The Bloody Tenant of Persecution for the Cause of Conscience, Part 4 · Chapter 131 – Chapter 133
CHAP. CXXX.
Truth.
I May well compare this passage to a double picture: A strange double pictureon the first part or side of it a most faire and beautifull countenance of the pure and holy Word of God: on the later side or part, a most sowre and uncomely deformed looke of a meere humane invention.
Concerning the former, they prove the true and unquestionable power and priviledge of the Churches of Christ The great priviledges of the true Spouse or Church of Christ.to assemble and practise all the holy Ordinances of God, without or against the consent of the Magistrate.
Their Arguments from Christs and the Angels voyce, from the Apostles and Churches practice, I desire may take … impression written by the point of a diamond, the finger of Gods spirit, in all hearts whom it may concerne.
This Libertie of the Churches of Christ he inlargeth and amplifieth so far, that he calls it an usurpation of some Magistrates to determine the time and place of Worship: and say, that rather the Churches should be left to their inoffensive libertie.
Upon which Grant I must renew my former Quaerie, Whether this be not to walke in c…ntradictions, to hold with light, yet walke in darknes? To hold with I…ght and walk in darknesse.for
How can they say the Magistrate is appointed by God and Christ the Guardian of the Christian Church and Worship, bound to set up the true Church, Ministrie, and Ordinances, to see the Church doe her duty, that is, to force her to it by the Civill sword: bound to suppresse the false Church, Ministrie and Ordinances, and therefore consequently,The Magistrate lift up to be the chief … of the Church, and yet cast downe not to have power to appoint the place or time of meeting. to judge and determine which is the true Church, which is the false, and what is the duty of the Church officers and members of it, and what not: and yet (say they) the Churches must assemble, and practice all Ordinances, without his consent, yea against it: Yea and he hath not so much power as to judge what is a convenient time and place for the Churches to assemble in; which if he should doe, he should be an usurper, and should abridge the Church of her inoffensive libertie.
As if the Master or Governour of a Ship had power to judge who were true and fit officers, mariners &c. for the managing of the Ship,2 Similitudes illustr…ting the Magistrate … be …oth governor of the Church and yet usurp…r in commanding. and were bound to see them each performe his duty, and to force them thereunto, and yet he should be an usurper if hee should abridge them of meeting and managing the vessel at their pleasure, when they please, and how they please, without and against his consent: Certainly if a Physician have power to judge the d…sease of his patient, and what course of Physicke he must use, can he bee counted an usurper unlesse the patient might take what physicke himselfe pleased, day or night, summer or winter, at home in his chamber, or abroad in the aire?
Secondly, by their grant in this passage that Gods people may thus assemble and practice ordinances without and against the consent of the Magistrate. I…infer,If a Church may assemble without and against the Magistrates consent (as is assi…ed) then much more constitute and become a Church, &c. then also may they become a Church, constitute and gather without or against the consent of the Magistrate: Therefore may the Messengers of Christ, preach and baptise, that is, make disciples and wash them into the true profession of Christianity according to the commission, though the Magistrate determine and publikly declare, such Ministers, such baptismes, such Churches to be hereticall.
Thirdly, it may here be questioned what power is now given to the Civill Magistrate in Church matters and Spirituall affairs?
If it be answered that although Gods people may doe thus against the Magistrates consent, yet others may not.
I answer (as before) who sees not herein partiality to themselves:Grosse partiality. Gods people must enjoy their Liberty of Conscience, and not be forced; but all the Subjects in a Kingdome or Monarchie, or the whole world beside, must be compelled by the power of the Civill Sword to assemble thus and thus.
Secondly, I demand who shall judge whether they are Gods people or no,If the Civill Magistrate be to build the Spirituall or Christian house, he must judge of the matter. for they say whether the Magistrate consent or consent not, that is judge so or not, they ought to goe on in the Ordinances renuente Magistratu?
How agrees this with their former and generall assertion, that the Civill Magistrate must set up the Christian Church and Worship, therefore by their owne grant he must judge the godly themselves, he must discerne who are fit matter for the House of God, living stones, and what unfit matter, trash and rubbish?
