The Sword of Christian Magistracy, Treatise (1 of 2)

The Sword of Christian Magistracy · Treatise (1 of 2)

p. 1The Sword of Chriſtian Magiſtracy Supported: OR A FULL VINDICATION OF Chriſtian Kings and Magiſtrates Authority Under the GOSPELL, To puniſh Jdolatry, Apoſtacy, Hereſie, Blaſphemy, and obſtinate Schiſm, with Corporall, and in ſome Caſes with Capital punishments, from many late Cavils and exceptions againſt the ſame.

THE authority of Chriſtian Magiſtrates under the Goſpel having of late years been moſt audaciouſly oppugned both in Preſs and Pulpit, in ſundry particulars, eſpecially in points of Church-Government, Church Reformation, and this principal branch thereof; the reſtraint and puniſhment of obſtinate ſeducing Idolaters, Hereticks, falſe Teachers, Schiſmaticks, and Blaſphemers, by civil ſanctions and corporal puniſhments; I thought it not only ſeaſonable, but in ſome ſort neceſſary, to debate this queſtion in a plain and plenary manner.

Whether Chriſtian Kings, States and Magiſtrates under the Goſpel, may and ought, by the Word of God, to restrain by Civil Sanctions all Idolatries, Hereſies, Errours, Schiſms, Blasphemies, and to Mulct with corporall, pecuniary, and in ſome caſes, with banishment and capital punishments, ſuch obſtinate ſeducing Idolaters, Apoſtaces, Hereticks, falſe Teachers, Schiſmaticks and Blaſphemers, who diſturbe the Peace of Church, State, and draw down judgements upon both; when Admonitions, Exhortations, and diſputes will not reclaim them?

I ſhal maintain the Affirmative, that they may, nay ought to do it. To avoyd miſtakes and ſtate the queſtion aright; I ſhal firſt of all lay down theſe concluſions as indubitable.

1. That there are ſuch ſins as Idolatry, Apoſtacy, Hereſie, damnable Errors, obſtinate Schiſms and Blaſphemies in Chriſtian Kingdomes, States, Churches, and perſons guilty of them.

p. 22. That thoſe who are guilty of them, are, or may be certainly known, diſcovered to and by Chriſtian Princes and Magiſtrates.

3. That theſe ſins draw down Gods Judgments, not only on the perſons who are guilty of them, but likewiſe on the Chriſtian Rulers, States, and places which permit, tolerate, or not ſeverely puniſh and ſuppreſſe them.

4. That it is the duty of Chriſtian Princes, States, Magiſtrates, to uſe all poſſible diligence and lawful means to keep their Kingdomes, States, People, from being infected with all, or any of theſe dangerous wrath-provoking ſins, yea, a grand ſin and neglect in them, not to do it.

Secondly, I ſhal propound and agree what is not in controverſie, as.

1. That the preaching of the Word, Chriſtian Exhortations, Reprehentions, Conferences, and Diſputes, are the moſt proper and effectual means to convert, reform Idolaters, Apoſtates, Hereticks, Falſe Teachers, Schiſmaticks, and Blaſphemers.

2. That ſuch as theſe are firſt of all to be gently admoniſhed, inſtructed, confuted, and if poſſible, reformed by the Word, or other ſpiritual and gentle means, before the civil Magiſtate proceed to corporal or capital puniſhments.

3. That the preſent queſtion is only of Idolaters, Apoſtates, Hereticks, Falſe Teachers, obſtinate Schiſmaticks, and Blaſphemers, not meer tender conſciencis in matters of Church Diſcipline and the like; neither yet are all theſe always to be proceeded againſt with the ſelf-ſame rigour and ſeverity; but as their obſtinacy, Idolatries, Apoſtacies, Hereſies, Errors, Schiſms, Blaſphemies, are more or leſſe heinous and pernitious, ſo the proceedings againſt them ought to be more milde or ſevere.

Theſe things premiſed, I ſhal now proceed to ſome Arguments to make good my Aſſertion: The firſt ſhal be this.

That which godly Kings and Magiſtrates in the Old Teſtament, under the Law,Argum. 1. were enjoyned to do by Gods own expreſs command, and did accordingly execute with Gods ſpecial approbation: Chriſtian Kings and Magiſtrates under the Goſpel, may and ought to do and execute, by virtue of the ſelf-ſame commands.

But godly Kings and Magiſtrates in the Old Teſtament, under the Law, were injoyned by Gods own expreſs command, to reſtrain all Idolatry, Apoſtacy, Hereſie, Errors, Schiſms, Blaſphemies; yea to puniſh with corporal, and in ſome caſes with capital Puniſhments, ſuch obſtinate ſeducing Idolaters, Apoſtates, Hereticks, Falſe Teachers, Schiſmaticks, and Blaſphemers, who diſturbed the Peace of Church, State, and drew down Gods Judgments upon either, and did accordingly execute the ſame command with Gods ſpecial approbation, when admonitions, exhortations, and Diſputes would not reclaim them.

Therefore Chriſtian Magiſtrates under the Goſpel may and ought to do the like.

The Major Propoſition I ſhal make good by theſe undenyable reaſons.

Firſt, becauſe **See the Harmony of Confeſſions, Sect. 19. and Calvins Inſtit. l. 4. c. 20.God hath ordained and continued Kings and Magiſtrates under the New Teſtament as wel as under the Old, and enjoyned obedience to them; ROM. 13. 1. to 6. 1 TIM. 2. 1, 2, 3. TIT. 3. 1. 1 PET. 2. 13, 14. c. 4. 15. which none but profeſſed Anabaptiſts do deny.

Secondly, becauſe Chriſtian Kings and Magiſtrates under the Goſpel, have the ſelf-ſame authority as godly Kings and Magiſtrates had under the Law; even as Parents, Maſters, Husbands (naturall Magiſtrates) have the ſelf-ſame authority over their Children, Servants, Wives, under the Goſpel, as they had under the Law; ROM. p. 313. 1. to 6. TIT. 3. 1. 1 PET. 2. 13, 14, 15. c. 4. 15. compared with EPH. 6. 1. to 8. c. 5. 21, 22. COL. 3. 18. to 25. 1 TIM. 6. 1, 2. 1 PET. 3. 11. 12. 13. c. 2. 18. there being no one text in the New Teſtament which reſtrains either Kings or Magiſtrates power given them by God in the Old.

Thirdly, becauſe the ends and uſes for which Magiſtrates were inſtituted are the **See Zuinglius Explan. Artic. 35. 37. 39, 40. & De utraque Juſtitia.ſame under the New Teſtament and Old, ROM. 13. 1. to 6. 1 TIM. 2. 1, 2, 3. 1 PET. 2. 13. 14. c. 4. 15. ISA 1. 49. 23. therefore their power and rule the ſame.

Fourthly, becauſe the precepts given to Magiſtrates under the Law, for puniſhing Idolaters, Apoſtates, Falſe Prophets, Hereticks, and Blaſphemers, are not Ceremonial or Judicial, but moral and perpetual: and ſo of equal obligation under the Law and Goſpel, as wel as the Decalogue and Moral Law of God.

Fifthly, becauſe godly Kings and Chriſtian Magiſtrates ought to be as zealous for God and his truth (if not more zealous) under the Goſpel, as they were under the Law; REV. 3. 19. c. 2. 14, 15, 16. 20. 23. compared with NUM …. 15. 11, 13. 2 KING. 10. 16. &c.

The Minor I ſhal ratifie by this particular Induction.

Firſt, for Idolatry, Idolaters, Apoſtates, Falſe Prophets, and Seducers of men from the true God and Religion, to Idols and Idolatry, we have theſe expreſſe precepts, warranting, if not commanding, the civil Magiſtrate to inflict corporal and capital puniſhments on them.

…. Levit. 20. 2. to 6. Whoſoever of the children of Iſrael, or of the strangers that ſojourn in Iſrael, that giveth any of his ſeed to Molech, (that is, ſacrificeth any of his children, or maketh them paſſe through the fire to that Idol; LEVIT. 18. 21. 2 KING. 21. 10.) He ſhal SƲRELY BE PƲT TO DEATH; the people of the Land ſhal ſtone him with ſtones; and I wil ſet my face againſt that man, and wil cut him off from among his people, becauſe he hath given of his ſeed to Molech, to defile my ſanctuary and to prophane my holy Name. And if the people of the Land do any way hide their eyes when he giveth his ſeed unto Molech and kil him not, then I wil ſet my face againſt that man and against his family, and wil cut him off, and all that go a whoring after him to commit wh…rd…me with Molech, from among their people. From which text we may obſerve theſe particulars.

