The Bloody Tenant of Persecution for the Cause of Conscience, Part 4 · Chapter 126
CHAP. CXXV.
Peace.
DEare Truth, You know the noyse is made from those prophecies, Isa. 46. Kings and Queenes shall be nursing Fathers, &c. and Revel. 21. the Kings of the Earth shall bring their Glory and Honour to new Ierusalem, &c.
Truth.
I answer with that mournfull Prophet, A time when Gods people are wholly at a losse for Gods worship.Psal. 74. I see not that man, that Prophet, that can tell us how long. How many excellent Pen-men fight each against other with their pens (like swords) in the application of those prophecies of David, Isa. Ier. Ezekiel, Daniel, Zacharie, Iohn, when and how those Prophecies shall be fulfilled!
Secondly,Nursing fathers and mothers. When ever those prophecies are fulfilled, yet shall those Kings not be Heads, Governours, and Judges in Ecclesiasticall or Spirituall causes, but be themselves judged and ruled (if within the Church) by the power of the Lord Jesus therein. Hence saith Isaiah, those Kings and Queenes shall lick the Dust of thy feet, &c.
Peace.
Some will here aske, What may the Magistrate then lawfully doe with his Civill horne or power in matters of Religion?
Truth.
His horne not being the horne of that Vnicorne or Rhinocerot, the power of the Lord Iesus in Spirituall case…, his sword not the two-edged sword of the Spirit, The Civill horne or power being of a humane constitution cannot but be of a humane operation.the word of God (hanging not about the loines or side, but at the lips, and proceeding out of the mouth of his Ministers) but of an humane and Civill nature and constitution, it must consequently be of a humane and Civill operation, for who knowes not that operation followes constitution? and therefore I shall end this passage with this consideration:
The Civill The Civill power owes 3 things to the true Church of Christ.Magistrate either respecteth that Religion and Worship which his conscience is perswaded is true, and upon which he ventures his Soule: or else that and those which he is perswaded are false.
Concerning the first, if that which the Magistrate believeth to be true, be true, I say he owes a threefold dutie unto it:
First, approbation 1. Approbation.and countenance, a reverent esteeme and honorable Testimonie, according to Isa. 49. Revel. 21.) with a tender respect of Truth, and the professours of it.
Secondly,2. Submission. Personall submission of his owne Soule to the power of the Lord Iesus in that spirituall Government and Kingdome, according to Mat. 18. 1. Cor. 5.
Thirdly, Protection 3. Protection.of such true professours of Christ, whether apart, or met together, as also of their estates from violence and injurie, according to Rom. 13.
Now secondly,The Civill Magistrate owes to false worshippers. if it be a false Religion (unto which the Civill Magistrate dare not adjoyne, yet) he owes,
First permission (for approbation he owes not to what is evill) and this according to Matthew 13. 30. for publike peace and quiet sake.1. Permission.
Secondly,2. Protection. he owes protection to the persons of his Subjects, (though of a false worship) that no injurie be offered either to the persons or goods of any, Rom. 13.
Peace.
Deare Truth, in this 11 head concerning the Magistrates power in Worship, you have examined what is affirmed: that the Magistrate may doe in point of Worship, there remaines a second; to wit, that which they say the Magistrate may not doe in Worship.
They say, The Magistrate may not bring in set formes of prayer… Nor secondly, bring in significant ceremonies: Nor thirdly, not governe and rule the acts of worship in the Church of God, for which they bring an excellent similitude of a Prince or Magistrate in a ship, where he hath no governing power over the actions of the mariners: and secondly, that excellent propheci… concerning Christ Iesus, that his government should be upon his shoulders, Isa. 9. 6, 7.
Truth.
Unto all this I willingly subscribe:The Civill Magistrates conscience torne and distracted between the divers and contrary affirmations even of the most godly Reformers. Yet can I not passe by a most injurious and unequall practice toward the Civill Magistrate: Ceremonies, Holy dayes, Common Prayer, and what ever else dislikes their consciences, that the Magistrate must not bring in: Others againe as learned, as godly, as wise, have conceived the Magistrate may approve or permit these in the Church, and all men are bound in obedience to obey him. How shal the Magistrates conscience be herein (between both) torn and distracted, if indeed the power either of establishing or abolishing in Church matters bee committed to him?
Secondly,The Authors of these positions deal with the Civill Magistrate, as the souldiers dealt with the Lord Jesus. me thinkes in this case they deale with the Civill Magistrate as the Souldiers dealt with the Lord Iesus: First they take off his owne clothes, and put upon him a purple Robe, plat a Crowne of Thornes on his head, bow the knee, and salute him by the name of King of the Iewes.
They tell him that he is the Keeper of both Tables, he must see the Church doe her duty, he must establish the true Church, true Ministry, true Ordinances, he must keepe her in this purity. Againe, hee must abolish superstition, and punish false Churches, false Ministers, even to banishment, and death.
Thus indeed doe they make the blood run downe the head of the civill Magistrate, The rise of high Commissions. &c.from the thorny vexation of that power which sometimes they crowne him with (whence in great States, Kingdoms or Monarchies, necessarily arise delegations of that spirituall power, High Commissions) &c.
Anon againe they take off this purple robe,Pious Magistrates and Ministers consciences are perswaded for that, which other Magistrates consciences condemne. put him into his own clothes, and tell him that he hath no power to command what is against their conscience. They cannot conforme to a set form of prayer, nor to Ceremonies, nor Holy dayes, &c. although the civill Magistrate (that most pious Prince Edw 6. … and his famous Bishops (afterwards burnt for Christ) were of another conscience… which of these two consciences shall stand, if either Magistrate must put forth his civill power in these cases, the strongest arme of flesh and most conquering bloody sword of Steele can alone decide the Question.
I confesse it is most true, that no Magistrate (as no other superiour) is to be obeyed in any matter displeasing to God: To professe the Magistrate must force the Church to her duty, and yet must not judge what that is, what is it but to play in Spirituall things?yet, when in matters of worship we ascribe the absolute headship and government to the Magistrate, (as to keepe the Church pute, and force her to her duty, Ministers and People) and yet take unto our selves power to judge what is right in our owne eyes, and to judge the Magistrate in and for those very things, wherein we confesse he hath power to see us doe our duty, and therefore consequently must judge what our duty is: what is this but to play with Magistrates, with the soules of men, with Heaven, with God, with Christ Iesus? &c.