Those worthy men, the Authours of these positions, and others of their judgement have cause to examine their soules with feare and trembling in the presence of God upon this intergatory, A close and faithfull intergatory to the consciences of the authors of these positionsviz. whether or no this be not the bottome and root of the matter: If they could have the same supply of maintenance without the helpe of the Civill Sword, or were perswaded to live upon the voluntary contribution of poore Saints, or their owne labour, as the Lord Iesus and his first Messengers did: I say, if this lay not in the bottom, whether or no they could not be willingly shut of the Civill power, and left only to their inoffensive liberties?
I could also put a sad Quaerie to the consciences of some,A sad quaerie to some concerning their practice. viz. what should be the reason why in their native Country where the Magistrate consented not, they forbore to practice such Ordinances as now they doe and intended to doe, so soone as they got into another place where they might set up Magistrates of their owne, and a Civill Sword, &c. How much is it to be feared that in case their Magistracie should alter, or their persons be cast under a Magistracie prohibiting their practice, whether they would then maintaine their separate meetings without and against the consent of the Magistrate, renuente Magistratu?
Lastly, it may be questioned how it comes to passe that in pleading for the Churches liberty more now under the Christian Magistrate, since the Christians tooke that liberty in dangerous times under the Heathen, A marvallou… challenge of more Libertie to Christians under a Christian Magistrate then under the Heathen.why he quotes to prove such liberty, Pharaohs hindring the Israelites from worship, and Ezra 7. 23. Artaxerxes his feare of wrath upon the Realme?
Are not all their hopes and arguments built upon the Christian Magistrate, whom (say they) the first Christians wanted, and yet do they scare the Christian Magistrate (whom they account the governour of the Church) with Pharaoh and Artaxerxes that knew not God, expecting that the Christian Magistrate should act and command no more in Gods worship then they?
But what can those instances of Pharaohs evill in hindring the Israelites worshipping of God, and Artaxerxes giving liberty to Israel to worship God, and build the Temple, what can they prove but a duty in all P…ces and Civill Magistrates to take off the yoake of bondage, which commonly they lay on the necks of the soules of their subjects in matters of Conscience and Religion?
CHAP. CXXXI.
Peace.
IT is plausible,If Magistrates… were appointed by Christ Jesus Governours of his Kingdome, it were not reasonable that Christians should more freely breake the commands of the Christian, then of the Heathen Magistrate. but not reasonable that Gods people should (considering the drift of these positions) expect more liberty under a Christian then under a Heathen Magistrate: Have Gods people more liberty to breake the command of a Christian then an Heathen governour? and so to set up Christs Church and Ordinances after their owne conscience against his consent more then against the consent of an Heathen or unbeleeving Magistrate? what is become of all the great expectation what a Christian Magistrate may and ought to doe in establishing the Church, in reforming the Church, and in punishing the contrary? 'Tis true (say men) in Christs time and in the time of the first Ministers and Churches there were no Christian Magistrates, and therefore in that case, it was in vaine for Christians to seeke unto the Heathen Magistrates to governe the Church, suppresse Hereticks, &c. but now we enjoy Christian Magistrates, &c.
Truth.
All Reason and Religion would now expect more submission therefore (in matters concerning Christ) to a Christian Magistrate, then to a Pagan or Antichristian rule… … But (deare Peace) the day will discover, the fire will trie, 1 Cor. 3. what is but wood, hay, and stubble, though built (in mens upright intention) on that foundation Iesus Christ.
But (to winde up all) as it is most true that Magistracy in generall is of God (Rom. 13.) for the preservation of Mankinde in civill order and peace, The necessry of Civill government in generall of God, but the speciall kindes of men, 1 Pet. 2. 13.(the World otherwise would bee like the Sea, wherein Men… like Fishes would hunt and devoure each other, and the greater devour the lesse:) So also it is true, that Magistracy in speciall for the severall kindes of it is of Man, 1. Pet. 2. 13. Now what kinde of Magistrate soever the people shall agree to set up, whether he receive Christianity before he be set in office, or whether he receive Christianity after, hee receives no more power of Magistracy, then a Magistrate that hath received no Christianity. For neither of them both can receive more, then the Commonweal, the Body of People and civill State, as men, communicate unto them, and betrust with them.