Firſt, that not only ſuch ſtranger Idolaters, who conſtantly worſhipped Idols, and never adored the true God were to be put to death by the Iſraelites; but even ſuch of the Iſraelites themſelves, and of the ſojourners among them who turned Idolaters and ſacrificed unto Molech (to whom they offered their children) were to be ſurely put to death, and ſtoned with ſtones by the people without m r y; being firſt convicted and condemned by the Magiſtrate. Secondly, that the Magiſtrates and peoples hiding of their eyes and ſparing ſuch as theſe, contrary to this precept, was a grievous ſin. Thirdly, that where the Magiſtrates and people winked at ſuch an Idolater, and hid their eyes from him, God himſelf, in their default, would ſet his face againſt him, and cut him off from among his people; and not only ſo, but would ſet his face againſt his family; and cut off all them that went a whoring after him, from among his people: whereas if the Magiſtrate had puniſhed him, his family had not been thus cut of by God. Fourthly, that it is not ſufficient to leave Idolaters, Hereticks, and Blaſphemers to Gods own vengeance and execution, who wil certainly cut them and their families off, if they▪ repent not; but themſelves muſt p. 4likewiſe cut them off, as God commands, before God proceeds to do it, they being his **Rom. 13. 3, 4, 5…Rom 13:3Rom 13:4Rom 13:5Miniſters and Executioners appointed for this end, who muſt not put off the Execution of ſuch to God the ſupream Judge, no more then the Hang… man amongſt us may tranſfer the Execution of a Felon or Traytor to the Judge who condemns them: which anſwers and refutes one main objection of our oppoſites, that we muſt leave Idolaters, Hereticks, and Falſe Teachers unto Gods Judgement and Execution, if we cannot convert them by the Word, and let ſuch **Math. 13. …Matt 13tares to grow til the harveſt, amongſt the Corn.

Secondly, Deut. 13. 1. If there ariſe among you a Prophet, or a Dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a ſignor a wonder, and the ſign or the wonder come to paſs, whereof he ſpake unto thee, ſaying, let us go after other gods (which thou haſt not known) and let us ſerve them: Thou ſhalt not hearken unto the words of that Prophet, or that Dreamer of dreams, for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your ſoul: yee ſhal walk after the Lord your God, and fear him, and keep his Commandments, and obey his voyce; and you ſhal ſerve him and cleave unto him: And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams ſhal be put to death (becauſe he hath ſpoken to turn Note.you away from the Lord your God, which brought you out of the Land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the houſe of bondage, to thruſt thee out of the way which the Lord thy God commanded thee to walk in) ſo ſhalt thou put the evil away from the midſt of thee. If thy brother, the ſon of thy mother▪ or thy ſon; or thy daughter, or the wife of thy boſome, or thy friend which is as thine own ſoul, entice thee ſecretly, ſaying, let us go and ſerve other gods (which thou hast not known, thou nor thy fathers), namely of the gods of the people, which are round about you, or nigh unto thee, or far off from thee, from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: Thou ſhalt not conſent unto him, nor hearken unto him, neither ſhal thine eye pity him, neither ſhalt thou ſpare, neither ſhalt thou conceal him: But thou ſhalt ſurely kil him, thine hand ſhal be firſt upon him to put him to death, andNote. afterwards the hands of all the people; And thou ſhalt ſtone him with ſtones that he dye, becauſe he hath ſought to thruſt thee away from the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the Land of Egypt, out of the houſe of bondage: And all Iſrael ſhal hear, and fear, and ſhal do no more any ſuch wickedneſſe as this is among you. If thou ſhalt hear ſay in one of thy Cities, which the Lord thy God hath given thee to dwel there, ſaying, Certain men, the children of Belial, are gone out from among you, and have withdrawn the Inhabitants of their City, ſaying, Let us go and ſerve other gods (which we have not known); Then shalt thou inquire and make ſearch and ask diligently: And behold if it be truth, and the thing certain, that ſuch abomination is wrought amongst you: Thou ſhalt ſurely ſmite the Inhabitants of that City with the edge of the ſword, deſtroying it utterly and all thatNote. is therein, and the cattle thereof with the edge of the ſword: And thou ſhalt gather all the ſpoil of it into the midſt of the ſtreet thereof, and ſhalt burn with fire the City and all the ſpoil thereof, every whit, for the Lord thy God; and it ſhal bee an heap for ever, it ſhal not be built again: And there ſhal cleave nought of the curſed thing to thine hand, that the Lord may turn from the fierceneſſe of his anger and ſhew thee mercy, and have compaſſion upon thee, and multiply thee, as he hath ſworn unto thy fathers: When thou ſhalt hearken to the vo…c of the Lord thy God p. 5to keep all his Commandments, which I command thee this day, to do that which is right in the eyes of the Lord thy God.

Which is thus ſeconded Deut. 17. 2. to 8. If there be found among you within any of thy gates, which the Lord thy God giveth thee, man or woman that hath wrought wickedneſſe in the ſight of the Lord thy God, in tranſgreſſing his Covenant, and hath gone and ſerved other gods, and worſhipped them, either the Sun, or the Moon, or any of the hoſt of heaven, which I have not commanded; And it be told thee, and thou haſt heard of it, and enquired diligently, and behold it be true, and the thing certain, that ſuch abomination is wrought in Iſrael: Then ſhalt thou bring forth that man, or that woman (which have committed that wicked thing) unto thy gates; even that man or that woman, and ſhalt ſtone them with ſtones til they dye. At the mouth of two witneſſes, ſhal …e that is worthy of death beNote. put to death; but at the mouth of one witneſſe he ſhal not be put to death: The hands of the witneſſes ſhal be firſt upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hands of all the people; ſo thou ſhalt put the evil away from among you.

From which two Texts I ſhal deduce theſe undeniable Concluſions.

Firſt, That falſe Prophets and Dreamers of dreams may ariſe among Gods own people, and do ſigns, wonders, and predict things which may come to paſs: which is more, I ſuppoſe, then any of our pretended New-Lights, Dreamers, or falſe Prophets now can do.

Secondly, That the end of ſuch Dreamers and falſe Prophets, is but to draw people to go after other gods which they have not formerly known, and to ſerve them, or to worſhip the true God in an undue newfangled manner.

Thirdly, That God ſuffers ſuch falſe Prophets and New ſeducing Lights to ariſe among his people, of purpoſe to prove them; to know whether they love the Lord their God with all their heart and with all their ſoul.

Fourthly, That Gods people muſt not hearken to ſuch falſe Prophets, Dreamers, and New-Lights, though they do ſigns and wonders, but walk after the Lord their God, and fear him, and keep his Commandments, and obey his voyce, and ſerve and cleave unto him; and that thoſe that follow ſuch falſe Prophets and Dreamers, do neither truly love, fear, ſerve, obey, nor cleave to God.

Fifthly, That ſuch falſe Prophets and Dreamers were by Gods expreſs CommandNote. to be PUT TO DEATH, by the Magiſtrate and people, though they actually ſeduced none from God; even becauſe they had ſpoken revolt against the Lord their God, to turn them away from him, to thruſt them out of the way; which the Lord their God commanded them to walk in.

Sixthly, That the putting of ſuch to death, is ſo far from being an evil, or ſin of perſecution; that it is the only way to put away the evill of Idolatry, Falſe-Worſhip, ſin, plague, and puniſhment, from the midſt of them, ver. 5.

Seventhly, that if not onelyonly ſuch falſe Prophets and dreamers; but even any mans own natural brother, ſon, daughter, wife, nigheſt boſome and moſt endeared friend, which is as his own ſoul, ſhould entice him ſecretly to go and ſerve other gods (or the true God in a new and falſe manner) which he and his fathers had not known; be it what falſ god ſoever, he muſt neither conſent nor hearken to them, neither ſhal his eye pity them, neither ſhal he ſpare, nor conceal them; butNote. he SHAL SURELY KIL THEM (without mercy) and his own hand ſhal be firſt p. 6upon them to put them to death; and afterwards the hands of all the people, and they ſhal ſtone them with ſtones that they dye; not becauſe they actually ſeduced him or others; but becauſe they ſought to thruſt him away from the Lord his God: If then the neareſt and deareſt of all others to us muſt be put to death without mercy, in ſuch a caſe, then much more others who are not ſo neerly related to us. Gods glory and our zeal to preſerve his ſincere Worſhip, muſt admit of no reſpect of perſons, no toleration, connivance or compaſſion in ſuch a caſe as this.

