians1 c41 by confirming all these sorts of consciences by civil force and violence to their consciences4#he ,,to ,,every ,,courteous ,,reader4 ,while ,i plead the cause of truth and innocency against the bloody doctrine of persecution for cause of conscience1 ,i judge it not unfit to give alarm to myself1 and to all men1 to prepare to be persecuted or hunted for cause of conscience4 ,whether thou standest charged with ten or but two talents1 if thou huntest any for cause of conscience1 how canst thou say thou followest the ,lamb of ,god1 who so abhorred that practice8 ,if ,paul1 if ,jesus ,christ1 were present here at ,london1 and the question were proposed1 what religion would they approve of--the papists1 prelatists1 ,presbyterians1 ,independents1 c41 would each say1 ,of mine1 ,of mine8 ,but put the second question3 if one of the several sorts should by major vote attain the sword of steel1 what weapons doth ,christ ,jesus authorize them to fight with in his cause8 ,do not all men hate the persecutor1 and every conscience1 true or false1 complain of cruelty1 tyranny1 c48 ,two mountains of crying guilt lie heavy upon the backs of all men that name the name of ,christ1 in the eyes of ,jews1 ,turks1 and ,pagans4 ,first4 ,the blasphemies of their idolatrous inventions1 superstitions1 and most unchristian conversations4 ,secondly4 ,the bloody1 irreligious1 and inhuman oppressions and destructions under the mask or veil of the name of ,christ1 c4 ,oh6 how likely is the jealous ,jehovah1 the consuming fire1 to end these present slaughters of the holy witnesses in a greater slaughter6 ,rev4 v4 ,six years preaching of so much truth of ,christ as that time afforded in ,k4 ,edward's days1 kindles the flames of ,q4 ,mary's bloody persecutions4 ,who can now but expect that after so many scores of years preaching and professing of more truth1 and amongst so many great contentions amongst the very best of protestants1 a fiery furnace should be heat1 and who sees not now the fires kindling8 ,i confess ,i have little hopes1 till those flames are over1 that this discourse against the doctrine of persecution for cause of conscience should pass current1 ,i say not amongst the wolves and lions1 but even amongst the sheep of ,christ themselves4 ,yet1 liberavi animam meam1 ,i have not hid within my breast my soul's belief4 ,and1 although sleeping on the bed either of the pleasures or profits of sin1 thinkest thou thy conscience bound to smite at him that dares to waken thee8 ,yet in the midst of all these civil and spiritual wars1 ,i hope we shall agree in these particulars1 ,first4 ,however the proud 7upon the advantage of a higher earth or ground7 overlook the poor1 and cry out schismatics1 heretics1 c41 shall blasphemers and seducers escape unpunished8 ,yet there is a sorer punishment in the gospel for despising of ,christ than ,moses1 even when the despiser of ,moses was put to death without mercy1 ,heb4 x4 #bh1 #bi4 ,he that believeth shall not be damned1 ,mark xvi4 #af4 ,secondly4 ,whatever worship1 ministry1 ministration1 the best and purest1 are practised without faith and true persuasion that they are the true institutions of ,god1 they are sin1 sinful worships1 ministries1 c4 ,and however in civil things we may be servants unto men1 yet in divine and spiritual things the poorest peasant must disdain the service of the highest prince4 ,be ye not the servants of men1 #a ,cor4 vii4 #bc4 ,thirdly4 ,without search and trial no man attains this faith and right persuasion4 #a ,thes4 v4 #ba1 ,try all things4 ,in vain have ,english parliaments permitted ,english bibles in the poorest ,english houses1 and the simplest man or woman to search the scriptures1 if yet against their souls persuasion from the scripture1 they should be forced1 as if they lived in ,spain or ,rome itself without the sight of a bible1 to believe as the church believes4 ,fourthly4 ,having tried1 we must hold fast1 #a ,thes4 v4 #ba1 upon the loss of a crown1 ,rev4 iii4 #aa2 we must not let go for all the fleabitings of the present afflictions1 c4 ,having bought truth dear1 we must not sell it cheap1 not the least grain of it for the whole world2 no1 not for the saving of souls1 though our own most precious2 least of all for the bitter sweetening of a little vanishing pleasure3--,for a little puff of credit and reputation from the changeable breath of uncertain sons of men3 for the broken bags of riches on eagles' wings3 for a dream of these--any or all of these1 which on our death-bed vanish and leave tormenting stings behind them4 ,oh6 how much better is it from the love of truth1 from the love of the ,father of lights from whence it comes1 from the love of the ,son of ,god1 who is the way and the truth1 to say as he1 ,john xviii4 #cg3 ,for this end was ,i born1 and for this end came ,i into the world1 that ,i might bear witness to the truth4 ,,scriptures ,,and ,,reasons1 ,,written ,,long ,,since ,,by ,a ,,witness ,,of ,,jesus ,,christ1 ,,close ,,prisoner ,,in ,,newgate1 ,,against ,,persecution ,,in ,,cause ,,of ,,conscience2 ,,and ,,sent ,,some ,,while ,,since ,,to ,,mr4 ,,cotton1 ,,by ,a ,,friend1 ,,who ,,thus ,,wrote3 8,in the multitude of counsellours there is safety20 it is therefore humbly desired to be instructed in this point1 viz43-- ,whether persecution for cause of conscience be not against the doctrine of ,jesus ,christ1 the ,king of kings4 ,the scriptures and reasons are these4#hf #a4 ,because ,christ commandeth1 that the tares and wheat1 which some understand are those that walk in the truth1 and those that walk in lies1 should be let alone in the world1 and not plucked up until the harvest1 which is the end of the world4 ,matt4 xiii4 #cj1 #ch1 c4 #b4 ,the same commandeth1 ,matt4 xv4 #ad1 that they that are blind 7as some interpret1 led on in false religion1 and are offended with him for teaching true religion7 should be let alone1 referring their punishment unto their falling into the ditch4 #c4 ,again1 ,luke ix4 #ed1 #ee1 he reproved his disciples who would have had fire come down from heaven and devour those ,samaritans who would not receive ,him1 in these words3 8,ye know not of what ,spirit ye are2 the ,son of man is not come to destroy men's lives1 but to save them40 #d4 ,paul1 the apostle of our ,lord1 teacheth1 #b ,tim4 ii4 #bd1 that the servant of the ,lord must not strive1 but must be gentle toward all men2 suffering the evil men1 instructing them with meekness that are contrary minded1 proving if ,god at any time will give them repentance1 that they may acknowledge the truth1 and come to amendment out of that snare of the devil1 c4 #e4 ,according to these blessed commandments1 the holy prophets foretold1 that when the law of ,moses concerning worship should cease1 and ,christ's kingdom be established1 ,isa4 ii4 #d2 ,mic4 iv4 #c1 #d1 ,they shall break their swords into mattocks1 and their spears into scythes4 ,and ,isa4 xi4 #i1 ,then shall none hurt nor destroy in all the mountain of my holiness1 c4 ,and when he came1 the same he taught and practised1 as before4 ,so did his disciples after him1 for the weapons of his warfare are not carnal 7saith the apostle71 #b ,cor4 x4 #d4 ,but he chargeth straitly1 that his disciples should be so far from persecuting those that would not be of their religion1 that when they were persecuted they should pray1 ,matt4 v4 #dd2 when they were cursed1 they should bless1 c4 ,and the reason seems to be1 because they who now are tares1 may hereafter become wheat2 they who are now blind1 may hereafter see2 they that now resist him1 may hereafter receive him2 they that are now in the devil's snare1 in adverseness to the truth1 may hereafter come to repentance2 they that are now blasphemers and persecutors1 as ,paul was1 may in time become faithful as he2 they that are now idolaters1 as the ,corinthians once were1 #a ,cor4 vi4 #i1 may hereafter become true worshippers as they2 they that are now no people of ,god1 nor under mercy1 as the saints sometimes were1 #a ,pet4 ii4 #aj1 may hereafter become the people of ,god1 and obtain mercy1 as they4 ,some come not till the eleventh hour1 ,matt4 xx4 #f3 if those that come not till the last hour should be destroyed1 because they come not at the first1 then should they never come1 but be prevented4 ,all which promises are in all humility referred to your godly wise consideration4 ,,ii4 ,because this persecution for cause of conscience is against the profession and practice of famous princes4 ,first1 you may please to consider the speech of ,king ,james1 in his majesty's speech in parliament1 #afji4 ,he saith1 8,it is a sure rule in divinity1 that ,god never loves to plant his church by violence and bloodshed40 ,and in his highness' ,apology1 p4 #d1 speaking of such papists that took the oath1 thus3 8,i gave good proof that ,i intended no persecution against them for conscience' cause1 but only desired to be secured for civil obedience1 which for conscience' cause they are bound to perform40 ,and1 p4 #fj1 speaking of ,blackwell1 the archpriest1 his majesty saith1 8,it was never my intention to lay any thing to the said archpriest's charge1 as ,i have never done to any1 for cause of conscience40 ,and in his highness' exposition on ,rev4 xx4 printed #aehh1 and after in #afjc1 his majesty writeth thus3 8,sixthly1 the compassing of the saints1 and the besieging of the beloved city1 declareth unto us a certain note of a false church to be persecution2 for they come to seek the faithful1 the faithful are them that are sought3 the wicked are the besiegers1 the faithful are the besieged40 ,secondly1 the saying of ,stephen1 king of ,poland3 8,i am a king of men1 not of consciences2 a commander of bodies1 not of souls40 ,thirdly1 the king of ,bohemia hath thus written3 8,and1 notwithstanding1 the success of the later times1 wherein sundry opinions have been hatched about the subject of religion1 may make one clearly discern with his eye1 and 7as it were7 to touch with his finger1 that according to the verity of holy scriptures1 and a maxim heretofore told and maintained by the ancient doctors of the church2 that men's consciences ought in no sort to be violated1 urged1 or constrained2 and whensoever men have attempted any thing by this violent course1 whether openly or by secret means1 the issue hath been pernicious1 and the cause of great and wonderful innovations in the principallest and mightiest kingdoms and countries of all ,christendom40 ,and further1 his majesty saith3 8,so that once more we do profess1 before ,god and the whole world1 that from this time forward we are firmly resolved not to persecute1 or molest1 or suffer to be persecuted or molested1 any person whosoever for matter of religion2 no1 not they that profess themselves to be of the ,romish church1 neither to trouble or disturb them in the exercise of their religion1 so they live conformable to the laws of the states10 c4 ,and for the practice of this1 where is persecution for cause of conscience1 except in ,england and where popery reigns8 and there neither in all places1 as appeareth by ,france1 ,poland1 and other places4 ,nay1 it is not practised amongst the heathen1 that acknowledge not the true ,god1 as the ,turk1 ,persian1 and others4 ,sidenote3 #c4 ,reas4 ,thirdly1 because persecution for cause of conscience is condemned by ancient and later writers2 yea1 and the papists themselves4 ,hilary against ,auxentius1 saith thus3 8,the ,christian church doth not persecute1 but is persecuted4 ,and lamentable it is to see the great folly of these times1 and to sigh at the foolish opinion of this world1 in that men think by human aid to help ,god1 and with worldly pomp and power to undertake to defend the ,christian church4 ,i ask of you bishops1 what help used the apostles in the publishing of the gospel8 ,with the aid of what power did they preach ,christ1 and converted the heathen from their idolatry to ,god8 ,when they were in prisons1 and lay in chains1 did they praise and give thanks to ,god for any dignities1 graces1 and favours received from the court8 ,or do you think that ,paul went about with regal mandates1 or kingly authority1 to gather and establish the church of ,christ8 ,sought he protection from ,nero1 ,vespasian8 ,the apostles wrought with their hands for their own maintenance1 travelling by land and water1 from town to city1 to preach ,christ2 yea1 the more they were forbidden1 the more they taught and preached ,christ4 ,but now1 alas6 human help must assist and protect the faith1 and give the same countenance4 ,to and by vain and worldly honours do men seek to defend the church of ,christ1 as if he by his power were unable to perform it40 ,the same1 against the ,arians3 8,the church now1 which formerly by enduring misery and imprisonment1 was known to be a true church1 doth now terrify others by imprisonment1 banishment1 and misery1 and boasteth that she is highly esteemed of the world2 when as the true church cannot but be hated of the same40 ,tertull4 ad ,scapulam3 8,it agreeth both with human reason1 and natural equity1 that every man worship ,god uncompelled1 and believe what he will2 for another man's religion and belief neither hurteth nor profiteth any one3 neither beseemeth it any religion to compel another to be of their religion1 which willingly and freely should be embraced1 and not by constraint3 forasmuch as the offerings were required of those that freely and with good will offered1 and not from the contrary40 ,jerome in ,proem4 lib4 #d4 in ,jeremiam4 8,heresy must be cut off with the sword of the ,spirit2 let us strike through with the arrows of the ,spirit all sons and disciples of misled heretics1 that is1 with testimonies of holy scriptures4 ,the slaughter of heretics is by the word of ,god40 ,brentius upon #a ,cor4 iii4 8,no man hath power to make or give laws to ,christians1 whereby to bind their consciences2 for willingly1 freely1 and uncompelled1 with a ready desire and cheerful mind1 must those that come1 run unto ,christ40 ,luther1 in his book of the civil magistrate1 saith3 8,the laws of the civil magistrate's government extend no further than over the body or goods1 and to that which is external3 for over the soul ,god will not suffer any man to rule2 only he himself will rule there4 ,wherefore1 whosoever doth undertake to give laws unto the souls and consciences of men1 he usurpeth that government himself which appertaineth unto ,god10 c4 ,therefore1 upon #a ,kings vi4 8,in the building of the temple there was no sound of iron heard1 to signify that ,christ will have in his church a free and a willing people1 not compelled and constrained by laws and statutes40 ,again1 he saith upon ,luke xxii4 8,it is not the true catholic church which is defended by the secular arm or human power1 but the false and feigned church2 which although it carries the name of a church1 yet it denies the power thereof40 ,and upon ,psalm xvii4 he saith3 8,for the true church of ,christ knoweth not brachium seculare1 which the bishops now-a-days chiefly use40 ,again1 in ,postil4 ,dom4 #a4 post4 ,epiphan41 he saith3 8,let not ,christians be commanded1 but exhorted2 for he that willingly will not do that whereunto he is friendly exhorted1 he is no ,christian3 whereof they that do compel those that are not willing1 show thereby that they are not ,christian preachers1 but worldly beadles40 ,again1 upon #a ,pet4 iii4 he saith3 8,if the civil magistrate shall command me to believe thus and thus1 ,i should answer him after this manner3 ,lord1 or sir1 look you to your civil or worldly government1 your power extends not so far as to command any thing in ,god's kingdom2 therefore herein ,i may not hear you4 ,for if you cannot bear it1 that any should usurp authority where you have to command1 how do you think that ,god should suffer you to thrust him from his seat1 and to seat yourself therein80 ,lastly1 the papists1 the inventors of persecution1 in a wicked book of theirs1 set forth in ,king ,james's reign1 thus3 8,moreover1 the means which ,almighty ,god appointed his officers to use in the conversion of kingdoms1 and nations1 and people1 was humility1 patience1 charity3 saying1 ,behold1 ,i send you as sheep in the midst of wolves1 ,matt4 x4 #af4 ,he did not say1 #8,behold1 ,i send you as wolves among sheep1 to kill1 imprison1 spoil1 and devour those unto whom they were sent4'0 8,again1 ver4 #ag1 he saith3 ,they to whom ,i send you will deliver you up into councils1 and in their synagogues they will scourge you2 and to presidents and to kings shall you be led for my sake4 ,he doth not say1 #8,you1 whom ,i send1 shall deliver the people1 whom you ought to convert1 unto councils1 and put them in prisons1 and lead them to ,presidents1 and tribunal seats1 and make their religion felony and treason4' 8,again he saith1 ver4 #cb3 ,when ye enter into an house1 salute it1 saying1 ,peace be unto this house4 ,he doth not say1 #8,you shall send pursuivants to ransack or spoil the house4' 8,again he saith1 ,john x4 ,the good pastor giveth his life for his sheep2 the thief cometh not but to steal1 kill1 and destroy4 ,he doth not say1 #8,the thief giveth his life for his sheep1 and the good pastor cometh not but to steal1 kill1 and destroy4'0 ,so that we holding our peace1 our adversaries themselves speak for us1 or rather for the truth4 ,,to ,,answer ,,some ,,main ,,objections4 ,and first1 that it is no prejudice to the commonwealth if liberty of conscience were suffered to such as do fear ,god indeed1 as is or will be manifest in such men's lives and conversations4 ,abraham abode among the ,canaanites a long time1 yet contrary to them in religion1 ,gen4 xiii4 #g1 and xvi4 #ac4 ,again3 he sojourned in ,gerar1 and king ,abimelech gave him leave to abide in his land1 ,gen4 xx4 #ba1 #bc1 #bd4 ,isaac also dwelt in the same land1 yet contrary in religion1 ,gen4 xxvi4 ,jacob lived twenty years in one house with his uncle ,laban1 yet differed in religion1 ,gen4 xxxi4 ,the people of ,israel were about #dcj years in that infamous land of ,egypt1 and afterwards seventy years in ,babylon1 all which time they differed in religion from those ,states1 ,exod4 xii4 and #b ,chron4 xxxvi4 ,come to the time of ,christ1 where ,israel was under the ,romans1 where lived divers sects of religions1 as ,herodians1 ,scribes and ,pharisees1 ,sadducees and ,libertines1 ,theudans and ,samaritans1 beside the common religion of the ,jews1 ,christ1 and his apostles4 ,all which differed from the common religion of the state1 which is like the worship of ,diana1 which almost the whole world then worshipped1 ,acts xix4 #bj4 ,all these lived under the government of ,csar1 being nothing hurtful unto the commonwealth1 giving unto ,csar that which was his4 ,and for their religion and consciences towards ,god he left them to themselves1 as having no dominion over their souls and consciences4 ,and when the enemies of the truth raised up any tumults1 the wisdom of the magistrate most widely appeased them1 ,acts xviii4 #ad1 and xix4 #ce4 ,,the ,,answer ,,of ,,mr4 ,,john ,,cotton1 ,,of ,,boston1 ,,in ,,new ,,england1 ,,to ,,the ,,aforesaid ,,arguments ,,against ,,persecution ,,for ,,cause ,,of ,,conscience1 ,,professedly ,,maintaining ,,persecution ,,for ,,cause ,,of ,,conscience4 ,the question which you put is1 whether persecution for cause of conscience be not against the doctrine of ,jesus ,christ1 the ,king of kings8 ,now1 by persecution for cause of conscience1 ,i conceive you mean1 either for professing some point of doctrine which you believe in conscience to be the truth1 or for practising some work which in conscience you believe to be a religious duty4 ,now in points of doctrine some are fundamental1 without right belief whereof a man cannot be saved2 others are circumstantial1 or less principal1 wherein men may differ in judgment without prejudice of salvation on either part4 ,in like sort1 in points of practice1 some concern the weightier duties of the law1 as1 what ,god we worship1 and with what kind of worship2 whether such as1 if it be right1 fellowship with ,god is held2 if corrupt1 fellowship with him is lost4 ,again1 in points of doctrine and worship less principal1 either they are held forth in a meek and peaceable way1 though the things be erroneous or unlawful3 or they are held forth with such arrogance and impetuousness1 as tendeth and reacheth 7even of itself7 to the disturbance of civil peace4 ,finally1 let me add this one distinction more3 when we are persecuted for conscience' sake1 it is either for conscience rightly informed1 or for erroneous and blind conscience4 ,these things premised1 ,i would lay down mine answer to the question in certain conclusions4 ,sidenote3 #a4 ,first1 it is not lawful to persecute any for conscience' sake rightly informed2 for in persecuting such1 ,christ himself is persecuted in them1 ,acts ix4 #d4 ,sidenote3 #b4 ,secondly1 for an erroneous and blind conscience1 7even in fundamental and weighty points7 it is not lawful to persecute any1 till after admonition once or twice2 and so the apostle directeth1 ,tit4 iii4 #aj1 and giveth the reason1 that in fundamental and principal points of doctrine or worship1 the word of ,god in such things is so clear1 that he cannot but be convinced in conscience of the dangerous error of his way after once or twice admonition1 wisely and faithfully dispensed4 ,and then1 if any one persist1 it is not out of conscience1 but against his conscience1 as the apostle saith1 ver4 #aa1 ,he is subverted1 and sinneth1 being condemned of himself2 that is1 of his own conscience4 ,so that if such a man1 after such admonition1 shall still persist in the error of his way1 and be therefore punished1 he is not persecuted for cause of conscience1 but for sinning against his own conscience4 ,sidenote3 #c4 ,thirdly4 ,in things of lesser moment1 whether points of doctrine or worship1 if a man hold them forth in a spirit of ,christian meekness and love1 though with zeal and constancy1 he is not to be persecuted1 but tolerated1 till ,god may be pleased to manifest his truth to him1 ,phil4 iii4 #ag2 ,rom4 xiv4 #a-d4 ,sidenote3 #d4 ,but if a man hold forth1 or profess1 any error or false way1 with a boisterous and arrogant spirit1 to the disturbance of civil peace1 he may justly be punished according to the quality and measure of the disturbance caused by him4 ,now let us consider of your reasons or objections to the contrary4 ,your first head of objections is taken from the scripture4 ,object4 #a4 ,because ,christ commandeth to let alone the tares and wheat to grow together unto the harvest1 ,matt4 xiii4 #cj1 #ch4 ,answ4 ,tares are not briars and thorns1 but partly hypocrites1 like unto the godly1 but indeed carnal1 as the tares are like to wheat1 but are not wheat2 or partly such corrupt doctrines or practices as are indeed unsound1 but yet such as come very near the truth 7as tares do to the wheat71 and so near1 that good men may be taken with them2 and so the persons in whom they grow cannot be rooted out but good will be rooted up with them4 ,and in such a case ,christ calleth for toleration1 not for penal prosecution1 according to the third conclusion4 ,object4 #b4 ,in ,matt4 xv4 #ad1 ,christ commandeth his disciples to let the blind alone till they fall into the ditch2 therefore he would have their punishment deferred till their final destruction4 ,answ4 ,he there speaketh not to public officers1 whether in church or commonweal1 but to his private disciples1 concerning the ,pharisees1 over whom they had no power4 ,and the command he giveth to let them alone1 is spoken in regard of troubling themselves1 or regarding the offence which they took at the wholesome doctrine of the gospel4 ,as who should say1 ,though they be offended at this saying of mine1 yet do not you fear their fear1 nor be troubled at their offence1 which they take at my doctrine1 not out of sound judgment1 but out of their blindness4 ,but this maketh nothing to the cause in hand4 ,object4 #c4 ,in ,luke ix4 #ed1 #ee1 ,christ reproveth his disciples1 who would have had fire come down from heaven to consume the ,samaritans1 who refused to receive ,him4 ,object4 #d4 ,and ,paul teacheth ,timothy1 not to strive1 but to be gentle towards all men1 suffering evil patiently4 ,answ4 ,both these are directions to ministers of the gospel1 how to deal1 not with obstinate offenders in the church that sin against conscience1 but either with men without1 as the ,samaritans were1 and many unconverted ,christians in ,crete1 whom ,titus1 as an evangelist1 was to seek to convert3 or at best with some ,jews or ,gentiles in the church1 who1 though carnal1 yet were not convinced of the error of their way4 ,and it is true1 it became not the spirit of the gospel to convert aliens to the faith of ,christ1 such as the ,samaritans were1 by fire and brimstone2 nor to deal harshly in public ministry1 or private conference1 with all such contrary-minded men1 as either had not yet entered into church-fellowship1 or if they had1 yet did hitherto sin of ignorance1 not against conscience4 ,but neither of both these texts do hinder the ministers of the gospel to proceed in a church-way against church-members1 when they become scandalous offenders either in life or doctrine2 much less do they speak at all to civil magistrates4 ,object4 #e4 ,from the prediction of the prophets1 who foretold that carnal weapons should cease in the days of the gospel1 ,isa4 ii4 #d1 and xi4 #i2 ,mic4 iv4 #c1 #d4 ,and the apostle professeth1 ,the weapons of our warfare are not carnal1 #b ,cor4 x4 #d4 ,and ,christ is so far from persecuting those that would not be of his religion1 that he chargeth them1 when they are persecuted themselves they should pray1 and when they are cursed they should bless4 ,the reason whereof seemeth to be1 that they who are now persecutors and wicked persons1 may become true disciples and converts4 ,sidenote3 #a4 ,answ4 ,those predictions in the prophets do only show1 first1 with what kind of weapons he will subdue the nations to the obedience of the faith of the gospel1 not by fire and sword1 and weapons of war1 but by the power of his word and ,spirit1 which no man doubteth of4 ,sidenote3 #b4 ,secondly4 ,those predictions of the prophets show what the meek and peaceable temper will be of all the true converts to ,christianity1 not lions or leopards1 c41 not cruel oppressors1 nor malignant opposers1 nor biters of one another4 ,but they do not forbid them to drive ravenous wolves from the sheepfold1 and to restrain them from devouring the sheep of ,christ4 ,and when ,paul saith1 ,the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but spiritual1 he denieth not civil weapons of justice to the civil magistrate1 ,rom4 xiii41 but only to church officers4 ,and yet the weapons of such officers he acknowledgeth to be such1 as though they be spiritual1 yet are ready to take vengeance of all disobedience1 #b ,cor4 x4 #f2 which hath reference1 amongst other ordinances1 to the censure of the church against scandalous offenders4 ,sidenote3 #c4 ,when ,christ commandeth his disciples to bless them that curse them and persecute them1 he giveth not therein a rule to public officers1 whether in church or commonweal1 to suffer notorious sinners1 either in life or doctrine1 to pass away with a blessing2 but to private ,christians to suffer persecution patiently1 yea1 and to pray for their persecutors4 ,again1 it is true ,christ would have his disciples to be far from persecuting1 for that is a sinful oppression of men1 for righteousness' sake2 but that hindereth not but that he would have them execute upon all disobedience the judgment and vengeance required in the word1 #b ,cor4 x4 #f2 ,rom4 xiii4 #d4 ,sidenote3 #d4 ,though it be true that wicked persons now may by the grace of ,god become true disciples and converts1 yet we may not do evil that good may come thereof4 ,and evil it would be to tolerate notorious evil doers1 whether seducing teachers1 or scandalous livers4 ,christ had something against the angel of the church of ,pergamos for tolerating them that held the doctrine of ,balaam1 and against the church of ,thyatira for tolerating ,jezebel to teach and seduce1 ,rev4 ii4 #ad1 #bj4 ,your second head of reasons is taken from the profession and practice of famous princes1 king ,james1 ,stephen of ,poland1 king of ,bohemia4 ,whereunto a treble answer may briefly be returned4 ,first1 we willingly acknowledge that none is to be persecuted at all1 no more than they may be oppressed for righteousness' sake4 ,again1 we acknowledge that none is to be punished for his conscience1 though misinformed1 as hath been said1 unless his error be fundamental1 or seditiously and turbulently promoted1 and that after due conviction of his conscience1 that it may appear he is not punished for his conscience1 but for sinning against his conscience4 ,furthermore1 we acknowledge1 none is to be constrained to believe or profess the true religion till he be convinced in judgment of the truth of it2 but yet restrained he may be from blaspheming the truth1 and from seducing any unto pernicious errors4 #b4 ,we answer1 what princes profess or practise1 is not a rule of conscience4 ,they many times tolerate that in point of state policy1 which cannot justly be tolerated in point of true ,christianity4 ,again1 princes many times tolerate offenders out of very necessity1 when the offenders are either too many1 or too mighty for them to punish2 in which respect ,david tolerated ,joab and his murders3 but against his will4 #c4 ,we answer further1 that for those three princes named by you1 who tolerated religion1 we can name you more and greater who have not tolerated heretics and schismatics1 notwithstanding their pretence of conscience1 and arrogating the crown of martyrdom to their sufferings4 ,constantine the ,great1 at the request of the ,general ,council of ,nice1 banished ,arius1 with some of his fellows4#hg ,the same ,constantine made a severe law against the ,donatists4 ,and the like proceedings against them were used by ,valentinian1 ,gratian1 and ,theodosius1 as ,augustine reporteth4#hh ,only ,julian the ,apostate granted liberty to heretics as well as to pagans1 that he might1 by tolerating all weeds to grow1 choke the vitals of ,christianity2 which was also the practice and sin of ,valens the ,arian4 ,queen ,elizabeth1 as famous for her government as any of the former1 it is well known what laws she made and executed against papists4 ,yea1 and king ,james1 one of your own witnesses1 though he was slow in proceeding against papists1 as you say1 for conscience' sake1 yet you are not ignorant how sharply and severely he punished those whom the malignant world calleth ,puritans1 men of more conscience and better faith than he tolerated4 ,i come now to your third and last argument1 taken from the judgment of ancient and later writers1 yea1 even of papists themselves1 who have condemned persecution for conscience' sake4 ,you begin with ,hilary1 whose testimony we might admit without any prejudice to the truth2 for it is true1 the ,christian church doth not persecute1 but is persecuted4 ,but to excommunicate an heretic1 is not to persecute2 that is1 it is not to punish an innocent1 but a culpable and damnable person1 and that not for conscience1 but for persisting in error against light of conscience1 whereof it hath been convinced4 ,it is true also what he saith1 that neither the apostles did1 nor may we1 propagate the ,christian religion by the sword2 but if pagans cannot be won by the word1 they are not to be compelled by the sword4 ,nevertheless1 this hindereth not but if they or any others should blaspheme the true ,god1 and his true religion1 they ought to be severely punished2 and no less do they deserve1 if they seduce from the truth to damnable heresy or idolatry4 ,your next writer1 which is ,tertullian1 speaketh to the same purpose in the place alleged by you4 ,his intent is only to restrain ,scapula1 the ,roman governor of ,africa1 from the persecution of ,christians1 for not offering sacrifice to their gods3 and for that end fetcheth an argument from the law of natural equity1 not to compel any to any religion1 but to permit them either to believe willingly1 or not to believe at all4 ,which we acknowledge1 and accordingly permit the ,indians to continue in their unbelief4 ,nevertheless1 it will not therefore be lawful openly to tolerate the worship of devils1 or idols1 or the seduction of any from the truth4 ,when ,tertullian saith1 8,another man's religion neither hurteth nor profiteth any10 it must be understood of private worship1 and religion professed in private3 otherwise a false religion professed by the members of a church1 or by such as have given their names to ,christ1 will be the ruin and desolation of the church1 as appeareth by the threats of ,christ to the churches of ,asia1 ,rev4 ii4 ,your next author1 ,hierom1 crosseth not the truth1 nor advantageth your cause2 for we grant what he saith1 that heresy must be cut off with the sword of the ,spirit4 ,but this hindereth not1 but that being so cut down1 if the heretic still persist in his heresy to the seduction of others1 he may be cut off by the civil sword to prevent the perdition of others4 ,and that to be ,hierom's meaning1 appeareth by his note upon that of the apostle1 ,a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump2 8therefore10 saith he1 8a spark1 as soon as it appeareth1 is to be extinguished1 and the leaven to be removed from the rest of the dough1 rotten pieces of flesh are to be cut off1 and a scabbed beast is to be driven from the sheepfold1 lest the whole house1 mass of dough1 body1 and flock1 be set on fire with the spark1 be soured with the leaven1 be putrified with the rotten flesh1 perish by the scabbed beast40#hi ,brentius1 whom you next quote1 speaketh not to your cause4 ,we willingly grant him and you1 that man hath no power to make laws to bind conscience4 ,but this hindereth not1 but that men may see the laws of ,god observed which do bind conscience4 ,the like answer may be returned to ,luther1 whom you next allege4 ,first1 that the government of the civil magistrate extendeth no further than over the bodies and goods of their subjects1 not over their souls2 and therefore they may not undertake to give laws to the souls and consciences of men4 ,secondly1 that the church of ,christ doth not use the arm of secular power to compel men to the faith or profession of the truth1 for this is to be done by spiritual weapons1 whereby ,christians are to be exhorted1 not compelled4 ,but this hindereth not that ,christians sinning against light of faith and conscience1 may justly be censured by the church with excommunication1 and by the civil sword also1 in case they shall corrupt others to the perdition of their souls4 ,as for the testimony of the popish book1 we weigh it not1 as knowing whatsoever they speak for toleration of religion where themselves are under hatches1 when they come to sit at stern1 they judge and practise quite contrary3 as both their writings and judicial proceedings have testified to the world these many years4 ,to shut up this argument from testimony of writers4 ,it is well known ,augustine retracted this opinion of yours1 which in his younger times he had held1 but in after riper age reversed and refuted1 as appeareth in the second book of his ,retractations1 chap4 #e1 and in his ,epistles1 #dh1 #ej4 ,and in his first book against ,parmenianus1 chap4 #g1 he showeth1 that if the ,donatists were punished with death1 they were justly punished4 ,and in his eleventh ,tractate upon ,john1 8,they murder10 saith he1 8souls1 and themselves are afflicted in body3 they put men to everlasting death1 and yet they complain when themselves are put to suffer temporal death40#ij ,optatus1 in his third book1#ia justifieth ,macarius1 who had put some heretics to death2 that he had done no more herein than what ,moses1 ,phineas1 and ,elias had done before him4 ,bernard1 in his sixty-sixth ,sermon in ,cantica3#ib 8,out of doubt10 saith he1 8it is better that they should be restrained by the sword of him1 who beareth not the sword in vain1 than that they should be suffered to draw many others into their error4 ,for he is the minister of ,god for wrath to every evil doer40 ,calvin's judgment is well known1 who procured the death of ,michael ,servetus for pertinacity in heresy1 and defended his fact by a book written of that argument4#ic ,beza also wrote a book1 ,de ,hreticis ,morte ,plectendis1 that heretics are to be punished with death4#id ,aretius likewise took the like course about the death of ,valentinus ,gentilis2 and justified the magistrate's proceeding against him1 in a history written of that argument4#ie ,finally1 you come to answer some main objections1 as you call them1 which yet are but one1 and that one objecteth nothing against what we hold4 ,it is1 say you1 no prejudice to the commonwealth1 if liberty of conscience were suffered to such as fear ,god indeed1 which you prove by the examples of the patriarchs and others4 ,but we readily grant you1 liberty of conscience is to be granted to men that fear ,god indeed1 as knowing they will not persist in heresy1 or turbulent schism1 when they are convinced in conscience of the sinfulness thereof4 ,but the question1 is1 whether an heretic1 after once or twice admonition1 and so after conviction1 or any other scandalous and heinous offender1 may be tolerated1 either in the church without excommunication1 or in the commonwealth without such punishment as may preserve others from dangerous and damnable infection4 ,thus much ,i thought needful to be spoken1 for avoiding the grounds of your error4 ,i forbear adding reasons to justify the truth1 because you may find that done to your hand1 in a treatise sent to some of the brethren late of ,salem1 who doubted as you do4 ,the ,lord ,jesus lead you by a ,spirit of truth into all truth1 through ,jesus ,christ4 ,a ,,reply ,,to ,,the ,,aforesaid ,,answer ,,of ,,mr4 ,,cotton1 ,,in ,a ,,conference ,,between ,,truth ,,and ,,peace4 ,,chap4 ,i4 ,truth4 ,in what dark corner of the world1 sweet ,peace1 are we two met8 ,how hath this present evil world banished me from all the coasts and quarters of it8 ,and how hath the righteous ,god in judgment taken thee from the earth8 ,rev4 vi4 #d4 ,sidenote3 ,truth and ,peace rarely and seldom meet4 ,peace4 ,it is lamentably true1 blessed ,truth1 the foundations of the world have long been out of course3 the gates of earth and hell have conspired together to intercept our joyful meeting and our holy kisses4 ,with what a wearied1 tired wing have ,i flown over nations1 kingdoms1 cities1 towns1 to find out precious ,truth6 ,truth4 ,the like inquiries in my flights and travels have ,i made for ,peace1 and still am told she hath left the earth1 and fled to heaven4 ,peace4 ,dear ,truth1 what is the earth but a dungeon of darkness1 where ,truth is not8 ,truth4 ,and what is the ,peace thereof but a fleeting dream1 thine ape and counterfeit8 ,peace4 ,oh6 where is the promise of the ,god of heaven1 that ,righteousness and ,peace shall kiss each other8 ,truth4 ,patience1 sweet ,peace1 these heavens and earth are growing old1 and shall be changed like a garment1 ,psal4 cii4 #bf4 ,they shall melt away1 and be burnt up with all the works that are therein2 and the ,most ,high ,eternal ,creator shall gloriously create new heavens and new earth1 wherein dwells righteousness1 #b ,pet4 iii4 #ac4 ,our kisses then shall have their endless date of pure and sweetest joys4 ,till then both thou and ,i must hope1 and wait1 and bear the fury of the dragon's wrath1 whose monstrous lies and furies shall with himself be cast into the lake of fire1 the second death1 ,rev4 xx4 #aj1 #ad4 ,peace4 ,most precious ,truth1 thou knowest we are both pursued and laid in wait for4 ,mine heart is full of sighs1 mine eyes with tears4 ,where can ,i better vent my full1 oppressed bosom than into thine1 whose faithful lips may for these few hours revive my drooping1 wandering spirits1 and here begin to wipe tears from mine eyes1 and the eyes of my dearest children8 ,truth4 ,sweet daughter of the ,god of peace1 begin4 ,pour out thy sorrows1 vent thy complaints4 ,how joyful am ,i to improve these precious minutes to revive our hearts1 both thine and mine1 and the hearts of all that love the truth and peace1 ,zach4 viii4 #ai4 ,peace4 ,dear ,truth1 ,i know thy birth1 thy nature1 thy delight4 ,they that know thee will prize thee far above themselves and lives1 and sell themselves to buy thee4 ,well spake that famous ,elizabeth to her famous attorney1 ,sir ,edward ,coke2 8,mr4 ,attorney1 go on as thou hast begun1 and still plead1 not pro ,domina ,regina1 but pro ,domina ,veritate40 ,truth4 ,it is true1 my crown is high2 my sceptre is strong to break down strongest holds1 to throw down highest crowns of all that plead1 though but in thought1 against me4 ,some few there are1 but oh6 how few are valiant for the truth1 and dare to plead my cause1 as my witnesses in sackcloth1 ,rev4 xi4 #c2 while all men's tongues are bent like bows to shoot out lying words against me6 ,peace4 ,oh6 how could ,i spend eternal days and endless dates at thy holy feet1 in listening to the precious oracles of thy mouth6 ,all the words of thy mouth are truth1 and there is no iniquity in them4 ,thy lips drop as the honey-comb4 ,but oh6 since we must part anon1 let us1 as thou saidst1 improve our minutes1 and1 according as thou promisedst1 revive me with thy words1 which are sweeter than the honey and the honey-comb4 ,,chap4 ,,ii4 ,peace4 ,dear ,truth1 ,i have two sad complaints4 ,sidenote3 ,two great complaints of ,peace4 ,first4 ,the most sober of thy witnesses1 that dare to plead thy cause1 how are they charged to be mine enemies--contentious1 turbulent1 seditious6 ,secondly4 ,thine enemies1 though they speak and rail against thee1 though they outrageously pursue1 imprison1 banish1 kill thy faithful witnesses1 yet how is all vermilioned over for justice against the heretics6 ,yea1 if they kindle coals1 and blow the flames of devouring wars1 that leave neither spiritual nor civil state1 but burn up branch and root1 yet how do all pretend an holy war6 ,he that kills1 and he that is killed1 they both cry out1 8,it is for ,god1 and for their conscience40 ,sidenote3 ,persecutors seldom plead ,christ1 but ,moses1 for their author4 ,it is true1 nor one nor other seldom dare to plead the mighty ,prince ,christ ,jesus for their author1 yet both 7both protestant and papist7 pretend they have spoke with ,moses and the prophets1 who all1 say they1 before ,christ came1 allowed such holy persecutions and holy wars against the enemies of holy church4 ,sidenote3 ,prov4 xvii4 #ad4 ,truth4 ,dear ,peace1 to ease thy first complaint1 it is true1 thy dearest sons1 most like their mother1 peace-keeping1 peace-making sons of ,god1 have borne and still must bear the blurs of troublers of ,israel1 and turners of the world upside down4 ,and it is true again1 what ,solomon once spake3 ,the beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water1 therefore1 saith he1 leave off contention before it be meddled with4 ,this caveat should keep the banks and sluices firm and strong1 that strife1 like a breach of waters1 break not in upon the sons of men4 ,sidenote3 ,strife distinguished4 ,yet strife must be distinguished3 it is necessary1 or unnecessary1 godly or ungodly1 ,christian or unchristian1 c4 ,sidenote3 #a4 ,ungodly strife4 ,it is unnecessary1 unlawful1 dishonourable1 ungodly1 unchristian1 in most cases in the world3 for there is a possibility of keeping sweet ,peace in most cases1 and1 if it be possible1 it is the express command of ,god that ,peace be kept1 ,rom4 xii4 #ah4 ,sidenote3 #b4 ,godly strife4 ,again1 it is necessary1 honourable1 godly1 c41 with civil and earthly weapons to defend the innocent1 and to rescue the oppressed from the violent paws and jaws of oppressing1 persecuting ,nimrods1 ,psal4 lxxiii4 ,job xxix4 ,it is as necessary1 yea1 more honourable1 godly1 and ,christian1 to fight the fight of faith1 with religious and spiritual artillery1 and to contend earnestly for the faith of ,jesus1 once delivered to the saints1 against all opposers1 and the gates of earth and hell1 men or devils1 yea1 against ,paul himself1 or an angel from heaven1 if he bring any other faith or doctrine1 ,jude #d1 #i2 ,gal4 i4 #h4 ,peace4 ,with a clashing of such arms am ,i never wakened4 ,speak once again1 dear ,truth1 to my second complaint of bloody persecution1 and devouring wars1 marching under the colours of upright justice and holy zeal1 c4 ,sidenote3 ,a threefold doleful cry4 ,truth4 ,mine ears have long been filled with a threefold doleful outcry-- ,sidenote3 ,christ's worship is his bed1 ,cant4 i4 #af4 ,false worship1 therefore1 is a false bed4 ,first4 ,of one hundred forty-four thousand virgins1 ,rev4 xiv41 forced and ravished by emperors1 kings1 governors1 to their beds of worship and religion2 set up1 like ,absalom's1 on high1 in their several states and countries4 ,sidenote3 ,the cry of the souls under the altar4 ,secondly4 ,the cry of those precious souls under the altar1 ,rev4 vi4 #i1 the souls of such as have been persecuted and slain for the testimony and witness of ,jesus1 whose blood hath been spilt like water upon the earth2 and that because they have held fast the truth and witness of ,jesus1 against the worship of the states and times1 compelling to an uniformity of state religion4 ,these cries of murdered virgins1 who can sit still and hear8 ,who can but run1 with zeal inflamed1 to prevent the deflowering of chaste souls1 and spilling of the blood of the innocent8 ,humanity stirs up and prompts the sons of men to draw material swords for a virgin's chastity and life1 against a ravishing murderer2 and piety and ,christianity must needs awaken the sons of ,god to draw the spiritual sword1 the word of ,god1 to preserve the chastity and life of spiritual virgins1 who abhor the spiritual defilements of false worship1 ,rev4 xiv4 ,sidenote3 ,a cry of the whole earth4 ,thirdly4 ,the cry of the whole earth1 made drunk with the blood of its inhabitants slaughtering each other in their blinded zeal for conscience1 for religion1 against the catholics1 against the ,lutherans1 c4 ,what fearful cries1 within these twenty years1 of hundred thousands1 men1 women1 children1 fathers1 mothers1 husbands1 wives1 brethren1 sisters1 old and young1 high and low1 plundered1 ravished1 slaughtered1 murdered1 famished6 ,and hence these cries1 that men fling away the spiritual sword and spiritual artillery1 in spiritual and religious causes1 and rather trust1 for the suppressing of each other's gods1 conscience1 and religion1 as they suppose1 to an arm of flesh and sword of steel4 ,truth4 ,sweet ,peace1 what hast thou there8 ,peace4 ,arguments against persecution for cause of conscience4 ,truth4 ,and what there8 ,peace4 ,an answer to such arguments1 contrarily maintaining such persecution for cause of conscience4 ,truth4 ,these arguments against such persecution1 and the answer pleading for it1 are written1 as ,love hopes1 from godly intentions1 hearts1 and hands1 yet in a marvellously different style and manner--the arguments against persecution in milk1 the answer for it1 as ,i may say1 in blood4 ,sidenote3 ,the wonderful providence of ,god in the writing of the arguments against persecution in milk4 ,the author of these arguments against persecution1 as ,i have been informed1 being committed by some then in power close prisoner to ,newgate1 for the witness of some truths of ,jesus1 and having not the use of pen and ink1 wrote these arguments in milk1 in sheets of paper brought to him by the woman1 his keeper1 from a friend in ,london as the stopples of his milk bottle4 ,in such paper1 written with milk1 nothing will appear2 but the way of reading it by fire being known to this friend who received the papers1 he transcribed and kept together the papers1 although the author himself could not correct1 nor view what himself had written4 ,it was in milk1 tending to soul nourishment1 even for babes and sucklings in ,christ3-- ,it was in milk1 spiritually white1 pure and innocent1 like those white horses of the word of truth and meekness1 and the white linen or armour of righteousness1 in the army of ,jesus1 ,rev4 vi4 and xix43-- ,it was in milk1 soft1 meek1 peaceable1 and gentle1 tending both to the peace of souls1 and the peace of states and kingdoms4 ,sidenote3 ,the answer writ in blood4 ,peace4 ,the answer1 though ,i hope out of milky pure intentions1 is returned in blood--bloody and slaughterous conclusions--bloody to the souls of all men1 forced to the religion and worship which every civil state or commonweal agrees on1 and compels all subjects to1 in a dissembled uniformity3-- ,bloody to the bodies1 first of the holy witnesses of ,christ ,jesus1 who testify against such invented worships3-- ,secondly1 of the nations and peoples slaughtering each other for their several respective religions and consciences4 ,,chap4 ,,iii4 ,truth4 ,in the answer1 ,mr4 ,cotton first lays down several distinctions and conclusions of his own1 tending to prove persecution4 ,secondly4 ,answers to the scriptures and arguments proposed against persecution4 ,sidenote3 ,the first distinction discussed4 ,peace4 ,the first distinction is this3 by persecution for cause of conscience1 8,i conceive you mean either for professing some point of doctrine which you believe in conscience to be the truth1 or for practising some work which you believe in conscience to be a religious duty40 ,sidenote3 ,definition of persecution discussed4 ,truth4 ,i acknowledge that to molest any person1 ,jew or ,gentile1 for either professing doctrine1 or practising worship merely religious or spiritual1 it is to persecute him2 and such a person1 whatever his doctrine or practice be1 true or false1 suffereth persecution for conscience4 ,sidenote3 ,conscience will not be restrained from its own worship1 nor constrained to another4 ,but withal ,i desire it may be well observed1 that this distinction is not full and complete4 ,for beside this1 that a man may be persecuted because he holdeth or practiseth what he believes in conscience to be a truth1 as ,daniel did1 for which he was cast into the lions' den1 ,dan4 vi4 #af1 and many thousands of ,christians1 because they durst not cease to preach and practise what they believed was by ,god commanded1 as the apostles answered1 ,acts iv4 and v41 ,i say1 besides this1 a man may also be persecuted because he dares not be constrained to yield obedience to such doctrines and worships as are by men invented and appointed4 ,so the three famous ,jews1 who were cast into the fiery furnace for refusing to fall down1 in a nonconformity to the whole conforming world1 before the golden image1 ,dan4 iii4 #ba4if ,so thousands of ,christ's witnesses1 and of late in those bloody ,marian days1 have rather chosen to yield their bodies to all sorts of torments1 than to subscribe to doctrines1 or practise worships1 unto which the states and times 7as ,nebuchadnezzar to his golden image7 have compelled and urged them4 ,sidenote3 ,a chaste soul in ,god's worship1 like a chaste wife4 ,a chaste wife will not only abhor to be restrained from her husband's bed as adulterous and polluted1 but also abhor 7if not much more7 to be constrained to the bed of a stranger4 ,and what is abominable in corporal1 is much more loathsome in spiritual whoredom and defilement4 ,the spouse of ,christ ,jesus1 who could not find her soul's beloved in the ways of his worship and ministry1 ,cant4 i41 iii41 and v4 chapters1 abhorred to turn aside to other flocks1 worships1 c41 and to embrace the bosom of a false ,christ1 ,cant4 i4 #h4 ,,chap4 ,,iv4 ,peace4 ,the second distinction is this3-- ,sidenote3 ,the second distinction discussed4 8,in points of doctrine some are fundamental1 without right belief whereof a man cannot be saved2 others are circumstantial and less principal1 wherein a man may differ in judgment without prejudice of salvation on either part40 ,sidenote3 ,god's people may err from the very fundamentals of visible worship4 ,truth4 ,to this distinction ,i dare not subscribe1 for then ,i should everlastingly condemn thousands1 and ten thousands1 yea1 the whole generation of the righteous1 who since the falling away from the first primitive ,christian state or worship1 have and do err fundamentally concerning the true matter1 constitution1 gathering1 and governing of the church4 ,and yet1 far be it from any pious breast to imagine that they are not saved1 and that their souls are not bound up in the bundle of eternal life4#ig ,we read of four sorts of spiritual1 or ,christian1 foundations in the ,new ,testament4 ,sidenote3 ,four sorts of spiritual foundations4 ,first1 the foundation of all foundations1 the corner-stone itself1 the ,lord ,jesus1 on whom all depend--persons1 doctrines1 practices1 #a ,cor4 iii4 #aa4 #b4 ,ministerial foundations4 ,the church is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets1 ,ephes4 ii4 #bj4 #c4 ,the foundation of future rejoicing in the fruits of obedience1 #a ,tim4 vi4 #ai4 ,sidenote3 1 4 ,the six foundations of the ,christian religion or worship4 #d4 ,the foundation of doctrines1 without the knowledge of which there can be no true profession of ,christ1 according to the first institution1 ,heb4 vi4 #a1 #b1--the foundation1 or principles1 of repentance from dead works1 faith towards ,god1 the doctrine of baptisms1 laying on of hands1 the resurrection1 and eternal judgment4 ,in some of these1 to wit1 those concerning baptisms and laying on of hands1 ,god's people will be found to be ignorant for many hundred years2 and ,i yet cannot see it proved that light is risen1 ,i mean the light of the first institution1 in practice4 ,god's people in their persons1 heart-waking 7,cant4 v4 #b71 in the life of personal grace1 will yet be found fast asleep in respect of public ,christian worship4 ,sidenote3 ,coming out of ,babel1 not local1 but mystical4 ,god's people1 in their persons1 are ,his1 most dear and precious3 yet in respect of the ,christian worship they are mingled amongst the ,babylonians1 from whence they are called to come out1 not locally1 as some have said1 for that belonged to a material and local ,babel 7and literal ,babel and ,jerusalem have now no difference1 ,john iv4 #ba71 but spiritually and mystically to come out from her sins and abominations4 ,sidenote3 ,the great ignorance of ,god's people concerning the nature of the true church4 ,if ,mr4 ,cotton maintain the true church of ,christ to consist of the true matter of holy persons called out from the world 7and the true form of union in a church government71 and that also neither national1 provincial1 nor diocesan churches are of ,christ's institution3 how many thousands of ,god's people of all sorts1 clergy and laity1 as they call them1 will they find1 both in former and later times1 captivated in such national1 provincial1 and diocesan churches8 yea1 and so far from living in1 yea or knowing of any such churches1 for matter and form1 as they conceive now only to be true1 that until of late years1 how few of ,god's people knew any other church than the parish church of dead stones or timber8 ,it being a late marvellous light1 revealed by ,christ ,jesus1 the ,sun of righteousness1 that his people are a company or church of living stones1 #a ,pet4 ii4 #i4 ,sidenote3 ,mr4 ,cotton and all the half separatists1 halting between true and false churches1 and consequently not yet clear in the fundamental matter of a ,christian church4 ,and1 however his own soul1 and the souls of many others1 precious to ,god1 are persuaded to separate from national1 provincial1 and diocesan churches1 and to assemble into particular churches1 yet1 since there are no parish churches in ,england1 but what are made up of the parish bounds within such and such a compass of houses1 and that such churches have been and are in constant dependence on1 and subordination to the national church3 how can the ,new ,english particular churches join with the old ,english parish churches in so many ordinances of word1 prayer1 singing1 contribution1 c41 but they must needs confess1 that as yet their souls are far from the knowledge of the foundation of a true ,christian church1 whose matter must not only be living stones1 but also separated from the rubbish of anti-christian confusions and desolations4 ,,chap4 ,v4 ,peace4 ,with lamentation1 ,i may add1 how can their souls be clear in this foundation of the true ,christian matter1 who persecute and oppress their own acknowledged brethren1 presenting light unto them about this point8 ,but ,i shall now present you with ,mr4 ,cotton's third distinction4 8,in points of practice10 saith he1 8some concern the weightier duties of the law1 as what ,god we worship1 and with what kind of worship2 whether such1 as if it be right1 fellowship with ,god is held2 if false1 fellowship with ,god is lost40 ,truth4 ,it is worth the inquiry1 what kind of worship he intendeth3 for worship is of various signification4 ,whether in general acceptation he mean the rightness or corruptness of the church1 or the ministry of the church1 or the ministrations of the word1 prayer1 seals1 c4 ,sidenote3 ,the true ministry a fundamental4 ,and because it pleaseth the ,spirit of ,god to make the ministry one of the foundations of the ,christian religion1 ,heb4 vi4 #a1 #b1 and also to make the ministry of the word and prayer in the church to be two special works1 even of the apostles themselves1 ,acts vi4 #b1 ,i shall desire it may be well considered in the fear of ,god4#ih ,sidenote3 ,the ,new ,english ministers examined4 ,first1 concerning the ministry of the word4 ,the ,new ,english ministers1 when they were new elected and ordained ministers in ,new ,england1 must undeniably grant1 that at that time they were no ministers1 notwithstanding their profession of standing so long in a true ministry in old ,england1 whether received from the bishops1 which some have maintained true1 or from the people1 which ,mr4 ,cotton and others better liked1 and which ministry was always accounted perpetual and indelible4 ,i apply1 and ask1 will it not follow1 that if their new ministry and ordination be true1 the former was false8 and if false1 that in the exercise of it1 notwithstanding abilities1 graces1 intentions1 labours1 and1 by ,god's gracious1 unpromised1 and extraordinary blessing1 some success1 ,i say1 will it not according to this distinction follow1 that according to visible rule1 fellowship with ,god was lost8 ,sidenote3 ,common prayer cast off1 and written against by the ,new ,english4 ,secondly1 concerning prayer4 ,the ,new ,english ministers have disclaimed and written against that worshipping of ,god by the common or set forms of prayer1 which yet themselves practised in ,england1 notwithstanding they knew that many servants of ,god1 in great sufferings1 witnessed against such a ministry of the word1 and such a ministry of prayer4 ,peace4 ,i could name the persons1 time1 and place1 when some of them were faithfully admonished for using of the ,common ,prayer1 and the arguments presented to them1 then seeming weak1 but now acknowledged sound2 yet1 at that time1 they satisfied their hearts with the practice of the author of the ,council of ,trent1 who used to read only some of the choicest selected prayers in the mass-book1 which ,i confess was also their own practice in their using of the ,common ,prayer4#ii ,but now1 according to this distinction1 ,i ask whether or no fellowship with ,god in such prayers was lost8 ,sidenote3 ,god's people have worshipped ,god with false worships4 ,truth4 ,i could particularize other exercises of worship1 which cannot be denied1 according to this distinction1 to be of the weightier points of the law3 to wit1 what ,god we worship1 and with what kind of worship8 wherein fellowship with ,god1 in many of our unclean and abominable worships1 hath been lost4 ,only upon these premises ,i shall observe3 first1 that ,god's people1 even the standard-bearers and leaders of them1 according to this distinction1 have worshipped ,god1 in their sleepy ignorance1 by such a kind of worship as wherein fellowship with ,god is lost2 yea also1 that it is possible for them to do1 after much light is risen against such worship1 and in particular1 brought to the eyes of such holy and worthy persons4 ,secondly1 there may be inward and secret fellowship with ,god in false ministries of word and prayer1 7for that to the eternal praise of infinite mercy1 beyond a word or promise of ,god1 ,i acknowledge#ajj7 when yet1 as the distinction saith1 in such worship1 not being right1 fellowship with ,god is lost1 and such a service or ministration must be lamented and forsaken4 ,sidenote3 ,fundamentals of ,christian worship not so easy and clear4 ,thirdly1 ,i observe that ,god's people may live and die in such kinds of worship1 notwithstanding that light from ,god1 publicly and privately1 hath been presented to them1 able to convince2 yet1 not reaching to their conviction1 and forsaking of such ways1 contrary to a conclusion afterward expressed2 to wit1 8that fundamentals are so clear1 that a man cannot but be convinced in conscience1 and therefore that such a person not being convinced1 he is condemned of himself1 and may be persecuted for sinning against his conscience40 ,fourthly1 ,i observe1 that in such a maintaining a clearness of fundamentals or weightier points1 and upon that ground a persecuting of men because they sin against their consciences1 ,mr4 ,cotton measures that to others1 which himself when he lived in such practices would not have had measured to himself4 ,as first1 that it might have been affirmed of him1 that in such practices he did sin against his conscience1 having sufficient light shining about him4 ,secondly1 that he should or might lawfully have been cut off by death or banishment1 as an heretic1 sinning against his own conscience4 ,sidenote3 ,a notable speech of king ,james to a great nonconformist1 turned persecutor4 ,and in this respect the speech of king ,james was notable to a great nonconformitant1 converted1 as is said1 by king ,james to conformity1 and counselling the king afterward to persecute the nonconformists even unto death3 8,thou beast10 quoth the king1 8if ,i had dealt so with thee in thy nonconformity1 where hadst thou been80 ,,chap4 ,,vi4 ,sidenote3 ,the four distinctions discussed4 ,peace4 ,the next distinction concerneth the manner of persons holding forth the aforesaid practices1 not only the weightier duties of the law1 but points of doctrine and worship less principal3-- 8,some10 saith he1 8hold them forth in a meek and peaceable way2 some with such arrogance and impetuousness1 as of itself tendeth to the disturbance of civil peace40 ,truth4 ,in the examination of this distinction we shall discuss1 ,first1 what is civil peace 7wherein we shall vindicate thy name the better71 ,secondly1 what it is to hold forth a doctrine1 or practice1 in this impetuousness or arrogancy4 ,sidenote3 ,what civil peace is4 ,first1 for civil peace1 what is it but pax civitatis1 the peace of the city1 whether an ,english city1 ,scotch1 or ,irish city1 or further abroad1 ,french1 ,spanish1 ,turkish city1 c4 ,sidenote3 ,god's people must be nonconformitants to evil4 ,thus it pleased the ,father of lights to define it1 ,jer4 xxix4 #g1 ,pray for the peace of the city2 which peace of the city1 or citizens1 so compacted in a civil way of union1 may be entire1 unbroken1 safe1 c41 notwithstanding so many thousands of ,god's people1 the ,jews1 were there in bondage1 and would neither be constrained to the worship of the city ,babel1 nor restrained from so much of the worship of the true ,god as they then could practice1 as is plain in the practice of the three worthies1 ,shadrach1 ,meshach1 and ,abednego1 as also of ,daniel1 ,dan4 iii4 and ,dan4 vi4--the peace of the city or kingdom being a far different peace from the peace of the religion1 or spiritual worship1 maintained and professed of the citizens4 ,this peace of their 7worship which worship also in some cities being various7 being a false peace1 ,god's people were and ought to be nonconformitants1 not daring either to be restrained from the true1 or constrained to false worship2 and yet without breach of the civil or city peace1 properly so called4 ,sidenote3 ,the difference between spiritual and civil peace4 ,peace4 ,hence it is that so many glorious and flourishing cities of the world maintain their civil peace2 yea1 the very ,americans and wildest pagans keep the peace of their towns or cities1 though neither in one nor the other can any man prove a true church of ,god in those places1 and consequently no spiritual and heavenly peace4 ,the peace spiritual1 whether true or false1 being of a higher and far different nature from the peace of the place or people1 being merely and essentially civil and human4 ,sidenote3 ,the difference between the spiritual and civil state4 ,the civil state1 the spiritual estate1 and the church of ,christ distinct in ,ephesus4 ,truth4 ,oh6 how lost are the sons of men in this point6 ,to illustrate this3--the church1 or company of worshippers1 whether true or false1 is like unto a body or college of physicians in a city--like unto a corporation1 society1 or company of ,east ,india or ,turkey merchants1 or any other society or company in ,london2 which companies may hold their courts1 keep their records1 hold disputations1 and in matters concerning their society may dissent1 divide1 break into schisms and factions1 sue and implead each other at the law1 yea1 wholly break up and dissolve into pieces and nothing1 and yet the peace of the city not be in the least measure impaired or disturbed2 because the essence or being of the city1 and so the well being and peace thereof1 is essentially distinct from those particular societies2 the city courts1 city laws1 city punishments distinct from theirs4 ,the city was before them1 and stands absolute and entire when such a corporation or society is taken down4 ,for instance further1 the city or civil state of ,ephesus was essentially distinct from the worship of ,diana in the city1 or of the whole city4 ,again1 the church of ,christ in ,ephesus1 which were ,god's people1 converted and called out from the worship of that city unto ,christianity1 or worship of ,god in ,christ1 was distinct from both4 ,now suppose that ,god remove the candlestick from ,ephesus1 yea1 though the whole worship of the city of ,ephesus should be altered1 yet1 if men be true and honestly ingenuous to city covenants1 combinations1 and principles1 all this might be without the least impeachment or infringement of the peace of the city of ,ephesus4 ,thus in the city of ,smyrna was the city itself or civil estate one thing1 the spiritual or religious state of ,smyrna another3 the church of ,christ in ,smyrna distinct from them both4 ,and the synagogue of the ,jews1 whether literally ,jews1 as some think1 or mystically false ,christians1 as others1 called the synagogue of ,satan1 ,rev4 ii41 was distinct from all these4 ,and notwithstanding these spiritual oppositions in point of worship and religion1 yet hear we not the least noise--nor need we1 if men keep but the bond of civility1 of any civil breach1 or breach of civil peace amongst them2 and to persecute ,god's people there for religion1 that only was a breach of civility itself4 ,,chap4 ,,vii4 ,peace4 ,now to the second query1 what it is to hold forth doctrine or practice in an arrogant or impetuous way8 ,sidenote3 ,the answerer too obscure in generals4 ,god's meekest servants use to be counted arrogant and impetuous4 ,truth4 ,although it hath not pleased ,mr4 ,cotton to declare what is this arrogant or impetuous holding forth of doctrine or practice tending to disturbance of civil peace1 ,i cannot but express my sad and sorrowful observation1 how it pleaseth ,god to leave him as to take up the common reproachful accusation of the accuser of ,god's children3 to wit1 that they are arrogant and impetuous4 ,which charge1 together with that of obstinacy1 pertinacity1 pride1 troublers of the city1 c41 ,satan commonly loads the meekest of the saints and witnesses of ,jesus with4 ,sidenote3 ,six cases wherein ,god's people have been bold and zealous1 yet not arrogant4 ,to wipe off1 therefore1 these foul blurs and aspersions from the fair and beautiful face of the spouse of ,jesus1 ,i shall select and propose five or six cases1 for which ,god's witnesses1 in all ages and generations of men1 have been charged with arrogance1 impetuousness1 c41 and yet the ,god of heaven1 and ,judge of all men1 hath graciously discharged them from such crimes1 and maintained and avowed them for his faithful and peaceable servants4 ,sidenote3 ,christ ,jesus and his disciples teach publicly a new doctrine1 fundamentally different from the religion professed4 ,first1 ,god's people have proclaimed1 taught1 disputed1 for divers months together1 a new religion and worship1 contrary to the worship projected in the town1 city1 or state where they have lived1 or where they have travelled1 as did the ,lord ,jesus himself over all ,galilee1 and the apostles after ,him in all places1 both in the synagogues and market-places1 as appears ,acts xvii4 #b1 #ag2 ,acts xviii4 #d1 #h4 ,yet this is no arrogance nor impetuousness4 ,sidenote3 ,god's servants zealous and bold to the faces of the highest4 #a ,kings xviii4 #ah4 ,luke xiii4 #cb4 ,acts xxiii4 #c4 ,secondly1 ,god's servants have been zealous for their ,lord and ,master1 even to the very faces of the highest1 and concerning the persons of the highest1 so far as they have opposed the truth of ,god3 so ,elijah to the face of ,ahab1 8,it is not ,i1 but thou1 and thy father's house1 that troublest ,israel40 ,so the ,lord ,jesus concerning ,herod1 ,go1 tell that fox4 ,so ,paul1 ,god delivered me from the mouth of the lion2 and to ,ananias1 ,thou whited wall2 and yet in all this no arrogance1 nor impetuousness4 ,sidenote3 ,god's people constantly immoveable to death4 ,thirdly1 ,god's people have been immoveable1 constant1 and resolved to the death1 in refusing to submit to false worships1 and in preaching and professing the true worship1 contrary to the express command of public authority4 ,so the three famous worthies against the command of ,nebuchadnezzar1 and the uniform conformity of all nations agreeing upon a false worship1 ,dan4 iii4 ,so the apostles1 ,acts iv4 and v41 and so the witnesses of ,jesus in all ages1 who loved not their lives to the death1 ,rev4 xii41 not regarding sweet life nor bitter death1 and yet not arrogant1 nor impetuous4 ,sidenote3 ,god's people ever maintained ,christ ,jesus the only ,lord and ,king to the conscience4 ,fourthly1 ,god's people1 since the coming of the ,king of ,israel1 the ,lord ,jesus1 have openly and constantly professed1 that no civil magistrate1 no king1 nor ,csar1 have any power over the souls or consciences of their subjects1 in the matters of ,god and the crown of ,jesus2 but the civil magistrates themselves1 yea1 kings and ,csars1 are bound to subject their own souls to the ministry and church1 the power and government of this ,lord ,jesus1 the ,king of kings4 ,hence was the charge against the apostles 7false in civil1 but true in spirituals7 that they affirmed that there was another ,king1 one ,jesus1 ,acts xvii4 #g4 ,and1 indeed1 this was the great charge against the ,lord ,jesus himself1 which the ,jews laid against him1 and for which he suffered death1 as appears by the accusation written over his head upon the gallows1 ,john xix4 #ai1 ,jesus of ,nazareth1 ,king of the ,jews4 ,sidenote3 ,that ,christ is ,king alone over conscience is the sum of all true preaching4 ,this was and is the sum of all true preaching of the gospel1 or glad news1 viz41 that ,god anointed ,jesus to be the sole ,king and ,governor of all the ,israel of ,god in spiritual and soul causes1 ,ps4 ii4 #i2 ,acts ii4 #cf4 ,yet this kingly power of ,his1 he resolved not to manage in ,his own person1 but ministerially in the hands of such messengers which he sent forth to preach and baptize1 and to such as believed that word they preached1 ,john xvii4 ,and yet here no arrogance1 nor impetuousness4 ,sidenote3 ,god's people have seemed the disturbers of civil state4 #e4 ,god's people1 in delivering the mind and will of ,god concerning the kingdoms and civil states where they have lived1 have seemed in all show of common sense and rational policy1 if men look not higher with the eye of faith1 to endanger and overthrow the very civil state1 as appeareth by all ,jeremiah's preaching and counsel to king ,zedekiah1 his princes and people1 insomuch that the charge of the princes against ,jeremiah was1 that he discouraged the army from fighting against the ,babylonians1 and weakened the land from its own defence2 and this charge in the eye of reason1 seemed not to be unreasonable1 or unrighteous1 ,jer4 xxxvii4 and xxxviii42 and yet in ,jeremiah no arrogance1 nor impetuousness4 ,sidenote3 ,god's word and people the occasion of tumults4 #f4 ,lastly1 ,god's people1 by their preaching1 disputing1 c41 have been1 though not the cause1 yet accidentally the occasion of great contentions and divisions1 yea1 tumults and uproars1 in towns and cities where they have lived and come2 and yet neither their doctrine nor themselves arrogant nor impetuous1 however so charged3 for thus the ,lord ,jesus discovereth men's false and secure suppositions1 ,luke xii4 #ea1 ,suppose ye that ,i am come to give peace on the earth8 ,i tell you1 nay2 but rather division2 for from henceforth shall there be five in one house divided1 three against two1 and two against three1 the father shall be divided against the son and the son against the father1 c4 ,and thus upon the occasion of the apostles' preaching the kingdom and worship of ,god in ,christ1 were most commonly uproars and tumults wherever they came4 ,for instance1 those strange and monstrous uproars at ,iconium1 at ,ephesus1 at ,jerusalem1 ,acts xiv4 #d2 ,acts xix4 #bi1 #dj2 ,acts xxi4 #cj1 #ca4 ,,chap4 ,,viii4 ,sidenote3 #a ,obj4 ,peace4 ,it will be said1 dear ,truth1 what the ,lord ,jesus and his messengers taught was truth2 but the question is about error4 ,truth4 ,i answer1 ,this distinction now in discussion concerns not truth or error1 but the manner of holding forth or divulging4 ,i acknowledge that such may be the way and manner of holding forth1 either with railing or reviling1 daring or challenging speeches1 or with force of arms1 swords1 guns1 prisons1 c41 that it may not only tend to break1 but may actually break the civil peace1 or peace of the city4 ,sidenote3 ,the instances proposed carry a great show of impetuousness1 yet all are pure and peaceable4 ,yet these instances propounded are cases of great opposition and spiritual hostility1 and occasions of breach of civil peace2 and yet as the borders1 or matter1 were of gold1 so the specks1 or manner1 7,cantic4 i4 #aa17 were of silver3 both matter and manner pure1 holy1 peaceable1 and inoffensive4 ,moreover1 ,i answer1 ,that it is possible and common for persons of soft and gentle nature and spirits1 to hold out falsehood with more seeming meekness and peaceableness1 than the ,lord ,jesus or his servants did or do hold forth the true and everlasting gospel4 ,so that the answerer would be requested to explain what he means by this arrogant and impetuous holding forth of any doctrine1 which very manner of holding forth tends to break civil peace1 and comes under the cognizance and correction of the civil magistrate1 lest he build the sepulchre of the prophets1 and say1 ,if we had been in the ,pharisees' days1 the ,roman emperor's days1 or the bloody ,marian days1 we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets1 ,matt4 xxiii4 #cj1 who were charged with arrogance and impetuousness4 ,,chap4 ,,ix4 ,sidenote3 #b ,obj4 ,peace4 ,it will here be said1 whence then ariseth civil dissensions and uproars about matters of religion8 ,sidenote3 ,the true cause of tumults at the preaching of the word4 ,truth4 ,i answer3 ,when a kingdom or state1 town or family1 lies and lives in the guilt of a false god1 false ,christ1 false worship1 no wonder if sore eyes be troubled at the appearance of the light1 be it never so sweet4 ,no wonder if a body full of corrupt humours be troubled at strong1 though wholesome1 physic--if persons sleepy and loving to sleep be troubled at the noise of shrill1 though silver1 alarums4 ,no wonder if ,adonijah and all his company be amazed and troubled at the sound of the right heir1 king ,solomon1 #a ,kings i4 #da1 #di1--;if the husbandmen were troubled when the ,lord of the vineyard sent servant after servant1 and at last his only son1 and they beat1 and wounded1 and killed even the son himself1 because they meant themselves to seize upon the inheritance1 unto which they had no right1 ,matt4 xxi4 #ch4 ,hence all those tumults about the apostles in the ,acts1 c4 ,whereas1 good eyes are not so troubled at light2 vigilant and watchful persons1 loyal and faithful1 are not so troubled at the true1 no1 nor at a false religion of ,jew or ,gentile4 ,sidenote3 ,a preposterous way of suppressing errors4 ,secondly4 ,breach of civil peace may arise when false and idolatrous practices are held forth1 and yet no breach of civil peace from the doctrine or practice1 or the manner of holding forth1 but from that wrong and preposterous way of suppressing1 preventing1 and extinguishing such doctrines or practices by weapons of wrath and blood1 whips1 stocks1 imprisonment1 banishment1 death1 c42 by which men commonly are persuaded to convert heretics1 and to cast out unclean spirits1 which only the finger of ,god can do1 that is1 the mighty power of the ,spirit in the word4 ,sidenote3 ,light only can expel fogs and darkness4 ,hence the town is in an uproar1 and the country takes the alarum to expel that fog or mist of error1 heresy1 blasphemy1 as is supposed1 with swords and guns4 ,whereas it is light alone1 even light from the bright shining ,sun of ,righteousness1 which is able1 in the souls and consciences of men1 to dispel and scatter such fogs and darkness4 ,hence the sons of men1 as ,david speaks in another case1 ,ps4 xxxix4 #f1 disquiet themselves in vain1 and unmercifully disquiet others1 as1 by the help of the ,lord1 in the sequel of this discourse shall more appear4 ,,chap4 ,x4 ,peace4 ,now the last distinction is this3 8,persecution for conscience is either for a rightly informed conscience1 or a blind and erroneous conscience40 ,sidenote3 ,answ4 ,persecutors oppress both true and erroneous consciences4 ,truth4 ,indeed1 both these consciences are persecuted2 but lamentably blind and erroneous will those consciences shortly appear to be1 which out of zeal for ,god1 as is pretended1 have persecuted either4 ,and heavy is the doom of those blind guides and idol shepherds1 whose right eye ,god's finger of jealousy hath put out1 who flattering the ten horns1 or worldly powers1 persuade them what excellent and faithful service they perform to ,god1 in persecuting both these consciences2 either hanging up a rightly informed conscience1 and therein the ,lord ,jesus himself1 between two malefactors1 or else killing the erroneous and the blind1 like ,saul1 out of zeal to the ,israel of ,god1 the poor ,gibeonites1 whom it pleased ,god to permit to live2 and yet that hostility and cruelty used against them1 as the repeated judgment year after year upon the whole land after told them1 could not be pardoned until the death of the persecutor1 ,saul and his sons1 had appeased the ,lord's displeasure1 #b ,sam4 xxi4 ,,chap4 ,,xi4 ,peace4 ,after explication in these distinctions1 it pleaseth the answerer to give his resolution to the question in four particulars4 ,first1 that he holds it 8not lawful to persecute any for conscience' sake rightly informed1 for in persecuting such10 saith he1 8,christ himself is persecuted40 ,for which reason1 truly rendered1 he quotes1 ,acts ix4 #d1 ,saul1 ,saul1 why persecutest thou me8 ,truth4 ,he that shall read this conclusion over a thousand times1 shall as soon find darkness in the bright beams of the sun1 as in this so clear and shining a beam of ,truth2 viz41 that ,christ ,jesus1 in his truth1 must not be persecuted4 ,yet1 this ,i must ask1 for it will be admired by all sober men1 what should be the cause or inducement to the answerer's mind to lay down such a position or thesis as this is1 ,it is not lawful to persecute the ,lord ,jesus8 ,sidenote3 ,all persecutors of ,christ profess not to persecute him4 ,search all scriptures1 histories1 records1 monuments2 consult with all experiences2 did ever ,pharaoh1 ,saul1 ,ahab1 ,jezebel1 ,scribes and ,pharisees1 the ,jews1 ,herod1 the bloody ,neros1 ,gardiners1 ,bonners1 pope1 or devil himself1 profess to persecute the ,son of ,god1 ,jesus as ,jesus1 ,christ as ,christ1 without a mask or covering8 ,no1 saith ,pharaoh1 the ,israelites are idle1 and therefore speak they of sacrificing4 ,david is risen up in a conspiracy against ,saul1 therefore persecute him4 ,naboth hath blasphemed ,god and the king1 therefore stone him4 ,christ is a seducer of the people1 a blasphemer against ,god1 and traitor against ,csar1 therefore hang him4 ,christians are schismatical1 factious1 heretical1 therefore persecute them4 ,the devil hath deluded ,john ,huss1 therefore crown him with a paper of devils1 and burn him1 c4 ,peace4 ,one thing ,i see apparently in the ,lord's overruling the pen of this worthy answerer1 viz41 a secret whispering from heaven to him1 that although his soul aim at ,christ1 and hath wrought much for ,christ in many sincere intentions1 and ,god's merciful and patient acceptance1 yet he hath never left the tents of such who think they do ,god good service in killing the ,lord ,jesus in his servants4 ,and yet they say1 if we had been in the days of our fathers1 in queen ,mary's days1 c41 we would never have consented to such persecution4 ,and therefore1 when they persecute ,christ ,jesus in his truths or servants1 they say1 8,do not say you are persecuted for the word1 for ,christ's sake3 for we hold it not lawful to persecute ,jesus ,christ40 ,let me also add a second3 ,so far as he hath been a guide1 by preaching for persecution1 ,i say1 wherein he hath been a guide and leader1 by misinterpreting and applying the writings of truth1 so far1 ,i say1 his own mouth and hands shall judge 7,i hope not his person1 but7 his actions2 for the ,lord ,jesus hath suffered by him1 ,acts ix4 #e4 ,and if the ,lord ,jesus himself were present1 ,himself should suffer that in his own person1 which his servants witnessing his truth do suffer for his sake4 ,,chap4 ,,xii4 ,peace4 ,their second conclusion is this3 8,it is not lawful to persecute an erroneous and blind conscience1 even in fundamental and weighty points1 till after admonition once or twice1 ,tit4 iii4 #aa1 and then such consciences may be persecuted2 because the word of ,god is so clear in fundamental and weighty points1 that such a person cannot but sin against his conscience1 and so being condemned of himself1 that is1 of his conscience1 he may be persecuted for sinning against his own conscience40#aja ,truth4 ,i answer1 ,in that great battle between the ,lord ,jesus and the devil1 it is observable that ,satan takes up the weapons of scripture1 and such scripture which in show and colour was excellent for his purpose2 but in this third of ,titus1 as ,solomon speaks of the birds of heaven1 ,prov4 i4 #ag1 a man may evidently see the snare3 and ,i know the time is coming wherein it shall be said1 ,surely in vain the net is laid in the sight of the saints 7heavenly birds74 ,so palpably gross and thick is the mist and fog which ,satan hath raised about this scripture1 that he that can but see men as trees in matters of ,god's worship1 may easily discern what a wonderful deep sleep ,god's people are fallen into concerning the visible kingdom of ,christ2 insomuch that this third of ,titus1 which through fearful profanations hath so many hundred years been the pretended bulwark and defence of all the bloody wolves1 dens of lions1 and mountains of leopards1 hunting and devouring the witnesses of ,jesus1 should now be the refuge and defence of 7as ,i hope7 the lambs and little ones of ,jesus3 yet1 in this point1 so preaching and practising so unlike to themselves1 to the ,lord ,jesus1 and lamentably too like to ,his and their persecutors4 ,,chap4 ,,xiii4 ,peace4 ,bright ,truth1 since this place of ,titus is such a pretended bulwark for persecuting of heretics1 and under that pretence of persecuting all thy followers1 ,i beseech you by the bright beams of the ,sun of ,righteousness1 scatter these mists1 and unfold these particulars out of the text3-- ,first4 ,what this man is that is an heretic4 ,secondly4 ,how this heretic is condemned of himself4 ,thirdly4 ,what is this first and second admonition1 and by whom it is supposed to be given4 ,fourthly4 ,what is this rejecting of ,him1 and by whom it is supposed this rejection was to be made4 ,sidenote3 ,what is meant by heretic in ,titus4 ,truth4 ,first1 what is this heretic8 ,i find him commonly defined to be such an one as is obstinate in fundamentals1 and so also ,i conceive the answerer seems to resent him1 saying1 that the apostle renders this reason why after once and twice admonition he ought to be persecuted2 because in fundamental and principal points of doctrine and worship1 the word of ,god is so clear1 that the heretic cannot but be convinced in his own conscience4 ,but of this reason1 ,i find not one tittle mentioned in this scripture4 ,for although he saith such an one is condemned of himself1 yet he saith not1 nor will it follow1 that fundamentals are so clear1 that after first and second admonition1 a person that submits not to them is condemned of himself1 any more than in lesser points4 ,this eleventh verse hath reference to the former verses4 ,titus1 an evangelist1 a preacher of glad news1 abiding here with the church of ,christ at ,crete1 is required by ,paul to avoid1 to reject1 and to teach the church to reject1 genealogies1 disputes1 and unprofitable questions about the law4 ,such a like charge it is as he gave to ,timothy1 left also an evangelist at ,ephesus1 #a ,tim4 i4 #d4 ,if it should be objected1 what is to be done to such contentious1 vain strivers about genealogies and questions unprofitable8--,the apostle seems plainly to answer1 ,let him be once and twice admonished4 ,obj4 ,yea1 but what if once and twice admonition prevail not8 ,the apostle seems to answer1 2 and that is1 the man that is wilfully obstinate after such once and twice admonition1 reject him4 ,with this scripture agrees that of #a ,tim4 vi4 #d1 #e1 where ,timothy is commanded to withdraw himself from such who dote about questions and strifes of words4 ,all which are points of a lower and inferior nature1 not properly falling within the terms or notions of those 77 first principles and 77 foundations of the ,christian profession1 to wit1 repentance from dead works1 faith towards ,god1 the doctrine of baptisms1 and of laying on of hands1 the resurrection1 and eternal judgment1 ,heb4 vi4 #b1 c4 ,concerning these fundamentals 7although nothing is so little in the ,christian worship1 but may be referred to one of these six1 yet7 doth not ,paul to ,timothy or ,titus speak in those places by me alleged1 or of any of these1 as may evidently appear by the context and scope4 ,the beloved spouse of ,christ is no receptacle for any filthy person1 obstinate in any filthiness against the purity of the ,lord ,jesus1 who hath commanded his people to purge out the old leaven1 not only greater portions1 but a little leaven which will leaven the whole lump2 and therefore this heretic1 or obstinate person in these vain and unprofitable questions1 was to be rejected1 as well as if his obstinacy had been in greater matters4 ,again1 if there were a door or window left open to vain and unprofitable questions1 and sins of smaller nature1 how apt are persons to cover them with a silken covering1 and to say1 ,why1 ,i am no heretic in fundamentals1 spare me in this or that little one1 this or that opinion or practice1 these are of an inferior1 circumstantial nature1 c4 ,sidenote3 ,the word heretic generally mistaken4 ,so the coherence with the former verses1 and the scope of the ,spirit of ,god in this and other like scriptures being carefully observed1 this ,greek word heretic is no more in true ,english1 and in truth1 than an obstinate and wilful person in the church of ,crete1 striving and contending about those unprofitable questions and genealogies1 c42 and it is not such a monster intended in this place1 as most interpreters run upon1 to wit1 one obstinate in fundamentals1 and1 as the answerer makes the apostle to write1 in such fundamentals and principal points1 wherein the word of ,god is so clear that a man cannot but be convinced in conscience1 and therefore is not persecuted for matter of conscience1 but for sinning against his conscience4 ,,chap4 ,,xiv4 ,peace4 ,now1 in the second place1 what is this self-condemnation8 ,truth4 ,the apostle seemeth to make this a ground of the rejecting of such a person--because he is subverted and sinneth1 being condemned of himself4 ,it will appear upon due search1 that this self-condemning is not here intended to be in heretics 7as men say7 in fundamentals only2 but1 as it is meant here1 in men obstinate in the lesser questions1 c4 ,first1 he is subverted1 or turned crooked1 1 a word opposite to straightness1 or rightness4 ,so that the scope is1 as ,i conceive--upon true and faithful admonition once or twice1 the pride of heart1 or heat of wrath1 draws a veil over the eyes and heart1 so that the soul is turned off or loosed from the checks of truth4 ,secondly1 he sinneth1 2 that is1 being subverted1 or turned aside1 he sinneth1 or wanders from the path of truth1 and is condemned by himself1 2 that is1 by the secret checks and whisperings of his own conscience1 which will take ,god's part against a man's self1 in smiting1 accusing1 c4 ,sidenote3 ,checks of conscience4 ,which checks of conscience we find even in ,god's own dear people1 as is most admirably opened in the fifth of ,canticles1 in those sad1 drowsy1 and unkind passages of the spouse1 in her answer to the knocks and calls of the ,lord ,jesus2 which ,god's people1 in all their awakenings1 acknowledge how slightly they have listened to the checks of their own consciences4 ,this the answerer pleaseth to call sinning against his conscience1 for which he may lawfully be persecuted3 to wit1 for sinning against his conscience4 ,which conclusion--though painted over with the vermilion of mistaken scripture1 and that old dream of ,jew and ,gentile that the crown of ,jesus will consist of outward material gold1 and his sword be made of iron or steel1 executing judgment in his church and kingdom by corporal punishment--,i hope1 by the assistance of the ,lord ,jesus1 to manifest it to be the overturning and rooting up the very foundations and roots of all true ,christianity1 and absolutely denying the ,lord ,jesus1 the great anointed1 to be yet come in the flesh4 ,,chap4 ,,xv4 ,this will appear1 if we examine the two last queries of this place of ,titus2 to wit1 ,first4 ,what this admonition is8 ,secondly4 ,what is the rejection here intended8 ,reject him4 ,first1 then1 ,titus1 unto whom this epistle and these directions were written1 and in him to all that succeed him in the like work of the gospel to the world's end1 was no minister of the civil state1 armed with the majesty and terror of a material sword1 who might for offences against the civil state inflict punishments upon the bodies of men by imprisonments1 whippings1 fines1 banishment1 death4 ,titus was a minister of the gospel1 or glad tidings1 armed only with the spiritual sword of the word of ,god1 and with such spiritual weapons as 7yet7 through ,god were mighty to the casting down of strongholds1 yea1 every high thought of the highest head and heart in the world1 #b ,cor4 x4 #d4 ,sidenote3 ,what is the first and second admonition4 ,what the rejecting of the heretic was4 ,corporal killing in the law1 typing out spiritual killing1 by excommunication1 in the gospel4 ,therefore1 these first and second admonitions were not civil or corporal punishments on men's persons or purses1 which courts of men may lawfully inflict upon malefactors2 but they were the reprehensions1 convictions1 exhortations1 and persuasions of the word of the eternal ,god1 charged home to the conscience in the name and presence of the ,lord ,jesus1 in the midst of the church4 ,which being despised and not hearkened to1 in the last place follows rejection2 which is not a cutting off by heading1 hanging1 burning1 c41 or an expelling of the country and coasts2 neither of which 7no1 nor any lesser civil punishment7 ,titus1 nor the church at ,crete1 had any power to exercise4 ,but it was that dreadful cutting off from that visible head and body1 ,christ ,jesus and his church2 that purging out of the old leaven from the lump of the saints2 the putting away of the evil and wicked person from the holy land and commonwealth of ,god's ,israel1 #a ,cor4 v4 #f1 #g4ajb ,where it is observable1 that the same word used by ,moses for putting a malefactor to death1 in typical ,israel1 by sword1 stoning1 c41 ,deut4 xiii4 #e1 is here used by ,paul for the spiritual killing1 or cutting off by excommunication1 #a ,cor4 v4 #ac1 ,put away that evil person1 c4 ,now1 ,i desire the answerer1 and any1 in the holy awe and fear of ,god1 to consider1 that-- ,from whom the first and second admonition was to proceed1 from them also was the rejecting or casting out to proceed1 as before4 ,but not from the civil magistrate1 to whom ,paul writes not this epistle1 and who also is not bound once and twice to admonish1 but may speedily punish1 as he sees cause1 the persons or purses of delinquents against his civil state2 but from ,titus1 the minister or angel of the church1 and from the church with him1 were these first and second admonitions to proceed4 ,and1 therefore1 at last also1 this rejecting3 which can be no other but a casting out1 or excommunicating of him from their church society4 ,indeed1 this rejecting is no other than that avoiding which ,paul writes of to the church of ,christ at ,rome1 ,rom4 xvi4 #ag2 which avoiding1 however wofully perverted by some to prove persecution1 belonged to the governors of ,christ's church and kingdom in ,rome1 and not to the ,roman emperor1 for him to rid and avoid the world of them by bloody and cruel persecution4 ,,chap4 ,,xvi4 ,sidenote3 ,the third conclusion discussed4 ,peace4 ,the third conclusion is--in points of lesser moment there ought to be a toleration4 ,sidenote3 ,satan's policy4 ,which though ,i acknowledge to be the truth of ,god1 yet three things are very observable in the manner of laying it down3 for ,satan useth excellent arrows to bad marks1 and sometimes beyond the intent1 and hidden from the eye of the archer4 ,sidenote3 ,the answerer granteth a toleration4 ,first1 saith he1 such a person is to be tolerated till ,god may be pleased to reveal his truth to him4 ,sidenote3 ,patience to be used toward the opposite4 ,truth4 ,this is well observed by you3 for indeed this is the very ground why the apostle calls for meekness and gentleness toward all men1 and toward such as oppose themselves1 #b ,tim4 ii4 #be2 because there is a peradventure1 or it may be2 8,it may be1 ,god may give them repentance40 ,that ,god that hath shown mercy to one1 may show mercy to another4 ,it may be1 that eye-salve that anointed one man's eye who was blind and opposite1 may another as blind and opposite4 ,he that hath given repentance to the husband1 may give it to his wife1 c4 ,sidenote3 ,the carriage of a soul1 sensible of mercy1 toward other sinners in their blindness and opposition4 ,hence the soul that is lively and sensible of mercy received to itself in former blindness1 opposition1 and enmity against ,god1 cannot but be patient and gentle toward the ,jews1 who yet deny the ,lord ,jesus to be come1 and justify their forefathers in murdering of him3 toward the ,turks1 who acknowledge ,christ a great prophet1 yet less than ,mahomet3 yea1 to all the several sorts of anti-christians1 who set up many a false ,christ instead of him3 and1 lastly1 to the pagans1 and wildest sorts of the sons of men1 who have not yet heard of the ,father1 nor the ,son3 and to all these sorts1 ,jews1 ,turks1 anti-christians1 pagans1 when they oppose the light presented to them1 in the sense of its own former opposition1 and that ,god peradventure may at last give repentance4 ,i add1 such a soul will not only be patient1 but earnestly and constantly pray for all sorts of men1 that out of them ,god's elect may be called to the fellowship of ,christ ,jesus2 and1 lastly1 not only pray1 but endeavour1 to its utmost ability1 their participation of the same grace and mercy4#ajc ,that great rock upon which so many gallant ships miscarry1 viz41 that such persons1 false prophets1 heretics1 c41 were to be put to death in ,israel1 ,i shall1 with ,god's assistance1 remove4 ,as also that fine silken covering of the image1 viz41 that such persons ought to be put to death1 or banished1 to prevent the infecting and seducing of others1 ,i shall1 with ,god's assistance1 in the following discourse pluck off4 ,sidenote3 ,the answerer confounds the churches in ,philippi and ,rome1 with the cities ,philippi and ,rome4 ,secondly1 ,i observe from the scriptures he quoteth for this toleration1 ,phil4 iii4 #ag1 and ,rom4 xiv4 #a-d1 how closely1 yet ,i hope unadvisedly1 he makes the churches of ,christ at ,philippi and ,rome all one with the cities ,philippi and ,rome1 in which the churches were1 and to whom only ,paul wrote4 ,as if what these churches in ,philippi and ,rome must tolerate amongst themselves1 that the cities ,philippi and ,rome must tolerate in their citizens3 and what these churches must not tolerate1 that these cities1 ,philippi and ,rome1 must not tolerate within the compass of the city1 state1 and jurisdiction4 ,truth4 ,upon that ground1 by undeniable consequence1 these cities1 ,philippi and ,rome1 were bound not to tolerate themselves1 that is1 the cities and citizens of ,philippi and ,rome1 in their own civil life and being2 but must kill or expel themselves from their own cities1 as being idolatrous worshippers of other gods than the true ,god in ,jesus ,christ4 ,sidenote3 ,difference between the church and the world4 ,but as the lily is amongst the thorns1 so is ,christ's love among the daughters2 and as the apple-tree among the trees of the forest1 so is her beloved among the sons2 so great a difference is there between the church in a city or country1 and the civil state1 city1 or country in which it is4 ,no less then 7as ,david in another case1 ,ps4 ciii4 #aa1 as far as the heavens are from the earth7 are they that are truly ,christ's 7that is1 anointed truly with the ,spirit of ,christ7 different from many thousands who love not the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and yet are and must be permitted in the world1 or civil state1 although they i4 e41 the world1 c4 have no right to enter into the gates of ,jerusalem1 the church of ,god4 ,sidenote3 ,the church and civil state confusedly made all one4 ,and this is the more carefully to be minded1 because whenever a toleration of others' religion and conscience is pleaded for1 such as are 7,i hope in truth7 zealous for ,god1 readily produce plenty of scriptures written to the church1 both before and since ,christ's coming1 all commanding and pressing the putting forth of the unclean1 the cutting off the obstinate1 the purging out the leaven1 rejecting of heretics4 ,as if because briars1 thorns1 and thistles may not be in the garden of the church1 therefore they must all be plucked up out of the wilderness4 ,whereas he that is a briar1 that is1 a ,jew1 a ,turk1 a pagan1 an anti-christian1 to-day1 may be1 when the word of the ,lord runs freely1 a member of ,jesus ,christ to-morrow1 cut out of the wild olive and planted into the true4 ,sidenote3 ,persecutors have forgotten the blessedness promised to the merciful1 ,matt4 v4 #g4 ,peace4 ,thirdly1 from this toleration of persons but holding lesser errors1 ,i observe the unmercifulness of such doctrines and hearts1 as if they had forgotten the blessedness2 ,blessed are the merciful1 for they shall obtain mercy1 ,matt4 v4 #g4 ,he that is slightly and but a little hurt1 shall be suffered1 and means vouchsafed for his cure4 ,but the deep wounded sinners1 and leprous1 ulcerous1 and those of bloody issues twelve years together1 and those which have been bowed down thirty-eight years of their life1 they must not be suffered1 until peradventure ,god may give them repentance4 ,but either it is not lawful for a godly magistrate to rule and govern such a people1 as some have said1 or else if they be under government1 and reform not to the state religion after the first and second admonition1 the civil magistrate is bound to persecute1 c4 ,truth4 ,such persons have need1 as ,paul to the ,romans1 chap4 xii4 #a1 to be besought by the mercy of ,god to put on bowels of mercy toward such as have neither wronged them in body nor goods1 and therefore justly should not be punished in their goods or persons4 ,,chap4 ,,xvii4 ,peace4 ,i shall now trouble you1 dear ,truth1 but with one conclusion more1 which is this1 viz41 that if a man hold forth error with a boisterous and arrogant spirit1 to the disturbance of the civil peace1 he ought to be punished1 c4 ,truth4 ,to this ,i have spoken to1 confessing that if any man commit aught of those things which ,paul was accused of1 ,acts xxv4 #aa1 he ought not to be spared1 yea1 he ought not1 as ,paul saith1 in such cases to refuse to die4 ,sidenote3 ,what persons are guilty of breach of civil peace4 ,but if the matter be of another nature1 a spiritual and divine nature1 ,i have written before in many cases1 and might in many more1 that the worship which a state professeth may be contradicted and preached against1 and yet no breach of civil peace4 ,and if a breach follow1 it is not made by such doctrines1 but by the boisterous and violent opposers of them4 ,sidenote3 ,the most peaceable wrongfully accused of peace-breaking4 ,such persons only break the city's or kingdom's peace1 who cry out for prison and swords against such who cross their judgment or practice in religion4 ,for as ,joseph's mistress accused ,joseph of uncleanness1 and calls out for civil violence against him1 when ,joseph was chaste and herself guilty1 so1 commonly1 the meek and peaceable of the earth are traduced as rebels1 factious1 peace-breakers1 although they deal not with the state or state matters1 but matters of divine and spiritual nature1 when their traducers are the only unpeaceable1 and guilty of breach of civil peace4#ajd ,peace4 ,we are now come to the second part of the answer1 which is a particular examination of such grounds as are brought against such persecution4 ,the first sort of grounds are from the scriptures4 ,,chap4 ,,xviii4 ,sidenote3 ,the examination of what is meant by the tares and the command of the ,lord ,jesus to let them alone4 ,first1 ,matt4 xiii4 #cj1 #ch1 8,because ,christ commandeth to let alone the tares to grow up together with the wheat1 until the harvest40 ,unto which he answereth3 8,that tares are not briars and thorns1 but partly hypocrites1 like unto the godly1 but indeed carnal1 as the tares are like to wheat1 but are not wheat2 or partly such corrupt doctrines or practices as are indeed unsound1 but yet such as come very near the truth 7as tares do to the wheat71 and so near1 that good men may be taken with them2 and so the persons in whom they grow cannot be rooted out but good wheat will be rooted out with them4 ,in such a case10 saith he1 8,christ calleth for peaceable toleration1 and not for penal prosecution1 according to the third conclusion40 ,sidenote3 ,the answerer's fallacious exposition1 that tares signify either persons1 doctrines1 or practices4 ,truth4 ,the substance of this answer ,i conceive to be1 first1 negative2 that by tares are not meant persons of another religion and worship1 that is1 saith he1 