Truths Victory Over Error, Chapter 20
CHAP. XX. Of Christian Liberty, and Liberty of Conscience.
Question I.
IS GOD alone Lord of the Conscience, and hath left it free from the Doctrines, and Commandments of men, which are in any thing contrary to to his Word, or beside it, in matters of Faith, or worship?
Yes. Iam. 4. 12. Acts 4. 19. Acts 5. 29. Matth. 23. 8, 9, 10. 2 Cor. 1. 24. Matth. 15. 9.
Well then, do not the Papists err, who contradict this, both in doctrine (because they teach, that the Pope of Rome, and Bishops in their own Diocesses, may by their own authority, praeter Scripturam, beside the Word, make Laws, which oblige and bind the Conscience, under the pain of everlasting death) and in practise (because, they have obtruded, and do obtrude, many Ecclesiastical Rites and Ceremonies, as necessary in worship, without any foundation in Scripture.)
Yes.
By what reasons are they confuted?
(1) Because, there is one Law-giver, who is able to save, and to destroy; Iames 4. 12. Therefore no Pope, no Prelate, nor any meer man, can be a Law-giver. (2) Because, Christ rejects the Commandments of men, from the worship of God; Matth. 15. 9. (3) Because, the Apostles refused, to obey the orders of the Council, since they were contrary to the Commands of God; Acts 4. 19. Acts 5. 29. (4) because, the Lord threatens to do a marvellous work among his people, because they drew near to him with their mouth (as the most part of the Ceremonial service, is but a drawing near to God with the mouth,) but had their hearts removed far from him; Isaiah 29. 13, 14. (5) Because, Christ expresly forbids such subjection and obedience to the Commands of men; Matth. 23. 9, 10. 1 Cor. 7. 23. (6) because, the Apostles themselves forbids all will-worship, such as the Popish Ceremonies are; Col. 2. 18, 21, 22, 23. (8) Because, the Apostle Paul, withstood these false Brethren, unawars brought in, who came in privily, to spie out his liberty, which he had in Christ Jesus, that they might bring him into bondage, to whom he gave place by subjection, no not for an hour; that the truth of the Gospel, might continue: where he lays so much weight upon Christian liberty; that, if that were taken away, the truth of the Gospel, would perish likewise; Gal. 2. 4, 5. (9) Because, the Apostle commands Believers, to stand fast in their liberty, wherewith Christ hath made them free, and not to be intangled again with the yoke of bondage; Gal. 5. 1. (10) Because Ceremonies are superstitious, being a vice opposite to Religion in the excess, commanding more in the Worship of God, than he requires in his Worship.
Quest. II.
IS not the requiring of an implicit Faith, and an absolute, and blind obedience, to the Church, or any Man, a destroying of liberty of Conscience, and Reason also?
Yes. Rom. 10. 17. Rom. 14. 23. Isaiah 8. 20. Acts 17. 11. Iohn 4. 22. Hos. 5. 11. Rev. 13. 12, 16, 17. Ier. 8. 9.
Well then, do not the Papists err, who require, an Implicit Faith, to all the Decrees and Ordinances of their Church and Pope: and a blind obedience to their commands without a previous judgement of discretion?
Yes.
By what reasons are they confuted?
(1) Because, no man performing any duty, out of blind obedience, can be perswaded in his mind, of the will of God therein: and so he that doubteth is damned, because it is not of Faith; Rom. 14. 23. (2) Because, all things must be examined, and proven by the Rule of the Word; Isaiah 8. 20. 1 Iohn 4. 1, 2. (3) Because, the Apostle says, prove all things and hold fast that which is good; 1 Thes. 5. 21. (4) Because, blind obedience makes us the servants of Men, which is contrary to 1 Cor. 7. 23. And against the command of Christ, forbidding us to call any man Father on earth; Matth. 23. 9. (5) Because, absolute obedience, is only due to God, whose commands are all most just: himself being the alone Law-giver; Iames 4. 12. (6) Because, every man ought to be ready to render a reason of the hope which is in him; 1 Peter 3. 15. This no man can do, who receives the Commands of Superiors, with an Implicit Faith.
Quest. III.
