The Bloody Tenant of Persecution for the Cause of Conscience, Part 4 · Chapter 108
CHAP. CVIII.
Peace.
I Shall now present you with their 10. Head, viz. concerning the Magistrates power in matters of Doctrine.
That which is unjustly ascribed to the Pope, is as unjustly ascribed to the Magistrates, viz. to have power of making new Articles of Faith, or Rules of Life, or of pressing upon the Churches to give such publike honour to the Apocrypha writings, or Homilies of men, as to read them to the people in the roome of the Oracles of God.
Truth.
This Position simply considered I acknowledge a most holy truth of God, both against the Pope, and the Civill Magistrates challenge, both pretending to be the Vicars of Christ Iesus upon the Earth. Yet two things here I shall propose to consideration.
First, since the Parliament of England thrust the Pope out of his chaire in England, and set downe King Henry the 8. and his Successours in the Popes roome,King Henry the 8. set down… the Popes chaire in England. establishing them supreme Governours of the Church of England, since such an absolute government is given by all men to them to be Guardians of the first Table and worship of God; to set up the true worship, to suppresse all false, and that by the power of the Sword, and therefore consequently they must judge and determine what the true is, and what the false.
And since the Magistrate is bound (by these Authours principles) to see the Church, If the Mgistrate must punish in Spirituall …, he must … be judge … Spirituall causes also.the Church officers and members doe thair duty, he must therefore judge what is the Churches duty, and when she performes or not performes it, or when she exceeds, so like wise when the Ministers performe their duty, or when they exceed it.
And if the Magistrate must judge, then certainly by his owne eye, and not by the eyes of others, though assembled in a Nationall or Generall Councell.
Then also upon his judgement must the people rest, as upon the minde and judgement of Christ, or else it must be confest that he hath no such power left him by Christ to compell the soules of men in matters of Gods worship.
Secondly,Apocripha, Common-Prayer and Homilies, pretious to our forefa…hers. concerning the Apocrypha writings and Homilies to be urged by the Magistrate to be read unto the people as the Oracles of God: I aske if the Homilies of England contain not in them much pretious and heavenly matter … Secondly, if they were not … (at least many of them) by excellent men for learning, holinesse, and witnesse of Christs Truth incomparable. Thirdly, were they not authorised by that most rare and pious Prince Ed. 6. then head of the Church of England? With what great solemnity and rejoycing were they received of thousands?
Yet now behold their children after them sharply censure them for Apocrypha writings and Homilies trust into the roome of the Word of God, and so falling into the consideration of a false and counterfeit Scripture.
I demand of these worthy men whether a servant of God might then lawfully have refused to read or heare such a false Scripture?A case.
Secondly, if so, whether King Edward might have lawfully compelled such a man to yeeld and submit, or else have persecuted him, yea (according to the Authors principles) whether he ought to have spared him, because after the admonitions of such pious and learned men, this man shall now prove an Hereticke, and as an obstinate person sinning against the light of his owne conscience?
In this case what shall the conscience of the subject doe, awed by the dread of the most High? What shall the conscience of the Magistrate do, zealous for his glorious Reformation, being constantly perswaded by his Clergy of his Lieutenantship received from Christ?
Again,Reformations are fallible. what priviledge have those worthy servants of God either in Old or New England, to be exempted from the mistakes, into which those glo…ious Worthies in K. Edwards time did fall?Bloudy conclusions. and if so, what bloudy conclusions are presented to the World, perswading men to plucke up by the Roots from the Land of the living, all such as seem in their eyes hereticall or obstinate?