8they are not briars and thorns40 ,secondly1 affirmative2 by tares are meant either persons or doctrines1 or practices2 persons1 as hypocrites1 like the godly2 doctrines or practices corrupt1 yet like the truth4 ,for answer hereunto1 ,i confess that not only those worthy witnesses1 whose memories are sweet with all that fear ,god1 ,calvin1 ,beza1 c41 but of later times many conjoin with this worthy answerer1 to satisfy themselves and others with such an interpretation4 ,sidenote3 ,the answerer barely affirming a most strange interpretation4 ,but1 alas6 how dark is the soul left that desires to walk with ,god in holy fear and trembling1 when in such a weighty and mighty point as this is1 that in matters of conscience concerneth the spilling of the blood of thousands1 and the civil peace of the world in the taking up arms to suppress all false religions6--when1 ,i say1 no evidence1 or demonstration of the ,spirit1 is brought to prove such an interpretation1 nor arguments from the place itself or the scriptures of truth to confirm it2 but a bare affirmation that these tares must signify persons1 or doctrines and practices4 ,sidenote3 ,satan's subtlety about the opening of scripture4 ,i will not imagine any deceitful purpose in the answerer's thoughts in the proposal of these three--persons1 doctrines1 or practices2 yet dare ,i confidently avouch1 that the old serpent hath deceived his precious soul1 and by tongue and pen would deceive the souls of others by such a method of dividing the word of truth4 ,a threefold cord1 and so a threefold snare1 is strong2 and too like it is that one of the three1 either persons1 doctrines1 or practices1 may catch some feet4#aje ,,chap4 ,,xix4 ,peace4 ,the place then being of such importance as concerning the truth of ,god1 the blood of thousands1 yea1 the blood of saints1 and of the ,lord ,jesus in them1 ,i shall request your more diligent search1 by the ,lord's holy assistance1 into this scripture4 ,truth4 ,i shall make it evident1 that by these tares in this parable are meant persons in respect of their religion and way of worship1 open and visible professors1 as bad as briars and thorns2 not only suspected foxes1 but as bad as those greedy wolves which ,paul speaks of1 ,acts xx4 #bi1 who with perverse and evil doctrines labour spiritually to devour the flock1 and to draw away disciples after them1 whose mouths must be stopped1 and yet no carnal force and weapon to be used against them2 but their mischief to be resisted with those mighty weapons of the holy armoury of the ,lord ,jesus1 wherein there hangs a thousand shields1 ,cant4 iv4 #d4 ,that the ,lord ,jesus intendeth not doctrines1 or practices1 by the tares in this parable1 is clear2 for1 ,first1 the ,lord ,jesus expressly interpreteth the good seed to be persons1 and those the children of the kingdom2 and the tares also to signify men1 and those the children of the wicked one1 ver4 #ch4ajf ,sidenote3 ,toleration in ,rom4 xiv4 considered4 ,toleration of ,jewish ceremonies1 for a time1 upon some grounds in the ,jewish church1 proves not toleration of popish and anti-christian ceremonies in the ,christian church1 although in the state4 ,secondly1 such corrupt doctrines or practices are not to be tolerated now1 as those ,jewish observations1 the ,lord's own ordinances1 were for a while to be permitted1 ,rom4 xiv4 ,nor so long as till the angels1 the reapers1 come to reap the harvest in the end of the world4 ,for can we think1 that because the tender consciences of the ,jews were to be tendered in their differences of meats1 that therefore persons must now be tolerated in the church 7for ,i speak not of the civil state71 and that to the world's end1 in superstitious forbearing and forbidding of flesh in popish ,lents1 and superstitious ,fridays1 c42 and that because they were to be tendered in their observation of ,jewish holidays1 that therefore until the harvest1 or world's end1 persons must now be tolerated 7,i mean in the church7 in the observation of popish ,christmas1 ,easter1 ,whitsuntide1 and other superstitious popish festivals8 ,i willingly acknowledge1 that if the members of a church of ,christ shall upon some delusion of ,satan kneel at the ,lord's supper1 keep ,christmas1 or any other popish observation1 great tenderness ought to be used in winning his soul from the error of his way2 and yet ,i see not that persons so practising were fit to be received into the churches of ,christ now1 as the ,jews1 weak in the faith1 that is1 in the liberties of ,christ1 were to be received1 ,rom4 xiv4 #a4 ,and least of all 7as before7 that the toleration or permission of such ought to continue till doomsday1 or the end of the world1 as this parable urgeth the toleration3 ,let them alone until the harvest4 ,,chap4 ,,xx4 ,again1 hypocrites were not intended by the ,lord ,jesus in this famous parable4 ,sidenote3 ,tares proved not to signify hypocrites4 ,first1 the original word 1 signifying all those weeds which spring up with the corn1 as cockle1 darnel1 tares1 c41 seems to imply such a kind of people as commonly and generally are known to be manifestly different from1 and opposite to1 the true worshippers of ,god1 here called the children of the kingdom3 as these weeds1 tares1 cockle1 darnel1 c41 are commonly and presently known by every husbandman to differ from the wheat1 and to be opposite1 and contrary1 and hurtful unto it4#ajg ,now whereas it is pleaded that these tares are like the wheat1 and so like that this consimilitude1 or likeness1 is made the ground of this interpretation1 viz41 that tares must needs signify hypocrites1 or doctrines1 or practices1 who are like ,god's children1 truth1 c43-- ,i answer1 first1 the parable holds forth no such thing1 that the likeness of the tares should deceive the servants to cause them to suppose for a time that they were good wheat2 but that as soon as ever the tares appeared1 ver4 #bf1 the servants came to the householder about them1 ver4 #bg4 ,the scripture holds forth no such time wherein they doubted or suspected what they were4 ,peace4 ,it may be said they did not appear to be tares until the corn was in the blade1 and put forth its fruit4 ,sidenote3 ,the false and counterfeit ,christians appear as soon as the true and faithful4 ,truth4 ,i answer1 the one appeared as soon as the other2 for so the word clearly carries it1 that seed of both having been sown1 when the wheat appeared and put forth its blade and fruit1 the tares also were as early1 and put forth themselves1 or appeared also4 ,secondly1 there is such a dissimilitude1 or unlikeness1 ,i say such a dissimilitude1 that as soon as the tares1 and wheat are sprung up to blade and fruit1 every husbandman can tell which is wheat1 and which are tares and cockle1 c4 ,peace4 ,it may be said1 ,true3 so when the hypocrite is manifested1 then all may know him1 c42 but before hypocrites be manifested by fruits they are unknown4 ,i answer3 search into the parable1 and ask when was it that the servants first complained of the tares to the householder1 but when they appeared or came in sight1 there being no interim1 wherein the servants could not tell what to make of them1 but doubted whether they were wheat or tares1 as the answerer implies4 ,sidenote3 ,hypocritical ,christians4 ,secondly1 when was it that the householder gave charge to let them alone1 but after that they appeared1 and were known to be tares2 which should imply by this interpretation of the answerer1 that when men are discovered and known to be hypocrites1 yet1 still such a generation of hypocrites in the church must be let alone and tolerated until the harvest1 or end of the world2 which is contrary to all order1 piety1 and safety1 in the church of the ,lord ,jesus1 as doubtless the answerer will grant4 ,so that these tares being notoriously known to be different from the corn1 ,i conclude that they cannot here be intended by the ,lord ,jesus to signify secret hypocrites1 but more open and apparent sinners4#ajh ,,chap4 ,,xxi4 ,sidenote3 ,the tares cannot signify hypocrites4 ,the second reason why these tares cannot signify hypocrites in the church1 ,i take from the ,lord ,jesus's own interpretation of the field1 in which both wheat and tares are sown1 which1 saith he1 is the world1 out of which ,god chooseth and calleth his church4 ,sidenote3 ,two sorts of hypocrites1 #a4 ,in the church1 as ,judas1 ,simon ,magus2 and these must be tolerated until discovered1 and no longer4 #b4 ,hypocrites in the world1 which are false ,christians1 false churches2 and these the ,lord ,jesus will have let alone unto harvest4 ,the world lies in wickedness1 is like a wilderness1 or a sea of wild beasts innumerable1 fornicators1 covetous1 idolaters1 c42 with whom ,god's people may lawfully converse and cohabit in cities1 towns1 c41 else must they not live in the world1 but go out of it4 ,in which world1 as soon as ever the ,lord ,jesus had sown the good seed1 the children of the kingdom1 true ,christianity1 or the true church1 the enemy1 ,satan1 presently1 in the night of security1 ignorance1 and error1 whilst men slept1 sowed also these tares1 which are anti-christians1 or false ,christians4 ,these strange professors of the name of ,jesus the ministers and prophets of ,god beholding1 they are ready to run to heaven to fetch fiery judgments from thence to consume these strange ,christians1 and to pluck them by the roots out of the world4 ,but the ,son of man1 the meek ,lamb of ,god--for the elect's sake which must be gathered out of ,jew and ,gentile1 pagan1 anti-christian--commands a permission of them in the world1 until the time of the end of the world1 when the goats and sheep1 the tares and wheat1 shall be eternally separated each from other4 ,sidenote3 ,the field by most1 generally1 but falsely1 interpreted the church4 ,peace4 ,you know some excellent worthies1 dead and living1 have laboured to turn this field of the world into the garden of the church4#aji ,sidenote3 ,the ,lord ,jesus the great teacher by parables1 and the only expounder of them4 ,truth4 ,but who can imagine that the wisdom of the ,father1 the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1#aaj would so open this parable1 as he professedly doth1 as that it should be closer shut up1 and that one difficulty or lock should be opened by a greater and harder1 in calling the world the church8 ,contrary also to the way of the light and love that is in ,jesus1 when he would purposely teach and instruct his scholars2 contrary to the nature of parables and similitudes2 and lastly1 to the nature of the church or garden of ,christ4 ,,chap4 ,,xxii4 ,sidenote3 ,the scope of the parable4 ,four sorts of ground1 or hearers of the word1 in the world1 and but one properly in the church2 the rest seldom come1 or accidentally1 to hear the word in the church1 which word ought to be fitted for the feeding of the church or flock3 preaching for conversion1 is properly out of the church4 ,in the former parable1 the ,lord ,jesus compared the kingdom of heaven to the sowing of seed4 ,the true messengers of ,christ are the sowers1 who cast the seed of the word of the kingdom upon four sorts of ground4 ,which four sorts of ground1 or hearts of men1 cannot be supposed to be of the church1 nor will it ever be proved that the church consisteth of any more sorts or natures of ground properly but one1 to wit1 the honest and good ground4 ,and the proper work of the church concerns the flourishing and prosperity of this sort of ground1 and not the other unconverted three sorts2 who1 it may be1 seldom or never come near the church1 unless they be forced by the civil sword1 which the pattern or first sower never used2 and being forced1 they are put into a way of religion by such a course--if not so1 they are forced to live without a religion3 for one of the two must necessarily follow1 as ,i shall prove afterward4 ,in the field of the world1 then1 are all those sorts of ground3 highway hearers1 stony and thorny ground hearers1 as well as the honest and good ground2 and ,i suppose it will not now be said by the answerer1 that those three sorts of bad grounds were hypocrites1 or tares1 in the church4#aaa ,sidenote3 ,the scope of the parable of the tares4 ,now after the ,lord ,jesus had propounded that great leading parable of the sower and the seed1 he is pleased to propound this parable of the tares1 with admirable coherence and sweet consolation to the honest and good ground2 who1 with glad and honest hearts1 having received the word of the kingdom1 may yet seem to be discouraged and troubled with so many anti-christians and false professors of the name of ,christ4 ,the ,lord ,jesus1 therefore1 gives direction concerning these tares1 that unto the end of the world1 successively in all the sorts and generations of them1 they must be 7not approved or countenanced1 but7 let alone1 or permitted in the world4 ,sidenote3 ,the ,lord ,jesus in this parable of the tares1 gives direction and consolation to his servants4 ,secondly1 he gives to his own good seed this consolation3 that those heavenly reapers1 the angels1 in the harvest1 or end of the world1 will take an order and course with them1 to wit1 they shall bind them into bundles1 and cast them into the everlasting burnings2 and to make the cup of their consolation run over1 he adds1 ver4 #dc1 ,then1 then at that time1 shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their ,father4 ,sidenote3 ,the tares proved properly to signify anti-christians4 ,these tares1 then1 neither being erroneous doctrines1 nor corrupt practices1 nor hypocrites1 in the true church1 intended by the ,lord ,jesus in this parable1 ,i shall1 in the third place1 by the help of the same ,lord ,jesus1 evidently prove that these tares can be no other sort of sinners but false worshippers1 idolaters1 and in particular and properly1 anti-christians4 ,,chap4 ,,xxiii4 ,sidenote3 ,matt4 viii4 #ab4 ,matt4 xxi4 #dc4 ,god's kingdom on earth the visible church4 ,first1 then1 these tares are such sinners as are opposite and contrary to the children of the kingdom1 visibly so declared and manifest1 ver4 #ch4aab ,now the kingdom of ,god below is the visible church of ,christ ,jesus1 according to ,matt4 viii4 #ab4 ,the children of the kingdom1 which are threatened to be cast out1 seem to be the ,jews1 which were then the only visible church in covenant with the ,lord1 when all other nations followed other gods and worships4 ,and more plain is that fearful threatening1 ,matt4 xxi4 #dc1 ,the kingdom of ,god shall be taken from you1 and given to a nation that will bring forth the fruits thereof4 ,sidenote3 ,the distinction between the wheat and the tares1 as also between these tares and all other4 ,such1 then1 are the good seed1 good wheat1 children of the kingdom1 as are the disciples1 members1 and subjects of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 his church and kingdom3 and therefore1 consequently1 such are the tares1 as are opposite to these1 idolaters1 will-worshippers1 not truly but falsely submitting to ,jesus3 and in especial1 the children of the wicked one1 visibly so appearing4 ,which wicked one ,i take not to be the devil2 for the ,lord ,jesus seems to make them distinct3 ,he that sows the good seed1 saith he1 is the ,son of man2 the field is the world2 the good seed are the children of the kingdom2 but the tares are the children of the wicked1 or wickedness2 the enemy that soweth them is the devil4 ,the original here 1 agrees with that1 ,luke xi4 #d1 ,deliver us 1 from evil1 or wickedness2 opposite to the children of the kingdom and the righteousness thereof4 ,,chap4 ,,xxiv4 ,peace4 ,it is true1 that all drunkards1 thieves1 unclean persons1 c41 are opposite to ,god's children4 ,truth4 ,answ4 ,their opposition here against the children of the kingdom1 is such an opposition as properly fights against the religious state1 or worship1 of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,secondly1 it is manifest that the ,lord ,jesus in this parable intends no other sort of sinners3 unto whom he saith1 ,let them alone1 in church or state2 for then he should contradict other holy and blessed ordinances for the punishment of offenders1 both in ,christian and civil state4 ,sidenote3 ,civil magistracy from the beginning of the world4 ,offenders against the civil laws not to be perpetually tolerated4 ,first1 in civil state4 ,from the beginning of the world1 ,god hath armed fathers1 masters1 magistrates1 to punish evil doers2 that is1 such1 of whose actions fathers1 masters1 magistrates are to judge1 and accordingly to punish such sinners as transgress against the good and peace of their civil state1 families1 towns1 cities1 kingdoms--their states1 governments1 governors1 laws1 punishments1 and weapons being all of a civil nature2 and therefore neither disobedience to parents or magistrates1 nor murder1 nor quarrelling1 uncleanness1 nor lasciviousness1 stealing nor extortion1 neither aught of that kind ought to be let alone1 either in lesser or greater families1 towns1 cities1 kingdoms1 ,rom4 xiii42 but seasonably to be suppressed1 as may best conduce to the public safety4 ,sidenote3 ,nor offenders in the church of ,christ ,jesus to be suffered4 ,again1 secondly1 in the kingdom of ,christ ,jesus1 whose kingdom1 officers1 laws1 punishments1 weapons1 are spiritual and of a soul nature1 he will not have anti-christian idolaters1 extortioners1 covetous1 c41 to be let alone2 but the unclean and lepers to be thrust forth1 the old leaven purged out1 the obstinate in sin spiritually stoned to death1 and put away from ,israel2 and this by many degrees of gentle admonition in private and public1 as the case requires4 ,therefore1 if neither offenders against the civil laws1 state1 and peace ought to be let alone2 nor the spiritual estate1 the church of ,jesus ,christ1 ought to bear with them that are evil1 ,rev4 ii4 #b1 ,i conclude that these are sinners of another nature--idolaters1 false worshippers1 anti-christians1 who without discouragement to true ,christians must be let alone1 and permitted in the world to grow and fill up the measure of their sins1 after the image of him that hath sown them1 until the great harvest shall make the difference4#aac ,,chap4 ,,xxv4 ,sidenote3 ,the great reapers are the angels4 ,thirdly1 in that the officers1 unto whom these tares are referred1 are the angels1 the heavenly reapers at the last day1 it is clear as the light that1 as before1 these tares cannot signify hypocrites in the church2 who1 when they are discovered and seen to be tares1 opposite to the good fruit of the good seed1 are not to be let alone to the angels at harvest1 or end of the world1 but purged out by the governors of the church1 and the whole church of ,christ4#aad ,again1 they cannot be offenders against the civil state and common welfare1 whose dealing with is not suspended unto the coming of the angels1 but permitted unto men1 who1 although they know not the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 yet are lawful governors and rulers in civil things4 ,accordingly1 in the fourth and last place1 in that the plucking up of these tares out of this field must be let alone unto the very harvest or end of the world1 it is apparent from thence1 that1 as before1 they could not signify hypocrites in the church1 who1 when they are discovered to be so1 as these tares were discovered to be tares1 are not to be suffered1 after the first and second admonition1 but to be rejected1 and every brother that walketh disorderly to be withdrawn or separated from4#aae ,so likewise no offender against the civil state1 by robbery1 murder1 adultery1 oppression1 sedition1 mutiny1 is for ever to be connived at1 and to enjoy a perpetual toleration unto the world's end1 as these tares must4 ,sidenote3 ,the tares to be tolerated the longest of any sinners4 ,moses for a while held his peace against the sedition of ,korah1 ,dathan1 and ,abiram4 ,david for a season tolerated ,shimei1 ,joab1 ,adonijah4 ,but till the harvest1 or end of the world1 the ,lord never intended that any but these spiritual and mystical tares should be so permitted4 ,,chap4 ,,xxvi4 ,sidenote3 ,the danger of infection by these tares assoiled4 ,truth4 ,now if any imagine that the time or date is long1 that in the mean season they may do a world of mischief before the world's end1 as by infection1 c4 ,sidenote3 ,lamentable experience hath proved this true of late in ,europe1 and lamentably true in the slaughter of some hundred thousands of the ,english4 ,first1 ,i answer1 that as the civil state keeps itself with a civil guard1 in case these tares shall attempt aught against the peace and welfare of it let such civil offences be punished2 and yet1 as tares opposite to ,christ's kingdom1 let their worship and consciences be tolerated4#aaf ,secondly1 the church1 or spiritual state1 city1 or kingdom1 hath laws1 and orders1 and armories1 whereon there hang a thousand bucklers1 ,cant4 iv4 #d1 weapons and ammunition1 able to break down the strongest holds1 #b ,cor4 x4 #d1 and so to defend itself against the very gates of earth or hell4#aag ,thirdly1 the ,lord himself knows who are his1 and his foundation remaineth sure2 his elect or chosen cannot perish nor be finally deceived4#aah ,lastly1 the ,lord ,jesus here1 in this parable1 lays down two reasons1 able to content and satisfy our hearts to bear patiently this their contradiction and anti-christianity1 and to permit or let them alone4 ,first1 lest the good wheat be plucked up and rooted up also out of this field of the world4 ,if such combustions and fightings were as to pluck up all the false professors of the name of ,christ1 the good wheat also would enjoy little peace1 but be in danger to be plucked up and torn out of this world by such bloody storms and tempests4#aai ,and1 therefore1 as ,god's people are commanded1 ,jer4 xxix4 #g1 to pray for the peace of material ,babel1 wherein they were captivated1 and #a ,tim4 ii4 #a1 #b1 to pray for all men1 and specially for kings and governors1 that in the peace of the civil state they may have peace3 so1 contrary to the opinion and practice of most1 drunk with the cup of the whore's fornication1 yea1 and of ,god's own people1 fast asleep in anti-christian ,delilah's lap1 obedience to the command of ,christ to let the tares alone will prove the only means to preserve their civil peace1 and that without obedience to this command of ,christ1 it is impossible 7without great transgression against the ,lord in carnal policy1 which will not long hold out7 to preserve the civil peace4 ,beside1 ,god's people1 the good wheat1 are generally plucked up and persecuted1 as well as the vilest idolaters1 whether ,jews or anti-christians3 which the ,lord ,jesus seems in this parable to foretell4 ,sidenote3 ,the great and dreadful harvest4 ,the second reason noted in the parable1 which may satisfy any man from wondering at the patience of ,god1 is this3 when the world is ripe in sin1 in the sins of anti-christianism 7as the ,lord spake of the sins of the ,amorites1 ,gen4 xv4 #af71 then those holy and mighty officers and executioners1 the angels1 with their sharp and cutting sickles of eternal vengeance1 shall down with them1 and bundle them up for the everlasting burnings4#abj ,then shall that man of sin1 #b ,thess4 ii4 #h1 be consumed by the breath of the mouth of the ,lord ,jesus2 and all that worship the beast and his picture1 and receive his mark into their forehead or their hands1 shall drink of the wine of the wrath of ,god1 which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation1 and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels1 and in the presence of the ,lamb1 and the smoke of their torment shall ascend up for ever and ever1 ,rev4 xiv4 #aj1 #aa4 ,,chap4 ,,xxvii4 ,peace4 ,you have been larger in vindicating this scripture from the violence offered unto it1 because1 as ,i said before1 it is of such great consequence2 as also1 because so many excellent hands have not rightly divided it1 to the great misguiding of many precious feet1 which otherwise might have been turned into the paths of more peaceableness in themselves and towards others4 ,truth4 ,i shall be briefer in the scriptures following4 ,sidenote3 ,the charge of ,christ ,jesus1 ,let alone the tares1 was not spoken to magistrates1 ministers of the civil state1 but to ministers of the gospel4 ,peace4 ,yet before you depart from this1 ,i must crave your patience to satisfy one objection1 and that is3 ,these servants to whom the householder answereth1 seem to be the ministers or messengers of the gospel1 not the magistrates of the civil state1 and therefore this charge of the ,lord ,jesus is not given to magistrates1 to let alone false worshippers and idolaters4 ,again1 being spoken by the ,lord ,jesus to his messengers1 it seems to concern hypocrites in the church1 as before was spoken1 and not false worshippers in the state1 or world4 ,truth4 ,i answer1 first1 ,i believe ,i have sufficiently and abundantly proved1 that these tares are not offenders in the civil state4 ,nor1 secondly1 hypocrites in the church1 when once discovered so to be2 and that therefore the ,lord ,jesus intends a grosser kind of hypocrites1 professing the name of churches and ,christians in the field of the world1 or commonwealth4 ,sidenote3 ,the civil magistrate not so particularly spoken to as fathers and masters1 in the ,new ,testament1 and why1 ,eph4 v4 #f2 ,col4 iii4 #d1 c4 ,secondly1 ,i acknowledge this command1 ,let them alone1 was expressly spoken to the messengers or ministers of the gospel1 who have no civil power or authority in their hand1 and therefore not to the civil magistrate1 king1 or governor1 to whom it pleased not the ,lord ,jesus1 by himself or by his apostles1 to give particular rules or directions concerning their behaviour and carriage in civil magistracy1 as they have done expressly concerning the duty of fathers1 mothers1 children1 masters1 servants1 yea1 and of subjects towards magistrates1 ,ephes4 v4 and vi42 ,colos4 iii4 and iv4 c4 ,sidenote3 ,a twofold state of ,christianity the persecuted under the ,roman emperors1 and the apostate ever since4 ,i conceive not the reason of this to be1 as some weakly have done1 because the ,lord ,jesus would not have any followers of his to hold the place of civil magistracy1 but rather that he foresaw1 and the ,holy ,spirit in the apostles foresaw1 how few magistrates1 either in the first persecuted or apostated state of ,christianity1 would embrace his yoke4 ,in the persecuted state1 magistrates hated the very name of ,christ1 or ,christianity4 ,in the state apostate1 some few magistrates1 in their persons holy and precious1 yet as concerning their places1 as they have professed to have been governors or heads of the church1 have been so many false heads1 and have constituted so many false visible ,christs4 ,thirdly1 ,i conceive this charge of the ,lord ,jesus to his messengers1 the preachers and proclaimers of his mind1 is a sufficient declaration of the mind of the ,lord ,jesus1 if any civil magistrate should make question what were his duty concerning spiritual things4 ,sidenote3 ,christ's messengers receive a threefold charge in that prohibition of ,christ1 ,let them alone4 ,the apostles1 and in them all that succeed them1 being commanded not to pluck up the tares1 but let them alone1 received from the ,lord ,jesus a threefold charge4 ,first1 to let them alone1 and not to pluck them up by prayer to ,god for their present temporal destruction4#aba ,sidenote3 ,god's people not to pray for the present ruin and destruction of idolaters1 although their persecutors1 but for their peace and salvation4 ,jeremy had a commission to plant and build1 to pluck up and destroy kingdoms1 ,jer4 i4 #aj2 therefore he is commanded not to pray for that people whom ,god had a purpose to pluck up1 ,jer4 xiv4 #aa1 and he plucks up the whole nation by prayer1 ,lament1 iii4 #ff4 ,thus ,elijah brought fire from heaven to consume the captains and the fifties1 #b ,kings i4 ,and the apostles desired also so to practise against the ,samaritans1 ,luke ix4 #ed1 but were reproved by the ,lord ,jesus4 ,for1 contrarily1 the saints1 and servants1 and churches of ,christ1 are to pray for all men1 especially for all magistrates1 of what sort or religions soever1 and to seek the peace of the city1 whatever city it be1 because in the peace of the place ,god's people have peace also1 ,jer4 xxix4 #g2 #b ,tim4 ii41 c4 ,secondly1 ,god's messengers are herein commanded not to prophecy1 or denounce1 a present destruction or extirpation of all false professors of the name of ,christ1 which are whole towns1 cities1 and kingdoms full4#abb ,sidenote3 ,the word of ,god rightly denounced plucks up kingdoms4 ,jeremy did thus pluck up kingdoms1 in those fearful prophecies he poured forth against all the nations of the world1 throughout his chaps4 xxiv41 xxv41 xxvi41 c42 as did also the other prophets in a measure1 though none comparably to ,jeremy and ,ezekiel4 ,such denunciations of present temporal judgments1 are not the messengers of the ,lord ,jesus to pour forth4 ,it is true1 many sore and fearful plagues are poured forth upon the ,roman emperors and ,roman popes in the ,revelation1 yet not to their utter extirpation or plucking up until the harvest4 ,sidenote3 ,god's ministers are not to provoke magistrates to persecute anti-christians4 #a ,pet4 ii4 #i4 #a ,cor4 v4 ,thirdly1 ,i conceive ,god's messengers are charged to let them alone1 and not pluck them up1 by exciting and stirring up civil magistrates1 kings1 emperors1 governors1 parliaments1 or general courts1 or assemblies1 to punish and persecute all such persons out of their dominions and territories as worship not the true ,god1 according to the revealed will of ,god in ,christ ,jesus4 ,it is true1 ,elijah thus stirred up ,ahab to kill all the priests and prophets of ,baal2 but that was in that figurative state of the land of ,canaan1 as ,i have already and shall further manifest1 not to be matched or paralleled by any other state1 but the spiritual state or church of ,christ in all the world1 putting the false prophets and idolaters spiritually to death by the two-edged sword and power of the ,lord ,jesus1 as that church of ,israel did corporally4#abc ,sidenote3 ,companying with idolaters1 #a ,cor4 v41 discussed4 ,and therefore saith ,paul expressly1 #a ,cor4 v4 #aj1 we must go out of the world1 in case we may not company in civil converse with idolaters1 c4 ,peace4 ,it may be said1 some sorts of sinners are there mentioned1 as drunkards1 railers1 extortioners1 who are to be punished by the civil sword--why not idolaters also8 for although the subject may lawfully converse1 buy and sell1 and live with such1 yet the civil magistrates shall nevertheless be justly blamed in suffering of them4 ,sidenote3 ,lawful converse with idolaters in civil1 but not in spiritual things4 ,truth4 ,i answer1 the apostle1 in this scripture1 speaks not of permission of either1 but expressly shows the difference between the church and the world1 and the lawfulness of conversation with such persons in civil things1 with whom it is not lawful to have converse in spirituals3 secretly withal foretelling1 that magistrates and people1 whole states and kingdoms1 should be idolatrous and anti-christian1 yet with whom1 notwithstanding1 the saints and churches of ,god might lawfully cohabit1 and hold civil converse and conversation4 ,concerning their permission of what they judge idolatrous1 ,i have and shall speak at large4 ,sidenote3 ,dangerous and ungrounded zeal4 ,peace4 ,oh6 how contrary unto this command of the ,lord ,jesus have such1 as have conceived themselves the true messengers of the ,lord ,jesus1 in all ages1 not let such professors and prophets alone1 whom they have judged tares2 but have provoked kings and kingdoms 7and some out of good intentions and zeal to ,god7 to prosecute and persecute such even unto death6 ,amongst whom ,god's people1 the good wheat1 hath also been plucked up1 as all ages and histories testify1 and too1 too oft the world laid upon bloody heaps in civil and intestine desolations on this occasion4 ,all which would be prevented1 and the greatest breaches made up in the peace of our own or other countries1 were this command of the ,lord ,jesus obeyed1 to wit1 to let them alone until the harvest4 ,,chap4 ,,xxviii4 ,truth4 ,i shall conclude this controversy about this parable1 in this brief sum and recapitulation of what hath been said4 ,i hope1 by the evident demonstration of ,god's ,spirit to the conscience1 ,i have proved1 negatively1 ,first4 ,that the tares in this parable cannot signify doctrines or practices1 as was affirmed1 but persons4 ,secondly4 ,the tares cannot signify hypocrites in the church1 either undiscovered or discovered4 ,thirdly4 ,the tares here cannot signify scandalous offenders in the church4 ,fourthly4 ,nor scandalous offenders1 in life and conversation1 against the civil state4 ,fifthly4 ,the field in which these tares are sown1 is not the church4 ,again1 affirmatively3 ,first4 ,the field is properly the world1 the civil state1 or commonwealth4 ,secondly4 ,the tares here intended by the ,lord ,jesus1 are anti-christian idolaters1 opposite to the good seed of the kingdom1 true ,christians4 ,thirdly4 ,the ministers or messengers of the ,lord ,jesus ought to let them alone to live in the world1 and neither seek by prayer1 or prophecy1 to pluck them up before the harvest4 ,fourthly4 ,this permission or suffering of them in the field of the world1 is not for hurt1 but for common good1 even for the good of the good wheat1 the people of ,god4 ,lastly4 ,the patience of ,god is1 that the patience of man ought to be exercised toward them2 and yet notwithstanding1 their doom is fearful at the harvest1 even gathering1 bundling1 and everlasting burnings1 by the mighty hand of the angels in the end of the world4 ,,chap4 ,,xxix4 ,sidenote3 ,matt4 xv4 #ad1 the second scripture controverted in this cause4 ,peace4 ,the second scripture brought against such persecution for cause of conscience1 is ,matt4 xv4 #ad2 where the disciples being troubled at the ,pharisees' carriage toward the ,lord ,jesus and his doctrines1 and relating how they were offended at him1 the ,lord ,jesus commanded his disciples to let them alone1 and gives this reason--that the blind lead the blind1 and both should fall into the ditch4 ,unto which1 answer is made1 8,that it makes nothing to the cause1 because it was spoken to his private disciples1 and not to public officers in church or state3 and also1 because it was spoken in regard of troubling themselves1 or regarding the offence which the ,pharisees took40 ,sidenote3 ,christ ,jesus never directed his disciples to the civil magistrate for help in his cause4 ,truth4 ,i answer1--to pass by his assertion of the privacy of the apostles1 in that the ,lord ,jesus commanding to let them alone1 that is1 not only not to be offended themselves1 but not to meddle with them--it appears it was no ordinance of ,god1 nor ,christ1 for the disciples to have gone further1 and have complained to1 and excited1 the civil magistrate to his duty3 which if it had been an ordinance of ,god and ,christ1 either for the vindicating of ,christ's doctrine1 or the recovering of the ,pharisees1 or the preserving of others from infection1 the ,lord ,jesus would never have commanded them to omit that which should have tended to these holy ends4#abd ,,chap4 ,,xxx4 ,peace4 ,it may be said1 that neither the ,roman ,csar1 nor ,herod1 nor ,pilate1 knew aught of the true ,god1 or of ,christ2 and it had been in vain to have made complaint to them who were not fit and competent1 but ignorant and opposite judges4 ,sidenote3 ,paul's appealing to ,csar4 ,truth4 ,i answer1 first1 this removes1 by the way1 that stumbling-block which many fall at1 to wit1 ,paul's appealing to ,csar2 which since he could not in common sense do unto ,csar as a competent judge in such cases1 and wherein he should have also denied his own apostleship or office1 in which regard1 to wit1 in matters of ,christ1 he was higher than ,csar himself--it must needs follow1 that his appeal was merely in respect of his civil wrongs1 and false accusations of sedition1 c4#abe ,sidenote3 ,civil magistrates never appointed by ,god defenders of the faith of ,jesus4 ,every one is bound to put forth himself to his utmost power in ,god's business1 and where it stops1 the guilt will lie4 ,secondly1 if it had been an ordinance of ,god1 that all civil magistrates were bound to judge in causes spiritual or ,christian1 as to suppress heresies1 defend the faith of ,jesus1 although that ,csar1 ,herod1 ,pilate were wicked1 ignorant1 and opposite1 yet the disciples1 and the ,lord ,christ himself1 had been bound to have performed the duty of faithful subjects1 for the preventing of further evil1 and the clearing of themselves1 and so to have left the matter upon the magistrates' care and conscience1 by complaining unto the magistrate against such evils4 ,for every person is bound to go as far as lies in his power for the preventing and the redressing of evil2 and where it stops in any1 and runs not clear1 there the guilt1 like filth or mud1 will lie4 ,sidenote3 ,christ could easily have been furnished with godly magistrates1 if he had so appointed4 ,thirdly1 had it been the holy purpose of ,god to have established the doctrine and kingdom of his ,son this way1 since his coming he would have furnished commonweals1 kingdoms1 cities1 c41 then and since1 with such temporal powers and magistrates as should have been excellently fit and competent3 for he that could have had legions of angels1 if he so pleased1 could as easily have been1 and still be furnished with legions of good and gracious magistrates to this end and purpose4#abf ,,chap4 ,,xxxi4 ,it is generally said1 that ,god hath in former times1 and doth still1 and will hereafter stir up kings and queens1 c4 ,i answer1 that place of ,isa4 xlix4 #bc1 will appear to be far from proving such kings and queens judges of ecclesiastical causes3 and if not judges1 they may not punish4 ,in spiritual things1 themselves are subject to the church and censures of it1 although in civil respects superior4 ,how shall those kings and queens be supreme governors of the church1 and yet lick the dust of the church's feet8 as it is there expressed4#abg ,sidenote3 ,god's ,israel earnest with ,god for an arm of flesh1 which ,god gives in his anger1 and takes away in his wrath4 ,thirdly1 ,god's ,israel of old were earnest with ,god for a king1 for an arm of flesh1 for a king to protect them1 as other nations had3 ,god's ,israel still have ever been restless with ,god for an arm of flesh4 ,god gave them ,saul in his anger1 and took him away in his wrath3 and ,god hath given many a ,saul in his anger1 that is1 an arm of flesh in the way of his providence3 though ,i judge not all persons whom ,saul in his calling typed out1 to be of ,saul's spirit1 for ,i speak of a state and outward visible power only4 ,i add1 ,god will take away such stays1 on whom ,god's people rest1 in his wrath3 that king ,david1 that is1 ,christ ,jesus the antitype1 in his own spiritual power in the hands of the saints1 may spiritually and for ever be advanced4 ,and therefore ,i conclude1 it was in one respect that the ,lord ,jesus said1 ,let them alone2 because it was no ordinance for any disciple of ,jesus to prosecute the ,pharisees at ,csar's bar4 ,sidenote3 ,the punishment of blind ,pharisees1 though let alone1 yet is greater than any corporal punishment in the world1 in four respects4 ,beside1 let it be seriously considered by such as plead for present corporal punishments1 as conceiving that such sinners1 though they break not civil peace1 should not escape unpunished--,i say1 let it be considered1 though for the present their punishment is deferred1 yet the punishment inflicted on them will be found to amount to a higher pitch than any corporal punishment in the world beside1 and that in these four respects3-- ,,chap4 ,,xxxii4 ,sidenote3 ,the eye of the soul struck out1 is worse than for both right and left eye of the body to be struck out ten thousand times4 ,first1 by just judgment from ,god1 false teachers are stark blind4 ,god's sword hath struck out the right eye of their mind and spiritual understanding1 ten thousand times a greater punishment than if the magistrate should command both the right and left eye of their bodies to be bored or plucked out2 and that in so many fearful respects if the blindness of the soul and of the body were a little compared together--whether we look at that want of guidance1 or the want of joy and pleasure1 which the light of the eye affordeth2 or whether we look at the damage1 shame1 deformity1 and danger1 which blindness brings to the outward man2 and much more true in the want of the former1 and misery of the latter1 in spiritual and soul blindness to all eternity4 ,sidenote3 ,some souls incurable1 whom not only corporal1 but spiritual physic can nothing avail4 ,secondly1 how fearful is that wound that no balm in ,gilead can cure6 ,how dreadful is that blindness which for ever to all eye-salve is incurable6 ,for if persons be wilfully and desperately obstinate1 after light shining forth1 ,let them alone1 saith the ,lord4 ,so spake the ,lord once of ,ephraim3 ,ephraim is joined to idols1 let him alone1 ,hos4 iv4 #ag4 ,what more lamentable condition1 than when the ,lord hath given a poor sinner over as a hopeless patient1 incurable1 which we are wont to account a sorer affliction1 than if a man were torn and racked1 c4 ,and this ,i speak1 not that ,i conceive that all whom the ,lord ,jesus commands his servants to pass from and let alone1 to permit and tolerate1 when it is in their power corporally to molest them1 ,i say1 that all are thus incurable2 yet that sometimes that word is spoken by ,christ ,jesus to his servants to be patient1 for neither can corporal or spiritual balm or physic ever heal or cure them4 ,sidenote3 ,the bottomless pit1 or ditch1 into which the spiritually blind fall4 ,thirdly1 their end is the ditch1 that bottomless pit of everlasting separation from the holy and sweet presence of the ,father of lights1 goodness1 and mercy itself--endless1 easeless1 in extremity1 universality1 and eternity of torments2 which most direful and lamentable downfall1 should strike a holy fear and trembling into all that see the pit whither these blind ,pharisees are tumbling1 and cause us to strive1 so far as hope may be1 by the spiritual eye-salve of the word of ,god1 to heal and cure them of this their soul-destroying blindness4 ,fourthly1 of those that fall into this dreadful ditch1 both leader and followers1 how deplorable in more especial manner is the leader's case1 upon whose neck the followers tumble--the ruin1 not only of his own soul1 being horrible1 but also the ruin of the followers' souls eternally galling and tormenting4 ,peace4 ,some will say1 these things are indeed full of horror2 yet such is the state of all sinners1 and of many malefactors1 whom yet the state is bound to punish1 and sometimes by death itself4 ,truth4 ,i answer1 the civil magistrate beareth not the sword in vain1 but to cut off civil offences1 yea1 and the offenders too in case4 ,but what is this to a blind ,pharisee1 resisting the doctrine of ,christ1 who haply may be as good a subject1 and as peaceable and profitable to the civil state as any3 and for his spiritual offence against the ,lord ,jesus1 in denying him to be the true ,christ1 he suffereth the vengeance of a dreadful judgment1 both present and eternal1 as before4#abh ,,chap4 ,,xxxiii4 ,peace4 ,yea3 but it is said that the blind ,pharisees1 misguiding the subjects of a civil state1 greatly sin against a civil state1 and therefore justly suffer civil punishments2 for shall the civil magistrate take care of outsides only1 to wit1 of the bodies of men1 and not of souls1 in labouring to procure their everlasting welfare8 ,sidenote3 ,soul-killing the chiefest murder4 ,no magistrate can execute true justice in killing soul for soul but ,christ ,jesus1 who by typical death in the law typed out spiritual in the gospel4 ,truth4 ,i answer1 ,it is a truth3 the mischief of a blind ,pharisee's blind guidance is greater than if he acted treasons1 murders1 c42 and the loss of one soul by his seduction1 is a greater mischief than if he blew up parliaments1 and cut the throats of kings or emperors1 so precious is that invaluable jewel of a soul above all the present lives and bodies of all the men in the world6 ,and therefore ,i affirm1 that justice1 calling for eye for eye1 tooth for tooth1 life for life1 calls also soul for soul2 which the blind-guiding1 seducing ,pharisee1 shall truly pay in that dreadful ditch1 which the ,lord ,jesus speaks of4 ,but this sentence against him1 the ,lord ,jesus only pronounceth in his church1 his spiritual judicature1 and executes this sentence in part at present1 and hereafter to all eternity4 ,such a sentence no civil judge can pass1 such a death no civil sword can inflict4#abi ,sidenote3 ,a great mistake in most to conceive that dead men1 that is1 souls dead in sin1 may be infected by false doctrine4 ,i answer1 secondly1 ,dead men cannot be infected4 ,the civil state1 the world1 being in a natural state1 dead in sin1 whatever be the state-religion unto which persons are forced1 it is impossible it should be infected4 ,indeed the living1 the believing1 the church and spiritual state1 that and that only is capable of infection2 for whose help we shall presently see what preservatives and remedies the ,lord ,jesus hath appointed4 ,sidenote3 ,all natural men being dead in sin1 yet none die everlastingly but such as are thereunto ordained4 ,moreover1 as we see in a common plague or infection the names are taken how many are to die1 and not one more shall be struck than the destroying angel hath the names of3#acj so here1 whatever be the soul-infection breathed out from the lying lips of a plague-sick ,pharisee1 yet the names are taken1 not one elect or chosen of ,god shall perish4 ,god's sheep are safe in his eternal hand and counsel1 and he that knows his material1 knows also his mystical stars1 their numbers1 and calls them every one by name4 ,none fall into the ditch on the blind ,pharisee's back but such as were ordained to that condemnation1 both guide and followers1 #a ,pet4 ii4 #h2 ,jude #d4 ,the vessels of wrath shall break and split1 and only they1 to the praise of ,god's eternal justice1 ,rom4 ix4 #bb4 ,,chap4 ,,xxxiv4 ,peace4 ,but it is said1 be it granted that in a common plague or infection none are smitten and die but such as are appointed1 yet it is not only every man's duty1 but the common duty of the magistrate to prevent infection1 and to preserve the common health of the place2 likewise1 though the number of the elect be sure1 and ,god knows who are his1 yet hath he appointed means for their preservation from perdition1 and from infection1 and therefore the angel is blamed for suffering ,balaam's doctrine1 and ,jezebel1 to seduce ,christ ,jesus' servants1 ,rev4 ii4 #ad1 #bj2 ,tit4 iii4 #aj2 ,rom4 xvi4 #ag4 ,sidenote3 ,the ,lord ,jesus hath not left his church without spiritual antidotes and remedies against infection4 ,truth4 ,i answer1 ,let the scripture1 that of ,titus1 ,reject an heretic1 and ,rom4 xvi4 #ag1 ,avoid them that are contentious1 c41 let them1 and all of like nature1 be examined1 and it will appear that the great and good ,physician1 ,christ ,jesus1 the ,head of the body1 and ,king of the church1 hath not been unfaithful in providing spiritual antidotes and preservatives against the spiritual sickness1 sores1 weaknesses1 dangers1 of his church and people4 ,but he never appointed the civil sword for either antidote or remedy1 as an addition to those spirituals which he hath left with his wife1 his church or people4#aca ,sidenote3 ,the miserable bondage ,god's people live in4 ,hence how great is the bondage1 the captivity of ,god's own people to ,babylonish or confused mixtures in worship1 and unto worldly and earthly policies to uphold state-religions or worships3 since that which is written to the angel and church at ,pergamos shall be interpreted as sent to the governor and city of ,pergamos1 and that which is sent to ,titus and the church of ,christ at ,crete must be delivered to the civil officers and city thereof4 ,but as the civil magistrate hath his charge of the bodies and goods of the subject3 so have the spiritual officers1 governors1 and overseers of ,christ's city or kingdom1 the charge of their souls1 and soul-safety4#acb ,hence that charge of ,paul to ,timothy1 #a ,tim4 v4 #bj1 ,them that sin rebuke before all1 that others may learn to fear4 ,this is1 in the church of ,christ1 a spiritual means for the healing of a soul that hath sinned1 or taken infection1 and for the preventing of the infecting of others1 that others may learn to fear1 c4 ,,chap4 ,,xxxv4 ,peace4 ,it is said true1 that ,titus and ,timothy1 and so the officers of the church of ,christ1 are bound to prevent soul-infection3 but what hinders that the magistrate should not be charged also with this duty8 ,sidenote3 ,the kings and queens of ,england governors of the church4 ,truth4 ,i answer1 many things ,i have answered1 and more shall1 at present ,i shall only say this3 ,if it be the magistrate's duty or office1 then is he both a temporal and ecclesiastical officer3 the contrary to which most men will affirm4 ,and yet we know1 the policy of our own land and country hath established to the kings and queens thereof the supreme heads or governors of the church of ,england4 ,sidenote3 ,strange confusion in punishments4 ,that doctrine and distinction1 that a magistrate may punish a heretic civilly1 will not here avail2 for what is ,babel1 if this be not1 confusedly to punish corporal or civil offences with spiritual or church censures 7the offender not being a member of it71 or to punish soul or spiritual offences with corporal or temporal weapons1 proper to delinquents against the temporal or civil state4 ,sidenote3 ,woe were it with the civil magistrate if the blood of souls 7beside the ordinary care of the bodies and goods of the subjects7 should cry against him4 ,lastly1 woe were it with the civil magistrate--and most intolerable burdens do they lay upon their backs that teach this doctrine--if together with the common care and charge of the commonwealth1 the peace and safety of the town1 city1 state1 or kingdom1 the blood of every soul that perisheth should cry against him2 unless he could say with ,paul1 ,acts xx4 #bf1 7in spiritual regards71 ,i am clear from the blood of all men1 that is1 the blood of souls1 which was his charge to look after1 so far as his preaching went1 not the blood of bodies which belongeth to the civil magistrate4 ,sidenote3 ,the magistrates' duties toward the church1 the spouse of ,christ4 ,i acknowledge he ought to cherish1 as a foster-father1 the ,lord ,jesus1 in his truth1 in his saints1 to cleave unto them himself1 and to countenance them even to the death1 yea1 also1 to break the teeth of the lions1 who offer civil violence and injury unto them4 ,sidenote3 ,usurpers and true heirs of the spiritual crown of ,jesus4 ,but1 to see all his subjects ,christians1 to keep such church or ,christians in the purity of worship1 and see them do their duty1 this belongs to the head of the body1 ,christ ,jesus1 and to such spiritual officers as he hath to this purpose deputed1 whose right it is1 according to the true pattern4 ,abimelech1 ,saul1 ,adonijah1 ,athalia1 were but usurpers3 ,david1 ,solomon1 ,joash1 c41 they were the true heirs and types of ,christ ,jesus1 in his true power and authority in his kingdom4 ,,chap4 ,,xxxvi4 ,sidenote3 ,luke ix4 #ed1 #ee1 discussed4 ,peace4 ,the next scripture brought against such persecution is ,luke ix4 #ed1 #ee3 where the ,lord ,jesus reproved his disciples1 who would have had fire come down from heaven1 and devour those ,samaritans that would not receive him1 in these words3 ,you know not of what spirit you are1 the ,son of man is not come to destroy men's lives1 but to save them4 ,with this scripture ,mr4 ,cotton joins the fourth1 and answers both in one1 which is this1 #b ,tim4 ii4 #bd1 ,the servant of the ,lord must not strive1 but must be gentle toward all men1 suffering the evil men1 instructing them with meekness that are contrary-minded and oppose themselves2 proving if ,god peradventure will give them repentance that they may acknowledge the truth1 and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil1 who are taken captive by him at his will4 ,sidenote3 ,an excellent saying of persecutors themselves4 ,unto both these scriptures it pleased him thus to answer3 8,both these are directions to ministers of the gospel how to deal1 not with obstinate offenders in the church who sin against conscience1 but either with men without1 as the ,samaritans were1 and many unconverted ,christians in ,crete1 whom ,titus1 as an evangelist1 was to seek to convert3 or at best with some ,jews or ,gentiles in the church1 who1 though carnal1 yet were not convinced of the error of their way4 ,and it is true1 it became not the spirit of the gospel to convert aliens to the faith1 such as the ,samaritans were1 by fire and brimstone1 nor to deal harshly in public ministry1 or private conference1 with all such several minded men1 as either had not yet entered into church fellowship1 or if they had1 did hitherto sin of ignorance1 not against conscience4 ,but neither of both these texts do hinder the minister of the gospel to proceed in a church way against church members1 when they become scandalous offenders1 either in life or doctrine1 much less do they speak at all to the civil magistrate40#acc ,,chap4 ,,xxxvii4 ,truth4 ,this perplexed and ravelled answer1 wherein so many things and so doubtful are wrapt up and entangled together1 ,i shall take in pieces4 ,sidenote3 ,the answerer when he should speak to toleration in the state1 runs to punishments in the church1 which none can deny4 ,first1 concerning that of the ,lord ,jesus rebuking his disciples for their rash and ignorant bloody zeal 7,luke ix471 desiring corporal destruction upon the ,samaritans for refusing the ,lord ,jesus1 c41 the answerer affirmeth1 that hindereth not the ministers of the gospel to proceed in a church way against scandalous offenders2 which is not here questioned1 but maintained to be the holy will of the ,lord1 and a sufficient censure and punishment1 if no civil offence against the civil state be committed4 ,secondly1 saith he1 8,much less doth this speak at all to the civil magistrate40 ,where ,i observe1 that he implies that beside the censure of the ,lord ,jesus1 in the hands of his spiritual governors1 for any spiritual evil in life or doctrine1 the civil magistrate is also to inflict corporal punishment upon the contrary-minded3#acd whereas1 ,sidenote3 ,if the civil magistrate be a ,christian1 he is bound to be like ,christ in saving1 not destroying men's bodies4 ,first1 if the civil magistrate be a ,christian1 a disciple1 or follower of the meek ,lamb of ,god1 he is bound to be far from destroying the bodies of men for refusing to receive the ,lord ,jesus ,christ3 for otherwise he should not know1 according to this speech of the ,lord ,jesus1 what spirit he was of1 yea1 and to be ignorant of the sweet end of the coming of the ,son of man1 which was not to destroy the bodies of men1 but to save both bodies and souls1 vers4 #ee1 #ef4 ,sidenote3 ,the civil magistrate bound not to inflict1 nor to suffer any other to inflict1 violence1 stripes1 or any other corporal punishment1 for evil against ,christ4 ,secondly1 if the civil magistrate being a ,christian1 gifted1 prophesy in the church1 #a ,cor4 xiv4 #a--;although the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 whom they in their own persons hold forth1 shall be refused--yet they are here forbidden to call for fire from heaven1 that is1 to procure or inflict any corporal judgment1 upon such offenders1 remembering the end of the ,lord ,jesus' coming was not to destroy men's lives1 but to save them4 ,lastly1 this also concerns the conscience of the civil magistrate4 ,as he is bound to preserve the civil peace and quiet of the place and people under him1 he is bound to suffer no man to break the civil peace1 by laying hands of violence upon any1 though as vile as the ,samaritans1 for not receiving of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,sidenote3 ,rev4 xiii4 #ac4 ,fire from heaven4 ,what the fire from heaven is which the false prophet bringeth down4 ,it is indeed the ignorance and blind zeal of the second beast1 the false prophet1 ,rev4 xiii4 #ac1 to persuade the civil powers of the earth to persecute the saints1 that is1 to bring fiery judgments upon men in a judicial way1 and to pronounce that such judgments of imprisonment1 banishment1 death1 proceed from ,god's righteous vengeance upon such heretics4 ,so dealt divers bishops in ,france1 and ,england too in ,queen ,mary's days1 with the saints of ,god at their putting to death1 declaiming against them in their sermons to the people1 and proclaiming that these persecutions1 even unto death1 were ,god's just judgments from heaven upon these heretics4 ,,chap4 ,,xxxviii4 ,sidenote3 #b ,tim4 ii4 #be1 #bf1 examined4 ,peace4 ,doubtless such fiery spirits1 as the ,lord ,jesus said1 are not of ,god4 ,i pray1 speak to the second place out of ,timothy1 #b ,epist4 ii4 #be1 #bf4 ,truth4 ,i acknowledge this instruction1 to be meek and patient1 c41 is properly an instruction to the ministers of the gospel4 ,yet divers arguments from hence will truly and fairly be collected1 to manifest and evince how far the civil magistrate ought to be from dealing with the civil sword in spiritual cases4 ,and first1 by the way ,i desire to ask1 what were these unconverted ,christians in ,crete1 which the answerer compareth with the ,samaritans1 whom ,titus1 saith he1 as an evangelist1 was to seek to convert2 and whether the ,lord ,jesus have any such disciples and followers1 who yet are visibly in an unconverted state8 ,oh6 that it may please the ,father of mercies1 the ,father of lights1 to awaken and open the eyes of all that fear before him1 that they may see whether this be the language of ,canaan1 or the language of ,ashdod4 ,sidenote3 ,a qure what the answerer means by his unconverted ,christian in ,crete4 ,what is an unconverted ,christian1 but in truth an unconverted convert8 that is in ,english1 one unturned turned2 unholy holy2 disciples1 or followers of ,jesus1 not following of him3 in a word1 that is1 ,christians1 or anointed by ,christ1 anti-christians1 not anointed with the ,spirit of ,jesus ,christ4#ace ,sidenote3 ,the original of ,christians4 ,certain it is1 such they were not unto whom the ,spirit of ,god gives that name1 ,acts ii4 #bf4 ,and1 indeed1 whither can this tend but to uphold the blasphemy of so many as say they are ,jews1 that is1 ,christians1 but are not8 ,rev4 ii4 #b4 ,but as they are not ,christians from ,christ1 but from the beast and his picture1 so their proper name from anti-christ1 is anti-christians4#acf ,sidenote3 ,the answerer yet in the unconverted churches and worships4 ,how sad yet and how true an evidence is this1 that the soul of the answerer 7,i speak not of his outward soul and person1 but of his worship71 hath never yet heard the call of the ,lord ,jesus to come out from those unconverted churches1 from that unconverted1 anti-christian ,christian world1 and so from anti-christ1 ,belial1 to seek fellowship with ,christ ,jesus and his converted ,christians1 disciples after the first pattern4 ,sidenote3 ,god's people sleepy in the matters of ,christ's kingdom1 ,cant4 v4 #b4 ,again1 ,i observe the haste and light attention of the answerer to these scriptures1 as commonly the spirits of ,god's children in matters of ,christ's kingdom are very sleepy3 for these persons here spoken of were not1 as he speaks1 unconverted ,christians in ,crete1 whom ,titus as an evangelist was to convert1 but they were such opposites as ,timothy1 to whom ,paul writes this letter at ,ephesus1 should not meet withal4 ,,chap4 ,,xxxix4 ,peace4 ,but what is there in this scripture of ,timothy alleged concerning the civil magistracy8 ,truth4 ,i argue from this place of ,timothy in particular1 thus3-- ,sidenote3 #a ,cor4 xiv4 ,patience and meekness required in all that open ,christ's mysteries4 ,first4 ,if the civil magistrates be ,christians1 or members of the church1 able to prophesy in the church of ,christ1 then1 ,i say as before1 they are bound by this command of ,christ to suffer opposition to their doctrine1 with meekness and gentleness1 and to be so far from striving to subdue their opposites with the civil sword1 that they are bound with patience and meekness to wait1 if ,god peradventure will please to grant repentance unto their opposites4 ,so also it pleaseth the answerer to acknowledge in these words3-- 8,it becomes not the spirit of the gospel to convert aliens to the faith 7such as the ,samaritans1 and the unconverted ,christians in ,crete7 with fire and brimstone40 ,sidenote3 ,the civil sword may make a nation of hypocrites and anti-christians1 but not one ,christian4 ,secondly4 ,be they oppositions within1 and church members1 as the answerer speaks1 become scandalous in doctrine1 7,i speak not of scandals against the civil state1 which the civil magistrate ought to punish71 it is the ,lord only1 as this scripture to ,timothy implies1 who is able to give them repentance1 and recover them out of ,satan's snare4 ,to which end also1 he hath appointed those holy and dreadful censures in his church or kingdom4 ,true it is1 the sword may make1 as once the ,lord complained1 ,isa4 x41 a whole nation of hypocrites2 but to recover a soul from ,satan by repentance1 and to bring them from anti-christian doctrine or worship to the doctrine or worship ,christian in the least true internal or external submission1 that only works the all-powerful ,god1 by the sword of his ,spirit in the hand of his spiritual officers4#acg ,sidenote3 ,wonderful changes of religion in ,england4 ,england's changes in point of religion4 ,what a most woeful proof hereof have the nations of the earth given in all ages8 ,and to seek no further than our native soil1 within a few scores of years1 how many wonderful changes in religion hath the whole kingdom made1 according to the change of the governors thereof1 in the several religions which they themselves embraced6 ,henry the ,seventh finds and leaves the kingdom absolutely popish4 ,henry the ,eighth casts it into a mould half popish1 half protestant4 ,edward the ,sixth brings forth an edition all protestant4 ,queen ,mary within few years defaceth ,edward's work1 and renders the kingdom1 after her grandfather ,henry the ,seventh's pattern1 all popish4 ,mary's short life and religion end together2 and ,elizabeth reviveth her brother ,edward's model1 all protestant4 ,and some eminent witnesses of ,god's truth against anti-christ have inclined to believe1 that before the downfall of that beast1 ,england must once again bow down her fair neck to his proud usurping yoke and foot4 ,peace4 ,it hath been ,england's sinful shame1 to fashion and change their garments and religions with wondrous ease and lightness1 as a higher power1 a stronger sword hath prevailed2 after the ancient pattern of ,nebuchadnezzar's bowing the whole world in one most solemn uniformity of worship to his golden image1 ,dan4 iii4#ach ,,chap4 ,,xl4 ,but it hath been thought1 or said1 ,shall oppositions against the truth escape unpunished8 will they not prove mischievous8 c4 ,sidenote3 ,the misery of opposites against the truth4 ,truth4 ,i answer1 as before1 concerning the blind guides1 in case there be no civil offence committed1 the magistrates1 and all men that by the mercy of ,god to themselves discern the misery of such opposites1 have cause to lament and bewail that fearful condition wherein such are entangled3 to wit1 in the snares and chains of ,satan1 with which they are so invincibly caught and held1 that no power in heaven or earth but the right hand of the ,lord1 in the meek and gentle dispensing of the word of truth1 can release and quit them4 ,sidenote3 ,a difference between the true and false ,christ and ,christians4 ,those many false ,christs1 of whom the ,lord ,jesus forewarns1 ,matt4 xxiv4 #e1 #aa1 have suitably their false bodies1 faith1 spirit1 baptism1 as the ,lord ,jesus hath his true body1 faith1 spirit1 c41 ,ephes4 iv4 #e2 correspondent also are their weapons1 and the success1 issue1 or operation of them4 ,a carnal weapon or sword of steel may produce a carnal repentance1 a show1 an outside1 a uniformity1 through a state or kingdom2 but it hath pleased the ,father to exalt the ,lord ,jesus only to be a ,prince1 armed with power and means sufficient to give repentance to ,israel1 ,acts v4 #ca4 ,sidenote3 ,the worship of unbelieving1 unregenerate persons4 ,accordingly1 an unbelieving soul being dead in sin1 although he be changed from one worship to another1 like a dead man shifted into several changes of apparel1 cannot please ,god1 ,heb4 xi4 #f4 ,and consequently1 whatever such an unbelieving and unregenerate person acts in worship or religion1 it is but sin1 ,rom4 xiv4 #bc4 ,preaching is sin1 praying1 though without beads or book1 sin2 breaking of bread1 or ,lord's supper1 sin2 yea1 as odious as the oblation of swine's blood1 a dog's neck1 or killing of a man1 ,isa4 lxvi4 #c4 ,but faith is that gift which proceeds alone from the ,father of lights1 ,phil4 i4 #bi1 and till he please to make his light arise and open the eyes of blind sinners1 their souls shall lie fast asleep--and the faster1 in that a sword of steel compels them to a worship in hypocrisy--in the dungeons of spiritual darkness and ,satan's slavery4 ,sidenote3 ,the danger and mischief of a civil sword in soul matters1 which makes the civil magistrates deeply guilty of all those evils which he aims to suppress4 ,that cannot be a true religion which needs carnal weapons to uphold it4 ,persecutors beget a persuasion of their cruelty in the hearts of the persecuted4 ,antoninus ,pius's golden act4 ,peace4 ,i add1 that a civil sword1 as woeful experience in all ages hath proved1 is so far from bringing1 or helping forward an opposite in religion to repentance1 that magistrates sin grievously against the work of ,god1 and blood of souls1 by such proceedings4 ,because as commonly the sufferings of false and anti-christian teachers harden their followers1 who being blind are by this means occasioned to tumble into the ditch of hell after their blind leaders1 with more inflamed zeal of lying confidence3 so1 secondly1 violence and a sword of steel1 beget such an impression in the sufferers1 that certainly they conclude1 that indeed that religion cannot be true which needs such instruments of violence to uphold it2 so that persecutors are far from a soft and gentle commiseration of the blindness of others4#aci ,to this purpose it pleased the ,father of spirits1 of old1 to constrain the emperor of ,rome1 ,antoninus ,pius1 to write to all the governors of his provinces to forbear to persecute the ,christians2 because such dealing must needs be so far from converting the ,christians from their way1 that it rather begat in their minds an opinion of their cruelties1 c4#adj ,,chap4 ,,xli4 ,sidenote3 ,isa4 ii4 #d2 ,mic4 iv4 #c2 ,isa4 xi4 #i2 concerning ,christ's peaceable kingdom1 discussed4 ,peace4 ,the next scripture against such persecution1 is that of the prophet ,isa4 ii4 #d1 together with ,mic4 iv4 #c1 ,they shall beat their swords into ploughshares1 and their spears into pruning-hooks4 ,isa4 xi4 #i1 ,there shall none hurt or destroy in all the mountain of my holiness4 ,sidenote3 ,mr4 ,cotton's excellent interpretation of those prophecies4 ,unto which it pleased ,mr4 ,cotton to say1 8,that these predictions do only show1 first1 with what kind of weapons he should subdue the nations to the obedience of the faith of the gospel1 not by fire and sword1 and weapons of war1 but by the power of the word and ,spirit of ,god1 which10 saith he1 8no man doubts of40 8,secondly1 those predictions of the prophets show what the meek and peaceable temper will be of all true converts to ,christianity2 not lions nor leopards1 not cruel oppressors nor malignant opposers1 nor biters one of another3 but do not forbid them to drive ravenous wolves from the sheepfold1 and to restrain them from devouring the sheep of ,christ40 ,sidenote3 ,his doctrine and practice condemned by that interpretation4 ,truth4 ,in this first excellent and truly ,christian answer1 methinks the answerer may hear a voice from heaven1 ,out of thine own mouth will ,i judge thee4 ,for what can be said more heavenly1 by the tongues of men and angels1 to show the heavenly1 meek temper of all the soldiers of the ,lamb of ,god1 as also to set forth what are the spiritual weapons and ammunition of the holy war and battle of the gospel and kingdom of ,jesus ,christ1 for the subduing of the nations of the world unto him8 ,peace4 ,and yet out of the same mouth1 which should not be1 saith ,james1 proceeds good and evil1 sweet and sour2 for he adds1 8,but this doth not forbid them to drive ravenous wolves from the sheepfold1 and to restrain them from devouring the sheep of ,christ40 ,sidenote3 ,spiritual and mystical wolves4 ,truth4 ,in these words1 according to the judgment here maintained by him1 he fights against the former truth1 to wit1 that by spiritual weapons ,christ ,jesus will subdue the nations of the earth to the obedience of the gospel3 for by driving away these wolves1 he intends not only the resistance and violence which the shepherds of ,christ ought spiritually to make1 but the civil resistance of the material swords1 staves1 guns1 c4 ,whence ,i argue1 that same power that forceth the evil1 or wolves1 out1 forceth the good1 the sheep1 in2 for of the same or like things is the same or like reason3 as the same arm of flesh that with a staff beats off a wolf1 with a rod and hook brings in the sheep3 the same dog that assaulteth and teareth the wolf1 frighteth and forceth in the straggling sheep4#ada ,,chap4 ,,xlii4 ,sidenote3 ,acts xx4 #bi1 opened4 ,peace4 ,but for the clearer opening of this mystery1 ,i pray explicate that scripture where the ,spirit of ,god is pleased to use this similitude of wolves1 ,acts xx4 #bi1 out of which1 keeping to the allegory1 ,i shall propose these queries4 ,first1 what wolves were these ,paul warns of8 ,truth4 ,answer4 ,wolves literally he will not say4 ,nor1 secondly1 persecutors of the flock1 such as the ,roman emperors were1 or magistrates under him4 ,sidenote3 ,what those wolves were1 ,acts xx4 #bi4 ,therefore1 thirdly1 such as brought in other religions and worships1 as the ,spirit of ,god opens it1 ver4 #cj4 ,such as amongst themselves should speak perverse things1 as many anti-christs did1 and especially the anti-christ4 ,and ,i ask1 whether or no such as may hold forth other worships or religions1 ,jews1 ,turks1 or anti-christians1 may not be peaceable and quiet subjects1 loving and helpful neighbours1 fair and just dealers1 true and loyal to the civil government8 ,it is clear they may1 from all reason and experience in many flourishing cities and kingdoms of the world1 and so offend not against the civil state and peace1 nor incur the punishment of the civil sword1 notwithstanding that in spiritual and mystical account they are ravenous and greedy wolves4#adb ,peace4 #b4 ,i query1 to whom ,paul gave this charge to watch against them1 ver4 #ca8 ,truth4 ,they were not the magistrates of the city of ,ephesus1 but the elders or ministers of the church of ,christ1 his mystical flock of sheep1 at ,ephesus4 ,unto them was this charge of watching given1 and so consequently of driving away these wolves4 ,sidenote3 ,charges directed to ministers of the spiritual kingdom1 falsely applied to the magistrates of the civil4 ,and1 however that many of these charges and exhortations1 given by that one ,shepherd1 ,christ ,jesus1 to the shepherds or ministers of churches1 be commonly attributed and directed1 by the answerer in this discourse1 to the civil magistrate2 yet ,i desire1 in the fear and holy presence of ,god1 it may be inquired into1 whether in all the will or testament of ,christ there be any such word of ,christ1 by way of command1 promise1 or example1 countenancing the governors of the civil state to meddle with these wolves1 if in civil things peaceable and obedient4 ,sidenote3 ,no word of ,christ to the civil magistrate to feed his flock1 but to his ministers2 who 7if true7 have spiritual power sufficient against spiritual wolves4 ,peace4 ,truly1 if this charge were given to the magistrates at ,ephesus1 or any magistrates in the world1 doubtless they must be able to discern and determine1 out of their own official abilities in these spiritual law questions1 who are spiritual sheep1 what is their food1 what their poison1 what their properties1 who their keepers1 c4 ,so1 on the contrary1 who are wolves1 what their properties1 their haunts1 their assaults1 the manner of taking1 c41 spiritually3--and this beside the care and study of the civil laws1 and the discerning of his own proper civil sheep1 obedient sheep1 c43 as also wolfish oppressors1 c41 whom he is bound to punish and suppress4 ,sidenote3 ,magistrates decline the name of head of the church1 and yet practise the headship or government4 ,truth4 ,i know that civil magistrates1 in some places1 have declined the name of head of the church1 and ecclesiastical judge2 yet can they not with good conscience decline the name if they do the work1 and perform the office of determining and punishing a merely spiritual wolf4 ,they must be sufficiently also able to judge in all spiritual causes1 and that with their own1 and not with other men's eyes1 no more than they do in civil causes1 contrary to the common practice of the governors and rulers of civil states1 who often set up that for a religion or worship to ,god1 which the clergy1 or churchmen1 as men speak1 shall in their consciences agree upon4 ,and if this be not so1 to wit1 that magistrates must not be spiritual judges1 as some decline it in the title supreme head and governor1 why is ,gallio wont to be exclaimed against for refusing to be a judge in such matters as concerned the ,jewish worship and religion8 ,how is he censured for a profane person1 without conscience1 c41 in that he would be no judge or head8 for that is all one in point of government4#adc ,sidenote3 ,the elect shall not be devoured4 ,peace4 ,in the third place1 ,i query1 whether the ,father who gave1 and the ,son who keeps the sheep1 be not greater than all8 ,who can pluck these sheep1 the elect1 out of his hand8 which answers that common objection of that danger of devouring1 although there were no other weapons in the world appointed by the ,lord ,jesus4 ,but1 ,,chap4 ,,xliii4 ,sidenote3 ,christ ,jesus furnisheth his shepherds with power sufficient to drive away wolves4 ,tit4 i4 #i4 #aj1 opened4 ,fourthly1 ,i ask1 were not these elders or ministers of the church of ,ephesus sufficiently furnished1 from the ,lord ,jesus1 to drive away these mystical and spiritual wolves8#add ,truth4 ,true it is1 against the inhuman and uncivil violence of persecutors1 they were not1 nor are ,god's children1 able and provided2 but to resist1 drive away1 expel1 and kill spiritual and mystical wolves by the word of the ,lord1 none are fit to be ,christ's shepherds who are not able1 ,tit4 i4 #i-aa4 ,the bishop1 or overseer1 must be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers3 which gainsayers to be by him convinced1 that is1 overcome or subdued1 though it may be in themselves ever obstinate1 they were1 ,i say1 as greedy wolves in ,crete1 as any could be at ,ephesus4 ,for so saith ,paul1 ver4 #aj3 they were unruly and vain talkers1 deceivers1 whose mouths must be stopped1 who subverted whole houses2 and yet ,titus1 and every ordinary shepherd of a flock of ,christ1 had ability sufficient to defend the flock from spiritual and mystical wolves1 without the help of the civil magistrate4 ,sidenote3 ,job xxvi4 #b1 #c4 ,peace4 ,in this respect1 therefore1 methinks we may fitly allude to that excellent answer of ,job to ,bildad1 the ,shuhite1 ,job xxvi41 ,how hast thou helped him that is without power8 ,how savest thou the arm that hath no strength8 ,how hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom8 ,how hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is8 ,sidenote3 #e4 ,lastly1 ,i ask1 whether1 as men deal with wolves1 these wolves at ,ephesus were intended by ,paul to be killed1 their brains dashed out with stones1 staves1 halberts1 guns1 c41 in the hands of the elders of ,ephesus1 c48#ade ,truth4 ,doubtless1 comparing spiritual things with spiritual1 all such mystical wolves must spiritually and mystically so be slain4 ,and the witnesses of truth1 ,rev4 xi4 #e1 speak fire1 and kill all that hurt them1 by that fiery word of ,god1 and that two-edged sword in their hand1 ,ps4 cxlix4 #f4 ,sidenote3 ,unmerciful and bloody doctrine4 ,john vi4 #ae4 ,but oh6 what streams of the blood of saints have been and must be shed1 until the ,lamb have obtained the victory1 ,rev4 xvii4 #ad1 by this unmerciful--and in the state of the ,new ,testament1 when the church is spread all the world over--most bloody doctrine1 viz41 the wolves 7heretics7 are to be driven away1 their brains knocked out1 and killed--the poor sheep to be preserved1 for whom ,christ died1 c4 ,is not this to take ,christ ,jesus1 and make him a temporal king by force8 ,john vi4 #ae4 ,is not this to make his kingdom of this world1 to set up a civil and temporal ,israel1 to bound out new earthly1 holy lands of ,canaan1 yea1 and to set up a ,spanish inquisition in all parts of the world1 to the speedy destruction of thousands1 yea1 of millions of souls1 and the frustrating of the sweet end of the coming of the ,lord ,jesus1 to wit1 to save men's souls 7and to that end not to destroy their bodies7 by his own blood8#adf ,,chap4 ,,xliv4 ,sidenote3 #b ,cor4 x4 #d1 discussed4 ,peace4 ,the next scripture produced against such persecution is #b ,cor4 x4 #d1 ,the weapons of our warfare are not carnal1 but mighty through ,god to the pulling down of strongholds2 casting down imaginations1 and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of ,god1 and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of ,christ2 and having in a readiness to avenge all disobedience1 c4 ,unto which it is answered1 8,when ,paul saith1 ,the weapons of our warfare are not carnal1 but spiritual1 he denieth not civil weapons of justice to the civil magistrate1 ,rom4 xiii41 but only to church officers4 ,and yet the weapons of church officers he acknowledgeth to be such1 as though they be spiritual1 yet are ready to take vengeance on all disobedience1 #b ,cor4 x4 #f3 which hath reference1 amongst other ordinances1 to the censures of the church against scandalous offenders40 ,truth4 ,i acknowledge that herein the ,spirit of ,god denieth not civil weapons of justice to the civil magistrate1 which the scripture he quotes1 ,rom4 xiii41 abundantly testifies4 ,yet withal1 ,i must ask1 why he here affirmeth the apostle denies not civil weapons of justice to the civil magistrate8 of which there is no question1 unless that1 according to his scope of proving persecution for conscience1 he intends withal that the apostle denies not civil weapons of justice to the civil magistrate in spiritual and religious causes3 the contrary whereunto1 the ,lord assisting1 ,i shall evince1 both from this very scripture and his own observation1 and lastly by that thirteenth of the ,romans1 by himself quoted4 ,first1 then1 from this scripture and his own observation4 ,the weapons of church officers1 saith he1 are such1 which though they be spiritual1 are ready to take vengeance on all disobedience2 which hath reference1 saith he1 amongst other ordinances1 to the censures of the church against scandalous offenders4 ,sidenote3 ,the difference of the civil and spiritual estate4 ,civil weapons most improper in spiritual causes3 fitly exemplified by that similitude1 #b ,cor4 x4 #d4 ,i hence observe1 that there being in this scripture held forth a twofold state1 a civil state and a spiritual1 civil officers and spiritual1 civil weapons and spiritual weapons1 civil vengeance and punishment and a spiritual vengeance and punishment3 although the ,spirit speaks not here expressly of civil magistrates and their civil weapons1 yet1 these states being of different natures and considerations1 as far differing as spirit from flesh1 ,i first observe1 that civil weapons are most improper and unfitting in matters of the spiritual state and kingdom1 though in the civil state most proper and suitable4#adg ,,chap4 ,,xlv4 ,for--to keep to the similitude which the ,spirit useth1 for instance--to batter down a stronghold1 high wall1 fort1 tower1 or castle1 men bring not a first and second admonition1 and1 after obstinacy1 excommunication1 which are spiritual weapons1 concerning them that be in the church3 nor exhortations to repent and be baptized1 to believe in the ,lord ,jesus1 c41 which are proper weapons to them that be without1 c42 but to take a stronghold1 men bring cannons1 culverins1 saker1#adh bullets1 powder1 muskets1 swords1 pikes1 c41 and these to this end are weapons effectual and proportionable4#adi ,sidenote3 ,spiritual weapons only effectual in spiritual and soul causes4 ,on the other side1 to batter down idolatry1 false worship1 heresy1 schism1 blindness1 hardness1 out of the soul and spirit1 it is vain1 improper1 and unsuitable to bring those weapons which are used by persecutors1 stocks1 whips1 prisons1 swords1 gibbets1 stakes1 c41 7where these seem to prevail with some cities or kingdoms1 a stronger force sets up again1 what a weaker pulled down72 but against these spiritual strongholds in the souls of men1 spiritual artillery and weapons are proper1 which are mighty through ,god to subdue and bring under the very thought to obedience1 or else to bind fast the soul with chains of darkness1 and lock it up in the prison of unbelief and hardness to eternity4 ,sidenote3 ,civil weapons not only improper1 but unnecessary in spiritual causes4 #b4 ,i observe that as civil weapons are improper in this business1 and never able to effect aught in the soul3 so although they were proper1 yet they are unnecessary2 for if1 as the ,spirit here saith1 and the answerer grants1 spiritual weapons in the hand of church officers are able and ready to take vengeance on all disobedience1 that is1 able and mighty1 sufficient and ready for the ,lord's work1 either to save the soul1 or to kill the soul of whomsoever be the party or parties opposite2 in which respect ,i may again remember that speech of ,job1 ,how hast thou helped him that hath no power8 ,job xxvi4 #b4 ,sidenote3 ,no earthly kings or governors will be so served1 as we pretend to serve the ,king of kings4 ,peace4 ,offer this1 as ,malachi once spake1 to the governors1 the kings of the earth1 when they besiege1 beleaguer1 and assault great cities1 castles1 forts1 c41 should any subject pretending his service bring store of pins1 sticks1 straws1 bulrushes1 to beat and batter down stone walls1 mighty bulwarks1 what might his expectation and reward be1 but at least the censure of a man distract1 beside himself8 c4 ,sidenote3 ,ps4 xlv4 #d4 ,the white troopers4 ,truth4 ,what shall we then conceive of ,his displeasure1 who is the ,chief or ,prince of the kings of the earth1 and rides upon the word of truth and meekness1 which is the white horse1 ,rev4 vi4 and ,rev4 xix41 with his holy witnesses1 the white troopers upon white horses1 when to his help and aid men bring and add such unnecessary1 improper1 and weak munition8 ,sidenote3 ,spiritual ammunition1 ,eph4 vi4 #f1 applied2 material and spiritual artillery unfitly joined together4 ,an alarm to civil or earthly rulers4 ,will the ,lord ,jesus 7did ,he ever in his own person practise1 or did he appoint to7 join to his breastplate of righteousness1 the breastplate of iron and steel8 to the helmet of righteousness and salvation in ,christ1 a helmet and crest of iron1 brass1 or steel8 a target of wood to ,his shield of faith8 to ,his two-edged sword1 coming forth of the mouth of ,jesus1 the material sword1 the work of smiths and cutlers8 or a girdle of shoe-leather to the girdle of truth8 c4 ,excellently fit and proper is that alarm and item1 ,ps4 ii4 #aj1 ,be wise1 therefore1 ,o ye kings--especially those ten horns1 ,rev4 xvii41 who1 under pretence of fighting for ,christ ,jesus1 give their power to the beast against ,him--and be warned1 ye judges of the earth3 kiss the ,son1 that is1 with subjection and affection1 acknowledge ,him only the ,king and ,judge of souls1 in that power bequeathed to ,his ministers and churches1 lest his wrath be kindled1 yea1 but a little2 then1 blessed are they that trust in ,him4 ,,chap4 ,,xlvi4 ,sidenote3 ,concerning the civil ruler's power in spiritual causes discussed4 ,peace4 ,now1 in the second place1 concerning that scripture1 ,rom4 xiii41 which it pleased the answerer to quote1 and himself1 and so many excellent servants of ,god have insisted upon to prove such persecution for conscience3--how have both he and they wrested this scripture1 not as ,peter writes of the wicked1 to their eternal1 yet to their own and other's temporal destruction1 by civil wars and combustions in the world8 ,my humble request1 therefore1 is to the ,father of lights1 to send out the bright beams of the ,sun of righteousness1 and to scatter the mist which that old serpent1 the great juggler1 ,satan1 hath raised about this holy scripture1 and my request to you1 divine ,truth1 is for your care and pains to enlighten and clear this scripture4 ,sidenote3 ,rom4 xiii4 speaks not at all of spiritual but civil affairs4 ,truth4 ,first1 then1 upon the serious examination of this whole scripture1 it will appear1 that from the #ith verse of the #abth chapter to the end of this whole #acth chapter1 the ,spirit handles the duties of the saints in the careful observation of the second table in their civil conversation1 or walking towards men1 and speaks not at all of any point or matter of the first table concerning the kingdom of the ,lord ,jesus4#aej ,for1 having in the whole epistle handled that great point of free justification by the free grace of ,god in ,christ1 in the beginning of the #abth chapter he exhorts the believers to give and dedicate themselves unto the ,lord1 both in soul and body2 and unto the #ith verse of the #abth chapter he expressly mentioneth their conversation in the kingdom1 or body1 of ,christ ,jesus1 together with the several officers thereof4 ,sidenote3 ,the scope of ,rom4 xiii4 ,and from the #ith verse to the end of the #acth chapter1 he plainly discourseth of their civil conversation and walking one toward another1 and with all men1 from whence he hath fair occasion to speak largely concerning their subjection to magistrates in the #acth chapter4 ,sidenote3 ,love to man the duty of the whole second table4 ,hence it is1 that at ver4 #g of this #acth chapter1 ,paul exhorts to performance of love to all men1 magistrates and subjects1 vers4 #g1 #h1 ,render1 therefore1 to all their dues2 tribute to whom tribute is due2 custom to whom custom2 fear to whom fear2 honour to whom honour4 ,owe nothing to any man1 but to love one another3 for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law4 ,sidenote3 ,how love fulfilleth the law4 ,if any man doubt1 as the papists speak1 whether a man may perfectly fulfil the law1 every man of sound judgment is ready to answer him1 that these words1 ,he that loveth hath fulfilled the law1 concerneth not the whole law in the first table1 that is1 the worship and kingdom of ,god in ,christ4 ,secondly1 ,that the apostle speaks not here of perfect observation of the second table1 without failing in word or act toward men1 but lays open the sum and substance of the law1 which is love2 and that he that walks by the rule of love toward all men1 magistrates and subjects1 he hath rightly attained unto what the law aims at1 and so in evangelical obedience fulfils and keeps the law4 ,hence1 therefore1 again in the #ith verse1 having discoursed of the fifth command in this point of superiors1 he makes all the rest of the commandments of the second table1 which concern our walking with man1--viz41 ,thou shalt not kill2 thou shalt not commit adultery2 thou shalt not steal2 thou shalt not bear false witness2 thou shalt not covet3 and if there be any other commandment--to be briefly comprehended in this saying1 namely1 thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself4 ,and verse #aj1 ,love worketh no ill to his neighbour1 therefore1 love is the fulfilling of the law1 that is1 as before1 the law concerning our civil conversation toward all men1 magistrates or governors1 and fellow subjects of all conditions4 ,,chap4 ,,xlvii4 ,sidenote3 ,rom4 xiii4 so interpreted even by them that held persecution for conscience4 ,peace4 ,although the scripture is sufficient to make the man of ,god perfect1 and the fool wise to salvation1 and our faith in ,god must be only founded upon the rock ,christ1 and not upon the sand of men's judgments and opinions3 yet1 as ,paul allegeth the judgment and sayings of unbelievers for their conviction1 out of their own tenents and grants1 8,so ,i pray you to set down the words of one or two1 not unbelievers in their persons1 but excellent and precious servants and witnesses of ,god in their times1 whose names are sweet and precious to all that fear ,god1--who1 although their judgment ran in the common stream1 viz41 #8,that magistrates were keepers of the two tables1 defenders of the faith against heretics1' and1 notwithstanding whatever they have written for defence of their judgments1 yet the light of truth so evidently shined upon their souls in this scripture1 that they absolutely denied the #acth of the ,romans to concern any matter of the first table40 ,sidenote3 ,calvin's judgment of ,rom4 xiii4 ,truth4 ,first1 ,i shall produce that excellent servant of ,god1 ,calvin1 who1 upon this #acth to the ,romans1 writes1#aea ,tota autem hc disputatio est de civilibus prfecturis2 itaque frustra inde sacrilegam suam tyrannidem stabilire moliuntur1 qui dominatum in conscientias exerceant3--8,but10 saith he1 8this whole discourse concerneth civil magistrates1 and1 therefore1 in vain do they who exercise power over consciences1 go about from this place to establish their sacrilegious tyranny40#aeb ,sidenote3 ,god's people loth to be found1 yet proved persecutors4 ,peace4 ,i know how far most men1 and especially the sheep of ,jesus1 will fly from the thought of exercising tyranny over conscience1 that happily they will disclaim the dealing of all with men's consciences3 yet1 if the acts and statutes which are made by them concerning the worship of ,god be attended to1 their profession--and that out of zeal according to the pattern of that ceremonial and figurative state of ,israel--to suffer no other religion nor worship in their territories1 but one--their profession and practice to defend their faith from reproach and blasphemy of heretics by civil weapons1 and all that from this very #acth of the ,romans--,i say1 if these particulars and others1 be with fear and trembling1 in the presence of the ,most ,high1 examined1 the wonderful deceit of their own hearts shall appear unto them1 and how guilty they will appear to be of wresting this scripture before the tribunal of the ,most ,high4 ,truth4 ,again1 ,calvin1 speaking concerning fulfilling of the law by love1 writes thus on the same place3 ,sed ,paulus in totam legem non respicit2 tantum de officiis loquitur1 qu nobis erga proximum demandantur a lege3--,that is1 8,paul hath not respect unto the whole law1 he speaks only of those duties which the law commands towards our neighbours40 ,and it is manifest1 that in this place by our neighbours he means high and low1 magistrates and subjects1 unto whom we ought to walk by the rule of love1 paying unto every one their due4 ,again1 ,cterum ,paulus hic tantum meminet secund tabul1 quia de ea tantum erat qustio3--8,but ,paul here only mentioneth the second table1 because the question was only concerning that40 ,sidenote3 ,calvin confesseth that the first table1 concerning ,god's worship1 is not here1 in ,rom4 xiii4 touched4 ,and again1 ,quod autem repetit1 complementum legis esse dilectionem1 intellige 7ut prius7 de ea legis parte1 quod hominum societatem spectat8 ,prior enim legis tabula qu est de cultu ,dei minime hic attingitur3--8,but in that he repeateth1 that love is the fulfilling of the law1 understand as before1 that he speaks of that part of the law which respects human society2 for the first table of the law1 which concerneth the worship of ,god1 is not in the least manner here touched40#aec ,sidenote3 ,beza upon ,rom4 xiii4 ,after ,calvin1 his successor in ,geneva1 that holy and learned ,beza1 upon the word 1 if there be any other commandment it is summed up in this1 thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself1 writes thus3#aed--,tota lex nihil aliud quam amorem ,dei et proximi prcipet2 sed tamen cum apostolus hoc loco de mutuis hominum officiis disserat1 legis vocabulum ad secundum tabulam restringendam puto4 8,the whole law10 saith he1 8commands nothing else but the love of ,god1 and yet1 nevertheless1 since the apostle in this place discourseth of the duties of men one toward another1 ,i think this term law ought to be restrained to the second table40#aee ,,chap4 ,,xlviii4 ,peace4 ,i pray now proceed to the second argument from this scripture1 against the use of civil weapons in matters of religions1 and spiritual worship4 ,truth4 ,the ,spirit of ,god here commands subjection and obedience to higher powers1 even to the ,roman emperors and all subordinate magistrates2 and yet the emperors and governors under them were strangers from the life of ,god in ,christ1 yea1 most averse and opposite1 yea1 cruel and bloody persecutors of the name and followers of ,jesus3 and yet unto these1 is this subjection and obedience commanded4 ,now true it is1 that as the civil magistrate is apt not to content himself with the majesty of an earthly throne1 crown1 sword1 sceptre1 but to seat himself in the throne of ,david in the church3 so ,god's people1 and it may be in ,paul's time1 considering their high and glorious preferment and privileges by ,jesus ,christ1 were apt to be much tempted to despise civil governors1 especially such as were ignorant of the ,son of ,god1 and persecuted him in his servants4 ,sidenote3 ,paul writes not to the ,roman governors to defend the truth1 and to punish heretics4 ,now then ,i argue1 if the apostle should have commanded this subjection unto the ,roman emperors and ,roman magistrates in spiritual causes1 as to defend the truth which they were no way able to discern1 but persecuted--and upon trust from others no magistrate1 not persuaded in his own conscience1 is to take it3-- ,or else to punish heretics1 whom then also they must discern and judge1 or else condemn them1 as the ,jews would have ,pilate condemn the ,lord ,jesus1 upon the sentence of others--,i say1 if ,paul should have1 in this scripture1 put this work upon these ,roman governors1 and commanded the churches of ,christ to have yielded subjection in any such matters1 he must1 in the judgment of all men1 have put out the eye of faith1 and reason1 and sense1 at once4#aef ,,chap4 ,,xlix4 ,sidenote3 ,paul's appeal to ,csar discussed4 ,peace4 ,it is said by some1 why then did ,paul himself1 ,acts xxv4 #aa1 appeal to ,csar1 unless that ,csar1 7though he was not1 yet7 he ought to have been a fit judge in such matters8 ,sidenote3 ,if ,paul had appealed to ,csar in spiritual things1 he had committed five evils4 ,truth4 ,i answer1 if ,paul1 in this appeal to ,csar1 had referred and submitted simply and properly the cause of ,christ1 his ministry and ministration1 to the ,roman emperor's tribunal1 knowing him to be an idolatrous stranger from the true ,god1 and a lion-like1 bloody persecutor of the ,lord ,jesus1 the ,lamb of ,god1--,i say1 let it be considered1 whether or no he had committed these five evils3-- ,the first1 against the dimmest light of reason1 in appealing to darkness to judge light1 to unrighteousness to judge righteousness1 to the spiritually blind to judge and end the controversy concerning heavenly colours4 ,secondly1 against the cause of religion1 which1 if condemned by every inferior idolater1 must needs be condemned by the ,csars themselves1 who1 ,nebuchadnezzar-like1 set up their state images or religions1 commanding the world's uniformity of worship to them4 ,thirdly1 against the holy state and calling of the ,christians themselves1 who1 by virtue of their subjection to ,christ1 even the least of them1 are in spiritual things above the highest potentates or emperors in the world who continue in enmity against1 or in an ignorant1 natural state without ,christ ,jesus4 ,this honour1 or high exaltation have all his holy ones1 to bind1 not literally but spiritually1 their kings in chains1 and their nobles in links of iron4 ,ps4 cxlix4 #h4 ,fourthly1 against his own calling1 apostleship1 or office of ministry1 unto which ,csar himself and all potentates1 in spiritual and soul-matters1 ought to have submitted2 and unto which1 in controversies of ,christ's church and kingdom1 ,csar himself ought to have appealed1 the church of ,god being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets4 ,eph4 ii4 #bj4 ,sidenote3 ,emperors themselves1 if ,christians1 subject to the apostles and churches in spiritual things4 ,and1 therefore1 in case that any of the ,roman governors1 or the emperor himself1 had been humbled and converted to ,christianity by the preaching of ,christ1 were not they themselves bound to subject themselves unto the power of the ,lord ,jesus in the hands of the apostles and churches1 and might not the apostles and churches have refused to have baptized1 or washed them into the profession of ,christ ,jesus1 upon the apprehension of their unworthiness8 ,or1 if received into ,christian fellowship1 were they not to stand at the bar of the ,lord ,jesus in the church1 concerning either their opinions or practices8 were they not to be cast out and delivered unto ,satan by the power of the ,lord ,jesus1 if1 after once and twice admonition1 they persist obstinately1 as faithfully and impartially as if they were the meanest in the empire8 ,yea1 although the apostles1 the churches1 the elders1 or governors thereof1 were poor and mean1 despised persons in civil respects1 and were themselves bound to yield all faithful and loyal obedience to such emperors and governors in civil things4 ,were they not1 if ,christians1 bound themselves to have submitted to those spiritual decrees of the apostles and elders1 as well as the lowest and meanest members of ,christ8 ,acts xvi4 ,and if so1 how should ,paul appeal in spiritual things to ,csar1 or write to the churches of ,jesus to submit to them in ,christian or spiritual matters8 ,fifthly1 if ,paul had appealed to ,csar in spiritual respects1 he had greatly profaned the holy name of ,god in holy things1 in so improper and vain a prostitution of spiritual things to carnal and natural judgments1 which are not able to comprehend spiritual matters1 which are alone spiritually discerned4 #a ,cor4 ii4 #ad4 ,sidenote3 ,lawful appeals in civil things to civil magistrates4 ,and yet ,csar1 as a civil1 supreme magistrate1 ought to defend ,paul from civil violence1 and slanderous accusations about sedition1 mutiny1 civil disobedience1 c4 ,and in that sense1 who doubts but ,god's people may appeal to the ,roman ,csar1 an ,egyptian ,pharaoh1 a ,philistian ,abimelech1 an ,assyrian ,nebuchadnezzar1 the great ,mogul1 ,prester ,john1 the great ,turk1 or an ,indian ,sachem8#aeg ,,chap4 ,l4 ,peace4 ,which is the third argument against the civil magistrates' power in spiritual and soul-matters out of this scripture1 ,rom4 xiii48 ,truth4 ,i dispute from the nature of the magistrates' weapons1 ver4 #d4 ,he hath a sword1 which he bears not in vain1 delivered to him1 as ,i acknowledge from ,god's appointment in the free consent and choice of the subjects for common good4 ,we must distinguish of swords4 ,sidenote3 ,four sorts of swords mentioned in the ,new ,testament4 ,we find four sorts of swords mentioned in the ,new ,testament4 ,first1 the sword of persecution1 which ,herod stretched forth against ,james1 ,acts xii4 #a1 #b4 ,secondly1 the sword of ,god's ,spirit1 expressly said to be the word of ,god1 ,ephes4 vi4 #ag4 ,a sword of two edges1 carried in the mouth of ,christ1 ,rev4 i4 #af1 which is of strong and mighty operation1 piercing between the bones and the marrow1 between the soul and the spirit1 ,heb4 iv4 #ab4 ,thirdly1 the great sword of war and destruction1 given to him that rides that terrible red horse of war1 so that he takes peace from the earth1 and men kill one another1 as is most lamentably true in the slaughter of so many hundred thousand souls within these few years in several parts of ,europe1 our own and others4 ,none of these three swords are intended in this scripture4 ,sidenote3 ,the civil sword4 ,therefore1 fourthly1 there is a civil sword1 called the sword of civil justice1 which being of a material1 civil nature1 for the defence of persons1 estates1 families1 liberties of a city or civil state1 and the suppressing of uncivil or injurious persons or actions1 by such civil punishment1 it cannot1 according to its utmost reach and capacity1 now under ,christ1 when all nations are merely civil1 without any such typical1 holy respect upon them1 as was upon ,israel1 a national church--,i say1 cannot extend to spiritual and soul-causes1 spiritual and soul-punishment1 which belongs to that spiritual sword with two edges1 the soul-piercing1--in soul-saving1 or soul-killing1--the word of ,god4#aeh ,,chap4 ,,li4 ,sidenote3 ,tribute1 custom1 c41 merely civil recompences for civil work4 ,truth4 ,a fourth argument from this scripture1 ,i take in the sixth verse1 from tribute1 custom1 c43 which is a merely civil reward1 or recompence1 for the magistrates' work4 ,now as the wages are1 such is the work2 but the wages are merely civil--custom1 tribute1 c43 not the contributions of the saints or churches of ,christ1 proper to the spiritual and ,christian state4 ,and such work only must the magistrate attend upon1 as may properly deserve such civil wages1 reward1 or recompence4 ,sidenote3 ,magistrates called by ,god1 ,god's ministers4 ,lastly1 that the ,spirit of ,god never intended to direct1 or warrant1 the magistrate to use his power in spiritual affairs and religious worship1 ,i argue from the term or title it pleaseth the wisdom of ,god to give such civil officers1 to wit1 ver4 #f1 ,god's ministers4 ,now at the very first blush1 no man denies a double ministry4 ,sidenote3 ,the spiritual ministry4 ,the one appointed by ,christ ,jesus in his church1 to gather1 to govern1 receive in1 cast out1 and order all the affairs of the church1 the house1 city1 or kingdom of ,god1 ,eph4 iv42 #a ,cor4 xii4 ,sidenote3 ,the civil ministry or service4 ,secondly1 a civil ministry1 or office1 merely human and civil1 which men agree to constitute1 called therefore a human creation1 #a ,pet4 ii4 #ac1 and is as true and lawful in those nations1 cities1 kingdoms1 c41 which never heard of the true ,god1 nor his holy ,son ,jesus1 as in any part of the world beside1 where the name of ,jesus is most taken up4 ,from all which premises1 viz41 that the scope of the ,spirit of ,god in this chapter is to handle the matters of the second table--having handled the matters of the first1 in the twelfth3--since the magistrates of whom ,paul wrote1 were natural1 ungodly1 persecuting1 and yet lawful magistrates1 and to be obeyed in all lawful civil things3 since all magistrates are ,god's ministers1 essentially civil1 bounded to a civil work1 with civil weapons1 or instruments1 and paid or rewarded with civil rewards3--from all which1 ,i say1 ,i undeniably collect1 that this scripture is generally mistaken1 and wrested from the scope of ,god's ,spirit1 and the nature of the place1 and cannot truly be alleged by any for the power of the civil magistrate to be exercised in spiritual and soul-matters4 ,,chap4 ,,lii4 ,sidenote3 ,what is to be understood by evil1 ,rom4 xiii4 #d4 ,peace4 ,against this ,i know many object1 out of the fourth verse of this chapter1 that the magistrate is to avenge1 or punish1 evil3 from whence is gathered that heresy1 false ,christs1 false churches1 false ministries1 false seals1 being evil1 ought to be punished civilly1 c4 ,truth4 ,i answer1 that the word is generally opposed to civil goodness1 or virtue1 in a commonwealth1 and not to spiritual good1 or religion1 in the church4 ,secondly1 ,i have proved from the scope of the place1 that here is not intended evil against the spiritual1 or ,christian estate handled in the twelfth chapter1 but evil against the civil state in this thirteenth1 properly falling under the cognizance of the civil minister of ,god1 the magistrate1 and punishable by that civil sword of his as an incivility1 disorder1 or breach of that civil order1 peace1 and civility1 unto which all the inhabitants of a city1 town1 or kingdom1 oblige themselves4 ,peace4 ,i have heard1 that the elders of the ,new ,england churches--who yet out of this thirteenth of ,romans maintain persecution--grant#aei that the magistrate is to preserve the peace and welfare of the state1 and therefore that he ought not to punish such sins as hurt not his peace4 ,in particular1 they say1 the magistrate may not punish secret sins in the soul3 nor such sins as are yet handling in the church1 in a private way3 nor such sins which are private in families--and therefore1 they say1 the magistrate transgresseth to prosecute complaints of children against their parents1 servants against masters1 wives against husbands1 7and yet this proper to the civil state74 ,nor such sins as are between the members and churches themselves4 ,and they confess1 that if the magistrate punish1 and the church punish1 there will be a greater rent in their peace4 ,truth4 ,from thence1 sweet ,peace1 may we well observe1 ,first1 the magistrate is not to punish all evil1 according to this their confession4 ,the distinction of private and public evil will not here avail2 because such as urge that term evil1 viz41 that the magistrate is to punish evil1 urge it strictly1 eo nomine2 because heresy1 blasphemy1 false church1 false ministry1 is evil1 as well as disorder in a civil state4 ,sidenote3 ,some give to the magistrate what is not his1 and take from him that which is proper to him4 ,secondly1 ,i observe1 how they take away from the magistrate that which is proper to his cognizance1 as the complaints of servants1 children1 wives1 against their parents1 masters1 husbands1 c4 ,families as families1 being as stones which make up the common building1 and are properly the object of the magistrates' care1 in respect of civil government1 civil order1 and obedience4#afj ,,chap4 ,,liii4 ,peace4 ,i pray now1 lastly1 proceed to the author's reason#afa why ,christ's disciples should be so far from persecuting3--that they ought to bless them that curse them1 and pray for them that persecute them1 because of the freeness of ,god's grace1 and the deepness of his counsels1 calling them that are enemies1 persecutors1 no people1 to become meek lambs1 the sheep and people of ,god1 according to #a ,pet4 ii4 #aj1 ,you which were not a people1 are now a people1 c42 and ,matt4 xx4 #f1 some come at the last hour1 which if they were cut off because they came not sooner1 would be prevented1 and so should never come4 ,unto this reason1 the answerer is pleased thus to reply4#afb ,first1 in general2 we must not do evil that good may come thereof4 ,sidenote3 ,toleration discussed4#afc ,secondly1 in particular1 he affirmeth1 8that it is evil to tolerate seditious evil doers1 seducing teachers1 scandalous livers20 and for proof of this1 he quotes ,christ's reproof to the angel of the church at ,pergamos1 for tolerating them that hold the doctrine of ,balaam2 and against the church of ,thyatira1 for tolerating ,jezebel to teach and seduce1 ,rev4 ii4 #ad1 #bj4 ,truth4 ,i answer1 first1 by assenting to the general proposition1 that it is most true1 like unto ,christ ,jesus himself1 a sure foundation1 #a ,cor4 iii4 #aa4 ,yet what is built upon it1 ,i hope by ,god's assistance to make it appear1 is but hay and stubble1 dead and withered1 not suiting that golden foundation1 nor pleasing to the ,father of mercies1 nor comfortable to the souls of men4 ,it is evil1 saith he1 to tolerate notorious evil doers1 seducing teachers1 scandalous livers4 ,in which speech ,i observe two evils3 ,first1 that this proposition is too large and general1 because the rule admits of exception1 and that according to the will of ,god4 ,sidenote3 ,evil is always evil1 yet permission of it may in case be good4 #a4 ,it is true1 that evil cannot alter its nature1 but it is alway evil1 as darkness is alway darkness1 yet1 #b4 ,it must be remembered1 that it is one thing to command1 to conceal1 to counsel1 to approve evil1 and another thing to permit and suffer evil with protestation against it1 or dislike of it1 at least without approbation of it4 ,lastly1 this sufferance1 or permission1 of evil1 is not for its own sake1 but for the sake of good1 which puts a respect of goodness upon such permission4 ,sidenote3 ,god's wonderful toleration4 ,hence it is1 that for ,god's own glory's sake1 which is the highest good1 he endures1 that is1 permits1 or suffers1 the vessels of wrath1 ,rom4 ix4 #bb4 ,and therefore1 although he be of pure eyes and can behold no iniquity1 yet his pure eye patiently and quietly beholds and permits all the idolatries and profanations1 all the thefts and rapines1 all the whoredoms and abominations1 all the murders and poisonings2 and yet1 ,i say1 for his glory's sake1 he is patient1 and long permits4 ,hence for his people's sake 7which is the next good1 in his ,son71 he is oftentimes pleased to permit and suffer the wicked to enjoy a longer reprieve4 ,therefore he gave ,paul all the lives that were in the ship1 ,acts xxvii4 #bd4 ,therefore1 he would not so soon have destroyed ,sodom1 but granted a longer permission1 had there been but ten righteous1 ,gen4 xviii4 #cb4 ,therefore1 ,jer4 v4 #a1 had he found some to have stood in the gap1 he would have spared others4 ,therefore gave he ,jezebel a time1 or space1 ,rev4 ii4 #ba4 ,therefore1 for his glory's sake1 hath he permitted longer great sinners1 who afterward have perished in their season1 as we see in the case of ,ahab1 the ,ninevites1 and ,amorites1 c4 ,sidenote3 ,deut xxiv4 ,hence it pleased the ,lord1 not only to permit the many evils against his own honourable ordinance of marriage in the world1 but was pleased1 after a wonderful manner1 to suffer that sin of many wives in ,abraham1 ,jacob1 ,david1 ,solomon1 yea1 with some expressions which seem to give approbation1 as #b ,sam4 xii4 #h1 #bd4afd ,peace4 ,it may be said1 this is no pattern for us1 because ,god is above law1 and an absolute sovereign4 ,truth4 ,i answer1 although we find him sometimes dispensing with his law1 yet we never find him deny himself1 or utter a falsehood3 and therefore when it crosseth not an absolute rule to permit and tolerate--as in the case of the permission of the souls and consciences of all men in the world--,i have shown1 and shall show further1 it doth not1 it will not1 hinder our being holy as he is holy1 in all manner of conversation4 ,,chap4 ,,liv4 ,peace4 ,it will yet be said1 it pleaseth ,god to permit adulteries1 murders1 poisons3 ,god suffers men1 like fishes1 to devour each other1 ,hab4 i4 #ad2 the wicked to flourish1 ,jer4 xii4 #a2 yea1 sends the tyrants of the world to destroy the nations1 and plunder them of their riches1 ,isa4 x4 #e1 #f4 ,should men do so1 the world would be a wilderness2 and beside we have command for zealous execution of justice1 impartially1 speedily4 ,sidenote3 ,two sorts of commands1 both by ,moses and ,christ4 ,truth4 ,i answer1 we find two sorts of commands1 both from ,moses and from ,christ1 the two great prophets and messengers from the living ,god1 the one the type or figure of the later4 ,moses gave positive rules1 both spiritual and civil2 yet also1 he gave some not positive but permissive1 for the common good4 ,so the ,lord ,jesus expoundeth it4 ,sidenote3 ,matt4 xix4 #g1 #h4 ,for whereas1 the ,pharisees urged it1 that ,moses commanded to give a bill of divorcement and to put away1 the ,lord ,jesus expoundeth it1 ,moses for the hardness of your hearts suffered1 or permitted1 ,matt4 xix4 #g1 #h4 ,sidenote3 ,the permission of divorce in ,israel4 ,this was a permissive command1 universal to all ,israel1 for a general good1 in preventing the continual fires of dissensions and combustions in families3 yea1 it may be murders1 poisons1 adulteries1 which that people1 as the wisdom of ,god foresaw1 was apt1 out of the hardness of their heart1 to break out into1 were it not for this preventing permission4 ,hence it was1 that for a further public good sake1 and the public safety1 ,david permitted ,joab1 a notorious malefactor1 and ,shimei and ,adonijah1 c4 ,and civil states and governors1 in like cases1 have and do permit and suffer what neither ,david nor any civil governors ought to do or have done1 were it not to prevent the hazard of the whole1 in the shedding of much innocent blood1 together with the nocent1 in civil combustions4 ,peace4 ,it may be said1 ,joab1 ,shimei1 ,adonijah1 c41 were only1 as it were1 reprieved for a time1 and proves only that a season ought to be attended for their punishment4 ,truth4 ,answ4 ,i answer1 ,i produce not these instances to prove a permission of tares--anti-christians1 heretics--which other scriptures abundantly prove1 but to make it clear1 against the answerer's allegation1 that even in the civil state permission of notorious evil doers1 even against the civil state1 is not disapproved by ,god himself and the wisest of his servants in its season4 ,,chap4 ,,lv4 ,sidenote3 ,usury in a commonweal1 or civil state1 lawfully permitted4 ,truth4 ,i proceed4 ,hence it is that some generals of armies1 and governors of cities1 towns1 c41 do1 and1 as those former instances prove1 lawfully permit some evil persons and practices4 ,as for instance1 in the civil state1 usury3 for the preventing of a greater evil in the civil body1 as stealing1 robbing1 murdering1 perishing of the poor1 and the hindrance1 or stop1 of commerce and dealing in the commonwealth4 ,just like physicians1 wisely permitting noisome humours1 and sometimes diseases1 when the cure or purging would prove more dangerous to the destruction of the whole1 a weak or crazy body1 and specially at such a time4 ,thus1 in many other instances1 it pleased the ,father of lights1 the ,god of ,israel1 to permit that people1 especially in the matter of their demand of a king1 wherein he pleaded that himself as well as ,samuel was rejected4 ,sidenote3 ,permission of the tares in the field of the world for a twofold good4 #a4 ,of the good wheat4 #b4 ,of the whole world1 the field itself4 ,this ground1 to wit1 for a common good of the whole1 is the same with that of the ,lord ,jesus commanding the tares to be permitted in the world2 because1 otherwise1 the good wheat should be endangered to be rooted up out of the field or world also1 as well as the tares4 ,and therefore1 for the good sake1 the tares1 which are indeed evil1 were to be permitted3 yea1 and for the general good of the whole world1 the field itself1 which1 for want of this obedience to that command of ,christ1 hath been and is laid waste and desolate with the fury and rage of civil war1 professedly raised and maintained1 as all states profess1 for the maintenance of one true religion--after the pattern of that typical land of ,canaan--and to suppress and pluck up these tares of false prophets and false professors1 anti-christians1 heretics1 c41 out of the world4 ,hence ill lachrym3 hence ,germany's1 ,ireland's1 and now ,england's1 tears and dreadful desolations1 which ought to have been1 and may be for the future1--by obedience to the command of the ,lord ,jesus1 concerning the permission of tares to live in the world1 though not in the church--,i say1 ought to have been1 and may be mercifully prevented4 ,,chap4 ,,lvi4 ,peace4 ,i pray descend now to the second evil which you observe in the answerer's position1 viz41 that it would be evil to tolerate notorious evil doers1 seducing teachers1 c4 ,truth4 ,i say1 the evil is1 that he most improperly and confusedly joins and couples seducing teachers with scandalous livers4 ,peace4 ,but is it not true1 that the world is full of seducing teachers8 and is it not true1 that seducing teachers are notorious evil doers8 ,truth4 ,i answer3 far be it from me to deny either4 ,and yet1 in two things1 ,i shall discover the great evil of this joining and coupling seducing teachers and scandalous livers1 as one adequate or proper object of the magistrates' care and work to suppress and punish4 ,first1 it is not an homogeneal 7as we speak71 but an heterogeneal commixture of joining together of things most different in kinds and natures1 as if they were both of one consideration4 ,sidenote3 ,seducing teachers1 either pagan1 ,jewish1 or anti-christian1 may yet be obedient subjects to the civil laws4 ,for who knows not but that many seducing teachers1 either of the paganish1 ,jewish1 ,turkish1 or anti-christian religion1 may be clear and free from scandalous offences in their life1 as also from disobedience to the civil laws of a state8 ,yea1 the answerer himself hath elsewhere granted1 that if the laws of a civil state be not broken1 the peace is not broken4#afe ,again1 who knows not that a seducing teacher properly sins against a church or spiritual estate and laws of it1 and1 therefore1 ought most properly and only to be dealt withal in such a way1 and by such weapons1 as the ,lord ,jesus himself hath appointed2 gainsayers1 opposites1 and disobedients--either within his church or without--to be convinced1 repelled1 resisted1 and slain withal8 ,sidenote3 ,scandalous livers against the civil state1 who they are4 ,whereas1 scandalous offenders against parents1 against magistrates in the fifth command1 and so against the life1 chastity1 goods1 or good name in the rest1 is properly transgression against the civil state and common weal1 or the worldly state of men3 and1 therefore1 consequently1 if the world1 or civil state1 ought to be preserved by civil government or governors1 such scandalous offenders ought not to be tolerated1 but suppressed1 according to the wisdom and prudence of the said government4 ,sidenote3 ,mr4 ,cotton's tenet justifies all the cruel proceedings against ,christ and ,christians4 ,secondly1 as there is a fallacious conjoining and confounding together persons of several kinds and natures1 differing as much as spirit and flesh1 heaven and earth1 each from other3 so is there a silent and implicit justification of all the unrighteous and cruel proceedings of ,jews and ,gentiles against all the prophets of ,god1 the ,lord ,jesus himself1 and all his messengers and witnesses1 whom their accusers have ever so coupled and mixed with notorious evil doers and scandalous livers4 ,elijah was a troubler of the state2 ,jeremy weakened the hand of the people2 yea1 ,moses made the people neglect their work2 the ,jews built the rebellious and bad city2 the three worthies regarded not the command of the king2 ,christ ,jesus deceived the people1 was a conjuror and a traitor against ,csar in being king of the ,jews--indeed ,he was so spiritually over the true ,jew1 the ,christian--therefore1 he was numbered with notorious evil doers1 and nailed to the gallows between two malefactors4 ,hence ,paul and all true messengers of ,jesus ,christ1 are esteemed seducing and seditious teachers and turners of the world upside down3 yea1 and to my knowledge--,i speak with honourable respect to the answerer1 so far as he hath laboured for many truths of ,christ--the answerer himself hath drunk of this cup1 to be esteemed a seducing teacher4 ,,chap4 ,,lvii4 ,peace4 ,yea1 but he produceth scriptures against such toleration1 and for persecuting men for the cause of conscience3 8,christ10 saith he1 8had something against the angel of the church of ,pergamos1 for tolerating them that held the doctrine of ,balaam1 and against the church of ,thyatira1 for tolerating ,jezebel to teach and seduce10 ,rev4 ii4 #ad1 #bj4 ,truth4 ,i may answer1 with some admiration and astonishment1 how it pleased the ,father of lights and most jealous ,god to darken and veil the eye of so precious a man1 as not to seek out and propose some scriptures1 in the proof of so weighty an assertion1 as at least might have some colour for an influence of the civil magistrate in such cases3 for-- ,sidenote3 ,toleration4 ,rev4 ii4 #ad1 #bj1 examined4 ,first1 he saith not that ,christ had aught against the city ,pergamos1 where ,satan had his throne1 ,rev4 ii4 #ad1 but against the church at ,pergamos1 in which was set up the throne of ,christ4 ,secondly1 ,christ's charge is not against the civil magistrate of ,pergamos1 but the messenger1 or ministry1 of the church in ,pergamos4 ,thirdly1 ,i confess1 so far as ,balaam's or ,jezebel's doctrine maintained a liberty of corporal fornication1 it concerned the cities of ,pergamos and ,thyatira1 and the angel or officers of those cities1 to suppress not only such practices1 but such doctrines also3 as the ,roman emperor justly punished ,ovid the poet1 for teaching the wanton art of love1 leading to and ushering on lasciviousness and uncleanness4 ,fourthly4 ,yet so far as ,balaam's teachers1 or ,jezebel1 did seduce the members of the church in ,pergamos or ,thyatira1 to the worship of the idolaters in ,pergamos or ,thyatira1 which will appear to be the case--,i say1 so far ,i may well and properly answer1 as himself answered before those scriptures1 brought from ,luke ix4 and #b ,tim4 ii41 to prove patience and permission to men opposite1 viz41 8these scriptures10 saith he1 8are directions to ministers of the gospel20 and in the end of that passage he adds1 8,much less do they speak at all to civil magistrates40#aff ,sidenote3 ,christ's ministers and churches1 have power sufficient from ,christ to suppress ,balaam and ,jezebel seducing to false worship4 ,fifthly4 ,either these churches and the angels thereof had power to suppress these doctrines of ,balaam1 and to suppress ,jezebel from teaching1 or they had not3-- ,that they had not cannot be affirmed1 for ,christ's authority is in the hands of his ministers and churches1 ,matt4 xvi4 and xviii41 and #a ,cor4 v4 ,if they had power1 as must be granted1 then1 ,i conclude1 sufficient power to suppress such persons1 whoever they were1 that maintained ,balaam's doctrine in the church at ,pergamos--although the very magistrates themselves of the city of ,pergamos 7if ,christians73 and to have suppressed ,jezebel from teaching and seducing in the church1 had she been lady1 queen1 or empress1 if there were no more but teaching without hostility4 ,and if so1 all power and authority of magistrates and governors of ,pergamos and ,thyatira1 and all submitting or appealing to them in such cases1 must needs fall1 as none of ,christ's appointment4 ,sidenote3 ,the ,christian world hath swallowed up ,christianity4 ,lastly4 ,from this perverse wresting of what is writ to the church and the officers thereof1 as if it were written to the civil state and officers thereof1 all may see how1 since the apostasy of anti-christ1 the ,christian world 7so called7 hath swallowed up ,christianity2 how the church and civil state1 that is1 the church and the world1 are now become one flock of ,jesus ,christ2 ,christ's sheep1 and the pastors or shepherds of them1 all one with the several unconverted1 wild1 or tame beasts and cattle of the world1 and the civil and earthly governors of them3 the ,christian church1 or kingdom of the saints1 that stone cut out of the mountain without hands1 ,dan4 ii4 #de1 now made all one with the mountain1 or civil state1 the ,roman empire1 from whence it is cut or taken3 ,christ's lilies1 garden1 and love1 all one with the thorns1 the daughters1 and wilderness of the world1 out of which the spouse or church of ,christ is called2 and amongst whom1 in civil things1 for a while here below1 she must necessarily be mingled and have converse1 unless she will go out of the world1 before ,christ ,jesus1 her ,lord and husband1 send for her home into the heavens1 #a ,cor4 v4 #aj4afg ,,chap4 ,,lviii4 ,sidenote3 ,the second head of reasons against such persecution1 viz41 the profession of famous princes1 ,king ,james1 ,stephen of ,poland1 and ,king of ,bohemia4 ,peace4 ,having thus1 by the help of ,christ1 examined those scriptures1 or writings of truth1 brought by the author against persecution1 and cleared them from such veils and mists1 wherewith ,mr4 ,cotton hath endeavoured to obscure and darken their lights3 ,i pray you1 now1 by the same gracious assistance1 proceed to his answer to the second head of reasons1 from the profession of famous princes against persecution for conscience1 ,king ,james1 ,stephen of ,poland1 ,king of ,bohemia1 unto whom the answerer returneth a treble answer4#afh 8,first10 saith he1 8we willingly acknowledge that none is to be persecuted at all1 no more than they may be oppressed for righteousness' sake4 8,again1 we acknowledge that none is to be punished for his conscience1 though misinformed1 as hath been said1 unless his error be fundamental1 or seditiously and turbulently promoted1 and that after due conviction of his conscience1 that it may appear he is not punished for his conscience1 but for sinning against his conscience4 8,furthermore1 we acknowledge1 none is to be constrained to believe or profess the true religion1 till he be convinced in judgment of the truth of it2 but yet restrained he may be from blaspheming the truth1 and from seducing any unto pernicious errors40 ,sidenote3 ,isa4 xl4 #f2 #b ,pet4 ii4 ,truth4 ,this first answer consists of a repetition and enumeration of such grounds or conclusions1 as ,mr4 ,cotton in the entrance of this discourse laid down2 and ,i believe that1 through the help of ,god1 in such replies as ,i have made unto them1 ,i have made it evident what weak foundations they have in the scriptures of truth1 as also that1 when such conclusions1 excepting the first1 as grass and the flower of the grass shall fade1 that holy word of the ,lord1 which the author against such persecution produces1 and ,i have cleared1 shall stand for ever1 even when these heavens and earth are burnt4 ,peace4 ,his second answer is this3--8,what princes profess and practise1 is not a rule of conscience4 ,they many times tolerate that in point of state-policy1 which cannot justly be tolerated in point of true ,christianity4 8,again1 ,princes many times tolerate offenders out of very necessity1 when the offenders are either too many or too mighty for them to punish2 in which respect ,david tolerated ,joab and his murders1 but against his will40 ,,chap4 ,,lix4 ,truth4 ,unto those excellent and famous speeches of those princes1 worthy to be written in golden letters1 or rows of diamonds1 upon all the gates of all the cities and palaces in the world1 the answerer1 without any particular reply1 returns two things4 ,sidenote3 ,mr4 ,cotton's unequal dealing with princes4 ,first1 that princes' profession and practice is no rule of conscience3 unto this1 as all men will subscribe1 so may they also observe how the answerer deals with princes4 ,one while they are the nursing fathers of the church1 not only to feed1 but also to correct1 and1 therefore1 consequently bound to judge what is true feeding and correcting3 and1 consequently1 all men are bound to submit to their feeding and correcting4 ,another while1 when princes cross ,mr4 ,cotton's judgment and practice1 then it matters not what the profession or practice of princes is3 for1 saith he1 their profession and practice is no rule to conscience4 ,i ask then1 unto what magistrates or princes will themselves1 or any so persuaded1 submit1 as unto keepers of both tables1 as unto the antitypes of the kings of ,israel and ,judah1 and nursing fathers and mothers of the church8 ,first4 ,will it not evidently follow1 that by these tenents they ought not to submit to any magistrates in the world in these cases1 but to magistrates just of their own conscience8 and-- ,secondly4 ,that all other consciences in the world1 except their own1 must be persecuted by such their magistrates8#afi ,and lastly4 ,is not this to make magistrates but steps and stirrups1 to ascend and mount up into their rich and honourable seats and saddles2 ,i mean great and settled maintenances1 which neither the ,lord ,jesus1 nor any of his first messengers1 the true patterns1 did ever know8 ,,chap4 ,,lx4 ,truth4 ,in the second place1 he saith1 that princes out of state-policy tolerate what suits not with ,christianity1 and out of state-necessity tolerate 7as ,david did ,joab7 against their wills4 ,to which ,i answer1-- ,sidenote3 ,the answerer acknowledgeth a necessity of some toleration4 ,first4 ,that although with him1 in the first1 ,i confess that princes may tolerate that out of state-policy which will not stand with ,christianity1 yet1 in the second1 he must acknowledge with me1 that there is a necessity sometimes of state-toleration1 as in the case of ,joab1 and so his former affirmation1 generally laid down 7viz41 that it is evil to tolerate seducing teachers or scandalous livers71 was not duly weighed in the balance of the sanctuary1 and is too light4 ,sidenote3 ,christ ,jesus the deepest politician that ever was1 and yet he commands a toleration of anti-christians4 ,secondly4 ,i affirm that the state-policy and state-necessity1 which1 for the peace of the state and preventing of rivers of civil blood1 permit the consciences of men1 will be found to agree most punctually with the rules of the best politician that ever the world saw1 the ,king of kings1 and ,lord of lords1 in comparison of whom ,solomon himself had but a drop of wisdom compared to ,christ's ocean1 and was but a farthing candle compared with the all and ever glorious ,sun of righteousness4 ,that absolute rule of this great politician for the peace of the field which is the world1 and for the good and peace of the saints who must have a civil being in the world1 ,i have discoursed of in his command of permitting the tares1 that is1 anti-christians1 or false ,christians1 to be in the field of the world1 growing up together with the true wheat1 true ,christians4 ,,chap4 ,,lxi4 ,peace4 ,his third answer is this3--#agj 8,for those three princes named by you1 who tolerated religion1 we can name you more and greater who have not tolerated heretics and schismatics1 notwithstanding their pretence of conscience1 and their arrogating the crown of martyrdom to their sufferings40 8,constantine the ,great at the request of the general council at ,nice1 banished ,arius1 with some of his fellows1 ,sozom4 lib4 i4 ,eccles4 ,hist4 cap4 #ai1 #bj4 8,the same ,constantine made a severe law against the ,donatists3 and the like proceedings against them were used by ,valentinian1 ,gratian1 and ,theodosius1 as ,augustine reports in ,ep4 #aff4 ,only ,julian the ,apostate granted liberty to heretics as well as to pagans1 that he might1 by tolerating all weeds to grow1 choke the vitals of ,christianity3 which was also the practice and sin of ,valens the ,arian4 8,queen ,elizabeth1 as famous for her government as most of the former1 it is well known what laws she made and executed against papists4 ,yea1 and ,king ,james1 one of your own witnesses1 though he was slow in proceeding against papists1 as you say1 for conscience' sake1 yet you are not ignorant how sharply and severely he punished those whom the malignant world calls puritans1 men of more conscience and better faith than the papists whom he tolerated40 ,sidenote3 ,the princes of the world seldom take part with ,christ4 ,truth4 ,unto this1 ,i answer3 ,first1 that for mine own part ,i would not use an argument from the number of princes1 witnessing in profession of practice against persecution for cause of conscience2 for the truth and faith of the ,lord ,jesus must not be received with respect of faces1 be they never so high1 princely and glorious4 ,precious pearls and jewels1 and far more precious truth1 are found in muddy shells and places4 ,the rich mines of golden truth lie hid under barren hills1 and in obscure holes and corners4 ,sidenote3 ,princes not persecuting are very rare4 ,the most high and glorious ,god hath chosen the poor of the world1 and the witnesses of truth 7,rev4 xi47 are clothed in sackcloth1 not in silk or satin1 cloth of gold or tissue3 and1 therefore1 ,i acknowledge1 if the number of princes professing persecution be considered1 it is rare to find a king1 prince1 or governor like ,christ ,jesus1 the ,king of kings1 and ,prince of the princes of the earth1 and who tread not in the steps of ,herod the fox1 or ,nero the lion1 openly or secretly persecuting the name of the ,lord ,jesus2 such were ,saul1 ,jeroboam1 ,ahab1 though under a mask or pretence of the name of the ,god of ,israel4#aga ,sidenote3 ,buchanan's item to ,king ,james4 ,to that purpose was it a noble speech of ,buchanan1 who1 lying on his death-bed1 sent this item to ,king ,james3--8,remember my humble service to his majesty1 and tell him that ,buchanan is going to a place where few kings come40 ,,chap4 ,,lxii4 ,truth4 ,secondly4 ,i observe how inconsiderately--,i hope not willingly--he passeth by the reasons and grounds urged by those three princes for their practices2 for1 as for the bare examples of kings or princes1 they are but like shining sands1 or gilded rocks1 giving no solace to such as make woful shipwreck on them4 ,sidenote3 ,king ,james's sayings against persecution4 ,in ,king ,james's speech1 he passeth by that golden maxim in divinity1 8that ,god never loves to plant his church by blood40 ,secondly4 ,that civil obedience may be performed from the papists4 ,thirdly4 ,in his observation on ,rev4 xx41 that true and certain note of a false church1 to wit1 persecution3 8,the wicked are besiegers1 the faithful are besieged40 ,sidenote3 ,king ,stephen's1 of ,poland1 speech against persecution4 ,in ,king ,stephen's1 of ,poland1 speech1 he passeth by the true difference between a civil and a spiritual government3 8,i am10 said ,stephen1 8a civil magistrate over the bodies of men1 not a spiritual over their souls40 ,now to confound these is ,babel2 and ,jewish it is to seek for ,moses1 and bring him from his grave 7which no man shall find1 for ,god buried him7 in setting up a national state or church1 in a land of ,canaan1 which the great ,messiah abolished at his coming4 ,sidenote3 ,forcing of conscience is a soul-rape4 ,persecution for conscience1 the lancet that letteth blood of kings and kingdoms4 ,thirdly4 ,he passeth by1 in the speech of the ,king of ,bohemia1 that foundation in grace and nature1 to wit1 8,that conscience ought not to be violated or forced30 and indeed it is most true1 that a soul or spiritual rape is more abominable in ,god's eye1 than to force and ravish the bodies of all the women in the world4 ,secondly4 ,that most lamentably true experience of all ages1 which that king observeth1 viz41 8,that persecution for cause of conscience hath ever proved pernicious1 being the causes of all those wonderful innovations of1 or changes in1 the principallest and mightiest kingdoms of ,christendom40 ,he that reads the records of truth and time with an impartial eye1 shall find this to be the lancet that hath pierced the veins of kings and kingdoms1 of saints and sinners1 and filled the streams and rivers with their blood4 ,sidenote3 ,all spiritual whores are bloody4 ,lastly4 ,that king's observation of his own time1#agb viz41 8,that persecution for cause of conscience was practised most in ,england1 and such places where popery reigned30 implying1 as ,i conceive1 that such practices commonly proceed from that great whore the church of ,rome1 whose daughters are like their mother1 and all of a bloody nature1 as most commonly all whores be4 ,,chap4 ,,lxiii4 ,now thirdly4 ,in that the answerer observeth1 8,that amongst the ,roman emperors1 they that did not persecute were ,julian the ,apostate1 and ,valens the ,arian2 whereas the good emperors1 ,constantine1 ,gratian1 ,valentinian1 and ,theodosius1 they did persecute the ,arians1 ,donatists10 c3-- ,sidenote3 ,the godly sometimes evil actors1 and the ungodly good actors4 ,answ4 ,it is no new thing for godly1 and eminently godly men to perform ungodly actions3 nor for ungodly persons1 for wicked ends1 to act what in itself is good and righteous4 ,sidenote3 ,polygamy1 or the many wives of the fathers4 ,abraham1 ,jacob1 ,david1 ,solomon1 c4 7as well as ,lamech1 ,saul1 c47 lived in constant transgression against the institution of so holy and so ratified a law of marriage1 c42 and this not against the light and checks of conscience 7as other sins are wont to be recorded of them71 but according to the dictate and persuasion of a resolved soul and conscience4 ,sidenote3 ,david's advancing of ,god's worship against ,god's order4 ,david1 out of zeal to ,god1 with thirty thousand of ,israel1 and with majestical solemnity1 carries up the ark contrary to the order ,god was pleased to appoint3 the issue was both ,god's and ,david's great offence1 #b ,sam4 vi4 ,david in his zeal would build a house to entertain his ,god6 ,what more pious8 and what more 7in show7 seriously consulted1 when the prophet ,nathan is admitted counsellor8 #b ,sam4 vii4 ,and probable it is1 that his slaughter of ,uriah was not without a good end1 to wit1 to prevent the dishonour of ,god's name in the discovery of his adultery with ,bathsheba4 ,yet ,david was holy and precious to ,god still1 though like a jewel fallen into the dirt4 ,whereas ,king ,ahab1 though acting his fasting and humiliation1 was but ,ahab still1 though his act1 in itself1 was a duty1 and found success with ,god4 ,,chap4 ,,lxiv4 ,peace4 ,i have often heard that history reports1 and ,i have heard that ,mr4 ,cotton himself hath affirmed it1 that ,christianity fell asleep in ,constantine's bosom1 and in the laps and bosoms of those emperors professing the name of ,christ4 ,sidenote3 ,constantine and the good emperors1 are confessed to have done more hurt to the name and crown of the ,lord ,jesus1 than the persecuting ,neros1 c4 ,the garden of the church1 and field of the world1 made all one by anti-christianism4 ,truth4 ,the unknowing zeal of ,constantine and other emperors1 did more hurt to ,christ ,jesus's crown and kingdom1 than the raging fury of the most bloody ,neros4#agc ,in the persecutions of the latter1 ,christians were sweet and fragrant1 like spice pounded and beaten in mortars4 ,but these good emperors1 persecuting some erroneous persons1 ,arius1 c41 and advancing the professors of some truths of ,christ--for there was no small number of truths lost in those times--and maintaining their religion by the material sword--,i say1 by this means ,christianity was eclipsed1 and the professors of it fell asleep1 ,cant4 v4 #b4 ,babel1 or confusion1 was ushered in1 and by degrees the gardens of the churches of saints were turned into the wilderness of whole nations1 until the whole world became ,christian1 or ,christendom1 ,rev4 xii4 and xiii4 ,doubtless those holy men1 emperors and bishops1 intended and aimed right to exalt ,christ2 but not attending to the command of ,christ ,jesus1 to permit the tares to grow in the field of the world1 they make the garden of the church and field of the world to be all one2 and might not only sometimes1 in their zealous mistakes1 persecute good wheat instead of tares1 but also pluck up thousands of those precious stalks by commotions and combustions about religion1 as hath been since practised in the great and wonderful changes wrought by such wars in many great and mighty states and kingdoms1 as we heard even now in the observation of the ,king of ,bohemia4 ,,chap4 ,,lxv4 ,peace4 ,dear ,truth1 before you leave this passage concerning the emperors1 ,i shall desire you to glance your eye on this not unworthy observation1 to wit1 how fully this worthy answerer hath learned to speak the roaring language of lion-like persecution1 far from the purity and peaceableness of the lamb1 which he was wont to express in ,england4 ,for thus he writes3-- 8,more and greater princes than these you mention10 saith he1 8have not tolerated heretics and schismatics1 notwithstanding their pretence of conscience1 and their arrogating the crown of martyrdom to their sufferings40 ,sidenote3 ,the language of persecutors--the wolves and hunters of the world4 ,truth4 ,thy tender ear and heart1 sweet ,peace1 endure not such language4 ,it is true1 that these terms1 heretics 7or wilfully obstinate7 and schismatics 7or renders7 are used in holy writ4 ,it is true also1 that such pretend conscience1 and challenge the crown of martyrdom to their suffering4 ,yet since1 as ,king ,james spake in his mark of a false church on ,rev4 xx41 the wicked persecute and besiege1 and the godly are persecuted and besieged1 this is the common clamour of persecutors against the messengers and witnesses of ,jesus in all ages1 viz41 you are heretics1 schismatics1 factious1 seditious1 rebellious4 ,have not all truth's witnesses heard such reproaches8 ,you pretend conscience3 you say you are persecuted for religion3 you will say you are martyrs8 ,oh6 it is hard for ,god's children to fall to opinion and practice of persecution1 without the ready learning the language thereof4 ,and doubtless1 that soul that can so readily speak ,babel's language1 hath cause to fear that he hath not yet in point of worship left the gates or suburbs of it4 ,peace4 ,again1 in blaming ,julian and ,valens the ,arian1 for tolerating 8all weeds to grow1 he notes their sinful end1 that thereby they might choke the vitals of ,christianity20 and seems to consent1 in this and other passages foregoing and following on a speech of ,jerome1 that the weeds of false religion tolerated in the world1 have a power to choke and kill true ,christianity in the church4 ,sidenote3 ,christ's lilies may flourish in his church1 notwithstanding the abundance of weeds 7in the world7 permitted4 ,truth4 ,i shall more fully answer to this on ,jerome's speech1 and show that if the weeds be kept out of the garden of the church1 the roses and lilies therein will flourish1 notwithstanding that weeds abound in the field of the civil state4 ,when ,christianity began to be choked1 it was not when ,christians lodged in cold prisons1 but down-beds of ease1 and persecuted others1 c4 ,,chap4 ,,lxvi4 ,peace4 ,he ends this passage with approbation of ,queen ,elizabeth for persecuting the papists1 and a reproof to ,king ,james for his persecuting the puritans1 c4 ,sidenote3 ,the persecutions of ,queen ,elizabeth and ,king ,james compared together4 ,truth4 ,i answer1 if ,queen ,elizabeth1 according to the answerer's tenent and conscience1 did well to persecute according to her conscience1 ,king ,james did not ill in persecuting according to his4#agd ,for ,mr4 ,cotton must grant1 that either ,king ,james was not fit to be a king1 had not the essential qualifications of a king1 in not being able rightly to judge who ought to be persecuted1 and who not3 or else he must confess that ,king ,james1 and all magistrates1 must persecute such whom in their conscience they judge worthy to be persecuted4 ,i say it again1 though ,i neither approve ,queen ,elizabeth or ,king ,james in such their persecutions1 yet such as hold this tenent of persecuting for conscience1 must also hold that civil magistrates are not essentially fitted and qualified for their function and office1 except they can discern clearly the difference between such as are to be punished and persecuted1 and such as are not4 ,or else1 if they be essentially qualified1 without such a religious spirit of discerning1 and yet must persecute the heretic1 the schismatic1 c41 must they not persecute according to their consciences and persuasion8 ,and then doubtless1 though he be excellent for civil government1 may he easily1 as ,paul did ignorantly1 persecute the ,son of ,god instead of the son of perdition4 ,therefore1 lastly1 according to ,christ ,jesus' command1 magistrates are bound not to persecute1 and to see that none of their subjects be persecuted and oppressed for their conscience and worship1 being otherwise subject and peaceable in civil obedience4 ,,chap4 ,,lxvii4 ,in the second place1 ,i answer and ask1 what glory to ,god1 what good to the souls or bodies of their subjects1 shall princes1 or did these princes bring in persecuting8 c4 ,sidenote3 ,in his opening of the seven vials1 in print1 ,mr4 ,cotton confesseth that ,queen ,elizabeth's persecuting the papists had almost ruined the ,english nation4 ,peace4 ,mr4 ,cotton tells us1 in his discourse upon the third vial1#age that ,queen ,elizabeth had almost fired the world in civil combustions by such her persecuting3 for though he bring it in to another end1 yet he confesseth that it 8raised all ,christendom in combustion2 raised the wars of #aehh and the ,spanish ,invasion20 and he adds1 both concerning the ,english nation and the ,dutch1 8that if ,god had not borne witness to his people and their laws1 in defeating the intendments of their enemies1 against both the nations1 it might have been the ruin of them both40 ,sidenote3 ,the wars between the papists and the protestants4 ,truth4 ,that those laws and practices of ,queen ,elizabeth raised those combustions in ,christendom1 ,i deny not3 that they might likely have cost the ruin of ,english and ,dutch1 ,i grant4 ,that it was ,god's gracious work in defeating the intendments of their enemies1 ,i thankfully acknowledge4 ,but that ,god bore witness to such persecutions and laws for such persecutions1 ,i deny3 for1 ,first1 event and success come alike to all1 and are no argument of love1 or hatred1 c4 ,secondly1 the papists in their wars have ever yet had1 both in peace and war1 victory and dominion2 and therefore1 if success be the measure1 ,god hath borne witness unto them4 ,it is most true1 what ,daniel in his eighth1 and eleventh1 and twelfth chapters1 and ,john in his ,revelation1 eleventh1 twelfth1 and thirteenth chapters1 write of the great success of anti-christ against ,christ ,jesus for a time appointed4 ,sidenote3 ,eventus omnis belli incertus4 ,success was various between ,charles ,v4 and some ,german princes3 ,philip of ,spain and the ,low ,countries2 the ,french king and his protestant subjects3 sometimes losing1 sometimes winning1 interchangeably4 ,sidenote3 ,the wars and success of the ,waldensian witnesses against three popes and their popish armies4 ,but most memorable is the famous history of the ,waldenses and ,albigenses1 those famous witnesses of ,jesus ,christ1 who rising from ,waldo1 at ,lyons in ,france 7#aafj71 spread over ,france1 ,italy1 ,germany1 and almost all countries1 into thousands and ten thousands1 making separation from the pope and church of ,rome4 ,these fought many battles with various success1 and had the assistance and protection of divers great princes against three succeeding popes and their armies2 but after mutual slaughters and miseries to both sides1 the final success of victory fell to the popedom and ,romish church1 in the utter extirpation of those famous ,waldensian witnesses4 ,sidenote3 ,god's people victorious overcomers1 and with what weapons4 ,god's servants are all overcomers when they war with ,god's weapons1 in ,god's cause and worship3 and in ,rev4 second and third chapters1 seven times it is recorded--,to him that overcometh1 in ,ephesus2 to him that overcometh1 in ,sardis1 c42 and ,rev4 twelfth1 ,god's servants overcame the dragon1 or devil1 in the ,roman emperors by three weapons--the blood of the ,lamb1 the word of their testimony1 and the not loving of their lives unto the death4 ,,chap4 ,,lxviii4 ,sidenote3 ,the third head of arguments from ancient and later writers4 ,peace4 ,the answerer1 in the next place1 descends to the third and last head of arguments produced by the author1 taken from the judgment of ancient and later writers1 yea1 even of the papists themselves1 who have condemned persecution for conscience' sake3 some of which the answerer pleaseth to answer1 and thus writeth3--#agf ,sidenote3 ,the ,christian church doth not persecute but is persecuted4 8,you begin with ,hilary1 whose testimony without prejudice to the truth we may admit3 for it is true1 the ,christian church doth not persecute1 but is persecuted4 ,but to excommunicate a heretic1 is not to persecute1 that is1 it is not to punish an innocent but a culpable and damnable person1 and that not for conscience1 but for persisting in error against light of conscience1 whereof he hath been convinced40 ,truth4 ,in this answer there are two things3-- ,first4 ,his confession of the same truth affirmed by ,hilarius1 to wit1 that the ,christian church doth not persecute1 but is persecuted3 suiting with that foregoing observation of ,king ,james from ,rev4 xx4 ,peace4 ,yet to this he adds a colour thus3 8which10 saith he1 8we may admit without prejudice to the truth40 ,sidenote3 ,persecuting churches cannot be ,christ's churches4 ,truth4 ,i answer1 ,if it be a mark of the ,christian church to be persecuted1 and of the anti-christian1 or false church1 to persecute1 then those churches cannot be truly ,christian1 according to the first institution1 which either actually themselves1 or by the civil power of kings and princes given to them1 or procured by them to fight for them1 do persecute such as dissent from them1 or be opposite against them4 ,peace4 ,yea2 but in the second place he addeth1 8that to excommunicate a heretic is not to persecute1 but to punish him for sinning against the light of his own conscience10 c4 ,truth4 ,i answer1 ,if this worthy answerer were thoroughly awaked from the spouse's spiritual slumber 7,cant4 v4 #c71 and had recovered from the drunkenness of the great whore who intoxicateth the nations1 ,rev4 xvii4 #b1 it is impossible that he should so answer3 for-- ,sidenote3 ,the nature of excommunication4 ,first4 ,who questioneth whether to excommunicate a heretic1 that is1 an obstinate gainsayer1 as we have opened the word upon ,tit4 iii41--,i say1 who questioneth whether that be to persecute8--excommunication being of a spiritual nature1 a sentence denounced by the word of ,christ ,jesus1 the spiritual ,king of his church2 and a spiritual killing by the most sharp two-edged sword of the ,spirit1 in delivering up the person excommunicate to ,satan4 ,therefore1 who sees not that his answer comes not near our question8#agg ,peace4 ,in the answerer's second conclusion1 in the entrance of this discourse1 he proves persecution against a heretic for sinning against his conscience1 and quotes ,tit4 iii4 #aj1 which only proves1 as ,i have there made it evident1 a spiritual rejecting or excommunicating from the church of ,god1 and so comes not near the question4 ,sidenote3 ,what persecution1 or hunting1 is4 ,here1 again1 he would prove churches charged to be false1 because they persecute2 ,i say1 he would prove them not to be false1 because they persecute not3 for1 saith he1 excommunication is not persecution4 ,whereas the question is1 as the whole discourse1 and ,hilary's own amplification of the matter in this speech1 and the practice of all ages testify1 whether it be not a false church that doth persecute other churches or members1 opposing her in spiritual and church matters1 not by excommunications1 but by imprisonments1 stocking1 whipping1 fining1 banishing1 hanging1 burning1 c41 notwithstanding that such persons in civil obedience and subjection are unreprovable4 ,sidenote3 ,christ's spouse no scratcher or fighter4 ,truth4 ,i conclude this passage with ,hilarius and the answerer1 that the ,christian church doth not persecute2 no more than a lily doth scratch the thorns1 or a lamb pursue and tear the wolves1 or a turtle-dove hunt the hawks and eagles1 or a chaste and modest virgin fight and scratch like whores and harlots4#agh ,and for punishing the heretic for sinning against his conscience after conviction--which is the second conclusion he affirmeth--to be by a civil sword1 ,i have at large there answered4 ,,chap4 ,,lxix4 ,peace4 ,in the next place1 he selecteth one passage out of ,hilary--although there are many golden passages there expressed against the use of civil1 earthly powers in the affairs of ,christ4 ,the passage is this3-- ,sidenote3 ,who cannot be won by the word1 must not be compelled by the sword4 8,it is true also what he saith1 that neither the apostles nor we may propagate ,christian religion by the sword2 but if pagans cannot be won by the word1 they are not to be compelled by the sword4 ,nevertheless1 this hindereth not10 saith he1 8but if they or any other should blaspheme the true ,god and his true religion1 they ought to be severely punished2 and no less do they deserve1 if they seduce from the truth to damnable heresy or idolatry40 ,truth4 ,in which answer ,i observe1 first1 his agreement with ,hilary1 that the ,christian religion may not be propagated by the civil sword4 ,unto which ,i reply and ask1 then what means this passage in his first answer to the former speeches of the king1#agi viz41 8,we acknowledge that none is to be constrained to believe or profess the true religion1 till he be convinced in judgment of the truth of it80#ahj implying two things4 ,first4 ,that the civil magistrate1 who is to constrain with the civil sword1 must judge all the consciences of their subjects1 whether they be convinced or no4 ,secondly4 ,when the civil magistrate discerns that his subjects' consciences are convinced1 then he may constrain them vi et armis1 hostilely4 ,sidenote3 ,constraint upon consciences in ,old and ,new ,england4 ,and accordingly1 the civil state and magistracy judging in spiritual things1 who knows not what constraint lies upon all consciences1 in old and ,new ,england1 to come to church1 and pay church duties1#aha which is upon the point--though with a sword of a finer gilt and trim in ,new ,england--nothing else but that which he confesseth ,hilary saith true should not be done1 to wit1 a propagation of religion by the sword4#ahb ,again1 although he confesseth that propagation of religion ought not to be by the sword1 yet he maintaineth the use of the sword1 when persons1 in the judgment of the civil state1 for that is implied1 blaspheme the true ,god1 and the true religion1 and also seduce others to damnable heresy and idolatry4 ,which1 because he barely affirmeth in this place1 ,i shall defer my answer unto the after reasons of ,mr4 ,cotton and the elders of ,new ,english churches2 where scriptures are alleged1 and in that place1 by ,god's assistance1 they shall be examined and answered4 ,,chap4 ,,lxx4 ,sidenote3 ,tertullian's speech discussed4 ,peace4 ,the answerer thus proceeds3#ahc 8,your next writer is ,tertullian1 who speaketh to the same purpose in the place alleged by you4 ,his intent is only to restrain ,scapula1 the ,roman governor of ,africa1 from persecuting the ,christians1 for not offering sacrifice to their gods3 and for that end1 fetched an argument from the law of natural equity1 not to compel any to any religion1 but permit them to believe willingly1 or not to believe at all4 ,which we acknowledge2 and accordingly we judge1 the ,english may permit the ,indians to continue in their unbelief4 ,nevertheless1 it will not therefore be lawful openly to tolerate the worship of devils or idols1 to the seduction of any from the truth40 ,truth4 ,answ4 ,in this passage he agreeth with ,tertullian1 and gives instance in ,america of the ,english permitting the ,indians to continue in their unbelief3 yet withal he affirmeth it not lawful to tolerate worshipping of devils1 or seduction from the truth4 ,sidenote3 ,the ,indians of ,new ,england permitted by the ,english not only to continue in their unbelief 7which they cannot cure7 but also in their false worship which they might by the civil sword restrain4 ,i answer1 that in ,new ,england it is well known that they not only permit the ,indians to continue in their unbelief1 which neither they nor all the ministers of ,christ on earth1 nor angels in heaven1 can help1 not being able to work belief3 but they also permit or tolerate them in their paganish worship1 which cannot be denied to be a worshipping of devils1 as all false worship is4#ahd ,and therefore1 consequently1 according to the same practice1 did they walk by rule and impartially1 not only the ,indians1 but their countrymen1 ,french1 ,dutch1 ,spanish1 ,persians1 ,turks1 ,jews1 c41 should also be permitted in their worships1 if correspondent in civil obedience4 ,peace4 ,he adds further1 8,when ,tertullian saith1 #8,that another man's religion neither hurteth nor profiteth any2' it must be understood of private worship and religion professed in private3 otherwise a false religion professed by the members of the church1 or by such as have given their names to ,christ1 will be the ruin and desolation of the church1 as appeareth by the threats of ,christ to the churches1 ,rev4 ii40 ,truth4 ,i answer3 passing by that unsound distinction of members of the church1 or those that have given their names to ,christ1 which in point of visible profession and worship will appear to be all one1 it is plain-- ,first4 ,that ,tertullian doth not there speak of private1 but of public worship and religion4 ,sidenote3 ,in two cases a false religion will not hurt the true church or the state4 ,secondly4 ,although it be true in a church of ,christ1 that a false religion or worship permitted1 will hurt1 according to those threats of ,christ1 ,rev4 ii41 yet in two cases ,i believe a false religion will not hurt1--which is most like to have been ,tertullian's meaning4 ,first4 ,a false religion out of the church will not hurt the church1 no more than weeds in the wilderness hurt the enclosed garden1 or poison hurt the body when it is not touched or taken1 yea1 and antidotes are received against it4 ,secondly4 ,a false religion and worship will not hurt the civil state1 in case the worshippers break no civil law3 and the answerer elsewhere acknowledgeth1 that the civil laws not being broken1 civil peace is not broken3 and this only is the point in question4#ahe ,,chap4 ,,lxxi4 ,sidenote3 ,the seducing or infecting of others1 discussed4 ,peace4 8,your next author10 saith he1#ahf 8,jerome1 crosseth not the truth1 nor advantageth your cause2 for we grant what he saith1 that heresy must be cut off with the sword of the ,spirit3 but this hinders not1 but that being so cut down1 if the heretic will persist in his heresy to the seduction of others1 he may be cut off also by the civil sword1 to prevent the perdition of others4 ,and that to be ,jerome's meaning1 appeareth by his note upon that of the apostle1 ,a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump4 ,therefore10 saith he1 8a spark as soon as it appeareth1 is to be extinguished1 and the leaven to be removed from the rest of the dough2 rotten pieces of flesh are to be cut off1 and a scabbed beast is to be driven from the sheepfold2 lest the whole house1 body1 mass of dough1 and flock1 be set on fire with the spark1 be putrefied with the rotten flesh1 soured with the leaven1 perish by the scabbed beast40 ,sidenote3 ,the answerer trusteth not to the sword of the ,spirit only1 in spiritual causes4 ,truth4 ,i answer1 first1 he granteth to ,jerome1#ahg that heresy must be cut off with the sword of the ,spirit2 yet1 withal1 he maintaineth a cutting off by a second sword1 the sword of the magistrate2 and conceiveth that ,jerome so means1 because he quoteth that of the apostle1 ,a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump4 ,answ4 ,it is no argument to prove that ,jerome meant a civil sword1 by alleging #a ,cor4 v4 #f1 or ,gal4 v4 #i1 which properly and only approve a cutting off by the sword of the ,spirit in the church1 and the purging out of the leaven in the church1 in the cities of ,corinth and ,galatia4 ,sidenote3 ,the absolute sufficiency of the sword of the ,spirit4 ,and if ,jerome should so mean as himself doth1 yet1 first1 that grant of his1 that heresy must be cut off with the sword of the ,spirit1 implies an absolute sufficiency in the sword of the ,spirit to cut it down1 according to that mighty operation of scriptural weapons1 #b ,cor4 x4 #d1 powerfully sufficient1 either to convert the heretic to ,god1 and subdue his very thoughts into subjection to ,christ1 or else spiritually to slay and execute him4 ,sidenote3 ,the church of ,christ to be kept pure4 ,secondly4 ,it is clear to be the meaning of the apostle1 and of the ,spirit of ,god1 not there to speak to the church in ,corinth1 or ,galatia1 or any other church1 concerning any other dough1 or house1 or body1 or flock1 but the dough1 the body1 the house1 the flock of ,christ1 his church3 out of which such sparks1 such leaven1 such rotten flesh1 and scabbed sheep1 are to be avoided4 ,sidenote3 ,a national church not instituted by ,christ ,jesus4 ,nor could the eye of this worthy answerer ever be so obscured1 as to run to a smith's shop for a sword of iron and steel to help the sword of the ,spirit1 if the ,sun of righteousness had once been pleased to show him1 that a national church1 which elsewhere he professeth against1 a state-church1 whether explicit1 as in old ,england1 or implicit1 as in ,new1 is not the institution of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4#ahh ,sidenote3 ,the national church of the ,jews4 #a ,sam4 xiii4 ,the national1 typical state-church of the ,jews1 necessarily called for such weapons2 but the particular churches of ,christ in all parts of the world1 consisting of ,jews or ,gentiles1 are powerfully able1 by the sword of the ,spirit to defend themselves1 and offend men or devils1 although the state or kingdom1 wherein such a church or churches of ,christ are gathered1 have neither carnal spear nor sword1 c42 as once it was in the national church of the land of ,canaan4 ,,chap4 ,,lxxii4 ,sidenote3 ,man hath no power to make laws to bind conscience4 ,peace4 8,brentius1 whom you next quote10 saith he1#ahi 8speaketh not to your cause4 ,we willingly grant you1 that man hath no power to make laws to bind conscience2 but this hinders not1 but men may see the laws of ,god observed which do bind conscience40 ,truth4 ,i answer1 ,in granting with ,brentius that man hath not power to make laws to bind conscience1 he overthrows such his tenent and practice as restrain men from their worship according to their conscience and belief1 and constrain them to such worships1 though it be out of a pretence that they are convinced1 which their own souls tell them they have no satisfaction nor faith in4#aij ,secondly4 ,whereas he affirmeth that men may make laws to see the laws of ,god observed3-- ,i answer1 as ,god needeth not the help of a material sword of steel to assist the sword of the ,spirit in the affairs of conscience1 so those men1 those magistrates1 yea1 that commonwealth which makes such magistrates1 must needs have power and authority from ,christ ,jesus to sit as judge1 and to determine in all the great controversies concerning doctrine1 discipline1 government1 c4 ,sidenote3 ,desperate consequences unavoidable4 ,and then ,i ask1 whether upon this ground it must not evidently follow1 that-- ,either there is no lawful commonwealth1 nor civil state of men in the world1 which is not qualified with this spiritual discerning3 and then also1 that the very commonweal hath more light concerning the church of ,christ1 than the church itself4 ,or1 that the commonweal and magistrates thereof1 must judge and punish as they are persuaded in their own belief and conscience1 be their conscience paganish1 ,turkish1 or anti-christian4 ,what is this but to confound heaven and earth together1 and not only to take away the being of ,christianity out of the world1 but to take away all civility1 and the world out of the world1 and to lay all upon heaps of confusion8 ,,chap4 ,,lxxiii4 ,sidenote3 ,luther's testimony in this case discussed4 ,peace4 8,the like answer10 saith he1#aia 8may be returned to ,luther1 whom you next allege4 8,first4 ,that the government of the civil magistrate extendeth no further than over the bodies and goods of their subjects1 not over their souls2 and1 therefore1 they may not undertake to give laws unto the souls and consciences of men4 8,secondly4 ,that the church of ,christ doth not use the arm of secular power to compel men to the true profession of the truth1 for this is to be done with spiritual weapons1 whereby ,christians are to be exhorted1 not compelled4 ,but this10 saith he1 8hindereth not that ,christians sinning against light of faith and conscience1 may justly be censured by the church with excommunication1 and by the civil sword also1 in case they shall corrupt others to the perdition of their souls40 ,truth4 ,i answer1 in this joint confession of the answerer with ,luther1 to wit1 that the government of the civil magistrate extendeth no further than over the bodies and goods of their subjects1 not over their souls3 who sees not what a clear testimony from his own mouth and pen is given1 to wit1 that either the spiritual and church estate1 the preaching of the word1 and the gathering of the church1 the baptism of it1 the ministry1 government1 and administrations thereof1 belong to the civil body of the commonweal1 that is1 to the bodies and goods of men1 which seems monstrous to imagine8 ,or else that the civil magistrate cannot1 without exceeding the bounds of his office1 meddle with those spiritual affairs8#aib ,sidenote3 ,mr4 ,cotton's positions evidently proved contradictory to themselves4 ,again1 necessarily must it follow1 that these two are contradictory to themselves1 to wit1-- ,the magistrates' power extends no further than the bodies and goods of the subject1 and yet-- ,the magistrate must punish ,christians for sinning against the light of faith and conscience1 and for corrupting the souls of men4 ,the ,father of lights make this worthy answerer1 and all that fear him1 to see their wandering in this case3 not only from his fear1 but also from the light of reason itself1 their own convictions and confessions4 ,secondly4 ,in his joint confession with ,luther1 that the church doth not use the secular power to compel men to the faith and profession of the truth1 he condemneth1 as before ,i have observed1-- ,first4 ,his former implication1 viz41 that they may be compelled when they are convinced of the truth of it4 ,secondly4 ,their own practice who suffer no man of any different conscience and worship to live in their jurisdiction1 except that he depart from his own exercise of religion and worship1 differing from the worship allowed of in the civil state1 yea1 and also actually submit to come to their church4 ,sidenote3 ,hearing of the word of ,god in a church estate a part of ,god's worship4 ,which1 however it is coloured over with this varnish1 viz41 that men are compelled no further than unto the hearing of the word1 unto which all men are bound1 yet it will appear1 that teaching and being taught in a church estate is a church worship1 as true and proper a church worship as the supper of the ,lord1 ,acts ii4 #df4 ,secondly4 ,all persons1 papist and protestant1 that are conscientious1 have always suffered upon this ground especially1 that they have refused to come to each other's church or meeting4 ,,chap4 ,,lxxiv4 ,sidenote3 ,papists' plea for toleration of conscience4 ,peace4 ,the next passage in the author which the answerer descends unto1 is the testimony of the papists themselves1 a lively and shining testimony1 from scriptures alleged both against themselves and all that associate with them 7as power is in their hand7 in such unchristian and bloody both tenents and practices4 8,as for the testimony of the popish book10 saith he1#aic 8we weigh it not1 as knowing whatever they speak for toleration of religion where themselves are under hatches1 when they come to sit at stern they judge and practise quite contrary1 as both their writings and judicial proceedings have testified to the world these many years40 ,truth4 ,i answer1 although both writings and practices have been such1 yet the scriptures and expressions of truth alleged and uttered by them1 speak loud and fully for them when they are under the hatches1 that for their conscience and religion they should not there be choked and smothered1 but suffered to breathe and walk upon the decks1 in the air of civil liberty and conversation1 in the ship of the commonwealth1 upon good assurance given of civil obedience to the civil state4 ,sidenote3 ,the protestants partial in the case of persecution4 ,again1 if this practice be so abominable in his eyes from the papists1 viz41 that they are so partial as to persecute when they sit at helm1 and yet cry out against persecution when they are under the hatches1 ,i shall beseech the righteous ,judge of the whole world to present1 as in a water or glass where face answereth to face1 the faces of the papist to the protestant1 answering to each other in the sameness of partiality1 both of this doctrine and practice4 ,when ,mr4 ,cotton and others have formerly been under hatches1 what sad and true complaints have they abundantly poured forth against persecution6 ,how have they opened that heavenly scripture1 ,cant4 iv4 #h1 where ,christ ,jesus calls his tender wife and spouse from the fellowship with persecutors in their dens of lions and mountains of leopards8 ,but coming to the helm1 as he speaks of the papists1 how1 both by preaching1 writing1 printing1 practice1 do they themselves--,i hope in their persons lambs--unnaturally and partially express towards others the cruel nature of such lions and leopards8 ,sidenote3 ,a false balance in ,god's matters abominable to ,god4 ,oh6 that the ,god of heaven might please to tell them how abominable in his eyes are a weight and a weight1 a stone and a stone1 in the bag of weights6--one weight for themselves when they are under hatches1 and another for others when they come to helm4 ,nor shall their confidence of their being in the truth1 which they judge the papists and others are not in1 no1 nor the truth itself1 privilege them to persecute others1 and to exempt themselves from persecution1 because 7as formerly7-- ,sidenote3 ,sheep cannot hunt1 no1 not the wolves4 ,first1 it is against the nature of true sheep to persecute1 or hunt the beasts of the forest3 no1 not the same wolves who formerly have persecuted themselves4#aid ,secondly1 if it be a duty and charge upon all magistrates1 in all parts of the world1 to judge and persecute in and for spiritual causes1 then either they are no magistrates who are not able to judge in such cases1 or else they must judge according to their consciences1 whether pagan1 ,turkish1 or anti-christian4 ,sidenote3 ,pills to purge out the spirit of persecution4 ,lastly1 notwithstanding their confidence of the truth of their own way1 yet the experience of our fathers' errors1 our own mistakes and ignorance1 the sense of our own weaknesses and blindness in the depths of the prophecies and mysteries of the kingdom of ,christ1 and the great professed expectation of light to come which we are not now able to comprehend1 may abate the edge1 yea1 sheath up the sword of persecution toward any1 especially toward such as differ not from them in doctrines of repentance1 or faith1 or holiness of heart and life1 and hope of glorious and eternal union to come1 but only in the way and manner of the administrations of ,jesus ,christ4 ,,chap4 ,,lxxv4 ,peace4 ,to close this head of the testimony of writers1 it pleaseth the answerer to produce a contrary testimony of ,austin1 ,optatus1 c4#aie ,sidenote3 ,superstition and persecution have had many votes from ,god's own people4 ,truth4 ,i readily acknowledge1 as formerly ,i did concerning the testimony of princes1 that anti-christ is too hard for ,christ at votes and numbers2 yea1 and believe that in many points1 wherein the servants of ,god these many hundred years have been fast asleep1 superstition and persecution have had more suffrages and votes from ,god's own people1 than hath either been honourable to the ,lord1 or peaceable to their own or the souls of others3 therefore1 not to derogate from the precious memory of any of them1 let us briefly consider what they have in this point affirmed4 ,to begin with ,austin3 8,they murder10 saith he1 8souls1 and themselves are afflicted in body1 and they put men to everlasting death1 and yet they complain when themselves are put to temporal death40#aif ,sidenote3 ,austin's saying for persecution examined4 ,i answer1 this rhetorical persuasion of human wisdom seems very reasonable in the eye of flesh and blood2 but one scripture more prevails with faithful and obedient souls than thousands of plausible and eloquent speeches3 in particular1 ,sidenote3 ,soul-killing4 ,first1 the scripture useth soul-killing in a large sense1 not only for the teaching of false prophets and seducers1 but even for the offensive walking of ,christians3 in which respect1 #a ,cor4 viii4 #i1 a true ,christian may be guilty of destroying a soul for whom ,christ died1 and therefore by this rule ought to be hanged1 burned1 c4 ,secondly1 that plausible similitude will not prove that every false teaching or false practice actually kills the soul1 as the body is slain1 and slain but once2 for souls infected or bewitched may again recover1 #a ,cor4 v42 ,gal4 v42 #b ,tim4 ii41 c4#aig ,sidenote3 ,punishments provided by ,christ ,jesus against soul-killers and soul-wounders4 ,thirdly1 for soul-killings1 yea1 also for soul-woundings and grievings1 ,christ ,jesus hath appointed remedies sufficient in his church4 ,there comes forth a two-edged sword out of his mouth 7,rev4 i4 and ,rev4 ii471 able to cut down heresy1 as is confessed3 yea1 and to kill the heretic3 yea1 and to punish his soul everlastingly1 which no sword of steel can reach unto in any punishment comparable or imaginable4 ,and therefore1 in this case1 we may say of this spiritual soul-killing by the sword of ,christ's mouth1 as ,paul concerning the incestuous person1 #b ,cor4 ii4 #f1 ,sufficient is this punishment1 c4 ,fourthly1 although no soul-killers1 nor soul-grievers1 may be suffered in the spiritual state1 or kingdom of ,christ1 the church2 yet he hath commanded that such should be suffered and permitted to be and live in the world1 as ,i have proved on ,matt4 xiii43 otherwise thousands and millions1 of souls and bodies both1 must be murdered and cut off by civil combustions and bloody wars about religion4 ,sidenote3 ,men dead in sin cannot be soul-killed4 ,a national enforced religion1 or a civil war for religion1 the two great preventers of soul-conversion and life4 ,fifthly1 ,i argue thus3 the souls of all men in the world are either naturally dead in sin1 or alive in ,christ4 ,if dead in sin1 no man can kill them1 no more than he can kill a dead man3 nor is it a false teacher1 or false religion1 that can so much prevent the means of spiritual life1 as one of these two3--either the force of a material sword1 imprisoning the souls of men in a state or national religion1 ministry1 or worship3 or1 secondly1 civil wars and combustions for religion's sake1 whereby men are immediately cut off without any longer means of repentance4 ,now again1 for the souls that are alive in ,christ1 he hath graciously appointed ordinances powerfully sufficient to maintain and cherish that life--armour of proof able to defend them against men and devils4 ,secondly1 the soul once alive in ,christ1 is like ,christ himself1 ,rev4 i4 #ah1 alive for ever1 ,rom4 vi4 #h2 and cannot die a spiritual death4 ,sidenote3 ,soul-killers prove1 by the grace of ,christ1 soul-savers4 ,lastly1 grant a man to be a false teacher1 a heretic1 a ,balaam1 a spiritual witch1 a wolf1 a persecutor1 breathing out blasphemies against ,christ and slaughters against his followers1 as ,paul did1 ,acts ix4 #a1 ,i say1 these who appear soul-killers to-day1 by the grace of ,christ may prove1 as ,paul1 soul-savers to-morrow3 and saith ,paul to ,timothy1 #a ,tim4 iv4 #af1 ,thou shalt save thyself and them that hear thee3 which all must necessarily be prevented1 if all that comes within the sense of these soul-killers must1 as guilty of blood1 be corporally killed and put to death4#aih ,,chap4 ,,lxxvi4 ,sidenote3 ,optatus examined4 ,peace4 ,dear ,truth1 your answers are so satisfactory to ,austin's speech1 that if ,austin himself were now living1 methinks he should be of your mind4 ,i pray descend to ,optatus1 8who10 saith the answerer1 8justifies ,macarius for putting some heretics to death1 affirming that he had done no more herein than what ,moses1 ,phineas1 and ,elias had done before him40 ,sidenote3 ,persecutors leave ,christ1 and fly to ,moses for their practice4 ,truth4 ,these are shafts usually drawn from the quiver of the ceremonial and typical state of the national church of the ,jews1 whose shadowish and figurative state vanished at the appearing of the body and substance1 the ,sun of righteousness1 who set up another kingdom1 or church1 ,heb4 xii4 #bg1 ministry and worship3 in which we find no such ordinance1 precept1 or precedent of killing men by material swords for religion's sake4 ,more particularly concerning ,moses1 ,i query what commandment1 or practice of ,moses1 either ,optatus1 or the answerer here intend8 ,probably that passage of ,deut4 xiii4 #ae1 wherein ,moses appointed a slaughter1 either of a person or a city1 that should depart from the ,god of ,israel1 with whom that national church was in covenant4 ,and if so1 ,i shall particularly reply to that place in my answer to the reasons hereunder mentioned4#aii ,concerning ,phineas's zealous act3 ,sidenote3 ,phineas's act discussed4 ,first1 his slaying of the ,israelitish man1 and woman of ,midian1 was not for spiritual but corporal filthiness4 ,secondly1 no man will produce his fact as precedential to any minister of the gospel so to act1 in any civil state or commonwealth2 although ,i believe in the church of ,god it is precedential1 for either minister or people1 to kill and slay with the two-edged sword of the ,spirit of ,god1 any such bold and open presumptuous sinners as these were4 ,lastly1 concerning ,elijah3 there were two famous acts of ,elijah of a killing nature3 ,first1 that of slaying #hej of ,baal's prophets1 #a ,kings xviii4 #dj4bjj ,secondly1 of the two captains and their fifties1 by fire1 c4 ,sidenote3 ,elijah's slaughters examined4 ,for the first of these1 it cannot figure1 or type out1 any material slaughter of the many thousands of false prophets in the world by any material sword of iron or steel3 for as that passage was miraculous1#bja so find we not any such commission given by the ,lord ,jesus to the ministers of the ,lord4 ,and lastly1 such a slaughter must not only extend to all the false prophets in the world1 but1 according to the answerer's grounds1 to the many thousands of thousands of idolaters and false worshippers in the kingdoms and nations of the world4 ,sidenote3 ,elijah's consuming the two captains and their companions by fire1 discussed4 ,for the second act of ,elijah1 as it was also of a miraculous nature1 so1 secondly1 when the followers of the ,lord ,jesus1 ,luke ix4 #ed1 proposed such a practice to the ,lord ,jesus1 for injury offered to his own person1 he disclaimed it with a mild check to their angry spirits1 telling them plainly they knew not what spirits they were of3 and addeth that gentle and merciful conclusion1 that he came not to destroy the bodies of men1 as contrarily anti-christ doth--alleging these instances from the ,old ,testament1 as also ,peter's killing ,ananias1 ,acts v4 #e1 and ,peter's vision and voice1 ,arise1 ,peter1 kill and eat1 ,acts x4 #ac4 ,,chap4 ,,lxxvii4 ,peace4 ,you have so satisfied these instances brought by ,optatus1 that methinks ,optatus and the answerer himself might rest satisfied4 ,i will not trouble you with ,bernard's argument from ,rom4 xiii41 which you have already on that scripture so largely answered4 ,but what think you1 lastly1 of ,calvin1 ,beza1 and ,aretius8 ,truth4 ,ans4 ,since matters of fact and opinion are barely related by the answerer without their grounds1 whose grounds1 notwithstanding1 in this discourse are answered--,i answer1 if ,paul himself were joined with them1 yea1 or an angel from heaven bringing any other rule than what the ,lord ,jesus hath once delivered1 we have ,paul's conclusion and resolution1 peremptory and dreadful1 ,gal4 i4 #h4 ,peace4 ,this passage finished1 let me finish the whole by proposing one conclusion of the author of the arguments1#bjb viz41 8,it is no prejudice to the commonwealth1 if liberty of conscience were suffered to such as fear ,god indeed3 ,abraham abode a long time amongst the ,canaanites1 yet contrary to them in religion1 ,gen4 xiii4 #g1 and xvi4 #ac4 ,again1 he sojourned in ,gerar1 and ,king ,abimelech gave him leave to abide in his land1 ,gen4 xx41 xxi41 xxiii41 xxiv4 8,isaac also dwelt in the same land1 yet contrary in religion1 ,gen4 xxvi4 8,jacob lived twenty years in one house with his uncle ,laban1 yet different in religion1 ,gen4 xxxi4 8,the people of ,israel were about four hundred and thirty years in that infamous land of ,egypt1 and afterwards seventy years in ,babylon3 all which times they differed in religion from the states1 ,exod4 xii41 and #b ,chron4 xxxvi4 8,come to the time of ,christ1 where ,israel was under the ,romans1 where lived divers sects of religion1 as ,herodians1 ,scribes1 and ,pharisees1 ,sadducees and ,libertines1 ,theudans and ,samaritans1 beside the common religion of the ,jews1 and ,christ and his apostles4 ,all which differed from the common religion of the state1 which was like the worship of ,diana1 which almost the whole world then worshipped1 ,acts xix41 xx4 8,all these lived under the government of ,csar1 being nothing hurtful unto the commonwealth1 giving unto ,csar that which was his4 ,and for their religion and consciences towards ,god1 he left them to themselves1 as having no dominion over their souls and consciences3 and when the enemies of the truth raised up any tumults1 the wisdom of the magistrate most wisely appeased them1 ,acts xviii4 #ad1 and xix4 #ce40 ,unto this the answerer returns thus much3--#bjc 8,it is true1 that without prejudice to the commonwealth1 liberty of conscience may be suffered to such as fear ,god indeed1 as knowing they will not persist in heresy or turbulent schism1 when they are convinced in conscience of the sinfulness thereof4 ,but the question is1 whether a heretic1 after once or twice admonition1 and so after conviction1 and any other scandalous and heinous offender1 may be tolerated either in the church without excommunication1 or in the commonweal without such punishment as may preserve others from dangerous and damnable infection40 ,,chap4 ,,lxxviii4 ,truth4 ,i here observe the answerer's partiality1 that none but such as truly fear ,god should enjoy liberty of conscience2 whence the inhabitants of the world must either come into the estate of men fearing ,god1 or else dissemble a religion in hypocrisy1 or else be driven out of the world4 ,one must follow4 ,the first is only the gift of ,god2 the second and third are too commonly practised upon this ground4 ,again4 ,since there is so much controversy in the world where the name of ,christ is taken up1 concerning the true church1 the ministry1 and worship1 and who are those that truly fear ,god2 ,i ask1 who shall judge in this case1 who be they that fear ,god8 ,sidenote3 ,dangerous consequences flowing from the civil magistrates judging in spiritual causes4 ,the world turned upside down4 ,it must needs be granted1 that such as have the power of suffering1 or not suffering such consciences1 must judge3 and then must it follow1 as before ,i intimated1 that the civil state must judge of the truth of the spiritual2 and then magistrates fearing or not fearing ,god1 must judge of the fear of ,god2 also1 that their judgment or sentence must be according to their conscience1 of what religion soever3 or that there is no lawful magistrate1 who is not able to judge in such cases4 ,and lastly1 that since the sovereign power of all civil authority is founded in the consent of the people1 that every common weal hath radically and fundamentally in it a power of true discerning the true fear of ,god1 which they transfer to their magistrates and officers3 or else1 that there are no lawful kingdoms1 cities1 or towns in the world1 in which a man may live1 and unto whose civil government he may submit3 and then1 as ,i said before1 there must be no world1 nor is it lawful to live in it1 because it hath not a true discerning spirit to judge them that fear or not fear ,god4 ,sidenote3 ,the wonder-answer of the ministers of the church of ,new ,england to the ministers of the church of ,old ,england4 ,lastly4 ,although this worthy answerer so readily grants1 that liberty of conscience should be suffered to them that fear ,god indeed3 yet we know what the ministers of the churches of ,new ,england wrote in answer to the thirty-two questions sent to them by some ministers of ,old ,england1#bjd viz41 that although they confessed them to be such persons whom they approved of far above themselves1 yea1 who were in their hearts to live and die together2 yet if they1 and other godly people with them1 coming over to them1 should differ in church constitution1 they then could not approve their civil cohabitation with them1 and1 consequently1 could not advise the magistrates to suffer them to enjoy a civil being within their jurisdiction4 ,hear1 ,o heavens6 and give ear1 ,o earth6 yea1 let the heavens be astonished1 and the earth tremble1 at such an answer as this from such excellent men to such whom they esteem for godliness above themselves6 ,,chap4 ,,lxxix4 ,peace4 ,yea1 but they say1 they doubt not if they were there but they should agree2 for1 say they1 either you will come to us1 or you may show us light to come to you1 for we are but weak men1 and dream not of perfection in this life4 ,sidenote3 ,lamentable differences even amongst them that fear ,god4 ,between the presbyterians and independents1 covenanters and non-covenanters1 of both which many are truly godly in their persons4 ,truth4 ,alas1 who knows not what lamentable differences have been between the same ministers of the church of ,england1 some conforming1 others leaving their livings1 friends1 country1 life1 rather than conform2 when others again1 of whose personal godliness it is not questioned1 have succeeded by conformity unto such forsaken 7so called7 livings8 ,how great the present differences1 even amongst them that fear ,god1 concerning faith1 justification1 and the evidence of it8 concerning repentance and godly sorrow1 as also and mainly concerning the church1 the matter1 form1 administrations1 and government of it8 ,let none now think that the passage to ,new ,england by sea1 or the nature of the country1 can do what only the key of ,david can do1 to wit1 open and shut the consciences of men4 ,beside1 how can this be a faithful and upright acknowledgment of their weakness and imperfection1 when they preach1 print1 and practise such violence to the souls and bodies of others1 and by their rules and grounds ought to proceed even to the killing of those whom they judge so dear unto them1 and in respect of godliness far above themselves8 ,,chap4 ,,lxxx4 ,peace4 ,yea2 but1 say they1 the godly will not persist in heresy1 or turbulent schism1 when they are convinced in conscience1 c4 ,sidenote3 ,the doctrine of persecution necessarily1 and most commonly1 falls heaviest upon the most godly persons4 ,truth4 ,sweet ,peace1 if the civil court and magistracy must judge1 as before ,i have written1 and those civil courts are as lawful1 consisting of natural men as of godly persons1 then what consequences necessarily will follow ,i have before mentioned4 ,and ,i add1 according to this conclusion it must follow1 that1 if the most godly persons yield not to once or twice admonition1 as is maintained by the answerer1 they must necessarily be esteemed obstinate persons2 for if they were godly1 saith he1 they would yield4 ,must it not then be said1 as it was by one passing sentence of banishment upon some whose godliness was acknowledged1 that he that commanded the judge not to respect the poor in the cause of judgment1 commands him not to respect the holy or the godly person8 ,sidenote3 ,the doctrine of persecution drives the most godly persons out of the world4 ,hence ,i could name the place and time when a godly man1 a most desirable person for his trade1 c41 yet something different in conscience1 propounded his willingness and desire to come to dwell in a certain town in ,new ,england2 it was answered by a chief of the place1 ,this man differs from us1 and we desire not to be troubled4 ,so that in conclusion1 for no other reason in the world1 the poor man1 though godly1 useful1 and peaceable1 could not be admitted to a civil being and habitation on the common earth1 in that wilderness1 amongst them4 ,the latter part of the answer1 concerning the heretic1 or obstinate person1 to be excommunicated1 and the scandalous offender to be punished in the commonweal1 which neither of both come near our question3 ,i have spoken of ,i fear too largely already4 ,peace4 ,mr4 ,cotton concludes with a confident persuasion of having removed the grounds of that great error1 viz41 that persons are not to be persecuted for cause of conscience4 ,sidenote3 ,the ,bloody ,tenent4 ,truth4 ,and ,i believe1 dear ,peace1 it shall appear to them that1 with fear and trembling at the word of the ,lord1 examine these passages1 that the charge of error reboundeth back1 even such an error as may well be called1 ,the ,bloody ,tenent--so directly contradicting the spirit1 and mind1 and practice of the ,prince of peace2 so deeply guilty of the blood of souls1 compelled and forced to hypocrisy in a spiritual and soul-rape2 so deeply guilty of the blood of the souls under the altar1 persecuted in all ages for the cause of conscience1 and so destructive to the civil peace and welfare of all kingdoms1 countries1 and commonwealths4 ,,chap4 ,,lxxxi4 ,peace4 ,to this conclusion1 dear ,truth1 ,i heartily subscribe1 and know that the ,god1 the ,spirit1 the ,prince1 the angels1 and all the true awaked sons of peace1 will call thee blessed4 ,truth4 ,how sweet and precious are these contemplations1 but oh6 how sweet the actions and fruitions8 ,peace4 ,thy lips drop as the honey-comb1 honey and milk are under thy tongue2 oh6 that these drops1 these streams1 might flow without a stop or interruption6 ,truth4 ,the glorious white troopers 7,rev4 xix47 shall in time be mounted1 and he that is the most high ,prince of princes1 and ,lord ,general of generals mounted upon the word of truth and meekness1 ,psalm xlv41 shall triumph gloriously1 and renew our meetings4 ,but hark1 what noise is this8 ,sidenote3 ,wars for conscience4 ,peace4 ,these are the doleful drums1 and shrill-sounding trumpets1 the roaring1 murdering cannons1 the shouts of conquerors1 the groans of wounded1 dying1 slaughtered righteous with the wicked4 ,dear ,truth1 how long8 how long these dreadful sounds and direful sights8 how long before my glad return and restitution8 ,truth4 ,sweet ,peace1 who will believe my true report8 yet true it is1 if ,i were once believed1 blessed ,truth and ,peace should not so soon be parted4 ,peace4 ,dear ,truth1 what welcome hast thou found of late beyond thy former times1 or present expectations8 ,sidenote3 ,the blessed ,magna ,charta4 ,truth4 ,alas6 my welcome changes as the times1 and strongest swords and arms prevail3 were ,i believed in this1 that ,christ is not delighted with the blood of men1 but shed his own for his bloodiest enemies--that by the word of ,christ no man for gainsaying ,christ1 or joining with the enemy anti-christ1 should be molested with the civil sword4 ,were this foundation laid as the ,magna ,charta of highest liberties1 and good security given on all hands for the preservation of it1 how soon should every brow and house be stuck with olive branches8 ,peace4 ,this heavenly invitation makes me bold once more to crave thy patient ear and holy tongue4 ,error's impatient and soon tired1 but thou art light1 and like the ,father of lights1 unwearied in thy shinings4 ,lo here6 what once again ,i present to thy impartial censure4 ,a ,,model ,,of ,,church ,,and ,,civil ,,power2 ,,composed ,,by ,,mr4 ,,cotton ,,and ,,the ,,ministers ,,of ,,new ,,england1 ,,and ,,sent ,,to ,,the ,,church ,,at ,,salem1 ,,as ,a ,,further ,,confirmation ,,of ,,the ,,bloody ,,doctrine ,,of ,,persecution ,,for ,,cause ,,of ,,conscience1 ,,examined ,,and ,,answered4 ,,chap4 ,,lxxxii4 ,truth4 ,what hast thou there8 ,sidenote3 ,a strange model of a church and commonweal1 after the ,mosaical and ,jewish pattern4 ,peace4 ,here is a combination of thine own children against thy very life and mine3 here is a model1 framed by many able1 learned1 and godly hands1 of such a church and commonweal as wakens ,moses from his unknown grave1 and denies ,jesus yet to have seen the earth4 ,truth4 ,begin1 sweet ,peace1 read and propound4 ,my hand shall not be tired with holding the balances of the sanctuary3 do thou put in1 and ,i shall weigh as in the presence of ,him whose pure eyes cannot behold iniquity4 ,sidenote3 ,matt4 xvi4 #ai1 with ,john xx4 #bc1 ,rom4 xiii4 #a1 ,matt4 x4 #ah1 ,tit4 iii4 #a1 ,acts xv4 #bj1 ,isa4 xlix4 #bc1 ,gal4 iii4 #bh4 ,peace4 ,thus1 then1 speaks the preface or entrance3 8,seeing ,god hath given a distinct power to church and commonweal1 the one spiritual 7called the power of the keys71 the other civil 7called the power of the sword71 and hath made the members of both societies subject to both authorities1 so that every soul in the church is subject to the higher powers in the commonweal1 and every member of the commonweal1 being a member of the church1 is subject to the laws of ,christ's kingdom1 and in him to the censures of the church3--the question is1 how the civil state and the church may dispense their several governments without infringement and impeachment of the power and honour of the one or of the other1 and what bounds and limits the ,lord hath set between both the administrations40 ,sidenote3 ,christ's power in his church confessed to be above all magistrates' in spiritual things4 ,truth4 ,from that conclusion1 dear ,peace1 that 8every member of the commonweal1 being a member of the church1 is subject to the laws of ,christ's kingdom1 and in ,him to the censures of the church30--,i observe1 that they grant the church of ,christ in spiritual causes to be superior and over the highest magistrates in the world1 if members of the church4 ,hence therefore ,i infer1 may she refuse to receive1 and may also cast forth any1 yea1 even the highest1 if obstinate in sin1 out of her spiritual society4 ,hence1 in this spiritual society1 that soul who hath most of ,christ1 most of his ,spirit1 is most 7spiritually7 honourable1 according to the scriptures quoted1 ,acts xv4 #bj2 ,isa4 xlix4 #bc2 ,gal4 iii4 #bh4 ,and if so1 how can this stand with their common tenent that the civil magistrate must keep the first table3 set up1 reform the church3 and be judge and governor in all ecclesiastical as well as civil causes8#bje ,sidenote3 ,isa4 xlix4 #bc1 lamentably wrested4 ,secondly1 ,i observe the lamentable wresting of this one scripture1 ,isa4 xlix4 #bc4 ,sometimes this scripture must prove the power of the civil magistrates1 kings1 and governors over the church in spiritual causes1 c4 ,yet here this scripture is produced to prove kings and magistrates 7in spiritual causes7 to be censured and corrected by the same church4 ,it is true in several respects1 he that is a governor may be a subject2 but in one and the same spiritual respect to judge and to be judged1 to sit on the bench and stand at the bar of ,christ ,jesus1 is as impossible as to reconcile the east and west together4 ,,chap4 ,,lxxxiii4 ,the first head1 that both jurisdictions may stand together4 ,sidenote3 ,the first head examined4 ,john xvii4 #cf4 ,jer4 xxix4 #g4 ,ezra vii4 #bc1 ,rom4 i4 #b1 #c1 #a ,tim4 ii4 #b4 ,peace4 8,whereas divers affecting transcending power to themselves over the church1 have persuaded the princes of the world that the kingdom of ,christ in his church cannot rise or stand without the falls of those commonweals wherein it is set up1 we do believe and profess the contrary to this suggestion2 the government of the one being of this world1 the other not2 the church helping forward the prosperity of the commonweal by means only ecclesiastical and spiritual2 the commonweal helping forward her own and the church's felicity by means political or temporal3--the falls of commonweals being known to arise from their scattering and diminishing the power of the church1 and the flourishing of commonweals with the well ordering of the people1 even in moral and civil virtues1 being observed to arise from the vigilant administration of the holy discipline of the church3 as ,bodin1 a man not partial to church discipline1 plainly testifieth4 ,the vices in the free estate of ,geneva1 que legibus nusquam vindicantur1 by means of church discipline1 sine vi et tumultu coercentur2 the ,christian liberty not freeing us from subjection to authority1 but from enthralment and bondage unto sin40#bjf ,sidenote3 ,the civil commonweal and the spiritual commonweal1 the church1 not inconsistent1 though independent the one on the other4 ,truth4 ,ans4 ,from this conclusion1 that the church1 or kingdom of ,christ1 may be set up without prejudice of the commonweal1 according to ,john xviii4 #cf1 ,my kingdom is not of this world1 c41 ,i observe1 that although the kingdom of ,christ1 the church1 and the civil kingdom or government be not inconsistent1 but that both may stand together2 yet that they are independent according to that scripture1 and that therefore there may be1 as formerly ,i have proved1 flourishing commonweals and societies of men1 where no church of ,christ abideth4 ,and1 secondly1 the commonweal may be in perfect peace and quiet1 notwithstanding the church1 the commonweal of ,christ1 be in distractions and spiritual oppositions1 both against their religions and sometimes amongst themselves1 as the church of ,christ in ,corinth troubled with divisions1 contentions1 c4 ,secondly1 ,i observe1 it is true the church helpeth forward the prosperity of the commonweal by spiritual means1 ,jer4 xxix4 #g4 ,the prayers of ,god's people procure the peace of the city where they abide2 yet1 that ,christ's ordinances and administrations of worship are appointed and given by ,christ to any civil state1 town1 or city1 as is implied by the instance of ,geneva1 that ,i confidently deny4 ,sidenote3 ,christ's ordinances put upon a whole city or nation1 may more civilize1 and moralize1 but never ,christianize them4 ,the ordinances and discipline of ,christ ,jesus1 though wrongfully and profanely applied to natural and unregenerate men1 may cast a blush of civility and morality upon them1 as in ,geneva and other places--for the shining brightness of the very shadow of ,christ's ordinances casts a shame upon barbarism and incivility--yet withal1 ,i affirm1 that the misapplication of ordinances to unregenerate and unrepentant persons hardens up their souls in a dreadful sleep and dream of their own blessed estate1 and sends millions of souls to hell in a secure expectation of a false salvation4 ,,chap4 ,,lxxxiv4 ,the second head1 concerning superiority of each power4 ,sidenote3 ,the second head1 concerning superiority of each power1 ,rom4 xiii4 #a-c2 ,isa4 xlix4 #bc4 ,luke xii4 #ad1 ,john viii4 #aa4 ,and that judicium of the church in lawsuits1 #a ,cor4 vi4 #b1 is only arbitrarium1 not coactivum4 ,peace4 8,because contention may arise in future times which of these powers under ,christ is the greatest1 as it hath been under anti-christ1 we conceive1 first1 that the power of the civil magistrate is superior to the church policy in place1 honours1 dignity1 earthly power1 in the world2 and the church superior to him1 being a member of the church1 ecclesiastically2 that is1 in a church way1 ruling and ordering him by spiritual ordinances according to ,god's word1 for his soul's health1 as any other member4 ,so that all the power the magistrate hath over the church is temporal1 not spiritual2 and all the power the church hath over the magistrate is spiritual1 not temporal4 ,and as the church hath no temporal power over the magistrate1 in ordine ad bonum spirituale2 so the magistrate hath no spiritual power over the church in ordine ad bonum temporale4 8,secondly1 the delinquency of either party calleth for the exercise of the power of terror from the other part2 for no rulers ordained of ,god are a terror to good works1 but to evil1 ,rom4 xiii4 #c4 ,so that if the church offend1 the offence of the church calleth upon the civil magistrate1 either to seek the healing thereof as a nursing father1 by his own grave advice and the advice of other churches2 or else1 if he cannot so prevail1 to put forth and exercise the superiority of his power in redressing what is amiss1 according to the quality of the offence1 by the course of civil justice4 8,on the other side1 if the magistrate being a member of the church shall offend1 the offence calleth upon the church either to seek the healing thereof in a brotherly way1 by conviction of his sin2 or else1 if they cannot prevail1 then to exercise the superiority of their power in removing of the offence1 and recovering of the offender1 by church censures40 ,sidenote3 ,answer4 ,a contradiction1 to make the magistrate supreme judge in spiritual causes1 and yet to have no spiritual power4 ,truth4 ,if the end of spiritual or church power is bonum spirituale1 a spiritual good3 and the end of civil or state power is bonum temporale1 a temporal good2 and secondly1 if the magistrate have no spiritual power to attain to his temporal end1 no more than a church hath any temporal power to attain to her spiritual end1 as is confessed3--,i demand1 if this be not a contradiction against their own disputes1 tenets1 and practices1 touching that question of persecution for cause of conscience4 ,for if the magistrate be supreme judge1 and so1 consequently1 give supreme judgment1 sentence1 and determination1 in matters of the first table and of the church1 and be custos utriusque tabul1 the keeper of both tables 7as they speak71 and yet have no spiritual power as is affirmed--how can he determine what the true church and ordinances are1 and then set them up with the power of the sword8 ,how can he give judgment of a false church1 a false ministry1 a false doctrine1 false ordinances1 and with a civil sword pull them down1 if he have no spiritual power1 authority1 or commission from ,christ ,jesus for these ends and purposes8 ,further1 ,i argue thus3 ,if the civil officer of state must determine1 judge1 and punish in spiritual causes1 his power1 authority1 and commission must be either spiritual or civil1 or else he hath none at all3 and so acts without a commission and warrant from the ,lord ,jesus2 and so1 consequently1 he stands guilty at the bar of ,christ ,jesus1 to answer for such his practice as a transcendent delinquent4 ,sidenote3 ,the civil magistrate confessed to have no civil power over the souls of men3 nor spiritual4 ,now for civil power1 these worthy authors confess that the government of the civil magistrate extendeth no further than over the bodies and goods of the subject1 and therefore hath no civil power over the soul1 and therefore1 say ,i1 not in soul-causes4 ,secondly4 ,it is here confessed1 in this passage1 that to attain his civil end1 or bonum temporale1 he hath no spiritual power2 and therefore1 of necessity1 out of their own mouths must they be judged for provoking the magistrate1 without either civil or spiritual power1 to judge1 punish1 and persecute in spiritual causes2 and to fear and tremble1 lest they come near those frogs which proceed out of the mouth of the dragon1 and beast1 and false prophet1 who1 by the same arguments which the authors here use1 stir up the kings of the earth to make war against the ,lamb1 ,christ ,jesus1 and his followers1 ,rev4 xvii4 #ad4 ,,chap4 ,,lxxxv4 ,in the next place1 ,i observe upon the point of delinquency1 such a conclusion as heaven and earth may stand amazed at4 ,if the church offend1 say they1 after advice refused1 in conclusion the magistrate must redress1 that is punish the church1 that is in church offences and cases1 by a course of civil justice4 ,on the other side1 if the civil magistrate offend after admonition used1 and not prevailing1 in conclusion the church proceeds to censure1 that is to excommunication1 as is afterward more largely proved by them4 ,sidenote3 ,the magistrate and the church1 by the author's grounds1 at one and the same time1 in one and the same cause1 made the judges on the bench and delinquents at the bar4 ,now ,i demand1 if the church be a delinquent1 who shall judge8 ,it is answered1 the magistrate4 ,again1 if the magistrate be a delinquent1 ,i ask who shall judge8 ,it is answered1 the church4 ,whence ,i observe--which is monstrous in all cases in the world--that one person1 to wit1 the church or magistrate1 shall be at one time the delinquent at the bar and the judge upon the bench4 ,this is clear thus3 ,the church must judge when the magistrate offends2 and yet the magistrate must judge when the church offends4 ,and so1 consequently1 in this case the magistrate must judge1 whether she contemn civil authority in the second table1 for thus dealing with him3 or whether she have broken the rules of the first table1 of which 7say they7 ,god hath made him keeper and conserver4 ,and therefore1 though the church make him a delinquent at the bar1 yet by their confession ,god hath made him a judge on the bench4 ,what blood1 what tumults1 have been and must be spilt upon these grounds8 ,peace4 ,dear ,truth1 no question but the church may punish the magistrate spiritually1 in spiritual cases2 and the magistrate may punish the church civilly1 in civil cases2 but that for one and the same cause the church must punish the magistrate1 and the magistrate the church1 this seems monstrous1 and needs explication4 ,sidenote3 ,an illustration1 demonstrating that the civil magistrate cannot have power over the church in spiritual or church causes4 ,truth4 ,sweet ,peace1 ,i illustrate with this instance3 ,a true church of ,christ1 of which1 according to the authors' supposition1 the magistrate is a member1 chooseth and calls one of her members to office4 ,the magistrate opposeth4 ,the church1 persuaded that the magistrates' exceptions are insufficient--according to her privilege1 which these authors maintain against the magistrates' prohibition--proceeds to ordain her officer4 ,the magistrate chargeth the church to have made an unfit and unworthy choice1 and1 therefore1 according to his place and power1 and according to his conscience and judgment1 he suppresseth such an officer1 and makes void the church's choice4 ,upon this the church complains against the magistrate's violation of her privileges given her by ,christ ,jesus1 and cries out that the magistrate is turned persecutor1 and1 not prevailing with admonition1 she proceeds to excommunication against him4 ,the magistrate1 according to his conscience1 endures not such profanation of ordinances as he conceives2 and therefore1 if no advice and admonition prevail1 he proceeds against such obstinate abusers of ,christ's holy ordinances 7as the authors grant he may7 in civil court of justice1 yea1 and--,i add according to the pattern of ,israel--cuts them off by the sword1 as obstinate usurpers and profaners of the holy things of ,christ4 ,sidenote3 ,the punishments civil which the magistrate inflicts upon the church for civil crimes1 lawful and necessary4 ,i demand1 what help hath any