Eighthly, That exemplary capital puniſhments, upon private or open enticers to Idolatry and Falſe-Worſhip, is a ſpecial means appointed by God to preſerve and convert others from Idolatry, and Apoſtacy, Verſe 11. And all Iſrael ſhal hear and fear and do no more any ſuch wickedneſs as this is among you: The Sword of Juſtice wil by Gods own Inſtitution ſuppreſs, prevent, yea reform Idolatry, Apoſtacy, Falſe-Worſhip, and Hereſie, as wel as the Word, the Sword of the Spirit; and prevails herein many times when the Word it ſelf is ineffectual.

Ninthly, **See Lucas Tudenſis adv. Albigenſes …. 22.That Magiſtrates are to make diligent ſearch and inquiry after Falſe-Teachers, Apoſtates, Seducers of men▪ to ſerve new gods, embrace new religions; and if a whole City be thus ſeduced, and ſuch abomination certainly wrought among them; they muſt ſurely ſmite the Inhabitants of that City (eſpecially of obſtinate and impenitent) with the edge of the ſword, deſtroying it utterly, and all that is therein, and the cattel thereof, and burn all the ſpoil and City, and every parcel thereof with fire, and make it an heap for ever. By which it is apparent that not only private Idolaters, Apoſtates, Hereticks, but even whole Cities, Churches, and Congregations of them are ſo far from being tolerated, that they ought to be deſtroyed utterly if they continue obſtinate.

Tenthly, That the tolerating of Idolaters, Apoſtates, and Hereticks is a means to provoke God to pour out the fierceneſs of his anger againſt his own people; but the utter exterpation of them without mercy, is a ſpecial means (of divine inſtitution) to cau…e the Lord to turn from the fierceneſſe of his anger, to ſhew them mercy and compaſſion; and multiply them as he hath promiſed: And is ſo far from being againſt the Word of God and diſpleaſing to him, that it is a keeping of what he commands, a doing of that which is right in his eyes: Certainly it was ſo under the Old Teſtament, I doubt not but it is and wil be the like under the New, which no ways contradicts nor revokes this text, or the ſevere proceedings enjoyned by the Old.

Thirdly, Deut. 18. 18. to 22. I wil raiſe them up a Prophet from among their 3.brethren like unto thee, and I wil put my words into his mouth, and he ſhal speak unto them all that I ſhal commond him &c. But the Prophet which ſhal preſume to ſpeak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak; or that ſhal ſpeak in the name of other gods, even that Prophet SHAL DYE: he hath spoken preſumptuouſly, thou shalt not be affraid of him.

From whence I infer: Firſt, that falſe Prophets who preſume to preach any dangerous Errors, or Hereſies contrary to the Word of God, to draw men unto Error, Hereſie, or Falſe-Worſhip, are by the expreſs Command of God to be put to death by the civil Magiſtrate, as wel as ſuch prophets who ſpeak in the name of other gods: For this phraſe SHAL DYE, here, is not intended of a NATURAL DEATH **Heb. 9. 27.Heb 9:27COMMON TO ALL MEN; for then it were no ſpecial Puniſhment, p. 7threatned unto, and to be inflicted upon ſuch; but a PENAL DEATH judicially inflicted by men, as is clear by comparing it with Deut, 13. 5. c. 17. 5. Zech. 13. 3. & Ier. 26. 8. 11. 16. 23. Exod. 21. 12. 14. Num. 35. 30. Secondly, this precept relates principally to falſe Teachers, and Prophets under the Goſpel, and is not confined only to the times of the Law, ſinceNote. the next Verſes preceding, to which it is ſubjoyned, relate only to Chriſt himſelf and his Propheſying in the Fleſh, as is evident by comparing them with Ioh. 1. 45. Act. 3. 22. & 7. 37. and becauſe it is ſeconded by Zech. 3. 2, 3 &c. which relates only to the times of the Goſpel (as I ſhal prove anon) under which Falſe Prophets are to be put to death as wel as under the Law. Theſe threeExamples. Precepts we find ſeconded with exemplary Executions approved and commanded by God himſelf.

The firſt Example, is that we read of Exod. 32. viz. That when the Iſraelites1. had committed Idolatry in worshipping the golden calf▪ Verſ. 26, 27▪ 28▪ 29. Moſes ſtood in the Camp and ſaid, who is on the Lords ſide? let him come unto mee; and all the ſons of Levy gathered unto him. And he ſaid unto them, thus ſaith the Lord God of Iſrael, put every man his ſword by his ſide, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the Camp, and ſlay every man his brother, and every man his companion▪ and every man his neighbor; And the children of Levy did according to the word of Moſes, and there fel of the people that day about three thouſand men: For Moſes had ſaid, conſecrate your ſelves to day to the Lord: every man upon his ſon, and every man upon his brother, that he may beſtow upon you a bleſſing this day: Whence obſerve theſe two Concluſions: Firſt, that three thouſand Idolatrous Iſraelites for worſhipping the golden calf, were upon Gods ſpecial command ſlain by the direction of Moſes the chief temporal Magiſtrate, in one day, even by the ſons of Levi for want of other Executioners, and that they ſpared neither ſon, nor brother, nor neighbor guilty of this ſin. Secondly that this ſevere execution of Juſtice upon theſe Offendors, was ſo pleaſing unto God, that it pacified his wrath, and procured a bleſſing upon the Executioners and reſidue of the people, as this Chapter, and Deut. 33. 8, 9. 10. infallibly evidences.

The ſecond Example is regiſtred in Numb. 25. 1. to 15. where we find, That 2.the Daughters of Moab called the people of Iſrael unto the ſacrifices of their gods and that the people did eat and bowed down to their god; And Iſrael ioyned himſelf unto Baal Peōr, and the anger of the Lord was kindled againſt Iſrael; and the Lord ſaid unto Moſes▪ Take all the heads of the people and hang them up before the Lord againſt the Sun; that the fierce anger of the Lord may be turned away from Iſrael: And Moſes ſaid unto the Iudges of Iſrael, ſlay ye every one his men that were …jo…ned unto Baal Peor; And behold one of the children of Iſrael (even Zimri the ſon of Salu a Prince of the chief houſe among the Simionites) came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman (to wit Co…bi the daughter of Zur, head over a people and of a chief houſe in Midian) in the ſight of Moſes, and in the ſight of all the Congregation of the children of Iſrael, who were weeping before the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation; And when Phineas the ſon of Eleazar the ſon of Aaron the prieſt ſaw it, he roſe up from among the Congregation, and took a Iavelin in his hand, and he went after the man of Iſrael into p. 8his tent, and thruſt both of them through, the man of Iſrael and the woman through the belly (for Peors ſake Verſe 18.) So the plague was ſtayed from the children of Iſrael: And thoſe that dyed of the plague were about twenty four thouſand; And the Lord ſpake unto Moſes ſaying, Phineas the ſon of Eleazar, the ſon of Aaron the Prieſt, hath turned away my wrath from the children of Iſrael (when he was zealous for my ſake among them) that I conſumed not the children of Iſrael in my jealouſie; wherefore, behold I give unto him my Covenant of peace, and he ſhal have it, and his ſeed after him, even the Covenant of an everlaſting Prieſthood, becauſe he was zealous for his God, and made an attonement for the children of Iſrael: The firſt part of this hiſtory is thus amplified, Deut. 4. 3. Your eyes have ſeen what the Lord did becauſe of Baal Peor; for all the men that followed Baal-Peor, the Lord thy God hath deſtroyed them from among you: to wit by the plague, and the Sword of Iuſtice too in the Magiſtrates hand.