All lawfull Magistrates in the World, both before the comming of Christ Iesus, Civill Magistrates are derivatives from the fountaines or bodies of people.and since, (excepting those unparaleld typicall Magistrates of the Church of Israel) are but Derivatives and Agents immediately derived and employed as eyes and hands, serving for the good of the whole: Hence they have and can have no more Power, then fundamentally lies in the Bodies or Fountaines themselves, which Power, Might, or Authority, is not Religious, Christian, A beleeving Magistrate no more a Magistrate th…n an unbeleeving.&c. but naturall, humane and civill.
And hence it is true, that a Christian Captaine, Christian, Merchant. Physitian, Lawyer, Pilot, Father, Master, and (so consequently) Magistra…e, &c. is no more a Captaine, Merchant, Physitian, Lawyer, Pilot, Father, Master, Magistrate, &c. then a Captaine, Marchant,The excellen… … Christs … &c. of any other Conscience or Religion.
Tis true, Christianity teacheth all these to act in their severall callings, to an higher ultimate end, from higher principles, in a more heavenly and spirituall manner, &c.
CHAP. CXXXII.
Peace.
O that thy Light and Brightnes (deare Truth) might shine to the darke World in this particular: let it not therefore be grievous, if I request a little further illustration of it.
Truth.
In his season God will glorifie himselfe in all his Truths: but to gratifie thy desire, thus: A Pagan or Antichristian Pilot may be as skilfull to carry the Ship to its desired Port, as any Christian Mariner or Pilot in the World, and may performe that worke with as much safety and speed: yet have they not command over the soules and consciences of their passengers or mariners under them, although they may justly see to the labour of the one, and the civill behaviour of all in the ship: The Magistrate like a Pilot in the Ship of the Commonweale.A Christian Pilot he performes the same worke, (as likewise doth the Metaphoricall Pilot in the ship of the Commonweale) from a principle of knowledge and experience: but more then this, he acts from a roote of the feare of God and love to mankind, in his whole course.Christianitie ste…es a Christian Pilots course. Secondly, his aime is more to glorifie God then to gaine his pay, or make his voyage. Thirdly, he walkes heavenly with Men, and God, in a constant observation of Gods hand in stormes, calmes, &c. So th…t the thread of Navigation being equally spun by a believing or unbelieving Pilot, The Christian Pilot hath no more power over the soules of his Mariners or passengers, then the unchristian or Pagan Pilot.yet is it drawn over with the gold of Godlines and Christianitie by a Christian Pilot, while he is holy in all manner of Christianitie, 1 Pet. 1 15. But lastly, the Christian Pilots power over the Soules and consciences of his Sailers and Passengers is not greater then that of the Antichristian, otherwise then he can subdue the soules of any by the two-edged sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, and by his holy demeanour in his place, &c.
Peace.
I shall present you with no other consideratioon in this first part of the Picture, but this only:
Although the tearme Heathen is most commonly appropriated to the wilde naked Americans, The tearmes Heathen and Christian Magistrate.&c. yet these worthy men justly apply it even to the civilized Romanes, &c. and consequently must it be applied to the most civilized Antichristians, who are not the Church and people of God in Christ.
Truth.
The Word foreign in the Hebrew, and foreign in the Greeke, signifie no more then the Gentiles or Nations of the Earth, which were without and not within, the true typicall nationall Church of the Iewes before Christ, and since his comming, the Gentiles or Nations of the World, All out of Christ are heathens, that is of the Nations or Gentiles.who are without that one holy Nation of the Christian Israel the Church gathered unto Christ Iesus in particular and distinct congregations all the World over.
Translatours promiscuously render the words Gentiles, Heathens, Nations: whence it is evident that even such as professe the Name of Christ in an unregenerate and impenitent estate, whether Papist or Protestant are yet without, that is Heathen, Gentiles or of the Nations.