poor church of ,christ in this case1 by maintaining this power of the magistrate to punish the church of ,christ1 ,i mean in spiritual and soul-cases8 for otherwise ,i question not but he may put all the members of the church to death justly1 if they commit crimes worthy thereof1 as ,paul spake1 ,acts xxv4 #aa4 ,shall the church here fly to the pope's sanctuary against emperors and princes excommunicate1 to wit1 give away their crowns1 kingdoms1 or dominions1 and invite foreign princes to make war upon them and their territories8 ,the authors surely will disclaim this2 and yet ,i shall prove their tenets tend directly unto such a practice4 ,or secondly1 shall she say the magistrate is not a true magistrate1 because not able to judge and determine in such cases8 ,this their confession will not give them leave to say1 because they cannot deny unbelievers to be lawful magistrates3 and yet it shall appear1 notwithstanding their confession to the contrary1 their tenets imply that none but a magistrate after their own conscience is a lawful magistrate4 ,therefore1 thirdly1 they must ingenuously and honestly confess1 that if it be the duty of the magistrate to punish the church in spiritual cases1 he must then judge according to his conscience and persuasion1 whatever his conscience be3 and then let all men judge into what a woful state they bring both the civil magistrate and church of ,christ1 by such a church-destroying and state-destroying doctrine4 ,peace4 ,some will here say1 in such a case either the magistrate or the church must judge2 either the spiritual or civil state must be supreme4 ,truth4 ,i answer1 if the magistrate be of another religion1-- ,sidenote3 ,the true way of the ,god of peace in differences between the church and the magistrate4 ,first4 ,what hath the church to judge him being without8 #a ,cor4 v4 #ab1 #ac4 ,secondly4 ,if he be a member of the church1 doubtless the church hath power to judge1 in spiritual and soul-cases1 with spiritual and church censures1 all that are within1 #a ,cor4 v4 #a-aa4 ,thirdly4 ,if the church offend against the civil peace of the state1 by wronging the bodies or goods of any1 the magistrate bears not the sword in vain1 ,rom4 xiii4 #d1 to correct any or all the members of the church4 ,and this ,i conceive to be the only way of the ,god of peace4 ,,chap4 ,,lxxxvi4 ,the third head concerns the end of both these powers4 ,peace4 8,first1 the common and last end of both is ,god's glory1 and man's eternal felicity4 8,secondly4 ,the proper ends-- 8,first1 of commonwealth1 is the procuring1 preserving1 increasing of external and temporal peace and felicity of the state1 in all godliness and honesty1 #a ,tim4 ii4 #a1 #b4 8,secondly1 of the church1 a begetting1 preserving1 increasing of internal and spiritual peace and felicity of the church1 in all godliness and honesty1 ,esay4 ii4 #c1 #d1 and ix4 #g4 ,so that magistrates have power given them from ,christ in matters of religion1 because they are bound to see that outward peace be preserved1 not in all ungodliness and dishonesty1 for such peace is ,satanical2 but in all godliness and honesty1 for such peace ,god aims at4 ,and hence the magistrate is custos of both the tables of godliness1 in the first of honesty1 in the second for peace's sake4 ,he must see that honesty be preserved within his jurisdiction1 or else the subject will not be bonus cives4 ,he must see that godliness as well as honesty be preserved1 else the subject will not be bonus vir1 who is the best bonus cives4 ,he must see that godliness and honesty be preserved1 or else himself will not be bonu magistratus40#bjg ,truth4 ,in this passage here are divers particulars affirmed1 marvellously destructive both to godliness and honesty1 though under a fair mask and colour of both4 ,sidenote3 ,the garden of the church and the wilderness of the world made all one4 ,first1 it will appear that in spiritual things they make the garden and the wilderness1 as often ,i have intimated--,i say the garden and the wilderness1 the church and the world1 are all one3 for thus1 ,if the powers of the world1 or civil state1 are bound to propose external peace in all godliness for their end1 and the end of the church be to preserve internal peace in all godliness1 ,i demand1 if their end 7godliness7 be the same1 is not their power and state the same also8 unless they make the church subordinate to the commonwealth's end1 or the commonweal subordinate to the church's end1 which--being the governor and setter up of it1 and so consequently the judge of it--it cannot be4 ,sidenote3 ,the commonweal more charged by these authors with the worship and ordinances1 than the church4 ,now if godliness be the worshipping and walking with ,god in ,christ1 is not the magistrate and commonweal charged more by this tenet with the worship and ordinances of ,god1 than the church8 for the magistrate they charge with the external peace in godliness1 and the church but with the internal4 ,i ask further1 what is this internal peace in all godliness8 whether intend they internal1 within the soul1 which only the eye of ,god can see1 opposed to external1 or visible1 which man also can discern8 or else1 whether they mean internal1 that is spiritual1 soul-matters1 matters of ,god's worship8 and then ,i say1 that peace1 to wit1 of godliness or ,god's worship1 they had before granted to the civil state4 ,sidenote3 ,the authors of these positions never yet saw a true difference between the church of ,christ and the world1 in point of worship4 ,peace4 ,the truth is1 as ,i now perceive1 the best and most godly of that judgment declare themselves never to have seen a true difference between the church and the world1 and the spiritual and civil state2 and howsoever these worthy authors seem to make a kind of separation from the world1 and profess that the church must consist of spiritual and living stones1 saints1 regenerate persons1 and so make some peculiar enclosed ordinances1 as the supper of the ,lord1 which none1 say they1 but godly persons must taste of2 yet1 by compelling all within their jurisdiction to an outward conformity of the church worship1 of the word and prayer1 and maintenance of the ministry thereof1 they evidently declare that they still lodge and dwell in the confused mixtures of the unclean and clean1 of the flock of ,christ and herds of the world together--,i mean1 in spiritual and religious worship4 ,truth4 ,for a more full and clear discussion of this scripture1 #a ,tim4 ii4 #a1 #b1 on which is weakly built such a mighty building1 ,i shall propose and resolve these four queries4 ,,chap4 ,,lxxxvii4 ,sidenote3 #a ,tim4 ii4 #a1 #b1 discussed4 ,first1 what is meant by godliness and honesty in this place8 ,secondly1 what may the scope of the ,holy ,spirit of ,god be in this place8 ,thirdly1 whether the civil magistrate was then custos utriusque tabul1 keeper of both tables8 c4 ,fourthly1 whether a church1 or congregation of ,christians1 may not live in godliness and honesty1 although the civil magistrate be of another conscience and worship1 and the whole state and country with him8 ,to the first1 what is here meant by godliness and honesty8 ,answ4 ,i find not that the ,spirit of ,god here intendeth the first and second table4 ,sidenote3 ,the word honesty1 in this place of ,timothy1 cannot signify here the honesty or righteousness of the second table4 ,for1 however the word signify godliness1 or the worship of ,god1 yet the second word1 1 ,i find not that it signifies such an honesty as compriseth the duties of the second table1 but such an honesty as signifies solemnity1 gravity2 and so it is turned by the translator1 ,tit4 ii4 #g1 1 1 that is1 in doctrine showing incorruptness1 gravity3 which doctrine cannot there be taken for the doctrine of the civil state1 or second table1 but the gravity1 majesty1 and solemnity of the spiritual doctrine of ,christianity4 ,so that1 according to the translators' own rendering of that word in ,titus1 this place of ,timothy should be thus rendered1 in all godliness1 or worshipping of ,god1 and gravity2 that is1 a solemn or grave profession of the worship of ,god4 ,and yet this mistaken and misinterpreted scripture1 is that great castle and stronghold which so many fly unto concerning the magistrates' charge over the two tables4 ,secondly1 what is the scope of the ,spirit of ,god in this place8 ,sidenote3 ,the scope of ,god's ,spirit in this place of ,timothy4 ,i answer1 first1 negatively2 the scope is not to speak of the duties of the first and second table4 ,nor1 secondly1 is the scope to charge the magistrate with forcing the people1 who have chosen him1 to godliness1 or ,god's worship1 according to his conscience--the magistrate keeping the peace of external godliness1 and the church of internal1 as is affirmed2 but1 ,secondly1 positively2 ,i say the ,spirit of ,god by ,paul in this place provokes ,timothy and the church at ,ephesus1 and so consequently all the ministers of ,christ's churches1 and ,christians1 to pray for two things3-- ,sidenote3 ,god's people must pray for and endeavour the peace of the state they live in3 although pagan or popish4 ,first1 for the peaceable and quiet state of the countries and places of their abode2 that is implied in their praying1 as ,paul directs them1 for a quiet and peaceable condition1 and suits sweetly with the command of the ,lord to his people1 even in ,babel1 ,jer4 xxix4 #g1 pray for the peace of the city1 and seek the good of it2 for in the peace thereof it shall go well with you4 ,which rule will hold in any pagan or popish city1 and therefore consequently are ,god's people to pray against wars1 famines1 pestilences1 and especially to be far from kindling coals of war1 and endeavour the bringing in and advancing their conscience by the sword4 ,sidenote3 ,forcing of men to godliness or ,god's worship1 the greatest cause of breach of civil peace4 ,secondly1 they are here commanded to pray for the salvation of all men2 that all men1 and especially kings and magistrates1 might be saved1 and come to the knowledge of the truth2 implying that the grave--or solemn and shining--profession of godliness1 or ,god's worship1 according to ,christ ,jesus1 is a blessed means to cause all sorts of men to be affected with the ,christian profession1 and to come to the same knowledge of that one ,god and one ,mediator1 ,christ ,jesus4 ,all which tends directly against what it is brought for1 to wit1 the magistrates' forcing all men to godliness1 or the worshipping of ,god4 ,which in truth causeth the greatest breach of peace1 and the greatest distractions in the world1 and the setting up that for godliness or worship which is no more than ,nebuchadnezzar's golden image1 a state-worship1 and in some places the worship of the beast and his image1 ,dan4 iii41 ,rev4 xiii4 ,,chap4 ,,lxxxviii4 ,thirdly1 ,i query1 whether the civil magistrate1 which was then the ,roman emperor1 was keeper or guardian of both tables1 as is affirmed8 ,sidenote3 ,the ,roman ,csars described4 ,scripture and all history tell us1 that those ,csars were not only ignorant1 without ,god1 without ,christ1 c42 but professed worshippers1 or maintainers1 of the ,roman gods or devils2 as also notorious for all sorts of wickedness2 and1 lastly1 cruel and bloody lions and tigers toward the ,christians for many hundred years4 ,sidenote3 ,not appointed by ,christ ,jesus keepers and guardians of his church4 ,hence1 ,i argue from the wisdom1 love1 and faithfulness of the ,lord ,jesus in his house1 it was impossible that he should appoint such ignorant1 such idolatrous1 such wicked1 and such cruel persons to be his chief officers and deputy lieutenants under himself to keep the worship of ,god1 to guard his church1 his wife4 ,no wise and loving father was ever known to put his child1 no not his beasts1 dogs1 or swine1 but unto fitting keepers4 ,men judge it matter of high complaint1 that the records of parliament1 the king's children1 the ,tower of ,london1 the great seal1 should be committed to unworthy keepers6 ,and can it be1 without high blasphemy1 conceived that the ,lord ,jesus should commit his sheep1 his children1 yea1 his spouse1 his thousand shields and bucklers in the tower of his church1 and lastly1 his great and glorious broad seals of baptism and his supper1 to be preserved pure in their administrations--,i say1 that the ,lord ,jesus1 who is wisdom and faithfulness itself1 should deliver these to such keepers8 ,peace4 ,some will say1 it is one thing what persons are in fact and practice2 another what they ought to be by right and office4 ,truth4 ,in such cases as ,i have mentioned1 no man doth in the common eye of reason deliver such matters of charge and trust to such as declare themselves and sins 7like ,sodom7 at the very time of this great charge and trust to be committed to them4 ,peace4 ,it will further be said1 that many of the kings of ,judah1 who had the charge of establishing1 reforming--and so1 consequently1 of keeping the first table--the church1 ,god's worship1 c41 were notoriously wicked1 idolatrous1 c4 ,truth4 ,i must then say1 the case is not alike2 for when the ,lord appointed the government of ,israel after the rejection of ,saul1 to establish a covenant of succession in the type unto ,christ1 let it be minded what pattern and precedent it pleased the ,lord to set for the after kings of ,israel and ,judah1 in ,david1 the man after his own heart4 ,sidenote3 ,it pleased not the ,lord ,jesus1 in the first institution of his church1 to furnish himself with any such civil governors1 as unto whom he might commit the care of his worship4 ,but now the ,lord ,jesus being come himself1 and having fulfilled the former types1 and dissolved the national state of the church1 and established a more spiritual way of worship all the world over1 and appointed a spiritual government and governors1 it is well known what the ,roman ,csars were1 under whom both ,christ ,jesus himself1 and his servants after him1 lived and suffered2 so that if the ,lord ,jesus had appointed any such deputies--as we find not a tittle to that purpose1 nor have a shadow of true reason so to think--he must1 ,i say1 in the very first institution1 have pitched upon such persons for these custodes utriusque tabul1 keepers of both tables1 as no man wise1 or faithful1 or loving1 would have chosen in any of the former instances1 or cases of a more inferior nature4 ,beside1 to that great pretence of ,israel1 ,i have largely spoken to4 ,secondly4 ,i ask1 how could the ,roman ,csars1 or any civil magistrates1 be custodes1 keepers of the church and worship of ,god1 when1 as the authors of these positions acknowledge1 that their civil power extends but to bodies and goods8 ,and for spiritual power they say they have none1 ad bonum temporale 7to a temporal good71 which is their proper end2 and then1 having neither civil nor spiritual power from the ,lord ,jesus to this purpose1 how come they to be such keepers as is pretended8 ,sidenote3 ,the true keepers which ,christ ,jesus appointed of his ordinances and worship4 ,thirdly4 ,if the ,roman emperors were keepers1 what keepers were the apostles1 unto whom the ,lord ,jesus gave the care and charge of the churches1 and by whom the ,lord ,jesus charged ,timothy1 #a ,tim4 vi4 #ad1 to keep those commands of the ,lord ,jesus without spot until his coming8 ,these keepers were called the foundation of the church1 ,eph4 ii4 #bj1 and made up the crown of twelve stars about the head of the woman1 ,rev4 xii4 #a2 whose names were also written in the twelve foundations of the ,new ,jerusalem1 ,rev4 xxi4 #ad4 ,yea1 what keepers then are the ordinary officers of the church1 appointed to be the shepherds or keepers of the flock of ,christ2 appointed to be the porters or doorkeepers1 and to watch in the absence of ,christ8 ,mark xiii4 #cd2 ,acts xx4 #bh-ca4 ,yea1 what charge hath the whole church itself1 which is the pillar and ground of the truth1 #a ,tim4 i4 #ae1 in the midst of which ,christ is present with his power1 #a ,cor4 v4 #d1 to keep out or cast out the impenitent and obstinate1 even kings and emperors themselves1 from their spiritual society8 #a ,cor4 v42 ,james iii4 #a2 ,gal4 iii4 #bh4 ,sidenote3 ,the kings of the ,assyrians1 c41 not charged with ,god's worship as the kings of ,judah1 in that national and typical church4 ,fourthly4 ,i ask1 whether in the time of the kings of ,israel and ,judah--whom ,i confess in the typical and national state to be charged with both tables--,i ask1 whether the kings of the ,assyrians1 the kings of the ,ammonites1 ,moabites1 ,philistines1 were also constituted and ordained keepers of the worship of ,god as the kings of ,judah were1 for they were also lawful magistrates in their dominions8 or1 whether the ,roman emperors were custodes1 or keepers1 more than they8 or more than the king of ,babylon1 ,nebuchadnezzar1 under whose civil government ,god's people lived1 and in his own land and city8 ,jer4 xxix4 ,,chap4 ,,lxxxix4 ,sidenote3 ,constantine1 ,theodosius1 c41 misinformed4 ,peace4 ,you remember1 dear ,truth1 that ,constantine1 ,theodosius1 and others1 were made to believe that they were the antitypes of the kings of ,judah1 the church of ,god2 and ,henry ,,viii4 was told that that title1 ,defensor fidei1 defender of the faith1 though sent him by the pope for writing against ,luther1 was his own diadem1 due unto him from ,heaven4 ,so likewise since1 the kings and queens of ,england have been instructed4 ,truth4 ,but it was not so from the beginning1 as that very difference between the national state of the church of ,god then1 and other kings and magistrates of the world1 not so charged1 doth clearly evince1 and leadeth us to the spiritual king of the church1 ,christ ,jesus1 the king of ,israel1 and his spiritual government and governors therein4 ,sidenote3 ,masters of families under the gospel1 not charged to force all under him from their own consciences to his4 ,fifthly4 ,i ask1 whether had the ,roman ,csars more charge to see all their subjects observe and submit to the worship of ,god in their dominion of the world1 than a master1 father1 or husband now1 under the gospel1 in his family8 ,families are the foundations of government2 for what is a commonweal but a commonweal of families1 agreeing to live together for common good8 ,now in families1 suppose a believing ,christian husband hath an unbelieving1 anti-christian wife1 what other charge in this respect is given to a husband1 #a ,cor4 vii4 #ab-ae1 but to dwell with her as a husband1 if she be pleased to dwell with him8 but1 to be so far from forcing her from her conscience unto his1 as that if for his conscience' sake she would depart1 he was not to force her to tarry with him1 #a ,cor4 vii4 ,consequently1 the father or husband of the state differing from the commonweal in religion1 ought not to force the commonweal nor to be forced by it1 yet is he to continue a civil husband's care1 if the commonweal will live with him1 and abide in civil covenant4 ,now as a husband by his love to the truth1 and holy conversation in it1 and seasonable exhortations1 ought to endeavour to save his wife1 yet abhorring to use corporal punishment1 yea1 in this case to child or servant3 so ought the father1 husband1 governor of the commonweal1 endeavour to win and save whom possibly he may1 yet far from the appearance of civil violence4 ,sidenote3 ,if the charge of ,god's worship was left with the ,roman emperor1 then was he bound to turn the whole world into the garden1 flock1 and spouse of ,christ4 ,sixthly4 ,if the ,roman emperors were charged by ,christ with his worship in their dominion1 and their dominion was over the world1 as was the dominion of the ,grecian1 ,persian1 and ,babylonian monarchy before them1 who sees not1 if the whole world be forced to turn ,christian--as afterward and since it hath pretended to do--who sees not then1 that the world1 for whom ,christ ,jesus would not pray1 and the god of it1 are reconciled to ,jesus ,christ1 and the whole field of the world become his enclosed garden8 ,sidenote3 ,millions put to death4 ,seventhly4 ,if the ,roman emperors ought to have been by ,christ's appointment keepers of both tables1 antitypes of ,israel and ,judah's kings2 how many millions of idolaters and blasphemers against ,christ ,jesus and his worship1 ought they to have put to death1 according to ,israel's pattern6 ,sidenote3 ,christ never sent any of his ministers or servants to the civil magistrate1 for help in spiritual matters4 ,lastly4 ,i ask1 if the ,lord ,jesus had delivered his sheep and children to these wolves1 his wife and spouse to such adulterers1 his precious jewels to such great thieves and robbers of the world1 as the ,roman emperors were1 what is the reason that he was never pleased to send any of his servants to their gates to crave their help and assistance in this his work1 to put them in mind of their office1 to challenge and claim such a service from them1 according to their office1 as it pleased ,god always to send to the kings of ,israel and ,judah1 in the like case8 ,peace4 ,some will here object ,paul's appealing to ,csar4 ,truth4 ,and ,i must refer them to what ,i formerly answered to that objection4 ,paul never appealed to ,csar as a judge appointed by ,christ ,jesus to give definitive sentence in any spiritual or church controversy2 but against the civil violence and murder which the ,jews intended against him1 ,paul justly appealed4 ,for otherwise1 if in a spiritual cause he should have appealed1 he should have overthrown his own apostleship and power given him by ,christ ,jesus in spiritual things1 above the highest kings or emperors of the world beside4 ,,chap4 ,,xc4 ,peace4 ,blessed ,truth1 ,i shall now remember you of the fourth query upon this place of ,timothy2 to wit1 whether a church of ,christ ,jesus may not live in ,god's worship and comeliness1 notwithstanding that the civil magistrate profess not the same but a contrary religion and worship1 in his own person and the country with him8 ,truth4 ,i answer2 the churches of ,christ under the ,roman emperors did live in all godliness and ,christian gravity1 as appears by all their holy and glorious practices1 which the scripture abundantly testifies4 ,sidenote3 ,christ ,jesus hath left power in his church to preserve herself pure1 though in an idolatrous country4 ,secondly4 ,this flows from an institution or appointment of such a power and authority1 left by the ,lord ,jesus to his apostles and churches1 that no ungodliness or dishonesty1 in the first appearance of it1 was to be suffered1 but suppressed and cast out from the churches of ,christ1 even the little leaven of doctrine or practice1 #a ,cor4 v42 ,gal4 v4 ,sidenote3 ,god's people have used to shine in brightest godliness when they have enjoyed least quietness4 ,lastly1 ,i add1 that although sometimes it pleaseth the ,lord to vouchsafe his servants peace and quietness1 and to command them as here in ,timothy to pray for it1 for those good ends and purposes for which ,god hath appointed civil magistracy in the world1 to keep the world in peace and quietness3 yet ,god's people have used most to abound with godliness and honesty1 when they have enjoyed least peace and quietness4 ,then1 like those spices1 ,cant4 iv4 #ad1 myrrh1 frankincense1 saffron1 calamus1 c41 they have yielded the sweetest savour to ,god and man1 when they were pounded and burnt in cruel persecution of the ,roman censors4 ,then are they1 as ,god's venison1 most sweet when most hunted3 ,god's stars shining brightest in the darkest night3 more heavenly in conversation1 more mortified1 more abounding in love each to other1 more longing to be with ,god1 when the inhospitable and savage world hath used them like strangers1 and forced them to hasten home to another country which they profess to seek4 ,,chap4 ,,xci4 ,peace4 ,dear ,truth1 it seems not to be unreasonable to close up this passage with a short descant upon the assertion1 viz41 8,a subject without godliness will not be bonus vir1 a good man1 and a magistrate1 except he see godliness preserved1 will not be bonus magistratus40 ,sidenote3 ,few magistrates1 few men spiritually and ,christianly good4 ,yet divers sorts of goodness1 natural1 artificial1 civil1 c4 ,truth4 ,i confess that without godliness1 or a true worshipping of ,god with an upright heart1 according to ,god's ordinances1 neither subjects nor magistrates can please ,god in ,christ ,jesus1 and so be spiritually or ,christianly good2 which few magistrates and few men either come to1 or are ordained unto3 ,god having chosen a little flock out of the world1 and those generally poor and mean1 #a ,cor4 i4 #bf2 ,james ii4 #e1 yet this ,i must remember you of1 that when the most high ,god created all things of nothing1 he saw and acknowledged divers sorts of goodness1 which must still be acknowledged in their distinct kinds3 a good air1 a good ground1 a good tree1 a good sheep1 c4 ,i say the same in artificials1 a good garment1 a good house1 a good sword1 a good ship4 ,i also add1 a good city1 a good company or corporation1 a good husband1 father1 master4 ,hence also we say1 a good physician1 a good lawyer1 a good seaman1 a good merchant1 a good pilot for such or such a shore or harbour3 that is1 morally1 civilly good1 in their several civil respects and employments4 ,hence 7,ps4 cxxii47 the church1 or city of ,god1 is compared to a city compact within itself2 which compactness may be found in many towns and cities of the world1 where yet hath not shined any spiritual or supernatural goodness4 ,hence the ,lord ,jesus1 ,matt4 xii4 #be1 describes an ill state of a house or kingdom1 viz41 to be divided against itself1 which cannot stand4 ,sidenote3 ,the civil goodness of cities1 kingdoms1 subjects1 magistrates1 must be owned1 although spiritual goodness1 proper to the ,christian state or church1 be wanting4 ,these ,i observe to prove1 that a subject1 a magistrate1 may be a good subject1 a good magistrate1 in respect of civil or moral goodness1 which thousands want2 and where it is1 it is commendable and beautiful1 though godliness1 which is infinitely more beautiful1 be wanting1 and which is only proper to the ,christian state1 the commonweal of ,israel1 the true church1 the holy nation1 ,ephes4 ii42 #a ,pet4 ii4 ,lastly1 however the authors deny that there can be bonus magistratus1 a good magistrate1 except he see all godliness preserved2 yet themselves confess that civil honesty is sufficient to make a good subject1 in these words1 viz41 8,he must see that honesty be preserved within his jurisdiction1 else the subject will not be bonus cives1 a good citizen20 and doubtless1 if the law of relations hold true1 that civil honesty which makes a good citizen1 must also1 together with qualifications fit for a commander1 make also a good magistrate4 ,,chap4 ,,xcii4 ,peace4 ,the fourth head is1 ,the proper means of both these powers to attain their ends4 8,first1 the proper means whereby the civil power may and should attain its end1 are only political1 and principally these five4 8,first1 the erecting and establishing what form of civil government may seem in wisdom most meet1 according to general rules of the word1 and state of the people4 8,secondly1 the making1 publishing1 and establishing of wholesome civil laws1 not only such as concern civil justice1 but also the free passage of true religion3 for outward civil peace ariseth and is maintained from them both1 from the latter as well as from the former4 8,civil peace cannot stand entire where religion is corrupted1 #b ,chron4 xv4 #c1 #e1 #f2 ,judges viii4 ,and yet such laws1 though conversant about religion1 may still be counted civil laws3 as on the contrary1 an oath doth still remain religious1 though conversant about civil matters4 8,thirdly1 election and appointment of civil officers1 to see execution of those laws4 8,fourthly1 civil punishments and rewards of transgressors and observers of these laws4 8,fifthly1 taking up arms against the enemies of civil peace4 8,secondly1 the means whereby the church may and should attain her ends1 are only ecclesiastical1 which are chiefly five4 8,first1 setting up that form of church government only of which ,christ hath given them a pattern in his word4 8,secondly1 acknowledging and admitting of no lawgiver in the church but ,christ1 and the publishing of his laws4 8,thirdly1 electing and ordaining of such officers only as ,christ hath appointed in his word4 8,fourthly1 to receive into their fellowship them that are approved1 and inflicting spiritual censures against them that offend4 8,fifthly1 prayer and patience in suffering any evil from them that be without1 who disturb their peace4 8,so that magistrates1 as magistrates1 have no power of setting up the form of church government1 electing church officers1 punishing with church censures2 but to see that the church doth her duty herein4 ,and on the other side1 the churches1 as churches1 have no power1 though as members of the commonweal they may have power1 of erecting or altering forms of civil government1 electing of civil officers1 inflicting civil punishments--no1 not on persons excommunicated--as by deposing magistrates from their civil authority1 or withdrawing the hearts of the people against them1 to their laws1 no more than to discharge wives1 or children1 or servants1 from due obedience to their husbands1 parents1 or masters3 or by taking up arms against their magistrates1 though they persecute them for conscience3 for though members of churches1 who are public officers1 also of the civil state1 may suppress by force the violence of usurpers1 as ,jehoiada did ,athaliah1 yet this they do not as members of the church1 but as officers of the civil state40 ,truth4 ,here are divers considerable passages1 which ,i shall briefly examine so far as concerns our controversy4 ,first1 whereas they say1 that the civil power may erect and establish what form of civil government may seem in wisdom most meet3 ,i acknowledge the proposition to be most true1 both in itself1 and also considered with the end of it1 that a civil government is an ordinance of ,god1 to conserve the civil peace of people so far as concerns their bodies and goods1 as formerly hath been said4 ,sidenote3 ,civil power originally and fundamentally in the people4 ,but from this grant ,i infer1 as before hath been touched1 that the sovereign1 original1 and foundation of civil power1 lies in the people--whom they must needs mean by the civil power distinct from the government set up3 and if so1 that a people may erect and establish what form of government seems to them most meet for their civil condition4 ,it is evident that such governments as are by them erected and established1 have no more power1 nor for no longer time1 than the civil power1 or people consenting and agreeing1 shall betrust them with4 ,this is clear not only in reason1 but in the experience of all commonweals1 where the people are not deprived of their natural freedom by the power of tyrants4 ,sidenote3 ,mr4 ,cotton and the ,new ,english ministers1 give the government of ,christ's church1 or spouse1 into the hands of the people1 or commonweal4 ,and if so--that the magistrates receive their power of governing the church from the people--undeniably it follows1 that a people1 as a people1 naturally considered1 of what nature or nation soever in ,europe1 ,asia1 ,africa1 or ,america1 have fundamentally and originally1 as men1 a power to govern the church1 to see her do her duty1 to correct her1 to redress1 reform1 establish1 c4 ,and if this be not to pull ,god1 and ,christ1 and ,spirit out of heaven1 and subject them unto natural1 sinful1 inconstant men1 and so consequently to ,satan himself1 by whom all peoples naturally are guided1 let heaven and earth judge4 ,sidenote3 ,the very ,indian ,americans made governors of the church by the authors of these positions4 ,peace4 ,it cannot1 by their own grant1 be denied1 but that the wildest ,indians in ,america ought 7and in their kind and several degrees do7 to agree upon some forms of government1 some more civil compact in towns1 c41 some less4 ,as also1 that their civil and earthly governments be as lawful and true as any governments in the world1 and therefore consequently their governors are keepers of the church1 of both tables1 if any church of ,christ should arise or be amongst them3 and therefore1 lastly1 if ,christ have betrusted and charged the civil power with his church1 they must judge according to their ,indian or ,american consciences1 for other consciences it cannot be supposed they should have4 ,,chap4 ,,xciii4 ,truth4 ,again1 whereas they say that outward civil peace cannot stand where religion is corrupted2 and quote for it #b ,chron4 xv4 #c1 #e1 #f1 and ,judges viii4-- ,sidenote3 ,many civil states in flourishing peace and quiet where the ,lord ,jesus is not sounded4 ,i answer1 with admiration1 how such excellent spirits1 as these authors are furnished with1 not only in heavenly but earthly affairs1 should so forget1 and be so fast asleep in things so palpably evident1 as to say that outward civil peace cannot stand where religion is corrupt4 ,when so many stately kingdoms and governments in the world have long and long enjoyed civil peace and quiet1 notwithstanding their religion is so corrupt1 as that there is not the very name of ,jesus ,christ amongst them4 ,and this every historian1 merchant1 traveller1 in ,europe1 ,asia1 ,africa1 ,america1 can testify3 for so spake the ,lord ,jesus himself1 ,john xvi4 #bj1 ,the world shall sing and rejoice4 ,secondly1 for that scripture1 #b ,chron4 xv4 #c1 c41 relating the miseries of ,israel and ,judah1 and ,god's plagues upon that people for corruption of their religion1 it must still have reference to that peculiar state unto which ,god called the seed of one man1 ,abraham1 in a figure1 dealing so with them as he dealt not with any nation in the world1 ,ps4 cxlvii41 ,rom4 ix4 ,the antitype to this state ,i have proved to be the ,christian church1 which consequently hath been and is afflicted with spiritual plagues1 desolations1 and captivities1 for corrupting of that religion which hath been revealed unto them4 ,this appears by the seven churches2 and the people of ,god1 now so many hundred years in woful bondage and slavery to the mystical ,babel1 until the time of their joyful deliverance4 ,peace4 ,yea2 but they say that 8such laws as are conversant about religion may still be accounted civil laws1 as on the contrary an oath doth still remain religious1 though conversant about civil matters40 ,truth4 ,laws respecting religion are twofold4 ,sidenote3 ,laws concerning religion1 either religious or civil4 ,first1 such as concern the acts of worship and the worship itself1 the ministers of it1 their fitness or unfitness1 to be suppressed or established3 and for such laws we find no footing in the ,new ,testament of ,jesus ,christ4 ,sidenote3 ,the very ,indians abhor to disturb any conscience at worship4 ,secondly1 laws respecting religion may be such as merely concern the civil state1 bodies1 and goods of such and such persons1 professing these and these religions2 viz41 that such and such persons1 notorious for mutinies1 treasons1 rebellions1 massacres1 be disarmed3 again1 that no persons1 papists1 ,jews1 ,turks1 or ,indians1 be disturbed at their worship1 a thing which the very ,indians abhor to practise toward any4 ,also1 that immunity and freedom from tax and toll may be granted unto the people of such or such a religion1 as the magistrate pleaseth1 ,ezra vii4 #bd4 ,these and such as are of this nature1 concerning only the bodies and goods of such and such religious persons1 ,i confess are merely civil4 ,sidenote3 ,canons and constitutions pretended civil but indeed ecclesiastical4 ,but now1 on the other hand1 that laws restraining persons from such and such a worship1 because the civil state judgeth it to be false3-- ,that laws constraining to such and such a worship1 because the civil state judgeth this to be the only true way of worshipping ,god3-- ,that such and such a reformation of worship be submitted unto by all subjects in such a jurisdiction3-- ,that such and such churches1 ministers1 ministries1 be pulled down1 and such and such churches1 ministries1 and ministrations1 set up3-- ,that such laws properly concerning religion1 ,god1 the souls of men1 should be civil laws and constitutions1 is as far from reason as that the commandments of ,paul1 which he gave the churches concerning ,christ's worship 7#a ,cor4 xi4 and #a ,cor4 xiv471 were civil and earthly constitutions3 or that the canons and constitutions of either cumenical or national synods1 concerning religion1 should be civil and state conclusions and arguments4 ,sidenote3 ,laws merely concerning spiritual things must needs be spiritual4 ,to that instance of an oath remaining religious1 though conversant about civil things2 ,i answer and acknowledge1 an oath may be spiritual1 though taken about earthly business2 and accordingly it will prove1 and only prove1 what before ,i have said1 that a law may be civil though it concern persons of this and of that religion1 that is1 as the persons professing it are concerned in civil respects of bodies or goods1 as ,i have opened2 whereas if it concern the souls and religions of men1 simply so considered in reference to ,god1 it must of necessity put on the nature of religious or spiritual ordinance or constitution4 ,beside1 it is a most improper and fallacious instance2 for an oath1 being an invocation of a true or false ,god to judge in a case1 is an action of a spiritual and religious nature1 whatever the subject matter be about which it is taken1 whether civil or religious3 but a law or constitution may be civil or religious1 as the subject about which it is conversant is either civil1 merely concerning bodies or goods2 or religious1 concerning soul and worship4 ,,chap4 ,,xciv4 ,peace4 ,their fifth head is concerning the magistrates' power in making of laws4 8,first1 they have power to publish and apply such civil laws in a state1 as either are expressed in the word of ,god in ,moses's judicials--to wit1 so far as they are of general and moral equity1 and so binding all nations in all ages--to be deducted by way of general consequence and proportion from the word of ,god4 8,for in a free state no magistrate hath power over the bodies1 goods1 lands1 liberties of a free people1 but by their free consents4 ,and because free men are not free lords of their own estates1 but are only stewards unto ,god1 therefore they may not give their free consents to any magistrate to dispose of their bodies1 goods1 lands1 liberties1 at large as themselves please1 but as ,god1 the sovereign ,lord of all1 alone4 ,and because the word is a perfect rule1 as well of righteousness as of holiness1 it will be therefore necessary that neither the people give consent1 nor that the magistrate take power to dispose of the bodies1 goods1 lands1 liberties of the people1 but according to the laws and rules of the word of ,god4 8,secondly1 in making laws about civil and indifferent things about the commonweal1 8,first1 he hath no power given him of ,god to make what laws he please1 either in restraining from or constraining to the use of indifferent things2 because that which is indifferent in its nature1 may sometimes be inexpedient in its use1 and consequently unlawful1 #a ,cor4 ii4 #e1 it having been long since defended upon good ground1 ,quicquid non expedit1 quatenus non expedit1 non licet4 8,secondly1 he hath no power to make any such laws about indifferent things1 wherein nothing good or evil is shown to the people1 but only on principally the mere authority or will of the imposer1 for the observance of them1 ,col4 ii4 #ba1 #bb2 #a ,cor4 vii4 #bc1 compared with ,eph4 vi4 #f4 8,it is a prerogative proper to ,god to require obedience of the sons of men1 because of his authority and will4 8,the will of no man is regula recti1 unless first it be regula recta4 8,it is an evil speech of some1 that in some things the will of the law1 not the ratio of it1 must be the rule of conscience to walk by2 and that princes may forbid men to seek any other reason but their authority1 yea1 when they command frivola et dura4 ,and therefore it is the duty of the magistrate1 in all laws about indifferent things1 to show the reasons1 not only the will3 to show the expediency1 as well as the indifferency of things of that nature4 8,for we conceive in laws of this nature1 it is not the will of the lawgiver only1 but the reason of the law which binds4 ,ratio est rex legis1 et lex est rex regis4 8,thirdly1 because the judgment of expedient and inexpedient things is often difficult and diverse1 it is meet that such laws should not proceed without due consideration of the rules of expediency set down in the word1 which are these three3 8,first1 the rule of piety1 that they may make for the glory of ,god1 #a ,cor4 x4 #ca4 8,secondly1 the rule of charity1 that no scandal come hereby to any weak brother1 #a ,cor4 viii4 #ac4 8,thirdly1 the rule of charity1 that no man be forced to submit against his conscience1 ,rom4 xiv4 #ad1 #bc1 nor be judged of contempt of lawful authority1 because he is not suddenly persuaded of the expediency of indifferent things2 for if the people be bound by ,god to receive such laws about such things1 without any trial or satisfaction to the conscience1 but must judge them expedient because the magistrate thinks them so1 then the one cannot be punished in following the other1 in case he shall sin in calling inexpedient expedient2 but ,christ saith the contrary1 ,if the blind lead the blind1 they shall both fall40 ,sidenote3 ,the authors' large confession of the liberty of conscience1 from the laws of civil authority in spiritual cases4 ,truth4 ,in this passage these worthy men lay down such a ground as the gates of hell are not able to shake1 concerning the magistrates' walking in indifferent things3 and upon which ground that tower of ,lebanon may be raised1 whereon there hang a thousand shields and bucklers1 ,cant4 iv4 #d1 to wit1 that invincible truth1 that no man is to be persecuted for cause of conscience4 ,the ground is this1 8,the magistrate hath not power to make what laws he please1 either in restraining or constraining to the use of indifferent things40 ,and further they confess1 that the reason of the law1 not the will of it1 must be the rule of conscience4 ,and they add this impregnable reason1 viz4 8,if the people be bound to receive such laws without satisfaction to conscience1 then one cannot be punished for following the other1 in case he shall sin contrary to ,christ ,jesus1 who saith1 ,if the blind lead the blind1 they shall both fall40 ,sidenote3 ,civil magistrates confessed not to have power to urge the conscience in indifferent things4 ,hence ,i argue1 if the civil magistrate have no power to restrain or constrain their subjects in things in their own nature indifferent1 as in eating of meats1 wearing this or that garment1 using this or that gesture2 but that they are bound to try and examine his commands1 and satisfy their own reason1 conscience1 and judgment before the ,lord1 and that they shall sin1 if they follow the magistrate's command1 not being persuaded in their own soul and conscience that his commands are according to ,god3 it will be much more unlawful and heinous in the magistrate to compel the subjects unto that which1 according to their consciences' persuasion1 is simply unlawful1 as unto a falsely constituted church1 ministry1 worship1 administration1 and they shall not escape the ditch1 by being led blindfold by the magistrate2 but though he fall in first1 yet they shall fall in after him and upon him1 to his greater and more dreadful judgment4 ,in particular thus1 if the magistrate may restrain me from that gesture in the supper of the ,lord which ,i am persuaded ,i ought to practise1 he may also restrain me by his commands from that supper of the ,lord itself in such or such a church1 according to my conscience4 ,if he cannot1 as they grant1 constrain me to such or such a garment in the worship of ,god1 can he constrain me to worship ,god by such a ministry1 and with such worship1 which my soul and conscience cannot be persuaded is of ,god8 ,if he cannot command me in that circumstance of time to worship ,god1 this or that day1 can he command me to the worship itself8 ,sidenote3 ,a threefold guilt lying upon civil powers commanding the subject's soul in worship4 ,peace4 ,methinks ,i discern a threefold guilt to lie upon such civil powers as impose upon and enforce the conscience1 though not unto the ministration and participation of the seals1#bjh yet either to depart from that worship which it is persuaded of1 or to any exercise or worship which it hath not faith in4 ,first4 ,of an appearance of that ,arminian1 popish doctrine of free-will1 as if it lay in their own power and ability to believe upon the magistrate's command1 since it is confessed that what is submitted to by any without faith it is sin1 be it never so true and holy1 ,rom4 xiv4 #bc4 ,secondly4 ,since ,god only openeth the heart and worketh the will1 ,phil4 ii4 #ac1 it seems to be a high presumption to suppose1 that together with a command restraining from or constraining to worship1 that ,god is also to be forced or commanded to give faith1 to open the heart1 to incline the will1 c4 ,thirdly4 ,a guilt of the hypocrisy of their subjects and people1 in forcing them to act and practise in matters of religion and worship against the doubts and checks of their consciences1 causing their bodies to worship when their souls are far off1 to draw near with their lips1 their hearts being far off1 c4 ,sidenote3 ,persons may with less sin be forced to marry whom they cannot love1 than to worship where they cannot believe4 ,with less sin ten thousand-fold may a natural father force his daughter1 or the father of the commonweal force all the maidens in a country to the marriage-beds of such and such men whom they cannot love1 than the souls of these and other subjects to such worship or ministry1 which is either a true or false bed1 ,cant4 i4 #af4 ,truth4 ,sweet ,peace1 your conclusions are undeniable1 and oh6 that they might sink deep into those noble and honourable bosoms it so deeply concerns6 ,but proceed4 ,,chap4 ,,xcv4 ,peace4 ,in that fifth head they further say thus3-- 8,thirdly4 ,in matters ecclesiastical we believe1 first1 that civil magistrates have no power to make or constitute laws about church affairs1 which the ,lord ,jesus hath not ordained in his word for the well-ordering of the church2 for the apostle solemnly chargeth ,timothy1 and in him all governors of the church1 before ,god and the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 who is the only ,potentate1 the ,king of kings and ,lord of lords1 that the commandment given by him for the ordering of the church be kept without spot1 unrebukeable1 to the appearing of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 #a ,tim4 vi4 #ad1 #ae4 ,and this commandment given in the word1 the apostle saith1 is able to make the man of ,god perfect in all righteousness1 #b ,tim4 iii4 #ag4 ,and1 indeed1 the administration of all ,christ's affairs1 doth immediately aim at spiritual and divine ends1 as the worship of ,god1 and the salvation of men's souls3 and1 therefore1 no law nor means can be devised by the wisdom or wit of man that can be fit or able to reach such ends2 but use must be made of such only as the divine wisdom and holy will of ,god hath ordained4 8,secondly4 ,we believe the magistrate's power in making laws about church affairs1 is not only thus limited and restrained by ,christ to matters which concern the substance of ,god's worship and of church government1 but also such as concern outward order3 as in rites and ceremonies for uniformity's sake4 ,for we find not in the gospel1 that ,christ hath anywhere provided for the uniformity of churches1 but only for their unity4 8,paul1 in matters of ,christian liberty1 commendeth the unity of their faith in the ,holy ,spirit1 giving order that we should not judge nor condemn one another1 in difference of judgment and practice of such things where men live to ,god on both sides1 even though there were some error on one side1 ,rom4 xiv4 #a-f4 ,how much less in things indifferent1 where there may be no error on either side4 8,when the apostle directeth the church of ,corinth1 that all things be done decently and in order1 he meant not to give power to church officers or to civil magistrates1 to order whatever they should think meet for decency and order2 but only to provide that all the ordinances of ,god be administered in the church decently1 without unnatural or uncivil uncomeliness1 as that of long hair1 or women's prophesying1 or the like2 and orderly1 without confusion or disturbance of edification1 as the speaking of many at once in the church4 8,thirdly4 ,we do nevertheless willingly grant1 that magistrates1 upon due and diligent search what is the counsel and will of ,god in his word concerning the right ordering of the church1 may and ought to publish and declare1 establish and ratify1 such laws and ordinances as ,christ hath appointed in his word for the well ordering of church affairs3 both for the gathering of the church1 and the right administration of all the ordinances of ,god amongst them1 in such a manner as the ,lord hath appointed to edification4 ,the law of ,artaxerxes1 ,ezra vii4 #bc1 was not usurpation over the church's liberty2 but a royal and just confirmation of them3 ,whatsoever is commanded by the ,god of heaven3--for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons80 ,truth4 ,dear ,peace1 methinks ,i see before mine eyes a wall daubed up1 of which ,ezekiel speaks1 with untempered mortar4 ,here they restrain the magistrate from making laws1 either concerning the substance or ceremony of religion1 but such only as ,christ hath commanded2 and those1 say they1 they must publish and declare after the example of ,artaxerxes4 ,i shall herein perform two things3 first1 examine this magistrate's duty to publish1 declare1 c41 such laws and ordinances as ,christ hath appointed4 ,secondly1 ,i shall examine that proof from ,artaxerxes1 ,ezra vii4 #bc4 ,sidenote3 ,god's ,israel desirous of ,saul's arm of flesh4 ,in the first1 methinks ,i hear the voice of the people of ,israel1 #a ,sam4 viii4 #e1 ,make us a king1 that may rule over us after the manner of the nations3 rejecting the ,lord ruling over them by his holy word1 in the mouth of his prophets1 and sheltering themselves under an arm of flesh2 which arm of flesh ,god gave them in his anger1 and cut off again in his wrath1 after he had persecuted ,david1 the figure of ,christ ,jesus1 who hath given his people the sceptre and sword of his word and ,spirit1 and refused a temporal crown or weapons in the dispensation of his kingdom4 ,where did the ,lord ,jesus or his messengers charge the civil magistrate1 or direct ,christians to petition him1 to publish1 declare1 or establish by his arm of flesh and earthly weapons1 the religion and worship of ,christ ,jesus8 ,i find the beast and false prophet1 whose rise and doctrine is not from heaven1 but from the sea and earth1 dreadful and terrible1 by a civil sword and dignity1 ,rev4 xiii4 #b4 ,i find the beast hath gotten the power and might of the kings of the earth1 ,rev4 xvii4 #ac4 ,sidenote3 ,the seven-headed beast and the ,lamb differ in their weapons4 ,but the ,lamb's weapons are spiritually mighty1 #b ,cor4 x4 #d4 c41 his sword is two-edged1 coming out of his mouth1 ,rev4 i4 #af4 ,his preparations for war are white horses and white harness1 which are confessed by all to be of a spiritual nature1 ,rev4 xix4 ,sidenote3 ,naboth's case typical4 ,when that whore ,jezebel stabbed ,naboth with her pen1 in stirring up the people to stone him as a blasphemer of ,god and the king1 what a glorious mask or veil of holiness she put on8 ,proclaim a fast1 set a day apart for humiliation2 and for confirmation1 let all be ratified by the king's authority1 name1 and seal1 #a ,kings xxi4 #h1 #i4 ,was not this recorded for all ,god's ,naboths1 standing for their spiritual interests in heavenly things--typed out by the typical earth and ground of ,canaan's land--that they through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope8 ,rom4 xv4 #d4 ,again1 ,i demand1 who shall here sit to judge1 whether the magistrate command any other substance or ceremony but what is ,christ's8 ,by their former conclusions1 every soul must judge what the magistrate commandeth1 and is not bound1 even in indifferent things1 to the magistrates' law1 further than his own soul1 conscience1 and judgment ascends to the reason of it4 ,here1 the magistrate must make laws for that substance and ceremony which ,christ appointed4 ,but yet he must not do this with his eyes open1 but blindfold and hoodwinked2 for if he judge that to be the religion of ,christ1 and such to be the order therein1 which their consciences judge otherwise1 and assent not to1 they profess they must submit only to ,christ's laws1 and therefore they are not bound to obey him4 ,sidenote3 ,civil powers abused as a guard about the bed of spiritual whoredoms4 ,oh6 what is this but to make use of the civil powers and governors of the world1 as a guard about the spiritual bed of soul-whoredoms1 in which the kings of the earth commit spiritual fornication with the great whore1 ,rev4 xvii4 #b1--;as a guard1 while the inhabitants of the earth are drinking themselves drunk with the wine of her fornication8 ,but oh6 what terrifyings1 what allurings are in ,jeremy's curse and blessing6 ,jer4 xvii4 #e4 ,cursed is the man that trusteth in man1 that maketh flesh his arm1--too1 too common in spiritual matters--and whose heart departeth from ,jehovah3 he shall be as a heath in the wilderness--even in the spiritual and mystical wilderness--and shall not see when comfort comes1 but shall abide in drought in the wilderness1 in a barren land1 c4 ,,chap4 ,,xcvi4 ,peace4 ,oh6 what mysteries are these to flesh and blood6 how hard for flesh to forsake the arm thereof6 ,but pass on1 dear ,truth1 to their proof propounded1 ,ezra vii4 #bc1 wherein ,artaxerxes confirmed by law whatever was commanded by the ,god of heaven4 ,sidenote3 ,ezra vii4 #bc1 discussed4 ,truth4 ,in this scripture ,i mind1 first1 the people of ,god captivated under the dominion and government of the kings of ,babel and ,persia4 ,secondly4 ,artaxerxes's favour to these captives1 #a4 ,of freedom to their consciences4 #b4 ,of bounty towards them4 #c4 ,of exempting of some of them from common charges4 ,thirdly4 ,punishments on offenders4 ,fourthly4 ,the ground that carries him on to all this4 ,fifthly4 ,ezra praising of ,god for putting this into the heart of the king4 ,sidenote3 ,god's people not subject to the kings of ,babel or ,persia in spirituals4 ,concerning the people of ,god the ,jews1 they were as lambs and sheep in the jaws of the lion1 the dearly beloved of his soul under the devouring tyrants of the world1 both the ,babylonian and the ,persian1 far from their own nation and the government of their own anointed kings1 the figures of the true ,king of the ,jews1 the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,in this respect it is clear1 that the ,jews were no more subject to the kings of ,babylon and ,persia in spiritual things1 than the vessels of the sanctuary were subject to the king of ,babel's use1 ,dan4 v4 ,concerning this king1 ,i consider1 first1 his person3 a gentile idolater1 an oppressing tyrant1 one of those devouring beasts1 ,dan4 vii4 and viii4 ,a hand of bloody conquest set the crown upon the head of these monarchs2 and although in civil things they might challenge subjection1 yet why should they now sit down in the throne of ,israel1 and govern the people and church of ,god in spiritual things8 ,sidenote3 ,tyrants' hearts sometimes wonderfully mollified towards ,god's people4 ,secondly4 ,consider his acts of favour1 and they will not amount to a positive command that any of the ,jews should go up to build the temple1 nor that any of them should practise his own worship1 which he kept and judged the best for his own soul and people4 ,it is true1 he freely permits them and exerciseth a bounteous assistance to them4 ,all which argues no more1 but that sometimes it pleaseth ,god to open the hearts of tyrants greatly to favour and further his people4 ,such favour found ,nehemiah and ,daniel1 and others of ,god's people have and shall find1 so often as it pleaseth him to honour them that honour him before the sons of men4 ,peace4 ,who sees not how little this scripture contributes to their tenent8 ,but why1 say some1 should this king confirm all with such severe punishments8 and why for all this should ,ezra give thanks to ,god1 if it were not imitable for after times8 ,truth4 ,the law of ,god1 which he confirmed1 he knew not1 and therefore neither was1 nor could he be a judge in the case4 ,sidenote3 ,nebuchadnezzar1 ,darius1 and ,artaxerxes1 their decrees examined4 ,and for his ground1 what was it but the common terrors and convictions of an affrighted conscience8 ,in such fits and pangs1 what have not ,pharaohs1 ,sauls1 ,ahabs1 ,herods1 ,agrippas spoken8 ,and what wonderful decrees have ,nebuchadnezzar1 ,cyrus1 ,darius1 ,artaxerxes1 put forth concerning the ,god of ,israel1 ,dan4 iii4 and vi41 and ,ezra i4 and vii41 c42 and yet as far from being charged with1 as they were from being affected to1 the spiritual crown of governing the worship of ,god1 and the conscience of his people4 ,sidenote3 ,ezra's thanksgiving for the king's decree examined4 ,it is true1 ,ezra most piously and justly gave thanks to ,god for putting such a thing into the heart of the king2 but what makes this a pattern for the laws of civil governors now under the gospel8 ,it suited well with that national state of ,god's church1 that the gentile king should release them1 permit them to return to their own land1 assist them with other favours1 and enable them to execute punishments upon offenders according to their national state4 ,but did ,god put such a thing as this into the heart of the king1 viz41 to restrain upon pain of death all the millions of men under his dominion from the idolatries of their several and respective countries8 to constrain them all1 upon the like penalty1 to conform to the worship of the ,god of ,israel1 to build him a temple1 erect an altar1 ordain priests1 offer sacrifice1 observe the fasts and feasts of ,israel8 ,yea1 did ,god put it into the king's heart to send ,levites into all the parts of his dominion1 compelling them to hear8 which is but a natural thing1 as some unsoundly speak1#bji unto which all are bound to submit4 ,sidenote3 ,the duty of all civil states toward the consciences of their subjects4 ,well1 however1 ,ezra gives thanks to ,god for the king2 and so should all that fear ,god in all countries1 if he would please to put it into the hearts of the kings1 states1 and parliaments1 to take off the yokes of violence1 and permit1 at least1 the consciences of their subjects1 and especially such as in truth make conscience of their worships to the ,god of ,israel3 and yet1 no cause for ,ezra then1 or ,god's ,ezras and ,israelites now1 to acknowledge the care and charge of ,god's worship1 church1 and ordinances1 to lie upon the shoulders of ,artaxerxes1 or any other civil prince or ruler4 ,sidenote3 ,christ needs no human confirmations4 ,lastly4 ,for the confirmation or ratification which they suppose magistrates are bound to give to the laws of ,christ1 ,i answer1 ,god's cause1 ,christ's truth1 and the two-edged sword of his word1 never stood in need of a temporal sword or a human witness to confirm and ratify them4 ,if we receive the witness of an honest man1 the witness of the most holy ,god is greater1 #a ,john v4 #i4 ,sidenote3 ,the sum of the examples of gentile kings decreeing for ,god's worship in scripture4 ,the result and sum of the whole matter is this3--#a4 ,it may please ,god sometimes to stir up the rulers of the earth to permit and tolerate1 to favour and countenance1 ,god's people in their worships1 though only out of some strong conviction of conscience or fear of wrath1 c43 and yet themselves neither understand ,god's worship1 nor leave their own state1 idolatry1 or country's worship4 ,for this ,god's people ought to give thanks unto ,god2 yea1 and all men from this example may learn1 not to charge upon the magistrates' conscience--besides the care of the civil peace1 the bodies and goods of men--the spiritual peace1 in the worship of ,god and souls of men2 but hence are magistrates instructed favourably to permit their subjects in their worships1 although themselves be not persuaded to submit to them1 as ,nebuchadnezzar1 ,cyrus1 ,darius1 and ,artaxerxes did4 ,,chap4 ,,xcvii4 ,peace4 ,the sixth question is this3--,how far the church is subject to their laws8 8,all those10 say they1 8who are members of the commonweal are bound to be subject to all the just and righteous laws thereof1 and therefore1 membership in churches not cutting men off from membership in commonweals1 they are bound to be subject1 even every soul1 ,rom4 xiii4 #a1 as ,christ himself and the apostles were in their places wherein they lived4 ,and therefore to exempt the clergy1 as the papists do1 from civil subjection1 and to say that generatio clerici is corruptio subditi1 is both sinful and scandalous to the gospel of ,god2 and though all are equally subject1 yet church members are more especially bound to yield subjection1 and the most eminent most especially bound1 not only because conscience doth more strongly bind1 but also because their ill examples are more infectious to others1 pernicious to the state1 and provoke ,god's wrath to bring vengeance on the state4 8,hence1 if the whole church1 or officers of the church1 shall sin against the state1 or any person1 by sedition1 contempt of authority1 heresy1 blasphemy1 oppression1 slander1 or shall withdraw any of their members from the service of the state without the consent thereof1 their persons and estates are liable to civil punishments of magistrates1 according to their righteous and wholesome laws1 ,exod4 xxii4 #bj2 ,levit4 xxiv4 #af2 ,deut4 xiii4 #e1 and xviii4 #aj40 ,truth4 ,what concerns this head in civil things1 ,i gladly subscribe unto3 what concerns heresy1 blasphemy1 c41 ,i have plentifully before spoken to1 and shall here only say two things4 ,first4 ,those scriptures produced concern only the people of ,god in a church estate1 and must have reference only to the church of ,christ ,jesus1 which1 as ,mr4 ,cotton confesseth1#baj is not national but congregational1 of so many as may meet in one place1 #a ,cor4 xiv4 #bc4 and therefore no civil state can be the antitype and parallel3 to which purpose1 upon the eleventh question1 ,i shall at large show the difference between the national church and state of ,israel1 and all other states and nations in the world4 ,sidenote3 ,the law of putting to death blasphemers of ,christ1 cuts off all hopes from the ,jews of partaking in his blood4 ,secondly4 ,if the rulers of the earth are bound to put to death all that worship other gods than the true ,god1 or that blaspheme 7that is1 speak evil of in a lesser or higher degree7 that one true ,god3 it must unavoidably follow1 that the beloved for the ,father's sake1 the ,jews1 whose very religion blasphemeth ,christ in the highest degree--,i say1 they are actually sons of death1 and all to be immediately executed according to those quoted scriptures4 ,and-- ,sidenote3 ,the direful effects of fighting for conscience4 ,secondly4 ,the towns1 cities1 nations1 and kingdoms of the world1 must generally be put to the sword1 if they speedily renounce not their gods and worships1 and so cease to blaspheme the true ,god by their idolatries4 ,this bloody consequence cannot be avoided by any scripture rule1 for if that rule be of force1 ,deut4 xiii4 and xviii41 not to spare or show mercy upon person or city falling to idolatry1 that bars out all favour or partiality2 and then what heaps upon heaps in the slaughter-houses and shambles of civil laws must the world come to1 as ,i have formerly noted2 and that unnecessarily1 it being not required by the ,lord ,jesus for his sake1 and the magistrate's power and weapons being essentially civil1 and so not reaching to the impiety or ungodliness but the incivility and unrighteousness of tongue or hand4 ,,chap4 ,,xcviii4 ,peace4 ,dear ,truth1 these are the poisoned daggers stabbing at my tender heart6 ,oh1 when shall the ,prince of peace appear1 and reconcile the bloody sons of men6 but let me now propose their seventh head3 viz41-- 8,in what order may the magistrate execute punishment on a church or church member that offendeth his laws8 8,first4 ,gross and public1 notorious sins1 which are against the light of conscience1 as heresy1 c41 there the magistrate keeping him under safe ward should send the offender first to the church to heal his conscience1 still provided that the church be both able and willing thereunto3 by which means the magistrate shall convince such a one's conscience that he seeketh his healing1 rather than his hurt4 8,the censure also against him shall proceed with more power and blessing1 and none shall have cause to say that the magistrate persecutes men for their consciences1 but that he justly punishes such a one for sinning rather against his conscience1 ,tit4 iii4 #aj4 8,secondly1 in private offences how the magistrate may proceed1 see chap4 xii4 ,it is not material whether the church or magistrate take it first in hand4 ,only with this caution1 that if the state take it first in hand1 they are not to proceed to death or banishment1 until the church hath taken their course with him1 to bring him to repentance1 provided that the church be willing and ready thereunto4 8,secondly1 in such sins wherein men plead conscience1 as heresy10 c4 ,truth4 ,here ,i have many just exceptions and considerations to present4 ,first1 they propose a distinction of some sins3 some are against the light of conscience1 c41 and they instance in heresy4 ,sidenote3 ,error is confident as well as truth4 ,ans4 ,i have before discussed this point of a heretic sinning against light of conscience4 ,and ,i shall add1 that however they lay this down as an infallible conclusion1 that all heresy is against light of conscience1 yet--to pass by the discussion of the nature of heresy1 in which respect it may so be that even themselves may be found heretical1 yea1 and that in fundamentals--how do all idolaters after light presented1 and exhortations powerfully pressed1 either ,turks or pagans1 ,jews or anti-christians1 strongly even to the death hold fast1 or rather are held fast by1 their delusions4 ,sidenote3 ,god's people as well as others will be found obstinate in fundamental errors1 in which sufferings and persecution doth harden4 ,yea1 ,god's people themselves1 being deluded and captivated1 are strongly confident even against some fundamentals1 especially of worship3 and yet not against the light1 but according to the light or eye of a deceived conscience4 ,now all these consciences walk on confidently and constantly1 even to the suffering of death and torments2 and are more strongly confirmed in their belief and conscience1 because such bloody and cruel courses of persecution are used toward them4 ,secondly1 speaks not the scripture expressly of the ,jew1 ,isa4 vi41 ,matt4 xiii41 ,acts xxviii41 that ,god hath given them the spirit of slumber1 eyes that they should not see1 c48 all which must be spoken of the very conscience1 which ,he that hath the golden key of ,david can only shut and open1 and all the picklocks or swords in all the smiths' shops in the world can neither by force or fraud prevent his time4 ,sidenote3 ,strong delusions4 ,is it not said of anti-christians1 #b ,thess4 ii41 that ,god hath sent them strong delusions8 so strong and efficacious that they believe a lie1 and that so confidently1 and some so conscientiously1 that death itself cannot part between the delusion and their conscience4 8,again1 the magistrate1 say they1 keeping him in safe ward3 that is1 the heretic1 the blasphemer1 idolater10 c4 ,peace4 ,i here ask all men that love even the civil peace1 where the ,lord ,jesus hath spoken a tittle of a prison or safe ward to this purpose8 ,truth4 ,we find indeed a prison threatened by ,god to his irreconciled enemies1 neglecting to account with him1 ,matt4 v4 #be4 ,we find a prison into which persecutors cast the saints4 ,so ,john1 so ,paul1 and the apostles1 ,matt4 xiv4 #aj1 c41 were cast2 and the great commander of1 and caster into prison1 is the devil1 ,rev4 ii4 #aj4 ,sidenote3 ,spiritual prisons4 ,we find a spiritual prison1 indeed1 a prison for spirits1 #a ,pet4 iii4 #ai1 the spirits formerly rebellious against ,christ ,jesus1 speaking by ,noah unto them1 now kept in safe ward against the judgment of the great day4 ,in excommunication1 a soul obstinate in sin is delivered to ,satan his jailor1 and he keeps him in safe ward1 until it pleaseth ,god to release him4 ,there is a prison for the devil himself a thousand years1 ,rev4 xx4 #b1 #c4 ,and a lake of eternal fire and brimstone1 into which the beast and false prophet1 and all not written in the ,lamb's book1 and the devil that deceived them1 shall eternally be there secured and tormented4 ,sidenote3 ,christ ,jesus appointed no material prisons for blasphemers of him1 c4 ,but neither amongst these1 nor in any other passage of the ,new ,testament1 do we find a prison appointed by ,christ ,jesus for the heretic1 blasphemer1 idolater1 c4 being not otherwise guilty against the civil state4 ,sidenote3 ,the bishops' prisons4 ,it is true1 anti-christ1 by the help of civil powers1 hath his prisons to keep ,christ ,jesus and his members fast3 such prisons may well be called the bishops' prisons1 the pope's1 the devil's prisons4 ,these inquisition-houses have ever been more terrible than the magistrate's4 ,at first1 persecuting bishops borrowed prisons of the civil magistrate1 as now their successors do still in the world2 but afterward they wrung the keys out of the magistrates' hands1 and hung them at their own girdles1 and would have prisons of their own3 as doubtless will that generation still do1 if ,god prevent them not4 ,,chap4 ,,xcix4 ,peace4 ,again1 say they1 the magistrate should send him first to the church to heal his conscience4 ,sidenote3 ,like mother like daughter4 ,truth4 ,is not this as the prophet speaks ,ezek4 xvi4 #dd1 like mother like daughter8 ,so the mother of whoredoms1 the church of ,rome1 teacheth and practiseth with all her heretics3 first let the holy church convince them1 and then deliver them to the secular power to receive the punishment of heretics4 ,sidenote3 ,conscience not so easily healed and cured4 ,peace4 ,methinks also they approach near that popish tenent1 ex opere operato3 for their exhortations and admonitions must necessarily be so operative and prevalent1 that if the heretic repent not1 he now sins against his conscience3 not remembering that peradventure1 #b ,tim4 ii4 #be1 ,if peradventure1 ,god will give them repentance2 and how strong delusions are1 and believing of lies1 and how hard it is to be undeceived1 especially in spirituals6 ,truth4 ,and as it may so prove1 when a heretic indeed is brought to this college of physicians to have his conscience healed1 and one heretic is to cure another4 ,so also when any of ,christ's witnesses1 supposed heretics1 are brought before them1 how doth the ,lord ,jesus suffer whippings and stabs1 when his name1 and truths1 and witnesses1 and ordinances1 are all profaned and blasphemed4 ,sidenote3 ,wounding instead of healing of consciences4 ,besides1 suppose a man to be a heretic1 and yet suppose him brought as the magistrate's prisoner1 though to a true church1 to heal his conscience3 what promise of presence and blessing hath the ,lord ,jesus made to his church and spouse in such a way8 and how common is it for heretics either to be desperately hardened by such cruel courses 7yet pretending soul-healing71 or else through fear and terror to practise gross hypocrisy1 even against their consciences4 ,so that these chirurgeons and physicians pretending to heal consciences by such a course1 wound them deeper1 and declare themselves chirurgeons and physicians of no value4 ,peace4 ,but what think you of the proviso added to their proposition1 viz41 8,provided the church be able and willing80 ,sidenote3 ,christ's spouse able and willing to heal wounded consciences4 ,truth4 ,doubtless this proviso derogates not a little from the nature of the spouse of ,christ4 ,for she1 like that gracious woman1 ,prov4 xxxi4 #bf1 openeth her mouth with wisdom1 and in her tongue is the law of grace3 she is the pillar and ground of truth1 #a ,tim4 iii4 #ae1 the golden candlestick from whence true light shineth3 the angels or ministers thereof able to try false apostles1 ,rev4 ii4 #b1 and convince the gainsayers1 ,tit4 i4 #i4 ,again1 according to their principles of suppressing persons and churches falsely worshipping1 how can they permit such a blind and dead church not able and willing to heal a wounded conscience8 ,peace4 ,what should be the reason of this their expression8 ,truth4 ,doubtless their consciences tell them how few of those churches which they yet acknowledge churches1 are able and willing to hold forth ,christ ,jesus the ,sun of righteousness1 healing with his wings the doubting and afflicted conscience4 ,lastly1 their conscience tells them1 that a servant of ,christ ,jesus may possibly be sent as a heretic to be healed by a false church1 which church will never be willing to deal with him1 or never be able to convince him4 ,peace4 ,yea1 but they say1 8by such a course the magistrate shall convince such a one's conscience that he seeks his good10 c4 ,truth4 ,if a man thus bound be sent to a church to be healed in his conscience1 either he is a heretic or he is not4 ,sidenote3 ,a persecuting church disputes with a heretic as a cat with the mouse2 and with a true witness as a lion with a lamb in his paw4 ,admit he be3 yet he disputes in fear1 as the poor thief2 or as the mouse disputes with a terrible persecuting cat1 who while she seems to play and gently toss1 yet the conclusion is a proud1 insulting1 and devouring cruelty4 ,if no heretic1 but an innocent and faithful witness of any truth of ,jesus1 disputes he not as a lamb in the lion's paw1 being sure in the end to be torn in pieces8 ,peace4 ,they add1 8,the censure1 this way1 proceeds with more power and blessing40 ,truth4 ,all power and blessing is from the blessed ,son of ,god1 unto whom all power is given from the ,father1 in heaven and earth4 ,he hath promised his presence with his messengers1 preaching and baptizing1 to the world's end1 ratifying in heaven what they bind or loose on earth4 ,but let any man show me such a commission1 instruction1 and promise1 given by the ,son of ,god to civil powers in these spiritual affairs of his ,christian kingdom and worship8 ,peace4 ,lastly1 they conclude1 8,this course of first sending the heretic to be healed by the church1 takes away all excuse2 for none can say that he is persecuted for his conscience1 but for sinning against his conscience40 ,sidenote3 ,persecutors endure not so to be called4 ,truth4 ,jezebel1 placing poor ,naboth before the elders as a blasphemer of ,god and the king1 and sanctifying the plotted and intended murder with a day of humiliation1 may seem to take away all excuse1 and to conclude the blasphemer worthy to be stoned4 ,but ,jehovah1 the ,god of recompences 7,jer4 li4 #ef71 when he makes inquisition for blood1 will find both ,jezebel and ,ahab guilty1 and make the dogs a feast with the flesh of ,jezebel1 and leave not to ,ahab a man to piss against the wall2 for 7as ,paul in his own plea7 there was nothing committed worthy of death3 and against thee1 ,o king1 saith ,daniel1 ,i have not sinned 7,dan4 vi4 #bb7 in any civil fact against the state4 ,,chap4 ,c4 ,peace4 ,their eighth question is this1 viz41 what power magistrates have about the gathering of churches8 8,first1 the magistrate hath power1 and it is his duty to encourage and countenance such persons as voluntarily join themselves in holy covenant1 both by his presence 7if it may be7 and promise of protection1 they accepting the right hand of fellowship from other neighbour churches4 8,secondly1 he hath power to forbid all idolatrous and corrupt assemblies1 who offer to put themselves under their patronage1 and shall attempt to join themselves into a church-estate1 and if they shall not hearken1 to force them therefrom by the power of the sword1 ,ps4 ci4 #h4 ,for our tolerating many religions in a state in several churches1 besides the provoking of ,god1 may in time not only corrupt1 leaven1 divide1 and so destroy the peace of the churches1 but also dissolve the continuity of the state1 especially ours1 whose walls are made of the stones of the churches1 it being also contrary to the end of our planting in this part of the world1 which was not only to enjoy the pure ordinances1 but to enjoy them all in purity4 8,thirdly1 he hath power to compel all men within his grant to hear the word3 for hearing the word of ,god is a duty1 which the light of nature leadeth even heathens to4 ,the ,ninevites heard ,jonah1 though a stranger1 and unknown unto them to be an extraordinary prophet1 ,jonah iii4 ,and ,eglon1 the king of ,moab1 hearing that ,ehud had a message from ,god1 he rose out of his seat for more reverent attention1 ,judg4 iii4 #bj4 8,yet he hath no power to compel all men to become members of churches1 because he hath not power to make them fit members for the church1 which is not wrought by the power of the sword1 but by the power of the word2 nor may we force the churches to accept of any for members but those whom the churches themselves can freely approve of40 ,truth4 ,to the first branch of this head ,i answer1 that the magistrate should encourage and countenance the church1 yea1 and protect the persons of the church from violence1 disturbance1 c41 it being truly noble and glorious1 by how much the spouse and queen of the ,lord ,jesus transcends the ladies1 queens1 and empresses of the world in glory1 beauty1 chastity1 and innocency4 ,it is true1 all magistrates in the world do this3 viz41 encourage and protect the church or assembly of worshippers which they judge to be true and approve of2 but not permitting other consciences than their own1 it hath come to pass in all ages1 and yet doubtless will1 that the ,lord ,jesus and his queen are driven and persecuted out of the world4 ,to the second1 that the magistrate ought to suppress all churches which he judgeth false1 he quoteth ,ps4 ci4 #h1 ,betimes ,i will cut off the wicked of the land2 that ,i may cut off all evil doers from the city of ,jehovah3 unto which he addeth four reasons4 ,peace4 ,dear ,truth1 first1 a word to that scripture1 so often quoted1 and so much boasted of4 ,sidenote3 ,ps4 ci4 #h1 concerning the cutting off the wicked1 examined4 ,truth4 ,concerning that holy land of ,canaan1 concerning the city of ,jehovah1 ,jerusalem1 out of which king ,david here resolves to cut off all the wicked and evil doers1 ,i shall speak more largely on the eleventh head or question1 in the differences between that and all other lands4 ,sidenote3 ,no land of ,canaan1 nor holy city1 now4 ,at present ,i answer1 there is no holy land or city of the ,lord1 no king of ,sion1 c41 but the church of ,jesus ,christ1 and the ,king thereof1 according to #a ,pet4 ii4 #i1 ,ye are a holy nation2 and ,jerusalem is the holy people of ,god in the true profession of ,christianity1 ,heb4 xii41 ,gal4 iv41 and ,rev4 xxi41 out of which the ,lord ,jesus by his holy ordinances1 in such a government1 and by such governors as he hath appointed1 he cuts off every wicked person and evil doer4 ,sidenote3 ,no difference of lands and cities since the coming1 as was before the coming1 of the ,lord ,jesus4 ,if ,christ ,jesus had intended any difference of place1 cities1 or countries1 doubtless ,jerusalem and ,samaria had been thought of1 or the cities of ,asia1 wherein the ,christian religion was so gloriously planted4 ,but the ,lord ,jesus disclaims ,jerusalem and ,samaria from having any respect of holiness more than other cities1 ,john iv4 #ba4 ,and the ,spirit of ,god evidently testifieth that the churches were in the cities and countries1 not that the whole cities or countries were ,god's holy land and cities1 out of which all false worshippers and wicked persons were to be cut1 ,rev4 ii4 and iii4 ,the devil's throne was in the city of ,pergamos in respect of the state and persecution of it1 and yet there was also the throne of the ,lord ,jesus set up in his church or worshippers in ,pergamos1 out of which the ,balaamites1 and ,nicolaitanes1 and every false worshipper1 were to be cast1 though not out of the city of ,pergamos3 for then ,pergamos must have been thrown out of ,pergamos1 and the world out of the world4 ,,chap4 ,,ci4 ,peace4 ,oh6 that my head were a fountain1 and mine eyes rivers of tears1 to lament my children1 the children of peace and light1 thus darkening that and other lightsome scriptures with such dark and direful clouds of blood4 ,sidenote3 ,the bloody interpretation of ,ps4 ci4 ,truth4 ,sweet ,peace1 thy tears are seasonable and precious1 and bottled up in the heavens2 but let me add a second consideration from that scripture4 ,if that scripture may now literally be applied to nations and cities1 in a parallel to ,canaan and ,jerusalem1 since the gospel1 and this ,ps4 ci4 be literally to be applied to cities1 towns1 and countries in ,europe and ,america1 not only such as essay to join themselves 7as they here speak7 in a corrupt church estate1 but such as know no church estate1 nor ,god1 nor ,christ1 yea1 every wicked person and evil doer1 must be hanged or stoned1 c41 as it was in ,israel2 and if so1 how many thousands and millions of men and women in the several kingdoms and governments of the world1 must be cut off from their lands1 and destroyed from their cities1 as this scripture speaks6 ,thirdly1 since those persons in the ,new ,english plantations accounted unfit for church estate1 yet remain all members of the church of ,england1 from which ,new ,england dares not separate1 no not in their sacraments 7as some of the independents have published71 what riddle or mystery1 or rather fallacy of ,satan is this6#baa ,sidenote3 ,the ,new ,english separate in ,america1 but not in ,europe4 ,peace4 ,it will not be offence to charity to make conjecture3 first1 herein ,new ,england churches secretly call their mother whore1 not daring in ,america to join with their own mother's children1 though unexcommunicate3 no1 nor permit them to worship ,god after their consciences1 and as their mother hath taught them this secretly and silently1 they have a mind to do1 which publicly they would seem to disclaim1 and profess against4 ,sidenote3 ,the ,new ,english permit not their brethren of ,old ,england to enjoy their consciences1 lest their own numbers might exceed their own1 or at least the greatness of their own assemblies and maintenances decrease4 ,secondly1 if such members of ,old ,england should be suffered to enjoy their consciences in ,new ,england--however it is pretended they would profane ordinances for which they are unfit 7as true it is in that natural persons are not fit for spiritual worship71 yet this appears not to be the bottom1 for in ,old ,england the ,new ,english join with ,old in the ministration of the word1 prayer1 singing1 contribution1 maintenance of the ministry1 c4--if1 ,i say1 they should set up churches after their conscience1 the greatness and multitudes of their own assemblies would decay1 and with all the contributions and maintenance of their ministers1 unto which all or most have been forced4 ,truth4 ,dear ,peace1 these are more than conjectures1 thousands now espy2 and all that love the purity of the worship of the living ,god should lament such halting4 ,i shall add this1 not only do they partially neglect to cut off the wicked of the land1 but such as themselves esteemed beloved and godly have they driven forth1 and keep out others which would come unto them1 eminently godly by their own confession2 because differing in conscience and worship from them1 and consequently not to be suffered in their holy land of ,canaan4#bab ,but having examined that scripture alleged1 let us now weigh their reasons4 ,first1 say they1 the not cutting off by the sword1 but tolerating many religions in a state would provoke ,god3 unto which-- ,sidenote3 ,christ ,jesus never appointed all religions but his own to be cut off by the civil sword4 ,i answer1 first 7and here being no scripture produced to these reasons1 shall the sooner answer71 that no proof can be made from the institutions of the ,lord ,jesus that all religions but one are to be cut off by the civil sword2 that national church in that typical land of ,canaan being abolished and the ,christian commonweal or church instituted4 ,sidenote3 ,a bloody mother4 ,secondly4 ,i affirm that the cutting off by the sword other consciences and religions1 is 7contrarily7 most provoking unto ,god1 expressly against his will concerning the tares1 ,matt4 xiii41 as ,i have before proved2 as also the bloody mother of all those monstrous mischiefs1 where such cutting off is used1 both to the souls and bodies of men4 ,thirdly4 ,let conscience and experience speak how in the not cutting off of their many religions1 it hath pleased ,god not only not to be provoked1 but to prosper the state of the ,united ,provinces1 our next neighbours1 and that to admiration4 ,peace4 ,the second reason is1 such tolerating would leaven1 divide1 and destroy the peace of the churches4 ,sidenote3 ,christ's spiritual power most powerful4 ,truth4 ,this must also be denied upon so many former scriptures and reasons produced1 proving the power of the ,lord ,jesus1 and the sufficiency of his spiritual power in his church1 for the purging forth and conquering of the least evil3 yea1 and for the bringing every thought in subjection unto ,christ ,jesus1 #b ,cor4 x4 ,sidenote3 ,christ forbidding his followers to permit leaven in the church1 doth not forbid to permit leaven in the world4 ,i add1 they have not produced one scripture1 nor can1 to prove that the permitting of leaven of false doctrine in the world or civil state1 will leaven the churches3 only we find that the permission of leaven in persons1 doctrines1 or practices in the church1 that indeed will corrupt and spread1 #a ,cor4 v41 and ,gal4 v42 but this reason should never have been alleged1 were not the particular churches in ,new ,england but as so many implicit parish churches in one implicit national church4 ,peace4 ,their third reason is1 it will dissolve the continuity of the state1 especially theirs1 where the walls are made of the stones of the churches4 ,sidenote3 ,the wall1 ,cant4 viii4 #i1 discussed4 ,truth4 ,i answer briefly to this bare affirmation thus3 that the true church is a wall spiritual and mystical1 ,cant4 viii4 #i4 ,that consequently a false church or company is a false or pretended wall1 and none of ,christ's4 ,the civil state1 power1 and government is a civil wall1 c41 and-- ,lastly4 ,the walls of earth or stone about a city1 are the natural or artificial wall or defence of it4 ,now1 in consideration of these four walls1 ,i desire it may be proved from the scriptures of truth1 how the false spiritual wall1 or company of false worshippers suffered in a city1 can be able to destroy the true ,christian wall1 or company of believers4 ,sidenote3 ,a spiritual wall cannot properly impair the civil4 ,again1 how this false spiritual wall1 or false church permitted1 can destroy the civil wall1 the state and government of the city and citizens1 any more than it can destroy the natural or artificial wall of earth or stone4 ,spiritual may destroy spiritual1 if a stronger and victorious2 but spiritual cannot reach to artificial or civil4 ,peace4 ,yea2 but they fear the false spiritual wall may destroy their civil1 because it is made of the stones of churches4 ,truth4 ,if this have reference to that practice amongst them1 viz41 that none but members of churches enjoy civil freedom amongst them1 ordinarily1#bac in imitation of that national church or state of the ,jews1 then ,i answer1 they that follow ,moses's church constitution1 which the ,new ,english by such a practice implicitly do1 must cease to pretend to the ,lord ,jesus ,christ and his institutions4 ,sidenote3 ,many flourishing civil states where true churches are not found4 ,secondly4 ,we shall find lawful civil states1 both before and since ,christ ,jesus1 in which we find not any tidings of the true ,god or ,christ4 ,lastly4 ,their civil ,new ,english state1 framed out of their churches1 may yet stand1 subsist1 and flourish1 although they did--as by the word of the ,lord they ought--permit either ,jews1 or ,turks1 or anti-christians to live amongst them subject unto their civil government4 ,,chap4 ,,cii4 ,peace4 ,one branch more1 viz41 the third1 remains of this head1 and it concerns the hearing of the word2 8,unto which10 say they1 8all men are to be compelled2 because hearing of the word is a duty which even nature leadeth heathens to40 ,for this they quote the practice of the ,ninevites hearing ,jonah1 and ,eglon1 king of ,moab's rising up to ,ehud's pretended message from ,god1 ,judg4 iii4 ,sidenote3 ,hearing discussed4 ,every religion prefers its own priests and ministers before all other4 ,truth4 ,i must deny that position3 for light of nature leadeth men to hear that only which nature conceiveth to be good for it1 and therefore not to hear a messenger1 minister1 or preacher1 whom conscience persuades is a false messenger or deceiver1 and comes to deceive my soul3 as millions of men and women in their several respective religions and consciences are so persuaded1 conceiving their own to be true4 ,sidenote3 ,jonah's preaching to the ,ninevites1 and their hearing of his message1 examined4 ,secondly4 ,as concerning the instances4 ,jonah did not compel the ,ninevites to hear that message which he brought unto them4 ,besides1 the matter of compulsion to a constant worship of the word in church estate1 which is the question1 comes not near ,jonah's case4 ,nor did ,christ ,jesus1 or any of his ambassadors1 so practise2 but if persons refused to hear1 the command of the ,lord ,jesus to his messengers was only to depart from them1 shaking off the dust of their feet with a denunciation of ,god's wrath against them1 ,matt4 x42 ,acts xiv4 ,sidenote3 ,eglon's rising up to ,ehud's message1 examined4 ,concerning ,eglon's rising up3 first1 ,ehud compelled not that king either to hear or reverence1 and all that can be imitable in ,eglon is a voluntary and willing reverence1 which persons ought to express to what they are persuaded comes from ,god4 ,but how do both these instances mightily convince and condemn themselves1 who not only profess to turn away from1 but also persecute or hurt1 all such as shall dare to profess a ministry or church estate differing from their own1 though for personal godliness and excellency of gifts reverenced by themselves4 ,sidenote3 ,a twofold ministry of ,christ1 converting and feeding4 ,thirdly4 ,to the point of compulsion3 it hath pleased the ,lord ,jesus to appoint a twofold ministry of his word4 ,first4 ,for unbelievers and their conversion1 according to ,matt4 xxviii4 #ai1 ,mark xvi4 #ae1 #af1 and the constant practice of the apostles in the first preaching of the gospel4 ,secondly4 ,a ministry of feeding and nourishing up such as are converted and brought into church estate1 according to ,ephes4 iv4 c4 ,now to neither of these do we find any compulsion appointed by the ,lord ,jesus1 or practised by any of his4 ,the compulsion preached and practised in ,new ,england1 is not to the hearing of that ministry sent forth to convert unbelievers1 and to constitute churches1 for such a ministry they practise not2 but to the hearing of the word of edification1 exhortation1 consolation1 dispensed only in the churches of worshippers4 ,i apply1-- ,when ,paul came first to ,corinth to preach ,jesus ,christ1 by their rule the magistrates of ,corinth ought by the sword to have compelled all the people of ,corinth to hear ,paul4 ,sidenote3 ,paul never used any civil compulsion4 ,secondly4 ,after a church of ,christ was gathered1 by their rule1 the magistrates of ,corinth ought to have compelled the people still1 even those who had refused his doctrine 7for the few only of the church embraced it7 to have heard the word still1 and to have kept one day in seven to the ,christian's ,god1 and to have come to the ,christian's church all their days4 ,and what is this but a settled formality of religion and worship1 unto which a people are brought by the power of the sword8 ,sidenote3 ,the ,new ,english forcing their subjects to church all their days1 and yet forcing them not to any religion 7as they say71 they force the people then to be of no religion all their days4 ,and however they affirm that persons are not to be compelled to be members of churches1 nor the church compelled to receive any3 yet if persons be compelled to forsake their religion which their hearts cleave to1 and to come to church1 to the worship of the word1 prayers1 psalms1 and contributions1 and this all their days1 ,i ask1 whether this be not this people's religion1 unto which submitting1 they shall be quiet all their days1 without the enforcing them to the practice of any other religion8 ,and if this be not so1 then ,i ask1 will it not inevitably follow1 that they not only permit but enforce people to be of no religion at all1 all their days8 ,this toleration of religion1 or rather irreligious compulsion1 is above all tolerations monstrous1 to wit1 to compel men to be of no religion all their days4 ,i desire all men1 and these worthy authors of this model1 to lay their hands upon their heart1 and to consider whether this compulsion of men to hear the word1 as they say1 whether it carries men1 to wit1 to be of no religion all their days3--worse than the very ,indians1 who dare not live without religion according as they are persuaded4 ,sidenote3 ,the civil state can no more lawfully compel the consciences of men to church to hear the word1 than to receive the sacraments4 ,lastly1 ,i add--,from the ordinance of the ,lord ,jesus1 and practice of the apostles 7,acts ii4 #db71 where the word and prayer is joined with the exercise of their fellowship and breaking of bread1 in which exercises the church continued constantly--that it is apparent that a civil state may as lawfully compel men by the civil sword to the breaking of bread1 or ,lord's supper1 as to the word1 or prayer1 or fellowship4 ,for1 first1 they are all of the same nature1 ordinances in the church 7,i speak of the feeding ministry in the church1 unto which persons are compelled7 and church worship4 ,secondly1 every conscience in the world is fearful1 at least shy of the priests and ministers of other gods and worships1 and of holding spiritual fellowship in any of their services2 which is the case of many a soul1 viz4 to question the ministers themselves1 as well as the supper itself4 ,,chap4 ,,ciii4 ,peace4 ,dear ,truth1 this pressing of men to the spiritual battles of ,christ ,jesus1 is the cause why 7as it is commonly with pressed soldiers7 that so many thousands fly in the day of battle4 ,but ,i present you with the ninth question1 viz4 ,what power the magistrate hath in providing of church officers8 8,first1 say they1 the election of church officers being the proper act of the church1 therefore the magistrate hath no power1 either as prince or patron1 to assume such power unto himself4 ,whom ,christ sends to preach by his supreme power1 the magistrate may send forth by his power subordinate1 to gather churches1 and may force people to hear them1 but not invest them with office amongst them4 8,secondly1 the maintenance of church-officers being to arise from all those who are ordinarily taught thereby1 ,gal4 vi4 #f1 hence it is the duty of the civil magistrate to contend with the people1 as ,nehemiah did1 chap4 xiii4 #aj1 #aa1 who do neglect and forsake the due maintenance of the church of ,god1 and to command them to give such portion for the maintenance of church officers1 as the gospel commandeth to be offered to them1 freely and bountifully1 #b ,cor4 ix4 #e1 #f1 #g4 ,according as ,hezekiah commanded the people to give to the priests and ,levites the portions appointed by the law1 that they might be encouraged in the law of the ,lord1 #b ,chron4 xxxi4 #d4 8,thirdly1 the furnishing the church with set officers1 depending much upon erecting and maintenance of schools1 and good education of youth1 and it lying chiefly in the hand of the magistrate to provide for the furthering thereof1 they may therefore and should so far provide for the churches as to erect schools1 take care for fit governors and tutors3 and commend it to all the churches1 if they see it meet1 that in all the churches within the jurisdiction1 once in a year1 and if it may be1 the sabbath before the general court of election1 there be a free-will offering of all people for the maintenance of such schools3 and the monies of every town so given1 to be brought on the day of election to the treasury of the college1 and the monies to be disposed by such who are so chosen for the disposing thereof40 ,truth4 ,in the choice of officers1 it is very obscure what they mean by this supreme power of ,christ ,jesus sending to preach4 ,we know the commission of the ,lord ,jesus to his first messengers to go into all nations to preach and gather churches1 and they were immediately sent forth by him4 ,but ,mr4 ,cotton elsewhere holdeth1 that there is now extant no immediate ministry from ,christ1 but mediate1 that is1 from the church4 ,let us first see how they agree with themselves1 and secondly how they agree with the magistrate in this business4 ,sidenote3 ,in the first pattern there is a converting ministry to gather the church or flock of ,christ4 ,first1 if they hold a sending forth to preach by ,christ's supreme power1 according to ,matt4 xxviii41 ,mark xvi41 ,rom4 x41 they must necessarily grant a time when the church is not1 but is to be constituted out of the nations and peoples now converted by this preaching3 whence1 according to the course of scripture1 the nature of the work1 and their own grant in this place1 it is apparent that there is a ministry before the church1 gathering and espousing the church to ,christ3 and therefore their own tenent must needs be too light1 viz4 that there is no ministry but that which is mediate from the church4 ,peace4 ,blessed ,truth1 this doctrine of a ministry before the church1 is harsh and deep1 yet most true1 most sweet4 ,yet you know their ground1 that two or three godly persons may join themselves together1 become a church1 make officers1 send them forth to preach1 to convert1 to baptize1 and gather new churches4 ,sidenote3 ,no precedent of any people in the gospel converting and gathering themselves without some messenger sent from the ,lord to effect those ends4 ,truth4 ,i answer1 first1 we find not in the first institution and pattern1 that ever any such two1 or three1 or more1 did gather and constitute themselves a church of ,christ1 without a ministry sent from ,god to invite and call them by the word1 and to receive them unto fellowship with ,god upon the receiving of that word and message4 ,and therefore it may very well be queried1 how1 without such a ministry1 two or three become a church8 and how the power of ,christ is conveyed unto them8 who espoused this people unto ,jesus ,christ1 as the church at ,corinth was espoused by ,paul8 #b ,cor4 xi4 #b4 ,if it be said1 themselves3 or if it be said1 the scriptures3 let one instance be produced in the first patterns and practices of such a practice4 ,it hath been generally confessed1 that there is no coming to the marriage-feast without a messenger inviting1 sent from ,god to the souls of men1 ,matt4 xxii41 ,luke xiv41 ,rom4 x4 ,we find when the ,thessalonians turned to ,god from their idols1 to serve the living and true ,god1 #a ,thess4 i4 #i1 it pleased ,god to bring a word of power unto them by the mouth of ,paul1 in the same place4 ,peace4 ,you know1 dear ,truth1 it is a common plea1 that ,god's people now are converted already1 and therefore may congregate themselves1 c4 ,truth4 ,two things must here be cleared4 ,sidenote3 ,professed public conversion is not only from sins against the second table in personal repentance1 but from false worship also4 ,first1 doth their conversion amount to external turning from idols1 #a ,thess4 i4 #i1 beside their internal repentance1 faith1 love8 c4 ,secondly1 who wrought this conversion1 who begot these children8 for though the ,corinthians might have ten thousand teachers1 yet ,paul had begotten them by the word4 ,it is true1 as ,mr4 ,cotton himself elsewhere acknowledgeth1 ,god sendeth many preachers in the way of his providence1 even in ,babel mystical1 though not according to his ordinance and institution4 ,so even in the wilderness ,god provideth for the sustentation of the woman1 ,rev4 xii42 by which provision1 even in the most popish times and places1 yea1 and by most false and popish callings 7now in this lightsome age confessed so to be71 ,god hath done great things to the personal conversion1 consolation1 and salvation of his people4 ,sidenote3 ,a true ministry necessary before conversion1 and therefore before the church1 in the first pattern4 ,but as there seems yet to be desired such constitution of the ,christian church1 as the first institution and pattern calls for3 so also such a calling and converting of ,god's people from anti-christian idols to the ,christian worship3 and therefore such a ministry1 according to the first pattern1 sent from ,christ ,jesus to renew and restore the worship and ordinances of ,god in ,christ4 ,sidenote3 ,the true way of the ministry sent with that commission1 ,matt4 xxviii4 discussed4 ,lastly1 if it should be granted that without a ministry sent from ,christ to gather churches1 that ,god's people in this country may be called1 converted from anti-christian idols1 to the true worship of ,god in the true church estate and ordinances1 will it not follow that in all other countries of the world ,god's elect must or may be so converted from their several respective false worships and idolatries1 and brought into the true ,christian church estate without such a ministry sent unto them8 ,or are there two ways appointed by the ,lord ,jesus1 one for this country1 and another for the rest of the world8 ,or lastly1 if two or three more1 without a ministry1 shall arise up1 become a church1 make ministers1 c41 ,i ask1 whether those two or three1 or more1 must not be accounted immediately and extraordinarily stirred up by ,god8 and whether this be that supreme power of ,christ ,jesus1 which they speak of1 sending forth two or three private persons to make a church and ministers1 without a true ministry of ,christ ,jesus first sent unto themselves8 ,is this that commission1 which all ministers pretend unto1 ,matt4 xxviii4 #ai1 c4 first1 in the hands of two or three private persons becoming a church1 without a mediate call from which church1 say they1 there can be no true ministry1 and yet also confess that ,christ sendeth forth to preach by his supreme power1 and the magistrate by his power subordinate to gather churches8 ,,chap4 ,,civ4 ,peace4 ,you have taken great pains to show the irreconcilableness of those their two assertions1 viz41 ,first1 there is now no ministry1 as they say1 but what is mediate from the church2 and yet1 secondly1 ,christ ,jesus sends preachers forth by his supreme power to gather the church4 ,i now wait to hear1 how1 as they say1 8the magistrate may send forth by his power subordinate to gather churches1 enforcing the people to hear10 c4 ,sidenote3 ,the civil magistrate not betrusted with gathering of churches4 ,truth4 ,if there be a ministry sent forth by ,christ's supreme power1 and a ministry