From which memorable hiſtory there are theſe conſiderable obſervations naturally deduceable. Firſt, that Apoſtates from Gods true Worſhip to Idolatry and falſe Worſhip, are to be executed, ſlain, and put to death by the Judges and Civil Magiſtrate, by Gods own ſpecial Command. Secondly, that the Apoſtacy of Gods own people to Idolatry, and the Magiſtrates connivance thereat, is an immediate cauſe of provoking Gods wrath, and bringing down publick plagues and other judgements upon that whole Nation or Kingdom wherein they are not puniſhed. Thirdly, that Gods own immediate puniſhing and cutting off Idolaters with a plague, is no argument nor excuſe at all for the temporal Magiſtrates ſparing or not puniſhing ſuch with death (whoſe execution is here ſaid to bee & ſtiled Gods own act, ſince they are but his Miniſters herein) but rather an argument to excite them to the more ſpeedy exemplary puniſhing of them even with death it ſelf: which anſwers and refels one grand objection againſt puniſhing Hereticks, and Blaſphemers with death, becauſe God himſelf wil puniſh them if they repent not, and we muſt wholy leave them to his judgement. Fourthly, that the beſt and ſpeedyeſt courſe to remove Gods judgements brought upon a Nation for Idolatry, Apoſtacy, Hereſie, or Blaſphemy, is for the temporal Magiſtrates to execute ſpeedy and exemplary capital puniſhments on thoſe who are notoriouſly guilty of them; and that faſting and prayer without ſuch exemplary executions upon the moſt eminent Malefactors in this kind, wil never pacify Gods wrath, nor remove his judgements inflicted for theſe ſins. Fifthly, that the executing of capital puniſhments upon ſuch, is an argument of true zeal to GOD: And therefore it ſeems ſtrange to me, that thoſe in this age, who pretend themſelvs the only Saints, Zealots, faithful ones, paramount all others by head and ſhouldiers in grace and piety, ſhould be ſo voyd of Chriſtian zeal for God, as to plead, preach, write, and print againſt the corporal and capital Puniſhment or Apoſtates, Idolaters, Hereticks, and Blaſphemers by temporal Magiſtrates, and for a free Toleration of all Sects, Hereſies, and Religions whatſoever, under the pretence of Liber…y of Conſcience: Certainly this extream want of holy zeal for God againſt Apoſtates▪ Idolaters, Hereticks; Blaſphemers, and pleading for their impunity, at leaſt with capital Cenſures, argues them to be no real Saints, becauſe they have no true love to, nor zeal for God, which would make them as forward to thruſt their Javelins, or p. 9the ſword of Juſtice through the Bowels of ſuch tranſcendent offendors, as Phineas was to thruſt his Javelin through Zimri and Cozbi, without any queſtion or diſpute. Sixthly, that the exemplary capital puniſhing of ſuch, is ſo far from being a perſecution of the Saints, or againſt the Clemency of God under the Law or Goſpel, that it is a moſt acceptable ſervice to God, and procures a ſpecial Bleſſing upon the perſons and poſterities of thoſe who are moſt zealous and active in this ſervice, as appears by this example of Phineas, regiſtred for his eternal honor and our future imitation and encouragement in this kind.

The third Example is JOSH. 22. 10. to 34. Where we read, that when the Children 3.of Ruben, Gad, and the half Tribe of Manaſſeh had but built an Altar at the ſide of Iordan, the children of Iſrael no ſooner heard thereof, but the whole Congregation of the children of Iſrael gathered themſelves together at Shiloh, to go up to war againſt them, to deſtroy them, and the Cities wherein they dwelt, as guilty of Idolatry, Apostacy, and Falſe▪ Worſhip; apprehending the very building of this Altar to be a treſpaſs committed againſt the God of Iſrael, to turn them away from following the Lord, that they might rebel againſt him, and that it would prove like the ſin of Peor, and bring Gods wrath on the whole Congregation of Iſrael and not on themſelves alone: when as in truth they built it only for a memor…l, but not to rebel againſt & turn from the Lord, or to be an Altar for burnt o…gs, for meat offrings or for ſacrifices, like as the Altar of the Lord their God which was before the Tabernacle.

From which hiſtory I collect: Firſt, that the whole Congregation of Iſrael when they were moſt ſincere and beſt affected towards God▪ deemed this ſuppoſed guilt of Apoſtacy, Idolatry, and Schiſm in theſe two Tribes and an half, by building this New Altar, a juſt ground of making a publick war againſt them, to deſtroy both them and their Country for this crime (though they were their dear brethren, who aſſiſted them to conquer the Land of Canaan) by vertue of Gods Command forecited DEUT. 13. 11. to 17. Secondly, that the Apoſtacy, Idolatry, and obſtinate Schiſm of a few, wil draw down Gods Judgements upon a whole Nation and Kingdom, in caſe they tolerate or connive at them, and do not ſpeedily cut them off by the ſword of Juſtice. Thirdly, that in ſuch a caſe, there is no way to prevent Gods wrath on all, but to cut off the Malefactors by ſpeedy execution of corporal puniſhments and death upon them.

The fourth Example is recorded in the 1 KING. 18. 40. &c. 19. 1, 2. Where4. Elijah commands all the people (after he had convinced them by a miracle from heaven that the Lord was God) …o apprehend the Prophets of Baal, and not let one of them eſcape; whereupon they took them, and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kiſhon, and SLEW THEM there with the ſword▪ upon which …eze…el threatned to make his life as one of them. By this it is apparent: Firſt, that this holy, zealous Prophet and all the people were of opinion, That falſe Prophets and Idolaters ought by the Law of God to be put to death without any mercy; and that Gods Judgement of drought then upon the whole Kingdom, could not be removed before their execution: as the Hiſtory there manifeſts. Secondly, that the execution of thoſe Idolatrous falſe Prophets, was ſo neceſſary, that rather then they ſhould want capital puniſhment the Prophet Elijah himſelf would be their executioner. His zeal then ſhould ſhame our lukewarmneſſe now.

p. 10The fifth Preſident is in JUDGES 6.30. Then Ioaſh ſaid unto all that ſtood 5.againſt him, Wil ye plead for Baal? Wil ye ſave him? he that wil plead for him, LET HIM BE PƲT TO DEATH whiles it is yet morning. Compared with the ſecond of KINGS 10. 18. to 29. Where Iehu by Proclamation having gathered all Baals Prieſts, and worſhippers into his temple, appointed fourſoore men without, and ſaid, if any of the men whom I have brought into your hands eſcape, he that letteth him go, his life ſhal be for the life of him. And he ſaid to the guard & to the Captains▪ go in & SLAT THEM, let none come forth; and they ſmote them with the edge of the ſword; and the guard and the Captains caſt them out, and went to the City of the houſe of Baal, and they brought forth the Images out of the houſe of Baal and burnt them; and they brake down the Image of Baal, and the houſe of Baal, and made it a draught houſe unto this day; ſo Jehu deſtroyed Baal out of Iſrael. Here the ſupream temporal Magiſtrate puts all the Idolatrous Prieſts and worſhippers of Baal throughout the whole Kingdom, to death at once, without mercy; for which God himſelf commends him ſaying, That he had done wel in executing that which was right in his eys: And by this means he deſtroyed Baal out of Iſrael, to his eternal honor.

The ſixth Example is thus recorded in the 2 KING. 11. 17, 18. and in the 2 CHRO.6. 23. 16, 17. And Jehoiada made a Covenant between him and between all the people, and between the King, that they ſhould be the Lords people; And all the people of the Land went into the houſe of Baal and brake it down, his Alars and his Images brake they in peeces throughly; and **And Idolatrous Athalia too.SLEW Mattan the Prieſt of Baal before the Altar, A memorable example of zeal and reformation after their ſolemn Covenant; And ſhould not we be as zealous after our Covenant, againſt Idolatrous Prieſts, Falſe Prophets, Hereticks, Apoſtates, Blaſphemers, as they were againſt the Prieſts of Baal?

