The Bloody Tenant of Persecution for the Cause of Conscience, Part 3 · Chapter 25 – Chapter 26
CHAP. XXV.
THirdly, in that the officers unto whom these Tares are referred, are the Angels the heavenly Reapers at the last day, it is cleare as the light, The great Reapers are the Angels.that (as before) these Tares cannot signifie Hypocrites in the Church, who when they are discovered and seen to be Tares opposite to the good fruit of the good seed, are not to be let alone to the Angels at Harvest or end of the world, but purged out by the Governors of the Church, and the whole Church of Christ. Againe, they cannot be offenders against the civill state and Common welfare, whose dealing with is not suspended unto the comming of the Angels, but unto Men, who (although they know not the Lord Iesus Christ, yet) are lawfull Governours and Rulers in Civill things.
Accordingly in the 4. and last place, in that the plucking up of these tares out of this field must bee let alone unto the very harvest or end of the world, it is apparent from thence, that (as before) they could not signifie hypocrites in the Church, who when they are discovered to be so, (as these tares were discovered to be tares) are not to be suffered (after the first and second Admonition) but to be rejected, and every Brother that walketh disorderly to be withdrawen or separated from: So likewise no offendour against the Civill state, by robbery, murther, adultery, oppression, sedition, mutinie, is for ever to be connived at, and to enjoy a perpetuall toleration unto the Worlds end, as these tares must.
Moses for a while held his peace against the sedition of Korah, Dathan, The Tares to be tolerated the longest of any sinners.and Abiram. David for a season tolerated Shimei, Ioab, Adonijah; but till the Harvest or end of the World, the Lord never intended that any but these spirituall and mysticall Tares should be so permitted.
CHAP. XXVI.
NOw if any imagine that the time or date is long,The danger of infection by these tares assoyled. Lamentable experience hath proved this true of late in Europe, and lamentably true in the sl…ughter of some hundred thousands of the English. that in the meane season they may doe a world of mischiefe before the Worlds end, as by infection, &c.
Truth.
First, I answer, that as the civill State keepes it selfe with a civill Guard, in case these Tares shall attempt ought against the peace and welfare of it, let such civill offences be punished, and yet as Tares opposite to Christs Kingdome, let their Worship and Consciences be tolerated.
Secondly, the Church or spirituall State, City, or Kingdome hath lawes, and orders, and armories, (whereon there hang a thousand Bucklers, Cant. 4.) Weapons and Ammunition, able to break down the strongest Holds, 1 Cor. 10. and so to defend it selfe against the very Gates of Earth or Hell.
Thirdly, the Lord himself knows who are his, & his foundation remaineth sure, his Elect or chosen cannot perish nor be finally deceived.
Lastly, the Lord Iesus here in this Parable layes downe two Reasons, able to content and satisfie our hearts… to bea…e patiently this their contradiction and Antichristianity, and to permit or let them alone.
First, lest the good Wheat bee pluckt up and rooted up also out of this Field of the World, if such combustions and fightings were, as to pluck up all the false professours of the name of Christ, the good wheat also would enjoy little peace, but be in danger to bee pluckt up and torne out of this world by such bloody stormes and tempests.
And therefore as Gods people are commanded, Ier. 29. to pray for the peace of materiall Babell, wherein they were captivated, and 1 Time. 2. to pray for all men, and specially Kings and Governors, that in the peace of the civill State they may have peace. So contrary to the opinion and practice of most (drunke with the Cup of the Whores fornication) yea, and of Gods owne people fast asleepe in Antichristian Dalilahs laps, obedience to the command of Christ to let the tares alone, will prove the onelyonly meanes to preserve then Civill Peace, and that without obedience to this command of Christ, it is impossible (without great transgression against the Lord in carnall policy, which will not long hold out to preserve the civill peace.
Beside, Gods people the good Wheat are generally pluckt up and persecuted, as well as the vilest idolaters, whether Jewes or Antichristians, which the Lord Jesus seemes in this Parable to foretell.
The second Reason noted in the Parable which may satisfie any man from wondring at the patience of God, The great & dreadfull Harvest.is this: when the world is ripe in sinne, in the sinnes of Antichristianisme (as the Lord spake of the sinnes of the Amorites, Gen. 12.) then those holy and mighty Officers and Executioners, the Angels, with their sharpe and cu…ting sickles of eternall vengeance, shall downe with them, and bundle them up for the everlasting burnings.
Then shall that Man of Sin, 2 Thess. 2. be consumed by the breath of the mouth of the Lord Iesus, and all that worship the Beast and his picture, and receive his mark into their forehead or their hands, shall drink of the Wine of the wrath of God which is poured out without mixture into the Cup of his indignation, and he shall be tormented wit… …i…e and brimstone in the presence of the holy Angels, and in the presence of the Lambe, and the smoake of their torment shall ascend up for ever and ever, Rev. 14. 10. 11.