sent forth by the magistrate's subordinate power1 to gather churches--,i ask1 what is the difference between these two8 ,is there any gathering of churches but by that commission1 ,matt4 xxviii4 ,teach and baptize8 ,and is the civil magistrate entrusted with a power from ,christ1 as his deputy1 to give this commission1 and so to send out ministers to preach and baptize8 ,sidenote3 ,if the magistrate1 then much more the people of the world1 from whom the magistrates receive their power4 ,as there is nothing in the ,testament of ,christ concerning such a delegation or assignment of such power of ,christ to the civil magistrate3 so ,i also ask1 since in every free state civil magistrates have no power but what the peoples of those states1 lands1 and countries betrust them with1 whether or no1 by this means1 it must not follow1 that ,christ ,jesus hath left with the peoples and nations of the world his spiritual kingly power to grant commissions1 and send out ministers to themselves1 to preach1 convert1 and baptize themselves8 ,how inevitably this follows upon their conclusion of power in magistrates to send1 c41 and what unchristian and unreasonable consequences must flow from hence1 let all consider in the fear of ,god4 ,sidenote3 ,jehoshaphat 7#b ,chron4 xvii47 a figure of ,christ ,jesus in his church1 not of the civil magistrate in the state4 ,jehoshaphat's sending forth the ,levites to teach in ,judah1 c41 as they allege it not1 so elsewhere it shall more fully appear to be a type and figure of ,christ ,jesus1 the only king of his church1 providing for the feeding of his church and people by his true ,christian priests and ,levites1 viz41 the ministry which in the gospel he hath appointed4 ,,chap4 ,,cv4 ,peace4 ,we have examined the ministry1 be pleased1 dear ,truth1 to speak to the second branch of this head3 viz41 the maintenance of it4 ,they affirm that the magistrate may force out the minister's maintenance from all that are taught by them1 and that after the pattern of ,israel2 and the argument from #a ,cor4 ix41 ,gal4 vi4 #f4 ,truth4 ,this theme1 viz41 concerning the maintenance of the priests and ministers of worship1 is indeed the apple of the eye1 the ,diana of the ,ephesians1#bad c42 yet all that love ,christ ,jesus in sincerity1 and souls in and from him1 will readily profess to abhor filthy lucre1 ,tit4 i4 #g1 and the wages of ,balaam1 both more common and frequent than easily is discernible4 ,sidenote3 ,gal4 vi4 #f1 concerning the maintenance of the ministry1 examined4 ,to that scripture1 ,gal4 vi4 #f1 ,let him that is taught in the word make him that teacheth partaker of all his goods3 ,i answer1 that teaching was of persons converted1 believers entered into the school and family of ,christ1 the church2 which church being rightly gathered1 is also rightly invested with the power of the ,lord ,jesus1 to force every soul therein by spiritual weapons and penalties to do its duty4 ,but this forcing of the magistrate is intended and practised to all sorts of persons1 without as well as within the church1 unconverted1 natural and dead in sin1 as well as those that live and1 feeding1 enjoy the benefits of spiritual food4 ,sidenote3 ,christ ,jesus never appointed a maintenance of ministers from the unconverted1 and unbelieving4 ,now for those sorts of persons to whom ,christ ,jesus sends his word out of church estate1 ,jews or ,gentiles1 according to the parable of ,matt4 xiii4 highway hearers1 stony ground1 and thorny ground hearers1 we never find tittle of any maintenance to be expected1 least of all to be forced and exacted1 from them4 ,by civil power they cannot be forced1 for it is no civil payment or business1 no matter of ,csar1 but concerning ,god3 nor by spiritual power1 which hath nothing to do with those which are without1 #a ,cor4 v4 ,it is reasonable to expect and demand of such as live within the state a civil maintenance of their civil officers1 and to force it where it is denied4 ,it is reasonable for a schoolmaster to demand his recompence for his labour in his school2 but it is not reasonable to expect or force it from strangers1 enemies1 rebels to that city1 from such as come not within1 or else would not be received into the school4 ,what is the church of ,christ ,jesus1 but the city1 the school1 and family of ,christ8 the officers of this city1 school1 family1 may reasonably expect maintenance from such they minister unto1 but not from strangers1 enemies1 c4 ,sidenote3 ,they that compel men to hear1 compel men also to pay for their hearing and conversion4 ,peace4 ,it is most true that sin goes in a link2 for that tenent1 that all the men of the world may be compelled to hear ,christ preached1 and enjoy the labours of the teacher as well as the church itself1 forceth on another also as evil1 viz41 that they should also be compelled to pay1 as being most equal and reasonable to pay for their conversion4 ,sidenote3 ,luke xiv4 ,compel them1 examined4 ,truth4 ,some use to urge that text of ,luke xiv4 #bc1 ,compel them to come in4 ,compel them to mass1 say the papists2 compel them to church and common prayer1 say the protestants2 compel them to the meeting1 say the ,new ,english4#bae ,in all these compulsions they disagree amongst themselves2 but in this1 viz41 ,compel them to pay1 in this they all agree4 ,sidenote3 ,two sorts of compulsion4 ,there is a double violence1 which both error and falsehood use to the souls of men4 ,sidenote3 ,moral and civil compulsion4 ,first1 moral and persuasive2 such was the persuasion first used to ,joseph by his mistress3 such was the persuasions of ,tamar from ,ammon2 such was the compelling of the young man by the harlot1 ,prov4 vii41 she caught him by her much fair speech and kisses4 ,and thus is the whole world compelled to the worship of the golden image1 ,dan4 iii4 ,the second compulsion is civil2 such as ,joseph's mistress began to practise upon ,joseph1 to attain her whorish desires3 such as ,ammon practised on ,tamar1 to satisfy his brutish lust2 and such was ,nebuchadnezzar's second compulsion1 his fiery furnace1 ,dan4 iii42 and mystical ,nebuchadnezzar's killing all that receive not his mark1 ,rev4 xiii4 ,sidenote3 ,the ministers of ,christ ,jesus compel with no other sword than that of ,christ's mouth1 the sword of the ,spirit with two edges4 ,the first sort of these violences1 to wit1 by powerful argument and persuasion1 the ministers of the gospel also use4 ,hence all those powerful persuasions of wisdom's maidens1 ,prov4 ix4 ,hence1 saith ,paul1 knowing the terror of the ,lord1 we persuade men1 #b ,cor4 v42 and pull some out of the fire1 saith ,jude2 such must that compulsion be1 ,luke xiv4 #bc1 viz41 the powerful persuasions of the word1 being that two-edged sword coming out of the mouth of ,christ ,jesus in his true ministers1 sent forth to invite poor sinners to partake of the feast of the ,lamb of ,god4 ,the civil ministers of the commonweal cannot be sent upon this business with their civil weapons and compulsions1 but the spiritual minister of the gospel1 with his spiritual sword of ,christ's mouth1 a sword with two edges4 ,sidenote3 ,the maintenance of the ministry spiritual4 ,but more particularly1 the contributions of ,christ's kingdom are all holy and spiritual1 though consisting of material earthly substance1 7as is water in baptism1 bread and wine in the supper17 and joined with prayer and the ,lord's supper1 ,acts ii4 #db4 ,hence as prayer is called ,god's sacrifice1 so are the contributions and mutual supplies of the saints1 sacrifices1 ,phil4 iv4 #ah4 ,sidenote3 ,natural men can neither truly worship nor maintain it4 ,hence1 also1 as it is impossible for natural men to be capable of ,god's worship1 and to feed1 be nourished1 and edified by any spiritual ordinance1 no more than a dead child can suck the breast1 or a dead man feast2 so also is it as impossible for a dead man1 yet lodged in the grave of nature1 to contribute spiritually1 ,i mean according to scripture's rule1 as for a dead man to pay a reckoning4 ,i question not but natural men may for the outward act preach1 pray1 contribute1 c42 but neither are they worshippers suitable to him who is a ,spirit1 ,john iv4 #bd2 nor can they1 least of all1 be forced to worship1 or the maintenance of it1 without a guilt of their hypocrisy4 ,peace4 ,they will say1 what is to be done for their souls8 ,truth4 ,the apostles1 whom we profess to imitate1 preached the word of the ,lord to unbelievers without mingling in worship with them1 and such preachers and preaching such as pretend to be the true ministry of ,christ ought to be and practise3 not forcing them all their days to come to church and pay their duties1 either so confessing that this is their religion unto which they are forced2 or else that1 as before1 they are forced to be of no religion all their days4 ,sidenote3 ,rebels not subdued by compliance1 but resistance4 ,the way to subdue rebels is not by correspondence and communion with them1 by forcing them to keep the city watches1 and pay assessments1 c41 which all may be practised1 upon compulsion1 treacherously2 the first work with such is powerfully to subdue their judgments and wills1 to lay down their weapons1 and yield willing subjection1 then come they orderly into the city1 and so to city privileges4 ,,chap4 ,,cvi4 ,peace4 ,please you now1 dear ,truth1 to discuss the scriptures from the ,old ,testament1 ,neh4 xiii41 and #b ,chron4 xxxi4 ,sidenote3 ,the national church of the ,jews might well be forced to a settled maintenance of their priests1 but not so the ,christian church4 ,truth4 ,god gave unto that national church of the ,jews that excellent land of ,canaan1 and therein houses furnished1 orchards1 gardens1 vineyards1 olive-yards1 fields1 wells1 c42 they might well1 in this settled abundance1 and the promised continuation and increase of it1 afford a large temporal supply to their priests and ,levites1 even to the tenth of all they did possess4 ,god's people are now1 in the gospel1 brought into a spiritual land of ,canaan1 flowing with spiritual milk and honey1 and they abound with spiritual and heavenly comforts1 though in a poor and persecuted condition2 therefore an enforced settled maintenance is not suitable to the gospel1 as it was to the ministry of priests and ,levites in the law4 ,secondly1 in the change of the church estate1 there was also a change of the priesthood and of the law1 ,heb4 vii4 #ab4 ,nor did the ,lord ,jesus appoint that in his church1 and for the maintenance of his ministry1 the civil sword of the magistrate2 but that the spiritual sword of the ministry should alone compel4 ,sidenote3 ,the civil sword of the national church of the ,jews1 could not type out a civil but a spiritual sword of the ,christian church4 #c4 ,therefore the compulsion used under ,hezekiah and ,nehemiah1 was by the civil and corporal sword1 a type 7in that typical state7 not of another material and corporal1 but of a heavenly and spiritual1 even the sword of the ,spirit1 with which ,christ fighteth1 ,rev4 ii4 #ab4 which is exceeding sharp1 entering in between the soul and spirit1 ,heb4 iv4 #ab4 and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of ,christ ,jesus4 ,he that submits not at the shaking of this sword1 is cut off by it2 and he that despiseth this sword1 all the power in the world cannot make him a true worshipper1 or by his purse a maintainer of ,god's worship4 ,sidenote3 ,no man should be bound to worship1 nor maintain a worship1 against his own consent4 ,lastly1 if any man professing to be a minister of ,christ ,jesus1 shall bring men before the magistrate1 as the practice hath been1 both in ,old and ,new ,england1#baf for not paying him his wages or his due3 ,i ask1 if the voluntary consent of the party hath not obliged him1 how can either the officers of the parish1 church1 or of the civil state1 compel this or that man to pay so much1 more or less1 to maintain such a worship or ministry8 ,i ask further1 if the determining what is each man's due to pay1 why may they not determine the tenth and more1 as some desired 7others opposing7 in ,new ,england1 and force men not only to maintenance1 but to a ,jewish maintenance8 ,peace4 ,yea2 but1 say they1 is not the labourer worthy of his hire8 ,sidenote3 ,christ's labourers worthy of their hire1 but from them that hire them4 ,truth4 ,yes1 from them that hire him1 from the church1 to whom he laboureth or ministereth1 not from the civil state3 no more than the minister of the civil state is worthy of his hire from the church1 but from the civil state3 in which ,i grant the persons in the church ought to be assistant in their civil respects4 ,peace4 ,what maintenance1 say they1 shall the ministry of the gospel have8 ,sidenote3 ,what maintenance ,christ hath appointed his ministers in the gospel4 ,truth4 ,we find two ways of maintenance for the ministry of the gospel proposed for our direction in the ,new ,testament4 ,first1 the free and willing contribution of the saints1 according to #a ,cor4 xvi41 ,luke viii4 #c1 c41 upon which both the ,lord ,jesus1 and his ministers lived4 ,secondly1 the diligent work and labour of their own hands1 as ,paul tells the ,thessalonians1 and that in two cases3 #a4 ,either in the inabilities and necessities of the church4 #b4 ,or for the greater advantage of ,christ's truth4 ,as when ,paul saw it would more advantage the name of ,christ1 he denies himself1 and falls to work amongst the ,corinthians and ,thessalonians4 ,let none call these cases extraordinary3 for if persecution be the portion of ,christ's sheep1 and the business or work of ,christ must be dearer to us than our right eye or lives1 such as will follow ,paul1 and follow the ,lord ,jesus1 must not think much at1 but rejoice in1 poverties1 necessities1 hunger1 cold1 nakedness1 c4 ,the stewards of ,christ ,jesus must be like their ,lord1 and abhor to steal as the evil steward1 pretending that he shamed to beg1 but peremptorily dig he could not4 ,,chap4 ,,cvii4 ,peace4 ,one and the last branch1 dear ,truth1 remains concerning schools4 8,the churches10 say they1 8much depend upon the schools1 and the schools upon the magistrates40 ,sidenote3 ,universities of ,europe a cause of universal sins and plagues2 yet schools honourable for tongues and arts4 ,truth4 ,i honour schools for tongues and arts2 but the institution of ,europe's universities1 devoting persons 7as is said7 for scholars in a monastical way1 forbidding marriage1 and labour too1 ,i hold as far from the mind of ,jesus ,christ as it is from propagating his name and worship4 ,we count the universities the fountains1 the seminaries1 or seed-plots of all piety2 but have not those fountains ever sent what streams the times have liked8 and ever changed their taste and colour to the prince's eye and palate8 ,for any depending of the church of ,christ upon such schools1 ,i find not a tittle in the ,testament of ,christ ,jesus4 ,sidenote3 ,christ's church his school1 and all believers scholars4 ,i find the church of ,christ frequently compared to a school4 ,all believers are his disciples or scholars1 yea1 women also1 ,acts ix4 #cf1 ,there was a certain disciple1 or scholar1 called ,dorcas4 ,have not the universities sacrilegiously stolen this blessed name of ,christ's scholars from his people8 ,is not the very scripture language itself become absurd1 to wit1 to call ,god's people1 especially women1 as ,dorcas1 scholars8 ,peace4 ,some will object1 how shall the scriptures be brought to light from out of popish darkness1 except these schools of prophets convey them to us8 ,truth4 ,i know no schools of prophets in the ,new ,testament1 but the particular congregation of ,christ ,jesus1 #a ,cor4 xiv4 ,and ,i question whether any thing but sin stopped and dried up the current of the ,spirit in those rare gifts of tongues to ,god's sons and daughters1 serving so admirably both for the understanding of the original scriptures1 and also for the propagating of the name of ,christ4 ,sidenote3 ,who knows but ,god may again pour forth the gifts of tongues8 ,who knows but that it may please the ,lord again to clothe his people with a spirit of zeal and courage for the name of ,christ2 yea1 and pour forth those fiery streams again of tongues and prophecy in the restoration of ,zion8 ,sidenote3 ,tongues attainable out of ,oxford or ,cambridge4 ,if it be not his holy pleasure so to do1 but that his people with daily study and labour must dig to come at the original fountains1 ,god's people have many ways1 besides the university1 lazy and monkish1 to attain to an excellent measure of the knowledge of those tongues4 ,sidenote3 ,mr4 ,ainsworth4 ,that most despised while living1 and now much honoured ,mr4 ,ainsworth1#bag had scarce his peer amongst a thousand academians for the scripture originals1 and yet he scarce set foot within a college-walls4 ,,chap4 ,,cviii4 ,peace4 ,i shall now present you with their tenth head1 viz41 concerning the magistrates' power in matters of doctrine4 8,that which is unjustly ascribed to the pope1 is as unjustly ascribed to the magistrates1 viz41 to have power of making new articles of faith1 or rules of life1 or of pressing upon the churches to give such public honour to the apocrypha writings1 or homilies of men1 as to read them to the people in the room of the oracles of ,god40 ,truth4 ,this position1 simply considered1 ,i acknowledge a most holy truth of ,god1 both against the pope1 and the civil magistrates' challenge1 both pretending to be the vicars of ,christ ,jesus upon the earth4 ,yet two things here ,i shall propose to consideration3-- ,sidenote3 ,king ,henry the ,eighth set down in the pope's chair in ,england4 ,first1 since the parliament of ,england thrust the pope out of his chair in ,england1 and set down ,king ,henry the ,eighth and his successors in the pope's room1 establishing them supreme governors of the church of ,england3 since such an absolute government is given by all men to them to be guardians of the first table and worship of ,god1 to set up the true worship1 to suppress all false1 and that by the power of the sword2 and therefore consequently they must judge and determine what the true is1 and what the false3-- ,sidenote3 ,if the magistrate must punish in spiritual cases1 he must of necessity be judge in spiritual causes also4 ,and since the magistrate is bound1 by these authors' principles1 to see the church1 the church officers1 and members do their duty1 he must therefore judge what is the church's duty1 and when she performs or not performs it1 or when she exceeds2 so likewise when the ministers perform their duty1 or when they exceed it3-- ,and if the magistrate must judge1 then certainly by his own eye1 and not by the eyes of others1 though assembled in a national or general council3-- ,then also1 upon his judgment must the people rest1 as upon the mind and judgment of ,christ1 or else it must be confessed that he hath no such power left him by ,christ to compel the souls of men in matters of ,god's worship4 ,sidenote3 ,apocrypha1 ,common-prayer1 and homilies1 precious to our forefathers4 ,secondly1 concerning the apocrypha writings and homilies to be urged by the magistrate to be read unto the people as the oracles of ,god3 ,i ask1 if the homilies of ,england contain not in them much precious and heavenly matter8 ,secondly1 if they were not penned1 at least many of them1 by excellent men for learning1 holiness1 and witness of ,christ's truth incomparable8 ,thirdly1 were they not authorized by that most rare and pious prince1 ,edward ,,vi41 then head of the church of ,england8#bah ,with what great solemnity and rejoicing were they received of thousands6 ,yet now1 behold their children after them sharply censure them for apocrypha writings1 and homilies thrust into the room of the word of ,god1 and so falling into the consideration of a false and counterfeit scripture4 ,sidenote3 ,a case4 ,i demand of these worthy men1 whether a servant of ,god might then lawfully have refused to read or hear such a false scripture8 ,secondly1 if so1 whether ,king ,edward might have lawfully compelled such a man to yield and submit1 or else have persecuted him2 yea1 according to the authors' principles1 whether he ought to have spared him2 because after the admonitions of such pious and learned men1 this man shall now prove a heretic1 and as an obstinate person sinning against the light of his own conscience8 ,in this case what shall the consciences of the subject do1 awed by the dread of the ,most ,high8 ,what shall the magistrate do1 zealous for his glorious reformation1 being constantly persuaded by his clergy of his lieutenantship received from ,christ8 ,sidenote3 ,reformations are fallible4 ,bloody conclusions4 ,again1 what privilege have those worthy servants of ,god1 either in ,old or ,new ,england1 to be exempted from the mistakes into which those glorious worthies in ,king ,edward's time did fall8 and if so1 what bloody conclusions are presented to the world1 persuading men to pluck up by the roots from the land of the living1 all such as seem in their eyes heretical or obstinate6 ,,chap4 ,,cix4 ,peace4 ,dear ,truth1 what dark and dismal bloody paths do we walk in8 ,how is thy name and mine in all ages cried up1 yet as an ,english flag in a ,spanish bottom1 not in truth1 but dangerous treachery and abuse both of truth and peace6 ,sidenote3 ,eleventh head4 ,we are now come to the eleventh head1 which concerns the magistrates' power in worship8 8,first1 they have power10 say they1 8to reform things in the worship of ,god in a church corrupted1 and to establish the pure worship of ,god1 defending the same by the power of the sword against all those who shall attempt to corrupt it4 8,for first1 the reigning of idolatry and corruption in religion is imputed to the want of a king1 ,judges xvii4 #e1 #f4 8,secondly1 remissness in reforming religion is a fault imputed to them who suffered the high places in ,israel1 and in ,gallio who cared not for such things1 ,acts xviii4 #ag4 8,thirdly1 forwardness this way is a duty not only for kings in the ,old ,testament1 but for princes under the ,new1 #a ,tim4 ii4 #b2 ,rom4 xiii4 #d2 ,esay4 xlix4 #bc4 ,neither did the kings of ,israel reform things amiss as types of ,christ1 but as civil magistrates1 and so exemplary to all ,christians4 ,and here reformation in religion is commendable in a ,persian king1 ,ezra vii4 #bc4 ,and it is well known that remissness in princes of ,christendom in matters of religion and worship1 devolving the care thereof only to the clergy1 and so setting the horns thereof upon the church's head1 hath been the cause of anti-christian inventions1 usurpations1 and corruptions1 in the worship and temple of ,god4 8,secondly1 they have not power to press upon the churches stinted prayers1 or set liturgies1 whether new or old1 popish or others1 under colour of uniformity of worship1 or moral goodness of them both for matter and form1 conceiving our arguments sent to our brethren in ,england concerning this question to evince this truth4#bai 8,thirdly1 they have no power to press upon the churches1 neither by law1 as hath been said before1 nor by proclamation and command1 any sacred significant ceremonies1 whether more or less popish or ,jewish rite1 or any other device of man1 be it never so little in the worship of ,god1 under what colour soever of indifferency1 civility1 using them without opinion of sanctity1 public peace1 or obedience to righteous authority1 as surplice1 cross1 kneeling at sacrament1 salt and spittle in baptism1 holy days2 they having been so accursed of ,god1 so abused by man1 the imposing of some ever making way for the urging of more1 the receiving of some making the conscience bow to the burden of all4 8,fourthly1 they have not power to govern and rule the acts of worship in the church of ,god4 8,it is with a magistrate in a state in respect of the acts of those who worship in a church1 as it is with a prince in a ship1 wherein1 though he be governor of their persons1 else he should not be their prince1 yet is not governor of the actions of the mariners1 then he should be pilot3 indeed if the pilot shall manifestly err in his action1 he may reprove him1 and so any other passenger may3 or if he offend against the life and goods of any1 he may in due time and place civilly punish him1 which no other passenger can do2 for1 it is proper to ,christ1 the head of the church1 as to prescribe so to rule the actions of his own worship in the ways of his servants1 ,esay4 ix4 #f1 #g4 ,the government of the church is upon his shoulder1 which no civil officer ought to attempt4 ,and therefore magistrates have no power to limit a minister1 either to what he shall preach or pray1 or in what manner they shall worship ,god1 lest hereby they shall advance themselves above ,christ1 and limit his ,spirit40#bbj ,truth4 ,in this general head are proposed two things4 ,first1 what the magistrate ought to do positively1 concerning the worship of ,god4 ,secondly4 ,what he may do in the worship of ,god4 ,what he ought to do is comprised in these particulars3-- ,first4 ,he ought to reform the worship of ,god when it is corrupted4 ,secondly4 ,he ought to establish a pure worship of ,god4 ,thirdly4 ,he ought to defend it by the sword3 he ought to restrain idolatry by the sword1 and to cut off offenders1 as former passages have opened4 ,for the proof of this positive part of his duty1 are propounded three sorts of scriptures4 ,first4 ,from the practice of the kings of ,israel and ,judah4 ,secondly4 ,some from the ,new ,testament4 ,thirdly4 ,from the practice of kings of other nations4 ,unto which ,i answer1-- ,sidenote3 ,the argument from the ,babylonian and ,persian kings reminded4 ,first4 ,concerning this latter1 the ,babylonian and ,persian kings--,nebuchadnezzar1 ,cyrus1 ,darius1 ,artaxerxes--,i conceive ,i have sufficiently before proved1 that these idolatrous princes making such acts concerning the ,god of ,israel1 whom they did not worship nor know1 nor meant so to do1 did only permit1 and tolerate1 and countenance the ,jewish worship2 and out of strong convictions that this ,god of ,israel was able to do them good1 as well as their own gods1 to bring wrath upon them and their kingdoms1 as they believed their own also did1 in which respect all the kings of the world may be easily brought to the like2 but they are no precedent or pattern for all princes and civil magistrates in the world1 to challenge or assume the power of ruling or governing the church of ,christ1 and of wearing the spiritual crown of the ,lord1 which he alone weareth in a spiritual way by his officers and governors after his own holy appointment4 ,secondly4 ,for those of the ,new ,testament ,i have1 as ,i believe1 fully and sufficiently answered4 ,so also that prophecy of ,isa4 xlix4 #bc4 ,sidenote3 ,the precedent of the kings and governors of ,israel and ,judah1 examined4 ,the state of ,israel relating to spiritual matters proved typical4 ,lastly4 ,however ,i have often touched those scriptures produced from the practice of the kings of ,israel and ,judah1 yet1 because so great a weight of this controversy lies upon this precedent of the ,old ,testament1 from the duties of this nature enjoined to those kings and governors and their practices1 obeying or disobeying1 accordingly commended or reproved1 ,i shall1 with the help of ,christ ,jesus1 the true ,king of ,israel1 declare and demonstrate how weak and brittle this supposed pillar of marble is1 to bear up and sustain such a mighty burden and weight of so many high concernments as are laid upon it4 ,in which ,i shall evidently prove1 that the state of ,israel as a national state1 made up of spiritual and civil power1 so far as it attended upon the spiritual1 was merely figurative1 and typing out the ,christian churches consisting of both ,jews and ,gentiles1 enjoying the true power of the ,lord ,jesus1 establishing1 reforming1 correcting1 defending in all cases concerning the kingdom and government4 ,,chap4 ,,cx4 ,peace4 ,blessed be the ,god of truth1 the ,god of peace1 who hath so long preserved us in this our retired conference without interruptions4 ,his mercy still shields us while you express and ,i listen to that so much imitated1 yet most inimitable state of ,israel4 ,yet1 before you descend to particulars1 dear ,truth1 let me cast one mite into your great treasury1 concerning that instance1 just now mentioned1 of the ,persian kings4 ,sidenote3 ,the ,persian kings make evidently against such as produce them for maintenance of the doctrine of persecution4 ,methinks those precedents of ,cyrus1 ,darius1 and ,artaxerxes1 are strong against ,new ,england's tenent and practice4 ,those princes professedly gave free permission and bountiful encouragement to the consciences of the ,jews to use and practise their religion1 which religion was most eminently contrary to their own religion and their country's worship4 ,truth4 ,i shall1 sweet ,peace1 with more delight pass on these rough ways1 from your kind acceptance and unwearied patience in attention4 ,in this discovery of that vast and mighty difference between that state of ,israel and all other states1 only to be matched and paralleled by the ,christian church or ,israel1 ,i shall select some main and principal considerations concerning that state1 wherein the irreconcilable differences and disproportion may appear4 ,first4 ,i shall consider the very land and country of ,canaan itself1 and present some considerations proving it to be a non-such4 ,sidenote3 ,the land of ,canaan chosen by ,god to be the seat of the church2 but under the ,new ,testament all nations alike4 ,first4 ,this land was espied out1 and chosen by the ,lord1 out of all the countries of the world1 to be the seat of his church and people1 ,ezek4 xx4 #f4 ,but now there is no respect of earth1 of places1 or countries with the ,lord4 ,so testified the ,lord ,jesus ,christ himself to the woman of ,samaria1 ,john iv4 #ba1 professing that neither at that mountain1 nor at ,jerusalem1 should men worship the ,father4 ,while that national state of the church of the ,jews remained1 the tribes were bound to go up to ,jerusalem to worship1 ,ps4 cxxii4 ,but now1 in every nation1 not the whole land or country as it was with ,canaan1 he that feareth ,god and worketh righteousness1 is accepted with him1 ,acts x4 #ce4 ,this then appeared in that large commission of the ,lord ,jesus to his first ministers3 ,go into all nations1 and not only into ,canaan1 to carry tidings of mercy1 c4 ,secondly4 ,the former inhabitants thereof1 seven great and mighty nations1 ,deut4 vii4 #a1 were all devoted to destruction by the ,lord's own mouth1 which was to be performed by the impartial hand of the children of ,israel1 without any sparing or showing mercy4 ,sidenote3 ,the inhabitants of ,canaan's land1 every soul1 to be put to death1 that the ,israelites might enjoy their possessions3 not so now4 ,but so now it hath not pleased the ,lord to devote any people to present destruction1 commanding his people to kill and slay without covenant or compassion1 ,deut4 vii4 #b4 ,where have emperors1 kings1 or generals an immediate call from ,god to destroy whole cities1 city after city1 men1 women1 children1 old and young1 as ,joshua practised8 ,josh4 vi4 and x41 c4 ,this did ,israel to these seven nations1 that they themselves might succeed them in their cities1 habitations1 and possessions4 ,this only is true in a spiritual antitype1 when ,god's people by the sword1 the two-edged sword of ,god's ,spirit1 slay the ungodly and become heirs1 yea1 fellow heirs with ,christ ,jesus1 ,rom4 viii4 #ag4 ,god's meek people inherit the earth1 ,matt4 v4 #e4 ,they mystically1 like ,noah1 ,heb4 xi4 #g1 condemn the whole unbelieving world1 both by present and future sentence1 #a ,cor4 vi4 #b4 ,,chap4 ,,cxi4 ,sidenote3 ,the very material1 gold and silver1 of ,canaan's images1 typically to be abhorred4 ,thirdly4 ,the very materials1 the gold and silver of the idols of this land1 were odious and abominable1 and dangerous to the people of ,israel1 that they might not desire it1 nor take it to themselves1 ,deut4 vii4 #be1 #bf1 lest themselves also become a curse1 and like unto those cursed1 abominable things4 ,whereas we find not any such accursed nature in the materials of idols or images now2 but that1 the idolatrous forms being changed1 the silver and gold may be cast and coined1 and other materials lawfully employed and used4 ,yet this we find in the antitype1 that gold1 silver3 yea1 house1 land3 yea1 wives1 children3 yea1 life itself1 as they allure and draw us from ,god in ,christ1 are to be abominated and hated by us1 without which hatred and indignation1 against the most plausible and pleasing enticings1 from ,,christ ,,jesus1 it is impossible for any man to be a true ,christian1 ,luke xiv4 #bf4 ,sidenote3 ,the land of ,canaan ceremonially holy4 ,fourthly4 ,this land1 this earth1 was a holy land1 ,zech4 ii4 #ab4 ,ceremonially and typically holy1 fields1 gardens1 orchards1 houses1 c41 which holiness the world knows not now in one land or country1 house1 field1 garden1 c41 one above another4 ,sidenote3 ,greater holiness in the antitype under the gospel1 than in the types under the law4 ,yet in the spiritual land of ,canaan1 the ,christian church1 all things are made holy and pure1 in all lands1 to the pure1 ,tit4 i4 #ae2 meats and drinks are sanctified1 that is1 dedicated to the holy use of the thankful believers1 #a ,tim4 iv4 #e2 yea1 and the unbelieving husband1 wife1 and their children1 are sanctified and made holy to believers1 insomuch that that golden inscription1 peculiar to the forehead of the high priest1 ,holiness to ,jehovah1 shall be written upon the very bridles of the horses1 as all are dedicated to the service of ,christ ,jesus in the gospel's peace and holiness4 ,sidenote3 ,the land of ,canaan ,jehovah's land4 ,fifthly4 ,the ,lord expressly calls it his own land1 ,lev4 xxv4 #bc2 ,hos4 ix4 #c1 ,jehovah's land1 a term proper unto spiritual ,canaan1 the church of ,god1 which must needs be in respect of his choice of that land to be the seat and residence of his church and ordinances4 ,but now the partition-wall is broken down1 and in respect of the ,lord's special propriety to one country more than another1 what difference between ,asia and ,africa1 between ,europe and ,america1 between ,england and ,turkey1 ,london and ,constantinople8 ,sidenote3 ,emanuel's land3 so no land or country more than another4 ,this land1 among many other glorious titles given to it1 was called ,emanuel's land1 that is1 ,god with us1 ,christ's land1 or ,christian land1 ,isa4 viii4 #h4 ,but now1 ,jerusalem from above is not material and earthly1 but spiritual1 ,gal4 iv4 #be2 ,heb4 xii4 #bb4 ,material ,jerusalem is no more the ,lord's city than ,jericho1 ,nineveh1 or ,babel1 in respect of place or country3 for even at ,babel literal1 was a church of ,jesus ,christ1 #a ,pet4 v4 #ac4 ,it is true1 that anti-christ hath christened all those countries whereon the whore sitteth1 ,rev4 xvii41 with the title of ,christ's land1 or ,christian land4 ,sidenote3 ,the blasphemous titles of the christened and ,christian world4 ,and ,hundius1 in his map of the ,christian world1 makes this land to extend to all ,asia1 a great part of ,africa1 all ,europe1 and a vast part of ,america1 even so far as his unchristian christening hath gone4 ,but as every false ,christ hath false teachers1 false ,christians1 false faith1 hope1 love1 c41 and in the end false salvation1 so doth he also counterfeit the false name of ,christ1 ,christians1 ,christian land or country4 ,sidenote3 ,the material land of ,canaan was to keep her sabbaths1 so no material land or country now4 ,sixthly4 ,this land was to keep her sabbaths unto ,god4 ,six years they were to sow their fields1 and prune their vines1 but in the seventh year they were not to sow their fields1 nor prune their vineyards1 but to eat that which grew of itself or own accord4 ,but such observations doth not ,god now lay upon any fields1 vineyards1 c41 under the gospel4 ,sidenote3 ,god feedeth his sometimes immediately4 ,yet1 in the spiritual land of ,canaan1 the true church1 there is a spiritual soul-rest or sabbath1 a quiet depending upon ,god1 a living by faith in him1 a making him our portion1 and casting all care upon him who careth for us3 yea1 sometimes he feedeth his by immediate1 gracious works of providence1 when comforts arise out of the earth1 without secondary means or causes1 as here1 or as elsewhere1 manna descended from heaven4 ,seventhly4 ,such portions and possessions of lands1 fields1 houses1 vineyards1 were sold with caution or proviso of returning again in the year of jubilee to the right owners1 ,lev4 xxv4 #bc4 ,such cautions1 such provisos1 are not now enjoined by ,god in the sale of lands1 fields1 inheritances1 nor no such jubilee or redemption to be expected4 ,sidenote3 ,the jubilee of ,canaan a type of restitution and redemption in the gospel4 ,yea1 this also finds a fulfilling in the spiritual ,canaan1 or church of ,god1 unto which the silver trumpet of jubilee1 the gospel1 hath sounded a spiritual restitution of all their spiritual rights and inheritances1 which either they have lost in the fall of the first man ,adam1 or in their particular falls1 when they are captive1 and sold unto sin1 ,rom4 vii4 #ad1 or1 lastly1 in the spiritual captivity of ,babel's bondage4 ,how sweet then is the name of a ,saviour1 in whom is the joyful sound of a deliverance and redemption6 ,sidenote3 ,canaan's land a type of the kingdom of ,god on earth and in heaven4 ,why ,naboth refused to part with a garden plot to his king1 upon hazard of his life4 ,eighthly4 ,this land or country was a figure or type of the kingdom of heaven above1 begun here below in the church and kingdom of ,god1 ,heb4 iv4 #h2 ,heb4 xi4 #i1 #aj4 ,hence was a birthright so precious in ,canaan's land3 hence ,naboth so inexorable and resolute in refusing to part with his inheritance to ,king ,ahab1 counting all ,ahab's seeming reasonable offers most unreasonable1 as soliciting him to part with a garden plot of ,canaan's land1 though his refusal cost him his very life4 ,what land1 what country now is ,israel's parallel and antitype1 but that holy mystical nation1 the church of ,god1 peculiar and called out to him out of every nation and country1 #a ,pet4 ii4 #i4 ,in which every true spiritual ,naboth hath his spiritual inheritance1 which he dares not part with1 though it be to his king or sovereign1 and though such his refusal cost him this present life4 ,,chap4 ,,cxii4 ,peace4 ,doubtless that ,canaan land was not a pattern for all lands3 it was a non-such1 unparallelled1 and unmatchable4 ,sidenote3 ,the difference of the people of ,israel and all other peoples4 ,truth4 ,many other considerations of the same nature ,i might annex1 but ,i pick here and there a flower1 and pass on to a second head concerning the people themselves1 wherein the state of the people shall appear unmatchable3 but only by the true church and ,israel of ,god4 ,sidenote3 ,the people of ,israel the seed of one man4 ,first4 ,the people of ,israel were all the seed or offspring of one man1 ,abraham1 ,psalm cv4 #f1 and so downward the seed of ,isaac and ,jacob1 hence called the ,israel of ,god1 that is1 wrestlers and prevailers with ,god1 distinguished into twelve tribes1 all sprung out of ,israel's loins4 ,but now1 few nations of the world but are a mixed seed2 the people of ,england especially3 the ,britons1 ,picts1 ,romans1 ,saxons1 ,danes1 and ,normans1 by a wonderful providence of ,god1 being become one ,english people4 ,sidenote3 ,only made good in the spiritual seed1 the regenerate1 or new-born4 ,only the spiritual ,israel and seed of ,god1 the new born1 are but one4 ,christ is the seed1 ,gal4 iii4 #af1 and they only that are ,christ's are only ,abraham's seed1 and heirs according to the promise4 ,this spiritual seed is the only antitype of the former figurative and typical4 ,a seed which all ,christians ought to propagate1 yea1 even the unmarried men and women who are not capable of natural offspring1 for thus is this called the seed of ,christ 7who lived and died unmarried71 ,isa4 lix4 #ba4 ,secondly4 ,this people was selected and separated to the ,lord1 his covenant and worship1 from all the people and nations of the world beside1 to be his peculiar and only people1 ,lev4 xx4 #bf1 c4 ,sidenote3 ,the people of ,israel separate from all nations in spiritual1 and in some civil things4 ,therefore1 such as returned from ,babylon to ,jerusalem1 they separated themselves to eat the passover1 ,ezra vi4 #ba4 ,and in that solemn humiliation and confession before the ,lord1 ,neh4 ix4 #b1 the children of ,israel separated themselves from all strangers4 ,this separation of theirs was so famous1 that it extended not only to circumcision1 the passover1 and matters of ,god's worship1 but even to temporal and civil things3 thus 7,ezra ix47 they separated or put away their very wives1 which they had taken of the strange nations1 contrary to the commandment of the ,lord4 ,sidenote3 ,no nation so separated to ,god in the gospel1 but only the new-born ,israel that fear ,god in every nation4 ,but where hath the ,god of heaven1 in the gospel1 separated whole nations or kingdoms1 ,english1 ,scotch1 ,irish1 ,french1 ,dutch1 c41 as a peculiar people and antitype of the people of ,israel8 ,yea1 where the least footing in all the scripture for a national church after ,christ's coming8 ,can any people in the world pattern this sampler but the new-born ,israel1 such as fear ,god in every nation1 ,acts x4 #ce1 commanded to come forth1 and separate from all unclean things or persons8 #b ,cor4 vi4 #ag1 and though not bound to put away strange wives as ,israel did1 because of that peculiar respect upon them in civil things1 yet to be holy or set apart to the ,lord in all manner of civil conversation1 #a ,pet4 i4 #ae3 only to marry in the ,lord1 yea1 and to marry as if they married not1 #a ,cor4 vii4 #bi3 yea1 to hate wife and children1 father1 mother1 house1 and land1 yea1 and life itself for the ,lord ,jesus1 ,luke xiv4 #bf4 ,sidenote3 ,the whole people of ,israel miraculously brought forth of ,egypt4 ,thirdly4 ,this seed of ,abraham thus separate from all people unto the ,lord1 was wonderfully redeemed and brought from ,egypt bondage1 through the ,red ,sea1 and the wilderness1 unto the land of ,canaan1 by many strange signs and wonderful miracles1 wrought by the out-stretched hand of the ,lord1 famous and dreadful1 and to be admired by all succeeding peoples and generations1 ,deut4 iv4 #cb-cd1 ,ask now from one side of the heaven unto the other1 whether there hath been such a thing as this8 c4 ,sidenote3 ,not so any whole nation now4 ,and we may ask again from one side of the heaven unto the other1 whether the ,lord hath now so miraculously redeemed and brought unto himself any nation or people1 as he did this people of ,israel4 ,peace4 ,the ,english1 ,scotch1 ,dutch1 c41 are apt to make themselves the parallels1 as wonderfully come forth of popery1 c4 ,truth4 #a4 ,but first1 whole nations are no churches under the gospel4 ,sidenote3 ,popery not so easily turned from as is conceived4 #b4 ,secondly1 bring the nations of ,europe professing protestantism to the balance of the sanctuary1 and ponder well whether the body1 bulk1 the general1 or one hundredth part of such peoples1 be truly turned to ,god from popery3-- ,who knows not how easy it is to turn1 and turn1 and turn again1 whole nations from one religion to another8 ,sidenote3 ,wonderful turnings in religion in twelve years' compass in ,england4 ,who knows not that within the compass of one poor span of twelve years' revolution1 all ,england hath become from half papist1 half protestant1 to be absolute protestants2 from absolute protestants1 to absolute papists2 from absolute papists1 changing as fashions1 to absolute protestants8 ,sidenote3 ,the pope not unlike to recover his monarchy over ,europe before his downfall4 ,i will not say1 as some worthy witnesses of ,christ have uttered1 that all ,england and ,europe must again submit their fair necks to the pope's yoke2 but this ,i say1 many scriptures concerning the destruction of the beast and the whore look that way4 ,and ,i add1 they that feel the pulse of the people seriously1 must confess that a victorious sword and a ,spanish inquisition will soon make millions face about as they were in the forefathers' time4 ,,chap4 ,,cxiii4 ,peace4 ,oh6 that the steersmen of the nations might remember this1 be wise and kiss the ,son1 lest he go on in this his dreadful anger1 and dash them in pieces here and eternally4 ,sidenote3 ,who are now the true seed of ,abraham4 ,truth4 ,i therefore1 thirdly1 add1 that only such as are ,abraham's seed1 circumcised in heart1 new-born1 ,israel 7or wrestlers with ,god71 are the antitype of the former ,israel2 these are only the holy nation1 #a ,pet4 ii4 #i2 wonderfully redeemed from the ,egypt of this world1 ,tit4 ii4 #ad2 brought through the ,red ,sea of baptism1 #a ,cor4 x4 #b2 through the wilderness of afflictions1 and of the peoples1 ,deut4 viii41 ,ezek4 xx41 into the kingdom of heaven begun below1 even that ,christian land of promise where flow the everlasting streams and rivers of spiritual milk and honey4 ,sidenote3 ,the people of ,israel all holy in a typical holiness4 ,fourthly1 all this people universally1 in typical and ceremonial respect1 were holy and clean in this their separation and sequestration unto ,god1 ,exod4 xix4 #e4 ,hence1 even in respect of their natural birth in that land1 they were a holy seed1 and ,ezra makes it the matter of his great complaint1 ,ezra ix4 #a1 #b1--,the holy seed have mingled themselves4 ,but where is now that nation1 or country1 upon the face of the earth1 thus clean and holy unto ,god1 and bound to so many ceremonial cleansings and purgings8 ,sidenote3 ,all nations now alike since the coming of the ,lord ,jesus4 ,are not all the nations of the earth alike clean unto ,god8 or rather1 alike unclean1 until it pleaseth the ,father of mercies to call some out to the knowledge and grace of his ,son1 making them to see their filthiness1 and strangeness from the commonweal of ,israel1 and to wash in the blood of the ,lamb of ,god8 ,this taking away the difference between nation and nation1 country and country1 is most fully and admirably declared in that great vision of all sorts of living creatures presented unto ,peter1 ,acts x42 whereby it pleased the ,lord to inform ,peter of the abolishing of the difference between ,jew and ,gentile in any holy or unholy1 clean or unclean respect4 ,sidenote3 ,the children of ,israel a figure of the ,israel1 or people1 of ,god only under the gospel4 ,fifthly--not only to speak of all1 but to select one or two more--this people of ,israel in that national state were a type of all the children of ,god in all ages under the profession of the gospel1 who are therefore called the children of ,abraham1 and the ,israel of ,god1 ,gal4 iii4 and ,gal4 vi4 #af4 ,a kingly priesthood and holy nation1 #a ,pet4 ii4 #i1 in a clear and manifest antitype to the former ,israel1 ,exod4 xix4 #f4 ,hence ,christians now are figuratively1 in this respect1 called ,jews1 ,rev4 iii4 #i4 where lies a clear distinction of the true and false ,christian under the consideration of the true and false ,jew3 ,behold ,i will make them of the synagogue of ,satan that say they are ,jews and are not1 but do lie1 ,rev4 iii4 #i4 ,but such a typical respect we find not now upon any people1 nation1 or country of the whole world2 but out of all nations1 tongues1 and languages is ,god pleased to call some1 and redeem them to himself1 ,rev4 v4 #i2 and hath made no difference between the ,jews and ,gentiles1 ,greeks and ,scythians1 ,gal4 iii4 #bh4 who by regeneration1 or second birth1 become the ,israel of ,god1 ,gal4 vi4 #af4 the temple of ,god1 #a ,cor4 iii4 #ag4 and the true ,jerusalem1 ,heb4 xii4 #bb4 ,sidenote3 ,the people of ,israel different from all the world in their figurative and ceremonial worships4 ,lastly1 all this whole nation1 or people1 as they were of one typical seed of ,abraham1 and sealed with a shameful and painful ordinance of cutting off the foreskin1 which differenced them from all the world beside3 so also were they bound to such and such solemnities of figurative worships4 ,amongst many others ,i shall end this passage concerning the people with a famous observation out of ,num4 ix4 #ac1 viz41 all that whole nation was bound to celebrate and keep the feast of the passover in his season1 or else they were to be put to death4 ,but doth ,god require a whole nation1 country1 or kingdom now thus to celebrate the spiritual passover1 the supper and feast of the ,lamb ,christ ,jesus1 at such a time once a year1 and that whosoever shall not so do shall be put to death8 ,what horrible profanations1 what gross hypocrisies1 yea1 what wonderful desolations1 sooner or later1 must needs follow upon such a course6 ,sidenote3 ,israel1 ,god's only church1 might well renew that national covenant and ceremonial worship1 which other nations cannot imitate4 ,it is true1 the people of ,israel1 brought into covenant with ,god in ,abraham1 and so successively born in covenant with ,god1 might1 in that state of a national church1 solemnly covenant and swear that whosoever would not seek ,jehovah1 the ,god of ,israel1 should be put to death1 #b ,chron4 xv4 #ab1 #ac4 whether small or great1 whether man or woman4 ,but may whole nations or kingdoms now1 according to any one tittle expressed by ,christ ,jesus to that purpose1 follow that pattern of ,israel1 and put to death all1 both men and women1 great and small1 that according to the rules of the gospel are not born again1 penitent1 humble1 heavenly1 patient8 c4 ,what a world of hypocrisy from hence is practised by thousands1 that for fear will stoop to give that ,god their bodies in a form1 whom yet in truth their hearts affect not6 ,sidenote3 ,the hypocrisy1 profanations1 and slaughters which such imitations now in the gospel produce4 ,yea1 also what a world of profanation of the holy name and holy ordinances of the ,lord1 in prostituting the holy things of ,god1 like the vessels of the sanctuary1 ,dan4 v41 to profane1 impenitent1 and unregenerate persons6 ,lastly1 what slaughters1 both of men and women1 must this necessarily bring into the world1 by the insurrections and civil wars about religion and conscience6 ,yea1 what slaughters of the innocent and faithful witnesses of ,christ ,jesus1 who choose to be slain all the day long for ,christ's sake1 and to fight for their ,lord and ,master ,christ1 only with spiritual and ,christian weapons6 ,,chap4 ,,cxiv4 ,peace4 ,it seems1 dear ,truth1 a mighty gulf between that people and nation1 and the nations of the world then extant and ever since4 ,truth4 ,as sure as the blessed substance to all those shadows1 ,christ ,jesus1 is come1 so unmatchable and never to be parallelled by any national state was that ,israel in the figure1 or shadow4 ,and yet the ,israel of ,god now1 the regenerate or new born1 the circumcised in heart by repentance and mortification1 who willingly submit unto the ,lord ,jesus as their only ,king and ,head1 may fitly parallel and answer that ,israel in the type1 without such danger of hypocrisy1 of such horrible profanations1 and of firing the civil state in such bloody combustions1 as all ages have brought forth upon this compelling a whole nation or kingdom to be the antitype of ,israel4 ,sidenote3 ,the difference of the kings and governors of ,israel from all kings and governors of the world4 ,first1 they were all members of the church4 ,peace4 ,were this light entertained1 some hopes would shine forth for my return and restoration4 ,truth4 ,i have yet to add a third consideration1 concerning the kings and governors of that land and people4 ,they were to be1 unless in their captivities1 of their brethren1 members of the true church of ,god3 as appears in the history of ,moses1 the elders of ,israel1 and the judges and kings of ,israel afterward4 ,but first1 who can deny but that there may be now many lawful governors1 magistrates1 and kings1 in the nations of the world1 where is no true church of ,jesus ,christ8 ,sidenote3 ,excellent talents vouchsafed by ,god to unregenerate persons4 ,secondly1 we know the many excellent gifts wherewith it hath pleased ,god to furnish many1 enabling them for public service to their countries both in peace and war1 as all ages and experience testify1 on whose souls he hath not yet pleased to shine in the face of ,jesus ,christ3 which gifts and talents must all lie buried in the earth1 unless such persons may lawfully be called and chosen to1 and improved in public service1 notwithstanding their different or contrary conscience or worship4 ,sidenote3 ,a doctrine contrary to all true piety and humanity itself4 ,thirdly1 if none but true ,christians1 members of ,christ ,jesus1 might be civil magistrates1 and publicly entrusted with civil affairs1 then none but members of churches1 ,christians1 should be husbands of wives1 fathers of children1 masters of servants4 ,but against this doctrine the whole creation1 the whole world1 may justly rise up in arms1 as not only contrary to true piety1 but common humanity itself4 ,for if a commonweal be lawful amongst men that have not heard of ,god nor ,christ1 certainly their officers1 ministers1 and governors must be lawful also4 ,sidenote3 ,the papists' doctrine of deposing magistrates1 confessed in effect to be true by the protestants4 ,fourthly1 it is notoriously known to be the dangerous doctrine professed by some papists1 that princes degenerating from their religion1 and turning heretics1 are to be deposed1 and their subjects actually discharged from their obedience4 ,which doctrine all such must necessarily hold1 however most loath to own it1 that hold the magistrate guardian of both tables2 and consequently such a one as is enabled to judge1 yea1 and to demonstrate to all men the worship of ,god3 yea1 and being thus governor and head of the church1 he must necessarily be a part of it himself2 which when by heresy he falls from--though it may be by truth1 miscalled heresy--he falls from his calling of magistracy1 and is utterly disabled from his 7pretended7 guardianship and government of the church4 ,sidenote3 ,no civil magistrate ,christian in ,christ's time4 ,lastly1 we may remember the practice of the ,lord ,jesus and his followers1 commanding and practising obedience to the higher powers1 though we find not one civil magistrate a ,christian in all the first churches4 ,but contrarily1 the civil magistrate at that time was the bloody beast1 made up 7as ,daniel seems to imply concerning the ,roman state1 ,dan4 vii4 #g7 of the lion1 the bear1 and the leopard1 ,rev4 xiii4 #b4 ,,chap4 ,,cxv4 ,peace4 ,by these weights we may try the weight of that commonly received and not questioned opinion1 viz41 that the civil state and the spiritual1 the church and the commonweal1 they are like ,hippocrates' twins1 they are born together1 grow up together1 laugh together1 weep together1 sicken and die together4 ,sidenote3 ,five demonstrative arguments proving the unsoundness of that maxim3 the church and the commonwealth are like ,hippocrates' twins4 ,truth4 ,a witty1 yet a most dangerous fiction of the father of lies1 who1 hardened in rebellion against ,god1 persuades ,god's people to drink down such deadly poison1 though he knows the truth of these five particulars1 which ,i shall remind you of3-- ,sidenote3 ,many flourishing states without a true church4 ,first1 many flourishing states in the world have been and are at this day1 which hear not of ,jesus ,christ1 and therefore have not the presence and concurrence of a church of ,christ with them4 ,sidenote3 ,many of ,god's people far off from a true church state1 yet fit for civil services4 ,secondly1 there have been many thousands of ,god's people1 who in their personal estate and life of grace were awake to ,god2 but in respect of church estate1 they knew no other than a church of dead stones1 the parish church2 or though some light be of late come in through some cranny1 yet they seek not after1 or least of all are joined to any true church of ,god1 consisting of living and believing stones4 ,so that by these ,new ,english ministers' principles1 not only is the door of calling to magistracy shut against natural and unregenerate men1 though excellently fitted for civil offices1 but also against the best and ablest servants of ,god1 except they be entered into church estate3 so that thousands of ,god's own people1 excellently qualified1 not knowing or not entering into such a church estate1 shall not be accounted fit for civil services4 ,sidenote3 ,god's people permitted and favoured by idolaters4 ,thirdly1 admit that a civil magistrate be neither a member of a true church of ,christ1 if any be in his dominions1 nor in his person fear ,god1 yet may he 7possibly7 give free permission without molestation1 yea1 and sometimes encouragement and assistance1 to the service and church of ,god4 ,thus we find ,abraham permitted to build and set up an altar to his ,god wheresoever he came1 amongst the idolatrous nations in the land of ,canaan4 ,thus ,cyrus proclaims liberty to all the people of ,god in his dominions1 freely to go up and build the temple of ,god at ,jerusalem1 and ,artaxerxes after him confirmed it4 ,thus the ,roman emperors1 and governors under them1 permitted the church of ,god1 the ,jews1 in the ,lord ,christ's time1 their temple and worship1 although in civil things they were subject to the ,romans4 ,sidenote3 ,christ's church gathered and governed without the help of an arm of flesh4 ,fourthly1 the scriptures of truth and the records of time concur in this1 that the first churches of ,christ ,jesus1 the lights1 patterns1 and precedents to all succeeding ages1 were gathered and governed without the aid1 assistance1 or countenance of any civil authority1 from which they suffered great persecutions for the name of the ,lord ,jesus professed amongst them4 ,the nations1 rulers1 and kings of the earth1 tumultuously rage against the ,lord and his anointed1 ,ps4 ii4 #a1 #b4 ,yet1 ver4 #f1 it hath pleased the ,father to set the ,lord ,jesus ,king upon his holy hill of ,zion4 ,christ ,jesus would not be pleased to make use of the civil magistrate to assist him in his spiritual kingdom1 nor would he yet be daunted or discouraged in his servants by all their threats and terrors3 for love is strong as death1 and the coals thereof give a most vehement flame1 and are not quenched by all the waters and floods of mightiest opposition1 ,cant4 viii4 #f1 #g4 ,sidenote3 ,christ's true spouse1 chaste and faithful to ,christ ,jesus1 in the midst of fears or favours from the world4 ,christ's church is like a chaste and loving wife1 in whose heart is fixed her husband's love1 who hath found the tenderness of his love towards her1 and hath been made fruitful by him1 and therefore seeks she not the smiles1 nor fears the frowns1 of all the emperors in the world to bring her ,christ unto her1 or keep him from her4 ,sidenote3 ,the ten horns1 ,rev4 xiii4 and xvii4 ,lastly1 we find in the tyrannical usurpations of the ,romish anti-christ1 the ten horns--which some of good note conceive to be the ten kingdoms into which the ,roman empire was quartered and divided--are expressly said1 ,rev4 xvii4 #ac1 to have one mind to give their power and strength unto the beast2 yea1 ver4 #ag1 their kingdom unto the beast1 until the works of ,god shall be fulfilled4 ,whence it follows1 that all those nations that are gilded over with the name of ,christ1 have under that mask or vizard 7as some executioners and tormenters in the inquisition use to torment7 persecuted the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 either with a more open1 gross1 and bloody1 or with a more subtle1 secret1 and gentle violence4 ,sidenote3 ,the great mystery of persecution unfolded4 ,christian ,naboths slaughtered4 ,let us cast our eyes about1 turn over the records1 and examine the experience of past and present generations1 and see if all particular observations amount not to this sum1 viz41 that the great whore hath committed fornication with the kings of the earth1 and made drunk thereof nations with the cup of the wine of her fornications3 in which drunkenness and whoredom 7as whores use to practise7 she hath robbed the kings and nations of their power and strength1 and1 ,jezebel like1 having procured the kings' names and seals1 she drinks herself drunk1 ,rev4 xvii4 #f1 with the blood of ,naboth1 who1 because he dares not part with his rightful inheritance in the land of ,canaan1 the blessed land of promise and salvation in ,christ1 as a traitor to the civil state and blasphemer against ,god1 she1 under the colour of a day of humiliation in prayer and fasting1 stones to death4 ,,chap4 ,,cxvi4 ,peace4 ,dear ,truth1 how art thou hidden from the eyes of men in these mysteries6 how should men weep abundantly with ,john1 that the ,lamb may please to open these blessed seals unto them6 ,truth4 ,oh that men more prized their ,maker's fear6 then should they be more acquainted with their ,maker's councils1 for his secret is with them that fear him1 ,ps4 xxv4 #ad4 ,i pass on to a second difference4 ,sidenote3 ,second difference4 ,the mystery of the anointing the kings of ,israel and ,judah4 ,the kings of ,israel and ,judah were all solemnly anointed with oil1 ,ps4 lxxxix4 #bj1 ,i have found ,david my servant1 with my oil have ,i anointed him4 ,whence the kings of ,israel and ,judah were honoured with that mystical and glorious title of the anointed1 or ,christ of the ,lord1 ,lam4 iv4 #bj1 ,the breath of our nostrils1 the anointed of ,jehovah1 was taken in their pits1 c4 ,which anointing and title however1 the man of sin1 together with the crown and diadem of spiritual ,israel1 the church of ,god1 he hath given to some of the kings of the earth1 that so he may in lieu thereof dispose of their civil crowns the easier3 yet shall we find it an incommunicable privilege and prerogative of the saints and people of ,god4 ,for as the ,lord ,jesus himself in the antitype was not anointed with material but spiritual oil1 ,ps4 xlv4 #g1 with the oil of gladness2 and ,luke iv4 #ah1 from ,isaiah lxi4 #a1 with the ,spirit of ,god1 ,the ,spirit of the ,lord is upon me1 the ,lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings1 c42 so also all his members are anointed with the ,holy ,spirit of ,god1 #b ,cor4 i4 #ba1 and #a ,john ii4 #bj4 ,sidenote3 ,the name ,christian1 or anointed4 ,hence is it that ,christians rejoice in that name1 as carrying the very express title of the anointed of the ,lord2 which most superstitiously and sacrilegiously hath been applied only unto kings4 ,sidenote3 ,a sacrilegious monopoly of the name ,christian4 ,peace4 ,o dear ,truth1 how doth the great ,searcher of all hearts find out the thefts of the anti-christian world6 how are men carried in the dark they know not whither6 ,how is that heavenly charge1 ,touch not mine anointed1 c41 ,ps4 cv4 #ae1 common to all ,christians1 or anointed ones with ,christ their head1 by way of monopoly or privilege appropriated to kings and princes6 ,sidenote3 ,the crown of ,christ's kingly power4 ,truth4 ,it will not be here unseasonable to call to mind that admirable prophecy1 ,ezek4 xxi4 #bf1 #bg1 ,thus saith ,jehovah ,god1 remove the diadem1 take away the crown2 this shall not be the same2 exalt him that is low1 and abase him that is high2 ,i will overturn1 overturn1 overturn1 until he come whose right it is2 and ,i will give it him4 ,the matter is a crown and diadem to be taken from a usurper's head1 and set upon the head of the right owner4 ,peace4 ,doubtless this mystically intends the spiritual crown of the ,lord ,jesus1 for these many hundred years set upon the heads of the competitors and co-rivals of the ,lord ,jesus1 upon whose glorious head1 in his messengers and churches1 the crown shall be established4 ,the anointing1 the title1 and the crown and power1 must return to the ,lord ,jesus in his saints1 unto whom alone belongs his power and authority in ecclesiastical or spiritual cases4 ,,chap4 ,,cxvii4 ,sidenote3 ,third4 ,the kings of ,israel and ,judah invested with a spiritual power4 ,truth4 ,i therefore proceed to a third difference between those kings and governors of ,israel and ,judah1 and all other kings and rulers of the earth4 ,look upon the administrations of the kings of ,israel and ,judah1 and well weigh the power and authority which those kings of ,israel and ,judah exercised in ecclesiastical and spiritual causes2 and upon a due search we shall not find the same sceptre of spiritual power in the hand of civil authority1 which was settled in the hands of the kings of ,israel and ,judah4 ,david appointed the orders of the priests and singers1 he brought the ark to ,jerusalem1 he prepared for the building of the ,temple1 the pattern whereof he delivered to ,solomon3 yet ,david herein could not be a type of the kings and rulers of the earth1 but of the king of heaven1 ,christ ,jesus3 for1 ,first1 ,david1 as he was a king1 so was he also a prophet1 ,acts ii4 #cj2 and therefore a type1 as ,moses also was1 of that great prophet1 the ,son of ,god4 ,and they that plead for ,david's kingly power1 must also by the same rule plead for his prophetical1 by which he swayed the sceptre of ,israel in church affairs4 ,sidenote3 ,david immediately inspired by the ,spirit of ,god1 in his ordering of church matters4 ,secondly1 it is expressly said1 #a ,chron4 xxviii4 #aa1 #ab1 #ac1 that the pattern which ,david gave to ,solomon1 concerning the matter of the temple and worship of ,god1 he had it by the ,spirit1 which was no other but a figure of the immediate inspiration of the ,spirit of ,god unto the ,lord ,jesus1 the true spiritual king of ,israel1 ,john i4 #di1 ,rabbi1 thou art the ,son of ,god2 ,rabbi1 thou art the ,king of ,israel4 ,sidenote3 ,solomon's deposing ,abiathar 7#a ,kings ii4 #bf1 #bg17 discussed4 ,again1 what civil magistrate may now act as ,solomon1 a type of ,christ1 doth act1 #a ,kings ii4 #bf1 #bg8 ,solomon thrust out ,abiathar from being priest unto ,jehovah4 ,peace4 ,some object that ,abiathar was a man of death1 ver4 #bf1 worthy to die1 as having followed ,adonijah2 and therefore ,solomon executed no more than civil justice upon him4 ,sidenote3 ,solomon's putting ,abiathar from the priesthood1 examined4 ,truth4 ,solomon remits the civil punishment1 and inflicts upon him a spiritual2 but by what right1 but as he was king of the church1 a figure of ,christ8 ,abiathar's life is spared with respect to his former good service in following after ,david2 but yet he is turned out from the priesthood4 ,sidenote3 ,a case put upon occasion of ,abiathar's case4 ,but now put the case3 suppose that any of the officers of the ,new ,england churches should prove false to the state1 and be discovered joining with a ,french ,monsieur1 or ,spanish ,don1 thirsting after conquest and dominion1 to further their invasions of that country2 yet for some former faithful service to the state1 he should not be adjudged to civil punishment3--,i ask now1 might their governors1 or their general court 7their parliament71 depose such a man1 a pastor1 teacher1 or elder1 from his holy calling or office in ,god's house8 ,sidenote3 ,another case4 ,or suppose1 in a partial and corrupt state1 a member or officer of a church should escape with his life upon the commission of murder1 ought not a church of ,christ upon repentance to receive him8 ,i suppose it will not be said1 that he ought to execute himself2 or that the church may use a civil sword against him4 ,in these cases may such persons1 spared in civil punishments for some reason of or by partiality of state1 be punished spiritually by the civil magistrate1 as ,abiathar was4 ,let the very enemies of ,zion be judges4 ,secondly1 if ,solomon in thrusting out of ,abiathar was a pattern and precedent unto all civil magistrates1 why not also in putting ,zadok in his room1 ver4 #ce8 ,but against this the pope1 the bishops1 the presbyterians1 and the independents1 will all cry out against such a practice1 in their several respective claims and challenges for their ministries4 ,sidenote3 ,the liberties of ,christ's churches in the choice of their officers4 ,we find the liberty of the subjects of ,christ in the choice of an apostle1 ,acts i42 of a deacon1 ,acts vi42 of elders1 ,acts xiv42 and guided by the assistance either of the apostles or evangelists1 #a ,tim4 i41 ,tit4 i41 without the least influence of any civil magistrate3 which shows the beauty of their liberty4 ,sidenote3 ,a civil influence dangerous to the saints' liberties4 ,the parliaments of ,england have by right free choice of their speaker3 yet some princes have thus far been gratified as to nominate1 yea1 and implicitly to commend a speaker to them4 ,wise men have seen the evil consequences of those influences1 though but in civil things3 how much far greater and stronger are those snares1 when the golden keys of the ,son of ,god are delivered into the hands of civil authority6 ,peace4 ,you know the noise raised concerning those famous acts of ,asa1 ,hezekiah1 ,jehoshaphat1 ,josiah4 ,what think you of the fast proclaimed by ,jehoshaphat8 #b ,chron4 xx4 #c4 ,truth4 ,i find it to be the duty of kings and all in authority1 to encourage ,christ's messengers of truth proclaiming repentance1 c4 ,but under the gospel1 to enforce all natural and unregenerate people to acts of worship1 what precedent hath ,christ ,jesus given us8 ,sidenote3 ,jehoshaphat's fast examined4 ,first1 it is true ,jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast1 c42 but was he not in matters spiritual a type of ,christ1 the true king of ,israel8 ,secondly1 ,jehoshaphat calls the members of the true church to church service and worship of ,god4 ,sidenote3 ,if civil powers may enjoin the time of the church's worship1 they may also forbid her times4 ,but consider1 if civil powers now may judge of and determine the actions of worship proper to the saints3 if they may appoint the time of the church's worship1 fasting1 and prayer1 c41 why may they not as well forbid those times which a church of ,christ shall make choice of1 seeing it is a branch of the same root to forbid what liketh not1 as well as to enjoin what pleaseth8 ,and if in those most solemn duties and exercises1 why not also in other ordinary meetings and worships8 ,and if so1 where is the power of the ,lord ,jesus1 bequeathed to his ministers and churches1 of which the power of those kings was but a shadow8 ,,chap4 ,,cxviii4 ,peace4 ,the liberty of the subject sounds most sweet ,london and ,oxford both profess to fight for3 how much infinitely more sweet is that true soul liberty according to ,christ ,jesus6 ,sidenote3 ,god will not wrong ,csar1 and ,csar should not wrong ,god4 ,i know you would not take from ,csar aught1 although it were to give to ,god2 and what is ,god's and his people's ,i wish that ,csar may not take4 ,yet1 for the satisfaction of some1 be pleased to glance upon ,josiah1 his famous acts in the church of ,god1 concerning the worship of ,god1 the priests1 ,levites1 and their services1 compelling the people to keep the passover1 making himself a covenant before the ,lord1 and compelling all that were found in ,jerusalem and ,benjamin to stand to it4 ,truth4 ,to these famous practices of ,josiah1 ,i shall parallel the practices of ,england's kings2 and first1 de jure1 a word or two of their right3 then1 de facto1 discuss what hath been done4 ,sidenote3 ,the famous acts of ,josiah1 examined4 ,first1 de jure2 ,josiah was a precious branch of that royal root king ,david1 who was immediately designed by ,god3 and when the golden links of the royal chain broke in the usurpations of the ,roman conqueror1 it pleased the most wise ,god to send a son of ,david1 a ,son of ,god1 to begin again that royal line1 to sit upon the throne of his father ,david1 ,luke i4 #cb2 ,acts ii4 #cj4 ,sidenote3 ,magistracy in general from ,god1 the particular forms from the people4 ,it is not so with the ,gentile princes1 rulers1 and magistrates1 whether monarchical1 aristocratical1 or democratical2 who1 though government in general be from ,god1 yet1 receive their callings1 power1 and authority1 both kings and parliaments1 mediately from the people4 ,secondly4 ,josiah and those kings1 were kings and governors over the then true and only church of ,god national1 brought into the covenant of ,god in ,abraham1 and so downward3 and they might well be forced to stand to that covenant into which1 with such immediate signs and miracles1 they had been brought4 ,sidenote3 ,israel confirmed in a national covenant by relations1 signs1 and miracles1 but so not ,england4 ,but what commission from ,christ ,jesus had ,henry ,,viii41 ,edward ,,vi41 or any1 ,josiah like1 to force the many hundred thousands of ,english men and women1 without such immediate signs and miracles that ,israel had1 to enter into a holy and spiritual covenant with the invisible ,god1 the ,father of spirits1 or upon pain of death1 as in ,josiah's time1 to stand to that which they never made1 nor before evangelical repentance are possibly capable of8 ,sidenote3 ,henry ,,viii4 the first head and governor of the church of ,england4 ,now secondly1 de facto3 let it be well remembered concerning the kings of ,england professing reformation4 ,the foundation of all was laid in ,henry ,,viii4 ,the pope challengeth to be the vicar of ,christ ,jesus here upon earth1 to have power of reforming the church1 redressing abuses1 c43 ,henry ,,viii4 falls out with the pope1 and challengeth that very power to himself of which he had despoiled the pope1 as appears by that act of parliament establishing ,henry ,,viii4 the supreme head and governor in all cases ecclesiastical1 c4#bba ,it pleased the most high ,god to plague the pope by ,henry ,,viii4's means3 but neither pope nor king can ever prove such power from ,christ derived to either of them4 ,sidenote3 ,the wonderful formings and reformings of religion by ,england's kings4 ,kings and states often plant1 and often pluck up religions4 ,secondly1 as before intimated1 let us view the works and acts of ,england's imitation of ,josiah's practice4 ,henry ,,vii4 leaves ,england under the slavish bondage of the pope's yoke4 ,henry ,,viii4 reforms all ,england to a new fashion1 half papist1 half protestant4 ,king ,edward ,,vi4 turns about the wheels of the state1 and works the whole land to absolute protestantism4 ,queen ,mary1 succeeding to the helm1 steers a direct contrary course1 breaks in pieces all that ,edward wrought1 and brings forth an old edition of ,england's reformation all popish4 ,mary not living out half her days1 as the prophet speaks of bloody persons1 ,elizabeth1 like ,joseph1 advanced from the prison to the palace1 and from the irons to the crown1 she plucks up all her sister ,mary's plants1 and sounds a trumpet all protestant4 ,what sober man stands not amazed at these revolutions8 and yet1 like mother like daughter3 and how zealous are we1 their offspring1 for another impression1 and better edition of a national ,canaan1 in imitation of ,judah and ,josiah6 which1 if attained1 who knows how soon succeeding kings or parliaments will quite pull down and abrogate8#bbb ,sidenote3 ,a national church ever subject to turn and return1 c4 ,thirdly1 in all these formings and reformings1 a national church of natural1 unregenerate men1 was 7like wax7 the subject matter of all these forms and changes1 whether popish or protestant3 concerning which national state1 the time is yet to come whenever the ,lord ,jesus hath given a word of institution and appointment4 ,,chap4 ,,cxix4 ,sidenote3 ,a woman1 papissa1 or head of the church4 ,peace4 ,you bring to mind1 dear ,truth1 a plea of some wiser papists for the pope's supremacy1 viz41 that it was no such exorbitant or unheard of power and jurisdiction which the pope challenged1 but the very same which a woman1 ,queen ,elizabeth herself1 challenged1 styling her papissa or she-pope3 withal pleading1 that in point of reason it was far more suitable that the ,lord ,jesus would delegate his power rather to a clergyman than a layman1 as ,henry ,,viii42 or a woman1 as his daughter ,elizabeth4 ,sidenote3 ,the papists nearer to the truth1 concerning the government of the church1 than most protestants4 ,truth4 ,i believe that neither one or the other hit the white2#bbc yet ,i believe the papists' arrows fall the nearest to it in this particular1 viz41 that the government of the church of ,christ should rather belong to such as profess a ministry or office spiritual1 than to such as are merely temporal and civil4 ,so that in conclusion1 the whole controversy concerning the government of ,christ's kingdom or church1 will be found to lie between the true and false ministry1 both challenging the true commission1 power1 and keys from ,christ4 ,sidenote3 ,the kingly power of the ,lord ,jesus troubles all the kings and rulers of the world4 ,peace4 ,this all glorious diadem of the kingly power of the ,lord ,jesus hath been the eye-sore of the world1 and that which the kings and rulers of the world have always lift up their hands unto4 ,the first report of a new king of the ,jews puts ,herod and all ,jerusalem into frights2 and the power of this most glorious ,king of kings over the souls and consciences of men1 or over their lives and worships1 is still the white that all the princes of this world shoot at1 and are enraged at the tidings of the true heir1 the ,lord ,jesus1 in his servants4 ,sidenote3 ,a twofold exaltation of ,christ4 ,truth4 ,you well mind1 dear ,peace1 a twofold exaltation of the ,lord ,jesus2 one in the souls and spirits of men1 and so he is exalted by all that truly love him1 though yet remaining in ,babel's captivity1 and before they hearken to the voice of the ,lord1 8,come forth of ,babel1 my people40 ,a second exaltation of ,christ ,jesus1 upon the throne of ,david his father1 in his church and congregation1 which is his spiritual kingdom here below4 ,sidenote3 ,the world stormeth at both4 ,i confess there is a tumultuous rage at his entrance into his throne in the soul and consciences of any of his chosen2 but against his second exaltation in his true kingly power and government1 either monarchical in himself1 or ministerial in the hands of his ministers and churches1 are mustered up1 and shall be in the battles of ,christ yet to be fought1 all the powers of the gates of earth and hell4 ,sidenote3 ,a fourth difference4 ,but ,i shall mention one difference more between the kings of ,israel and ,judah1 and all other kings and rulers of the ,gentiles4 ,sidenote3 ,kings of ,israel types4 ,those kings as kings of ,israel were all invested with a typical and figurative respect1 with which now no civil power in the world can be invested4 ,sidenote3 ,they wore a double crown4 ,they wore a double crown3 first1 civil2 secondly1 spiritual3 in which respect they typed out the spiritual king of ,israel1 ,christ ,jesus4 ,when ,i say they were types1 ,i make them not in all respects so to be2 but as kings and governors over the church and kingdom of ,god1 therein types4 ,sidenote3 ,the saviours of the ,jews1 figures of the ,saviour of the world4 ,hence all those saviours and deliverers1 which it pleased ,god to stir up extraordinarily to his people1 ,gideon1 ,baruc1 ,sampson1 c42 in that respect of their being saviours1 judges1 and deliverers of ,god's people1 so were they types of ,jesus ,christ1 either monarchically ruling by himself immediately1 or ministerially by such whom he pleaseth to send to vindicate the liberties and inheritances of his people4 ,,chap4 ,,cxx4 ,peace4 ,it must needs be confessed1 that since the kings of ,israel were ceremonially anointed with oil3 and-- ,secondly1 in that they sat upon the throne of ,david1 which is expressly applied to ,christ ,jesus1 ,luke i4 #cb2 ,acts ii4 #cj2 ,john i4 #di1 their crowns were figurative and ceremonial2 but some here question1 whether or no they were not types of civil powers and rulers now1 when kings and queens shall be nursing fathers and nursing mothers1 c4 ,sidenote3 ,the monarchical and ministerial power of ,christ4 ,truth4 ,for answer unto such1 let them first remember that the dispute lies not concerning the monarchical power of the ,lord ,jesus1 the power of making laws1 and making ordinances to his saints and subjects2 but concerning a deputed and ministerial power1 and this distinction the very pope himself acknowledgeth4 ,sidenote3 ,three great competitors for the ministerial power of ,christ4 ,the popes great pretenders for the ministerial power of ,christ4 ,there are three great competitors for this deputed or ministerial power of the ,lord ,jesus4 ,first4 ,the arch-vicar of ,satan1 the pretended vicar of ,christ on earth1 who sits as ,god over the temple of ,god1 exalting himself not only above all that is called ,god1 but over the souls and consciences of all his vassals1 yea1 over the ,spirit of ,christ1 over the holy scriptures1 yea1 and ,god himself1 ,dan4 viii4 and xi41 and ,rev4 xv41 together with #b ,thess4 ii4 ,sidenote3 ,they also upon the point challenge the monarchical also4 ,this pretender1 although he professeth to claim but the ministerial power of ,christ1 to declare his ordinances1 to preach1 baptize1 ordain ministers1 and yet doth he upon the point challenge the monarchical or absolute power also1 being full of self-exalting and blaspheming1 ,dan4 vii4 #be1 and xi4 #cf2 ,rev4 xiii4 #f1 speaking blasphemies against the ,god of heaven1 thinking to change times and laws2 but he is the son of perdition arising out of the bottomless pit1 and comes to destruction1 ,rev4 xvii41 for so hath the ,lord ,jesus decreed to consume him by the breath of his mouth1 #b ,thess4 ii4 ,sidenote3 ,the second great pretender1 the civil magistrate4 ,the second great competitor to this crown of the ,lord ,jesus is the civil magistrate1 whether emperors1 kings1 or other inferior officers of state1 who are made to believe1 by the false prophets of the world1 that they are the antitypes of the kings of ,israel and ,judah1 and wear the crown of ,christ4 ,sidenote3 ,three great factions challenging an arm of flesh4 ,under the wing of the civil magistrate do three great factions shelter themselves1 and mutually oppose each other1 striving as for life who shall sit down under the shadow of that arm of flesh4 ,sidenote3 #a4 ,the prelacy4 ,first1 the prelacy3 who1 though some extravagants of late have inclined to waive the king1 and to creep under the wings of the pope1 yet so far depends upon the king1 that it is justly said they are the king's bishops4 ,sidenote3 #b4 ,the presbytery4 ,the pope and presbytery make use of the civil magistrate but as of an executioner4 ,secondly1 the presbytery3 who1 though in truth they ascribe not so much to the civil magistrate as some too grossly do1 yet they give so much to the civil magistrate as to make him absolutely the head of the church3 for1 if they make him the reformer of the church1 the suppressor of schismatics and heretics1 the protector and defender of the church1 c41 what is this1 in true1 plain ,english1 but to make him the judge of the true and false church1 judge of what is truth and what error1 who is schismatical1 who heretical8 unless they make him only an executioner1 as the pope doth in his punishing of heretics4 ,i doubt not but the aristocratical government of presbyterians may well subsist in a monarchy1 not only regulated but also tyrannical2 yet doth it more naturally delight in the element of an aristocratical government of state1 and so may properly be said to be--as the prelates the king's1 so these--the state-bishop's4 ,sidenote3 #c4 ,independents4 ,the independents3 who come nearest to the bishops4 ,the third1 though not so great1 yet growing faction is that 7so called7 independent3 ,i prejudice not the personal worth of any of the three sorts3 this latter1 as ,i believe this discourse hath manifested1 jumps with the prelates1 and1 though not more fully1 yet more explicitly than the presbyterians1 cast down the crown of the ,lord ,jesus at the feet of the civil magistrate4 ,and although they pretend to receive their ministry from the choice of two or three private persons in church covenant1 yet would they fain persuade the mother of ,old ,england to imitate her daughter ,new ,england's practice1 viz41 to keep out the presbyterians1 and only to embrace themselves1 both as the state's and the people's bishops4 ,sidenote3 ,the third competition1 of those that separate4 ,the third competition for this crown and power of the ,lord ,jesus is of those that separate both from one and the other1 yet divided also amongst themselves into many several professions4 ,of these1 they that go furthest profess they must yet come nearer to the ways of the ,son of ,god3 and doubtless1 so far as they have gone1 they bid the most1 and make the fairest plea for the purity and power of ,christ ,jesus1--let the rest of the inhabitants of the world be judges4 ,sidenote3 ,their nearer conformity to ,christ4 ,the churches of the separation ought in humanity and subjects' liberty not to be oppressed1 but 7at least7 permitted4 ,let all the former well be viewed in their external state1 pomp1 riches1 conformity to the world1 c4 ,and on the other side1 let the latter be considered1 in their more thorough departure from sin and sinful worship1 their condescending 7generally7 to the lowest and meanest contentments of this life1 their exposing of themselves for ,christ to greater sufferings1 and their desiring no civil sword nor arm of flesh1 but the two-edged sword of ,god's ,spirit to try out the matter by3 and then let the inhabitants of the world judge which come nearest to the doctrine1 holiness1 poverty1 patience1 and practice of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ2 and whether or no these latter deserve not so much of humanity and subjects' liberty1 as 7not offending the civil state7 in the freedom of their souls1 to enjoy the common air to breathe in4 ,,chap4 ,,cxx4#bbd ,peace4 ,dear ,truth1 you have shown me a little draught of ,zion's sorrows1 her children tearing out their mother's bowels4 ,oh6 when will ,he that stablisheth1 comforteth1 and builds up ,zion1 look down from heaven1 and have mercy on her8 c4 ,truth4 ,the vision yet doth tarry1 saith ,habakkuk1 but will most surely come2 and therefore the patient and believing must wait for it4 ,sidenote3 ,seven reasons1 proving that the kings of ,israel and ,judah cannot have any other but a spiritual antitype4 ,civil types and figures must needs be answered by spiritual antitypes4 ,but to your last proposition1 whether the kings of ,israel and ,judah were not types of civil magistrates8 ,now1 ,i suppose1 by what hath been already spoken1 these things will be evident3-- ,first4 ,that those former types of the land1 of the people1 of their worships1 were types and figures of a spiritual land1 spiritual people1 and spiritual worship under ,christ4 ,therefore1 consequently1 their saviours1 redeemers1 deliverers1 judges1 kings1 must also have their spiritual antitypes1 and so consequently not civil but spiritual governors and rulers1 lest the very essential nature of types1 figures1 and shadows be overthrown4 ,sidenote3 ,civil compulsion was proper in the national church of the ,jews1 but most improper in the ,christian1 which is not national4 ,secondly4 ,although the magistrate by a civil sword might well compel that national church to the external exercise of their national worship3 yet it is not possible1 according to the rule of the ,new ,testament1 to compel whole nations to true repentance and regeneration1 without which 7so far as may be discerned true7 the worship and holy name of ,god is profaned and blasphemed4 ,an arm of flesh and sword of steel cannot reach to cut the darkness of the mind1 the hardness and unbelief of the heart1 and kindly operate upon the soul's affections to forsake a long-continued father's worship1 and to embrace a new1 though the best and truest4 ,this work performs alone that sword out of the mouth of ,christ1 with two edges1 ,rev4 i4 and iii4 ,sidenote3 ,neither ,christ ,jesus nor his messengers have made the civil magistrate ,israel's antitype1 but the contrary4 ,thirdly4 ,we have not one tittle1 in the ,new ,testament of ,christ ,jesus1 concerning such a parallel1 neither from himself nor from his ministers1 with whom he conversed forty days after his resurrection1 instructing them in the matters of his kingdom1 ,acts i4 #c4 ,neither find we any such commission or direction given to the civil magistrate to this purpose1 nor to the saints for their submission in matters spiritual1 but the contrary1 ,acts iv4 and v42 #a ,cor4 vii4 #bc2 ,col4 ii4 #ah4 ,sidenote3 ,civil magistracy essentially civil1 and the same in all parts of the world4 ,fourthly4 ,we have formerly viewed the very matter and essence of a civil magistrate1 and find it the same in all parts of the world1 wherever people live upon the face of the earth1 agreeing together in towns1 cities1 provinces1 kingdoms3--,i say the same essentially civil1 both from1 #a4 ,the rise and fountain whence it springs1 to wit1 the people's choice and free consent4 #b4 ,the object of it1 viz41 the commonweal1 or safety of such a people in their bodies and goods1 as the authors of this model have themselves confessed4 ,sidenote3 ,christianity adds not to the nature of a civil commonweal1 nor doth want of ,christianity diminish it4 ,this civil nature of the magistrate we have proved to receive no addition of power from the magistrate being a ,christian1 no more than it receives diminution from his not being a ,christian1 even as the commonweal is a true commonweal1 although it have not heard of ,christianity2 and ,christianity professed in it1 as in ,pergamos1 ,ephesus1 c41 makes it never no more a commonweal2 and ,christianity taken away1 and the candlestick removed1 makes it nevertheless a commonweal4 ,sidenote3 ,rom4 xiii4 evidently proves the civil work and wages of the civil magistrate4 ,fifthly4 ,the ,spirit of ,god expressly relates the work of the civil magistrate under the gospel1 ,rom4 xiii41 expressly mentioning1 as the magistrates' object1 the duties of the second table1 concerning the bodies and goods of the subject4 #b4 ,the reward or wages which people owe for such a work1 to wit1 not the contribution of the church for any spiritual work1 but tribute1 toll1 custom1 which are wages payable by all sorts of men1 natives and foreigners1 who enjoy the same benefit of public peace and commerce in the nation4 ,sidenote3 ,most strange1 yet most true consequences from the civil magistrates now being the antitype of the kings of ,israel and ,judah4 ,sixthly4 ,since civil magistrates1 whether kings or parliaments1 states1 and governors1 can receive no more in justice than what the people give3 and are1 therefore1 but the eyes1 and hands1 and instruments of the people1 simply considered1 without respect to this or that religion2 it must inevitably follow1 as formerly ,i have touched1 that if magistrates have received their power from the people1 then the greatest number of the people of every land has received from ,christ ,jesus a power to establish1 correct1 reform his saints and servants1 his wife and spouse1 the church3 and she that by the express word of the ,lord1 ,ps4 cxlix4 #h1 binds kings in chains1 and nobles in links of iron1 must herself be subject to the changeable pleasures of the people of the world1 which lies in wickedness1 #a ,john v4 #ai1 even in matters of heavenly and spiritual nature4 ,hence1 therefore1 in all controversies concerning the church1 ministry and worship1 the last appeal must come to the bar of the people or commonweal1 where all may personally meet1 as in some commonweals of small number1 or in greater by their representatives4 ,sidenote3 ,if no religion but that which the commonweal approves1 then no ,christ1 no ,god1 but at the pleasure of this world1 #b ,john #i4 ,hence1 then1 no person esteemed a believer1 and added to the church3-- ,no officer chosen and ordained3-- ,no person cast forth and excommunicated1 but as the commonweal and people please2 and in conclusion1 no church of ,christ in this land or world1 and consequently no visible ,christ the head of it4 ,yea1 yet higher1 consequently no ,god in the world worshipped according to the institutions of ,christ ,jesus--except the several peoples of the nations of the world shall give allowance4 ,peace4 ,dear ,truth1 oh6 whither have our forefathers and teachers led us8 ,higher than to ,god himself1 by these doctrines driven out of the world1 you cannot rise3 and yet so high must the inevitable and undeniable consequences of these their doctrines reach1 if men walk by their own common principles4 ,sidenote3 ,the true antitype of the kings of ,israel and ,judah4 ,truth4 ,i may therefore here seasonably add a seventh1 which is a necessary consequence of all the former arguments1 and an argument itself3 viz41 we find expressly a spiritual power of ,christ ,jesus in the hands of his saints1 ministers1 and churches1 to be the true antitype of those former figures in all the prophecies concerning ,christ's spiritual power1 ,isa4 ix41 ,dan4 vii41 ,mich4 iv41 c41 compared with ,luke i4 #cb1 ,acts ii4 #cj1 #a ,cor4 v41 ,matt4 xviii41 ,mark xiii4 #cd1 c4 ,,chap4 ,,cxxi4 ,peace4 ,glorious and conquering ,truth1 methinks ,i see most evidently thy glorious conquests3 how mighty are thy spiritual weapons1 #b ,cor4 x4 #d1 to break down those mighty and strong holds and castles1 which men have fortified themselves withal against thee8 ,oh6 that even the thoughts of men may submit and bow down to the captivity of ,jesus ,christ6 ,sidenote3 ,a fourth difference of laws and statutes from all others4 ,truth4 ,your kind encouragement makes me proceed more cheerfully to a fourth difference from the laws and statutes of this land1 different from all the laws and statutes of the world1 and paralleled only by the laws and ordinances of spiritual ,israel4 ,sidenote3 ,moses a type of ,christ4 ,first1 then1 consider we the law-maker1 or rather the law-publisher1 or prophet1 as ,moses calls himself1 ,deut4 xviii4 #ae1 and ,acts iii4 #bb1 he is expressly called that prophet who figured out ,christ ,jesus who was to come like unto ,moses1 greater than ,moses1 as the son is greater than the servant4 ,such lawgivers1 or law-publishers1 never had any state or people as ,moses the type1 or ,christ ,jesus1 miraculously stirred up and sent as the mouth of ,god between ,god and his people4 ,sidenote3 ,the laws of ,israel unparalleled4 ,secondly1 concerning the laws themselves3 it is true1 the second table contains the law of nature1 the law moral and civil1 yet such a law was also given to this people as never to any people in the world3 such was the law of worship1 ,ps4 cxlvii41 peculiarly given to ,jacob1 and ,god did not deal so with other nations3 which laws for the matter of the worship in all those wonderful significant sacrifices1 and for the manner by such a priesthood1 such a place of tabernacle1 and afterward of temple1 such times and solemnities of festivals1 were never to be paralleled by any other nation1 but only by the true ,christian ,israel established by ,jesus ,christ amongst ,jews and ,gentiles throughout the world4 ,sidenote3 ,god's own finger penned laws for ,israel4 ,thirdly1 the law of the ten words1 ,deut4 x41 the epitome of all the rest1 it pleased the most high ,god to frame and pen twice1 with his own most holy and dreadful finger1 upon ,mount ,sinai1 which he never did to any other nation before or since1 but only to that spiritual ,israel1 the people and the church of ,god1 in whose hearts of flesh he writes his laws1 according to ,jer4 xxxi41 ,heb4 viii4 and x4 ,peace4 ,such promulgation of such laws1 by such a prophet1 must needs be matchless and unparalleled4 ,sidenote3 ,fifth difference4 ,truth4 ,in the fifth place1 consider we the punishments and rewards annexed to the breach or observation of these laws4 ,sidenote3 ,temporal prosperity most proper to the temporal national state of the ,jews4 ,first1 those which were of a temporal and present consideration of this life3 blessings and curses of all sorts opened at large1 ,lev4 xxvi4 and ,deut4 xxviii41 which cannot possibly be made good in any state1 country1 or kingdom1 but in a spiritual sense in the church and kingdom of ,christ4 ,sidenote3 ,the spiritual prosperity of ,god's people now1 the antitype4 ,the reason is this3 such a temporal prosperity of outward peace and plenty of all things1 of increase of children1 of cattle1 of honour1 of health1 of success1 of victory1 suits not temporally with the afflicted and persecuted estate of ,god's people now3 and therefore spiritual and soul-blessedness must be the antitype1 viz41 in the midst of revilings1 and all manner of evil speeches for ,christ's sake1 soul-blessedness4 ,in the midst of afflictions and persecutions1 soul-blessedness1 ,matt4 v4 and ,luke vi4 ,and yet herein the ,israel of ,god should enjoy their spiritual peace1 ,gal4 vi4 #af4 ,sidenote3 ,what ,israel's excommunication was4 ,out of that blessed temporal estate to be cast1 or carried captive1 was their excommunication or casting out of ,god's sight1 #b ,kings xvii4 #bc4 ,therefore was the blasphemer1 the false prophet1 the idolater1 to be cast out or cut off from this holy land3 which punishment cannot be paralleled by the punishment of any state or kingdom in the world1 but only by the excommunicating or out-casting of person or church from the fellowship of the saints and churches of ,christ ,jesus in the gospel4 ,sidenote3 ,the corporal stoning in the law1 typed out spiritual stoning in the gospel4 ,and therefore1 as before ,i have noted1 the putting away of the false prophet1 by stoning him to death1 ,deut4 xiii41 is fitly answered1 and that in the very same words1 in the antitype3 when1 by the general consent or stoning of the whole assembly1 any wicked person is put away from amongst them1 that is1 spiritually cut off out of the land of the spiritually living1 the people or church of ,god1 #a ,cor4 v41 ,gal4 v4 ,sidenote3 ,the rewards or punishments of the laws of ,israel not to be paralleled4 ,lastly1 the great and high reward or punishment of the keeping or breach of these laws to ,israel1 was such as cannot suit with any state or kingdom in the world beside4 ,the reward of the observation was life1 eternal life4 ,the breach of any one of these laws was death1 eternal death1 or damnation from the presence of the ,lord4 ,so ,rom4 x41 ,james ii4 ,such a covenant ,god made not before nor since with any state or people in the world4 ,for1 ,christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth1 ,rom4 x4 #d4 ,and1 he that believeth in that ,son of ,god1 hath eternal life2 he that believeth not hath not life1 but is condemned already1 ,john iii4 and #a ,john v4 ,,chap4 ,,cxxii4 ,sidenote3 ,the wars of ,israel typical4 ,peace4 ,dear ,truth1 you have most lively set forth the unparalleled state of that typical land and people of the ,jews in their peace and quiet government3 let me now request you1 in the last place1 to glance at the difference of the wars of this people from the wars of other nations1 and of their having no antitype but the churches of ,christ ,jesus4 ,sidenote3 ,israel's enemies round about4 ,truth4 ,first1 all nations round about ,israel1 more or less1 some time or other1 had indignation against this people--,egyptians1 ,edomites1 ,moabites1 ,ammonites1 ,midians1 ,philistines1 ,assyrians1 and ,babylonians1 c41 as appears in the history of ,moses1 ,samuel1 ,judges1 and ,kings1 and in all the prophets3 you have an express catalogue of them1 ,ps4 lxxxiii41 sometimes many hundred thousand enemies in pitched field against them3 of ,ethiopians ten hundred thousand at once in the days of ,asa1 #b ,chron4 xiv4 #i1 and at other times as the sand upon the sea shore4 ,sidenote3 ,the enemies of mystical ,israel4 ,such enemies the ,lord ,jesus foretold his ,israel1 ,the world shall hate you1 ,john xv4 #ah1 #ai4 ,you shall be hated of all men for my name's sake1 ,matt4 xxiv4 #i4 ,all that will live godly in ,christ ,jesus must be persecuted1 or hunted1 #b ,tim4 iii4 #ab4 ,and not only by flesh and blood1 but also by principalities1 powers1 spiritual wickedness in high places1 ,eph4 vi4 #ab1 by the whole pagan world under the ,roman emperors1 and the whole anti-christian world under the ,roman popes1 ,rev4 xii4 and xiii41 by the kings of the earth1 ,rev4 xvii4 ,and ,gog and ,magog1 like the sand upon the shore1 7,rev4 xx47 ,peace4 ,such enemies1 such armies1 no history1 no experience proves ever to have come against one poor nation as against ,israel in the type2 and never was nor shall be known to come against any state or country now1 but the ,israel of ,god1 the spiritual ,jews1 ,christ's true followers in all parts and quarters of the world4 ,sidenote3 ,enemies against ,israel in her own bowels4 ,truth4 ,beside all these without1 ,israel is betrayed within her own bowels3 bloody ,sauls1 ,absaloms1 ,shebas1 ,adonijahs1 ,jeroboams1 ,athaliahs1 raising insurrections1 conspiracies1 tumults1 in the antitype and parallel1 the spiritual state of the ,christian church4 ,secondly1 consider we the famous and wonderful battles1 victories1 captivities1 deliverances1 which it pleased the ,god of ,israel to dispense to that people and nation1 and let us search if they can be paralleled by any state or people1 but mystically and spiritually the true ,christian ,israel of ,god1 ,gal4 vi4 #af4 ,sidenote3 ,the famous typical captivities of the ,jews4 ,how famous was the bondage and slavery of that people and nation #dcj years in the land of ,egypt1 and as famous1 glorious1 and miraculous was their return through the ,red ,sea1 a figure of baptism1 #a ,cor4 x4 #b1 and ,egypt a figure of an ,egypt now1 ,rev4 xi4 #h4 ,how famous was the seventy years' captivity of the ,jews in ,babel1 transported from the land of ,canaan1 and at the full period returned again to ,jerusalem1 a type of the captivity of ,god's people now1 spiritually captivated in spiritual ,babel1 ,rev4 xviii4 #d4 ,sidenote3 ,their wonderful victories4 ,time would fail me to speak of ,joshua's conquest of literal ,canaan1 the slaughter of thirty-one kings1 of the miraculous taking of ,jericho and other cities3 ,gideon's miraculous battle against the ,midianites3 ,jonathan and his armour-bearer against the ,philistines3 ,david1 by his five smooth stones against ,goliah3 ,asa1 ,jehoshaphat1 ,hezekiah1 their mighty and miraculous victories against so many hundred thousand enemies1 and that sometimes without a blow given4 ,what state1 what kingdom1 what wars and combats1 victories and deliverances1 can parallel this people1 but the spiritual and mystical ,israel of ,god in every nation and country of the world1 typed out by that small typical handful1 in that little spot of ground1 the land of ,canaan8 ,sidenote3 ,the mystical battles of ,god's ,israel now4 ,the ,israel of ,god now1 men and women1 fight under the great ,lord ,general1 the ,lord ,jesus ,christ3 their weapons1 armour1 and artillery1 are like themselves1 spiritual1 set forth from top to toe1 ,eph4 vi42 so mighty and so potent that they break down the strongest holds and castles1 yea1 in the very souls of men1 and carry into captivity the very thoughts of men1 subjecting them to ,christ ,jesus4 ,they are spiritual conquerors1 as in all the seven churches of ,asia1 ,he that overcometh3 ,he that overcometh1 ,rev4 ii4 and iii4 ,their victories and conquests in this country are contrary to those of this world1 for when they are slain and slaughtered1 yet then they conquer4 ,so overcame they the devil in the ,roman emperors1 ,rev4 xii4 #aa1 ,by the blood of the ,lamb3 #b4 ,by the word of their testimony3 #c4 ,the cheerful spilling of their own blood for ,christ2 for they loved not their lives unto the death3 and in all this they are more than conquerors through him that loved them1 ,rom4 viii4 #cg4 ,sidenote3 ,the mystical army of white troopers1 ,rev4 xix4 ,this glorious army of white troopers1 horses and harness--,christ ,jesus and his true ,israel1 ,rev4 xix4--gloriously conquer and overcome the beast1 the false prophet1 and the kings of the earth1 up in arms against them1 ,rev4 xix42 and1 lastly1 reigning with ,christ a thousand years1 they conquer the devil himself1 and the numberless armies1 like the sand on the sea shore1 of ,gog and ,magog3 and yet not a tittle of mention of any sword1 helmet1 breastplate1 shield1 or horse1 but what is spiritual and of a heavenly nature4 ,all which wars of ,israel have been1 may be1 and shall be fulfilled mystically and spiritually4 ,i could further insist on other particulars of ,israel's unparalleled state1 and might display those excellent passages which it pleaseth ,god to mention1 ,neh4 ix4 ,,chap4 ,,cxxiii4 ,peace4 ,you have1 dear ,truth1 as in a glass1 presented the face of old and new ,israel1 and as in water face answereth to face1 so doth the face of typical ,israel to the face of the antitype1 between whom1 and not between ,canaan and the civil nations and countries of the world now1 there is an admirable consent and harmony4 ,but ,i have heard some say1 was not the civil state and judicials of that people precedential8 ,sidenote3 ,whether the civil state of ,israel was precedential4 ,truth4 ,i have in part1 and might farther discover1 that from the king and his throne to the very beasts1 yea1 to the excrements of their bodies 7as we see in their going to war1 ,deut4 xxiii4 #ab17 their civils1 morals1 and naturals were carried on in types2 and however ,i acknowledge that what was simply moral1 civil1 and natural in ,israel's state1 in their constitutions1 laws1 punishments1 may be imitated and followed by the states1 countries1 cities1 and kingdoms of the world3 yet who can question the lawfulness of other forms of government1 laws1 and punishments which differ1 since civil constitutions are men's ordinances 7or creation1 #b ,pet4 ii4 #ac71 unto which ,god's people are commanded even for the ,lord's sake to submit themselves1 which if they were unlawful they ought not to do8 ,peace4 ,having thus far proceeded in examining whether ,god hath charged the civil state with the establishing of the spiritual and religious1 what conceive you of that next assertion1 viz41 8,it is well known that the remissness of princes in ,christendom in matters of religion and worship1 devolving the care thereof only to the clergy1 and so setting their horns upon the church's head1 hath been the cause of anti-christian invention1 usurpation1 and corruption in the worship and temple of ,god40 ,sidenote3 ,the true ,christendom4 ,truth4 ,it is lamentably come to pass by ,god's just permission1 ,satan's policy1 the people's sin1 the malice of the wicked against ,christ1 and the corruption of princes and magistrates1 that so many inventions1 usurpations1 and corruptions are risen in the worship and temple of ,god1 throughout that part of the world which is called ,christian1 and may most properly be called the pope's ,christendom in opposition to ,christ ,jesus's true ,christian commonweal1 or church1 the true ,christendom2 but that this hath arisen from princes' remissness in not keeping their watch to establish the purity of religion1 doctrine1 and worship1 and to punish1 according to ,israel's pattern1 all false ministers1 by rooting them and their worships out of the world1 that1 ,i say1 can never be evinced2 and the many thousands of glorious souls under the altar whose blood hath been spilt by this position1 and the many hundred thousand souls1 driven out of their bodies by civil wars1 and the many millions of souls forced to hypocrisy and ruin eternal1 by enforced uniformities in worship1 will to all eternity proclaim the contrary4 ,sidenote3 ,great unfaithfulness in ministers to cast the chiefest burden of judging and establishing true ,christianity upon the commonweal or world itself4 ,indeed1 it shows a most injurious idleness and unfaithfulness in such as profess to be messengers of ,christ ,jesus1 to cast the heaviest weight of their care upon the kings and rulers of the earth1 yea1 upon the very commonweals1 bodies of people1 that is1 the world itself1 who have fundamentally in themselves the root of power1 to set up what government and governors they shall agree upon4 ,secondly1 it shows abundance of carnal diffidence and distrust of the glorious power and gracious presence of the ,lord ,jesus1 who hath given his promise and word to be with such his messengers to the end of the world1 ,matt4 xxviii4 #bj4 ,that dog that fears to meet a man in the path1 runs on with boldness at his master's coming and presence at his back4 ,sidenote3 ,to govern and judge in civil affairs load enough on the civil magistrate4 ,magistrates can have no more power than the common consent of the people shall betrust them with4 ,thirdly1 what imprudence and indiscretion is it in the most common affairs of life1 to conceive that emperors1 kings1 and rulers of the earth1 must not only be qualified with political and state abilities to make and execute such civil laws which may concern the common rights1 peace1 and safety1 which is work and business1 load and burden enough for the ablest shoulders in the commonweal2 but also furnished with such spiritual and heavenly abilities to govern the spiritual and ,christian commonweal1 the flock and church of ,christ1 to pull down1 and set up religion1 to judge1 determine1 and punish in spiritual controversies1 even to death or banishment4 ,and1 beside1 that not only the several sorts of civil officers1 which the people shall choose and set up1 must be so authorized1 but that all respective commonweals or bodies of people are charged 7much more7 by ,god with this work and business1 radically and fundamentally1 because all true civil magistrates1 have not the least inch of civil power1 but what is measured out to them from the free consent of the whole3 even as a committee of parliament cannot further act than the power of the house shall arm and enable them4 ,sidenote3 ,thousands of lawful magistrates1 who never hear of the true church of ,god4 ,concerning that objection which may arise from the kings of ,israel and ,judah1 who were born members of ,god's church1 and trained up therein all their days1 which thousands of lawful magistrates in the world1 possibly born and bred in false worships1 pagan or anti-christian1 never heard of1 and were therein types of the great anointed1 the ,king of ,israel1 ,i have spoken sufficiently to such as have an ear to hear3 and therefore1 ,sidenote3 ,the spiritual and civil sword cannot be managed by one and the same person4 ,the ,lord ,jesus refused to manage both4 ,lastly1 so unsuitable is the commixing and entangling of the civil with the spiritual charge and government1 that 7except it was for subsistence1 as we see in ,paul and ,barnabas working with their own hands7 the ,lord ,jesus1 and his apostles1 kept themselves to one4 ,if ever any in this world was able to manage both the spiritual and civil1 church and commonweal1 it was the ,lord ,jesus1 wisdom itself3 yea1 he was the true heir to the crown of ,israel1 being the son of ,david3 yet being sought for by the people to be made a king1 ,john vi4 #ae1 he refused1 and would not give a precedent to any king1 prince1 or ruler1 to manage both swords1 and to assume the charge of both tables4 ,now concerning princes1 ,i desire it may be remembered1 who were most injurious and dangerous to ,christianity1 whether ,nero1 ,domitian1 ,julian1 c41 persecutors3 or ,constantine1 ,theodosius1 c41 who assumed this power and authority in and over the church in spiritual things4 ,it is confessed by the answerer and others of note1 that under these latter1 the church1 the ,christian state1 religion1 and worship1 were most corrupted3 under ,constantine1 ,christians fell asleep on the beds of carnal ease and liberty2 insomuch that some apply to his times that sleep of the church1 ,cant4 v4 #b1 ,i sleep1 though mine heart waketh4#bbe ,,chap4 ,,cxxiv4 ,peace4 ,yea2 but some will say1 this was not through their assuming of this power1 but the ill-managing of it4 ,truth4 ,yet are they commonly brought as the great precedents for all succeeding princes and rulers in after ages3 and in this very controversy1 their practices are brought as precedential to establish persecution for conscience4 ,sidenote3 ,who force the consciences of others1 yet are not willing to be forced themselves4 ,secondly1 those emperors and other princes and magistrates acted in religion according to their consciences' persuasion1 and beyond the light and persuasion of conscience can no man living walk in any fear of ,god4 ,hence have they forced their subjects to uniformity and conformity unto their own consciences1 whatever they were1 though not willing to have been forced themselves in the matters of ,god and conscience4 ,sidenote3 ,constantine and others wanted not so much affection as information of conscience4 ,thirdly1 had not the light of their eye of conscience1 and the consciences also of their teachers1 been darkened1 they could not have been condemned for want of heavenly affection1 rare devotion1 wonderful care and diligence1 propounding to themselves the best patterns of the kings of ,judah1 ,david1 ,solomon1 ,asa1 ,jehoshaphat1 ,josiah1 ,hezekiah4 ,but here they lost the path1 and themselves1 in persuading themselves to be the parallels and antitypes to those figurative and typical princes3 whence they conceived themselves bound to make their cities1 kingdoms1 empires1 new holy lands of ,canaan1 and themselves governors and judges in spiritual causes1 compelling all consciences to ,christ1 and persecuting the contrary with fire and sword4 ,sidenote3 ,sad consequences of charging the civil powers with the care of spirituals4 ,upon these roots1 how was1 how is it possible1 but that such bitter fruits should grow of corruption of ,christianity1 persecution of such godly who happily see more of ,christ than such rulers themselves3 their dominions and jurisdictions being overwhelmed with enforced dissimulation and hypocrisy1 and 7where power of resistance7 with flames of civil combustion3 as at this very day1 he that runs may read and tremble at8 ,peace4 ,they add further1 that the princes of ,christendom setting their horns upon the church's head1 have been the cause of anti-christian inventions1 c4 ,sidenote3 ,civil rulers giving and lending their horns or authority to bishops1 both dangerous to the truth of ,christ4 ,the spiritual power of the ,lord ,jesus compared in scripture to the incomparable horn of the rhinoceros4 ,truth4 ,if they mean that the princes of ,europe1 giving their power and authority to the seven-headed and ten-horned beast of ,rome1 have been the cause1 c41 ,i confess it to be one concurring cause3 yet withal it must be remembered1 that even before such princes set their horns1 or authority1 upon the beast's head1 even when they did1 as ,i may say1 but lend their horns to the bishops1 even then rose up many anti-christian abominations4 ,and though ,i confess there is but small difference1 in some respects1 between the setting their horns upon the priests' heads1 whereby they are enabled immediately to push and gore whoever cross their doctrine and practice1 and the lending of their horns1 that is1 pushing and goring such themselves1 as are declared by their bishops and priests to be heretical1 as was and is practised in some countries before and since the pope rose3 yet ,i confidently affirm1 that neither the ,lord ,jesus nor his first ordained ministers and churches 7gathered by such ministers71 did ever wear1 or crave the help of such horns in spiritual and ,christian affairs4 ,the spiritual power of the ,lord ,jesus in the hands of his true ministers and churches1 according to ,balaam's prophecy1 ,num4 xxiii41 is the horn of that unicorn1 or rhinoceros1 ,ps4 xcii4 #aj1 which is the strongest horn in the world3 in comparison of which the strongest horns of the bulls of ,bashan break as sticks and reeds4 ,history tells us how that unicorn1 or one-horned beast the rhinoceros1 took up a bull like a tennis ball1 in the theatre at ,rome1 before the emperor1 according to that record of the poet3#bbf ,quantus erat cornu cui pila taurus erat6 ,unto this spiritual power of the ,lord ,jesus1 the souls and thoughts of the highest kings and emperors must be subject1 ,matt4 xvi4 and xviii41 #a ,cor4 v4 and x4 ,,chap4 ,,cxxv4 ,peace4 ,dear ,truth1 you know the noise is made from those prophecies1 ,isaiah xlix4 #bc1 kings and queens shall be nursing fathers1 c41 and ,rev4 xxi4 #bd1 the kings of the earth shall bring their glory and honour to the new ,jerusalem1 c4 ,sidenote3 ,a time when ,god's people are wholly at a loss for ,god's worship4 ,truth4 ,i answer with that mournful prophet1 ,ps4 lxxiv41 ,i see not that man1 that prophet1 that can tell us how long4 ,how many excellent penmen fight each against other with their pens 7like swords7 in the application of those prophecies of ,david1 ,isaiah1 ,jeremiah1 ,ezekiel1 ,daniel1 ,zechariah1 ,john1 when and how those prophecies shall be fulfilled6 ,sidenote3 ,nursing fathers and mothers4 ,secondly1 whenever those prophecies are fulfilled1 yet shall those kings not be heads1 governors1 and judges in ecclesiastical or spiritual causes2 but be themselves judged and ruled1 if within the church1 by the power of the ,lord ,jesus therein4 ,hence saith ,isaiah1 those kings and queens shall lick the dust of thy feet1 c4 ,peace4 ,some will here ask1 ,what may the magistrate then lawfully do with his civil horn1 or power1 in matters of religion8 ,sidenote3 ,the civil horn or power being of a human constitution cannot but be of a human operation4 ,truth4 ,his horn not being the horn of that unicorn1 or rhinoceros1 the power of the ,lord ,jesus in spiritual cases3 his sword not the two-edged sword of the ,spirit1 the word of ,god1 hanging not about the loins or side1 but at the lips1 and proceeding out of the mouth of his ministers1 but of a human and civil nature and constitution2 it must consequently be of a human and civil operation3 for who knows not that operation follows constitution8 and therefore ,i shall end this passage with this consideration3 ,sidenote3 ,the civil power owes three things to the true church of ,christ4 ,the civil magistrate either respecteth that religion and worship which his conscience is persuaded is true1 and upon which he ventures his soul3 or else that and those which he is persuaded are false4 ,concerning the first2 if that which the magistrate believeth to be true1 be true1 ,i say he owes a threefold duty unto it3 ,sidenote3 #a4 ,approbation4 ,first1 ,approbation and countenance1 a reverent esteem and honourable testimony1 according to ,isaiah xlix41 ,rev4 xxi41 with a tender respect of truth1 and the professors of it4 ,sidenote3 #b4 ,submission4 ,secondly1 ,personal submission of his own soul to the power of the ,lord ,jesus in that spiritual government and kingdom1 according to ,matt4 xviii41 #a ,cor4 v4 ,sidenote3 #c4 ,protection4 ,thirdly1 ,protection of such true professors of ,christ1 whether apart1 or met together1 as also of their estates from violence and injury1 according to ,rom4 xiii4 ,sidenote3 ,the civil magistrate owes to false worshippers4 ,now secondly1 if it be a false religion1 unto which the civil magistrate dare not adjoin3 yet1 he owes1 ,sidenote3 #a4 ,permission4 ,first1 ,permission1 for approbation he owes not to what is evil1 and this according to ,matt4 xiii4 #cj1 for public peace and quiet's sake4 ,sidenote3 #b4 ,protection4 ,secondly1 he owes protection to the persons of his subjects1 though of a false worship1 that no injury be offered either to the persons or goods of any1 ,rom4 xiii4 ,peace4 ,dear ,truth1 in this eleventh head concerning the magistrates' power in worship1 you have examined what is affirmed the magistrate may do in point of worship2 there remains a second1 to wit1 that which they say the magistrate may not do in worship4 ,they say1 8,the magistrate may not bring in set forms of prayer3 nor secondly1 bring in significant ceremonies3 nor thirdly1 not govern and rule the acts of worship in the church of ,god20 for which they bring an excellent similitude of a prince or magistrate in a ship1 where he hath no governing power over the actions of the mariners3 and secondly1 that excellent prophecy concerning ,christ ,jesus1 that his government should be upon his shoulders1 ,isa4 ix4 #f1 #g4 ,sidenote3 ,the civil magistrate's conscience torn and distracted between the divers and contrary affirmations1 even of the most godly reformers4 ,truth4 ,unto all this ,i willingly subscribe3 yet can ,i not pass by a most injurious and unequal practice toward the civil magistrate3 ceremonies1 holy days1 common prayer1 and whatever else dislikes their consciences1 that the magistrate must not bring in4 ,others again1 as learned1 as godly1 as wise1 have conceived the magistrate may approve or permit these in the church1 and all men are bound in obedience to obey him4 ,how shall the magistrate's conscience be herein 7between both7 torn and distracted1 if indeed the power either of establishing or abolishing in church matters be committed to him6 ,sidenote3 ,the authors of these positions deal with the civil magistrate as the soldiers dealt with the ,lord ,jesus4 ,secondly1 methinks in this case they deal with the civil magistrate as the soldiers dealt with the ,lord ,jesus3 ,first1 they take off his own clothes1 and put upon him a purple robe1 plat a crown of thorns on his head1 bow the knee1 and salute him by the name of ,king of the ,jews4 ,they tell him that he is the keeper of both tables1 he must see the church do her duty1 he must establish the true church1 true ministry1 true ordinances1 he must keep her in this purity4 ,again1 he must abolish superstition1 and punish false churches1 false ministers1 even to banishment and death4 ,sidenote3 ,the rise of high commissions4 ,thus indeed do they make the blood run down the head of the civil magistrate1 from the thorny vexation of that power which sometimes they crown him with2 whence in great states1 kingdoms1 or monarchies1 necessarily arise delegations of that spiritual power1 high commissions1 c4 ,sidenote3 ,pious magistrates and ministers' consciences are persuaded for that which other magistrates' consciences condemn4 ,anon again they take off this purple robe1 put him into his own clothes1 and tell him that he hath no power to command what is against their conscience4 ,they cannot conform to a set form of prayer1 nor to ceremonies1 nor holy days1 c41 although the civil magistrate 7that most pious prince1 ,edw4 ,,vi41 and his famous bishops1 afterwards burnt for ,christ7 were of another conscience4 ,which of these two consciences shall stand8 if either1 the magistrate must put forth his civil power in these cases3 the strongest arm of flesh1 and most conquering1 bloody sword of steel can alone decide the question4 ,sidenote3 ,to profess the magistrate must force the church to her duty1 and yet must not judge what that is1 what is it but to play in spiritual things8 ,i confess it is most true1 that no magistrate1 as no other superior1 is to be obeyed in any matter displeasing to ,god3 yet1 when in matters of worship we ascribe the absolute headship and government to the magistrate1 as to keep the church pure1 and force her to her duty1 ministers and people1 and yet take unto ourselves power to judge what is right in our own eyes1 and to judge the magistrate in and for those very things wherein we confess he hath power to see us do our duty1 and therefore consequently must judge what our duty is3 what is this but to play with magistrates1 with the souls of men1 with heaven1 with ,god1 with ,christ ,jesus8 c4 ,,chap4 ,,cxxvi4 ,sidenote3 ,an apt similitude discussed1 concerning the civil magistrate4 ,peace4 ,pass on1 holy ,truth1 to that similitude whereby they illustrate that negative assertion3 8,the prince in the ship10 say they1 8is governor over the bodies of all in the ship2 but he hath no power to govern the ship or the mariners in the actions of it4 ,if the pilot manifestly err in his action1 the prince may reprove him10 and so1 say they1 may any passenger2 8if he offend against the life or goods of any1 the prince may in due time and place punish him1 which no private person may40 ,truth4 ,although1 dear ,peace1 we both agree that civil powers may not enjoin such devices1 no nor enforce on any ,god's institutions1 since ,christ ,jesus's coming3 yet1 for further illustration1 ,i shall propose some queries concerning the civil magistrate's passing in the ship of the church1 wherein ,christ ,jesus hath appointed his ministers and officers as governors and pilots1 c4 ,sidenote3 ,first query3 what if the prince command the master or pilot to steer such a course1 which they know will never bring them to the harbour8 ,if in a ship at sea1 wherein the governor or pilot of a ship undertakes to carry the ship to such a port1 the civil magistrate 7suppose a king or emperor7 shall command the master such and such a course1 to steer upon such or such a point1 which the master knows is not their course1 and which if they steer he shall never bring the ship to that port or harbour3 what shall the master do8 ,surely all men will say1 the master of the ship or pilot is to present reasons and arguments from his mariner's art1 if the prince be capable of them1 or else in humble and submissive manner to persuade the prince not to interrupt them in their course and duty properly belonging to them1 to wit1 governing of the ship1 steering of the course1 c4 ,sidenote3 #b4 ,query1 ,if the master of the ship command the mariners thus1 and the prince command the contrary1 who is to be obeyed8 ,if the master of the ship command the mariners thus and thus1 in cunning the ship1 managing the helm1 trimming the sail1 and the prince command the mariners a different or contrary course1 who is to be obeyed8 ,it is confessed that the mariners may lawfully disobey the prince1 and obey the governor of the ship in the actions of the ship4 ,sidenote3 #c4 ,if the prince have as much skill as the master or pilot1 c4 ,thirdly1 what if the prince have as much skill1 which is rare1 as the pilot himself8 ,i conceive it will be answered1 that the master of the ship and pilot1 in what concerns the ship1 are chief and above1 in respect of their office1 the prince himself1 and their commands ought to be attended by all the mariners3 unless it be in manifest error1 wherein it is granted any passenger may reprove the pilot4 ,sidenote3 #d4 ,query1 ,whether the meanest sailor 7in respect of his skill and service7 be not to be preferred before the prince himself8 ,fourthly1 ,i ask1 if the prince and his attendants be unskilful in the ship's affairs1 whether every sailor and mariner1 the youngest and lowest1 be not1 so far as concerns the ship1 to be preferred before the prince's followers1 and the prince himself8 and their counsel and advice more to be attended to1 and their service more to be desired and respected1 and the prince to be requested to stand by and let the business alone in their hands8 ,sidenote3 #e4 ,query4 ,fifthly1 in case a wilful king and his attendants1 out of opinion of their skill1 or wilfulness of passion1 would so steer the course1 trim sail1 c41 as that in the judgment of the master and seamen the ship and lives shall be endangered3 whether1 in case humble persuasions prevail not1 ought not the ship's company to refuse to act in such a course1 yea1 and1 in case power be in their hands1 resist and suppress these dangerous practices of the prince and his followers1 and so save the ship8 ,sidenote3 #f4 ,query1 ,whether1 if the master of the ship gratify the prince to the casting away of the ship and prince1 c41 he be not guilty1 and liable to answer8 ,lastly1 suppose the master1 out of base fear and cowardice1 or covetous desire of reward1 shall yield to gratify the mind of the prince1 contrary to the rules of art and experience1 c41 and the ship come in danger1 and perish1 and the prince with it3 if the master get to shore1 whether may he not be justly questioned1 yea1 and suffer as guilty of the prince's death1 and those that perished with him8 ,these cases are clear1 wherein1 according to this similitude1 the prince ought not to govern and rule the actions of the ship1 but such whose office1 and charge1 and skill it is4 ,sidenote3 ,the application in general of the ship to the church1 c4 ,the result of all is this3 the church of ,christ is the ship1 wherein the prince--if a member1 for otherwise the case is altered--is a passenger4 ,in this ship the officers and governors1 such as are appointed by the ,lord ,jesus1 they are the chief1 and in those respects above the prince himself1 and are to be obeyed and submitted to in their works and administrations1 even before the prince himself4 ,sidenote3 ,the meanest ,christian according to his knowledge and grace to be preferred before the highest1 who have received none or less grace of ,christ4 ,in this respect every ,christian in the church1 man or woman1 if of more knowledge and grace of ,christ1 ought to be of higher esteem1 concerning religion and ,christianity1 than all the princes in the world who have either none or less grace or knowledge of ,christ3 although in civil things all civil reverence1 honour1 and obedience ought to be yielded by all men4 ,sidenote3 ,a true minister of ,christ ought to walk by another rule than the command of civil authority in spiritual causes4 ,therefore1 if in matters of religion the king command what is contrary to ,christ's rule1 though according to his persuasion and conscience1 who sees not that1 according to the similitude1 he ought not to be obeyed8 ,yea1 and 7in case7 boldly1 with spiritual force and power1 he ought to be resisted4 ,and if any officer of the church of ,christ shall out of baseness yield to the command of the prince1 to the danger of the church and souls committed to his charge1 the souls that perish1 notwithstanding the prince's command1 shall be laid to his charge4 ,sidenote3 ,former positions compared with this similitude1 and found to contradict each other4 ,if so1 then ,i rejoin thus3 how agree these truths of this similitude with those former positions1 viz41 that the civil magistrate is keeper of both tables1 that he is to see the church do her duty1 that he ought to establish the true religion1 suppress and punish the false1 and so consequently must discern1 judge1 and determine what the true gathering and governing of the church is1 what the duty of every minister of ,christ is1 what the true ordinances are1 and what the true administrations of them2 and where men fail1 correct1 punish1 and reform by the civil sword8 ,i desire it may be answered1 in the fear and presence of ,him whose eyes are as a flame of fire1 if this be not--according to the similitude1 though contrary to their scope in proposing of it--to be governor of the ship of the church1 to see the master1 pilot1 and mariners do their duty1 in setting the course1 steering the ship1 trimming the sails1 keeping the watch1 c41 and where they fail1 to punish them2 and therefore1 by undeniable consequence1 to judge and determine what their duties are1 when they do right1 and when they do wrong3 and this not only to manifest error1 7for then they say every passenger may reprove7 but in their ordinary course and practice4 ,sidenote3 ,the similitude of the magistrate prescribing to the physician in civil things1 but the physician to the magistrate concerning his body4 ,the similitude of a physician obeying the prince in the body politic1 but prescribing to the prince concerning the prince's body1 wherein the prince1 unless the physician manifestly err1 is to be obedient to the physician1 and not to be judge of the physician in his art1 but to be ruled and judged as touching the state of his body by the physician3--,i say this similitude and many others suiting with the former of a ship1 might be alleged to prove the distinction of the civil and spiritual estate1 and that according to the rule of the ,lord ,jesus in the gospel1 the civil magistrate is only to attend the calling of the civil magistracy concerning the bodies and goods of the subjects1 and is himself1 if a member of the church and within1 subject to the power of the ,lord ,jesus therein1 as any member of the church is1 #a ,cor4 v4 ,,chap4 ,,cxxvii4 ,peace4 ,dear ,truth1 you have uprightly and aptly untied the knots of that eleventh head2 let me present you with the twelfth head1 which is1 ,concerning the magistrates' power in the censures of the church4 ,sidenote3 ,the twelfth head examined4 8,first10 say they1 8he hath no power to execute1 or to substitute any civil officer to execute1 any church censure1 under the notion of civil or ecclesiastical men4 8,secondly1 though a magistrate may immediately civilly censure such an offender1 whose secret sins are made manifest by their casting out to be injurious to the good of the state1 yet such offences of excommunicate persons1 which manifestly hurt not the good of the state1 he ought not to proceed against them1 sooner or later1 until the church hath made her complaint to him1 and given in their just reasons for help from them4 ,for to give liberty to magistrates1 without exception1 to punish all excommunicate persons within so many months1 may prove injurious to the person who needs1 to the church who may desire1 and to ,god who calls for longer indulgence from the hands of them4 8,thirdly1 for persons not excommunicate1 the magistrate hath no power immediately to censure such offences of the church members by the power of the sword1 but only for such as do immediately hurt the peace of the state3 because the proper end of civil government being the preservation of the peace and welfare of the state1 they ought not to break down those bounds1 and so to censure immediately for such sins which hurt not their peace4 8,hence1 first1 magistrates have no power to censure for secret sins1 as deadness or unbelief1 because they are secret1 and not yet come forth immediately to hurt the peace of the state2 we say immediately1 for every sin1 even original sin1 remotely hurts the civil state4 8,secondly1 hence they have no power to censure for such private sins in church members1 which being not heinous may be best healed in a private way by the churches themselves4 ,for that which may be best healed by the church1 and yet is prosecuted by the state1 may make a deeper wound and greater rent in the peace both of church and state3 the magistrates also being members of the church1 are bound to the rule of ,christ1 viz41 not to produce any thing in public against a brother1 which may be best healed in a private way4 8,now we call that private1 8,first1 which is only remaining in families1 not known of others3 and therefore a magistrate to hear and prosecute the complaint of children against their parents1 servants against masters1 wives against their husbands1 without acquainting the church first1 transgresseth the rule of ,christ4 8,secondly1 that which is between members of the same church1 or of divers churches3 for it was a double fault of the ,corinthians1 #a ,cor4 vi41 first to go to law1 secondly1 to do it before an infidel1 seeing the church was able to judge of such kind of differences by some arbitrators among themselves4 ,so that the magistrates should refer the differences of church members to private healing1 and try that way first3 by means whereof the churches should be free from much scandal1 and the state from much trouble1 and the hearts of the godly from much grief in beholding such breaches4 8,thirdly1 such offences which the conscience of a brother dealing with another privately1 dares not as yet publish openly1 coming to the notice of the magistrate accidentally1 he ought not to make public as yet1 nor to require the grand jury to present the same1 no more than the other private brother1 who is dealing with him1 until he see some issue of the private way4 8,thirdly1 hence they have no power to put any to an oath1 ex officio1 to accuse themselves1 or the brethren1 in case either criminis suspecti1 or prtensi1 because this preserves not1 but hurts many ways the peace of the state1 and abuseth the ordinance of an oath1 which is ordained to end controversies1 not to begin them1 ,heb4 vi4 #af4 8,fourthly1 hence they have no power to censure any for such offences as break either no civil law of ,god1 or law of the state published according to it3 for the peace of the state being preserved by wholesome laws1 when they are not hurt1 the peace is not hurt40 ,truth4 ,in this passage1 as ,i said before1 ,i observe how weakly and partially they deal with the souls of magistrates1 in telling them they are the guardians of both tables1 must see the church do her duty1 punish1 c42 and yet in this passage the elders or ministers of the churches not only sit judges over the magistrates' actions in church affairs1 but in civil also1 straitening and enlarging his commission according to the particular interests of their own ends1 or at the best their consciences4 ,sidenote3 ,to give the government of the church to the civil magistrate 7as before71 and yet to abridge his conscience1 what is it but to sport with holy things8 c4 ,i grant the word of the ,lord is the only rule1 light1 and lantern in all cases concerning ,god or man1 and that the ministers of the gospel are to teach this way1 hold out this lantern unto the feet of all men2 but to give such an absolute power in spiritual things to the civil magistrate1 and yet after their own ends or consciences to abridge it1 is but the former sporting with holy things1 and to walk in contradictions1 as before ,i noted4 ,many of the particulars ,i acknowledge true1 where the magistrate is a member of the church2 yet some passages call for explication1 and some for observation4 ,first1 in that they say the civil magistrate ought not to proceed against the offences of an excommunicate person1 which manifestly hurt not the good of the state1 until the church hath made her complaint for help from them1 ,i observe two things3-- ,sidenote3 ,an evident contradiction4 ,an excellent confession of the proper end of civil government4 ,when civil laws are not broken1 it is confessed that civil peace is not hurt4 ,first1 a clear grant that when the church complaineth for help1 then the magistrate may punish such offences as hurt not the good of the state3 and yet in a few lines after they say1 the magistrates have no power to censure such offences of church members by the power of the civil sword1 but only such as do immediately hurt the peace of the civil state2 and they add the reason1 because the proper end of the civil government being the preservation of the peace and welfare of the state1 they ought not to break down those bounds1 and so to censure immediately for such sins which hurt not their peace4 ,and in the last place1 they acknowledge the magistrate hath no power to punish any for any such offences as break no civil law of ,god1 or law of the state published according to it3 8for the peace of the state10 say they1 8being preserved by wholesome laws1 when they are not hurt1 the peace is not hurt40 ,,chap4 ,,cxxviii4 ,peace4 ,dear ,truth1 here are excellent confessions1 unto which both truth and grace may gladly assent2 but what is your second observation from hence8 ,sidenote3 ,a grievous charge against the ,christian church1 and the ,king of it4 ,truth4 ,i observe secondly1 what a deep charge of weakness is laid upon the church of ,christ1 the laws1 government1 and officers thereof1 and consequently upon the ,lord ,jesus himself3 to wit1 that the church is not enabled with all the power of ,christ to censure sufficiently an offender--on whom yet they have executed the deepest censure in the world1 to wit1 cutting off from ,christ1 shutting out of heaven1 casting to the devil--which offender's crime reacheth not to hurt the good of the civil state2 but that she is forced to make complaint to the civil state1 and the officers thereof1 for their help4 ,oh6 let not this be told in ,gath1 nor heard in ,askelon6 and oh6 how dim must needs that eye be1 which is bloodshot with that bloody and cruel tenent of persecution for cause of conscience6 ,peace4 ,but what should be meant by this passage1 viz41 8,that they cannot give liberty to the magistrate to punish without exception all excommunicate persons1 within so many months80 ,sidenote3 ,a strange law in ,new ,england formerly1 against excommunicate persons4 ,truth4 ,it may be this hath reference to a law made formerly in ,new ,england1 that if an excommunicate person repented not within1 as ,i have heard1 three months after sentence of excommunication1 then the civil magistrate might proceed with him4 ,sidenote3 ,a dangerous doctrine against all civil magistrates4 ,these worthy men see cause to question this law upon good reasons rendered1 though it appears not by their words that they wholly condemn it1 only they desire a longer time1 implying that after some longer time the magistrate may proceed3 and indeed ,i see not1 but according to such principles1 if the magistrate himself should be cast out1 he ought to be proceeded against by the civil state1 and consequently deposed and punished1 as the pope teacheth3 yea1 though happily haply8 he had not offended against either bodies or goods of any subject4 ,sidenote3 ,many sins prohibited to be punished by the magistrate1 and yet they also charge him to punish all sin1 ,rom4 xiii4 ,thirdly1 from this confession1 that the magistrate ought not to punish for many sins above-mentioned1 ,i observe how they cross the plea which commonly they bring for the magistrates punishing of false doctrines1 heretics1 c41 7viz41 ,rom4 xiii41 ,the magistrate is to punish them that do evil72 and when it is answered1 ,true1 evil against the second table1 which is there only spoken of1 and against the bodies and goods of the subject1 which are the proper object of the civil magistrate1 as they confess3 it is replied1 ,why8 is not idolatry sin8 heresy1 sin8 schism and false worship1 sin8 ,yet here in this passage many evils1 many sins1 even of parents against their children1 masters against their servants1 husbands against their wives1 the magistrate ought not to meddle with4 ,sidenote3 ,original sin charged to hurt remotely 7but falsely7 the civil state4 ,fourthly4 ,i dare not assent to that assertion1 8,that even original sin remotely hurts the civil state40 ,it is true some do1 as inclinations to murder1 theft1 whoredom1 slander1 disobedience to parents1 and magistrates2 but blindness of mind1 hardness of heart1 inclination to choose or worship this or that ,god1 this or that ,christ1 beside the true1 these hurt not remotely the civil state1 as not concerning it1 but the spiritual4 ,sidenote3 ,magistrates strangely forbidden to hear civil complaints4 ,peace4 ,let me1 in the last place1 remind you of their charge against the magistrate1 and which will necessarily turn to my wrong and prejudice3 they say1 the magistrate1 in hearing and prosecuting the complaints of children against their parents1 of servants against their masters1 of wives against their husbands1 without acquainting the church first1 transgresseth the rule of ,christ4 ,truth4 ,sweet ,peace1 they that pretend to be thy dearest friends1 will prove thy bitter enemies4 ,first1 ,i ask for one rule out of the ,testament of the ,lord ,jesus1 to prove this deep charge and accusation against the civil magistrate8 ,sidenote3 ,thousands of commonweals where no true church of ,christ4 ,secondly1 this is built upon a supposition of what rarely falls out in the world1 to wit1 that there must necessarily be a true church of ,christ in every lawful state1 unto whom these complaints must go3 whereas1 how many thousand commonweals have been and are1 where the name of ,christ hath not 7or not truly7 been founded6 ,sidenote3 ,the complaints of families properly fall into the cognizance of the civil magistrate4 ,thirdly1 the magistrates' office1 according to their own grant1 properly respecting the bodies and goods of their subjects1 and the whole body of the commonweal being made up of families1 as the members constituting that body1 ,i see not how1 according to the rule of ,christ1 ,rom4 xiii41 the magistrate may refuse to hear and help the just complaints of any such petitioners--children1 wives1 and servants--against oppression1 c4 ,sidenote3 ,they who give to magistrates more than is due1 are most apt to disrobe them of what is theirs4 ,peace4 ,i have long observed1 that such as have been ready to ascribe to the civil magistrate and his sword more than ,god hath ascribed1 have also been most ready to cut off the skirts1 and1 in case of his inclining to another conscience than their own1 to spoil him of the robe of that due authority with which it hath pleased ,god and the people to invest and clothe him4 ,but ,i shall now present you with the thirteenth head1 whose title is1-- ,,chap4 ,,cxxix4 ,sidenote3 #acth head4 ,what power magistrates have in public assemblies of churches4 8,first10 say they1 8the churches have power to assemble and continue such assemblies for the performance of all ,god's ordinances1 without or against the consent of the magistrate1 renuente magistratu1 because-- 8,christians are commanded so to do1 ,matt4 xxviii4 #ah-bj4 8,also1 because an angel from ,god commanded the apostles so to do1 ,acts v4 #bj4 8,likewise from the practice of the apostles1 who were not rebellious or seditious1 yet they did so1 ,acts iv4 #ah-bj1 ,acts v4 #bg1 #bh4 8,further1 from the practice of the primitive church at ,jerusalem1 who did meet1 preach1 pray1 minister sacraments1 censures1 ,acts iv4 #bc1 renuente magistratu4 8,moreover1 from the exhortation to the ,hebrews1 chap4 x4 #be1 not to forsake their assemblies1 though it were in dangerous times2 and if they might do this under professed enemies1 then we may much more under ,christian magistrates1 else we were worse under ,christian magistrates than heathen3 therefore magistrates may not hinder them herein1 as ,pharaoh did the people from sacrificing1 for wrath will be upon the realm1 and the king and his sons1 ,ezra vii4 #bc4 8,secondly1 it hath been a usurpation of foreign countries and magistrates to take upon them to determine times and places of worship2 rather let the churches be left herein to their inoffensive liberty4 8,thirdly1 concerning the power of synod assemblies3-- 8,first1 in corrupt times1 the magistrate1 desirous to make reformation of religion1 may and should call those who are most fit in several churches to assemble together in a synod1 to discuss and declare from the word of ,god matters of doctrine and worship1 and to help forward the reformation of the churches of ,god3 this did ,josiah4 8,secondly1 in the reformed times1 he ought to give liberty to the elders of several churches to assemble themselves by their own manual and voluntary agreement1 at convenient times1 as the means appointed by ,god whereby he may mediately reform matters amiss in churches1 which immediately he cannot nor ought not to do4 8,thirdly1 those meetings for this end we conceive may be of two sorts4 8#a4 ,monthly1 of some of the elders and messengers of the churches4 8#b4 ,annual1 of all the messengers and elders of the churches4 8,first4 ,monthly1 of some3 first1 those members of churches which are nearest together1 and so may most conveniently assemble together1 may1 by mutual agreement1 once in a month1 consult of such things as make for the good of the churches4 8,secondly4 ,the time of this meeting may be sometimes at one place1 sometimes at another1 upon the lecture day of every church where lectures are3 and let the lecture that day be ended by eleven of the clock4 8,thirdly4 ,let the end of this assembly be to do nothing by way of authority1 but by way of counsel1 as the need of churches shall require4 8,secondly1 annual1 of all the elders within our jurisdiction or others1 whereto the churches may send once in the year to consult together for the public welfare of all the churches4 8,first4 ,let the place be sometimes at one church1 sometimes at another1 as reasons for the present may require4 8,secondly4 ,let all the churches send their weighty questions and cases1 six weeks or a month before the set time1 to the church where the assembly is to be held1 and the officers thereof disperse them speedily to all the churches1 that so they may have time to come prepared to the discussing of them4 8,thirdly4 ,let this assembly do nothing by authority1 but only by counsel1 in all cases which fall out1 leaving the determination of all things to particular churches within themselves1 who are to judge and so to receive all doctrines and directions agreeing only with the word of ,god40 ,the grounds of these assemblies4 8,first4 ,need of each other's help1 in regard of daily emergent troubles1 doubts1 and controversies4 8,secondly1 ,love of each other's fellowship4 8,thirdly4 ,of ,god's glory1 out of a public spirit to seek the welfare of the churches1 as well as their own1 #a ,cor4 x4 #cc1 #b ,cor4 xi4 #bh4 8,fourthly4 ,the great blessing and special presence of ,god upon such assemblies hitherto4 8,fifthly4 ,the good report the elders and brethren of churches shall have hereby1 by whose communion of love others shall know they are the disciples of ,christ40 ,,chap4 ,,cxxx4 ,sidenote3 ,a strange double picture4 ,truth4 ,i may well compare this passage to a double picture2 on the first part or side of it a most fair and beautiful countenance of the pure and holy word of ,god3 on the latter side or part1 a most sour and uncomely1 deformed look of a mere human invention4 ,sidenote3 ,the great privileges of the true spouse1 or church of ,christ4 ,concerning the former1 they prove the true and unquestionable power and privilege of the churches of ,christ to assemble and practise all the holy ordinances of ,god1 without or against the consent of the magistrate4 ,their arguments from ,christ's and the angels' voice1 from the apostles' and churches' practice1 ,i desire may take deep impression1 written by the point of a diamond1 the finger of ,god's ,spirit1 in all hearts whom it may concern4 ,this liberty of the churches of ,christ1 he enlargeth and amplifieth so far1 that he calls it a usurpation of some magistrates to determine the time and place of worship3 and says1 that rather the churches should be left to their inoffensive liberty4 ,sidenote3 ,to hold with light and walk in darkness4 ,upon which grant ,i must renew my former query1 whether this be not to walk in contradictions1 to hold with light yet walk in darkness8 for1-- ,sidenote3 ,the magistrate lift up to be the chief governor of the church1 and yet cast down not to have power to appoint the place or time of meeting4 ,how can they say the magistrate is appointed by ,god and ,christ the guardian of the ,christian church and worship1 bound to set up the true church1 ministry1 and ordinances1 to see the church do her duty1 that is1 to force her to it by the civil sword3 bound to suppress the false church1 ministry1 and ordinances1 and therefore1 consequently1 to judge and determine which is the true church1 which is the false1 and what is the duty of the church officers and members of it1 and what not3 and yet1 say they1 the churches must assemble1 and practise all ordinances1 without his consent1 yea1 against it4 ,yea1 and he hath not so much power as to judge what is a convenient time and place for the churches to assemble in2 which if he should do1 he should be a usurper1 and should abridge the church of her inoffensive liberty4 ,sidenote3 ,two similitudes1 illustrating the magistrate cannot be both governor of the church1 and yet usurper in commanding4 ,as if the master or governor of a ship had power to judge who were true and fit officers1 mariners1 c41 for the managing of the ship1 and were bound to see them each perform his duty1 and to force them thereunto1 and yet he should be a usurper if he should abridge them of meeting and managing the vessel at their pleasure1 when they please1 and how they please1 without and against his consent4 ,certainly1 if a physician have power to judge the disease of his patient1 and what course of physic he must use1 can he be counted a usurper unless the patient might take what physic himself pleased1 day or night1 summer or winter1 at home in his chamber or abroad in the air8 ,sidenote3 ,if a church may assemble without and against the magistrate's consent 7as is affirmed71 then much more constitute and become a church1 c4 ,secondly1 by their grant in this passage1 that ,god's people may thus assemble and practise ordinances without and against the consent of the magistrate1 ,i infer1 then also may they become a church1 constitute and gather without or against the consent of the magistrate4 ,therefore may the messengers of ,christ preach and baptize1 that is1 make disciples and wash them into the true profession of ,christianity1 according to the commission1 though the magistrate determine and publicly declare such ministers1 such baptisms1 such churches to be heretical4 ,thirdly1 it may here be questioned1 what power is now given to the civil magistrate in church matters and spiritual affairs8 ,if it be answered1 that although ,god's people may do this against the magistrates' consent1 yet others may not3 ,sidenote3 ,gross partiality4 ,i answer1 as before1 who sees not herein partiality to themselves8 ,god's people must enjoy their liberty of conscience1 and not be forced2 but all the subjects in a kingdom or monarchy1 or the whole world beside1 must be compelled by the power of the civil sword to assemble thus and thus4 ,secondly1 ,i demand1 who shall judge whether they are ,god's people or no8 for they say1 whether the magistrate consent or consent not1 that is1 judge so or not1 they ought to go on in the ordinances1 renuente magistratu4 ,sidenote3 ,if the civil magistrate be to build the spiritual or ,christian house1 he must judge in the matter4 ,how agrees this with their former and general assertion1 that the civil magistrate must set up the ,christian church and worship8 ,therefore1 by their own grant1 he must judge the godly themselves1 he must discern who are fit matter for the house of ,god1 living stones1 and what unfit matter1 trash and rubbish4 ,sidenote3 ,a close and faithful interrogatory to the consciences of the authors of these positions4 ,those worthy men1 the authors of these positions1 and others of their judgment1 have cause to examine their souls with fear and trembling in the presence of ,god upon this interrogatory1 viz41 whether or no this be not the bottom and root of the matter3 if they could have the same supply of maintenance without the help of the civil sword1 or were persuaded to live upon the voluntary contribution of poor saints1 or their own labour1 as the ,lord ,jesus and his first messengers did3--,i say1 if this lay not in the bottom1 whether or no they could not be willingly shut of the civil power1 and left only to their inoffensive liberties8 ,sidenote3 ,a sad query to some concerning their practice4 ,i could also put a sad query to the consciences of some1 viz41 what should be the reason why in their native country1 where the magistrate consenteth not1 they forebore to practise such ordinances as now they do1 and intended to do so soon as they got into another place where they might set up magistrates of their own1 and a civil sword8 c4 ,how much is it to be feared1 that in case their magistrate should alter1 or their persons be cast under a magistracy prohibiting their practice1 whether they would then maintain their separate meetings without and against the consent of the magistrate1 renuente magistratu4 ,sidenote3 ,a marvellous challenge of more liberty to ,christians under a ,christian magistrate than under the heathen4 ,lastly1 it may be questioned1 how it comes to pass that in pleading for the church's liberty more now under the ,christian magistrate1 since the ,christians took that liberty in dangerous times under the heathen1 why he quotes to prove such liberty1 ,pharaoh's hindering the ,israelites from worship1 and1 ,ezra vii4 #bc1 ,artaxerxes's fear of wrath upon the realm8 ,are not all their hopes and arguments built upon the ,christian magistrate1 whom1 say they1 the first ,christians wanted8 and yet do they scare the ,christian magistrate1 whom they account the governor of the church1 with ,pharaoh and ,artaxerxes1 that knew not ,god1 expecting that the ,christian magistrate should act and command no more in ,god's worship than they4 ,but what can those instances of ,pharaoh's evil in hindering the ,israelites worshipping of ,god1 and ,artaxerxes giving liberty to ,israel to worship ,god and build the temple1 what can they prove but a duty in all princes and civil magistrates to take off the yoke of bondage1 which commonly they lay on the necks of the souls of their subjects in matters of conscience and religion8 ,,chap4 ,,cxxxi4 ,sidenote3 ,if the magistrates were appointed by ,christ ,jesus governors of his kingdom1 it were not reasonable that ,christians should more freely break the commands of the ,christian than of the heathen magistrate4 ,peace4 ,it is plausible1 but not reasonable1 that ,god's people should 7considering the drift of these positions7 expect more liberty under a ,christian than under a heathen magistrate4 ,have ,god's people more liberty to break the command of a ,christian than a heathen governor8 and so to set up ,christ's church and ordinances after their own conscience against his consent1 more than against the consent of a heathen or unbelieving magistrate8 ,what is become of all the great expectation what a ,christian magistrate may and ought to do in establishing the church1 in reforming the church1 and in punishing the contrary8 ,it is true1 say they1 in ,christ's time1 and in the time of the first ministers and churches1 there were no ,christian magistrates1 and therefore in that case1 it was in vain for ,christians to seek unto the heathen magistrates to govern the church1 suppress heretics1 c42 but now we enjoy ,christian magistrates1 c4 ,truth4 ,all reason and religion would now expect more submission thereof1 in matters concerning ,christ1 to a ,christian magistrate1 than to a pagan or anti-christian ruler6 ,but1 dear ,peace1 the day will discover1 the fire will try1 #a ,cor4 iii4 #ac1 what is but wood1 hay1 and stubble1 though built1 in men's upright intention1 on that foundation1 ,jesus ,christ4 ,sidenote3 ,the necessity of civil government in general of ,god1 but the special kinds of men1 #a ,pet4 ii4 #ac4 ,but1 to wind up all1 as it is most true that magistracy in general is of ,god1 ,rom4 xiii41 for the preservation of mankind in civil order and peace--the world otherwise would be like the sea1 wherein men1 like fishes1 would hunt and devour each other1 and the greater devour the less3--so also it is true1 that magistracy in special for the several kinds of it is of man1 #a ,pet4 ii4 #ac4 ,now what kind of magistrate soever the people shall agree to set up1 whether he receive ,christianity before he be set in office1 or whether he receive ,christianity after1 he receives no more power of magistracy than a magistrate that hath received no ,christianity4 ,for neither of them both can receive more than the commonweal1 the body of people and civil state1 as men1 communicate unto them1 and betrust them with4 ,sidenote3 ,civil magistrates are derivatives from the fountains or bodies of people4 ,all lawful magistrates in the world1 both before the coming of ,christ ,jesus and since1 7excepting those unparalleled typical magistrates of the church of ,israel7 are but derivatives and agents immediately derived and employed as eyes and hands1 serving for the good of the whole3 hence they have and can have no more power than fundamentally lies in the bodies or fountains themselves1 which power1 might1 or authority is not religious1 ,christian1 c41 but natural1 human1 and civil4 ,sidenote3 ,a believing magistrate no more a magistrate than an unbelieving4 ,and hence it is true1 that a ,christian captain1 ,christian merchant1 physician1 lawyer1 pilot1 father1 master1 and so consequently magistrate1 c41 is no more a captain1 merchant1 physician1 lawyer1 pilot1 father1 master1 magistrate1 c41 than a captain1 merchant1 c41 of any other conscience or religion4 ,sidenote3 ,the excellency of ,christianity in all callings4 ,it is true1 ,christianity teaches all these to act in their several callings to a higher ultimate end1 from higher principles1 in a more heavenly and spiritual manner1 c4 ,,chap4 ,,cxxxii4 ,peace4 ,oh6 that thy light and brightness1 dear ,truth1 might shine to the dark world in this particular3 let it not therefore be grievous1 if ,i request a little further illustration of it4 ,sidenote3 ,the magistrate like a pilot in the ship of the commonweal4 ,christianity steers a ,christian pilot's course4 ,the ,christian pilot hath no more power over the souls of his mariners or passengers1 than the unchristian or pagan pilot4 ,truth4 ,in his season1 ,god will glorify himself in all his truths4 ,but to gratify thy desire1 thus3 ,a pagan or anti-christian pilot may be as skilful to carry the ship to its desired port1 as any ,christian mariner or pilot in the world1 and may perform that work with as much safety and speed3 yet have they not command over the souls and consciences of their passengers1 or mariners under them1 although they may justly see to the labour of the one1 and the civil behaviour of all in the ship4 ,a ,christian pilot1 he performs the same work1 as likewise doth the metaphorical pilot in the ship of the commonweal1 from a principle of knowledge and experience2 but more than this1 he acts from a root of the fear of ,god and love to mankind in his whole course4 ,secondly1 his aim is more to glorify ,god1 than to gain his pay1 or make his voyage4 ,thirdly1 he walks heavenly with men and ,god1 in a constant observation of ,god's hand in storms1 calms1 c4 ,so that the thread of navigation being equally spun by a believing or unbelieving pilot1 yet is it drawn over with the gold of godliness and ,christianity by a ,christian pilot1 while he is holy in all manner of ,christianity1 #a ,pet4 i4 #ae4 ,but lastly1 the ,christian pilot's power over the souls and consciences of his sailors and passengers is not greater than that of the anti-christian1 otherwise than he can subdue the souls of any by the two-edged sword of the ,spirit1 the word of ,god1 and by his holy demeanour in his place1 c4 ,peace4 ,i shall present you with no other consideration in this first part of the picture1 but this only4 ,sidenote3 ,the terms heathen and ,christian magistrate4 ,although the term heathen is most commonly appropriated to the wild naked ,americans1 c41 yet these worthy men justly apply it even to the civilized ,romans1 c42 and consequently must it be applied to the most civilized anti-christians1 who are not the church and people of ,god in ,christ4 ,truth4 ,the word in the ,hebrew1 and in the ,greek1 signifies no more than the ,gentiles1 or nations of the earth1 which were without and not within the true typical national church of the ,jews before ,christ2 and since his coming1 the ,gentiles1 or nations of the world1 who are without that one holy nation of the ,christian ,israel1 the church gathered unto ,christ ,jesus1 in particular and distinct congregations all the world over4 ,sidenote3 ,all out of ,christ are heathens1 that is of the nations1 or ,gentiles4 ,translators promiscuously render the words1 ,gentiles1 heathens1 nations3 whence it is evident that even such as profess the name of ,christ in an unregenerate and impenitent estate1 whether papist1 or protestant1 are yet without3 that is1 heathen1 ,gentile1 or of the nations4 ,,chap4 ,,cxxxiii4 ,peace4 ,dear ,truth1 it is now time to cast your eye on the second part of this head or picture1 uncomely and deformed4 ,truth4 ,it contains two sorts of religious meetings or assemblies4 ,first1 more extraordinary and occasional1 for which he quotes the practice of ,josiah4 ,sidenote3 ,josiah a type of ,christ ,jesus1 the king of the church4 ,an4 ,josiah was in the type3 so are not now the several governors of commonweals1 kings or governors of the church or ,israel2 whose state ,i have proved to be a non-such1 and not to be paralleled but in the antitype1 the particular church of ,christ1 where ,christ ,jesus alone sits ,king in his own most holy government4 ,secondly1 they propound meetings or assemblings ordinary1 stated1 and constant1 yearly and monthly1 unto which the civil magistrate should give liberty4 ,for these meetings they propound plausible arguments from the necessity of them1 from ,christian fellowship1 from ,god's glory1 from the experience of the benefit of them1 and from the good report of them1 as also those two scriptures1 #a ,cor4 x4 #cc1 #b ,cor4 xi4 #bh4 ,sidenote3 ,an unjust and partial desire of liberty to some consciences1 and bondage unto all others4 ,to these ,i answer1 ,if they intend that the civil magistrate should permit liberty to the free and voluntary spiritual meetings of their subjects1 ,i shall subscribe unto them2 but if they intend that the magistrate should give liberty only unto themselves1 and not to the rest of their subjects1 that is to desire their own souls only to be free1 and all other souls of their subjects to be kept in bondage3 ,secondly1 if they intend that the magistrate should enforce all the elders of such churches under their jurisdiction to keep correspondency with them in such meetings1 then ,i say1 as before1 it is to cause him to give liberty with a partial hand1 and unequal balance2 for thus ,i argue3--,if the civil state and civil officers be of their religion and conscience1 it is not proper for them to give liberty or freedom1 but to give honourable testimony and approbation1 and their own personal submission to the churches4 ,but if the civil state and officers be of another conscience and worship1 and shall be bound to grant permission and liberty to them1 their consciences1 and meetings1 and not to those of his own religion and conscience also1 how will this appear to be equal in the very eye of common peace and righteousness8 ,for those yearly and monthly meetings1 as we find not any such in the first churches1 so neither will those general arguments from the plausible pretence of ,christian fellowship1 ,god's glory1 c41 prove such particular ways of glorifying ,god1 without some precept or precedent of such a kind4 ,sidenote3 ,the commission1 ,matt4 xxviii4 of preaching and baptizing1 not properly directed to the church1 or fixed teachers of it1 least of all to the commonwealth4 ,for those scriptures1 #a ,cor4 x4 #cc1 and #b ,cor4 xi4 #bh1 expressing the apostle ,paul's zeal for glorifying ,god1 and his care for all the churches1 it is clear they concern such as are indeed ,paul's successors1 sent forth by ,christ ,jesus to preach and gather churches2 but those scriptures concern not the churches themselves1 nor the pastors of the churches properly1 least of all the civil state and commonwealth1 neither of which1 the churches1 the pastors1 or commonwealth1 do go forth personally with that commission1 ,matt4 xxviii4 #ai1 to preach and baptize1 that is1 to gather churches unto ,christ4 ,for as for the first1 the churches are not ministers of the gospel2 the angels or messengers of the churches1 and the churches themselves1 were distinct1 ,rev4 ii4 and iii4 ,as for the second1 the pastors and elders of the church1 their work is not to gather churches1 but to govern and feed them1 ,acts xx41 and #a ,pet4 v4 ,as for the civil magistrate1 it is a ministry indeed1 magistrates are ,god's ministers1 ,rom4 xiii4 #d2 but it is of another nature4 ,and therefore none of these--the churches of ,christ1 the shepherds of those churches1 nor the civil magistrate1 succeeding the apostles or first messengers1 these scriptures alleged concern not any of these to have care of all the churches4 ,sidenote3 ,a query who have now the care of all the churches8 ,peace4 ,dear ,truth1 who can hear this word1 but will presently cry out1 ,who then may rightly challenge that commission1 and that promise8 ,matt4 xxviii41 c4 ,sidenote3 ,a ministry before the church4 ,truth4 ,sweet ,peace1 in due place and season that question may be resolved2 but doubtless the true successors must precede or go before the church1 making disciples1 and baptizing as the apostles did1 who were neither the churches1 nor the pastors and fixed teachers of them1 but as they gathered1 so had the care of the churches4 ,,chap4 ,,cxxxiv4 ,peace4 ,i cease to urge this further2 and1 in the last place1 marvel what should be the reason of that conclusion1 viz41 8,there is no power of determination in any of these meetings1 but that all must be left to the particular determination of the churches40 ,sidenote3 ,acts xv41 commonly misapplied4 ,truth4 ,at the meeting at ,jerusalem1 when ,paul and ,barnabas and others were sent thither from the church of ,christ at ,antioch1 the apostles and elders did not only consult and advise1 but particularly determined the question which the church of ,antioch sent to them about1 ,acts xv41 and send their particular determinations or decrees to the churches afterward4 ,so that if these assemblies were of the nature of that pattern or precedent1 as is generally pretended1 and had such a promise of the assistance and concurrence of the ,spirit as that assembly had1 they might then say as that assembly did1 ,acts xv41 ,it seemeth good to the ,holy ,spirit and to us2 and should not leave particular determinations to the particular churches1 in which sometimes are very few able guides and leaders4 ,peace4 ,but what should be the reason to persuade these worthy men to conceive the particular congregations1 or churches1 to be more fit and competent judges in such high points1 than an assembly of so excellent and choice persons1 who must only consult and advise8 c4 ,sidenote3 ,christ's promise and presence only makes an assembly blessed4 ,truth4 ,doubtless there is a strong conviction in their souls of a professed promised presence of the ,lord ,jesus in the midst of his church1 gathered after his mind and will1 more than unto such kind of assemblies1 though consisting of far more able persons1 even the flower and cream of all the churches4 ,peace4 ,it is generally conceived1 that the promise of ,christ's presence to the end of the world1 ,matt4 xxviii4 #bj1 is made to the church4 ,sidenote3 ,the promise of ,christ's presence1 ,matt4 xviii41 distinct from that1 ,matt4 xxviii4 ,truth4 ,there is doubtless a promise of ,christ's presence in the midst of his church and congregation1 ,matt4 xviii4 #bj2 but the promise of ,christ's presence1 ,matt4 xxviii4 #bj1 cannot properly and immediately belong to the church constituted and gathered1 but to such ministers or messengers of ,christ ,jesus whom he is pleased to employ to gather and constitute the church by converting and baptizing3 unto which messengers1 if ,christ ,jesus will be pleased to send such forth1 that passage1 ,acts xv41 will be precedential4 ,sidenote3 #adth position examined4 ,peace4 ,the fourteenth general head is this1 viz41 ,what power particular churches have particularly over magistrates4 8,first10 say they1 8they may censure any member1 though a magistrate1 if by sin he deserve it4 8,first1 because magistrates must be subject to ,christ2 but ,christ censures all offenders1 #a ,cor4 v4 #d1 #e4 8,secondly1 every brother must be subject to ,christ's censure1 ,matt4 xviii4 #ae1 #af1 #ag4 ,but magistrates are brethren1 ,deut4 xvii4 #ae4 8,thirdly1 ,they may censure all within the church1 #a ,cor4 v4 #aa4 8,but the magistrates are within the church1 for they are either without1 or within1 or above the church3 not the first1 nor the last1 for so ,christ is only above it4 8,fourthly1 the church hath a charge of all the souls of the members1 and must give account thereof1 ,heb4 xiii4 #ag4 8,fifthly1 ,christ's censures are for the good of souls1 #a ,cor4 v4 #f2 but magistrates must not be denied any privilege for their souls1 for then they must lose a privilege of ,christ by being magistrates4 8,sixthly1 ,in church privileges ,christians are all one1 ,gal4 iii4 #bh1 ,col4 iii4 #aa4 8#b4 ,magistrates may be censured for apparent and manifest sin against any moral law of ,god in their judicial proceedings1 or in the execution of their office4 ,courts are not sanctuaries for sin2 and if for no sin1 then not for such especially4 8,first1 because sins of magistrates in court are as hateful to ,god4 #b4 ,and as much spoken against1 ,isa4 x4 #a1 ,micah iii4 #a4 ,thirdly1 ,god hath nowhere granted such immunity to them4 ,fourthly1 what a brother may do privately in case of private offence1 that the church may do publicly in case of public scandal4 ,but a private brother may admonish and reprove privately in case of any private offence1 ,matt4 xviii4 #ae1 ,luke xvii4 #c1 ,psalm cxli4 #e4 8,lastly1 ,civil magistracy doth not exempt any church from faithful watchfulness over any member1 nor deprive a church of her due power1 nor a church member of his due privilege1 which is to partake of every ordinance of ,god1 needful and requisite to their winning and salvation1 ergo1--0 ,,chap4 ,,cxxxv4 ,truth4 ,these arguments to prove the magistrate subject1 even for sin committed in judicial proceeding1 ,i judge1 like ,mount ,zion1 immoveable1 and every true ,christian that is a magistrate will judge so with me3 yet a query or two will not be unseasonable4 ,sidenote3 ,christ's administrations are charged firstly upon the ministers thereof4 ,first1 where they name the church in this whole passage1 whether they mean the church without the ministry or governors of it1 or with the elders and governors jointly8 and if the latter1 why name they not the governors at all1 since that in all administrations of the church the duty lies not upon the body of the church1 but firstly and properly upon the elders8 ,sidenote3 ,the ministers or governors of ,christ's church to be acknowledged in their dispensations4 ,it is true in case of the elder's obstinacy in apparent sin1 the church hath power over him1 having as much power to take down as to set up1 ,col4 iv4 #ag1 ,say to ,archippus1 c42 yet in the ordinary dispensations and administrations of the ordinances1 the ministers or elders thereof are first charged with duty1 c4 ,hence first for the apostles1 who converted1 gathered1 and espoused the churches to ,christ1 ,i question whether their power to edification was not a power over the churches1 as many scriptures seem to imply4 ,sidenote3 ,a paradox2 magistrates made the judges of the churches1 and governors of them1 yet censurable by them4 ,secondly1 for the ordinary officers ordained for the ordinary and constant guiding1 feeding1 and governing the church1 they were rulers1 shepherds1 bishops1 or overseers1 and to them was every letter and charge1 commendation or reproof1 directed1 ,rev4 ii4 #c1 ,acts xx4 ,and that place by them quoted for the submission of the magistrates to the church1 it mentions only submission to the rulers thereof1 ,heb4 xiii4 #ag4 ,those excellent men concealed not this out of ignorance1 and therefore most certainly in a silent way confess1 that their doctrine concerning the magistrates' power in church causes would seem too gross1 if they should not have named the whole church1 and but silently implied the governors of it4 ,and is it not wonderful in any sober eye1 how the same persons1 magistrates1 can be exalted over the ministers and members1 as being bound to establish1 reform1 suppress by the civil sword in punishing the body or goods1 and yet for the same actions1 if the church and governors thereof so conceive1 be liable to a punishment ten thousand times more transcendent1 to wit1 excommunication1 a punishment reaching to their souls1 and consciences1 and eternal estate2 and this not only for common sins1 but for those actions which immediately concern the execution of their civil office1 in judicial proceeding8 ,sidenote3 ,queen ,elizabeth's bishops truer to their principles1 than many of a better spirit and profession4 ,peace4 ,the prelates in ,queen ,elizabeth's days1 kept with more plainness to their principles3 for1 acknowledging the queen to be supreme in all church causes1 according to the title and power of ,henry ,,viii4 her father1 taken from the pope1 and given to him by the parliament1 they professed that the queen was not a sheep1 but under ,christ the chief shepherd1 and that the church had not power to excommunicate the queen4 ,sidenote3 ,mr4 ,barrowe's profession concerning ,queen ,elizabeth4 ,truth4 ,therefore1 sweet ,peace1 it was esteemed capital1 in that faithful witness of so much truth as he saw1 even unto death1 ,mr4 ,barrowe1 to maintain before the lords of the council1 that the queen herself was subject to the power of ,christ ,jesus in the church3 which truth overthrew that other tenent1 that the queen should be head and supreme in all church causes4#bbg ,peace4 ,those bishops according to their principles1 though bad and false1 dealt plainly1 though cruelly1 with ,mr4 ,barrowe3 but these authors1 whose principles are the same with the bishops'1 concerning the power of the magistrate in church affairs1 though they waive the title1 and will not call them heads or governors1 which now in lighter times seems too gross1 yet give they as much spiritual power and authority to the civil magistrates to the full1 as ever the bishops gave unto them2 although they yet also with the same breath lay all their honour in the dust1 and make them to lick the dust of the feet of the churches1 as it is prophesied the kings and the queens of the earth shall do1 when ,christ makes them nursing fathers and nursing mothers1 ,isa4 xlix4#bbh ,the truth is1 ,christ ,jesus is honoured when the civil magistrate1 a member of the church1 punisheth any member or elder of the church with the civil sword1 even to the death1 for any crime against the civil state1 so deserving it2 for he bears not the sword in vain4 ,and ,christ ,jesus is again most highly honoured1 when for apparent sin in the magistrate1 being a member of the church1 for otherwise they have not to meddle with him1 the elders with the church admonish him1 and recover his soul3 or if obstinate in sin1 cast him forth of their spiritual and ,christian fellowship2 which doubtless they could not do1 were the magistrate supreme governor under ,christ in ecclesiastical or church causes1 and so consequently the true heir and successor of the apostles4 ,,chap4 ,,cxxxvi4 ,sidenote3 #aeth head1 examined4 ,peace4 ,the fifteenth head runs thus3 viz41 ,in what cases must churches proceed with magistrates in case of offence4 8,we like it well1 that churches be slower in proceeding to excommunication1 as of all other1 so of civil magistrates1 especially in point of their judicial proceedings1 unless it be in scandalous breach of a manifest law of ,god1 and that after notorious evidence of the fact1 and that after due seeking and waiting for satisfaction in a previous advertisement4 ,and though each particular church in respect of the government of ,christ be independent and absolute within itself1 yet where the commonweal consists of church members1 it may be a point of ,christian wisdom to consider and consult with the court also1 so far as any thing may seem doubtful to them in the magistrate's case1 which may be further cleared by intelligence given from them2 but otherwise we dare not leave it in the power of any church to forbear to proceed and agree upon that on earth1 which they plainly see ,christ hath resolved in his word1 and will ratify in heaven40 ,sidenote3 ,the inventions of men in swerving from the true essentials of civil and spiritual commonweals4 ,truth4 ,if the scope of this head be to qualify and adorn ,christian impartiality and faithfulness with ,christian wisdom and tenderness1 ,i honour and applaud such a ,christian motion2 but whereas that case is put which is nowhere found in the pattern of the first churches1 nor suiting with the rule of ,christianity1 to wit1 that 8the commonweal should consist of church members10 which must be taken privately1 to wit1 that none should be admitted members of the commonweal but such as are first members of the church--which must necessarily run the church upon that temptation to feel the pulse of the court concerning a delinquent magistrate1 before they dare proceed--,i say1 let such practices be brought to the touchstone of the true frame of a civil commonweal1 and the true frame of the spiritual or ,christian commonweal1 the church of ,christ1 and it will be seen what wood1 hay1 and stubble of carnal policy and human inventions in ,christ's matters are put in place of the precious stones1 gold1 and silver of the ordinances of the most high and only wise ,god4 ,,chap4 ,,cxxxvii4 ,sidenote3 #afth and last head examined4 ,peace4 ,dear ,truth1 we are now arrived at their last head3 the title is this1 viz41-- ,their power in the liberties and privileges of these churches4 8,first1 all magistrates ought to be chosen out of church members1 ,exod4 xviii4 #ba2 ,deut4 xvii4 #ae2 ,prov4 xxix4 #b4 ,when the righteous rule1 the people rejoice4 8,secondly1 that all free men elected1 be only church members2-- 8#a4 ,because if none but church members should rule1 then others should not choose1 because they may elect others beside church members4 #b4 ,from the pattern of ,israel1 where none had power to choose but only ,israel1 or such as were joined to the people of ,god4 #c4 ,if it shall fall out that1 in the court consisting of magistrates and deputies1 there be a dissent between them which may hinder the common good1 that they now return for ending the same to their first principles1 which are the free men1 and let them be consulted with40 ,sidenote3 ,a great question1 viz41 whether only church members1 that is1 as is intended1 godly persons1 in a particular church estate1 be only eligible or to be chosen for magistrates4 ,truth4 ,in this head are two branches3--first1 concerning the choice of magistrates1 that such ought to be chosen as are church members3 for which is quoted1 ,exod4 xviii4 #ba2 ,deut4 xvii4 #ae2 ,prov4 xxix4 #b4 ,unto which ,i answer3 ,it were to be wished1 that since the point is so weighty1 as concerning the pilots and steersmen of kingdoms and nations1 c41 on whose abilities1 care1 and faithfulness depends most commonly the peace and safety of the commonweals they sail in3 ,i say1 it were to be wished that they had more fully explained what they intend by this affirmative1 viz41 8,magistrates ought to be chosen out of church members40 ,for if they intend by this ought to be chosen1 a necessity of convenience1 viz41 that for the greater advancement of common utility and rejoicing of the people1 according to the place quoted1 ,prov4 xxix4 #b1 it were to be desired1 prayed for1 and peaceably endeavoured1 then ,i readily assent unto them4 ,but if by this ought they intend such a necessity as those scriptures quoted imply1 viz41 that people shall sin by choosing such for magistrates as are not members of churches3 as the ,israelites should have sinned1 if they had not1 according to ,jethro's counsel1 ,exod4 xviii41 and according to the command of ,god1 ,deut4 xvii41 chosen their judges and kings within themselves in ,israel3 then ,i propose these necessary queries2-- ,sidenote3 ,lawful civil states1 where churches of ,christ are not4 ,the world being divided into thirty parts1 twenty-five never heard of ,christ4 ,first4 ,whether those are not lawful civil combinations1 societies1 and communions of men1 in towns1 cities1 states1 or kingdoms1 where no church of ,christ is resident1 yea1 where his name was never yet heard of8 ,i add to this1 that men of no small note1 skilful in the state of the world1 acknowledge1 that the world divided into thirty parts1 twenty-five of that thirty have never yet heard of the name of ,christ3 if therefore their civil politics and combinations be not lawful1 because they are not churches and their magistrates church members1 then disorder1 confusion1 and all unrighteousness is lawful1 and pleasing to ,god4 ,sidenote3 ,lawful heirs of crowns and civil government1 although not ,christian and godly4 ,secondly4 ,whether in such states or commonweals where a church or churches of ,christ are resident1 such persons may not lawfully succeed to the crown or government in whom the fear of ,god1 according to ,jethro's counsel1 cannot be discerned1 nor are brethren of the church1 according to ,deut4 xvii4 #ae1 but only are fitted with civil and moral abilities to manage the civil affairs of the civil estate4 ,sidenote3 ,few ,christians wise and noble1 and qualified for affairs of state4 ,thirdly4 ,since not many wise and noble are called1 but the poor receive the gospel1 as ,god hath chosen the poor of the world to be rich in faith1 #a ,cor4 i4 #bf1 ,james ii4 #e3 whether it may not ordinarily come to pass1 that there may not be found in a true church of ,christ1 which sometimes consisteth but of few persons1 persons fit to be either kings or governors1 c41 whose civil office is no less difficult than the office of a doctor of physic1 a master or pilot of a ship1 or a captain or commander of a band or army of men3 for which services the children of ,god may be no ways qualified1 though otherwise excellent for the fear of ,god1 and the knowledge and grace of the ,lord ,jesus4 ,sidenote3 ,some papists and some protestants agree in deposing of magistrates4 ,fourthly4 ,if magistrates ought1 that is1 ought only1 to be chosen out of the church1 ,i demand1 if they ought not also to be dethroned and deposed when they cease to be of the church1 either by voluntary departure from it1 or by excommunication out of it1 according to the bloody tenents and practice of some papists1 with whom the protestants1 according to their principles1 although they seem to abhor it1 do absolutely agree8 ,fifthly4 ,therefore1 lastly1 ,i ask1 if this be not to turn the world upside down1 to turn the world out of the world1 to pluck up the roots and foundations of all common society in the world1 to turn the garden and paradise of the church and saints into the field of the civil state of the world1 and to reduce the world to the first chaos or confusion8 ,,chap4 ,,cxxxviii4 ,peace4 ,dear ,truth1 thou conquerest1 and shalt triumph in season1 but some will say1 how answer you those scriptures alleged8 ,sidenote3 ,those scriptures1 ,exod4 xviii41 ,deut4 xvii4 and xviii41 c41 paralleled in the true spiritual ,israel1 by #a ,tim4 iii41 and ,tit4 i4 ,truth4 ,i have fully and at large declared the vast differences between that holy nation of typical ,israel and all other lands and countries1 how unmatchable then and now1 and never to be paralleled1 but by the true ,israel and particular churches of ,christ residing in all parts1 and under the several civil governments of the world4 ,in which churches1 the ,israel of ,god and kingdom of ,christ ,jesus1 such only are to be chosen spiritual officers and governors1 to manage his kingly power and authority in the church1 as are1 according to the scriptures quoted1 not pope1 bishops1 or civil powers1 but from amongst themselves1 brethren1 fearing ,god1 hating covetousness or filthy lucre1 according to those golden rules given by the ,lord ,jesus1 #a ,tim4 iii41 and ,tit4 i4 ,the want of discerning this true parallel between ,israel in the type then1 and ,israel the antitype now1 is that rock whereon1 through the ,lord's righteous jealousy1 punishing the world and chastising his people1 thousands dash1 and make woful shipwreck4 ,the second branch1 viz41 that all freemen elected be only church members1 ,i have before shown to be built on that sandy and dangerous ground of ,israel's pattern4 ,oh6 that it may please the ,father of lights to discover this to all that fear his name6 ,then would they not sin to save a kingdom1 nor run into the lamentable breach of civil peace and order in the world1 nor be guilty of forcing thousands to hypocrisy in a state-worship1 nor of profaning the holy name of ,god and ,christ by putting their names and ordinances upon unclean and unholy persons1 nor of shedding the blood of such heretics1 c41 whom ,christ would have enjoy longer patience and permission until the harvest1 nor of the blood of the ,lord ,jesus himself in his faithful witnesses of truth1 nor lastly1 of the blood of so many hundred thousands slaughtered men1 women1 and children1 by such uncivil and unchristian wars and combustions about the ,christian faith and religion4 ,peace4 ,dear ,truth1 before we part1 ,i ask your faithful help once more1 to two or three scriptures which many allege1 and yet we have not spoken of4 ,truth4 ,speak on4 ,here is some sand left in this our hour-glass of merciful opportunity4 ,one grain of time's inestimable sand is worth a golden mountain2 let us not lose it4 ,sidenote3 ,the ,ninevites' fast examined4 ,peace4 ,the first is that of the ,ninevites' fast1 commanded by the king of ,nineveh and his nobles upon the preaching of ,jonah3 succeeded by ,god's merciful answer in sparing of the city2 and quoted with honourable approbation by the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 ,jonah iii41 and ,matt4 xii4 #da4 ,truth4 ,i have before proved1 that even ,jehoshaphat's fast1 he being king of the national church and people of ,israel1 could not possibly be a type or warrant for every king or magistrate in the world1 whose nations1 countries1 or cities cannot be churches of ,god now in the gospel1 according to ,christ ,jesus4 ,much less can this pattern of the king of ,nineveh and his nobles1 be a ground for kings and magistrates now to force all their subjects under them in the matters of worship4 ,peace4 ,it will be said1 why did ,god thus answer them8 ,truth4 ,god's mercy in hearing doth not prove an action right and according to rule4 ,it pleased ,god to hear the ,israelites cry for flesh1 and afterward for a king1 giving both in anger to them4 ,it pleased ,god to hear ,ahab's prayer1 yea1 and the prayer of the devils1 ,luke viii4 #cb1 although their persons and prayers in themselves abominable4 ,sidenote3 ,object4 ,if it be said1 why did ,christ approve this example8 ,sidenote3 ,answer4 ,i answer1 the ,lord ,jesus ,christ did not approve the king of ,nineveh's compelling all to worship1 but the men of ,nineveh's repentance at the preaching of ,jonah4 ,peace4 ,it will be said1 what shall kings and magistrates now do in the plagues of sword1 famine1 pestilence8 ,truth4 ,kings and magistrates must be considered1 as formerly1 invested with no more power than the people betrust them with4 ,but no people can betrust them with any spiritual power in matters of worship2 but with a civil power belonging to their goods and bodies4 #b4 ,kings and magistrates must be considered as either godly or ungodly4 ,if ungodly1 his own and people's duty is repentance1 and reconciling of their persons unto ,god1 before their sacrifice can be accepted4 ,without repentance what have any to do with the covenant or promise of ,god8 ,psalm l4 #af4 ,again1 if godly1 they are to humble themselves1 and beg mercies for themselves and people4 ,secondly4 ,upon this advantage and occasion1 they are to stir up their people1 as possibly they may1 to repentance2 but not to force the consciences of people to worship4 ,sidenote3 ,object4 ,if it be said1 what must be attended to in this example8 ,sidenote3 ,answer4 ,two things are most eminent in this example4 ,first4 ,the great work of repentance1 which ,god calls all men unto1 upon the true preaching of his word4 ,sidenote3 ,how ,england and ,london may yet be spared4 ,secondly4 ,the nature of that true repentance1 whether legal or evangelical4 ,the people of ,nineveh turned from the violence that was in their hands3 and confident ,i am1 if this nation shall turn1 though but with a legal repentance1 from that violent persecuting or hunting each of other for religion's sake1--the greatest violence and hunting in the wilderness of the whole world--even as ,sodom and ,gomorrah upon a legal repentance had continued until ,christ's day3 so consequently might ,england1 ,london1 c41 continue free from a general destruction1 upon such a turning from their violence1 until the heavens and the whole world be with fire consumed4 ,peace4 ,the second scripture is that speech of the ,lord ,christ1 ,luke xxii4 #cf1 ,he that hath not a sword1 let him sell his coat and buy one4 ,sidenote3 ,luke xxii41 the selling of the coat to buy a sword1 discussed4 ,truth4 ,for the clearing of this scripture1 ,i must propose and reconcile that seeming contrary command of the ,lord ,jesus to ,peter1 ,matt4 xxvi4 #eb1 ,put up thy sword into its place1 for all that take the sword shall perish by it4 ,in the former scripture1 ,luke xxii4 #cf1 it pleased the ,lord ,jesus1 speaking of his present trouble1 to compare his former sending forth of his disciples without scrip1 c41 with that present condition and trial coming upon them1 wherein they should provide both scrip and sword1 c4 ,yet now1 first1 when they tell him of two swords1 he answers1 ,it is enough3 which shows his former meaning was not literal1 but figurative1 foreshowing his present danger above his former4 ,secondly1 in the same sense at the same time1 ,matt4 xxvi4 #eb1 commanding ,peter to put up his sword1 he gives a threefold reason thereof4 #a4 7ver4 #eb17 ,from the event of it3 for all that take the sword shall perish by it4 #b4 ,the needlessness of it3 for with a word to his ,father1 he could have twelve legions of angels4 #c4 ,the counsel of ,god to be fulfilled in the scripture3 thus it ought to be4 ,peace4 ,it is much questioned by some1 what should be the meaning of ,christ ,jesus in that speech1 ,all that take the sword shall perish by the sword4 ,sidenote3 ,a threefold taking of the sword4 ,truth4 ,there is a threefold taking of the sword3 first1 by murderous cruelty1 either of private persons2 or secondly1 public states or societies1 in wrath or revenge each against other4 ,secondly1 a just and righteous taking of the sword in punishing offenders against the civil peace1 either more personal1 private1 and ordinary2 or more public1 oppressors1 tyrants1 ships1 navies1 c4 ,neither of these can it be imagined that ,christ ,jesus intended to ,peter4 ,thirdly1 there is therefore a third taking of the sword1 forbidden to ,peter1 that is1 for ,christ and the gospel's cause when ,christ is in danger3 which made ,peter strike1 c4 ,peace4 ,it seems to some most contrary to all true reason1 that ,christ ,jesus1 innocency itself1 should not be defended4 ,truth4 ,the foolishness of ,god is wiser than the wisdom of man4 ,it is not the purpose of ,god1 that the spiritual battles of his ,son shall be fought by carnal weapons and persons4 ,it is not his pleasure that the world shall flame on fire with civil combustions for his ,son's sake4 ,it is directly contrary to the nature of ,christ ,jesus1 his saints and truths1 that throats of men1 which is the highest contrariety to civil converse1 should be torn out for his sake who most delighted to converse with the greatest sinners4 ,it is the counsel of ,god1 that his servants shall overcome by three weapons of a spiritual nature1 ,rev4 xii4 #aa2 and that all that take the sword of steel shall perish4 ,lastly1 it is the counsel of ,god1 that ,christ ,jesus shall shortly appear a most glorious judge and revenger against all his enemies1 when the heavens and the earth shall flee before his most glorious presence4 ,sidenote3 ,rev4 xvii4 #af1 the kings' hating of the whore1 discussed4 ,peace4 ,i shall propose the last scripture much insisted on by many for carnal weapons in spiritual cases1 ,rev4 xvii4 #af1 ,the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast1 these shall hate the whore1 and shall make her desolate and naked1 and shall eat her flesh1 and shall burn her with fire4 ,truth4 ,not to controvert with some1 whether or no the beast be yet risen and extant3-- ,nor secondly1 whether either the beast1 or the horns1 or the whore1 may be taken literally for any corporal beast or whore3-- ,or thirdly1 whether these ten horns be punctually and exactly ten kings3-- ,or fourthly1 whether those ten horns signify those many kings1 kingdoms1 and governments1 who have bowed down to the pope's yoke1 and have committed fornication with that great whore the church of ,rome3-- ,let this last be admitted1 7which yet will cost some work to clear against all opposites73 yet1-- ,first1 can the time be now clearly demonstrated to be come8 c4 ,secondly1 how will it be proved1 that this hatred of this whore1 shall be a true1 chaste1 ,christian hatred against anti-christian1 whorish practices8 c4 ,thirdly1 or rather that this hating1 and desolating1 and making naked1 and burning shall arise1 not by way of an ordinance warranted by the institution of ,christ ,jesus1 but by way of providence1 when1 as it useth to be with all whores and their lovers1 the church of ,rome and her great lovers shall fall out1 and by the righteous vengeance of ,god upon her1 drunk with the blood of saints or holy ones1 these mighty fornicators shall turn their love into hatred1 which hatred shall make her a poor1 desolate1 naked whore1 torn and consumed1 c4 ,peace4 ,you know it is a great controversy1 how the kings of the earth shall thus deal with the whore in the seventeenth chapter1 and yet so bewail her in the eighteenth chapter4 ,truth4 ,if we take it that these kings of the earth shall first hate1 and plunder1 and tear1 and burn this whore1 and yet afterward shall relent and bewail their cruel dealing toward her3 or else1 that as some kings deal so terribly with her1 yet others of those kings shall bewail her3-- ,if either of these two answers stand1 or a better be given1 yet none of them can prove it lawful for people to give power to their kings and magistrates thus to deal with them1 their subjects1 for their conscience2 nor for magistrates to assume a tittle more than the people betrust them with2 nor for one people out of conscience to ,god1 and for ,christ's sake1 thus to kill and slaughter and burn each other4 ,however1 it may please the righteous judge1 according to the famous types of ,gideon's and ,jehoshaphat's battles1 to permit in justice1 and to order in wisdom1 these mighty and mutual slaughters each of other4 ,peace4 ,we have now1 dear ,truth1 through the gracious hand of ,god1 clambered up to the top of this our tedious discourse4 ,truth4 ,oh6 it is mercy inexpressible that either thou or ,i have had so long a breathing time1 and that together6 ,peace4 ,if ,english ground must yet be drunk with ,english blood1 oh6 where shall ,peace repose her wearied head and heavy heart8 ,truth4 ,dear ,peace1 if thou find welcome1 and the ,god of peace miraculously please to quench these all-devouring flames1 yet where shall ,truth find rest from cruel persecutions8 ,peace4 ,oh6 will not the authority of holy scriptures1 the commands and declarations of the ,son of ,god1 therein produced by thee1 together with all the lamentable experiences of former and present slaughters1 prevail with the sons of men1 especially with the sons of peace1 to depart from the dens of lions1 and mountains of leopards1 and to put on the bowels1 if not of ,christianity1 yet of humanity each to other8 ,truth4 ,dear ,peace1 ,habakkuk's fishes keep their constant bloody game of persecutions in the world's mighty ocean2 the greater taking1 plundering1 swallowing up the lesser4 ,oh6 happy he whose portion is the ,god of ,jacob6 who hath nothing to lose under the sun2 but hath a state1 a house1 an inheritance1 a name1 a crown1 a life1 past all the plunderers'1 ravishers'1 murderers' reach and fury6 ,peace4 ,but lo6 ,who's there8 ,truth4 ,our sister ,patience1 whose desired company is as needful as delightful4 ,it is like the wolf will send the scattered sheep in one3 the common pirate gather up the loose and scattered navy3 the slaughter of the witnesses by that bloody beast unite the independents and presbyterians4 ,the ,god of peace1 the ,god of truth1 will shortly seal this truth1 and confirm this witness1 and make it evident to the whole world1-- ,,that ,,the ,,doctrine ,,of ,,persecution ,,for ,,cause ,,of ,,conscience1 ,,is ,,most ,,evidently ,,and ,,lamentably ,,contrary ,,to ,,the ,,doctrine ,,of ,,christ ,,jesus1 ,,the ,,prince ,,of ,,peace4 ,,amen4 ,,finis4 ,,mr4 ,,cotton',s ,,letter1 ,,lately ,,printed1 ,,examined ,,and ,,answered4 ,,by ,,roger ,,williams1 ,,of ,,providence1 ,,in ,,new ,,england4 ,,london3 ,,imprinted ,,in ,,the ,,year #afdd4 ,,to ,,the ,,impartial ,,reader4#bbi ,this ,letter ,i acknowledge to have received from ,mr4 ,cotton1 whom for his personal excellencies ,i truly honour and love3 yet at such a time of my distressed wanderings amongst the barbarians1 that being destitute of food1 of clothes1 of time1 ,i reserved it1 though hardly1 amidst so many barbarous distractions1 and afterward prepared an answer to be returned4 ,sidenote3 ,mr4 ,cotton's reluctancy in himself concerning the way of persecution4 ,in the interim1 some friends being much grieved1 that one1 publicly acknowledged to be godly1 and dearly beloved1 should yet be so exposed to the mercy of a howling wilderness in frost and snow1 c43 ,mr4 ,cotton1 to take off the edge of censure from himself1 professed both in speech and writing1 that he was no procurer of my sorrows4 ,some letters then passed between us1 in which ,i proved and expressed1 that if ,i had perished in that sorrowful winter's flight1 only the blood of ,jesus ,christ could have washed him from the guilt of mine4 ,sidenote3 ,an unmerciful speech from a merciful man4 ,his final answer was1 8,had you perished1 your blood had been on your own head2 it was your sin to procure it1 and your sorrow to suffer it40 ,here ,i confess ,i stopped1 and ever since suppressed mine answer2 waiting1 if it might please the ,father of mercies1 more to mollify and soften1 and render more humane and merciful1 the ear and heart of that otherwise excellent and worthy man4 ,sidenote3 ,god's wisdom in the season of publishing this letter4 ,it cannot now be justly offensive1 that finding this letter public 7by whose procurement ,i know not7 ,i also present to the same public view1 my formerly intended answer4 ,sidenote3 ,times of inquiry after ,christ4 ,i rejoice in the goodness and wisdom of him who is the ,father of lights and mercies1 in ordering the season both of mine own present opportunity of answer3 as also and especially of such protestations and resolutions of so many fearing ,god1 to seek what worship and worshippers are acceptable to him in ,jesus ,christ4 ,sidenote3 ,a golden speech of a parliament man4 ,mine own ears were glad and late witnesses of a heavenly speech of one of the most eminent of that high assembly of parliament2 viz41 8,why should the labours of any be suppressed1 if sober1 though never so different8 ,we now profess to seek ,god1 we desire to see light10 c4 ,sidenote3 ,times when seeking of ,god comes too late4 ,i know there is a time when ,god will not be found1 though men seek him early1 ,prov4 i4 #bh4 ,there is a time when prayer and fasting come too late1 ,jer4 xiv4 #aj4 ,there is a seeking of the ,god of ,israel with a stumbling-block1 according to which ,god giveth his ,israel an answer1 ,ezek4 xiv4 #d4 ,lastly1 there is a proud refusal of the mind of ,god returned in answer by the prophet1 ,jer4 xlii4 #ac4 ,sidenote3 ,wholehearted seekers the only seekers of ,christ ,jesus4 ,love bids me hope for better things4 ,god's promise assures us1 that his people returning from captivity1 shall seek him1 and pray1 and find him1 when they seek him with their whole heart1 ,jer4 xxix4 #ac4 ,and ,god's angel comforts those against all fears that seek ,jesus that was crucified1 ,mark xvi4 #f4 ,sidenote3 ,christ ,jesus1 whom he saveth he teacheth4 ,thy soul so prosper1 whoever thou art1 worthy reader1 as with thy whole heart thou seekest that true ,lord ,jesus1 who is holiness itself1 and requires a spiritual and holy bride like to himself1 the pure and spotless lamb4 ,he alone1 as he is able to save thee to the utmost from thy sins and sorrows by his blood1 so hath he brought his ,father's counsel from his bosom1 and every soul is bound1 on pain of eternal pains1 to attend alone to his laws and ordinances1 commands and statutes1 ,heb4 vii41 ,acts iii4 #bc4 ,sidenote3 ,the true ,lord ,jesus studied humility and self-denial4 ,that ,lord ,jesus1 who purposely chose to descend of mean and inferior parents1 a carpenter1 c43-- ,who disdained not to enter this world in a stable1 amongst beasts1 as unworthy the society of men3 who passed through this world with the esteem of a madman1 a deceiver1 a conjuror1 a traitor against ,csar1 and destitute of an house wherein to rest his head3 who made choice of his first and greatest ambassadors out of fishermen1 tent-makers1 c43 and at last chose to depart on the stage of a painful1 shameful gibbet3-- ,sidenote3 ,seekers of ,christ are sure of a gracious answer1 #b ,thess4 v4 ,if ,him thou seekest in these searching times1 makest him alone thy white robe and soul's beloved1 willing to follow1 and be like him in doing and in suffering2 although thou findest him not in the restoration of his ordinances1 according to his first pattern3-- ,yet shalt thou see him1 reign with him1 eternally admire him1 and enjoy him1 when he shortly comes in flaming fire to burn up millions of ignorant and disobedient4 ,your most unworthy country-man1 ,,roger ,,williams4 ,,mr4 ,,cotton',s ,,letter ,,examined ,,and ,,answered4 ,,chap4 ,i4 ,mr4 ,cotton4 8,beloved in ,christ40 ,answer4 ,though ,i humbly desire to acknowledge myself unworthy to be beloved1 and most of all unworthy of the name of ,christ1 and to be beloved for his sake3 yet since ,mr4 ,cotton is pleased to use such an affectionate compellation and testimonial expression1 to one so afflicted and persecuted by himself and others1 whom for their personal worth and godliness ,i also honour and love1 ,i desire it may be seriously reviewed by himself and them1 and all men1 whether the ,lord ,jesus be well pleased that one1 beloved in him1 should1 for no other cause than shall presently appear1 be denied the common air to breathe in1 and a civil cohabitation upon the same common earth2 yea1 and also without mercy and human compassion1 be exposed to winter miseries in a howling wilderness8#bcj ,sidenote3 ,mr4 ,cotton expecting more light1 must1 according to his way of persecution1 persecute ,christ ,jesus if he bring it4 ,and ,i ask further1 ,whether1 since ,mr4 ,cotton elsewhere professeth to expect far greater light than yet shines1 upon the same grounds and practice1 if ,christ ,jesus in any of his servants shall be pleased to hold forth a further light1 ,christ ,jesus himself shall find the mercy and humanity of a civil and temporal life and being with them8 ,mr4 ,cotton4 8,though ,i have little hope1 when ,i consider the uncircumcision of mine own lips1 that you will hearken to my voice1 who have not hearkened to the body of the whole church of ,christ with you1 and the testimony and judgment of so many elders and brethren of other churches3 yet ,i trust my labour will be accepted of the ,lord2 and who can tell but that he may bless it to you also1 if1 by his help1 ,i endeavour to show you the sandiness of those grounds1 out of which you have banished yourself from the fellowship of all the churches in these countries80 ,sidenote3 ,will-worship varnished over with the glittering show of humility4 ,spiritual pride may swell1 out of the sense of a man's humility4 ,humility most unseasonable in setting up will-worship1 or persecuting others4 ,answer4 ,first1 ,i acknowledge it a holy character of a heavenly spirit1 to make ingenuous true acknowledgment of an uncircumcised lip3 yet that discerning spirit1 which ,god graciously vouchsafeth to them that tremble at his word1 shall not only find1 that not only the will-worships of men may be painted and varnished over with the glittering