The ſeventh Preſident is enrolled in the 2 CHRON. 15. 9, to 17. where godly 7.King Aſa, having gathered all Juda and Benjamin, and the ſtrangers with them out of Ephraim and Manaſſeh, and out of Simeon to Jeruſalem, in the fifteenth year of his reign, they all entred into a Covenant to ſeek the Lord God of their Fathers, with all their heart and with all their ſoul; That whoſoever would not ſeek the Lord God of Iſrael, SHOƲLD BE **Deut. 13. 9. is quoted in margiu of our Bibles.Deut 13:9PƲT TO DEATH, WHETHER SMAL OR GREAT, MAN OR WOMAN: And they ſware unto the Lord with a loud voice, and with ſhoutings, and with trumpets, and with cornets; And all Judah rejoyced at the Oath, for they had ſworn with all their heart, and ſought him with their whole deſire; and he was found of them; and the Lord gave them rest round about: And alſo concerning Maachah, the mother of Aſa the King, he removed her from being Queen, becauſe ſhe had made an Idol in a grove; and Aſa cut down her Idol, and ſtamped it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron. Whence we ſhal obſerve.

Firſt, that this godly King and all his people bound themſelves by a ſolemn Oath and Covenant (much like to ours) TO PUT ALL Idolaters, Apoſtates, Hereticks, and Blaſphemers, and whoſoever would not ſeek the Lord (of what quality or ſort ſoever) TO DEATH.

Secondly, that this Oath and Covenant was ſo wel pleaſing to God and agreeable to his Law, that whereas immediately before their entring into it, here was no peace to him that went out, nor to him that came in, but great vexations were upon all the Inhabitants of the Countries, and Nation was deſtroyed of Nation, and City of p. 11City (as they are now among us) for God did vex them with all adverſity, Vor. 5, 6. Yet no ſooner was this Oath and Covenant taken, but the Lord was found of them▪ and gave them reſt round about, Verſe 15. as no doubt he would do to us, were we as zealous againſt Apoſtates, Idolaters, Hereticks, Blaſphemers againſt God and the ſacred Trinity, as they; and would put the Ringleaders of ſuch to death, whether ſmal or great, whether man or woman, as they did.

Thirdly, that Aſa did depoſe his own Queen mother from being Queen, for her Idolatry, and cut down and burnt her Idol and her grove. A memorable example both of zeal and juſtice, to ſhame the luke warmneſs, the partiality of our times, which have connived at, and countenanced, Queen mother, and Queen daughter too in their Idolatries, yea erected publick Gro…es and Chappels for their Idols and Idol-worſhip.

Eightly, to theſe I might accumulate EXOD. 23. 23, 24. 32. 33, c. 34. 12,8. 13, 4, 15. NUM. 21. 2, 3. c. 31. 8. 17. DEUT. 7. 2, 3 4, 5. c. 12. 2, 3. JOSM. 23. 5. to 14. JUDG. 2. 2. Where God commanded Moſes, Ioſhua, and the Iſraelites his own people, when he ſhould deliver the Hittites, Gergaſites, Amarites, Canaanites, Per…zites, Hivites, Iebuſites, and Midianites into their hands, to ſmite, utterly destroy, and ſlay them with the ſword, and to make no Covenant with them, nor ſhew mercy unto them; and to deſtroy, break down, and burn their Altars, Groves, Images, and to make no marriages with their ſons or daughters, leaſt they ſhould turn them away from following him, to ſerve other gods, and ſo ſhould the anger of the Lord be kindled against them, and deſtroy them ſodainly: Whereupon they did utterly deſtroy all the Idolatrous Inhabitants of the Cities they took, with the edge of the ſword, without ſparing any, but Rahab and her family; JOSH. 6. 21, 22, 24. c. 8. 20. to 30. c. 9. 24, 26. c. 10. 1. 10. to the end; ſpecially v. 40. c. 11, 12. NUM. 21. 2, 3. c. 31. 16. 17. 2 CHRON. 31. 1, 2. as the Lord commanded them.

From all which Precepts and Preſidents, as alſo from JOH 31. 26, 27, 28. EXOD. 22. 20. He that ſacrificeth unto any other god ſave unto the Lord only, HE SHAL BE ƲTTERLY DESTROYED; that is by the Magiſtrates and people, or in their default, by God himſelf, it is undeniable; that godly Kings and Magiſtrates under the Law, were by Gods own ſpecial command to puniſh obſtinate Idolaters, Apoſtates, Falſe Prophets and Teachers, who ſeduced (or endeavored to ſeduce the people from the ways, truth, and true worſhip of God, were they Jews or Gentiles, Iſraelites or Heathens,) with death and capital puniſhments, to prevent or remove Gods wrath, procure his favor and bleſſing, and keep others from pollution and ſeduction, to the ruine of their ſouls.

Secondly, That they had power to puniſh Blaſphemy and Blaſphemers of God even with death, by an expreſs Commiſſion from God himſelf, is as clear as the Noonday Sun, by theſe enſuing Texts: LEVIT. 24. 10. to 17. and the Iſra…litiſh womans ſonne blaſphemed the name of the Lord and curſed; and they brought him unto Moſes and put him in Ward, that the mind of the Lord might be ſhewed them: And the Lord ſpake unto Moſes ſaying, bring forth him that hath curſed without the Camp, and let all that heard him lay their hands upon his head, and let all the Congregation STONE HIM. And thou ſhalt ſpeak unto the children of Iſrael, ſaying, whoſoever ſhal curſe his God ſhal bear his ſin: And he p. 12that blaſphemeth the name of the Lord SHAL SURELY BE PUT TO DEATH, and ALL THE CONGREGATION SHAL CERTAINLY STONE HIM: as wel the ſtranger, as he that is born in the Land, WHEN HE BLASPHEMETH THE NAME OF THE LORD, SHAL BE PUT TO DEATH. A moſt punctuall Law, extending to all blaſphemers of God and his name, be they Natives or Forraigners, of what ſex or quality ſoever; coupled in the next Verſe with this penal Statute, Ver. 17. AND HE THAT KILLETH ANY MAN SHAL BE PVT TO DEATH: ſo that thoſe who at this day queſtion or deny the Magiſtrates power to put Blaſphemers (or groſs Hereticks who deny Chriſts Divinity &c. whoſe very aſſentions are direct blaſphemies) to death: may upon the ſelf-ſame grounds, and with equal reaſon deny the Magiſtrates power to put Murtherers to death: the one Law being as moral, as perpetual, as the other: Yea the equity of that other Law, EXOD. 21. 17. and LEVIT. 20. 9. Every one that curſeth his father and mother ſhal SƲRELY BE PƲT TO DEATH▪ his blood ſhal be upon him; muſt hold more ſtrongly of him that ſhal curſe and blaſpheme his heavenly, then his earthy Father; in as much as the one is infinitly greater, and more to be reverenced, feared, honored, obeyed then the other. This Law was ſo obligatory and Authentick among the Iſraelites even in the reign of King Ahab, and Jezebel; that the Nobles and Elders upon Jezebels Letter, and the witneſſes teſtimony ſuborned by her; condemned Naboth, for that he did blalpheme God▪ whereupon they carried him forth out of the City, and STONED HIM WITH STONES THAT HE DYED, 1 KING. 21. 5. to 15. Yea the wicked Jews, Elders, and High-prieſts who put our Savior to death, were ſo zealous in puniſhing whatever they reputed blaſphemy, by coulor of this precept, that JOH. 10. 31, 32, 33. The Jews TOOK UP STONES TO STONE CHRIST HIMSELF for BLASPHEMY (which they pretended he had ſpoken) AND FOR THAT HE BEING MAN MADE HIMSELF GOD; And at his arraignment before his paſſion MAT. 26. 64, 65, 66. Chriſt ſaying, that he was the Son of God; thereupon the High Prieſt rent his clothes, ſaying, He hath ſpoken BLASPHEMY, what further need have we of witneſſes? Behold now ye have heard his BLASPHEMIE, What think ye? They anſwered and ſaid. HE IS GƲILTY OF DEATH. An unanſwerable proof, that Blaſphemy even in our Saviors time, was a capital crime puniſhable with death among the Jews: and all by vertue of this forecited expreſſe Law of God. Thoſe then muſt be more unjuſt then Ahab or Jezebel, more impious and leſſe zealous then the wicked Jews, High Prieſts, or Elders who put Chriſt to death, that dare plead for the exemption of Blaſphemers of God, or the Trinity from death and capital puniſhments, when God himſelf hath thus poſitively commanded, That they ſhal ſurely and certainly be out to death.

Thirdly, For ſeditious and obſtinate pernicious Schiſmaticks from the Unity both of the Church and Faith, though we find no expreſſe precept in the Old Teſtament againſt them; yet we read, that God himſelf ſent out a fire and devoured Nadab, and Ab…hu, ſo that they dyed before the Lord, becauſe they offred in their cenſor… ſtrange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not, LEVIT. 10. 1, 2▪ NUM. 3. 4. c. 26. 60. 1 CHRO. 24. 2. and that God exemplarily deſtroyed and p. 13made the earth to ſwallow up Corah, Dathan, and Abiram with their, company and families, for raiſing a publike Schiſm, NUM. 16. 1. to 41. c. 26. 9, 10. PSA. 106. 17, 18. And ſuch Hereticks and Schiſmaticks as thoſe fall directly within the Verge and meaning of the forecited Texts, againſt Idolaters, Falſe Prophets, Falſe-Teachers, Apoſtates from the truth or true worſhip of God, and Blaſphemers; Hereſie it ſelf (properly ſo called) being either DOCTRINAL BLASPHEMY or MENTAL IDOLATRY: therefore puniſhable by godly Princes and Magiſtrates under the Law, by vertue of the precedent Texts: and ſo by neceſſary conſequence under the Goſpel. As for Schiſmaticks and ſeparate Independent Congregations, the Iſraelites neither knew nor permitted any, ſince they all unanimouſly met together in one place upon all publick Feaſtivals, Faſtings, Paſſeover…, and other occaſions of ſolemn worſhip. from which none ever ſeparated upon pretext that all thoſe preſent were not viſible Saints, and thoſe who ſeparated from the publike ordinances, VVERE TO BE CUT OFF; as is clear by EXO. 23. 17. c. 35. 1. 4. LEV. 8. 3, 4. &c. c. 9. 5. c. 16. 33. c. 19. 2. &c. NUM. 15. 24. c. 27. 1. DEUT. 31. 30. c. 5. 1. &c. c. 16. 16. JOSH. 8. 35. c. 23. 2. &c. c. 24. 1. to 28. JUDG. 2. 5. c. 20. 1. to 26. 1 SAM. 7. 3. 5, 6. 1 KING. 18. 1. 2. to 66. 1 CHRO. 13. 1. to 9. c. 15. 3. to 29. c. 25. c. 29. 2 CHRO. 5. 2, 3. c. 7. 3, 4. c. 15. 9. to 16. c. 20. 3, 4, 5. 27. 28. c. 23. 7. 16, 17. c. 24. 9. 10. c. 29. 28. 36. c. 30. 1. to 27. c. 34. 29, 30, 31, 32, 33. c. 35. 1. to 20. EZRA 10. 1. &c. 5. 9. 12. c. 3. 1. NEH. 8. 1. &c. cap. 9. 1. JOEL 2. 15. 16. ZEPH. 2. 1, 2. which I wiſh all Separatiſts and Independents would wel ſtudy and conſider.

My ſecond Argument is this.

Godly Kings and Magiſtrates under the Law and Old Teſtament had power toArgum. 2. puniſh Sabbath-breakers, Sorcerers, Witches, Murtherers, Adulterers, Wicked doers, and diſobeyers of the Law of God, with temporal and capital puniſhments.

Ergo. Chriſtian Magiſtrates and Princes now have power under the Goſpel to puniſh Idolaters, Apoſtates, Hereticks, Falſe Teachers, obſtinate Schiſmaticks and Blaſphemers with corporal and capital puniſhments.

The ſequel is firm, becauſe the ſame reaſon holds a like in all, and becauſe it is an argument a Minori ad Maju; ſins againſt the firſt ſecond third fourth Commandments (as Divines generally accord) being more hainous then ſins againſt the ſecond Table, becauſe more immediate againſt the very nature, eſſence, and name of God himſelf; and ſpiritual Sorcerers, Witches, Murtherers, Adulterers (ſuch as all Idolaters, Hereticks, Apoſtates, Falſe Teachers, obſtinate Schiſmaticks and Blaſphemers are) being worſe and more dangerous then corporal, becauſe they hurt and deſtroy mens ſouls, and becauſe the forecited and ſubſequent texts warrant their puniſhing of theſe with death, as wel as thoſe.

The antecedent I ſhall ratifie by theſe Authorities; That Sabbath-breakers WERE TO BE PUNISHED by the Civil Magiſtrate WITH DEATH, is evident by EXOD. 31. 14, 15. NUM. 15. 32. to 37. That Sorcerers and Witches were to be put to death and not ſuffred to live, is apparant by LEV. 20. 27. DEUT. 18. 10, 11. 1 SAM. 28. 9. That adulterous and inceſtuous perſons were to be put to death by Gods command by the Magiſtrate, is clear by GEN. 26. 11. c. 38. 24. 25. LEVIT. 8. 6. to 30. c. 20. 10. to 19. c. 21. 9. DEUT. 22. 20. to 28. JOH. 8. p. 144, 5. That Murderers were to be put to death without mercy, is clearly reſolved in direct terms, GEN. 9. 5, 6. EXOD. 21. 12, 13, 14. LEVIT. 24. 17. NUM. 35. 15. to 35. 1 KING. 2. 31. to 35. In fine; godly and zealous King David, a man after Gods own heart, writes thus of himſelf; PSAL. 101. 8. I wil early deſtroy ALL THE WICKED of the Land, that I may CƲT OFF ALL WICKED DOERS FROM THE CITY OF THE LORD. If David then as a King (yea a type of Chriſt) would thus deſtroy and cut off with the ſword of Juſtice all the wicked of the Land, and all wicked doers from the City of the Lord: then certainly he would cut off and deſtroy all Idolaters, Apoſtates, Hereticks, Falſe Teachers, Blaſphemers and obſtinate Schiſmaticks who diſturbed the tranquility, and obſtructed the felicity of the City of the Lord. And why all Chriſtian Princes, Magiſtrates, ſhould not do the like under the Goſpel, as he did under the Law; and puniſh Idolaters, Hereticks, Apoſtates, Blaſphemers, &c. now with corporal and capital puniſhments, as wel as Sorcerers, Murderers, and other Malefactors, as yet tranſcends my underſtanding to conceive.

My third Argument follows.

Thoſe things, and Perſons which Heathen Kings, Magiſtrates, Nations andArgum. 3. Idolaters themſelves, by the very light of nature, though fit to puniſh with corporal and capital puniſhments; all Chriſtian Kings, Magiſtrates, Nations, ought much more to cenſure in this kind.

But Heathen Kings, Magiſtrates, Nations, and Idolaters themſelves, by the very light of nature, have thought fit to puniſh with corporal and capital puniſhments, ſuch as adored not thoſe Idol-gods which they worſhipped and reputed for the true; and ſuch as they deemed Idolaters, Apoſtates, Hereticks, Schiſmaticks, Blaſphemers, and open Rebels againſt God.

Therefore Chriſtian Kings, Magiſtrates, Nations under the Goſpel, ought much more to do it.

