The Sword of Christian Magistracy, Title page
The Sword of Chriſtian Magiſtracy Supported: OR A VINDICATION OF The Chriſtian Magiſtrates Authority under the GOSPELL, To puniſh Idolatry, Apoſtacy, Hereſie, Blaſphemy, and obſtinate Schiſm, with Corporall, and in ſome Caſes with Capitall Puniſhments. Wherein this their Juriſdiction is cleared by Proofs, and Arguments, from the Old and New Teſtament; by the Laws, and Practiſe of Godly Chriſtian Emperors, Kings, States, and Magiſtrates; The Common and Statute Laws of England; the conſent of the beſt Ancient and Modern Authors of all ſorts; and the moſt materiall Objections to the contrary, made by Donatiſts, Anabaptiſts, &c. fully Anſwered and Refuted.
By WILLIAM PRINNE of Lincolns Inne, Eſquire.
Auguſtin. Epiſt. 48. Vincentio & Gratian: Cauſa. 23. qu. 4.
Melius eſt cum ſeveritate diligere, quam cum lenitate decipere: Si quiſquam Inimicum poriculoſis febribus phreneticum factum currere videret in praeceps, nonne tunc potius malum pro malo redderet, ſi ſic eum ire permitteret, quam ſi corripiendum ligandumque cur aret? Et tamen tunc ei moleſtiſſimus & avertiſſimus videretur, quando utiliſſimus et miſericordiſſimus extit iſſet? Sed planè ſalute reparata, tanto ei uberius gracias ageret, quando minus ſibi peperciſſe ſenſiſſet. Donatiſtae nimium ſunt inquieti, quos per ordinatas a Deo poteſtates ſingulares, cohiberi at que corrigi, mihi non videtur inutile; nam de multorum jam correctione gaudemus.
Zech. 13. 3.
Thou ſhalt not live, for thou ſpeakeſt Lyes in the name of the Lord: and his Father and Mother, ſhall thruſt him through when he propheſieth.
Levit. 24. 16.
He that blaſphemeth the Name of the Lord, ſhall ſurely be put to death; and all the Congregation ſhall certainly ſtone him: as well the ſtranger, as he that is born in the Land, when he blaſphemeth the Name of the Lord, ſhall be put to death.
Dan. 3. 29.
Therefore I make a Decree, that every People, Nation, and Language, that ſpeak any thing amiſſe againſt the God of Shadrach, Meſhach and Abednego, ſhall be cut in peeces, and their Houſes ſhall be made a dung-hill.
Rev. 17. 16.
The ten hornes which thou ſaweſt upon the beaſt, are ten Kings, theſe ſhall hate the Whore, and ſhall make her deſolate and naked, and ſhall eate her fleſh, and burn her with fire.
LONDON Printed by R. I. for John Bellamy, and are to be ſold at his ſhop at the Three Golden Lyons in Cornhill, near the Royall Exchange, 1653.