show of humility1 ,col4 ii41 but also ,god's dearest servants1 eminent for humility and meekness1 may yet be troubled with a swelling of spiritual pride out of the very sense of their humility4 ,it pleased ,god to give ,paul himself preventing physic against this distemper1 in the midst of ,god's gracious revelation to him4 ,and what an humble argument doth ,david use1 when himself1 advised by ,nathan1 went about an evil work out of a holy intention1 to wit1 a work of will-worship1 in building the temple unbidden8 ,behold1 ,i dwell in a house of ,cedar1 but the ark of ,god in a tent1 #b ,sam4 vii4 #b4 ,humility is never in season to set up superstition1 or to persecute ,god's children4 ,,chap4 ,,ii4 ,secondly1 ,i observe his charge against me for not hearkening to a twofold voice of ,christ3 first1 of the whole church of ,christ with me4#bcb ,sidenote3 ,public sins the cause of public calamities2 must be faithfully discovered by spiritual watchmen4 ,unto which ,i answer1 according to my conscience and persuasion1 ,i was then charged by office with the feeding of that flock3 and when in the apprehension of some public evils1 the whole country professed to humble itself and seek ,god1 ,i endeavoured1 as a faithful watchman on the walls1 to sound the trumpet and give the alarm3 and upon a fast day1 in faithfulness and uprightness1 as then and still ,i am persuaded1 ,i discovered eleven public sins1 for which ,i believed 7and do7 it pleased ,god to inflict1 and further to threaten public calamities4 ,most of which eleven 7in not all7 that church then seemed to assent unto3 until afterward in my troubles the greater part of that church was swayed and bowed1 whether for fear of persecution or otherwise1 to say and practise what1 to my knowledge1 with sighs and groans1 many of them mourned under4 ,sidenote3 ,col4 iv4 #af4 ,faithfulness to ,god and man 7though for present censured7 will give rejoicing in day of death and judgment4 ,i know the church of ,colosse must say to ,archippus1 ,take heed to thy ministry1 c41 which he may negligently and proudly refuse to hearken to2 but let my case be considered1 and the word of the ,lord examined1 and the difference of my case will shine forth1 and my faithfulness and uprightness to ,god and the souls of that people will witness for me1 when my soul comes to ,hezekiah's case on his death-bed1 and in that great day approaching4 ,sidenote3 ,the popish argument from multitudes4 ,david and the princes and thirty thousand of ,israel1 a type of ,god's best servants reforming1 yet not after the due order4 ,an excellent confession of the papists concerning scripture4 ,for my not hearkening to the second voice1 the testimony of so many elders and brethren of other churches3 because ,i truly esteem and honour the persons of which the ,new ,english churches are constituted1 ,i will not answer the argument of numbers and multitudes against one1 as we use to answer the popish universality1 that ,god sometimes stirs up one ,elijah against eight hundred of ,baal's priests1#bcc one ,micaiah against four hundred of ,ahab's prophets1 one ,athanasius against many hundreds of ,arian bishops1 one ,john ,huss against the whole council of ,constance1 ,luther and the two witnesses against many thousands1 c4 ,let this ,i may truly say1 that ,david himself1 and the princes of ,israel1 and thirty thousand ,israel1 carrying up the ark1 were not to be hearkened to nor followed in their 7as ,i may say7 holy rejoicings and triumphings1 the due order of the ,lord yet being wanting to their holy intentions and affections1 and the ,lord at last sending in a sad stop and breach of ,uzzah amongst them 7,perez ,uzzah71 as he hath ever yet done1 and will do in all the reformations that have been hitherto made by his ,davids which are not after the due order4 ,to which purpose1 it is maintained by the papists themselves1 and by their councils1 that scripture only must be heard3 yea1 one scripture in the mouth of one simple mechanic before the whole council4 ,by that only do ,i desire to stand or fall in trial or judgment2 for all flesh is grass1 and the beauty of flesh1 the most wisest1 holiest1 learnedest1 is but the flower or beauty of grass3 only the word of ,jehovah standeth fast for ever4 ,,chap4 ,,iii4 ,thirdly1 ,mr4 ,cotton endeavoureth to discover the sandiness of those grounds out of which1 as he saith1 ,i have banished myself1 c4 ,sidenote3 ,good intentions and affections in ,god's people1 accepted with ,god1 when their endeavours perish and burn like stubble1 c4 ,many grounds seemed sandy to ,mr4 ,cotton in ,old ,england1 which now he confesseth to be rocky4 ,i answer1 ,i question not his holy and loving intentions and affections1 and that my grounds seem sandy to himself and others4 ,those intentions and affections may be accepted1 as his person1 with the ,lord1 as ,david of his desires to build the ,lord a temple1 though on sandy grounds4 ,yet ,mr4 ,cotton's endeavours to prove the firm rock of the truth of ,jesus to be the weak and uncertain sand of man's invention1 those shall perish and burn like hay or stubble4 ,the rocky strength of those grounds shall more appear in the ,lord's season1 and himself may yet confess so much1 as since he came into ,new ,england he hath confessed the sandiness of the grounds of many of his practices in which he walked in ,old ,england1 and the rockiness of their grounds that witnessed against them and himself in those practices1 though for that time their grounds seemed sandy to him4 ,sidenote3 ,mr4 ,cotton formerly persuaded to practise ,common ,prayer2 but since hath written against it4 ,when myself heretofore1 through the mercy of the ,most ,high1 discovered to himself and other eminent servants of ,god my grounds against their using of the ,common ,prayer1 my grounds seemed sandy to them1 which since in ,new ,england ,mr4 ,cotton hath acknowledged rocky1 and hath seen cause so to publish to the world1 in his discourse to ,mr4 ,ball against set forms of prayer4#bcd ,but because the reader may ask1 both ,mr4 ,cotton and me1 what were the grounds of such a sentence of banishment against me1 which are here called sandy1 ,i shall relate in brief what those grounds were1 some whereof he is pleased to discuss in this letter1 and others of them not to mention4#bce ,after my public trial and answers at the general court1 one of the most eminent magistrates1 whose name and speech may by others be remembered1 stood up and spake3 ,sidenote3 ,the four particular grounds of my sentence of banishment4 8,mr4 ,williams10 said he1 8holds forth these four particulars2 8,first1 ,that we have not our land by patent from the king1 but that the natives are the true owners of it1 and that we ought to repent of such a receiving it by patent4 8,secondly1 ,that it is not lawful to call a wicked person to swear1 or to pray1 as being actions of ,god's worship4 8,thirdly1 ,that it is not lawful to hear any of the ministers of the parish assemblies in ,england4 8,fourthly1 that the civil magistrate's power extends only to the bodies1 and goods1 and outward state of men10 c4 ,i acknowledge the particulars were rightly summed up1 and ,i also hope1 that1 as ,i then maintained the rocky strength of them to my own and other consciences' satisfaction1 so1 through the ,lord's assistance1 ,i shall be ready for the same grounds not only to be bound and banished1 but to die also in ,new ,england1 as for most holy truths of ,god in ,christ ,jesus4 ,yea2 but1 saith he1 upon those grounds you banished yourself from the society of the churches in these countries4 ,sidenote3 ,christ ,jesus speaketh and suffereth in his witnesses4 ,the dragon's language in a lamb's lip4 ,god's children persecuted are charged by their enemies to be the authors of their own persecution4 ,i answer1 if ,mr4 ,cotton mean my own voluntary withdrawing from those churches resolved to continue in those evils1 and persecuting the witnesses of the ,lord presenting light unto them1 ,i confess it was mine own voluntary act2 yea1 ,i hope the act of the ,lord ,jesus sounding forth in me1 a poor despised ram's horn1 the blast which shall in his own holy season cast down the strength and confidence of those inventions of men in the worshipping of the true and living ,god3--,and lastly1 ,his act in enabling me to be faithful1 in any measure1 to suffer such great and mighty trials for his name's sake4 ,but if by banishing myself he intend the act of civil banishment from their common earth and air1 ,i then observe with grief the language of the dragon in a lamb's lip4 ,among other expressions of the dragon1 are not these common to the witnesses of the ,lord ,jesus1 rent and torn by his persecutions8--8,go now3--say1 you are persecuted1 you are persecuted for ,christ1 suffer for your conscience3 no1 it is your schism1 heresy1 obstinacy1 the devil hath deceived thee1 thou hast justly brought this upon thee1 thou hast banished thyself10 c4 ,instances are abundant in so many books of martyrs1 and the experience of all men1 and therefore ,i spare to recite in so short a treatise4 ,sidenote3 ,a national church1 the silent commonweal or world1 silently confessed by ,mr4 ,cotton to be all one4 ,secondly1 if he mean this civil act of banishing1 why should he call a civil sentence from the civil state1 within a few weeks' execution1 in so sharp a time of ,new ,england's cold--,why should he call this a banishment from the churches8 except he silently confess1 that the frame or constitution of their churches is but implicitly national1 which yet they profess against3 for otherwise why was ,i not yet permitted to live in the world1 or commonweal1 except for this reason1 that the commonweal and church is yet but one1 and he that is banished from the one must necessarily be banished from the other also4 ,,chap4 ,,iv4 ,mr4 ,cotton4 8,let not any prejudice against my person1 ,i beseech you1 forestal either your affection or judgment1 as if ,i had hasted forward the sentence of your civil banishment2 for what was done by the magistrates in that kind was neither done by my counsel nor consent40 ,sidenote3 ,persecutors of men's bodies seldom or never do those men's souls good4 ,an excellent observation of a worthy parliament man4 ,answ4 ,although ,i desire to hear the voice of ,god from a stranger1 an equal1 an inferior1 yea1 an enemy2 yet ,i observe how this excellent man cannot but confess how hard it is for any man to do good1 to speak effectually to the soul or conscience of any whose body he afflicts and persecutes1 and that only for their soul and conscience' sake4 ,hence1 excellent was the observation of a worthy gentleman in the parliament against the bishops1 viz41 ,that the bishops were far from the practice of the ,lord ,jesus1 who1 together with his word preached to the souls of men1 showed their bodies so much mercy and loving-kindness2 whereas the bishops on the contrary persecute1 c4 ,sidenote3 ,god's children are not so free in persecuting ,god's children1 as persecutors whose professed nature and trade it is4 ,now to the ground from whence my prejudice might arise1 he professeth my banishment proceeded not with his counsel or consent4 ,i answer1 ,i doubt not but that what ,mr4 ,cotton and others did in procuring my sorrows1 was not without some regret and reluctancy of conscience and affection--as like it is that ,david could not procure ,uriah's death1 nor ,asa imprison the prophet1 with a quiet and free conscience4 ,yet to the particular1 that ,mr4 ,cotton consented not1 what need he1 being not one of the civil court8 ,but that he counselled it1 and so consented1 beside what other proof ,i might produce1 and what himself hereunder expresseth1 ,i shall produce a double and unanswerable testimony4 ,sidenote3 ,mr4 ,cotton by teaching persecution cannot but consent to it1 c4 ,first1 he publicly taught1 and teacheth1 except lately ,christ ,jesus hath taught him better1 that body-killing1 soul-killing1 and state-killing doctrine of not permitting but persecuting all other consciences and ways of worship but his own in the civil state1 and so consequently in the whole world1 if the power or empire thereof were in his hand4 ,sidenote3 ,mr4 ,cotton privately satisfied the consciences of some that questioned1 whether persecution for conscience was lawful4 ,secondly1 as at that sentence divers worthy gentlemen durst not concur with the rest in such a course1 so some that did consent have solemnly testified1 and with tears since to myself confessed1 that they could not in their souls have been brought to have consented to the sentence1 had not ,mr4 ,cotton in private given them advice and counsel1 proving it just and warrantable to their consciences4 ,i desire to be as charitable as charity would have me1 and therefore would hope that either his memory failed him1 or that else he meant1 that in the very time of sentence passing he neither counselled nor consented--as he hath since said1 that he withdrew himself and went out from the rest--probably out of that reluctation which before ,i mentioned2 and yet if so1 ,i cannot reconcile his own expression3 for thus he goes on3-- ,,chap4 ,v4 ,mr4 ,cotton4 8,although ,i dare not deny the sentence passed to be righteous in the eyes of ,god1 who hath said1 that he that withholdeth the corn1 which is the staff of life1 from the people1 the multitude shall curse him1 ,prov4 xi4 #bf1 how much more shall they separate such from them as do withhold and separate them from the ordinances1 or the ordinances from them1 which are in ,christ the bread of life40 ,sidenote3 ,prov4 xi4 #bf4 ,the scripture produced by ,mr4 ,cotton to prove my banishment lawful1 discussed4 ,answ4 ,i desire to inform the reader why it pleaseth ,mr4 ,cotton to produce this scripture4 ,one of our disputes was concerning the true ministry appointed by the ,lord ,jesus4 ,another was concerning the fitness and qualification of such persons as have right1 according to the rules of the gospel1 to choose and enjoy such a true ministry of the ,lord ,jesus4 ,hence because ,i professed1 and do1 against the office of any ministry but such as the ,lord ,jesus appointeth1 this scripture is produced against me4 ,sidenote3 ,mr4 ,cotton satisfies all men concerning the chief cause of my banishment4 ,the word of the ,lord is the soul's corn2 yet must it be dispensed according to the word of the ,lord4 ,secondly1 let this be observed for satisfaction to many who inquire into the cause of my sufferings1 that it pleaseth ,mr4 ,cotton only to produce this scripture for justifying the sentence as righteous in the eyes of ,god1 implying what our chief difference was1 and consequently what it was for which ,i chiefly suffered1 to wit1 concerning the true ministry of ,christ ,jesus4 ,but to the scripture1 let the people curse such as hoard up corporal or spiritual corn1 and let those be blessed that sell it3 will it therefore follow1 that either the one or the other may lawfully be sold or bought but with the good will1 consent1 and authority of the true owner8#bcf ,sidenote3 ,to some parts the apostles were forbidden to preach1 and from others to depart1 shaking off the dust1 c4 ,all the ,lord's corn must be sold according to the ,lord's ordinance4 ,doth not even the common1 civil market abhor and curse that man1 who carries to market and throws about good corn against the owner's mind and express command8--who yet is willing and desirous it should be sold plenteously1 if with his consent1 according to his order1 and to his honest and reasonable advantage8 ,this is the case of the true and false ministry4 ,far be it from my soul's thought to stop the sweet streams of the water of life from flowing to refresh the thirsty1 or the bread of life from feeding hungry souls3 and yet ,i would not1 and the ,lord ,jesus would not1 that one drop1 or one crumb or grain1 should be unlawfully1 disorderly1 or prodigally disposed of2 for1 from the scorners1 contradicters1 despisers1 persecutors1 c41 the apostles1 messengers of the ,lord ,jesus1 were to turn and to shake off the dust of their feet3 yea1 it pleased the ,spirit of the ,lord to forbid the apostles to preach at all to some places1 at some times3 so that the whole dispose of this spiritual corn1 for the persons selling1 their qualifications1 commissions1 or callings1 the quantities and qualities of the corn1 the price for which1 the persons to whom1 the place where1 and time when1 the great ,lord of the harvest must express his holy will and pleasure1 which must humbly and faithfully be attended on4 ,sidenote3 ,mr4 ,cotton himself choosing rather to sell no spiritual corn1 than to yield to some ceremonies4 ,in which regard ,mr4 ,cotton deals most partially3 for would ,mr4 ,cotton himself have preached in ,old1 or will he in ,new ,england1 with submission but to some few ceremonies1 as the selling of this spiritual corn in a white coat1 a surplice8 ,did he not rather choose1 which ,i mention to the ,lord's and ,mr4 ,cotton's honour1 to have shut up his sack's mouth1 to have been silenced 7as they call it7 and imprisoned1 than to sell that heavenly corn otherwise than as he was persuaded the ,lord appointed8 ,yea1 hath he not in ,new ,england refused to admit the children of godly parents to baptism1 or the parents themselves unto the fellowship of the supper1 until they came into that order which he conceived was the order of the ,lord's appointing8 ,sidenote3 ,in civil things nothing lawful but what is according to law and order4 ,in ,england now1 not persons fit1 but also truly authorized1 are true officers4 ,again1 to descend to human courses1 do not all civil men throughout the world1 forbid all building1 planting1 merchandizing1 marrying1 execution of justice1 yea1 all actions of peace or war1 but by a true and right commission and in a right order8 ,is it not1 in this present storm of ,england's sorrows1 one of the greatest queries in all the kingdom1 who are the true officers1 true commanders1 true justices1 true commissioners1 which is the true seal8 ,and doubtless as truth is but one1 so but the one sort is true1 and ought to be submitted to1 and the contrary resisted2 although it should be granted that the officers questioned and their actions were noble1 excellent1 and beyond exception4 ,sidenote3 ,the curse of death in ,israel of old1 is spiritual death1 and spiritual cutting off1 in the church of ,christ and ,christian ,israel now4 ,i judge it not here seasonable to entertain the dispute of the true power and call of ,christ's ministry3 ,i shall only add a word to this scripture1 as it is brought to prove a righteous sentence of banishment on myself or any that plead against a false office of ministry4 ,it is true in the national church of ,israel1 the then only church and nation of ,god1 he that did aught presumptuously was to be accursed and to be put to death1 ,deut4 xvii4 #ab1 a figure of the spiritual putting to death an obstinate sinner in the church of ,christ1 who refusing to hear the voice of ,christ is to be cut off from ,christ and ,christians1 and to be esteemed as a heathen1 that is1 a ,gentile1 or publican1 ,matt4 xviii4 #ag4 ,hence1 consequently1 the not selling1 or the withholding of corn presumptuously1 was death in ,israel4 ,but ,mr4 ,cotton cannot prove that every wilful withholding of corn1 in all or any state in the world1 and that in time of plenty1 is death2 for as for banishment1 we never hear of any such course in ,israel4 ,sidenote3 ,such as are excellently fitted to sell the spiritual corn of the word of the ,lord1 and yet find not their call to the ministry1 are not to be put to death or banished4 ,and secondly1 least of all can he prove1 that in all civil states of the world1 that man that pleadeth against a false ministry1 or that being able to preach ,christ and doubting of the true way of the ministry since the apostacy of anti-christ1 dares not practise a ministry4 ,or that many excellent and worthy gentlemen1 lawyers1 physicians1 and others1 as well gifted in the knowledge of the scripture1 and furnished with the gifts of tongues and utterance1 as most that profess the ministry1 and yet are not persuaded to sell spiritual corn1 as questioning their true calling and commission--,i say1 ,mr4 ,cotton doth not1 nor will he ever prove that these1 or any of these1 ought to be put to death or banishment in every land or country4#bcg ,sidenote3 ,spiritual offences are only liable to a spiritual censure4 ,paul not to be banished or killed by ,nero1 for not preaching the gospel4 ,the selling or withholding of spiritual corn1 are both of a spiritual nature1 and therefore must necessarily in a true parallel bear relation to a spiritual curse4#bch ,paul wishing himself accursed from ,christ for his countrymen's sake1 ,rom4 ix4 #c1 he spake not of any temporal death or banishment4 ,yet nearer1 being fitly qualified and truly called by ,christ to the ministry1 he cries out1 #a ,cor4 ix4 #af1 ,woe to me if ,i preach not the gospel6 yet did not ,paul intend1 that therefore the ,roman ,nero1 or any subordinate power under him in ,corinth1 should have either banished or put ,paul to death1 having committed nothing against the civil state worthy of such a civil punishment3 yea1 and ,mr4 ,cotton himself seemeth to question the sandiness of such a ground to warrant such proceedings1 for thus he goes on3-- ,,chap4 ,,vi4 ,mr4 ,cotton4 8,and yet it may be they passed that sentence against you1 not upon that ground3 but for aught ,i know1 for your other corrupt doctrines1 which tend to the disturbance both of civil and holy peace1 as may appear by that answer which was sent to the brethren of the church of ,salem and yourself40 ,sidenote3 ,mr4 ,cotton himself ignorant of the cause of my sufferings4 ,answer4 ,i answer1 it is no wonder that so many having been demanded the cause of my sufferings have answered1 that they could not tell for what1 since ,mr4 ,cotton himself knows not distinctly what cause to assign2 but saith1 it may be they passed not that sentence on that ground1 c4 ,oh6 where was the waking care of so excellent and worthy a man1 to see his brother and beloved in ,christ so afflicted1 he knows not distinctly for what6#bci ,he allegeth a scripture to prove the sentence righteous1 and yet concludeth it may be it was not for that1 but for other corrupt doctrines which he nameth not1 nor any scripture to prove them corrupt1 or the sentence righteous for that cause4 ,oh6 that it may please the ,father of lights to awaken both himself and other of my honoured countrymen1 to see how though their hearts wake1 in respect of personal grace and life of ,jesus1 yet they sleep1 insensible of much concerning the purity of the ,lord's worship1 or the sorrows of such1 whom they style brethren and beloved in ,christ1 afflicted by them4 ,sidenote3 ,civil peace and civil magistracy blessed ordinances of ,god4 ,but though he name not these corrupt doctrines1 a little before ,i have1 as they were publicly summed up and charged upon me1 and yet none of them tending to the breach of holy or civil peace1 of which ,i have ever desired to be unfeignedly tender1 acknowledging the ordinance of magistracy to be properly and adequately fitted by ,god to preserve the civil state in civil peace and order1 as he hath also appointed a spiritual government and governors in matters pertaining to his worship and the consciences of men2 both which governments1 governors1 laws1 offences1 punishments1 are essentially distinct1 and the confounding of them brings all the world into combustion4 ,he adds3 ,,chap4 ,,vii4 ,mr4 ,cotton4 8,and to speak freely what ,i think1 were my soul in your soul's stead1 ,i should think it a work of mercy of ,god to banish me from the civil society of such a commonweal1 where ,i could not enjoy holy fellowship with any church of ,god amongst them without sin4 ,what should the daughter of ,sion do in ,babel1 why should she not hasten to flee from thence80 ,answer4 ,love bids me hope1 that ,mr4 ,cotton here intended me a cordial to revive me in my sorrows3#bdj yet1 if the ingredients be examined1 there will appear no less than dishonour to the name of ,god1 danger to every civil state1 a miserable comfort to myself1 and contradiction within itself4 ,sidenote3 ,a land cannot be ,babel1 yet a church of ,christ4 ,for the last first4 ,if he call the land ,babel1 mystically1 which he must needs do or else speak not to the point1 how can it be ,babel1 and yet the church of ,christ also8 ,sidenote3 ,famous civil states where yet no sound of ,jesus ,christ4 ,secondly1 it is a dangerous doctrine to affirm it a misery to live in that state1 where a ,christian cannot enjoy the fellowship of the public churches of ,god without sin4 ,do we not know many famous states wherein is known no church of ,jesus ,christ8 ,did not ,god command his people to pray for the peace of the material city of ,babel1 ,jer4 xxix4 #g1 and to seek the peace of it1 though no church of ,god in ,babel1 in the form and order of it8 ,or did ,sodom1 ,egypt1 ,babel1 signify material ,sodom1 ,egypt1 ,babel8 ,rev4 xi4 #h1 and xviii4 #b4 ,sidenote3 ,a true church of ,jesus ,christ in material ,babylon4 ,there was a true church of ,jesus ,christ in material ,babel1 #a ,pet4 v4 #ac4 ,was it then a mercy for all the inhabitants of ,babel to have been banished1 whom the church of ,jesus ,christ durst not to have received to holy fellowship8 ,or was it a mercy for any person to have been banished the city1 and driven to the miseries of a barbarous wilderness1 him and his1 if some bar had lain upon his conscience that he could not have enjoyed fellowship with the true church of ,christ8 ,sidenote3 ,the mercy of a civil state distinct from mercies of a spiritual nature4 ,thirdly1 for myself1 ,i acknowledge it a blessed gift of ,god to be enabled to suffer1 and so to be banished for his name's sake3 and yet ,i doubt not to affirm1 that ,mr4 ,cotton himself would have counted it a mercy if he might have practised in ,old ,england what now he doth in ,new1 with the enjoyment of the civil peace1 safety1 and protection of the state4#bda ,sidenote3 ,old and ,new ,england1 for the countries and civil government incomparable4 ,or should he dissent from the ,new ,english churches1 and join in worship with some other1 as some few years since he was upon the point to do in a separation from the churches there as legal1#bdb would he count it a mercy to be plucked up by the roots1 him and his1 and to endure the losses1 distractions1 miseries that do attend such a condition8 ,the truth is1 both the mother and the daughter1 ,old and ,new ,england--for the countries and governments are lands and governments incomparable3 and might it please ,god to persuade the mother to permit the inhabitants of ,new ,england1 her daughter1 to enjoy their conscience to ,god1 after a particular congregational way1 and to persuade the daughter to permit the inhabitants of the mother1 ,old ,england1 to walk there after their conscience of a parishional way 7which yet neither mother nor daughter is persuaded to permit71 ,i conceive ,mr4 ,cotton himself1 were he seated in ,old ,england again1 would not count it a mercy to be banished from the civil state4 ,sidenote3 ,mr4 ,cotton not having felt the miseries of others can be no equal judge of them4 ,and therefore1 lastly1 as he casts dishonour upon the name of ,god1 to make ,him the author of such cruel mercy1 so had his soul been in my soul's case1 exposed to the miseries1 poverties1 necessities1 wants1 debts1 hardships of sea and land1 in a banished condition1 he would1 ,i presume1 reach forth a more merciful cordial to the afflicted4 ,but he that is despised and afflicted1 is like a lamp despised in the eyes of him that is at ease1 ,job xii4 #e4 ,,chap4 ,,viii4 ,mr4 ,cotton4 ,yea2 but he speaks not these things to add affliction to the afflicted1 but if it were the holy will of ,god to move me to a serious sight of my sin1 and of the justice of ,god's hand against it4 8,against your corrupt doctrines it pleased the ,lord ,jesus to fight against you1 with the sword of his mouth1 as himself speaketh1 ,rev4 ii41 in the mouths and testimonies of the churches and brethren1 against whom1 when you overheat yourself in reasoning and disputing against the light of his truth1 it pleased him to stop your mouth by a sudden disease1 and to threaten to take breath from you3 but you1 instead of recoiling1 as even ,balaam offered to do in the like case1 chose rather to persist in the way1 and protest against all the churches and brethren that stood in your way3 and thus the good hand of ,christ that should have humbled you to see and turn from the error of your way1 hath rather hardened you therein1 and quickened you only to see failings1 yea1 intolerable errors1 in all the churches and brethren rather than in yourself40 ,answer4 ,in these lines1 an humble and discerning spirit may espy3--first1 a glorious justification and boasting of himself and others concurring with him4 ,secondly1 an unrighteous and uncharitable censure of the afflicted4 ,sidenote3 ,the lantern of ,god's word must alone try who fights with the sword of ,god's mouth1 the same word of ,god4 ,whether ,mr4 ,cotton persecuting1 or the answerer persecuted1 be likest to ,balaam4 ,to the first ,i say no more1 but let the light of the holy lantern of the word of ,god discover and try with whom the sword of ,god's mouth1 that is1 the testimony of the holy scripture for ,christ against anti-christ1 abideth4 ,and whether myself and such poor witnesses of ,jesus ,christ in ,old and ,new ,england1 ,low ,countries1 c41 desiring in meekness and patience to testify the truth of ,jesus against all false callings of ministers1 c41 or ,mr4 ,cotton1 however in his person holy and beloved1 swimming with the stream of outward credit and profit1 and smiting with the fist and sword of persecution such as dare not join in worship with him3--,i say1 whether of either be the witnesses of ,christ ,jesus1 in whose mouth is the sword of his mouth1 the sword of the ,spirit1 the holy word of ,god1 and whether is most like to ,balaam8 ,sidenote3 ,the answerer's profession concerning his sickness1 which ,mr4 ,cotton upbraids to him4 ,scripture1 history1 experience can witness the censures upon ,god's servants in their afflictions4 ,to the second3 his censure4 ,it is true1 it pleased ,god by excessive labours on the ,lord's days1 and thrice a week at ,salem3 by labours day and night in my field with my own hands1 for the maintenance of my charge3 by travels also by day and night to go and return from their court1 and not by overheating in dispute1 divers of themselves confessing publicly my moderation1 it pleased ,god to bring me near unto death2 in which time1 notwithstanding the mediating testimony of two skilful in physic1 ,i was unmercifully driven from my chamber to a winter's flight4#bdc ,during my sickness1 ,i humbly appeal unto the ,father of spirits for witness of the upright and constant1 diligent search my spirit made after him1 in the examination of all passages1 both my private disquisitions with all the chief of their ministers1 and public agitations of points controverted2 and what gracious fruit ,i reaped from that sickness1 ,i hope my soul shall never forget4 ,however1 ,i mind not to number up a catalogue of the many censures upon ,god's servants in the time of ,god's chastisements and visitations on them1 both in scripture1 history1 and experience4 ,nor retort the many evils which it pleased ,god to bring upon some chief procurers of my sorrows1 nor upon the whole state immediately after them1 which many of their own have observed and reported to me2 but ,i commit my cause to him that judgeth righteously1 and yet resolve to pray against their evils1 ,ps4 cxli4 ,,chap4 ,,ix4 ,mr4 ,cotton4 8,in which course1 though you say you do not remember an hour wherein the countenance of the ,lord was darkened to you3 yet be not deceived1 it is no new thing with ,satan to transform himself into an angel of light1 and to cheer the soul with false peace1 and with flashes of counterfeit consolation4 ,sad and woeful is the memory of ,mr4 ,smith's strong consolation on his death-bed1 which is set as a seal to his gross and damnable ,arminianism and enthusiasm delivered in the confession of his faith1#bdd prefixed to the story of his life and death4 ,the countenance of ,god is upon his people when they fear him1 not when they presume of their own strength1 and his consolations are not found in the way of precedence and error1 but in the ways of humility and truth40 ,answer4 ,to that part which concerns myself1 the speech hath reference either to the matter of justification1 or else matter of my affliction for ,christ1 of both which ,i remember ,i have had discourse4 ,sidenote3 ,a soul at peace with ,god may yet endure great combats concerning sanctification4 ,for the first1 ,i have expressed in some conference1 as ,mr4 ,cotton himself hath also related concerning some with whom ,i am not worthy to be named1 that after first manifestations of the countenance of ,god1 reconciled in the blood of his ,son unto my soul1 my questions and trouble have not been concerning my reconciliation and peace with ,god1 but concerning sanctification1 and fellowship with the holiness of ,god1 in which respect ,i desire to cry1 with ,paul1 in the bitterness of my spirit1 ,o wretched man that ,i am1 who shall deliver me from the body of this death8 ,sidenote3 ,affliction for ,christ sweet4 ,two cautions for any in persecution for conscience4 ,secondly1 it may have reference to some conference concerning affliction for his name's sake1 in which respect ,i desire to acknowledge the faithfulness of his word and promise1 to be with his in six troubles and in seven1 through fire and water1 making good a hundred-fold with persecution to such of his servants as suffer aught for his names'-sake3 and ,i have said and must say1 and all ,god's witnesses that have borne any pain or loss for ,jesus must say1 that fellowship with the ,lord ,jesus in his sufferings is sweeter than all the fellowship with sinners in all the profits1 honours1 and pleasures of this present evil world4 ,and yet two things ,i desire to speak to all men and myself1 ,let every man prove his work1 ,gal4 vi4 #d41 and then shall he have rejoicing in himself1 and not in another4 ,secondly1 if any man love ,god1 that soul knows ,god1 or rather is known of ,god1 #a ,cor4 viii4 #c4 ,self-love may burn the body2 but happy only he whose love alone to ,christ constrains him to be like unto him1 and suffer with him4 ,sidenote3 ,mr4 ,smith godly1 and a light to ,mr4 ,cotton and others1 though left to himself in some things4 ,god's infinite compassions toward those whose hearts are upright with him4 ,the opinion of putting ,uriah to death1 the vilest of all opinions4 ,as the weights of the sanctuary were double1 so must there be double pondering in all the affairs of ,god's worship4 ,to that which concerneth ,mr4 ,smith1 although ,i knew him not1 and have heard of many points in which my conscience tells me it pleased the ,lord to leave him to himself3 yet ,i have also heard by some1 whose testimony ,mr4 ,cotton will not easily refuse1 that he was a man fearing ,god4#bde ,and ,i am sure ,mr4 ,cotton hath made some use of those principles and arguments on which ,mr4 ,smith and others went1 concerning the constitution of the ,christian church4#bdf ,the infinite compassions of ,god1 which lay no sin to ,david's charge but the sin of ,uriah1 #a ,kings xv4 #e1 have graciously comforted the souls of his on their death-bed1 accepting and crowning their uprightness and faithfulness1 and passing by what otherwise is grievous and offensive to him4 ,and indeed from the due consideration of that instance1 it appears that no sin is comparably so grievous in ,god's ,david as a treacherous slaughter of the faithful1 whom we are forced to call beloved in ,christ4 ,that opinion in ,mr4 ,cotton1 or any1 is the most grievous to ,god or man1 and not comparable to any that ever ,mr4 ,smith could be charged with4 ,it is true1 the countenance and consolations of ,god are found in the ways of humility and truth1 and ,satan transformeth him like to an angel of light in a counterfeit of both3 in which respect ,i desire to work out salvation with fear and trembling1 and to do nothing in the affairs of ,god and his worship but 7like the weights of the sanctuary7 with double care1 diligence1 and consideration1 above all the affairs of this vanishing life4 ,and yet ,christ's consolations are so sweet1 that the soul that tasteth them in truth1 in suffering for any truth of his1 will not easily part with them1 though thousands are deceived and deluded with counterfeits4 ,,chap4 ,x4 ,mr4 ,cotton4 8,two stumbling blocks1 ,i perceive1 have turned you off from fellowship with us4 ,first1 the want of fit matter of our church4 ,secondly1 disrespect of the separate churches in ,england under affliction1 ourselves practising separation in peace40 8,for the first1 you acknowledge1 as you say with joy1 that godly persons are the visible members of these churches2 but yet you see not that godly persons are matter fitted to constitute a church1 no more than trees or quarries are fit matter proportioned to the building4 ,this exception seemeth to me to imply a contradiction to itself1 for if the matter of the churches be as you say godly persons1 they are not then as trees unfelled1 and stones unhewn3 godliness cutteth men down from the former root1 and heweth them out of the pit of corrupt nature1 and fitteth them for fellowship with ,christ and with his people40 8,you object1 first1 a necessity lying upon godly men before they can be fit matter for church fellowship1 to see1 bewail1 repent1 and come out of the false churches1 worship1 ministry1 government1 according to scriptures1 ,isa4 lxii4 #aa1 #b ,cor4 vi4 #ag2 and this is to be done not by a local removal or contrary practice1 but by a deliverance of the soul1 understanding1 will1 judgment and affection40 8,answer4 ,first1 we grant that it is not local removal from former pollution1 nor contrary practice1 that fitteth us for fellowship with ,christ and his church2 but that it is necessary also that we repent of such former pollutions wherewith we have been defiled and enthralled40 8,we grant further1 that it is likewise necessary to church fellowship we should see and discern all such pollutions as do so far enthral us to anti-christ as to separate us from ,christ4 ,but this we profess unto you1 that wherein we have reformed our practice1 therein have we endeavoured unfeignedly to humble our souls for our former contrary walking4 ,if any through hypocrisy are wanting herein1 the hidden hypocrisy of some will not prejudice the sincerity and faithfulness of others1 nor the church estate of all40 ,answer4 ,that which requireth answer in this passage1 is a charge of a seeming contradiction1 to wit1 ,that persons may be godly1 and yet not fitted for church estate1 but remain as trees and quarries1 unfelled1 c43 ,contrary to which it is affirmed1 that godly persons cannot be so enthralled to anti-christ1 as to separate them from ,christ4 ,for the clearing of which let the word of truth be rightly divided1 and a right distinction of things applied1 there will appear nothing contradictory1 but clear and satisfactory to each man's conscience4 ,sidenote3 ,the state of godly persons in gross sins4 ,godly persons falling into gross sins1 are to express repentance before they can be admitted to the church4 ,first1 then1 ,i distinguish of a godly person thus3 ,in some acts of sin which a godly person may fall into1 during those acts1 although before the all-searching and tender eye of ,god1 and also in the eyes of such as are godly1 such a person remaineth still godly1 yet to the eye of the world externally such a person seemeth ungodly1 and a sinner4 ,thus ,noah in his drunkenness2 thus ,abraham1 ,lot1 ,samson1 ,job1 ,david1 ,peter1 in their lying1 whoredoms1 cursings1 murder1 denying and foreswearing of ,christ ,jesus1 although they lost not their inward sap and root of life1 yet suffered they a decay and fall of leaf1 and the show of bad and evil trees4 ,in such a case ,mr4 ,cotton will not deny1 that a godly person falling into drunkenness1 whoredom1 deliberate murder1 denying and forswearing of ,christ1 the church of ,christ cannot receive such persons into church fellowship1 before their sight of humble bewailing and confessing of such evils1 notwithstanding that love may conceive there is a root of godliness within4 ,sidenote3 ,god's children long asleep in respect of ,god's worship1 though alive in the grace of ,christ4 ,secondly1 ,god's children1 ,cant4 v4 #b1 notwithstanding a principle of spiritual life in their souls1 yet are lulled into a long continued sleep in the matters of ,god's worship3 ,i sleep1 though my heart waketh4 ,the heart is awake in spiritual life and grace1 as concerning personal union to the ,lord ,jesus1 and conscionable endeavours to please him in what the heart is convinced3 yet asleep in respect of abundant ignorance and negligence1 and consequently gross abominations and pollutions of worship2 in which the choicest servants of ,god1 and most faithful witnesses of many truths have lived in more or less1 yea1 in main and fundamental points1 ever since the apostacy4 ,sidenote3 ,mr4 ,cotton now professes to practise what thousands of ,god's people for many ages have not seen4 ,not to instance in all1 but in some particulars which ,mr4 ,cotton hath in ,new ,england reformed3 ,i earnestly beseech himself and all well to ponder how far he himself now professeth to see and practise1 that which so many thousands of godly persons of high note1 in all ages1 since the apostacy1 saw not3 as1 ,first1 concerning the nature of a particular church1 to consist only of holy and godly persons4 ,secondly1 of a true ministry called by that church4 ,thirdly1 a true worship free from ceremonies1 common-prayer1 c4 ,fourthly1 a true government in the hands only of such governors and elders as are appointed by the ,lord ,jesus4 ,hence ,god's people not seeing their captivity in these points1 must first necessarily be enlightened and called out from such captivity before they can be nextly fitted and prepared for the true church1 worship1 ministry1 c4 ,,chap4 ,,xi4 ,sidenote3 ,the ,jews of old in the type could not build the altar and temple in ,babel1 but first they must come forth and then build at ,jerusalem4 ,god's mystical ,israel in the antitype must also come forth of ,babel before they can build the temple at ,jerusalem4 ,secondly1 this will be more clear1 if we consider ,god's people and church of old1 the ,jews1 captivated in material ,babel1 they could not possibly build ,god's altar and temple at ,jerusalem1 until the yoke and bonds of their captivity were broken1 and they set free to return with the vessels of the ,lord's house1 to set up his worship in ,jerusalem3 as we see in the books of ,ezra1 ,nehemiah1 ,daniel1 ,haggai1 c4 ,hence in the antitype1 ,god's people1 the spiritual and mystical ,jews1 cannot possibly erect the altar of the ,lord's true worship1 and build the temple of his true church1 without a true sight of their spiritual bondage in respect of ,god's worship1 and a power and strength from ,jesus ,christ to bring them out1 and carry them through all difficulties in so mighty a work4 ,and as the being of ,god's people in material ,babel1 and a necessity of their coming forth before they could build the temple1 did not in the least deny them to be ,god's people3 no more now doth ,god's people being in mystical ,babel1 7,rev4 xviii47 nor the necessity of their coming forth1 hinder or deny the godliness of their persons1 or spiritual life within them4 ,sidenote3 ,luther and other famous witnesses very gross concerning ,god's worship1 though eminent for personal grace4 ,thirdly1 how many famous servants of ,god and witnesses of ,jesus1 lived and died and were burnt for other truths of ,jesus1 not seeing the evil of their anti-christian calling of bishops1 c46 ,how did famous ,luther himself continue a monk1 set forth the ,german mass1 acknowledge the pope1 and held other gross abominations concerning ,god's worship1 notwithstanding the life of ,christ ,jesus in him1 and wrought in thousands by his means4 ,sidenote3 ,mr4 ,cotton refuseth godly persons except they be convinced of their church covenant4 ,fourthly1 ,mr4 ,cotton must be requested to remember his own practice1 as before2 how doth he refuse to receive persons eminent for personal grace and godliness to the ,lord's supper1 and other privileges of ,christians1 according to the profession of their church estate1 until they be convinced of the necessity of making and entering into a church covenant with them1 with a confession of faith1 c42 and if any cannot be persuaded of such a covenant and confession1 notwithstanding their godliness1 yet are they not admitted4#bdg ,sidenote3 ,mr4 ,cotton and the ,english elders refuse to permit eminent ministers and people of ,old ,england to live in ,new ,england 7notwithstanding he confessed their godliness above his own7 if they join not in his church fellowship4 ,godly persons living trees and living stones1 yet need much hewing and cutting to bring them from false to true worship4 ,the coming forth of false worship a second kind 7as it were7 of regeneration to ,god's people4 ,return from the land of the north4 ,lastly1 how famous is that passage of that solemn question put to ,mr4 ,cotton and the rest of the ,new ,english elders1 by divers of the ministers of ,old ,england1 eminent for personal godliness1 as ,mr4 ,cotton acknowledgeth1 viz41 whether they might be permitted in ,new ,england to enjoy their consciences in a church estate different from the ,new ,english2 unto which ,mr4 ,cotton and the ,new ,english elders return a plain negative1 in effect thus much1 with the acknowledgment of their worth and godliness above their own1 and their hopes of agreement2 yet in conclusion1 if they agree not1 which they are not like to do1 and submit to that way of church-fellowship and worship which in ,new ,england is set up1 they cannot only not enjoy church-fellowship together1 but not permit them to live and breathe in the same air and commonweal together2#bdh which was my case1 although it pleased ,mr4 ,cotton and others most incensed to give myself a testimony of godliness1 c4#bdi ,and this is the reason why1 although ,i confess with joy the care of the ,new ,english churches that no person be received to fellowship with them1 in whom they cannot first discern true regeneration and the life of ,jesus1 yet ,i said1 and still affirm1 that godly and regenerate persons1 according to all the former instances and reasons1 are not fitted to constitute the true ,christian church1 until it hath pleased ,god to convince their souls of the evil of the false church1 ministry1 worship1 c4 ,and although ,i confess that godly persons are not dead but living trees1 not dead but living stones1 and need no new regeneration 7and so in that respect need no felling nor digging out71 yet need they a mighty work of ,god's ,spirit to humble and ashame them1 and to cause them to loathe themselves for their abominations or stinks in ,god's nostrils1 as it pleaseth ,god's ,spirit to speak of false worships4 ,hence1 ,ezek4 xliii4 #aa3 ,god's people are not fit for ,god's house until holy shame be wrought in them for what they have done4 ,hence ,god promiseth to cause them to loathe themselves1 because they have broken him with their whorish hearts1 ,ezek4 vi4 #i4 ,and hence it is that ,i have known some precious godly hearts confess1 that the plucking of their souls out from the abominations of false worship1 hath been a second kind of regeneration4 ,hence was it1 that it pleased ,god to say concerning his people's return from their material captivity1 a figure of our spiritual and mystical1 that they should not say1 ,jehovah liveth who brought them from the land of ,egypt--a type of first conversion as is conceived2 but1 ,jehovah liveth who brings them from the land of the north--a type of ,god's people's return from spiritual bondage to confused and invented worships4 ,,chap4 ,,xii4 ,now whereas ,mr4 ,cotton addeth1 that godly persons are not so enthralled to anti-christ as to separate them from ,christ1 else they could not be godly persons3-- ,sidenote3 ,christ considered two ways1 first1 personally1 and so ,god's people can never be separated from him4 ,i answer1 this comes not near our question1 which is not concerning personal godliness or grace of ,christ1 but the godliness or ,christianity of worship4 ,hence the scripture holds forth ,christ ,jesus first personally1 as that ,god-man1 that one ,mediator between ,god and man1 the man ,christ ,jesus1 whom all ,god's people by faith receive1 and in receiving become the sons of ,god1 ,john i4 #ab1 although they yet see not the particular ways of his worship4 ,thus was it with the centurion1 the woman of ,canaan1 ,cornelius1 and most1 at their first conversion4 ,sidenote3 ,secondly1 as head of his church1 and so he is often lost and absent from his spouse4 ,secondly1 the scripture holdeth forth ,christ as head of his church1 formed into a body of worshippers1 in which respect the church is called ,christ1 #a ,cor4 xii4 #ab3 and the description of ,christ is admirably set forth in ten several parts of a man's body1 fitting and suiting to the visible profession of ,christ in the church1 ,cant4 v4 ,sidenote3 ,god's people cannot serve a false ,christ and the true together4 ,now in the former respect1 anti-christ can never so enthral ,god's people as to separate them from ,christ1 that is1 from the life and grace of ,christ1 although he enthral them into never so gross abominations concerning worship3 for ,god will not lose his in ,egypt1 ,sodom1 ,babel4 ,his jewels are most precious to him though in a ,babylonish dunghill1 and his lily sweet and lovely in the wilderness commixed with briars4 ,yet in the second respect1 as ,christ is taken for the church1 ,i conceive that anti-christ may separate ,god's people from ,christ1 that is1 from ,christ's true visible church and worship4#bej ,this ,mr4 ,cotton himself will not deny1 if he remember how little a while it is since the falsehood of a national1 provincial1 diocesan1 and parishional church1 c41 and the truth of a particular congregation1 consisting only of holy persons1 appeared unto him4 ,sidenote3 ,the church before ,luther4 ,rev4 xiii4 ,the papists' question to the protestant1 viz41 where was your church before ,luther8 is thus well answered1 to wit1 that since the apostacy1 truth and the holy city1 according to the prophecy1 ,rev4 xi4 and xiii41 have been trodden under foot1 and the whole earth hath wondered after the beast3 yet ,god hath stirred up witnesses to prophesy in sackcloth against the beast1 during his forty-two months' reign3 yet those witnesses have in their times1 more or less submitted to anti-christ and his church1 worship1 ministry1 c41#bea and so consequently have been ignorant of the true ,christ1 that is1 ,christ taken for the church in the true profession of that holy way of worship1 which he himself at first appointed4 ,,chap4 ,,xiii4 ,mr4 ,cotton4 8,secondly1 we deny that it is necessary to church fellowship1 that is1 so necessary that without it a church cannot be1 that the members admitted thereunto should all of them see and expressly bewail all the pollutions which they have been defiled with in the former church fellowship1 ministry1 worship1 government1 c41 if they see and bewail so much of their former pollutions1 as did enthral them to anti-christ so as to separate them from ,christ1 and be ready in preparation of heart1 as they shall see more light1 so to hate more and more every false way2 we conceive it is as much as is necessarily required to separate them from anti-christ1 and to fellowship with ,christ and his churches4 ,the church of ,christ admitted many thousand ,jews that believed on the name of ,christ1 although they were still zealous of the law1 and saw not the beggarly emptiness of ,moses's ceremonies1 ,acts xxi4 #bj2 and the apostle ,paul directeth the ,romans to receive such unto them as are weak in the faith1 and see not their liberty from the servile difference of meats and days1 but still lie under the bondage of the law2 yea1 he wisheth them to receive such upon this ground1 because ,christ hath received them1 ,rom4 xiv4 #a to the #fth40 8,say not1 there is not the like danger of lying under bondage to ,moses as to anti-christ3 for even the bondage under ,moses was such1 as if continued in after instruction and conviction1 would separate them from ,christ1 ,gal4 v4 #b1 and bondage under anti-christ could do no more40 ,answ4 ,here ,i desire three things may be observed3-- ,sidenote3 ,mr4 ,cotton confessing the true and false constitution of the church4 ,first1 ,mr4 ,cotton's own confession of that twofold church estate1 worship1 c41 the former false1 or else why to be so bewailed and forsaken8 the second true1 to be embraced and submitted to4 ,sidenote3 ,mr4 ,cotton confessing to hold what he censureth in the answerer4 ,secondly1 his own confession of that which a little before he would make so odious in me to hold1 viz41 that ,god's people may be so far enthralled to anti-christ1 as to separate them from ,christ3 for1 saith he1 8,if they see and bewail so much of their former pollutions1 as did enthral them to anti-christ1 so as to separate them from ,christ40#beb ,sidenote3 ,fallacy in ,mr4 ,cotton's generals4 ,a godly person remaining a member of a false church1 is therein a member of a false ,christ4 ,thirdly1 ,i observe how easily a soul may wander in his generals1 for thus he writes3 8,though they see not all the pollutions wherewith they have been defiled in the former church fellowship40 ,again1 8if they see so much as did enthral them to anti-christ1 and separate them from ,christ40 ,and yet he expresseth nothing of that1 8all the pollutions10 nor what so much is as will separate them from ,christ4 ,hence upon that former distinction that ,christ in visible worship is ,christ1 ,i demand1 whether if a godly person remain a member of a falsely constituted church1 and so consequently1 in that respect1 of a false ,christ1 whether in visible worship he be not separate from the true ,christ8 ,sidenote3 ,separation from false ,christ absolutely necessary before there can be union to the true4 ,a sequestration or separation of the soul from the world in the idolatrous and invented worships of it1 before it can be presented to ,christ ,jesus1 as a chaste virgin into the chaste bed of his own most holy institutions4 ,secondly1 ,i ask1 whether it be not absolutely necessary to his uniting with the true church1 that is1 with ,christ in true ,christian worship1 that he see and bewail1 and absolutely come out from that former false church or ,christ1 and his ministry1 worship1 c41 before he can be united to the true ,israel--must come forth of ,egypt before they can sacrifice to ,god in the wilderness4 ,the ,jews come out of ,babel before they build the temple in ,jerusalem4 ,the husband of a woman must die1 or she be legally divorced1 before she can lawfully be married to another2 the graft cut off from one before it can be ingrafted into another stock4 ,the kingdom of ,christ1 that is1 the kingdom of the saints1 ,dan4 ii4 and vii41 is cut out of the mountain of the ,roman monarchy4 ,thus the ,corinthians1 #a ,cor4 vi4 #i-aa1 uniting with ,christ ,jesus1 they were washed from their idolatry1 as well as other sins4 ,thus the ,thessalonians turned from their idols before they could serve the living and true ,god1 #a ,thess4 i4 #i2 and as in paganism1 so in anti-christianism1 which separates as certainly1 though more subtilly1 from ,christ ,jesu4 ,,chap4 ,,xiv4 ,yea2 but it is said1 that ,jews1 weak in ,christian liberties1 and zealous for ,moses's law1 they were to be received4 ,i answer1 two things must here carefully be minded3-- ,sidenote3 ,difference between ,god's own holy institutions to the ,jews1 and ,satan's paganish1 or anti-christian institution to the ,gentiles1 as concerning the manner of coming forth of them4 ,first1 although bondage to ,moses would separate from ,christ1 yet the difference must be observed between those ordinances of ,moses which it pleased ,god himself to ordain and appoint1 as his then only worship in the world1 though now in the coming of his ,son he was pleased to take away1 yet with solemnity2 and on the other side1 the institutions and ordinances of anti-christ1 which the devil himself invented1 were from first to last never to be received and submitted to one moment1 nor with such solemnity to be laid down1 but to be abhorred and abominated for ever4 ,sidenote3 ,a comparison between the ,jewish and ,christian ordinances4 ,the national church of the ,jews1 with all the shadowish1 typical ordinances of kings1 priests1 prophets1 temple1 sacrifices1 were as a silver candlestick1 on which the light of the knowledge of ,god and the ,lord ,jesus1 in the type and shadow1 was set up and shined4 ,that silver candlestick it pleased the ,most ,holy and ,only ,wise to take away1 and instead thereof to set up the golden candlesticks of particular churches 7,rev4 i47 by the hand of the ,son of ,god himself4 ,now the first was silver1--the pure will and mind of ,god1 but intended only for a season2 the second of a more precious1 lasting nature1 a kingdom not to be shaken1 that is1 abolished as the former1 ,heb4 xii4 #bh4 ,sidenote3 ,moses's ordinances at one time precious and holy1 at another time beggarly and deadly4 ,the first ,christians communicated in the ,jewish synagogues until the ,jews contradicted and spoke evil1 c41 then they separated4 ,therefore1 secondly1 observe the difference of time1 which ,mr4 ,cotton himself confesseth3 8after instruction and conviction10 saith he1 8,moses's law was deadly1 and would separate from ,christ20 therefore1 there was a time when they were not deadly1 and did not separate from ,christ1 to wit1 until ,moses was honourably fallen asleep1 and lamented for--as ,i conceive--in the type and figure thirty days1 ,deut4 xxxiv4 #h4 ,therefore1 at one season1 not for ,timothy's weak conscience1 but for the ,jews' sake1 ,paul circumcised ,timothy3 at another time1 when the ,jews had sufficient instruction1 and obstinately would be circumcised1 and that necessarily to salvation1 ,paul seasonably cries out1 that if they were circumcised ,christ should profit them nothing1 ,gal4 v4 #b4 ,hence1 the ,christians at ,ephesus conversed with the ,jewish synagogue until the ,jews contradicted and blasphemed1 and then were speedily separated by ,paul1 ,acts xix4 #i4 ,but to apply1 ,paul observed a vow1 and the ceremonies of it1 circumcised ,timothy1 c42 may therefore a messenger of ,christ now1 as ,paul1 go to mass1 pray to saints1 perform penance1 keep ,christmas and other popish feasts and fasts8 c4 ,sidenote3 ,a member of a true church falling into any idolatrous practice1 not presently to be excommunicated4 ,again1 is there such a time allowed to any man1 uniting or adding himself to the true church now1 to observe the unholy holy days of feasting and fasting invented by anti-christ8 ,yea1 and1 as ,paul did circumcision1 to practise the popish sacraments8 ,i doubt not2 but if any member of a true church or assembly of worshippers1 shall fall to any paganish or popish practice1 he must be instructed and convinced before excommunication3 but the question is1 whether still observing and so practising1 a person may be received to the true ,christian church1 as the ,jews were1 although they yet practised ,moses's ceremonies8 ,these things duly pondered1 in the fear and presence of ,god1 it will appear how vain the allegation is1 from that tender and honourable respect to ,god's ordinances now vanishing from the ,jews1 and their weak consciences about the same1 to prove the same tenderness to ,satan's inventions1 and to the consciences of men in the renouncing of paganical1 ,turkish1 anti-christian1 yea1 and ,i add ,judaical worships now1 when once the time of their full vanishing was come4 ,sidenote3 ,not one degree of sight of1 or sorrow for anti-christian abominations2 yet a necessity of cutting off from the false before union to the true church1 ministry1 worship1 c4 ,to conclude1 although ,i prescribe not such a measure of sight of1 or sorrow for anti-christian abominations--,i speak in respect of degrees1 which it pleaseth the ,father of lights to dispense variously1 to one more1 to another less--yet1 ,i believe it absolutely necessary to see and bewail so much as may amount to cut off the soul from the false church1 whether national1 parishional1 or any other falsely constituted church1 ministry1 worship1 and government of it4#bec ,,chap4 ,,xv4 ,mr4 ,cotton4 8,ans4 #c4 ,to places of scripture which you object1 ,isa4 lii4 #aa2 #b ,cor4 vi4 #ag2 ,rev4 xviii4 #d1 we answer1 two of them make nothing to your purpose3 for that of ,isaiah and the other of the ,revelation1 speak of local separation1 which yourself know we have made1 and yet you say1 you do not apprehend that to be sufficient4 ,as for that place of the ,corinthians1 it only requireth coming out from idolaters in the fellowship of their idolatry4 ,no marriages were they to make with them1 no feasts were they to hold with them in the idol's temple3 no intimate familiarity were they to maintain with them1 nor any fellowship were they to keep with them in the unfruitful works of darkness2 and this is all which that place requireth4 ,but what makes all this to prove1 that we may not receive such persons to church fellowship as yourself confess to be godly1 and who do professedly renounce and bewail all known sin1 and would renounce more if they knew more1 although it may be they do not see the utmost skirts of all that pollution they have sometimes been defiled with3 as the patriarchs saw not the pollution of their polygamy4 ,but that you may plainly see this place is wrested beside the apostle's scope when you argue from it1 that such persons are not fit matter for church fellowship as are defiled with any remnants of anti-christian pollution1 nor such churches any more to be accounted churches as do receive such amongst them3 consider1 ,i pray you1 were there not at that time in the church of ,corinth such as partook with the idolaters in the idol's temple8 ,and was not this the touching of an unclean thing8 ,and did this sin reject these members from church fellowship before conviction8 ,or did it evacuate their church estate for not casting out such members80 ,answ4 ,the scriptures1 or writings of truth1 are those heavenly righteous scales wherein all our controversies must be tried1 and that blessed star that leads all those souls to ,jesus that seek him4 ,but1 saith ,mr4 ,cotton1 two of those scriptures alleged by me1 ,isa4 lii4 #aa1 ,rev4 xviii4 #d1 which ,i brought to prove a necessity of leaving the false before a joining to the true church1 they speak of local separation1 which1 saith he1 yourself know we have made4#bed ,sidenote3 ,mr4 ,cotton cannot make both comings forth of ,babel1 both in the type and antitype1 to be local4 ,for that local and typical separation from ,babylon1 ,isa4 lii4 #aa1 ,i could not well have believed that ,mr4 ,cotton or any would make that coming forth of ,babel in the antitype1 ,rev4 xviii4 #d1 to be local and material also4 ,what civil state1 nation1 or country in the world1 in the antitype1 must now be called ,babel8 ,certainly1 if any1 then ,babel itself properly so called2 but there we find1 as before1 a true church of ,jesus ,christ1 #a ,pet4 v4 #ac4 ,sidenote3 ,if a local ,babel1 then also now a local ,judea and temple1 c41 come out of ,babel1 not material1 but mystical4 ,secondly1 if ,babel be local now whence ,god's people are called1 then must there be a local ,judea1 a land of ,canaan also1 into which they are called2 and where shall both that ,babel and ,canaan be found in all the comings forth that have been made from the church of ,rome in these last times8 ,but ,mr4 ,cotton having made a local departure from ,old ,england in ,europe to ,new ,england in ,america1 can he satisfy his own soul1 or the souls of other men1 that he hath obeyed that voice1 8,come out of ,babel1 my people1 partake not of her sins10 c8 ,doth he count the very land of ,england literally ,babel1 and so consequently ,egypt and ,sodom1 ,rev4 xi4 #h1 and the land of ,new ,england ,judea1 ,canaan8 c4 ,sidenote3 ,the ,lord ,jesus hath broken down the difference of places and persons4 ,two chiefest causes of ,god's indignation against ,england4 ,these two particulars ,i should be humbly ready to make proof of4 ,the ,lord ,jesus1 ,john iv41 clearly breaks down all difference of places1 and1 ,acts x41 all difference of persons2 and for myself1 ,i acknowledge the land of ,england1 the civil laws1 government1 and people of ,england1 not to be inferior to any under heaven4 ,only two things ,i shall humbly suggest unto my dear countrymen1 whether more high and honourable at the helm of government1 or more inferior1 who labour and sail in this famous ship of ,england's commonwealth1 as the greatest causes1 fountains1 and top roots of all the indignation of the ,most ,high against the state and country2 first1 that the whole nation and generations of men have been forced1 though unregenerate and unrepentant1 to pretend and assume the name of ,christ ,jesus1 which only belongs1 according to the institution of the ,lord ,jesus1 to truly regenerate and repenting souls4 ,secondly1 that all others dissenting from them1 whether ,jews or ,gentiles1 their countrymen especially1 for strangers have a liberty1 have not been permitted civil cohabitation in this world with them1 but have been distressed and persecuted by them4#bee ,sidenote3 ,the soul's captivity to false worship is not local1 but a guilt1 and not only so1 but a habit or disposition of spiritual sleep1 whoredom1 drunkenness1 c4 ,but to return2 the sum of my controversy with ,mr4 ,cotton is1 whether or no that false worshipping of the true ,god be not only a spiritual guilt liable to ,god's sentence and plagues1 but also an habit1 frequently compared in the prophets1 and ,rev4 xvii41 to a spirit and disposition of spiritual drunkenness and whoredom1 a soul-sleep and a soul-sickness3 so that as by the change of a chair1 chamber1 or bed1 a sick or sleepy man1 whore or drunkard1 are not changed1 but they remain the same still1 until that disposition of sickness1 sleepiness1 drunkenness1 whoredom be put off1 and a new habit of spiritual health1 watchfulness1 sobriety1 chastity be put on4 ,,chap4 ,,xvi4 ,now concerning that scripture1 #b ,cor4 vi41 ,mr4 ,cotton here confesseth it holdeth forth five things that the repenting ,corinthians were called out in1 from the unrepenting3 ,first1 in the fellowship of their idolatry4 #b4 ,from making marriages with them4 #c4 ,from feasting in their idols' temples4 #d4 ,from intimate familiarity with them4 #e4 ,from all fellowship in the unfruitful works of darkness4 ,sidenote3 ,the benefits of the repenting ,english1 their coming forth from the impenitent ,english in those former five particulars mentioned by ,mr4 ,cotton4 ,answ4 ,if regenerate and truly repenting ,english thus come forth from the unregenerate and unrepenting1 how would the name of the ,lord ,jesus be sanctified1 the jealousy of the ,lord pacified1 their own souls cleansed1 judgments prevented1 yea1 and one good means practised toward the convincing and saving of the souls of such from whom in these particulars they depart1 and dare not have fellowship with3 especially when in all civil things they walk unblameably1 in quiet and helpful cohabitation1 righteous and faithful dealing1 and cheerful submission to civil laws1 orders1 levies1 customs1 c4 ,yea2 but ,mr4 ,cotton demands1 what makes all this to prove that godly persons1 who professedly renounce all known sin1 may not be received to church fellowship1 although they see not the utmost skirts of their pollution1 as the patriarchs saw not the pollution of their polygamy8 ,sidenote3 ,the sins of ,god's people are sometimes reputed to be of ignorance1 when they are of negligence1 and yet ignorance excuseth not wholly4 ,answ4 ,i repeat the former distinction of godly persons1 who possibly may live in ungodly practices1 especially of false worship1 and then1 according to ,mr4 ,cotton's own interpretation of this place to the ,corinthians1 they came not forth4 ,and ,i add1 if there be any voice of ,christ in the mouths of his witnesses against these sins1 they are not then of ignorance1 but of negligence1 and spiritual hardness1 against the ways of ,god's fear1 against ,isa4 lxiii4 #ag1 c4 ,sidenote3 ,a case put to ,mr4 ,cotton4 ,no cause of more shame for whoredom against an husband's bed1 than against the bed of ,god's worship4 ,the case of polygamy1 or many wives of the fathers4 ,moreover1 our question is not of the utmost skirts of pollution1 but the substance of a true or false bed of worship1 ,cant4 i4 #af1 in respect of coming out of the false1 before the entrance into the true4 ,and yet ,i believe that ,mr4 ,cotton being to receive a person to church fellowship1 who formerly hath been infamous for corporal whoredom1 he would not give his consent to receive such an one without sound repentance for the filthiness of her skirts1 ,lam4 i4 #i1 not only in actual whoredoms1 but also in whorish speeches1 gestures1 appearances1 provocation4 ,and why should there be a greater strictness for the skirts of common whoredom than of spiritual and soul whoredom1 against the chastity of ,god's worship8 ,and therefore to that instance of the fathers' polygamy1 ,i answer3 first1 by observing what great sins godly persons may possibly live and long continue in1 notwithstanding godliness in the root4 ,secondly1 ,i ask if any person1 of whose godliness ,mr4 ,cotton hath had long persuasion1 should believe and maintain1 as questionless the fathers' had grounds satisfying their consciences for what they did1 that he ought to have many wives1 and accordingly so practised3--,i say1 ,i ask1 whether ,mr4 ,cotton would receive such a godly person to church fellowship8 yea1 ,i ask1 whether the church of the ,jews1 had they seen this evil1 would have received such a proselyte from the ,gentiles8 and when it was seen1 whether any persons so practising would have been suffered amongst them8 ,but1 lastly1 what was this personal sin of these godly persons8 ,was it any matter of ,god's worship1 any joining with a false church1 ministry1 worship1 government1 from whence they were to come1 before they could constitute his true church1 and enjoy his worship1 ministry1 government8 c4 ,mr4 ,cotton concludeth this passage thus3 8,the church of ,corinth had such as partook with idolaters in their idols' temple1 and was not this10 saith he1 8touching of an unclean thing1 and did this reject these members from church fellowship before conviction8 and did it evacuate their church estate for not casting out such members80 ,answ4 ,this was an unclean thing indeed1 from which ,god calls his people in this place1 with glorious promises of receiving them3 and ,mr4 ,cotton confesseth that after conviction any member1 obstinate in these unclean touches1 ought to be rejected2 for1 said he1 did this sin reject these members from church fellowship before conviction8 ,sidenote3 ,it lesseneth not a rebellion that it is in a multitude3 hence a city in ,israel idolatrous was to be destroyed4 ,and upon the same ground1 that one obstinate person ought to be rejected out of church estate1 upon the same ground1 if a greater company or church were obstinate in such unclean touches1 and so consequently in a rebellion against ,christ1 ought every sound ,christian church to reject them1 and every sound member to withdraw from them4 ,sidenote3 ,obstinacy that casteth out1 will keep out from communion with the ,lord ,jesus in his church4 ,and hence further it is clear1 that if such unclean touches obstinately maintained1 as ,mr4 ,cotton confesseth and practiseth1 be a ground of rejection of a person in the church1 questionless it is a ground of rejection when such persons are to join unto the church4 ,and if obstinacy in the whole church after conviction be a ground for such a church's rejection1 questionless such a church or number of persons obstinate in such evils cannot congregate1 nor become a true constituted church of ,jesus ,christ4 ,sidenote3 ,the church of ,corinth1 and every true church1 separate from idols as a chaste virgin to ,christ4 ,the greatest question here would be1 whether the ,corinthians in their first constitution were separate or no from such idol temples8 and this ,mr4 ,cotton neither doth nor can deny1 a church estate being a state of marriage unto ,jesus ,christ2 and so ,paul professedly saith1 he had espoused them as a chaste virgin to ,christ ,jesus1 #b ,cor4 xi4 #b4 ,,chap4 ,,xvii4 ,mr4 ,cotton proceeds to answer some other allegations which ,i produced from the confession of sin made by ,john's disciples1 and the proselyte ,gentiles before they were admitted into church fellowship1 ,matt4 iii4 #f2 ,acts xix4 #ah1 unto which he returneth a threefold answer3 8,the first is grounded upon his apparent mistake of my words in a grant of mine1 viz41 such a confession and renunciation is not absolutely necessary1 if the substance of true repentance be discerned4 ,whence10 saith he1 8according to your own confession1 such persons as have the substance of true repentance may be a true church40 ,sidenote3 ,the substance of true general repentance in all ,god's children1 though living in many gross abominations of false worship1 ministry1 c4 ,not the same measure and degrees of repentance in all4 ,i answer1 it is clear in the progress of the whole controversy1 that ,i ever intend by the substance of true repentance1 not that general grace of repentance which all ,god's people have1 as ,luther1 a monk1 and going to1 yea1 publishing the ,german mass1 and those famous bishops burnt for ,christ in ,queen ,mary's days2 but that substance of repentance for those false ways of worship1 church1 ministry1 c41 in which ,god's people have lived1 although the confessing and renouncing of them be not so particularly expressed1 and with such godly sorrow and indignation as some express1 and may well become3 ,and indeed the whole scope of that caution was for ,christian moderation and gentleness toward the several sorts of ,god's people1 professing particular repentance for their spiritual captivity and bondage2 during which captivity also1 ,i readily acknowledge the substance of repentance1 and of all the graces of ,christ in general4 ,sidenote3 ,mr4 ,cotton4 ,in his second answer1 ,mr4 ,cotton saith1 ,i 8grant with the one hand1 and take away with the other2 for he denies it necessary to the admission of members1 that every one should be convinced of the sinfulness of every sipping of the whore's cup1 #8for1' saith he1 #8every sipping of a drunkard's cup is not sinful4'0 ,sidenote3 ,some have drunk deep of the whore's cup1 and some but sipped yet intoxicated4 ,answer4 ,first he doth not rightly allege my words2 for a little before he confesseth my words to be1 that anti-christian drunkenness and whoredom is to be confessed of all such as have drunk of the whore's cup1 or but sipped of it4 ,in which words ,i plainly distinguished between such as have drunk deeper of her cup1 as papists1 popish priests1 c41 and such1 as in comparison have but sipped1 as ,god's own people2 who yet by such sipping have been so intoxicated1 as to practice spiritual whoredom against ,christ1 in submitting to false churches1 ministry1 worship1 c4 ,secondly1 whereas he saith every sipping of a drunkard's cup is not sinful3-- ,i answer3 neither the least sipping1 nor constant drinking out of the cup which a drunkard useth to drink in1 is sinful2 but every drunken sip1 which is our question1 is questionless sinful1 and so consequently to be avoided by the sober1 whether the cup of corporal or spiritual drunkenness4 ,,chap4 ,,xviii4 ,sidenote3 ,mr4 ,cotton4 ,mr4 ,cotton4 8,yea2 but10 saith he1 8the three thousand ,jews were admitted when they repented of their murdering of ,christ1 although they never saw all the superstitious leavenings wherewith the ,pharisees had bewitched them3 and so no doubt may godly persons now1 although they be not yet convinced of every passage of anti-christian superstition1 c42 and that upon this ground1 that spiritual whoredom and drunkenness is not so soon discerned as corporal40 ,answer4 ,i answer1 it is not indeed so easily discerned1 and yet not the less sinful1 but infinitely transcendent1 as much as spiritual sobriety exceeds corporal1 and the bed of the most high ,god1 exceeds the beds of men1 who are but dust and ashes4 ,sidenote3 ,the first ,christians the best pattern for all ,christians now4 ,the power of true repentance for killing of ,christ4 ,secondly1 ,i answer1 the converted ,jews1 although they saw not all the leavenings of the ,pharisees1 yet they mourned for killing of ,christ1 and embraced him in his worship1 ministry1 government1 and were added to his church3 and oh6 that the least beams of light and sparkles of heat were in mine own1 and others' souls1 which were kindled by the ,holy ,spirit of ,god in those famous converts at the preaching of ,peter1 ,acts ii4 ,the true ,christ now in his worship1 ministry1 c4 being discerned1 and repentance for persecuting and killing of him being expressed1 there necessarily follows a withdrawing from the church1 ministry1 and worship of the false ,christ1 and submission unto the true3 and this is the sum and substance of our controversy4 ,sidenote3 ,mr4 ,cotton4 ,concerning the confession of sins unto ,john1 he grants the disciples of ,john confessed their sins1 the publicans theirs1 the soldiers theirs1 the people theirs2 but1 saith he1 8it appears not that they confessed their pharisaical pollution40 ,and concerning the confession ,acts xix4 #ah1 #ai1 he saith1 it is not expressed 8that they confessed all their deeds40 ,answer4 ,if both these confessed their notorious sins1 as ,mr4 ,cotton expresseth1 why not as well their notorious sins against ,god1 their idolatries1 superstitious worships1 c8 ,surely throughout the whole scripture1 the matters of ,god and his worship are first and most tenderly handled2 his people are ever described by the title of his worshippers1 and his enemies by the title of worshippers of false gods1 and worshipping the true after a false manner2 and to prove this were to bring forth a candle to the bright shining of the sun at noon day4 ,,chap4 ,,xix4 ,mr4 ,cotton4 ,his third answer is2 8,but to satisfy you more fully1 and the ,lord make you willing in true meekness of spirit to receive satisfaction1 the body of the members do in general profess1 that the reason of their coming over to us was that they might be freed from the bondage of human inventions and ordinances1 as their souls groaned under1 for which also they profess their hearty sorrow1 so far as through ignorance or infirmity they have been defiled4 ,beside1 in our daily meetings1 and specially in the times of our solemn humiliations1 we generally all of us bewail all our former pollutions wherewith we have defiled ourselves and the holy things of ,god1 in our former administrations and communions2 but we rather choose to do it than talk of it4 ,and we can but wonder how you can so boldly and resolutely renounce all the churches of ,god1 for neglect of that which you know not whether they have neglected or no1 and before you have admonished us of our sinfulness in such neglect1 if it be found amongst us40 ,sidenote3 ,how can a soul truly oppose anti-christ1 that endures not to have his name questioned4 ,answer4 ,i answer1 with humble desires to the ,father of lights for the true meekness and wisdom of his ,spirit1 here is mention of human inventions and ordinances1 and defiling themselves and holy things of ,god in former administrations and communions1 and yet no mention what such inventions and ordinances1 what such administrations and communions were4 8,we rather choose to do it10 saith he1 8than to talk of it20 which makes me call to mind an expression of an eminent and worthy person amongst them in a solemn conference1 viz41 ,what need we speak of anti-christ1 can we not enjoy our liberties without inveighing against anti-christ8 c4 ,sidenote3 ,mr4 ,cotton witnessing against a national church1 and yet holding fellowship with it4 ,the truth is1 ,i acknowledge their witness against ceremonies and bishops2 but that yet they see not the evil of a national church1 notwithstanding they constitute only particular and independent congregations1 let their constant practice speak1 in still joining with such churches and ministers in the ordinances of the word and prayer1 and their persecuting of myself for my humble1 and faithful1 and constant admonishing of them1 of such unclean walking between a particular church1 which they only profess to be ,christ's1 and a national one1 which ,mr4 ,cotton professeth to separate from4#bef ,sidenote3 ,impossible for the answerer to be ignorant of their church estate1 as ,mr4 ,cotton pretendeth4 ,but how could ,i possibly be ignorant1 as he seemeth to charge me1 of their state1 when being from first to last in fellowship with them1 an officer amongst them1 had private and public agitations concerning their state and condition with all or most of their ministers1 and at last suffered for such admonitions to them1 the misery of a winter's banishment amongst the barbarians8 and yet1 saith he1 8,you know not what we have done1 neither have you admonished us of our sinfulness40 ,,chap4 ,,xx4 ,sidenote3 ,mr4 ,cotton4 ,a third scripture which ,i produced was ,haggai ii4 #ac1 #ad1 #ae1 desiring that the place might be thoroughly weighed1 and that the ,lord might please to hold the scales himself1 the prophet there telling the church of the ,jews1 that if a person unclean by a dead body touch holy things1 those holy things become unclean unto them3 and so1 saith he1 in this nation1 and so is every work of their hands and that which they offer is unclean2 whence ,i inferred1 that even church covenants made1 and ordinances practised1 by persons polluted through spiritual deadness1 and filthiness of communion1 such covenants and ordinances become unclean unto them1 and are profaned by them4 ,mr4 ,cotton4 ,mr4 ,cotton answers1 8your purpose was to prove that churches cannot be constituted by such persons as are unclean by anti-christian pollutions2 or if they be so constituted they are not to be communicated with1 but separated from4 ,but the prophet acknowledgeth the whole church of the ,jews to be unclean1 and yet neither denies them to be a church truly constituted1 nor stirs up himself or others to separate from them40 ,sidenote3 ,the church of the ,jews a national church truly constituted1 therefore not to be separated from4 ,answer4 ,i acknowledge the true constitution of the church of the ,jews1 and affirm that this their true constitution was the reason why they were not to be separated from3 for being a national church1 ceremonial and typical1 their excommunication was either putting to death in1 or captivity out of that ceremonial ,canaan4 ,hence ,shalmaneser's carrying the ten tribes captive out of this land1 is said to be the casting of them out of ,god's sight1 #b ,kings xvii4 #ah1 which was their excommunication4 ,sidenote3 ,death and captivity in the national church1 typed out spiritual death and captivity in the particular4 ,accordingly in the particular ,christian churches1 ,christ ,jesus cuts off by spiritual death1 which is excommunication3 or for want of due execution of justice by that ordinance in his kingdom1 he sells the church into spiritual captivity1 to confused1 ,babylonish lords and worships1 and so drives them out of his sight4 ,sidenote3 ,ceremonial uncleanness in the national church1 typed out moral uncleanness in the particular4 ,now from the consequent of this place in ,haggai mine argument stands good2 and ,mr4 ,cotton here acknowledgeth it1 that holy things may be all unclean to ,god's people1 when they lie in their uncleanness1 as this people did4 ,those scriptures1 ,lev4 xvi4 and ,num4 xix41 which discourse of typical and ceremonial uncleanness1 he acknowledgeth to type out in the gospel the moral uncleanness either of dead works1 ,eph4 v4 #aa1 or dead persons1 #b ,cor4 vi4 #ad1 or dead world1 ,gal4 vi4 #ad4 ,and in this place of ,haggai1 he acknowledgeth that ,god's people1 prince and people1 were defiled by worldliness1 in which condition1 saith he1 their oblations1 their bodily labours1 were all unclean1 and found neither acceptance nor blessing from the ,lord4 ,therefore saith he afterward3 8,in the church godly ,christians themselves1 while they attend to the world more than to the things of ,god1 are unclean in the sight of ,god2 therefore the church cannot be constituted of such2 or if it be constitute of such1 the people of ,god must separate from them40 ,and1 lastly1 he saith1 8the church of ,christ and members thereof must separate themselves from their hypocrisy1 and worldliness1 else they and their duties will still be unclean in the sight of ,god1 notwithstanding their church estate40 ,answ4 ,what have ,i more spoken than ,mr4 ,cotton himself hath uttered in this his explication and application of this scripture8 ,as1 ,first1 that godly persons may become defiled and unclean by hypocrisy and worldliness4 ,sidenote3 ,mr4 ,cotton's own confession concerning unclean worships1 even of godly persons4 ,secondly1 while they lie in such a condition of uncleanness all their offerings1 persons1 labours1 are unclean in the sight of ,god1 and have neither acceptance nor blessing from him2 but they and their duties are unclean in his sight1 notwithstanding their church estate4 ,thirdly1 the church of ,christ cannot be constituted of such godly persons1 when defiled with such worldliness4 ,fourthly1 the church consisting of such worldly persons1 though otherwise godly and ,christian1 the people of ,god must separate from them4 ,sidenote3 ,inferences from ,master ,cotton's grant4 ,these are ,mr4 ,cotton's own express words which justify3#beg ,first1 my former distinction of godly persons in their personal respect1 between ,god and themselves2 and yet becoming ungodly in their outward defilements4 ,secondly1 they justify my assertion of a necessity of cleansing from anti-christian filthiness1 and communions with dead works1 dead worships1 dead persons in ,god's worship1 if the touches of the dead world1 or immoderate love of it1 do so defile1 as ,mr4 ,cotton here affirmeth4 ,thirdly1 if1 as he saith1 the church cannot be constituted of such godly persons as are defiled by immoderate love of the world1 much less can it be constituted of godly persons defiled with the dead inventions1 worships1 communions of unregenerate and ungodly persons4 ,fourthly1 he justifies a separation from such churches1 if so constituted1 or so constituting2 because though worldliness be adultery against ,god1 ,james iv4 #d1 yet not comparable to spiritual adultery of a false bed of worship1 ministry1 c4 ,,chap4 ,,xxi4 ,mr4 ,cotton proceedeth3 8,the second stumbling block or offence which you have taken at the way of these churches1 is that you conceive us to walk between ,christ and anti-christ4 ,first1 in practising separation here1 and not repenting of our preaching and printing against it in our own country4 ,secondly1 in reproaching yourself at ,salem1 and others for separation4 ,thirdly1 in particular1 that myself have conceived and spoken1 that separation is a way that ,god hath not prospered2 yet1 say you1 the truth of the church's way depends not upon the countenance of men1 or upon outward peace and liberty40 ,unto this he answers1 8that they halt not2 but walk in the midst of two extremes1 the one of being defiled with the pollution of other churches1 the other of renouncing the churches for the remnant of pollutions40 ,this moderation he1 with ingenuous moderation1 professeth he sees no cause to repent of1 c4 ,answ4 ,with the ,lord's gracious assistance1 we shall prove this middle walking to be no less than halting2 for which we shall show cause of repentance1 beseeching ,him that is a ,prince and a ,saviour to give repentance unto his ,israel1 ,acts v4 #ca4 ,first1 ,mr4 ,cotton himself confesseth1 that no national1 provincial1 diocesan1 or parish church1 wherein some truly godly are not1 are true churches4 ,secondly1 he practiseth no church estate1 but such as is constituted only of godly persons1 nor admitteth any unregenerate or ungodly person4#beh ,thirdly1 he confesseth a church of ,christ cannot be constituted of such godly persons who are in bondage to the inordinate love of the world4 ,fourthly1 if a church consist of such1 ,god's people ought to separate from them4#bei ,sidenote3 ,mr4 ,cotton extenuates and minceth the root1 mass1 and substance of the matter of national churches1 which he acknowledgeth to be unregenerate1 not yet born again1 by naming only a remnant of pollutions4 ,the estate of the godly mingled with the ungodly in worships4 ,the state of men must be faithfully discovered unto them4 ,upon these his own confessions1 ,i earnestly beseech ,mr4 ,cotton1 and all that fear ,god1 to ponder how he can say he walks with an even foot between two extremes1 when1 according to his own confession1 national churches1 parish churches1 yea1 a church constituted of godly persons given to inordinate love of the world1 are false and to be separated from3 and yet he will not have the parish church to be separated from for the remnant of pollution1 ,i conceive he meaneth ceremonies and bishops1 notwithstanding that he also acknowledged that the generality of every parish in ,england consisteth of unregenerate persons1 and of thousands inbondaged1 not only to worldliness1 but also ignorance1 superstition1 scoffing1 swearing1 cursing1 whoredom1 drunkenness1 theft1 lying4 ,what are two or three or more of regenerate and godly persons in such communions1 but as two or three roses or lilies in a wilderness8 a few grains of good corn in a heap of chaff8 a few sheep among herds of wolves or swine1 or 7if more civil7 flocks of goats8 a little good dough swallowed up with a whole bushel of leaven8 or a little precious gold confounded and mingled with a whole heap of dross8 ,the ,searcher of all hearts knows ,i write not this to reproach any1 knowing that myself am by nature a child of wrath1 and that the ,father of mercies shows mercy to whom and when he will2 but for the name of ,christ ,jesus1 in loving faithfulness to my countrymen's souls1 and in defence of truth1 ,i remember my worthy adversary of that state and condition from which his confessions say he must separate1 his practice in gathering of churches seems to say he doth separate2 and yet he professeth there are but some remnants of pollution amongst them1 for which he dares not separate4#bfj ,,chap4 ,,xxii4 ,mr4 ,cotton4 8,secondly10 saith he1 8,i know no man that reproacheth ,salem for their separation1 nor do ,i believe that they do separate2 howsoever1 if any do reproach them for it1 ,i think it a sin meet to be censured1 but not with so deep a censure as to excommunicate all the churches1 or to separate from them before it do appear that they do tolerate their members in such their causeless reproachings4 ,we confess the errors of men are to be contended against1 not with reproaches1 but the sword of the ,spirit2 but on the other side1 the failings of the churches are not forthwith to be healed by separation4 ,it is not chirurgery but butchery to heal every sore in a member with no other but abscission from the body40 ,answ4 ,the church of ,salem was known to profess separation1 and was generally and publicly reproached1 and ,i could mention a case wherein she was punished for it implicitly4#bfa ,sidenote3 ,mr4 ,cotton seems to be both for and yet against separation4 ,mr4 ,cotton here confesseth these two things1 which ,i leave to himself to reconcile with his former profession here and elsewhere against separation4 ,first1 saith he1 if any reproach them for separation it is a sin meet to be censured4 ,secondly1 the churches themselves may be separated from1 who tolerate their members in such causeless reproachings4 ,in these latter passages he seems1 as in other his confessions and practices mentioned to be for it1 sensible of shame1 disgrace1 or reproach to be cast on it4 ,sidenote3 ,mr4 ,cotton's own confessions are sufficient answers to himself4 ,i grant with him the failings of churches are not forthwith to be healed by separation2 yet himself1 within a few lines1 confesseth there is a lawful separation from churches that do but tolerate their members in causeless reproaches4 ,sidenote3 ,not for a sore of infirmity1 but a leprosy or gangrene of obstinacy1 ought a person to be cut off4 ,mr4 ,cotton deeply guilty of cruelty both against consciences and bodies in persecuting of them1 yet cries out against the appearance of due severity in the church of ,christ4 ,i confess also that it is not chirurgery but butchery1 to heal every sore with no other medicine but with abscission from the body3 yet himself confesseth before1 that even churches of godly persons must be separated from1 for immoderate worldliness3 and again here he confesseth they may be separated from1 when they tolerate their members in such their causeless reproachings4 ,beside1 it is not every sore of infirmity or ignorance1 but an ulcer or gangrene of obstinacy1 for which ,i maintained that a person ought to be cut off1 or a church separated from4 ,but if he call that butchery1 conscientiously and peaceably to separate from a spiritual communion of a church or society1 what shall it be called by the second ,adam1 the ,lord ,jesus1 who gives names to all creatures and all actions1 to cut off persons1 them and theirs1 branch and root1 from any civil being in their territories2 and consequently from the whole world1 were their territories so large1 because their consciences dare not bow down to any worship but what they believe the ,lord ,jesus appointed1 and being also otherwise subject to the civil state and laws thereof4#bfb ,,chap4 ,,xxiii4 ,thirdly1 whereas ,i urged a speech of his own1 viz4 that ,god had not prospered the way of separation1 and conceives that ,i understood him of outward prosperity3 he affirms the puritans to have been worse used in ,england than the separatist1 and thus writes3 8,the meeting of the separatists may be known to the officers in court and winked at1 when the conventicles of the puritans1 as they call them1 shall be hunted out with all diligence1 and pursued with more violence than any law can justify40 ,sidenote3 ,god's controversy for persecution4 ,answer4 ,doubtless the controversy of ,god hath been great with this land1 that either of both have been so violently pursued and persecuted4 ,i believe they are both the witnesses of several truths of ,jesus ,christ1 against an impenitent and unchristian profession of the name of the ,lord ,jesus4 ,sidenote3 ,the sufferings of the separatists and puritans in ,england compared4 ,mr4 ,udall1 ,mr4 ,penry1 ,mr4 ,barrow1 ,mr4 ,greenwood4 ,now for their sufferings3 as the puritans have not comparably suffered1 as but seldom congregating in separate assemblies from the common1#bfc so have not any of them suffered unto death for the way of nonconformity to ceremonies1 c4 ,indeed the worthy witness ,mr4 ,udall1#bfd was near unto death for his witness against bishops and ceremonies2#bfe but ,mr4 ,penry1#bff ,mr4 ,barrow1 ,mr4 ,greenwood followed the ,lord ,jesus with their gibbets on their shoulders1 and were hanged with him and for him1 in the way of separation3#bfg many more have been condemned to die1 banished and choaked in prisons1 ,i could produce upon occasion4 ,sidenote3 ,few conscientious separatists1 but first were puritans4 ,the nonconformist's grounds enforce separation4 ,again1 ,i believe that there hardly hath ever been a conscientious separatist1 who was not first a puritan3 for1 as ,mr4 ,canne hath unanswerably proved1#bfh the grounds and principles of the puritans against bishops and ceremonies1 and profaneness of people professing ,christ1 and the necessity of ,christ's flock and discipline1 must necessarily1 if truly followed1 lead on to and enforce a separation from such ways1 worships1 and worshippers1 to seek out the true way of ,god's worship according to ,christ ,jesus4 ,but what should be the reason1 since the separatist witnesseth against the root of the church constitution itself1 that yet he should find1 as ,mr4 ,cotton saith1 more favour than the puritan or nonconformist8 ,sidenote3 ,most of the separation of the lower sort of people4 ,doubtless the reasons are evident3 first1 most of ,god's servants who1 out of sight of the ignorance1 unbelief1 and profaneness of the body of the national church1 have separated and durst not have longer fellowship with it3--,i say1 most of them have been poor and low1 and not such gainful customers to the bishops1 their courts and officers4 ,sidenote3 ,the poverty of ,mr4 ,ainsworth4 ,the nonconformists have been a fair booty for bishops4 ,that worthy instrument of ,christ's praise1 ,mr4 ,ainsworth1 during some time1 and some time of his great labours in ,holland1 lived upon ninepence per week1 with roots boiled1 c4#bfi ,whereas on the other side1 such of ,god's servants as have been nonconformists have had fair estates1 been great persons1 have had rich livings and benefices1 of which the bishops and theirs1 like greedy wolves1 have made the more desirable prey4 ,sidenote3 ,the separatists have been professed enemies2 but the puritans in many things professed friends and subjects to the bishops4 ,secondly1 it is a principle in nature to prefer a professed enemy1 before a pretended friend4 ,such as have separated have been looked at by the bishops and theirs1 as known and professed enemies3 whereas the puritans professed subjection1 and have submitted to the bishops1 their courts1 their officers1 their common prayer and worships3 and yet1 as the bishops have well known1 with no greater affection than the ,israelites bore their ,egyptian cruel taskmasters4 ,sidenote3 ,mr4 ,cotton4 ,he saith1 8,god hath not prospered the way of separation with peace amongst themselves1 and growth of grace40 ,sidenote3 ,a false church may enforce a present peace greater 7though false7 grace than the true spouse of ,christ ,jesus4 ,god's people have found infinite sweetness and peace in some times of their holy communion4 ,breaches have been and must be among all ,god's people1 to make them celebrate the ,lord's holy ordinances according to due order4 ,answer4 ,the want of peace may befal the truest churches of the ,lord ,jesus as at ,antioch1 ,corinth1 ,galatia1 who were exercised with great distractions4 ,secondly1 it is a common character of a false church1 maintained by the smith's and cutler's shop1 to enjoy a quiet calm and peaceable tranquillity1 none daring1 for fear of civil punishment1 to question1 object1 or differ from the common road and custom4 ,thus sings that great whore1 the anti-christian church1 ,rev4 xviii4 #g1 ,i sit as a queen1 am no widow1 see no sorrow3 while ,christ's dearest complains she is forsaken1 sits weeping as a widow1 ,lam4 i4 #a4 ,thirdly1 ,god's people in that way1 have sometimes long enjoyed sweet peace and soul contentment in ,england1 ,holland1 ,new ,england1 and other places1 and would not have exchanged a day of such an holy and peaceable harmony for thousands in the courts of princes1 seeing no other1 and in sincerity seeking after the ,lord ,jesus4 ,and yet1 ,i humbly conceive1 that as ,david with the princes1 and thirty thousand ,israelites1 carrying the ark on the shoulders of the oxen1 leaped and danced with great rejoicing1 until ,god smote ,uzzah for his error and disorder1 and made a breach1 and a teaching monument of ,perez ,uzzah1 the breach of ,uzzah3 so in like manner all those celebrations of the spiritual ark or ordinances1 which yet ,i have known1 although for the present accompanied with great rejoicing and triumphing1 yet as they have not been after the due order1 so have they all met with1 and still must1 a ,perez ,uzzah1 breaches and divisions1 until the ,lord ,jesus discover1 direct1 and encourage his servants in his own due holy order and appointment4 ,sidenote3 ,many graceless ,judases amongst ,god's people4 ,multitudes of gracious and holy persons that have professed separation4 ,and for growth in grace1 notwithstanding that amongst all sorts of ,god's witnesses some false brethren creep in as cheaters1 and spies1 and ,judases1 dishonouring the name of ,christ ,jesus1 and betraying his witnesses3 yet ,satan himself1 the accuser of the saints1 cannot but confess that multitudes of ,god's witnesses1 reproached with the names of ,brownists1 and anabaptists1 have kept themselves from the error of the wicked1 and grow in grace and knowledge of the ,lord ,jesus1 endeavouring to cleanse themselves from all filthiness both of flesh and spirit1 and to finish holiness in the fear of ,god4 ,i will not make odious and envious comparisons1 but desire that all that name the name of the ,lord ,jesus may depart wholly and for ever from iniquity4 ,,chap4 ,,xxiv4 ,sidenote3 ,mr4 ,cotton4 ,lastly he addeth1 8,that such as erring through simplicity and tenderness1 have grown in grace1 have grown also to discern their lawful liberty in the hearing of the word from ,english preachers40#bgj ,sidenote3 ,four sorts of backsliders from separation far from growth in grace4 ,answer4 ,i will not question the uprightness of some who have gone back from many truths of ,god which they have professed3 yet mine own experience of four sorts who have backslidden ,i shall report1 for a warning to all into whose hands these may come1 to be like ,antipas1 ,rev4 ii4 #ac1 a faithful witness to the death1 to any of the truths of the ,lord ,jesus1 which he shall please to betrust them with3 ,sidenote3 ,some backsliding turn to familism4 ,first1 ,i have known no small number of such turn to absolute ,familism1 and under their pretences of great raptures of love deny all obedience to1 or seeking after the pure ordinances and appointments of the ,lord ,jesus4 ,sidenote3 ,some to profaneness4 ,secondly1 others have laid the reins upon the necks of their consciences1 and like the dog licked up their vomit of former looseness and profaneness of lip and life2 and have been so far from growing in grace1 that they have turned the grace of ,god into wantonness4 ,sidenote3 ,some to persecuting of others4 ,thirdly1 others backsliding have lost the beauty and shining of a tender conscience toward ,god1 and of a merciful compassion toward men1 becoming most fierce persecutors of their own formerly fellow-witnesses1 and of any other who have differed in conscience from them4 ,sidenote3 ,some to languishing in sorrow and sadness1 c4 ,lastly1 others although preserved from familism1 profaneness1 and persecuting of others1 yet the leaf of their ,christian course hath withered1 the latter beauty and savour of their holiness hath not been like their former2 and they have confessed and do1 their sin1 their weakness1 their bondage1 and wish they were at liberty in their former freedom2 and some have gone with little peace1 but sorrow to their graves1 confessing to myself and others1 that ,god never prospered them1 in soul or body1 since they sold away his truth1 which once they had bought and made profession of it never to sell it4 ,,chap4 ,,xxv4 ,sidenote3 ,mr4 ,cotton4 ,yea2 but1 saith he1 8they have grown to discern their lawful liberty1 to return to the hearing of the word from ,english preachers40 ,sidenote3 ,mr4 ,canne's answer to ,mr4 ,robinson's liberty of hearing4 ,answer4 ,here ,i might engage myself in a controversy1 which neither this treatise will permit1 nor is there need1 since it hath pleased the ,father of lights to stir up the spirit of a faithful witness of his truth in this particular1 ,mr4 ,canne1 to make a large and faithful reply to a book1 