The Major is evident by its own light, and ratified by ROM. 2. 14, 15. The Minor I ſhal make good by Scripture teſtimonies. I ſhall begin with King Artaxerxes his Commiſſion to Ezra, c: 7. 15; 26. And thou Ezra after the wiſdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, ſet Magiſtrates and Judges which may judge all the people which are beyond the river; all ſuch as know the Law of thy God: And whoſoever **See the 1 Eſd. 8. 23, 24.WIL NOT DO THE LAW OF THY GOD, and the law of the King, let judgement be executed ſpeedily upon him, WHETHER IT BE TO DEATH, OR TO BANISHMENT, OR TO CONFISCATION OF GOODS, OR TO IMPRISONMENT. Shal a meer Heathen King be ſo zealous as to enjoyn the Judges and Magiſtrates under him, to inflict theſe corporal and capital cenſures upon ſuch as wil not do the Law of God; in which number all Idolaters, Apoſtates, Hereticks, Blaſphemers, &c. are included; and ſhal not Chriſtian Princes, Magiſtrates, Judges much more exceed him in their zeal and juſtice againſt ſuch tranſgreſſors of Gods Law? But that Decree of Nebuchadnezzer againſt blaſphemers of God, is more emphatical, and pathetical: DAN. 3. 28, 29. Then Nebuchadnezzer ſpake and ſaid, bleſſed be the Lord God of Shadrach, Meſach, and Abednego, who hath ſent his Angel and delivered his ſervants that truſted in him &c. Therefore I make a Decree, p. 15that every people, nation, and language WHICH SPEAK ANY ERROR (or any thing amiſſe) AGAINST THE GOD of Shadrach, Meſhach, and Abednego, SHAL BE CUT IN PEECES, and THEIR HOUSES SHAL BEE MADE A DUNGHIL, becauſe there is no God that can deliver after this ſort. If this Pagan King out of his tranſcendent zeal, upon the ſight but of one miracle, was ſtirred up without any debates or delay, to make ſuch a ſevere decree as this, againſt all thoſe of every people, nation, and language that did ſpeak any Error or Blaſphemy againſt the true God, whom theſe three worthies then, and we now worſhip: ſhal not this decree of his riſe up in Judgement againſt all thoſe Chriſtian Princes, Parliaments, Magiſtrates, Judges under the Goſpel, who profeſſe themſelves the worſhippers, ſervants, children of this true God; and yet ſhal refuſe, or neglect to make ſuch ſtrickt and ſevere Decrees againſt ſuch Hereticks and Blaſphemers, who maliciouſly belch out moſt execrable blaſphemies, and Errors againſt God himſelf, and openly maintain them in diſcourſe and writing? but eſpecially againſt thoſe who pretend and ſtile themſelves the ONLY SAINTS and SERVANTS OF GOD (how truly let this one act alone declare) who profeſſedly plead, preach, and write againſt the Corporal and Capital Puniſhment of ſuch damnable Hereticks, Blaſphemers, and the enacting of any ſevere Laws againſt them by the Parliament and civil Magiſtrates, when as this Pagan King by his Decree commanded ſuch, to be instantly cut in peeces and their houſes to be made a dunghill, without any pity or pardon? Were Pagan Nebuchadnezzer now alive amongſt us, he would new heat his Fiery Furnace to warm the kay-cold frozen zeal of ſuch heatleſſe New-Lights, and zeal-leſſe Saints as theſe; or ſhame them into an emulation of his zeal againſt ſuch Hereticks and Blaſphemers.

I ſhal cloſe up this with that ſaying of **Super Joannem Tract. 11.Auguſtine recorded by **Cauſa. 23. qu. 4. fol. 450.Gratian:

Quando vult Deus concitate poteſtatem adverſus Haereticos, adverſus Schiſmaticos, adverſus diſſipatores Eccleſiae, adverſus exſufflatores Chriſti, adverſus Blaſphematores Chriſti, blaſphemi non mirentur, quia Deus concitat ut a Sara verbaretur Agar; cognoſcat ſe Agar, ſupponat cervicem, &c. Ad hoc ergo affligitur ut revertatur.

Nebuchadnezzer Rex decrevit, dicens; Quicunque dixerint blaſphemiam in Deum Sidrac, Miſac, & Abednago, in interitu erunt, & domus eorum in diſperſione. Ecce quomodo Rex alienigena ſevit, ne blaſphemetur Deus Iſrael, qui potuit tres pueros de igne liberare, & nolunt ut ſeviant Reges Chriſtiani quia Chriſtus exſufflatur, a quo non tres pueri, ſed totus orbis terrarum, cum ipſis regibus a gehennarum igne liberantur? Quomodo ergo iſtireges non moveantur, qui non tantum tres pueros attendunt liberatos de flamma, ſed ſeipſos de flamma Gehennae, quando vident Chriſtum, a quo liberati ſunt, exſufflari a Chriſtianis? quando audiunt dici Chriſtiano, dic te non eſſe Chriſtianum? Talia facere volunt, ſed talia pati nolunt. Nam videte qualia faciunt, & qualia patiuntur: occidunt animas, affliguntur in corpore: ſempiternas mortes faciunt, et temporales ſe perpeti conqueruntur.

So in the 1 ESDRAS c. 6. 23. to 34. It is recorded, that King Cyrus and Darius by their Royal Decrees commanded the Temple of Jeruſalem to be built unto the Lord, and offrings and prayers to bee there made to the moſt high GOD p. 16for the King and his children; and commanded that whoſoever ſhould tranſgreſſe, yea or make light of any thing afore written, out of his own houſe ſhould a tree be taken, and HE THERE ON TO BE HANGED and ALL HIS GOODS TO BE SEISED FOR THE KING. O the tranſcendent zeal of theſe Heathen Princes againſt the obſtructers, or oppugners of Gods true worſhip! and ſhal not Chriſtian Kings and Magiſtrates be as zealous againſt Hereticks, Blaſphemers, Schiſmaticks, Seducers, Idolaters, who oppugn, corrupt his truth, and withdraw men from his worſhip?

I proceed to Preſidents of another Nature.

