The Bloody Tenant of Persecution for the Cause of Conscience, Part 4 · Chapter 102
CHAP. CII.
Peace.
ONe branch more, viz. the third remaines of this Head, and it concerns the hearing of the Word, unto which (say they) all men are to be compelled, because hearing of the word is a duty which even Nature leadeth Heathens to: for this they quote the practice of the Ninevites hea…ing Ionah, and Eglo… (King of Moab) his rising up to Ehuds pretended message from God, Iudg 3.
Truth.
Hearing discussed.I must deny that position: for light of Nature leadeth men to heare that onelyonly which Nature conceiveth to be good for it,Every Religion prefers its owne Priests and Ministers before all other. and therefore not to heare a Messenger, Minister or Preacher, whom conscience perswades is a false messenger or deceiver, and comes to deceive my soule, as Millions of men and women in their severall respective religions and consciences are so perswaded, conceiving their owne to be true.
Secondly,Jonahs preaching to the Ninevites, and their hearing of his message examined. as concerning the instances, Ionah did not compell the Ninevites to heare that message which he brought unto them.
Besides the matter of compulsion to a constant worship of the world in Church estate (which is the Question) comes not neare Ionahs case.
Nor did Christ Iesus or any of his Embassadours so practice: but if persons refused to heare the command of the Lord Iesus to his Messengers was onelyonly to depart from them, shaking off the dust of their feet with a denunciation of Gods wrath against them, Math. 10. Act. 14.
Concerning Eglon his rising up: First, Eh…d compelled not that King either to heare or reverence,Eglon his rising up to Ehuds message, examined. and all that can bee imitable in Eglon, is a voluntary and willing reverence which persons ought to expresse to what they are perswaded comes from God.
But how doe both these instances mightily convince and condemne themselves, who not onelyonly professe to turne away from, but also persecute or hunt all such as shall dare to professe a Ministry or Church estate differing from their owne, though for personall godlinesse and excellency of gifts reverenced by themselves.
Thirdly, to the point of compulsion: It hath pleased the Lord Iesus to appoint a two fold Ministry of his Word.
First,A two fold Ministry of Christ, converting and feeding. for unbeleevers and their conversion, according to Math. 28. 19. Marc. 16 15, 16. and the constant practice of the Apostles in the first preaching of the Gospel.
Secondly, a Ministry of feeding and nourishing up such as are converted and brought into Church estate, according to Ephes. 4. &c. Now to neither of these doe we finde any compulsion appointed by the Lord Iesus, or practised by any of his.
The compulsion preached and practised in New England, is not to the hearing of that Ministry sent forth to convert unbeleevers, and to constitute Churches: for such a Ministry they practise not: but to the hearing of the word of edification, exhortation, consolation, dispenced onelyonly in the Churches of worshippers: I apply,
When Paul came first to Corinth to preach Christ Iesus, by their Rule the Magistrates of Corinth ought by the Sword to have compelled all the people of Corinth to heare Paul.
Secondly,Paul never used any civill compulsion. after a Church of Christ was gathered (by their rule) the Magistrates of Corinth ought to have compelled the people still (even those who had refused his Doctrine, for the few onelyonly of the Church embraced it) to have heard the Word still, and to have kept one day in seven to the Christians God, and to have come to the Christians Church all their dayes. And what is this but a setled formality of Religion and Worship, unto which a people are brought by the power of the sword?
And however they affirme that persons are not to be compelled to be members of Churches, The New English forcing their subjects to church all their daies, and yet forcing them not to any Religion (as they say) they force the people then to be of no religion all their dayes,nor the Church compelled to receive any: Yet if persons be compelled to forsake their Religion which their hearts cleave to, and to come to Church, to the worship of the Word, Prayers, Psalmes, and Contributions, and this all their dayes: I aske whether this be not this peoples Religion, unto which submitting, they shall be quiet all their dayes, without the inforcing them to the practice of any other Religion? And if this bee not so, then I aske, Will it not inevitably follow, that they (not onelyonly permit, but) enforce people to bee of no Religion at all, all their dayes?
This toleration of Religion, or rather irreligious compulsion, is above all tolerations monstrous, to wit, to compell men to bee of no Religion all their dayes. I desire all men and these worthy Authors of this Modell, to lay their hands upon their heart, and to consider whether this compulsion of men to heare the Word, (as they say) whether it carries men, to wit, to be of no Religion all their dayes, worse then the very Indians, who dare not live without Religion according as they are perswaded.
Lastly, I adde, from the Ordinance of the Lord Iesus, and practice of the Apostles (Acts 2. 42.) where the Word and Prayer is joyned with the exercise of their fellowship, and breaking of Bread; in which Exercises the Church continued constantly: that it is apparent that a Civill State may as lawfully compell men by the civill sword to the breaking of bread, The Civill State can no more lawfully compell the Consciences of men to Church to heare the Word, then to receive the Sacraments.or Lords Supper, as to the Word or Prayer, or Fellowship.
For first, they are all of the same nature, Ordinances in the Church (I speake of the feeding Ministrie in the Church, unto which persons are compell'd) and Church Worship. Secondly, every conscience in the World is fearfull, at least shie of the Priests and Ministers of other Gods and Worships, and of holding Spirituall fellowship in any of their Services. Which is the case of many a Soule, viz. to question the Ministers themselves, as well as the Supper it selfe.