printed in ,mr4 ,robinson's name1 tending to prove such a lawful liberty4#bga ,sidenote3 ,mr4 ,cotton's confession concerning the ministry4 ,for such excellent and worthy persons whom ,mr4 ,cotton here intends by the name of ,english preachers1 ,i acknowledge myself unworthy to hold the candle to them3 yet ,i shall humbly present what ,mr4 ,cotton himself professeth in three particulars3 ,first1 concerning this title1 ,english preachers4 ,secondly1 hearing the word from such ,english preachers4 ,thirdly1 the lawful calling of such to the ministry or service1 according to ,christ ,jesus4 ,sidenote3 ,matt4 xxviii4 4 ,preachers and pastors far different4 ,for the first1 he acknowledgeth1 that the ordinary ministers of the gospel are pastors1 teachers1 bishops1 overseers1 elders1 and that their proper work is to feed and govern a truly converted1 holy1 and godly people1 gathered into a flock or church estate2 and not properly preachers to convert1 beget1 make disciples1 which the apostles and evangelists professedly were4 ,now then1 that man that professeth himself a minister1 and professeth to feed a flock or church with the ordinances of word and prayer1 he must needs acknowledge that his proper work is not to preach for conversion1 which is most preposterous amongst a converted ,christian people1 fed up with ordinances in church estate4 ,so that1 according to ,mr4 ,cotton's confession1 ,english preachers are not pastors1 teachers1 bishops1 elders1 but preachers of glad news1 evangelists1 men sent to convert1 and gather churches1 apostles1 ambassadors1 trumpeters1 with proclamation from the ,king of kings1 to convert1 subdue1 bring in rebellious1 unconverted1 unbelieving1 unchristian souls to the obedience and subjection of the ,lord ,jesus4 ,sidenote3 ,conversion in a church accidental4 ,i readily confess that at the pastor's1 or shepherd's feeding of his flock1 and the prophet's prophecying in the church1 an unbeliever coming in is convinced1 falls on his face and acknowledgeth ,god to be there3 yet this is accidental that any unbeliever should come in2 and the pastor's work is to feed his flock1 ,acts xx4 #bh1 and prophecy is not for unbelievers1 but for them that believe1 to edify1 exhort1 and comfort the church1 #a ,cor4 xiv4 #c1 #bb4 ,sidenote3 ,personal repentance wrought in thousands by godly persons in popish ministries4 ,i also readily acknowledge1 that it hath pleased ,god to work a personal repentance in the hearts of thousands in ,germany1 ,england1 ,low ,countries1 ,france1 ,scotland1 ,ireland1 c41 yea1 and who knows but in ,italy1 ,spain1 ,rome1 not only by such men who decline the name of bishops1 priests1 deacons1 the constituted ministry of ,england hitherto2 but also by such as have owned them1 as ,luther remaining a monk1 and famous holy men remaining and burning ,lord ,bishops4 ,for all this hath been under the notion of ministers feeding their flocks1 not of preachers sent to convert the unconverted and unbelieving4 ,sidenote3 ,to preach mainly for conversion of that people to whom a man stands shepherd1 as to a converted people and flock of ,christ1 a dangerous disorder4 ,god's people must seek after a ministry sent by ,christ to convert4 ,this passage ,i present for two reasons2 ,first because so many excellent and worthy persons mainly preach for conversion1 as conceiving1 and that truly1 the body of the people of ,england to be in a natural and unregenerate estate2 and yet account they themselves fixed and constant officers and ministers to particular parishes or congregations1 unto whom they also administer the holy things of ,god1 though sometimes few1 and sometimes none regenerate or new born have been found amongst them2 which is a matter of high concernment touching the name of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and the souls of men4 ,secondly1 that in these great earthquakes1 wherein it pleaseth ,god to shake foundations civil and spiritual1 such a ministry of ,christ ,jesus may be sought after whose proper work is preaching1 for converting and gathering of true penitents to the fellowship of the ,son of ,god4 ,,chap4 ,,xxvi4 ,sidenote3 ,mr4 ,cotton4 ,the second thing which ,mr4 ,cotton himself hath professed concerning ,english preachers is1 that 8although the word1 yet not the seals may be received from them3 because10 saith he1 8there is no communion in hearing1 and the word is to be preached to all1 but the seals10 he conceives1 and that rightly1 8are profaned in being dispensed to the ungodly1 c40 ,sidenote3 ,the communion or fellowship of the word taught in a church estate4 ,answer4 ,mr4 ,cotton himself maintaineth1 that 8the dispensing of the word in a church estate1 is ,christ's feeding of his flock1 ,cant4 i4 #h3 ,christ's kissing of his spouse1 or wife1 ,cant4 i4 #b3 ,christ's embracing of his spouse in the marriage bed1 ,cant4 i4 #af3 ,christ's nursing of his children at his wife's breast1 ,cant4 iv430 and is there no communion between the shepherd and his sheep8 the husband and his wife in chaste kisses and embraces8 and the mother and her child at the breast8 ,besides1 he confesseth1 that that fellowship in the gospel1 ,phil4 i4 #e1 is a fellowship or communion in the apostles' doctrine1 community1 breaking of bread1 and prayer1 in which the first church continued1 ,acts ii4 #df4 ,all which overthrows that doctrine of a lawful participation of the word and prayer in a church estate1 where it is not lawful to communicate in the breaking of bread or seals4#bgb ,,chap4 ,,xxvii4 ,sidenote3 ,eminent ministers1 so accounted in ,old ,england1 profess themselves private ,christians in ,new ,england4 ,thirdly1 concerning the lawful commission or calling of ,english preachers4 ,mr4 ,cotton himself1 and others most eminent in ,new ,england1 have freely confest1 that notwithstanding their former profession of ministry in ,old ,england1 yea1 in ,new ,england1 until they received a calling from a particular church1 that they were but private ,christians4#bgc ,secondly1 that ,christ ,jesus hath appointed no other calling to the ministry1 but such as they practise in ,new ,england2 and therefore consequently1 that all other which is not from a particular congregation of godly persons1 is none of ,christ's4#bgd ,sidenote3 ,false callings or commissions for the ministry4 ,as first1 a calling or commission received from the bishops4 ,secondly1 from a parish of natural and unregenerate persons4 ,thirdly1 from some few godly persons1 yet remaining in church fellowship after the parish way4 ,lastly1 that eminent gifts and abilities are but qualifications fitting and preparing for a call or office1 according to #a ,tim4 iii4 ,tit4 i4 ,all which premises duly considered1 ,i humbly desire of the ,father of lights1 that ,mr4 ,cotton1 and all that fear ,god1 may try what will abide the fiery trial in this particular1 when the ,lord ,jesus shall be revealed in flaming fire1 c4 ,,chap4 ,,xxviii4 ,sidenote3 ,mr4 ,cotton4 ,the close of his letter is an answer to a passage of mine1 which he repeateth in an objection thus3 8,but this you fear is to condemn the witnesses of ,jesus1 the separate churches in ,london and elsewhere1 and our jealous ,god will visit us for such arrearages3 yea1 the curse of the angel to ,meroz will fall upon us1 because we come not forth to help ,jehovah against the mighty3 we pray not for them1 we come not at them1 7but at parishes frequently72 yea1 we reproach and censure them40 ,to which he answereth1 8that neither ,christ nor his apostles after him1 nor prophets before him1 ever delivered that way4 ,that they fear not the angel's curse1 because it is not to help ,jehovah but ,satan1 to withdraw people from the parishes where they have found more presence of ,christ1 and evidence of his ,spirit1 than in separated churches3 that they pray not for them1 because they cannot pray in faith for a blessing upon their separation3 and that it is little comfort to hear of separated churches1 as being the inventions of men2 and blames them1 that being desirous of reformation1 they stumble not only at the inventions of men1 but for their sakes at the ordinances of the ,lord3 because they separate not only from the parishes1 but from the church at ,plymouth1 and of that whereof ,mr4 ,lathrop was pastor1#bge who1 as he saith1 not only refuse all the inventions of men1 but choose to serve the ,lord in his own ordinances4 ,only1 lastly1 he professeth his inward sorrow that myself help erring1 though zealous souls1 against the mighty ordinances of the ,lord1 which whosoever stumble at shall be broken1 because whosoever will not kiss the ,son1 that is1 will not hear and embrace the words of his mouth1 shall perish in their way40 ,answer4 ,however ,mr4 ,cotton believes and writes of this point1 yet hath he not duly considered these following particulars4 ,sidenote3 ,the garden of the churches of both ,old and ,new ,testament1 planted with an hedge or wall of separation from the world4 ,when ,god's people neglect to maintain that hedge or wall1 ,god hath turned his garden into a wilderness4 ,first1 the faithful labours of many witnesses of ,jesus ,christ1 extant to the world1 abundantly proving1 that the church of the ,jews under the ,old ,testament in the type1 and the church of the ,christians under the ,new ,testament in the antitype1 were both separate from the world2 and that when they have opened a gap in the hedge1 or wall of separation1 between the garden of the church and the wilderness of the world1 ,god hath ever broke down the wall itself1 removed the candlestick1 c4 and made his garden a wilderness1 as at this day4 ,and that therefore if he will ever please to restore his garden and paradise again1 it must of necessity be walled in peculiarly unto himself from the world1 and that all that shall be saved out of the world are to be transplanted out of the wilderness of the world1 and added unto his church or garden4#bgf ,sidenote3 ,the nonconformist's grounds necessarily enforce a separation of the church from the unclean1 in clean and holy things4 ,secondly1 that all the grounds and principles leading to oppose bishops1 ceremonies1 common prayer1 prostitution of the ordinances of ,christ to the ungodly1 and to the true practice of ,christ's own ordinances1 do necessarily1 as before ,i intimated1 and ,mr4 ,canne hath fully proved1 conclude a separation of holy from unholy1 penitent from impenitent1 godly from ungodly1 c2 and that to frame any other building upon such grounds and foundations1 is no other than to raise the form of a square house upon the keel of a ship1 which will never prove a soul saving true ark or church of ,jesus ,christ1 according to the pattern4 ,sidenote3 ,the great suffering for this cause4 ,thirdly1 the multitudes of holy and faithful men and women1 who since ,queen ,mary's days have witnessed this truth by writing1 disputing1 and in suffering loss of goods and friends1 in imprisonments1 banishments1 death1 c4--,i confess the nonconformists have suffered also2 but they that have suffered for this cause1 have far exceeded1 in not only witnessing to those grounds of the nonconformists1 but to those truths also1 the unavoidable conclusions of the nonconformists' principles4 ,sidenote3 ,mr4 ,cotton's and others' zealous practice of separation in ,new ,england4 ,mr4 ,cotton allowing liberty to frequent those parishes in ,old ,england3 which parishes he himself persecutes in ,new ,england4 ,fourthly1 what is that which ,mr4 ,cotton and so many hundreds fearing ,god in ,new ,england walk in1 but a way of separation8 ,of what matter do they profess to constitute their churches1 but of true godly persons8 ,in what form do they cast this matter1 but by a voluntary uniting1 or adding of such godly persons1 whom they carefully examine1 and cause to make a public confession of sin1 and profession of their knowledge and grace in ,christ8#bgg ,nay2 when other ,english have attempted to set up a congregation after the parishional way1 have they not been suppressed8 ,yea2 have they not professedly and lately answered many worthy persons1 whom they account godly ministers and people1 that they could not permit them to live in the same commonwealth together with them1 if they set up any other church and worship than what themselves practise8#bgh ,let their own souls1 and the souls of others seriously ponder in the fear of ,god1 what should be the reason why themselves so practising1 should persecute others for not leaving open a gap of liberty to escape persecution and the cross of ,christ1 by frequenting the parishes in ,old ,england1 which parishes themselves persecute in ,new ,england1 and will not permit them to breathe in the common air amongst them4 ,sidenote3 ,a great mystery in the escaping of the cross of ,christ4 ,fifthly1 in the parishes1 which ,mr4 ,cotton holds but the inventions of men1#bgi however they would have liberty to frequent the worship of the word1 yet they separate from the sacraments2 and yet1 according to ,mr4 ,cotton's own principles1 as before1 there is as true communion in the ministration of the word in a church estate as in the seals3 what mystery should be in this1 but that here also the cross or gibbet of ,christ may be avoided in a great measure1 if persons come to church1 c4 ,sidenote3 ,the ,new ,english churches pretended by some to be purer than the first established by the apostles4 ,lastly1 however1 he saith1 he hath not found such presence of ,christ1 and evidence of his ,spirit in such churches1 as in the parishes3 what should be the reason of their great rejoicings and boastings of their own separations in ,new ,england1 insomuch that some of the most eminent amongst them have affirmed that even the apostles' churches were not so pure8 ,surely if the same ,new ,english churches were in ,old ,england1 they could not meet without persecution1 which therefore in ,old ,england they avoid by frequenting the way of church worship1 which in ,new ,england they persecute--the parishes4 ,sidenote3 ,the reformation desired now had been accounted heresy in ,edward the ,sixth's days4 ,upon these considerations1 how can ,mr4 ,cotton be offended that ,i should help 7as he calls them7 any zealous souls1 not against the mighty ordinances of the ,lord ,jesus1 but to seek after the ,lord ,jesus without halting8 ,yea2 why should ,mr4 ,cotton1 or any desirous to practise reformation1 kindle a fire of persecution against such zealous souls1 especially considering that themselves1 had they so inveighed against bishops1 common prayer1 c41 in ,edward the ,sixth's days1 had been accounted as great heretics1 in those reforming times1 as any now can be in these8 yet would it have been then1 and since hath it been1 great oppression and tyranny to persecute their consciences1 and still will it be for them to persecute the consciences of others in ,old or ,new ,england4 ,sidenote3 ,persecution is unjust oppression wheresoever4 ,how can ,i better end than ,mr4 ,cotton doth1 by warning1 that all that will not kiss the ,son1 that is1 hear and embrace the words of his mouth1 shall perish in their way1 ,ps4 ii4 #ab4 ,and ,i desire ,mr4 ,cotton1 and every soul to whom these lines may come1 seriously to consider in this controversy1 if the ,lord ,jesus were himself in person in ,old or ,new ,england1 what church1 what ministry1 what worship1 what government he would set up1 and what persecution he would practise toward them that would not receive ,him8#bhj ,,footnotes #a ,bancroft's ,hist4 of ,u4 ,s4 i4 #cdb4 ,knowles' ,life of ,r4 ,williams1 p4 #ca4 #b ,see ,broadmead ,records1 ,introd4 p4 xxii4 #c ,neal's ,hist4 of ,n4 ,england1 i4 #ada1 #add4 ,baillie's ,dissuasive1 p4 #ff4 ,mather's ,magnalia1 i4 #ai4 #d ,neal1 i4 #add4 ,bancroft1 i4 #cej4 ,cotton ,mather's ,magnalia1 book i4 p4 #ai4 ,backus' ,hist4 of ,baptists in ,new ,england1 i4 #de4 #e ,knowles1 p4 #cg4 #f ,bancroft1 i4 #cfg4 #g ,knowles1 p4 #bc1 #cia4 ,backus1 i4 #ejh4 #h 8,master ,cotton may call to mind that the discusser ,williams1 riding with himself and one other of precious memory1 ,master ,hooker1 to and from ,sempringham1 presented his arguments from scripture1 why he durst not join with them in their use of ,common ,prayer40 ,bloody ,tenent more ,bloody1 p4 #ab4 ,see also pp4 #dc and #cgd of the present volume4 ,baillie's ,dissuasive1 p4 #ee4 #i ,in his letter to ,major ,mason1 he refers to 8,king ,james1 whom ,i have spoke with40 ,knowles1 p4 #ca4 #aj ,such is ,governor ,winthrop's testimony4 ,knowles1 p4 #df4 #aa ,welde's ,answer to ,w4 ,r4 p4 #aj4 #dto4 #afdd4 #ab ,backus1 i4 #ed1 #eg4 #ac ,see pp4 #bhg1 #bdg1 #cec4 ,knowles1 pp4 #de1 #di4 ,backus1 i4 #di4 ,bancroft1 i4 #cfj4 ,at ,taunton1 the minister1 ,mr4 ,streete1 8publicly and earnestly persuaded his church members to give land to none but such as might be fit for church members3 yea1 not to receive such ,english into the town40 ,bloody ,tenent more ,bloody1 p4 #bhc4 ,by a subsequent law no church could be constituted without the sanction of the magistrates3 and the members of any church formed without it1 were deprived of the franchise4 ,backus1 i4 #gg4 #ad ,see pp4 #bdg1 #bhg1 #cec1 c4 8,mr4 ,cotton effectually recommended1 that none should be elected nor electors therein1 except such as were visible subjects of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 personally confederated in our churches40 ,mather's ,magnalia1 b4 iii4 p4 #ba4 #ae ,backus1 i4 #ed4 ,knowles1 p4 #ej4 #af ,knowles1 p4 #ec4 ,mr4 ,cotton1 in his ,answer to ,roger ,williams1 tells us that 8elder ,brewster warned the whole church of the danger of his spirit1 which moved the better part of the church to be glad of his removal from them into the ,bay40 ,cotton's ,answer1 p4 #d4 #ag ,mather's ,magnalia1 iii4 #bj4 ,cotton's ,way of ,cong4 ,churches1 pp4 #af1 #cj4 #ah ,knowles1 pp4 #db1 #dc4 8,it was requested of ,mr4 ,cotton10 says his descendant ,cotton ,mather1 8that he would from the laws wherewith ,god governed his ancient people1 form an abstract of such as were of a moral and lasting equity2 which he performed as acceptably as judiciously4444 ,he propounded unto them1 an endeavour after a theocracy1 as near as might be to that which was the glory of ,israel1 the peculiar people40 ,magnalia1 iii4 #bj4 ,backus1 i4 #gi4 #ai ,knowles1 p4 #eg1 #fa4 ,master ,john ,cotton's ,answer to ,master ,roger ,williams1 p4 #d4 ,this is usually bound up with the 8,bloudy ,tenent ,washed10 and cited as part ,,ii43 it is1 however1 a separate piece1 and separately paged1 and is ,cotton's ,answer to the second treatise in this volume4 #bj ,cotton's ,answer1 p4 #d4 ,knowles1 p4 #fa4 ,mather1 vii4 #g4 ,backus1 i4 #eg4 #ba ,knowles1 p4 #ff4 #bb ,so ,winthrop4 ,knowles1 pp4 #fh-gj4 ,backus1 i4 #fg1 #fh4 ,see also p4 #dbb of this volume4 ,cotton's ,answer1 p4 #d4 #bc ,see p4 #cgb4 ,cotton's ,answer1 pp4 #e1 #i4 ,cotton treats his sickness as a 8check from the hand of ,god10 p4 #ef4 #bd ,see pp4 #chg1 #chh4 ,bancroft1 i4 #cgc4 #be ,knowles1 pp4 #ga1 #gb4 ,the sentence was as follows3--8,whereas ,mr4 ,roger ,williams1 one of the elders of the church of ,salem1 hath broached and divulged divers new and dangerous opinions1 against the authority of magistrates2 as also writ letters of defamation1 both of the magistrates and churches here1 and that before any conviction1 and yet maintaineth the same without any retractation2 it is therefore ordered that the said ,mr4 ,williams shall depart out of this jurisdiction within six weeks1 now next ensuing1 which1 if he neglect to perform1 it shall be lawful for the governor and two of the magistrates to send him to some place out of this jurisdiction1 not to return any more without licence from the ,court40 ,backus1 i4 #fi1 #gj4 #bf ,cotton's ,answer1 p4 #bf4 #bg ,cotton's ,answer1 pp4 #bg-cj4 #bh ,bloody ,tenent more ,bloody1 p4 #bgf4 #bi ,bancroft1 i4 #cbg4 #cj ,see pp4 #bdi1 #beg1 #bfb4 ,mr4 ,cotton pleads that anabaptists and others were not compelled against conscience2 nor were they punished for conscience' sake2 but for sinning against conscience4 ,tenent ,washed1 pp4 #afe1 #ahi2 ,backus1 i4 #ih4 #ca ,see pp4 #ahf1 #cca2 ,bloody ,tenent more ,bloody1 p4 #abb4 ,by the law of ,september #f1 #afch1 the time was extended to six months4 ,backus1 i4 #de1 #ih2 ,bancroft1 i4 #cdi4 #cb 8,the ,lady ,moody1 a wise and amiable religious woman1 being taken with the error of denying baptism to infants1 was dealt withal by many of the elders and others1 and admonished by the church at ,salem40 ,to avoid more trouble1 she went amongst the ,dutch2 but was excommunicated4 ,in #afea1 the ,rev4 ,j4 ,clarke and ,mr4 ,o4 ,holmes1 of ,rhode ,island1 for visiting a sick baptist brother in ,massachusetts1 were arrested1 fined1 imprisoned1 and whipped4 ,at an earlier period1 they had been compelled to leave ,plymouth for their opinions4 ,mr4 ,cotton approved of this4 ,backus1 i4 #adf1 #bjg1 #bbe4 #cc ,williams's ,letter to ,endicot4 ,bloody ,tenent more ,bloody1 p4 #cje4 ,see p4 #bde4 #cd 8,whilst he lived at ,salem1 he neither admitted1 nor permitted any church members but such as rejected all communion with the parish assemblies1 so much as in hearing the word amongst them40 ,cotton's ,answer1 p4 #fd4 ,see p4 #cig of this volume4 #ce 8,the substance of the true estate of churches abideth in their congregational assemblies40 ,cotton's ,answer1 p4 #aji4 ,cotton refers here to the parish congregations4 #cf ,see pp4 #bdc1 #bdd1 #cib4 ,mather's ,magnalia1 i4 #ba4 #cg ,cotton charges ,williams with attempting to draw away the ,salem church from holding communion with all the churches of the ,bay1 8because we tolerated our members to hear the word in the parishes of ,england40 ,tenent ,washed1 p4 #aff4 #ch ,see p4 #bdf4 ,bloody ,tenent more ,bloody1 p4 #bcj4 #ci ,it must have reached ,williams after his settlement at ,providence4 ,cotton1 in #afdg1 says he wrote it about 8half a score years ago10 which would give the date of #afcg4 #dj ,see p4 #cgg4 ,cotton's ,answer1 p4 #h1 #i1 #ac1 #cf-ci4 8,i did never intend to say that ,i did not consent to the justice of the sentence when it was passed40 #da ,cotton says1 8,some of his friends went to the place appointed by himself beforehand1 to make provision of housing and other necessaries against his coming40 ,answer p4 #h4 ,this1 however1 is very doubtful4 #db ,see p4 #chh4 ,knowles1 p4 #gc4 ,backus1 i4 #gj4 ,governor ,winthrop had privately advised him to leave the colony4 ,the friendship of this eminent man was of frequent service to our exile4 ,cotton declares that the officer who served the warrant saw 8no sign of sickness upon him40 ,answer1 p4 #eg4 ,this he might not choose to see4 #dc ,see p4 #cgj4 ,knowles1 p4 #cie4 #dd ,now called ,rehoboth4 #de ,quoted from his 8,key10 c41 by ,knowles1 p4 #aja4 #df ,the land at this spot still bears the designation of 8,what ,cheer40 #dg ,the vivid and dramatic poem of ,judge ,durfee1 entitled 8,what ,cheer80 is founded on the supposed events of his journey through this howling wilderness1 and amid its savage inhabitants4 #dh ,letter to ,major ,mason4 ,knowles p4 #cid1 ,benedict1 p4 #ddi4 #di ,this view has been ably advocated by ,general ,fessenden1 from whose manuscript some of the above particulars are taken by ,benedict1 in the new edition of his ,hist4 of the ,baptists1 p4 #ddi4 #ej ,knowles1 p4 #ajc1 #aab4 ,backus1 i4 #ij1 #id4 #ea ,letter to ,mason4 ,knowles1 p4 #cih4 #eb ,backus1 i4 #ie1 #aae4 ,knowles1 p4 #adh4 #ec ,knowles1 p4 #adi1 #cie4 #ed ,knowles1 p4 #afe4 ,benedict1 p4 #dda4 ,backus1 i4 #aje4 #ee ,backus1 i4 #ajg4 ,knowles1 p4 #agf4 ,hanbury1 iii4 #ega4 #ef ,backus1 i4 #ajg1 #ajh4 ,knowles1 p4 #agj4 #eg ,as p4 #dj4 ,cotton says1 he fell 8from all ordinances of ,christ dispensed in any church way1 till ,god shall stir up himself1 or some new apostles1 to recover and restore all ordinances1 and churches of ,christ out of the ruins of anti-christian apostacy40 ,cotton's ,answer1 p4 #b4 ,the insinuation in this passage is both unjust and untrue4 #eh ,pp4 #d1 #cgi4 ,knowles1 p4 #agb4 ,callender's ,historical ,discourse1 by ,dr4 ,r4 ,elton1 p4 #aja4 #ei ,cotton's ,answer1 p4 #i4 #fj ,knowles1 p4 #aha4 ,callender1 p4 #aei4 ,backus1 i4 #aab4 ,bancroft1 i4 #chj4 ,the attachment of the ,rhode ,islanders to this great principle receives a curious illustration in the case of one ,joshua ,verin1 who was deprived for a time of his franchise for refusing to his wife liberty of conscience1 in not permitting her to go to ,mr4 ,williams's meeting as often as requisite4 ,backus1 i4 #ie4 #fa ,backus1 i4 #adg4 #fb ,backus1 i4 #adh4 ,knowles1 p4 #aih4 #fc ,elton1 in notes to ,callender1 p4 #bcj4 ,knowles1 p4 #bjh4 #fd ,see p4 #cf4 #fe ,see ,tracts on ,liberty of ,conscience1 pp4 #bad-bbe4 #ff ,bloudy ,tenent ,washed1 p4 #a4 #fg ,bloody ,tenent yet more ,bloody1 pp4 #d1 #bij4 ,the only edition known to us of the prisoner's arguments with ,mr4 ,cotton's reply1 is of the date #afdf1 with the following title3 8,the ,controversie concerning ,liberty of ,conscience in ,matters of ,religion1 truly stated1 and distinctly and plainly handled by ,mr4 ,john ,cotton of ,boston in ,new ,england4 ,by way of answer to some arguments to the contrary sent unto him1 wherein you have1 against all cavils of turbulent spirits1 clearly manifested wherein liberty of conscience in matters of religion ought to be permitted1 and in what cases it ought not1 by the said ,mr4 ,cotton4 ,london4 ,printed for ,thomas ,banks4 #afdf40 ,it is a quarto pamphlet of fourteen pages1 and signed ,john ,cotton1 and agrees with ,williams's copy of it in the 8,bloudy ,tenent40 #fh ,see p4 #ahi4 #fi ,bloody ,tenent ,washed1 pp4 #aej1 #aib4 #gj ,bloody ,tenent more ,bloody1 pp4 #bbb1 #bia4 #ga ,mather's ,magnalia1 iii4 #abh1 v4 #bb4 #gb ,backus1 i4 #ff4 #gc ,bloody ,tenent more ,bloody1 p4 #ch4 #gd ,tracts on ,liberty of ,conscience and ,persecution1 #afad-affa4 ,hanserd ,knollys ,society1 #ahdf4 #ge ,the ,second ,part of the ,vanity and ,childishness of ,infants' ,baptism4 ,by ,a4 ,r4 p4 #bg4 ,london1 #afdb4 #gf ,in 8,m4 ,s4 to ,a4 ,s4 with a ,plea for ,liberty of ,conscience in a ,church ,way1 c40 ,london1 #afdd4 #dto4 pp4 #aaj4 ,also in 82 or1 the grand imprudence of fighting against ,god10 c41 #dto4 #afdd4 #gg ,london1 #dto4 #afdd1 p4 #ac4 ,cotton's ,answer1 p4 #b4 ,orme's ,life of ,owen1 p4 #ajj4 #gh ,tracts on ,lib4 of ,conscience1 p4 #bgj4 #gi ,these differences are stated by ,mr4 ,gammell in his ,life of ,williams1 p4 #bae1 to exist in the two copies he has seen in ,america4 ,the only copies we have seen in this country1 are those in the ,bodleian ,library1 and the ,british ,museum2 both of which have the table of errata4 #hj ,baillie's ,dissuasive4 ,epist4 ,introd4 ed4 #afde4 ,hanbury's ,memorials1 ii4 #djc2 iii4 #aaj1 #abg4 #ha ,bloody ,tenent more ,bloody1 p4 #ch4 #hb ,the two parts of this work are quoted in the notes to this volume1 as 8,cotton's ,reply10 and 8,cotton's ,answer40 #hc ,see ,tracts on ,liberty of ,conscience and ,persecution1 p4 #bag4 ,hanserd ,knollys ,society1 #ahdf4 #hd ,essay of ,religion4 ,eos qui conscientias premi1 iisque vim inferri suadent1 sub illo dogmate1 cupiditates suas subtexere1 illamque rem sua interesse1 putare4 ,de ,unitate ,ecclesi4 #he ,it is rarely seen that ever persons were persecuted for their conscience1 but by such persecution they were confirmed and hardened in their conscience4 #hf ,see ,tracts on ,liberty of ,conscience1 pp4 #bad-bbd4 #hg ,sozom4 lib4 #a4 ,eccles4 ,hist4 chap4 #ai1 #bj4 ,fleury1 ,eccles4 ,hist4 ,liv4 xi4 c4 #bc4 8,the impious ,arius was banished into one of the remote provinces of ,illyricum4444 ,the emperor had now imbibed the spirit of controversy1 and the angry1 sarcastic style of his edicts was designed to inspire his subjects with the hatred which he had conceived against the enemies of ,christ40 ,gibbon1 ,decline and ,fall1 p4 #cag4 #hvo4 edit4 #hh ,in ,epist4 #aff4 ,tunc ,constantinus prior contr partem ,donati severissimam legem4 ,hunc imitati filii ejus talia prceperunt4 ,quibus succedens ,julianus deserto ,christi et inimicus1 supplicantibus vestris ,rogatiano et ,pontio libertatem perditioni partis ,donati permisit--,huic successit ,jovianus--,deinde ,valentinianus1 legite quam contra vos jusserit4 ,inde ,gratianus et ,theodosius--,veri ,christiani non pro heretico errore pnas justissimas sicut vos1 sed pro catholica veritate passiones gloriosissimas pertulerunt4 ,s4 ,aug4 ,opera1 ,tom4 ii4 fol4 #aef4 ,ed4 ,venetiis1 #aeeb4 #hi ,igitur et scintilla statim ut apparuerit1 extinguenda est1 et fermentum a mass vicinia se movendum1 secand putrid carnes1 et scabiosum animalia caulis ovium repellendum1 ne tota domus1 massa1 corpus1 et pecora ardeat1 corrumpatur1 putrescat1 intereant4 ,arius in ,alexandria una scintilla fuit1 sed quia non statim oppressa est1 totum orbem ejus flamma populata est4 ,s4 ,hieronymi ,opera4 ,tom4 iii1 p4 #ibg4 ,parisiis1 #afji4 ed4 #ij ,sunt duo libri mei1 quorum titulos est contra partem ,donati4 ,in quorum primo libro dixi non mihi placere ullius seculari potestatis impetu schismaticos ad communionem violenter arctari4 ,quod 7et7 vere mihi non placebat1 qua nondum expertus eram1 vel quantum mali eorum auderet impunitas1 vel quantum eis in melius mutandis conferre posset diligentia disciplin4 ,retract4 ii4 ,opera1 tom4 i4 fol4 #aj4 ,to the same effect in ,epist4 #dh1 #ej1 tom4 ii4 fol4 #ce1 #de4 ,quid enim non isti juste patiuntur1 cum ex altissimo dei presidentis1 et ad cavendum ignem ternum flagellis talibus admonentis judicio patiuntur1 et merito criminum1 et ordine potestatum8 ,contra ,epist4 ,parmen4 tom4 vii4 fol4 #d4 ,tract xi4 in ,evang4 ,joann4 tom4 ix4 #ia ,vindicavit 7diximus7 ,moyses1 vindicavit ,helias1 vindicavit ,phinees4 ,vindicavit ,macarius4 ,si nihil offenderant1 qui occisi esse dicuntur1 fit ,macarius reus1 in eo quod solus nobis nescientibus1 et vobis provocantibus fecit4 ,s4 ,optati ,opera1 p4 #ge4 ,parisiis1 #afgi4 #ib ,melius proculdubio gladio coercentur1 illius videlicet qui non sine causa gladium portat1 quam in suum errorem multos trajicere permittantur4 ,dei enim minister ille est1 vindex in iram ei qui male agit4 ,opera1 tom4 iii4 p4 #cfi4 edit4 ,parisiis1 #ahcf4 #ic ,fidelis expositio errorum ,mich4 ,serveti et brevis eorundem refutatio1 ubi docetur1 jure gladii coercendos esse hreticos4 ,calvini ,tract4 ,theol4 p4 #fhf4 edit4 #aeig4 #id ,beza ,tract4 ,theol4 tom4 i4 p4 #he4 edit4 #aehb4 #ie ,aretius4 ,hist4 ,val4 ,gentilis4 ,geneva1 #aefg4 #if 8,thus a man may find a knot in a bulrush1 yea1 thus a man that were disposed might find fault with the comforts of ,god for not being full and complete40 ,reply of ,cotton in ,the ,bloudy ,tenent ,wash'd and made ,white in the ,bloud of the ,lambe1 p4 #d1 edit4 #afdg4 #ig 8,fundamental doctrines are of two sorts3 some hold forth the foundation of ,christian religion--others concern the foundation of the church4 ,i speak of the former sort of these only--the other sort ,i look at as less principal1 in comparison of these40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #e4 #ih 8,it is not truly said1 that the ,spirit of ,god maketh the ministry one of the foundations of ,christian religion1 for it is only a foundation of church order1 not of faith1 or religion40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #h4 #ii ,in his ,reply1 ,mr4 ,cotton affects to have forgotten these admonitions and arguments2 but ,mr4 ,williams1 in his rejoinder1 reminds him that once1 when riding together in company with ,mr4 ,hooker to and from ,sempringham1 ,mr4 ,williams did thus address ,mr4 ,cotton1 whose reply was to the effect1 8that he selected the good and best prayers in his use of that book1 as the author of the ,council of ,trent used to do40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #h2 ,williams' ,bloudy ,tenent made yet more ,bloudy1 p4 #ab4 #ajj ,it pleaseth ,god sometimes1 beyond his promise1 to convey blessings and comfort to ,his1 in false worships4 #aja 8,though ,i say1 that it is not lawful to persecute any1 though erring in fundamental and weighty points1 till after once or twice admonition1 ,i do not therefore say1 that after once or twice admonition1 then such consciences may be persecuted4 ,but that if such a man1 after such admonition1 shall still persist in the error of his way1 and be therefore punished1 he is not persecuted for cause of conscience1 but for sinning against his conscience4444 ,it was no part of my words or meaning1 to say1 that every heretic1 though erring in some fundamental and weighty points1 and for the same excommunicated1 shall forthwith be punished by the civil magistrate2 unless it do afterwards appear that he break forth further1 either into blasphemy1 or idolatry1 or seducement of others to his heretical pernicious ways40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #bg4 #ajb 8,in alleging that place1 ,i intended no other persecution1 but the church's against such an heretic by excommunication4444 ,verily excommunication is a persecution1 and a lawful persecution1 if the cause be just offence2 as the angel of the ,lord is said to persecute the wicked1 ,psal4 xxxv4 #f4444 ,sure it is the ,lord ,jesus accounteth it a persecution to his disciples1 to be delivered up into the synagogues1 and to be cast forth out of the synagogues1 ,luke xxi4 #ab1 with ,john xvi4 #b40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #cb4 #ajc 8,and for the civil state1 we know no ground they have to persecute ,jews1 or ,turks1 or other pagans1 for cause of religion1 though they all err in fundamentals4 ,no1 nor would ,i exempt anti-christians neither from toleration1 notwithstanding their fundamental errors1 unless after conviction they still continue to seduce simple souls into their damnable and pernicious heresies3 as into the worship of false gods1 into confidence of their own merits for justification1 into seditious conspiracies against the lives and states of such princes as will not submit their consciences to the bishop of ,rome40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #cc4 #ajd 8,this is too vast an hyperbole3 as if murderers1 seditious persons1 rebels1 traitors1 were none of them such as did break the city's or kingdom's peace at all2 but they only who are too sharp against corruptions in religion40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #cf4 #aje 8,what hurt do they get by being caught8 ,hypocrites1 and corrupt doctrines and practices1 if they be found like unto good ,christians1 or sound truths1 what hurt do they catch when ,i say such are to be tolerated to the end of the world8 ,but--,i acknowledge--that by tares are meant such kind of evil persons as are like unto the good40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #cg4 #ajf 8,if the ,discusser had cast his eye a little lower1 he might have found that ,christ interpreteth the tares not only to be persons1 but things1 1 all things that offend1 as well as those that do iniquity4 ,but ,i shall not stick upon that at all4 ,let the tares be persons1 whether hypocrites1 like unto true ,christians1 or holders forth of scandalous and corrupt doctrines and practices like unto sound40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #ch4 #ajg ,hence were the witnesses of ,christ1 ,wickliff and others1 in ,henry the ,fourth's reign1 called ,lollards1 as some say1 from ,lolia1 weeds known well enough1 hence taken for sign of barrenness3 ,infelix lolium et steriles dominantur aven4 ,others conceive they were so called from one ,lollard1 c42 but all papists accounted them as tares because of their profession4 #ajh 8,it is not true that signifieth all those weeds that grow up with the corn4 ,for they be a special weed1 growing up chiefly amongst the wheat1 more like to barley4444 ,neither is it true1 that tares are commonly and generally known as soon as they appear4444 ,yea1 the servants of the husbandman did not discern the tares from the wheat1 till the blade was sprung up1 and brought forth fruit4 ,it is like enough1 they did not suspect them at all by reason of the great likeness that was between them whilst they were both in the blade40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #dj4 #aji 8#a4 ,it is true1 ,christ expoundeth the field to be the world2 but he meant not the wide world1 but1 by an usual trope1 the church scattered throughout the world4444 #b4 ,if the field should be the world1 and the tares anti-christians and false ,christians3 it is true1 ,satan sowed them in ,god's field1 but he sowed them in the church4444 #c4 ,it is not the will of ,christ1 that anti-christ and anti-christians1 and anti-christianity1 should be tolerated in the world1 until the end of the world4 ,for ,god will put it into the hearts of faithful princes1 in fulness of time1 to hate the whore1 to leave her desolate and naked1 c4 ,rev4 xvii4 #af1 #ag40 ,cotton's ,reply1 pp4 #da1 #db4 #aaj 8,it is no impeachment to the wisdom of ,christ to call his elect churches and saints throughout the world1 by the name of the world4444 ,it is no more an improper speech1 to call the church the world1 than to speak of ,christ as dying for the world1 when he died for his church40 ,ib4 p4 #dc4 #aaa 8#a4 ,did not ,christ preach and sow the seed of the word to all those four sorts of hearers8 ,and yet he was the minister of the circumcision1 and preached seldom to any1 but to church members1 members of the church of ,israel4444 #b4 ,if the children of church members be in the church1 and of the church1 till they give occasion of rejection1 then they growing up to years become some of them like the highway side1 others like the stony1 c4444 #c4 ,it is the work of the church to seek the changing of the bad into the good ground4 ,for is it not the proper work of the church1 to bring on the children to become the sincere people of ,god8444 #d4 ,there is not such resemblance between highway-side ground and good ground1 as is between tares and wheat4 ,nor would the servants ever ask the question1 whether they should pluck up weeds out of the highway-side1 c40 ,cotton's ,reply1 pp4 #dd1 #de4 #aab 8#a4 ,these tares are not such sinners as are contrary to the children of the kingdom2 for then none should be opposite to them but they4 #b4 ,the tares were not discerned at first till the blade was sprung up1 and brought forth fruit40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #de4 #aac 8,neither is it true that anti-christians are to be let alone by the ordinance of ,christ1 till the end of the world4 ,for what if the members of a ,christian church shall some of them apostate to anti-christian superstition and idolatry1 doth the ordinance of ,christ bind the hands of the church to let them alone8 ,besides1 what if any anti-christian persons1 out of zeal to the catholic cause1 and out of conscience to the command of their superiors1 should seek to destroy the king and parliament1 should such an one by any ordinance of ,christ be let alone in the civil state80 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #dg4 #aad 8,let it be again denied1 that hypocrites1 when they appear to be hypocrites1 are to be purged out by the government of the church4 ,otherwise they may soon root out1 sometime or other1 the best wheat in ,god's field1 and the sweetest flowers in the garden1 who sometimes lose their fatness and sweetness for a season40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #dh4 #aae 8,not every hypocrite1 but only such1 who either walk inordinately without a calling1 or idly and negligently in his calling40 ,ib4 p4 #di4 #aaf 8,but what if their worship and consciences incite them to civil offences8 ,how shall then the civil state keep itself safe with a civil sword80 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #ej4 #aag 8,but if their members be leavened with anti-christian idolatry and superstition1 and yet must be tolerated--will not a little leaven1 so tolerated1 leaven the whole lump8 ,how then is the safety of the church guarded80 ,ib4 p4 #ej4 #aah 8,the elect of ,god shall be saved3 but yet if idolaters and seducers be tolerated--the church will stand guilty before ,god of the seduction and corruption of the people of ,god40 ,ib4 p4 #ej4 #aai 8,there is no fear of plucking up the wheat1 by rooting out idolaters and seducers--the censures inflicted 7upon ,god's people71 would be blessed of ,god to their recovery and healing40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #ea4 #abj 8,it would as well plead for the toleration of murderers1 robbers1 adulterers1 extortioners1 c41 for all these will the mighty angels gather into bundles1 c40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #ea4 #aba 8,certain it is from the word of truth1 that the anti-christian kingdom shall be destroyed and rooted up by ,christian princes and states long before the great harvest of the end of the world4444 ,and either such princes must perform this great work without prayer1 and then it were not sanctified to ,god1 or if it be a sacrifice sanctified to ,god1 they must pray for their desolation before they inflict it40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #ec4 #abb 8,it might as truly be said the ministers of ,christ are forbidden to denounce present or speedy destruction to any murderers1 c40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #ed4 #abc 8,it is moral equity1 that blasphemers1 and apostate idolaters seducing others to idolatry1 should be put to death1 ,levit4 xxiv4 #af4444 ,the external equity of that judicial law of ,moses was of moral force1 and bindeth all princes to express that zeal and indignation1 both1 against blasphemy in such as fall under their just power1 which ,ahab neglected2 and against seduction to idolatry1 which ,ahab executed1 or else ,elijah1 or some others1 by his consent40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #ee4 #abd 8,it was no just cause for the civil magistrate to punish the ,pharisees1 for that they took unjust offence against ,christ's wholesome doctrine4 ,for neither was the doctrine itself a fundamental truth2 nor was their offence against it a fundamental error1 though it was dangerous4 ,besides1 the civil magistrates had no law established about doctrines1 or offences of that nature4 ,and therefore1 they could take no judicial cognizance of any complaint presented to them about the same40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #eg4 #abe 8,paul's appeal to ,csar1 was about the wrongs done unto the ,jews4 ,the wrongs to them were not only civil1 but church offences1 which ,paul denied4444 ,a man may be such an offender in matters of religion1 against the law of ,god1 against the church1 as well as in civil matters against ,csar1 as to be worthy of death4444 ,paul1 or any such like servant of ,christ1 if he should commit any such offence1 he would not refuse judgment unto death40 ,ib4 p4 #ei4 #abf 8,we do not say1 ,it is the holy will and purpose of ,god to establish the doctrine and kingdom of his ,son only this way1 to wit1 by the help of civil authority4 ,for it is his will also to magnify his power in establishing the same 444 by the sufferings of his saints1 and by the bloody swords of persecuting magistrates3 444 but it is the duty of magistrates to know the ,son1 acknowledge his kingdom1 and submit their thrones and crowns to it1 c40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #fa4 #abg 8,we do not allege that place in ,isaiah1 to prove kings and queens to be judges of ecclesiastical causes2 but to be providers for the church's well-being1 and protectors of it40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #fa4 #abh 8,we do not hold it lawful for a ,christian magistrate to compel by civil sword either ,pharisee1 or any ,jew1 or pagan1 to profess the religion1 or doctrine1 of the ,lord ,jesus1 much less do we think it meet for a private ,christian to provoke either ,jewish or pagan magistrates to compel ,pharisees to submit to the doctrine or religion of ,christ ,jesus40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #fd4 ,on this ,mr4 ,williams observes1 that ,mr4 ,cotton believes 8it is no compulsion to make laws with penalties for all to come to church and to public worship40 ,bloudy ,tenent yet more ,bloudy1 p4 #hg4 #abi 8,when the corruption1 or destruction of souls1 is a destruction also of lives1 liberties1 estates of men1 lex talionis calleth for1 not only soul for soul1 but life for life40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #fd4 #acj 8,yet it is not only every man's duty1 but the common duty of the magistrates to prevent infection1 and to preserve the common health of the place1 by removing infectious persons into solitary tabernacles40 ,ib4 p4 #fe4 #aca 8,that hindereth not the lawful and necessary use of a civil sword for the punishment of some such offences1 as are subject to church censure4444 ,it is evident that the civil sword was appointed for a remedy in this case1 ,deut4 xiii4444 ,for he 7the angel of ,god's presence7 did expressly appoint it in the ,old ,testament3 nor did he ever abrogate it in the ,new4444 ,the reason is of moral1 i4 e41 of universal and perpetual equity to put to death any apostate seducing idolater1 or heretic 444 the magistrate beareth not the sword in vain1 to execute vengeance on such an evil doer40 ,cotton's ,reply1 pp4 #ff1 #fg4 #acb 8,it is a carnal and worldly1 and indeed an ungodly imagination1 to confine the magistrates' charge to the bodies and goods of the subject1 and to exclude them from the care of their souls4444 ,they may and ought to procure spiritual help to their souls1 and to prevent such spiritual evils1 as that the prosperity of religion amongst them might advance the prosperity of the civil state40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #fh4 #acc 8,the matter of this answer1 it is likely enough1 was given by me2 for it suiteth with my own apprehension1 both then and now4 ,but some expressions in laying it down1 ,i do not own1 nor can ,i find any copy under my own handwriting1 that might testify how ,i did express myself1 especially in a word or two1 wherein the discusser observeth1 in cap4 #ch1 some haste1 and light1 sleepy attention40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #gd4 ,mr4 ,williams replies1 8,it is at hand for ,master ,cotton or any to see that copy which he gave forth and corrected in some places with his own hand1 and every word verbatim here published40 ,bloody ,tenent yet more ,bloody1 p4 #aad4 ,see ante1 p4 #bb4 #acd 8,it is far from me to say1 that it is lawful for civil magistrates to inflict corporal punishments upon men contrary-minded1 standing in the same state the ,samaritans did4 ,no such thought arose in my heart1 nor fell from my pen--that it is lawful for a civil magistrate to inflict corporal punishments upon such as are contrary-minded in matters of religion40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #gf4 ,to this ,mr4 ,williams expresses his surprise as to the meaning ,mr4 ,cotton puts upon the words contrary-minded1 seeing the whole argument of his book is to show that heretics may be lawfully punished by the civil magistrate4 ,p4 #aae4 #ace 8,let it not seem strange to hear tell of unconverted ,christians or unconverted converts4 ,there is no contradiction at all in the words4 ,when the ,lord saith1 that ,judah turned unto him1 not with all her heart1 but feignedly1 was she not then an unconverted convert8 converted in show and profession1 but unconverted in heart and truth80 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #gh4 #acf 8,i have not yet learned that the children of believing parents born in the church1 are all of them pagans1 and no members of the church3 or that being members of the church1 and so holy1 that they are all of them truly converted4 ,and if they be not always truly converted1 then let him not wonder1 nor stumble at the phrase of unconverted ,christians40 ,ib4 p4 #gh4 #acg 8,if opposition rise from within1 from the members of the church1 ,i do not believe it to be lawful for the magistrate to seek to subdue and convert them to be of his mind by the civil sword2 but rather to use all spiritual means for their conviction and conversion4 ,but if the opposition still continue in doctrine and worship1 and that against the vitals and fundamentals of religion1 whether by heresy of doctrine or idolatry in worship1 and shall proceed to seek the seduction of others1 ,i do believe the magistrate is not to tolerate such opposition against the truth in church members1 or in any professors of the truth after due conviction from the word of truth40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #ha4 #ach 8,yet it is not more than befell the church of ,judah1 in the days of ,ahaz and ,hezekiah1 ,manasseh and ,josiah2 yet the prophets never upbraided them with the civil magistrate's power in causes of religion1 as the cause of it40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #hb4 #aci 8,a civil magistrate ought not to draw out his civil sword against any seducers till he have used all good means for their conviction1 and thereby clearly manifested the bowels of tender commiseration and compassion towards them4 ,but if after their continuance in obstinate rebellion against the light1 he shall still walk towards them in soft and gentle commiseration1 his softness and gentleness is excessive large to foxes and wolves2 but his bowels are miserably straitened and hardened against the poor sheep and lambs of ,christ40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #hc4 #adj ,eusebii ,eccles4 ,hist4 lib4 iv4 c4 xiii4 ,the rescript is also found appended to the second apology of ,justin ,martyr1 ,opera1 tom4 i4 p4 #ajj1 edit4 ,coloni1 #afhf4 ,by modern writers it is deemed spurious1 although in spirit consonant with the well known temper of the emperor4 ,neander ,ch4 ,hist4 i4 p4 #ada4 ,gieseler1 i4 #acj4 ,clark's ,for4 and ,theol4 ,lib4 #ada 8,though the same arm may with a staff beat a wolf1 yet it will not with the same staff beat a sheep4 ,the same voice from heaven that calleth the sheep by name into the sheepfold1 and leadeth them by still waters1 the same voice hath said1 that anti-christian wolves and seducers shall drink of blood1 for they are worthy40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #hf4 ,to this ,mr4 ,williams replies1 that if civil power may force out of the church1 it may also force in4 8,if civil power1 to wit1 by swords1 whips1 prisons1 c41 drives out the spiritual or mystical wolf1 the same undeniably must drive in the sheep40 ,the ,bloody ,tenent yet more ,bloody1 p4 #abh4 #adb 8,if those be peaceable and quiet subjects1 that withdraw subjects from subjection to ,christ3 if they be loving and helpful neighbours1 that help men on to perdition3 if they be fair and just dealers1 that wound the souls of the best1 and kill and destroy the souls of many1 if such be true and loyal to civil government1 that subject it to the tyranny of a foreign prelate1 then it will be no advantage to civil states1 when the kingdoms of the earth shall become the kingdoms of our ,lord2 and they may do as good service to the civil state1 who bring the wrath of ,god upon them by their apostasy1 as they that bring down blessings from heaven by the profession and practice of the true religion in purity40 ,cotton's ,reply1 pp4 #hg1 #hh4 #adc 8,magistrates ought to be so well acquainted with matters of religion1 as to discern the fundamental principles thereof1 and the evil of those heresies and blasphemies as do subvert the same4 ,their ignorance thereof is no discharge of their duty before the ,lord4 ,such wolfish oppressors1 and doctrines1 and practices as they cannot discern with their own eyes1 it will be their sin to suppress them1 because they cannot do it of faith3 or to tolerate them1 because they are destructive to the souls of the people40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #hi4 #add 8,it is no dishonour to ,christ1 nor impeachment of the sufficiency of the ordinances left by ,christ1 that in such a case his ministers of justice in the civil state1 should assist his ministers of the gospel in the church state40 ,ib4 p4 #ia4 #ade 8,elders must keep within the bounds of their calling2 but killing1 and dashing out of brains1 which is all one with stoning1 was expressly commanded in such a case to the people of ,god1 by order from the judges4 ,deut4 xiii4 #aj40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #ia4 #adf 8,nor is it a frustrating of the sweet end of ,christ's coming1 which was to save souls1 but rather a direct advancing of it1 to destroy 7if need be7 the bodies of those wolves1 who seek to destroy the souls of those for whom ,christ died40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #ic4 #adg 8,this is not unfitting nor improper1 that a magistrate should draw his sword1 though not in matters spiritual1 yet about matters spiritual1 to protect them in peace1 and to stave off the disturbers and destroyers of them40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #id4 #adh ,saker is the peregrine hawk2 but was applied to a piece of ordnance of three inches and a half bore1 carrying a ball of five pounds and a half weight4 #adi 8,it is far from me to allow the civil magistrate to make use of his civil weapons to batter down idolatry and heresy in the souls of men1 444 but if the idolater or heretic grow obstinate 444 now the magistrate maketh use1 not of stocks and whips1 but of death and banishment4444 ,heretics and idolaters may be restrained from the open practice and profession of their wickedness by the sword of justice1 and such weapons of righteousness40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #ie4 #aej 8,this inference will not here follow3 ,that1 therefore1 magistrates have nothing to do to punish any violation1 no1 not of the weightiest duties of the first table40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #if4 #aea ,comment4 in ,rom4 xiii4 #e1 tom4 v4 p4 #bjj1 ed4 ,tholuck4 #aeb 8,but how far off ,calvin's judgment was to restrain civil magistrates from meddling in matters of religion1 let him interpret himself in his own words1 in his answer to ,servetus1 who was put to death for his heresies at ,geneva by his procurement3--,hoc uno1 saith he1 contentus sum1 ,christi adventu2 nec mutatum esse ordinem politicum1 nec de magistratuum officio quicquam detractum40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #ih4 #aec ,comment4 in vers4 #h1 #aj1 tom4 v4 pp4 #bja1 #bjb4 #aed ,bez ,nov4 ,test4 in loc4 edit4 ,londini1 #aehe4 #aee 8,though idolatry1 and blasphemy1 and heresy1 be sins against the first table3 yet to punish these with civil penalties is a duty of the second table4444 ,it was neither the word nor judgment of ,calvin or ,beza1 so to interpret ,rom4 xiii4 as to exempt magistrates from power of punishing heresy and idolatry40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #ii4 #aef 8,in giving them a power and charge to execute vengeance on evil doers1 it behoved them to inquire and listen after true religion1 to hear and try all1 and upon serious1 deliberate1 and just scrutiny1 to hold fast that which is good1 and so prevent the disturbance thereof by the contrary4444 ,the cases of religion1 wherein we allow civil magistrates to be judges are so fundamental and palpable1 that no magistrate1 studious of religion1--but1 if he have any spiritual discerning1 he cannot but judge of such gross corruptions as are insufferable in religion40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #aja4 #aeg 8,paul did submit to ,csar's judgment-seat the trial of his innocency1 as well in matters of religion as in civil conversation4 ,for he pleadeth his innocency1 that he was guilty of none of those things whereof they did accuse him1 and for trial hereof he appealeth to ,csar4 ,now the things whereof they did accuse him1 were offences against the law of the ,jews1 and against the temple1 as well as against ,csar4 ,and offences against the law of the ,jews1 and against the temple1 were matters of religion40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #ajc4 #aeh 8,what though the sword be of a material and civil nature8444 ,it can reach to punish not only the offenders in bodily life and civil liberties1 but also the offenders against spiritual life and soul-liberties4444 ,if the sword of the judge or magistrate be the sword of the ,lord1 why may it not be drawn forth1 as well to defend his subjects in true religion1 as in civil peace8444 ,what holy care of religion lay upon the kings of ,israel in the ,old ,testament1 the same lieth now upon ,christian kings in the ,new ,testament1 to protect the same in their churches40 ,cotton's ,reply1 pp4 #ajd1 #aje4 #aei ,in 8,a ,model of ,church and ,civil ,power--sent to the ,church at ,salem10 examined at length by ,mr4 ,williams1 in some subsequent chapters of this volume4 #afj 8,when we say1 the magistrate is an avenger of evil1 we mean of all sorts or kinds of evil3 not every particular of each kind4 ,secret evils1 in thought1 or affection1 yea1 in action too1 but neither confessed1 nor proved by due witnesses1 the magistrate cannot punish40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #aaj4 #afa ,see before1 p4 #aa4 #afb ,see before1 p4 #bd4 #afc ,upon this point hath ,mr4 ,john ,goodwin excellently of late discoursed4 ,in 8,m4 ,s4 to ,a4 ,s41 with a ,plea for ,libertie of ,conscience in a ,church ,way10 c4 ,lond4 #afdd4 #dto4 pp4 #aaj4 ,see ,introduction to this volume4 #afd 8,i willingly grant1 it may be lawful for a civil magistrate to tolerate notorious evil doers in two cases1 under which all the examples will fall1 which the discusser allegeth2 444 when the magistrates' hand is too weak and feeble1 and the offenders' adherents too great and strong 444 and an evil may be tolerated to prevent other greater evils4444 ,in ordinary cases it is not lawful to tolerate a seducing false teacher4 ,the commandment of ,god is clear and strong1 ,deut4 xiii4 #h1 #i4444 ,capitalia ,mosis politica sunt terna40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #aac4 #afe 8,it will be hard for the discusser to find anti-christian seducers clear and free from disobedience to the civil laws of a state1 in case that anti-christ1 to whom they are sworn1 shall excommunicate the civil magistrate1 and prescribe the civil state to the invasion of foreigners40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #aae4 #aff ,see before1 p4 #bb4 8,the letter denieth the lawfulness of all persecution in cause of conscience1 that is1 in matter of religion3 ,i seek to evince the falsehood of it1 by an instance of lawful church-prosecution in case of false teachers40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #aag4 #afg 8,i intended to apply the scriptures written to the churches1 and to the officers thereof1 no further than to other churches and their officers4 ,the scriptures upon which we call in the magistrate to the punishment of seducers1 are such as are directed to civil states and magistrates1 of which divers have been mentioned and applied before40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #aah4 #afh ,see before1 p4 #bd4 #afi 8,this will no ways follow1 unless all men's consciences in the world did err fundamentally and obstinately after just conviction1 against the very principles of ,christian religion1 or unless they held forth other errors 444 and that in a turbulent and factious manner4 ,for in these cases only1 we allow magistrates to punish in matters of religion40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #abj4 #agj ,see before1 p4 #be4 #aga 8,the answer which ,i gave to his argument is not taken from the like number of princes1 but from the greater piety and presence of ,god with those princes who have professed and practised against toleration4 ,it is truly said1 suffragia non sunt numeranda1 sed ponderanda40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #abc4 #agb 8,if the discusser had well observed1 he would have found1 it was not the speech of the king1 but of the prisoner40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #abi4 #agc 8,though the unknowing zeal of the one was sinful1 yet it was the fruit of human frailty1--error amoris2 but the rage of the others was devilish fury1--amor erroris4 ,besides the unknowing zeal of the good emperors1 lay not in punishing notorious heretical seducers 444 it was toleration that made the world anti-christian40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #acb4 #agd 8,it followeth not4 ,for ,queen ,elizabeth might do well in persecuting seditious or seducing papists1 according to conscience rightly informed1 and ,king ,james do ill according to conscience misinformed40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #acf4 #age ,the ,third ,vial1 pp4 #f1 #g4 ,the object of ,mr4 ,cotton in this work was to justify the persecution of the papists by ,queen ,elizabeth1 and the imitation of that conduct in the ,low ,countries4 ,he says1 8,this phrase1 out of the altar1 holds forth some under persecution4444 ,duke ,d',alva boasts that #cf1jjj protestants were put to death by him1 and in #aehf the ,jesuits were banished the country4444 ,they the protestants justly say ,amen1 to the queen's law--that as she gave the popish emissaries blood to drink--the angel says1 ,even so1 ,amen4 ,they acknowledge ,god's almighty power1 that had given them power to make that law against them--#8all states rang of these laws1 and it raised all ,christendom1'0 c41 c4 ,the ,pouring out of the ,seven ,vials3 or an ,exposition of ,rev4 xvi4 ,by the learned and reverend ,john ,cotton1 ,b4,d4 ,london1 #afdb4 #dto4 #agf ,see before1 p4 #bf4 #agg 8,if it be unlawful to banish any from the commonwealth for cause of conscience1 it is unlawful to banish any from the church for cause of conscience4444 ,if the censure of a man for cause of conscience by the civil sword be persecution1 it is a far greater persecution to censure a man for cause of conscience by the spiritual sword4444 ,sure ,i am1 ,christ ,jesus reckoneth excommunication for persecution1 ,luke xxi4 #ab40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #adc4 #agh 8,i see no reason why the chaste and modest eye of a ,christian church should any more spare and pity a spiritual adulterer that seeketh to withdraw her from her spouse to a false ,christ1 than the eye of a holy ,israelite was to spare and pity the like tempters in days of old1 ,deut4 xiii4 #h40 ,ib4 p4 #add4 #agi ,see before1 p4 #bd4 #ahj 8,thus far he may be constrained1 by withholding such countenance and favour from him1 such encouragement and employment from him1 as a wise and discerning prince would otherwise grant to such as believe the truth and profess it40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #ade4 #aha ,by the #ceth of ,elizabeth1 all subjects of the realm above sixteen years of age1 were compelled to attend church under the penalties of fine and imprisonment4 ,collier's ,eccles4 ,hist4 vii4 #afc4 ,the pilgrim fathers of ,new ,england adopted a similar obnoxious and persecuting law4 ,in the year #afca1 it was enacted by their general court1 8that no one should enjoy the privileges of a freeman1 unless he was a member of some church in the colony40 8,every inhabitant was compelled to contribute to the support of religion1 and the magistrates insisted on the presence of every man at public worship40 ,knowles's ,memoir of ,roger ,williams1 p4 #dd4 ,bancroft's ,hist4 of ,u4 ,states1 i4 #cfi4 #ahb 8,i know of no constraint at all that lieth upon the consciences of any in ,new ,england1 to come to church4444 ,least of all do ,i know that any are constrained to pay church duties in ,new ,england4 ,sure ,i am1 none in our own town are constrained to pay any church duties at all4 ,what they pay they give voluntarily1 each one with his own hand1 without any constraint at all1 but their own will1 as the ,lord directs them40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #adf4 ,mr4 ,williams thus rejoins1 8,if ,mr4 ,cotton be forgetful1 sure he can hardly be ignorant of the laws and penalties extant in ,new ,england that are1 or if repealed have been1 against such as absent themselves from church morning and evening1 and for non-payment of church duties1 although no members4 ,for a freedom of not paying in his town 7,boston7 it is to their commendation and ,god's praise4 ,yet who can be ignorant of the assessments upon all in other towns1 of the many suits and sentences in courts40 c4 ,bloody ,tenent yet more ,bloody1 p4 #baf4 #ahc ,see before1 p4 #bf4 #ahd 8,it is not true that the ,new ,english do tolerate the ,indians1 who have submitted to the ,english protection and government1 in their worship of devils openly4444 ,it hath been an article of the covenant between such ,indians as have submitted to our government1 that they shall submit to the ten commandments40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #adh4 ,on the contrary ,mr4 ,williams re-asserts1 that certain tribes of the ,indians 8who profess to submit to the ,english1 continue in the public paganish worship of devils--,i say openly1 and constantly10 and that their practices are in utter opposition to the ten commandments they had professed to receive4 ,bloody ,tenet1 c4 p4 #bah4 #ahe ,but 8that is a civil law whatsoever concerneth the good of the city1 and the propulsing of the contrary4 ,now religion is the best good of the city3 and1 therefore1 laws about religion are truly called civil laws1 enacted by civil authority1 about the best good of the city4444 ,here will be needful the faithful vigilancy of the ,christian magistrate1 to assist the officers of the church in the ,lord's work3 the one to lay in antidotes to prevent infection1 the other to weed out infectious1 noisome weeds1 which the sheep of ,christ will be touching and taking40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #aea4 #ahf ,see before1 p4 #bg4 ,also1 ,tracts on ,lib4 of ,conscience1 p4 #bbj4 #ahg ,in this paragraph ,mr4 ,williams refers the above quotation to ,tertullian1 but by an evident mistake or slip of the pen2 we have1 therefore1 inserted in the text 8,jerome10 instead of 8,tertullian10 as in the copy4 #ahh 8,the ,lord1 through his grace1 hath opened mine eye many a year ago to discern that a national church is not the institution of the ,lord ,jesus40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #aef4 #ahi ,see before1 p4 #bf4 #aij 8,it is an untruth1 that either we restrain men from worship according to conscience1 or constrain them to worship against conscience2 or that such is my tenet and practice40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #aeg4 8,i earnestly beseech10 says ,mr4 ,williams1 8every reader seriously to ponder the whole stream and series of ,mr4 ,cotton's discourse1 propositions1 affirmations1 c41 through the whole book1 and he shall then be able to judge whether it be untrue that his doctrine tends not to constrain nor restrain conscience4444 ,and a cruel law is yet extant in ,new ,england against ,christ ,jesus1 muffled up under the hood or veil of a law against anabaptistry40 ,bloody ,tenet yet1 c41 p4 #bcc4 #aia ,see before1 p4 #bh4 #aib 8,though the government of the civil magistrate do extend no further than over the bodies and goods of his subjects1 yet he may and ought to improve that power 444 to the good of their souls2 yea1 he may much advance the good of their outward man also40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #afb4 #aic ,see before1 p4 #bh4 #aid 8,when the wolf runneth ravenously upon the sheep1 is it against the nature of the true sheep to run to their shepherd8 ,and is it then against the nature of the true shepherd to send forth his dogs to worry such a wolf1 without incurring the reproach of a persecutor40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #aga4 #aie ,see before1 p4 #bh4 #aif 8,the murder of the soul is not the only proper cause of a heretic's capital crime1 but chiefly his bitter root of apostasy from ,god3 not only falling off himself from ,god1 but seducing others40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #age4 #aig 8,yet the very murderous attempt of killing a soul1 in abusing an ordinance of ,god1 in corrupting a religion1 is a capital crime1 whether the soul die of that wound or no40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #age4 #aih 8,as for such as apostate from the known truth of religion1 and seek to subvert the foundation of it1 and to draw away others from it1 to plead for their toleration1 in hope of their conversion1 is as much as to proclaim a general pardon for all malefactors2 for he that is a wilful murderer and adulterer now1 may come to be converted and die a martyr hereafter40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #agf4 #aii 8,it appeareth he meant not that passage of ,deut4 xiii41 but of ,exod4 xxxii41 where he put to death idolaters2 and that of ,levit4 xxiv41 where he put the blasphemers to death40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #agh4 #bjj 8,the text numbereth them #dej and he numbereth them #hej40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #agi4 #bja 8,is it a miracle for ,elijah1 with the aid of so many thousand people of ,israel1 to put to death #dej men1 whose spirits were discouraged1 being convinced of their forgery and idolatry80 ,ib4 p4 #agi4 #bjb ,see before1 p4 #ag4 #bjc ,see before1 p4 #cj4 #bjd ,an answer to thirty-two questions by the elders of the churches in ,new ,england4 ,published by ,mr4 ,peters2 ,lond41 #afdc4 #bje 8,if princes be nursing fathers to the church1 then they are to provide that the children of the church be not nursed with poison instead of milk4 ,and in so doing they keep the first table4444 ,princes sit on the bench over the church in the offensive government of the church3 and yet may themselves1 being members of the church1 be subject to church censure in the offensive government of themselves against the rules of the gospel40 ,cotton's ,reply1 p4 #aid4 #bjf ,under the influence of ,calvin the legislation of ,geneva was entirely theocratic4 ,idolatry1 adultery1 cursing and striking parents1 were punishable with death4 ,imprisonment was inflicted for every immorality at the instance of the church courts4 ,women were forbidden to wear golden ornaments1 and not more than two rings on their fingers4 ,even their feasts were regulated3 but three courses were allowed1 and each course to consist of only four dishes4 ,great efforts were also made1 which gave rise to many civil commotions1 to remove from office under the state persons excommunicated by the church4 ,henry's ,das ,leben ,calvins1 p4 #agc1 edit4 #ahdc4 #bjg ,chamier4 ,de ,eccles4 p4 #cgf4 ,parker1 part4 polit4 lib4 i4 cap4 #a4 #bjh ,that is1 baptism and the ,lord's supper4 #bji ,see ,broadmead ,records1 ,introd4 pp4 xli41 lxxxvii4 #baj 8,if a prince should1 by covenant and oath1 make his whole kingdom a national church1 he should do more than he hath any word of ,christ to warrant his work40 ,a ,survey of the ,sum of ,ch4 ,discipline1 c41 part #b1 ,argument #ab4 #baa ,among the early settlers were two brothers of the name of ,brown1 who1 still attached to the rites of the church of ,england1 set up a separate assembly1 and when summoned before the governor1 accused the ministers of departing from the usages of that church1 adding that they were separatists1 and would soon become anabaptists4 ,to this the ministers made reply1 8,that they were neither separatists nor anabaptists1 that they did not separate from the church of ,england1 nor from the ordinances of ,god there1 but only from the corruptions and disorders of that church2 they came away from the ,common ,prayer and ceremonies 444 because they judged the imposition of these things to be sinful corruptions of the word of ,god40 ,neal's ,hist4 of ,new ,england1 i4 p4 #add4 ,the two brothers were sent back to ,england in the same ship that brought them over4 #bab ,the law concerning heresy stood thus in ,new ,england3 8,whoever denies the immortality of the soul1 the resurrection of the body1 or the evil done by the outward man is sin1 or that ,christ gave himself a ransom for sins1 or that we are justified by his righteousness1 or the morality of the fourth command1 or the baptizing of infants1 or the ordinance of magistracy1 or their authority to make war1 or punish offenders against the first table2 whoever denies any of these1 or seduces others to do so1 must be banished the jurisdiction40 ,neal's ,hist4 of ,new ,england1 ii4 p4 #cdd4 #bac ,see note before1 p4 #afd4 #bad ,diana1 in the original copy4 #bae 8,i do not disapprove of the use frequently made of it by ,st4 ,augustine against the ,donatists1 to prove that godly princes may lawfully issue edicts to compel obstinate and rebellious persons to worship the true ,god1 and to maintain the unity of the faith2 for although faith is a voluntary thing1 yet we see that such means are useful to subdue the obstinacy of those who will not until compelled obey40 ,calvin in loc4 tom4 ii4 #dc4 edit4 ,tholuck4 #baf ,in the ,platform of ,church ,discipline1 agreed upon at ,cambridge in ,new ,england in #afdh1 it is provided that not only members of churches1 but hearers of the word also1 shall contribute to the maintenance of the ministry3 if the deacons failed to obtain it1 recourse was then to be had to the magistrate1 whose duty it was held to be to see that the ministry be duly provided for4 ,c4 ,mather's ,magnalia1 book v4 p4 #ca4 ,neal's ,hist4 of ,new ,england1 ii4 p4 #cja4 #bag ,mr4 ,henry ,ainsworth1 the most eminent of the ,brownists1 was the author of a very learned commentary on the ,pentateuch and ,canticles1 as also of several other minor works4 8,he was10 says ,mr4 ,cotton1 8diligently studious of the ,hebrew text1 hath not been unuseful to the church in his exposition of the ,pentateuch1 especially of ,moses's rituals40 ,way of ,cong4 ,churches1 p4 #f4 ,stuart's edit4 of his ,two ,treatises1 p4 #ee4 #bah ,the composition of the first book of ,homilies is generally attributed to ,cranmer1 ,ridley1 ,latimer1 ,hopkins1 and ,becon4 ,jewel is said to have had the largest share in the second1 although ,archbishop ,parker speaks of them as 8revised and finished1 with a second part1 by him and other bishops40 ,the first edition of the first book appeared in ,july1 #aedg1 #a ,edward ,,vi4 ,the use of the ,apocrypha in the church service was an early complaint of the ,puritans4 ,the apocryphal books were commanded to be bound up with the other books of scripture by ,archbishop ,whitgift4 ,short's ,hist4 of ,church of ,england1 p4 #bci4 ,strype's ,whitgift1 i4 #eij4 ,neal1 i4 #dbg4 #bai ,a ,letter of many ,ministers in ,old ,england requesting the judgment of their reverend brethren in ,new ,england concerning nine positions3 written ,a4,d4 #afcg4 ,together with their answer thereto returned1 anno #afci1 c4 ,published #afdc1 #dto4 pp4 #ij4 ,for a condensed view of it1 see ,hanbury's ,hist4 ,memorials1 ii4 pp4 #ah-ci4 #bbj ,sentiments precisely similar to the above were embodied in the seventeenth chapter of the ,cambridge ,platform1 and continued to be for many years the ruling principles of the congregational churches of ,new ,england4 ,see ,c4 ,mather's ,magnalia1 book v4 p4 #cg4 #bba ,see ,tracts on ,lib4 of ,conscience1 ,introd4 p4 xxxii4 #bbb ,the ,assembly of ,divines was at this time engaged in forming a directory of worship for the entire nation4 #bbc ,the central part of a target1 which anciently was painted white4 #bbd ,there are two chapters numbered ,,cxx4 in the original copy4 #bbe ,nero and the persecuting emperors were not so injurious to ,christianity1 as ,constantine and others who assumed a power in spiritual things4 ,under ,constantine ,christianity fell into corruption1 and ,christians fell asleep4 #bbf ,martial1 ,de ,spectaculis ,libellus1 ,ep4 ix4 #bbg ,see ,neal's ,hist4 of ,puritans1 i4 #cec1 edit4 #ahcg4 #bbh ,is not this too like the pope's profession of servus servorum ,dei1 yet holding out his slipper to the lips of princes1 kings1 and emperors8 #bbi ,for elucidations of the references made by ,mr4 ,williams in this preface to his sufferings1 and for ,mr4 ,cotton's reply1 see the ,biographical ,introduction4 #bcj ,it is a monstrous paradox1 that ,god's children should persecute ,god's children1 and that they that hope to live eternally together with ,christ ,jesus in the heavens1 should not suffer each other to live in this common air together1 c4 ,i am informed it was the speech of an honourable knight of the parliament3 8,what6 ,christ persecute ,christ in ,new ,england80#bca #bca 8,though ,god's children may not persecute ,god's children1 nor wicked men either1 for well-doing3 yet if they be found to walk in the way of the wicked--their brethren may justly deprive them in some cases not only of the common air of the country1 by banishment1 but even of the common air of the world by death1 and yet hope to live eternally with them in the heavens40 ,master ,john ,cotton's ,answer to ,master ,roger ,williams1 p4 #ad4 #bcb ,that is1 of the church at ,salem1 of which ,mr4 ,williams was then the pastor4 #bcc ,this should be four hundred and fifty4 ,see #a ,kings xviii4 #ai-bb3--or including the 8prophets of the groves10 #hej4 #bcd 8,the truth is1 ,i did not publish that discourse to the world--,a brief discourse in defence of set forms of prayer was penned by ,mr4 ,ball--that a religious knight sent over with desire to hear our judgment of it4 ,at his request ,i drew up a short answer1 and sent one copy to the knight and another to ,mr4 ,ball divers years ago4 ,how it came to be published ,i do not know40 ,cotton's ,answer1 p4 #bc4 ,see ,hanbury's ,hist4 ,mem4 ii4 #aeg1 for an abstract of it4 #bce ,see also ,biographical ,introduction to this volume4 #bcf 8,the scope of my letter was1 not to confirm the equity of his banishment1 but to convince the iniquity of his separation40 ,cotton's ,answer1 p4 #da4 #bcg 8,he that shall withdraw or separate the corn from the people1 or the people from the corn2 the people have just cause to separate either him from themselves1 or themselves from him4 ,and this proportion will hold as well in spiritual corn as bodily40 ,cotton's ,answer1 p4 #dd4 #bch 8,if men hinder the enjoyment of spiritual good things1 may they not be hindered from the enjoyment of that which is less1 carnal good things80 ,ib4 p4 #df4 #bci 8,i spent a great part of the summer in seeking by word and writing to satisfy his scruples1 until he rejected both our callings1 and our churches4 ,and even then ,i ceased not to follow him still1 444 whereof this very letter is a pregnant and evident demonstration40 ,cotton's ,answer1 p4 #dg4 #bdj 8,i intended not a cordial of consolation to him1 444 but only a conviction1 to abate the rigour of his indignation against the dispensation of divine justice40 ,cotton's ,answer1 p4 #dh4 #bda 8,i bless the ,lord from my soul for his abundant mercy in forcing me out thence1 in so fit a season40 ,cotton's ,answer1 p4 #di4 #bdb ,mr4 ,cotton was at one time much inclined to ,antinomianism1 which1 in the hands of ,mrs4 ,hutchinson1 led to no small disturbance in ,new ,england4 ,he however denied that he wished to separate on the ground of the legal teaching of the churches with whom he held communion1 but thought of removing to ,new ,haven1 8as being better known to the pastor and some others there1 than to such as were at that time jealous0 of him in ,boston4 ,a timely perception of ,mrs4 ,hutchinson's errors led him to renounce her fellowship1 and he remained at ,boston4 ,neal's ,hist4 of ,n4 ,e41 i4 #ahc2 ,mather's ,magnalia1 iii4 #ba2 ,knowles's ,life of ,r4 ,williams1 p4 #adj4 #bdc 8,i have been given to understand1 that the increase of concourse of people to him on the ,lord's days in private1 to the neglect or deserting of public ordinances1 and to the spreading of the leaven of his corrupt imaginations1 provoked the magistrates1 rather than to breed a winter's spiritual plague in the country1 to put him a winter's journey out of the country40 ,notwithstanding1 ,mr4 ,cotton asserts that ,mr4 ,williams was treated most tenderly by the officer1 ,james ,boone1 8who dare not allow that liberty to his tongue1 which the examiner often useth in this discourse40 ,cotton's ,answer1 p4 #eg4 #bdd 8,this ,confession may be found in ,crosby1 but without the #8story of his life and death1' which we have never yet been able to find40 ,hist4 of ,eng4 ,baptists1 ii4 ,app4 ,no4 #a4 #bde 8,as for ,mr4 ,smith he standeth and falleth to his own master4 ,whilst he was preacher to the city of ,lincoln1 he wrought with ,god then3 what temptations befel him after1 by the evil workings of evil men1 and some good men too1 ,i choose rather to tremble at1 than discourse of40 ,the fault of this 8man fearing ,god10 appears to have been first his becoming a baptist1 and then his acceptance of the opinions of certain ,dutch baptists1 with whom he held communion in ,amsterdam4 ,the early baptists held generally opinions which became known after the ,synod of ,dort as ,arminian4 ,in addition to these ,mr4 ,smith held peculiar views on the nature of spiritual worship1 which brought him into great disrepute with his fellow exiles1 the ,brownists and ,independents4 ,cotton's ,answer p4 #eh1 ,smith's ,differences of the ,ch4 of the ,separation1 part i4 edit4 #afjh4 #bdf ,see ,smith's ,parallels and ,censures1 p4 #i1 c4 edit4 #afji4 #bdg 8,it is not because ,i think such persons are not fit matter for church-estate2 but because they yet want a fit form1 requisite to church estate40 ,cotton's ,answer1 p4 #fc4 #bdh 8,the answer to that question and to all the other thirty-two questions1 were drawn up by ,mr4 ,mader--however1 the substance of that answer doth generally suit with all our minds1 as ,i conceive4 ,i have read it1 and did readily approve it to be judicious and solid4 ,but his answer 444 is notoriously slandered and abused by the examiner40 ,cotton's ,answer1 p4 #fc4 ,lechford1 in his 8,plain ,dealing10 c41 however tells us of a minister1 who 8standing upon his ministry as of the church of ,england1 and arguing against their covenant1 and being elected at ,weymouth1 was compelled to recant some words40 ,one of his friends for being active in his election was fined #aj1 and uttering some cross words1 #e more1 8and payed it down40 ,p4 #bb4 #bdi 8,it was his doctrines and practices which tended to the civil disturbance of the commonwealth1 together with his heady and busy pursuit of the same1 even to the rejection of all churches here2 these they were that made him unfit for enjoying communion in the one state or in the other40 ,cotton's ,answer1 p4 #fd4 #bej 8,his distinction1 in the general ,i do approve it1 and do willingly acknowledge that a godly person may be1 through ignorance or negligence1 so far enthralled to anti-christ1 as to be separate from ,christ1 taking ,christ as head of the visible church40 ,cotton's ,answer1 p4 #ff4 #bea 8,what if ecclesiastical stories be deficient in telling us the times and places of their church assemblies8 ,is therefore the word of ,god deficient1 or the church deficient1 because human stories are deficient8444 ,yet sometimes their own inquisitors confess1 that the churches of the ,waldenses1 or men of that way1 have been extant a tempore apostolorum40 ,cotton's ,answer1 p4 #fi4 #beb 8,my words are misreported3 and the contradiction ariseth from his misreport4 ,for ,god's people and godly persons are not all one4 ,any church members may be called ,god's people1 as being in external covenant with him1 and yet they are not always godly persons4 ,god's people may be so enthralled to anti-christ1 as to separate them utterly from ,christ1 both as head of the visible and invisible church2 but godly persons cannot be so enthralled40 ,cotton's ,answer1 p4 #ga4 #bec 8,he requireth that we should cut off ourselves from hearing the ministry of the parishes in ,england1 as being the ministry of a national1 or parishional church1 whereof both the church estate is falsely constituted1 and all the ministry1 worship1 and government thereof false also4 ,if he speak of the national church government1 we must confess the truth1 there indeed is truth fallen and falsehood hath prevailed much4--,all of them are forsaken of ,truth1 and can challenge no warrant of truth but falsely40 ,cotton's ,answer1 pp4 #gg1 #hd4 #bed 8,if the examiner had been pleased to have read ,mr4 ,brightman on ,rev4 xviii4 #d1 he might find ,i was not the first that interpreted either that place in ,isaiah1 or this in ,revelation1 of a local separation40 ,cotton's ,answer1 p4 #hg4 #bee 8,the two causes of ,god's indignation against ,england--,i would rather say ,amen to them1 than weaken the weight of them4 ,only ,i should so assent to the latter1 as not to move for a toleration of all dissenters1 dissenters in fundamentals40 ,cotton's ,answer1 p4 #hi4 #bef 8,our joining with the ministers of ,england in hearing of the word and prayer1 doth not argue our church-communion with the parish churches in ,england1 much less with the national church40 ,mr4 ,cotton then proceeds to deny that ,mr4 ,williams was persecuted1 or that he admonished them humbly and faithfully4 ,his banishment was no persecution2 his statement of his opinions no admonition4 ,cotton's ,answer1 p4 #aja4 #beg 8,who seeth not1 that in these words ,i express not mine own reasoning or meaning1 but his2 and that ,i expressly say1 the true meaning of the text will nothing more reach to his purpose2 and so bring in his reason in form of an enthymeme1 which he draws from it80 ,cotton's ,answer1 p4 #aje4 #beh 8,sure ,i am1 we look at infants as members of our church1 as being federally holy1 but ,i am slow to believe that all of them are regenerate1 or truly godly40 ,cotton's ,answer1 p4 #ajh4 #bei 8,these are palpable mistakes of those words of mine1 which ,i expressed as the sum of his words1 which he through haste conceived to be mine40 ,ib4 p4 #ajh4 #bfj 8,we wholly avoid national1 provincial1 and diocesan government of the churches by episcopal authority2 we avoid their prescript liturgies1 and communion with open scandalous persons in any church order2 444 it is a continual sorrow of heart1 and mourning of our souls that there is yet so much of those notorious evils which he nameth 444 suffered to thrust themselves into the fellowship of the churches1 and to sit down with the saints at the ,lord's table4 ,but yet ,i count all these but remnants of pollution1 when as the substance of the true estate of churches abideth in their congregational assemblies40 ,cotton's ,answer1 p4 #ajh4 #bfa 8,mr4 ,williams probably refers to the refusal by the ,general ,court to listen to a petition from ,salem relative to a piece of land which was claimed as belonging to that town4 ,but according to ,winthrop1 #8because they had chosen ,mr4 ,williams their teacher1 while he stood under question of authority1 and so offered contempt to the magistrates1 their petition was refused10 c4 ,knowles1 p4 #gj4 #bfb 8,his banishment proceeded not against him or his for his own refusal of any worship1 but for seditious opposition against the patent1 and against the oath of fidelity offered to the people2 444 he also wrote letters of admonition to all the churches whereof the magistrates were members1 for deferring to give present answer to a petition of ,salem1 who had refused to hearken to a lawful motion of theirs40 ,cotton's ,answer1 p4 #aac4 #bfc 8,it seemeth he never read the story of the classes in ,northamptonshire1 ,suffolk1 ,essex1 ,london1 ,cambridge1 discovered by a false brother to ,doctor ,bancroft40 ,cotton's ,answer1 p4 #aaf1 ,neal's ,puritans1 i4 #bbf1 #cai4 #bfd ,udall had been a tutor to ,queen ,elizabeth in the learned languages1 yet for writing a little book against ,diocesan ,church ,government and ,ceremonies he was condemned to die1 and would have been executed but for the queen's feelings of respect to her aged tutor4 ,a copy of this exceedingly rare book is in ,mr4 ,offor's library4 #bfe 8,he died by the annoyance of the prison3 when the coroner's jury came to survey the dead body of ,mr4 ,udall in prison1 he bled freshly1 though cold before1 as a testimony against the murderous illegal proceedings of the state against him40 ,cotton's ,answer1 p4 #aaf1 ,neal1 i4 #cci4 #bff ,mr4 ,cotton says1 that ,penry confessed that he deserved death for having seduced many to separation from hearing the word in the parish churches1 so that their souls were justly required at his hand4 ,ibid4 p4 #aag4 ,this can scarcely be correct if we judge from the general tenor of ,penry's character4 ,see ,hanbury's ,hist4 ,memorials1 i4 #gi1 note e4 #bfg ,see ,broadmead ,records1 ,intro4 p4 xxxviii4 ,hanbury1 i4 #ce1 #fb4 ,mr4 ,cotton endeavours to throw no little obloquy and discredit on these two witnesses to the truth2 but most unjustly4 ,answer p4 #aag4 #bfh ,in 8,a ,necessitie of ,separation from the ,church of ,england proved by ,nonconformist ,principles1 c40 ,by ,john ,canne1 pastor of the ,ancient ,english ,church at ,amsterdam1 #afcd1 #dto4 pp4 #bfd4 #bfi 8,mr4 ,ainsworth's name is of best esteem1 without all exception1 in that way who refused communion with hearing in ,england4 ,and if his people suffered him to live on ninepence a week1 with roots boiled1 surely either the people were grown to a very extreme low estate1 or else the growth of their godliness was grown to a very low ebb40 ,cotton's ,answer1 p4 #abb4 ,the remarks of ,mr4 ,hanbury1 with the quotation he produces from the preface1 by a friend of ,ainsworth1 to his ,annotations on ,solomon's ,song1 do not appear in the least to invalidate the statement of ,williams4 ,in the earlier part of his exile1 in common with ,johnson and the other separatists1 he was exposed to great straits and difficulties1 and it may be to that period that ,mr4 ,williams refers4 ,see ,hanbury1 i4 #dcc4 #bgj 8,this ,i speak with respect to ,mr4 ,robinson and to his church1 who grew to acknowledge1 and in a judicious and godly discourse to approve and defend1 the lawful liberty of hearing the word from the godly preachers of the parishes in ,england40 ,cotton's ,answer1 p4 #abc4 #bga ,mr4 ,robinson's book was published nine years after his death4 ,it was entitled1 8,of the ,lawfulness of ,hearing of the ,ministers in the ,church of ,england3 penned by that ,learned and ,reverend ,divine1 ,mr4 ,john ,robinson1 late pastor to the ,english ,church of ,god in ,leyden1 and ,printed ,anno #afcd40 ,mr4 ,canne's work in reply was entitled 8,a ,stay against ,straying10 #dto4 #afci4 #bgb 8,if this be all the conclusion he striveth for1 ,i shall never contend with him about it4 ,but this is that ,i deny1 a man to participate in a church-estate1 where he partaketh only in hearing and prayer1 before and after sermon2 and joineth not with them1 neither in their covenant1 nor in the seals of the covenant40 ,cotton's ,answer1 p4 #abi4 #bgc ,that is1 as ,mr4 ,cotton explains it1 because 8being cast out by the usurping power of the prelacy1 and dismissed1 though against their wills1 by our congregations1 we looked at ourselves as private members1 and not officers to any church here1 until one or other church might call us unto office40 ,any other sense is either a mistake1 or a 8fraudulent expression of our minds40 ,answer p4 #aca4 #bgd 8,we are not so masterly and peremptory in our apprehensions2 and yet the more plainly and exactly all church-actions are carried on according to the letter of the rule1 the more glory shall we give unto the ,lord ,jesus1 and procure the more peace to our consciences and to our churches1 and reserve more purity and power to all our administrations40 ,cotton's ,answer1 p4 #acb4 #bge ,see ,broadmead ,records1 ,intro4 p4 lxxix4 #bgf 8,the world is taken in scripture more ways than one1 and so is separation2 as when the apostle exhorteth the ,romans1 not to conform their church-bodies according to the platform of the ,roman monarchy1 into cumenical1 national1 provincial1 diocesan bodies1 ,rom4 xii4 #b4 ,from the world1 as taken for civil government of it1 we are to separate our church-bodies1 and the government thereof in frame and constitution40 ,cotton's ,answer1 pp4 #ace1 #acf4 #bgg 8,our not receiving all comers unto the communion of the ,lord's table1 and other parts of church fellowship1 saving only unto the public hearing of the word and presence at other duties1 it argueth indeed that such persons either think themselves unfit materials for church fellowship1 or else that we conceive them to be as stones standing in need of a little more hewing and squaring before they be laid as living stones in the walls of the ,lord's house40 ,cotton's ,answer1 p4 #aci4 #bgh 8,our practice in suppressing such as have attempted to set up a parishional way1 ,i never heard of such a thing here to this day4 ,and if any such thing were done before my coming into the country1 ,i do not think it was done by forcible compulsion1 but by rational conviction40 ,cotton's ,answer1 p4 #aci4 ,it is difficult to reconcile this disclaimer with facts1 unless we attribute ignorance to ,mr4 ,cotton4 ,see before1 p4 #bcc1 note #h4 #bgi ,mr4 ,cotton calls this an untruth1 yet he adds1 8,i hold that the receiving all the inhabitants in the parish into the full fellowship of the church1 and the admitting of them all unto the liberty of all the ordinances1 is an human corruption1 and so if he will1 an human invention40 ,answer1 p4 #adj4 #bhj 8,the answer is near at hand4444 ,those mine enemies which would not that ,i should reign over them1 bring them hither1 and slay them before my face1 ,luke xix4 #bg4 ,and yet ,i would not be so understood as if ,christ did allow his vicegerents to practise all that himself would practise in his own person4 ,for not all the practices or acts of ,christ1 but the laws of ,christ1 are the rules of man's administrations40 ,cotton's ,answer1 p4 #add4 ,,finis4 ,j4 ,,haddon1 ,,printer1 ,,castle ,,street1 ,,finsbury4 ,,errata4 ,page #g1 line #d1 for 8to all men10 read 8all men40 #ba1 dele 8men40 #h1 line #cb1 for 8,he that believeth shall not be damned10 read 8,he that believeth not shall be damned40 ,,the ,,second ,,annual ,,report ,,of ,,the ,,hanserd ,,knollys ,,society1 ,,for ,,the ,,publication ,,of ,,the ,,works ,,of ,,early ,,english ,,and ,,other ,,baptist ,,writers4 #ahdg-h4 ,,london3 ,,printed ,,by ,,john ,,haddon1 ,,castle ,,street1 ,,finsbury4 #ahdh4 ,,second ,,general ,,meeting4 ,,april #bhth1 #ahdh4 ,mr4 ,,charles ,,jones in the ,chair4 ,prayer by ,mr4 ,,rothery4 ,e4 ,b4 ,,underhill1 ,esq41 read the ,annual ,report1 and ,,george ,,offor1 ,esq41 presented the ,cash ,accounts and ,financial ,statement4 ,it was moved by ,dr4 ,,cox1 seconded by ,rev4 ,w4 ,,jones1 of ,stepney1 and resolved unanimously3-- 8,that the gratifying ,report now read be approved1 printed1 and circulated among the ,subscribers under the direction of the ,council40 ,it was moved by ,,george ,,offor1 ,esq41 seconded by ,rev4 ,r4 ,,morris1 of ,manchester1 and resolved unanimously3-- 8,that the ,gentlemen whose names follow be the ,officers and ,council for the year ensuing40 ,treasurer4 ,,charles ,,jones1 ,esq4 ,honorary ,secretaries4 ,e4 ,b4 ,,underhill1 ,esq4 ,rev4 ,w4 ,,jones4 ,council4 ,rev4 ,j4 ,,acworth4 ,rev4 ,j4 ,,angus1 ,m4,a4 ,rev4 ,c4 ,m4 ,,birrell4 ,rev4 ,,caleb ,,evans ,,birt1 ,m4,a4 ,rev4 ,w4 ,h4 ,,black4 ,rev4 ,w4 ,,brock4 ,rev4 ,,thomas ,,burditt4 ,rev4 ,,jabez ,,burns1 ,d4,d4 ,rev4 ,f4 ,a4 ,,cox1 ,d4,d4 ,,ll4,d4 ,rev4 ,t4 ,s4 ,,crisp4 ,rev4 ,b4 ,,davies1 ,ph4 ,d4 ,rev4 ,b4 ,,evans4 ,rev4 ,b4 ,,godwin1 ,d4,d4 ,rev4 ,f4 ,w4 ,,gotch1 ,m4,a4 ,rev4 ,w4 ,,groser4 ,rev4 ,j4 ,h4 ,,hinton1 ,m4,a4 ,rev4 ,j4 ,,hoby1 ,d4,d4 ,,charles ,t4 ,,jones1 ,esq4 ,g4 ,f4 ,,kemp1 ,esq4 ,,george ,,lowe1 ,esq41 ,f4,r4,s4 ,rev4 ,w4 ,h4 ,,murch1 ,d4,d4 ,rev4 ,j4 ,p4 ,,mursell4 ,rev4 ,,thomas ,,fox ,,newman4 ,,george ,,offor1 ,esq4 ,rev4 ,g4 ,h4 ,,orchard4 ,rev4 ,t4 ,,pottenger4 ,rev4 ,j4 ,j4 ,,owen4 ,rev4 ,,thomas ,,price1 ,d4,d4 ,,james ,,read1 ,esq4 ,rev4 ,,robert ,,roff4 ,rev4 ,,joshua ,,russell4 ,rev4 ,j4 ,,sprigg1 ,m4,a4 ,rev4 ,e4 ,,steane1 ,d4,d4 ,rev4 ,c4 ,,stovel4 ,rev4 ,,thomas ,,thomas4 ,rev4 ,f4 ,,trestrail4 ,the ,meeting was closed with prayer by ,rev4 ,mr4 ,,smith1 of ,park ,street4 ,,report4 ,it is not in the power of a literary ,society such as this to lay before the ,subscribers matters of exciting interest4 ,it is enough if its object be accomplished satisfactorily to the ,subscribers1 and the condition of their funds allow the progressive fulfilment of the purposes of its formation4 ,at the last ,annual ,meeting the number of ,subscribers to the first year's publications registered1 was #ajdd2 that has been increased during the year to #abei4 ,the number up to the present moment for the volumes for #ahdg1 is #ajjg2 but there remains a very considerable amount of subscriptions unpaid4 ,the list will of course be variable1 and deficiencies must continually occur from the various incidents of life4 ,for the year #ahdg1 the reprint of ,bunyan's ,pilgrim's ,progress from the original editions1 has been placed in the hands of the ,subscribers4 ,this very unique volume has met with the entire approbation of the ,society1 and supplies a desideratum in the literary world at large--a critical and authentic edition of the great ,dreamer's immortal work4 ,the labour involved in this undertaking1 the useful and interesting introduction accompanying it1 and the passage of the work through the press1 have been gratuitously afforded to the ,society by its very able editor1 ,george ,offor1 ,esq4 ,it was the wish of the ,council to complete the year's issue with a reprint of ,henry ,danver's ,treatise of ,baptism4 ,the very great labour1 however1 involved in its preparation for the press1 has not permitted the editor1 the ,rev4 ,w4 ,h4 ,black1 to have it in a sufficient state of forwardness for immediate publication4 ,the ,council have therefore substituted for it1 8,the ,bloudy ,tenent of ,persecution ,discussed10 by ,roger ,williams1 the first sheets of which are in the press1 and they hope to place it in the hands of the ,subscribers by the end of ,july4 ,the controversy which forms the subject of this most valuable work1 is of no less interest at the present time than when the author of it became an outcast1 an exile1 and a wanderer in the wilds of ,america to escape from the persecuting spirit of the ,pilgrim ,fathers4 ,mr4 ,williams was the honoured founder of ,rhode ,island ,state1 the first of the ,united ,states in which entire and perfect liberty of conscience was permitted and enjoyed4 ,the work now preparing is of extreme rarity1 three copies only being known to exist in this country1 and two in ,america4 ,it is being reprinted from the copy in the ,bodleian library at ,oxford4 ,the ,council have in preparation for the year #ahdh1 the first volume of the ,dutch ,martyrology1 and a volume of ,john ,canne's works4 ,the ,book of ,martyrs has been undertaken at the earnest request of many of the ,subscribers1 and is in course of translation by a gentleman who has for some years resided in ,holland4 ,he has already made considerable progress in the work1 so that the ,council confidently anticipate the pleasure of laying open to the ,english public during the present year this treasury of examples of ,christian patience and endurance under persecution4 ,the portion of the work in hand will probably form three volumes4 ,the name of ,mr4 ,canne is mostly known by his biblical labours2 but he was also remarkable for his clear insight into the nature of the constitution of ,christ's church1 which he developed in a series of works both noble in sentiment1 and powerful in argumentation4 ,the first volume of his works will appear under the editorial supervision of the ,rev4 ,charles ,stovel4 ,other works are also in hand1 and being matured for publication in future years4 ,such are the writings of ,william ,dell1 ,christopher ,blackwood1 ,william ,kiffin1 ,benjamin ,keach1 and others1 with various collections of documents relating to the history and faith of the early ,english ,baptists4 ,resolutions commendatory of the ,society1 were passed in the early part of the year at the ,western and ,gloucestershire ,associations of ,baptist ,churches1 and also by the ,general ,assembly of ,general ,baptist ,churches4 ,the ,council has had to regret the loss sustained by the departure from this country of the ,rev4 ,dr4 ,davies1 whose advice and judgment were of the most valuable kind4 ,his successor at ,stepney ,college1 the ,rev4 ,w4 ,jones1 ,m4,a41 has favoured the ,society by undertaking the office thus vacated4 ,a resolution has been passed to grant the same privileges to the ,sunday ,school ,library of any congregation1 which has hitherto been confined to the minister4 ,a second list of ten subscribers will entitle the library to a free copy1 the first ten being regarded as entitling the minister4 ,the ,council have it in purpose to extend the usefulness of the ,society by additional lectures1 so soon as arrangements can be made4 ,they feel assured of the co-operation of their brethren in this matter4 ,although so far great encouragement and success have attended their labours1 it is of importance that the ,subscribers should not only maintain their subscriptions1 but by personal recommendation endeavour to supply the places of those who fail by death1 removals1 or other causes4 ,the efficiency of the ,society depends on its numbers1 and the larger its subscription list the more will it accomplish in the reproduction of these best memorials of the men who have preceded us in the strife for the establishment of a kingdom which is not of this world1 and which when established shall never pass away4 ,,financial ,,account4 ,in respect to the ,subscriptions for the ,first and ,second years1 received in the year ended #cast ,march1 #ahdh4 s4 d4 ,further ,subscriptions for ,first ,year #abd #h #f ,subscriptions for ,second ,year #chc #ae #f ---------- #ejh #d #j ,,assets4 ,value of ,stock in hand at ,cost ,price1 ,volumes ,i4 ,,ii4 and ,,iii4 #aie #a #h ,unpaid ,subscriptions1 #c4 #a #aa #f ---------- #gjd #ag #b s4 d4 ,disbursements as per ,cash ,account #dad #ac #d ,,liabilities4 ,use of ,fire and ,light at ,mission ,house #c #c #j ,printing ,report1 c4 #g #j #j ,warehouse ,report1 ,agency on ,stock ,remaining1 and ,contingencies #be #j #j ,probable ,cost of the ,fourth ,volume now in hand #bcj #j #j ---------- #bfe #c #j ,balance in favour of ,receipts and ,assets #be #j #aj ---------- #gjd #ag #b ,e4 ,e4 ,,charles ,,jones1 ,april #bd1 #ahdh4 ,examined and ,approved1 ,april #bh1 #ahdh ,,george ,,offor1 ,,joseph ,h4 ,,allen4 ,,hanserd ,,knollys ,,society4 ,,account ,,of ,,receipts ,,and ,,payments ,,from #a,,st ,,april1 #ahdg1 ,,to #ca,,st ,,march1 #ahdh4 s4 d4 ,,receipts4 ,on ,account of the ,first ,year's ,subscriptions1 #ahde-f #abd #h #f ,ditto ,second ,ditto #ahdg #chc #ae #f ,ditto ,third ,ditto #ahdh #bd #c #j ,drawback on ,exportation1 repayable to ,agent #a #f #j ,balance of ,account from ,mr4 ,girdwood1 agent in ,canada #j #f #j ---------- #ecc #ai #j ,,payments4 ,balance against the ,society on #cast ,march1 #ahdg #aj #b #c ,printing ,reports1 ,prospectus1 ,circulars1 c4 #bd #i #f ,hire of ,room for last ,annual ,meeting #c #c #j ,stationery and ,books #d #c #aa ,postage1 ,carriage1 and ,porterage #h #ab #b ,travelling ,expenses of ,honorary ,secretary #ai #b #b ,advertising #i #i #f ,balance of ,cost of the ,second ,volume #ca #c #j ,cost of the ,third ,volume1 ,bunyan's ,pilgrim #bfi #ae #c ,insurance of ,stock #a #i #j ,agency at #aj per cent #h #g #g ,pay of the ,secretary1 ,mr4 ,george ,offor1 jun41 from #ahth ,march1 #ahdg to #agth ,march1 #ahdh #ba #j #j ,reimbursed to the ,baptist ,mission the ,expense of ,tea provided for the ,council at their ,monthly ,meetings #c #af #j ---------- #dad #ac #d ,balance in hand1 #cast ,march1 #ahdh #aai #e #h ---------- #ecc #ai #j ,n4,b4 ,balance in ,treasurer's hands #hg #ai #j ,bill due #crd ,may #ah #ah #j ,balance in ,mr4 ,underhill's hands #aj #f #c ,balances due from ,agents #b #b #e ---------- #aai #e #h ,e4 ,e4 ,,charles ,,jones1 ,treasurer4 #ahth ,april1 #ahdh4 ,audited and found ,correct this #bbnd ,april1 #ahdh4 ,,george ,,offor1 ,,joseph ,h4 ,,allen4