Christianity a Doctrine of the Cross, Doctrine
CHRISTIANITY A DOCTRINE OF THE CROSS.
PAssive Obedience to Sovereign Powers, is keeping under their Obedience, when we suffer wrongfully at their hands. If they command things against the Law of God, or of the Land, we ought not; or if against the inviolable Liberties, which Laws have secured against the Prerogative in their respective Kingdoms, we need not ordinarily be Active, in doing what we are bidden. In other things, a just and lawful Authority must have Active Obedience. But when they come to punish against Laws, or for such things as with a safe Conscience their Subjects could not act in; they are still to continue under their Obedience, and in a state of Subjection. And this is by being Passive, or not rising up to Resist, and Levy War against them. They may seek to guard off the unjust Suffering, by Petitioning, by claiming the help of Law from Courts of Justice, whilst there are any Provisions for help yet untryed therein, or by any other fitting ways consistent with Subjection. But not by running to Arms when all other ways fail, and by lifting Soldiers, (for no Man will stand in Arms by himself against him,) to defend their own Rights against their lawful Sovereign. Whilst a Prince is our lawful Sovereign, Obedience must be Due to him; and whilst we are under his Obedience, we must be Passive, and have no liberty in this sort to resist him.
This Doctrine of Passive Obedience, and Non-Resistance, seems both most plainly prescribed by the Precepts, and most sutable to the Spirit and Genius of Holy Religion.
The Fifth Commandment, under the name of Honor, injoyns both Reverence and Support of Princes, as our Politick Fathers. But when Subjects make War upon them, instead of paying Fear and Reverence, they are plainly in a state of bidding Defiance: and when the Sword is unsheathed against them, that is evidently not for their Support, but for the beating and pulling of them Down.
Put them in mind, saith *Tit. iii.1.S. Paul, to obey Magistrates. But there is most visibly an end of Obedience, when things are come to this pass; and Men under command cannot possibly do any thing more contrary to shewing Obedience, than to rise and fall upon their Commanders.
Submit, †1 Pet. ii.13.says S. Peter, to every ordinance of man. Yea, Let every soul be subject, ‖Rom. xiii.1.saith S. Paul. But what becomes of submission, when they fall thus to resisting? For every Man must needs be sensible, he doth no longer submit to another, when he stands up to resist and fight against him.
Christianity, is a Doctrine of the Cross, which is one of its Distinguishing Marks; nothing, in account thereof, being more necessary, more proper, and praiseworthy, than for Christians, to *Mat. x.38. Luk. ix.23. Mat. xvi.24. Luk. xiv.27.take up, and bear Crosses. Whence came those Crosses, so much as from the Persecuting Powers? And if the Crosses, which Christians profess to bear, are such as Persecuting Sovereigns lay on: it is plain they profess not to Resist, which is out of the way of bearing, but to shew Passive Obedience under them. For there is an end of taking up, and bearing Crosses, when, instead of taking up and bearing, Men set themselves with all their might to shake them off, or beat them back again.
These passages, and such like, do sufficiently bear out the Duty of Non-Resistance, even to the most ordinary Understandings, if they will but attend to them. Besides, that S. Paul has †Rom. xiii.2.told us in express terms, that they who resist the Higher Powers, shall receive to themselves damnation.
All this was true, say the Advocates of Resistance, at those times, and in those Cases, for which these Rules were given. But those were, where the wills of Governors were Laws, or where the Laws brought Crosses: not where the Laws, as it is with us, are a Cover against them. Religion it self, say they, doth not authorise Resistance; but Civil Right doth. And if Religion is by Law made a Civil Right, we may Resist for it, as we may for other Civil Rights and Properties. Not being bound by any of these Precepts, to bear Crosses which the Law keeps off. Nor tyed to submission, under invasion of Civil Rights, which carry with them a power to rise in Defence thereof.
This Plea, is set up as the main strength of ‖Inquiry into the measures of submission to the Supreme Authority, Art. 9.12. Discourse about the Justice of the Gentlemens undertaking at York, Nov. 1688. p. 4, 5, 6, 7. & passim. Julian the Apostate, c. 9. p. 74.92. And the Answer to Jovian, p. 160. And several others.those, that argue against the Doctrine of Passive Obedience. And my design is particularly to Discuss it, and to inquire whether the Precepts and Obligations to Passive Obedience, were given and kept, with an exception of these Invasions of Civil Rights, or with a design to bind under them, and as a Rule to Christians, whilst they suffered such Invasions.
This way of Warlike Resistance, is a very hazardous course, and thereby Men extremely expose their own Persons. And that which tempts them thus to hazard themselves, as the most serious are wont to profess, is their Affection for Religion. Like as that, which is given out to justifie them therein, is its being made a Civil Right, or Legal Constitution. And I shall endeavour to shew them, that Religion gets no good by it: so they are mistaken in the way of shewing their Affection. And that its being a Civil Right, will not warrant them therein: so they will miss also of their Justification. The former I shall not pass over, without saying so much, as I think sufficient to undeceive the honest and well meaning. But the clearing of the later, is what I principally design.