DO they, who upon pretence of Christian Liberty, practise any sin, or cherish any lust, destroy thereby, the end of Christian Liberty?
Yes. Gal. 5. 13. 1 Peter 2. 16. 2 Peter 2. 19. Iohn 8. 34. Luke 1. 74, 75.
Well then, do not the Libertines err, who maintain, that the true Christian Liberty, which we ought to follow, and use, is to take away all difference, between Good and Evil: to esteem nothing of sin; nor to be touched with any Conscience, or sense of it: that every man ought to follow the swing of his own lust?
Yes.
Do not likewise the Antinomians err, who maintain, almost the same very Tenet, and opinion?
Yes.
By what reasons are they confuted?
(1) Because, we being called to liberty, ought not to use our liberty, for an occasion of the flesh; Gal. 5. 13: And that with well doing, we ought to put to silence, the ignorance of foolish men; 1 Peter 2: 15: (2) Because, they that follow, the liberty of sinning, and promise liberty to others, are truely the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage: 2 Peter 2: 19. (3) Because, the end of that liberty, which is purchased by Christ, is that, being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, we might serve him without fear, in holiness, and righteousness, all the days of our life; Luke 1 74, 75: (4) Because, whosoever committeth sin, is the servant of sin; Iohn 8: 34: (5) Because, the Moral Law obligeth Believers to perform obedience, out of gratitude, and thankfulness: for Christ came not to destroy the Law but to fulfil it; Matth: 5: 17: (6) Because, whosoever shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shal be called the least in the kingdom of Heaven; Matth. 5. 19:
Quest: IV:
MAY such men be lawfully called to an account, and proceeded against, by the Censures of the Church, and by the power of the Civil Magistrat, who publish such opinions, or maintain such practises, as are contrary to the Light of Nature, or to the known principles of Christianity, whether concerning Faith, Worship, or Conversation, or to the power of Godliness, or such erroneous opinions, and practises, as either in their own Nature, or in the manner of publishing, or maintaining them, are destructive to the external peace, and order, which Christ hath established in his Church?
Yes. 1 Cor. 5, 1, 5, 11. 13, 2 Iohn v: 10, 11: 1 Tim. 6: 3, 4: Titus 1: 10, 11, 13: Titus 3: 10. 1 Tim. 1: 19, 20: Matth: 18: 15, 16, 17: Rev: 2: 2, 14, 15, 20: Rev: 3: 9:
Well then, do not the Anabaptists err, who maintain, there should be no Ecclesiastical Censures?
Yes.
Do not others also err, who maintain, that Church Censures, should not be inflicted upon Hereticks?
Yes.
Do not lastly the Lutherians, Anabaptists, Arminians, Quakers, and all sort of Hereticks, and Sectaries err, who maintain, (under the pretext of Christian Liberty) that the Civil Magistrat, is not obliged in duty, to punish any man with the sword, for errors in doctrine, but that they ought to be tolerated, and suffered, providing such persons as own them, do not trouble, or molest the Common-wealth!
Yes:
By what reasons are they confuted?
(1) Because, the keyes of the Kingdom of Heaven, are for this end delivered to the Ministers of the Church, that with Censures, they may pursue Scandalous, and offending Persons, who will not obey admonition; Matth. 18. 15, 17, 18. But such also are Hereticks; Gal. 5. 20. Tit. 1. 10. 12. (2) Because an Heretick after the first and second admonition, is to be rejected, avoided, or shuned. That is, let him not remain in the external Communion, of the Church; Titus 3. 10. (3) Because, Paul did excommunicat Hymeneus, and Alexander, who had made shipwrack of the Faith; 1 Tim. 1. 19, 20. (4) Because, if any man obey not our Word, by this Epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed; 2 Thes. 3. 14. 1 Tim. 6. 4, 5. Titus 1. 11: (5) Because, Christ approves, and commends the Pastors of the Church of Ephesus, because they could not suffer them, that are evil, but had tried them, which say they are Apostles, and were not, and had found them Liars; Rev. 2. 2. And Christ in that same chapter, accuses the Pastors of the Church of Pergamus, and Thyatira, and threatneth them, because they had suffered Hereticks to be in the Church.
The Lutherians, Anabaptists, Arminians, and other Sectaries are confuted?
