The Bloody Tenant of Persecution for the Cause of Conscience, Part 3 · Chapter 46
CHAP. XLVI.
Peace.
NOw in the second place concerning that Scripture, Rom. 13.Concerning the civill Rulers power in spirituall causes discust. which it pleaseth the Answerer to quote, and himselfe, and so many excellent servants of God have insisted upon to prove such persecution for Conscience; how have both he and they wrested this Scripture (not as Peter writes of the wicked, to their eternall, yet) to their owne and others temporall destruction by Civill wars and combustions in the world?
My humble request therefore is to the Father of Lights, to send out the bright beames of the Sun of Righteousnesse, and to scatter the mist which that old serpent, the great jugler Sathan, hath raised about this holy Scripture, and my request to you (divine Truth) is for your care and paines to inlighten and cleare this Scripture.
Truth.
First then upon the serious examination of this whole Scripture it will appeare that from the ninth verse of 12 Chap.Rom. 13. speakes not at all of spirituall but civill affaires. to the end of this whole 13 Chap. the Spirit handles the duties of the Saints in the carefull observation of the second Table in their civil conversation, or walking towards men, and speaks not at all of any point or matter of the first Table concerning the Kingdome of the Lord Iesus.
For, having in the whole Epistle handled that great point of free Iustification by the free Grace of God in Christ… in the beginning of the 12 Chap. he exhorts the Beleevers to give and dedicate themselves unto the Lord both in soule and body, and unto the 9 verse of the 12 Chap. he expressely mentioneth their conversation in the Kingdome or Body of Christ Iesus, together with the severall Officers thereof.
And from the 9 ver. to the end of the 13 he plainly discourseth of their civill conversation, and walking, one toward another… and with all men, from whence he hath faire occasion to speake largely concerning their subjection to Magistrates in the 13 Chap.The scope of Rom 13.
Hence it is that verse 7 of this 13 Chap. Paul exhorts to performance of love to all men (Magistrates and subjects) verse 7. 8. Render therefore to all their due,Love to man, the duty of the whole second Table. tribute to whom tribute is due, custome to whom custome, feare to whom feare, honour to whom honour. Owe nothing to any man, but to love one another, for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the Law.
If any man doubt (as the Papists speak) whether a man may perfectly fulfill the Law; How love fulfilleth the Lawevery man of found judgement is ready to answer him that these words [He that loveth hath fulfilled the Law] concerneth not the whole Law in the first Table, that is the worship and Kingdome of God in Christ.
Secondly, That the Apostle speaks not here of perfect observation of the second Table without failing in word or act toward men, but layes open the summe and sustance of the Law, which is love, and that he that walkes by the rule of love toward all men (Magistrates and subjects) he hath rightly attained unto what the Law aimes at, and so in Evangelicall obedience fulfills and keeps the Law.
Hence therefore againe in the 9 verse having discoursed of the 5 Command in this point of Superiours, he makes all the rest of the Commandements of the second Table, which concerne our walking with man (viz. Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steale, Thou shalt not beare false witnesse, Thou shalt not covet: and if there be any other Commandement, to be briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy selfe.
And verse 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour, therefore love is the fulfilling of the Law, that is (as before) the Law concerning our civill conversation toward All men, Magistrates or Governours, and fellow subjects of all conditions.