We read JUDG. 6. 28. to 32. That when Gideon in the night time had thrown down the Altar of Baal, and cut down the Grove that was by it, in Ophrata; the men of the City (who worſhipped Baal) ſaid one to another, who hath done this thing? and when they had enquired and asked, they ſaid, Gideon the ſon of Joaſh hath done this. Then the men of the City ſaid unto Ioaſh, bring out thy ſon THAT HE MAY DYE, BECAUSE HE HATH CAST DOWN THE ALTAR OF BAAL, becauſe he hath cut down the Grove that was by it. Whence it is evident, that theſe very Idolaters deemed this afront to their Idol-god, whom they beleeved, adored as the true, to be no leſſe then a capital offence, deſerving death: So in the 1 KING. 18. 13. c. 19. 2. 10. 14. and ROM. 11. 3. 4. we find, that Idolatrous Queen Iezabel who worſhipped Baal as the true God, and drew Ahab her husband and his ſubjects to her Idolatry, did ſlay the Prophets of the Lord with the ſword, and threw down his Altar, and ſeek the Prophet Elijahs life, who was enforced to flie to ſave it, becauſe ſhee deemed him and the Prophets ſhe ſlew to be Hereticks, Falſe Prophets, Blaſphemers, Oppoſers of her Idol-Baal, and his Idolatrous worſhip, then generally received as the true. So DAN. 3. 1. when King Nebuchadnezzer erected an Image of gold, as his god, which he made choyce of for him and all his people to worſhip, he made a publike Proclamation by an Herald, that all people, nations, and languages aſſembled to its dedication, ſhould fall down and worſhip this golden Image, and that who ſo fell not down and worſhipped it, SHOULD BE CAST INTO A BURNING FIERY FURNACE, And for diſobeying this Proclamation, Shadrach, Meſhach, and Abednego were caſt into his furnace as Malefactors: Thus ACTS 16. 16 to 35. The Idolatrous people of Thyati…a, after that Paul and Sylas had preached againſt their Idols, and diſpoſſeſſed the damoſel there poſſeſſed with the ſpirit of divination, roſe up againſt Paul and Sylus and caught and brought them to the Magiſtrate, ſaying; Theſe men being Jews do exceedingly trouble our City, and teach cuſtomes which are not lawful for us to receive nor obſerve, being Romans: whereupon the Magiſtrates rent their clothes and commanded to beat them, and when they had layd many ſtripes upon them, they caſt them into priſon, charging the goaler to keep them ſafely; who having received ſuch a charge, caſt them into the inner priſon, and made their feet faſt in the ſtocks: reputing them Hereticks, Schiſmaticks, Oppoſers of their falſe Deities and Religions: So ACT. 19. 21. to 46. Demetrius the ſilver-ſmith, who made ſhrines for Diana, ſtirred up the people at Epheſus againſt Paul and his Aſſociates by theſe ſpeeches. Moreover ye ſee and hear, that not alone at Epheſus but almost throughout all Aſia; this Paul hath perſwaded and turned away p. 17many people, ſaying, that they be no gods which are made with hands; So that no only our craft is endangered to be ſet at naught, but alſo that the Temple of the great goddeſſe Diana ſhould be deſpiſed, AND HER MAGNIFICENCE SHOƲLD BE DESTROYED, whom all Aſia and the world worſhippeth. And when they heard theſe ſayings, they were full of wrath, and cryed out, ſaying, Great is Diana of the Epheſians; And the whole City was filled with confuſion; and having caught Gaius and Ariſtarchus, Pauls companions in travel, they ruſhed with one accord into the Theatre, (and no doubt would have murdered them, and Paul too, could they have caught him) as BLASPHEMERS of their Goddeſſe, had not the Town-Clerk appeaſed the multitude, and told them, the matter ſhould be dee…rmined in a lawful aſſembly: So the Jews, out of their blind zeal, stoned Stephen as an Heretick and falſe Teacher, for reproving them, for perſecuting and ſlaying the Prophets, who had ſhewed before of the comming of the Holy One; of whom they had been the betrayers and murderers, ACT. 7. 7. Thus Paul before his converſion, out of the like falſ zeal, made havock of the Church, entring into every houſe and hailing men and women, committed them to priſon: And yet breathing out threatnings and flaughters against the Diſciples of the Lord, he deſired letters of the High Prieſt to Damaſcus, to the Synagogues, that if he found any of this way man or woman, he might bring them bound unto Jeruſalem, ACT. 8. 1. 3. c. 9. 1, 2. Yea, he did ſhut up many of the Saincts in priſon, and when they were put to death, gave his voyce againſt them, and puniſhed them oft in every Synagogue, ACT. 26. 9, 10, 11, 12. Thus the ſeduced Jews out of a blind zeal apprehending Paul to be an Heretick and Schiſmatick, ACT. 21. 28, 29. &c. ſtirred up all the people and laid hands on him, crying out, Men of Iſrael help, this is the man that teacheth all men every where againſt the people, and the law, and this place; and farther, brought Greeks into the Temple, and hath polluted the holy place; And all the City was moved; and the people ran together, and they took Paul and drew him out of the Temple and beat him; And as they were about to kill him, tydings came unto the chief Captain of the band, that all Jeruſalem was in an uproar: who immediately took Souldiers and Centurions and ran down, and took Paul and commanded him to be bound with two chains, and brought him into the Caſtle; After which he was brought before the Councel, accuſed before Felix by the Iews and Tertullus, for a mover of ſedition among the Jews throughout the world, and a ring-leader of the Sect of the Nazarens, whom they took and would have judged according to their law, but that the chief Captain Lyſias reſcued him out of their hands, ACT. 24. 5, 6, 7, and all this for worſhipping God after the way which they called HERESY, ACT. 24. 14. So ACT. 12. 1, 2, 3, 4. we read, that Herod the King ſtretched out his hand to vex certain of the Church, and KILLED James the brother of John with the ſword, and took and impriſoned Peter too, intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people: Yea our Saviour himſelf tells his Diſciples, JOHN 16. 2. The time cometh that WHOSOEVER KILLETH YOƲ ſhall think he doth GOD GOOD SERVICE: as the aaSee Euſebius de vita Conſtantini. l. x. c. 11. 45. to 52 l. 2. c. 1. 2. 5. 57.Pagan Roman Emperors, and other Heatheniſh Princes, Magiſtrates, Nations, did in the Primitive perſecutions, recorded in all ancient and modern Eccleſiastical hiſtories. Now, what was the ground of Nebuchadnezzers, and p. 18theſe other Pagan Idolaters: and ſeduced Jews corporal Cenſures, and capitall Proceedings againſt the Servants, Apoſtles and Saints of God, but this? they deemed them Hereticks, falſe Teachers, Oppoſers, and Blaſpheme…s of their Idol-gods, and falſe Religions, which they emb…aced, beleeved as the true: For as the very light of Nature inſtructs bbCic de natura Deorum c 1. Caelius Rhodig. Antiq. Lect. l. 22. c. 1.all Nations that there is a God, and inſtigates them to elect and adore ſome Deity or other as their God and Savior: So it farther inſtructs them, that that Deity they adore, and that Religion they imbrace is no ways to be openly blaſphemed, reviled, oppugned, contemned, under pain of the moſt ſevere capital puniſhments, becauſe ſuch offences againſt the ſupreameſt Majeſty of God tranſcend any Treaſon againſt an earthly Soveraign: whence moſt Laws and Nations have made them capital, and by the light of Nature in all ages puniſhed ſuch whom they eſteemed Atheiſts, Hereticks, Blaſphemers of their gods, or oppugners of their eſtabliſhed Religion, with no leſſe then capital Puniſhments and the ſevereſt Cenſures, as is evident by theſe Scripture inſtances, and ſundry other. Hence is that notable ſaying of ccDe Beneficiis l. 3. c. 6.Seneca Violatarum Religionum aliubi atque aliubi diverſa poena eſt; SED ƲBIQƲE ALIQƲA; as wel as of homicide, parricide and poyſoning: Hence the Philoſopher Plato in his 10. Book de Legibus, condemns thoſe to be put to death, who are Violaters, or Corrupters of Religion: Hence the Amphictions by the adviſe of ddPlutarchi Solon.Solon, raiſed a War againſt the Tirrhaeans for offring violence to the Temple of Delphos; and Philip of Macaedon levyed War againſt the Phocians for their Sacriledge, in ſpoiling the Temple of Delphos, quod orbis viribus expiari debet, writes eeHiſt. lib. 8.Justin. This War continued eleven years, til all who were guilty of this Sacriledge were utterly deſtroyed, which Demophilus and Diodorus Siculus ſtiled, ffDiodorus Sic. Bibl. Hiſt. lib. 16. ſect. 14. &c.Bellum Sacrum, an holy War, becauſe waged in defence of Religion (though Idolatrous) to puniſh the contemners of it: Yea this was one cauſe of the Poloponeſian War between the Athenians and Lacedaemonians, as ggHiſt. lib. 1. De jure Belli. l. 2. c. 20. ſect. 51.Thucidides and Grotius record: who aſſert, Justius illi punientur, qui in eos quos Deos putant irreverentes atque irreligioſi ſunt. Hence the hhCaelius Rho. Antiq. Lect. l. 22. c. 1. Diogen. Lacit. l. 1. & Cic. de Natur. Deorum, l. 1.Athenians baniſhed Protagoras out of their City and territories, and burned his Books in a publick aſſembly, becauſe he had written in the beginning of his Book, De diis neque ut ſint, neque ut non ſint habeo dicere. Hence iiIuſtin. Fliſt. p. 269. See p. 227.Antiochus attempting to rob the Temple of Dodona in Syria, was together with his whole army ſlain by the Inhabitants. Hence we read in Variae Hiſt. l. 5. c. 16.Aelian of a child condemned to death for Sacriledge and offring injury to the Heathen Goddeſſe Diana, in taking away a Golden Plate, which had fallen from her Crown. And upon this ground Numa Pompilius (as kkHiſt. l. 1. p 16Livy, llNuma Pompilius fol. 21.Plutarch, and Dionyſius Hali…arnaſſeus record) inſtituted a Pontifex Maximus (or chief Prieſt at Rome) eique omnia ex ſcripta ex ſignataque attribuit, quibus hostiis, quibus diebus, ad quae templa ſacra fierent, &c. Pontificiis ſcitis ſubjecit, vt eſſet quo conſultum plebs veniret, ne quid divini juris negligendo Patrios ritus▪ PEREGRINOS-QƲE aſciſcendo, turbaretur; & ne quid praeter LEGITIMA fiat: And upon the like reaſon, when the Romans in the time of mmTit. Liv. Hiſt. l. 4. p. 162.Manlius had their bodies infected with diverſe diſeaſes, and their minds with manifold erroneous Religions and Superſtitions; this publick ſhame coming to the knowledge of the chief of the City, Cernentes in omnibus vicis ſacelliſque peregrin… p. 19atque inſolita piacula pacis Deum expoſcendae; they thereupon commanded the Ediles to take care, Ʋt animadverterent, ne qui, niſi Romani Dii, NEV QƲO ALIO MORE QƲAM PATRIOCOLERENTƲR, to preſerve Uniformity and avoyd all Innovations in their publike worſhip, which they deemed true: Whence I conclude, that what Pagan Kings, Magiſtrates, Nations have uſually puniſhed with corporal, or capital puniſhments, and reſtrained by Civil Laws in all ages out of the light of Nature; that Chriſtian Kings, Magiſtrates, and Nations under the Goſpel may lawfully puniſh in like ſort, even by the principles of Nature too, had they no other Divine Law to warrant them, as they have: 'Tis true, moſt of theſe erred in the object, in deeming that Hereſie, Schiſm, Blaſphemy, Error, which was not; not in the puniſhment, had the object been ſuch as they really deemed it, and ſuch as we here diſpute of.