(1) Because, it is evident, from many examples of Godly Magistrats, who did extirpat Idolatry, and inflict punishment upon Idolaters, as did Iacob the Patriarch, who at least purged his family of strange Gods; Gen. 35. 2, 3, 4. Moses likewise took punishment with the sword, upon those, who did worship the Golden-Calf; Exod. 32. 26, 27, 28. We have (2) the examples of Hesekia; 2 Kings 18. 4. Of Iosia; 2 Kings 23. Of Asa, who decreed that whosoever would not seek the Lord God of Israel (according to the law of God; Deut. 13. 9.) should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man, or woman; 2 Chro. 15. 13. Of Iehosaphat; 2 Chron. 17. 6. Of Nehemia 13. 15, 17. (3) Were not good kings reproved, and was it not imputed to them, as a fault, that they did not take away the High-places? 2 Kings 12. 3. 2 Kings 14. 4. 2 Kings 15. 4. 2 Chron. 15. 17. Far more is it a fault to suffer Hereticks. (4) It is evident from the office of the Magistrat, who is the Minister of God against them, that do evil, and beareth not the sword in vain: Rom. 13. 3, 4. (5) Because, it is expresly commanded in Scripture, that punishment be inflicted upon Idolaters, even by the nearest Relations. If then, the Father may kill the Son, may kill the Daughter, the Husband the Wife of his bosom: and if one brother may stone another brother with stones, that he die, for being Idolaters; much more may the Civil Magistrat do this; Deut. 13. 6. to the 13 verse; Deut. 17. 2. to the 7 verse; Lev. 24. 16. (6) Because, it is foretold, that under the New Testament, Kings shall be nursing Fathers to the Church, and Queens nursing Mothers, and that Hereticks, that were about to be hurtful, to the Church, shall be removed, and taken away; Isaiah 49. 23. Zech. 13. 2, 3. And it shall come to pass, in that day saith the Lord of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the Idols, out of the land (that is, all Idolatry whatsoever, so that the same shall not be so much as named, any more among you) and they shall no more be remembred. And I will also cause the Prophets, (the false Prophets) and the unclean Spirit, to pass out of the Land: that is, the false Teachers who teach impure doctrines, through the inspiration of the unclean Spirit the Devil. Compare with this 1 Iohn 4. 1, 2, 3. For confirmation, consider what is foretold by Iohn; Rev. 17. 12, 16, 17. That the Kings of the Earth, shall eat the flesh of the Whore, and burn her with fire. All which are foretold, as blessings to be confered upon the Church. (7) It is evident from the Epithets, whereby the pernicious, and destructive nature of Hereticks, is set forth in Scripture. They are called Wolfes, not sparing the flock, Thieves, Robers, Troublers of the Church, and Seducers, or Beguilers of poor souls. They are like unto a Gangren, or Canker in the body. They are as leaven, or soure dough, which leaveneth the whole lump; Acts 20. 29. Iohn 10. 8. Acts 15. 24. Gal. 5. 12. 2 Tim. 2. 17. Gal. 5. 9. (8) Because, Ezra did esteem it, a great favour and blessing of God, conferred upon the Church; for which he thanked God, that had inclined the heart of Artaxerxes, to publish a Decree, for the punishment of those, that did not observe the Law, whether it be, (saith the Text) unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment; Chap. 7. 23, 25, 28. (9) Because, we ought to pray for Kings, and all in Authority, that under them, we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, in all Godliness, and in Honesty, which end cannot be attained, unless the Civil Magistrat bridle and ty up Hereticks; 1 Tim. 2. 12. These words, in all Godliness, concerns Religion. or the first Table of the Moral Law, as the following word honesty, or civility, hath a respect to the commands of the second Table, and the duties which we owe to our neighbour, and to one another. For true Magistrates, are keepers and defenders of both Tables of the ten Commandments. (10) Because, the toleration of Hereticks, as we may read of the Anabaptists in Germany, Thomas Muntzer, Iohn of Leidden, and their followers, first by railling against the Ministry, as the Quakers do, and raging against Magistracy, brought both Church and State into confusion, put the country into burning flames, wherein themselves at length were consumed to Ashes.