The Bloody Tenant of Persecution for the Cause of Conscience, Part 4 · Chapter 139
CHAP. CXXXVIII.
Peace.
DEare Truth, thou conquerest… and shalt triumph in season: but some will say, How answer you those Scriptures alleadged?
Truth.
I have fully and at large declared the vast differences between that holy Nation of typicall Israel, and all other Lands and Countries, how unmatchable then and now, and never to be parallel'd, but by the true Israel and particular Churches of Christ residing in all parts (and under the severall civill Governments) of the world: In which Churches, the Israel of God, Those Scriptures, Exod. 18 Deut. 17. & 18. &c. parallel'd in the true spirituall Israel, by 1 Tim. 3. & Tit. 1.and Kingdome of Christ Iesus, such only are to be chosen spirituall Officers and Governours, to manage his Kingly power and authoritie in the Church, as are (according to the Scriptures quoted, not Pope, Bishops, or Civill powers, but) from amongst themselves, Brethren, fearing God, hating cove…ousnesse or filthy lucre, according to those golden Rules given by the Lord Iesus, 1 Tim. 3. & Tit. 1.
The want of discerning this true parallel, between Israel in the type then, and Israel the antitype now, is that rock whereon (through the Lords righteous jealousie, punishing the World, and chastising his people) thousands dash, and make wofull Shipwrack.
The second branch, viz. that all Freemen elected be only Church members, I have before shewne to be built on that saudy and dangerous Ground of Israels patterns: O that it may please the Father of Lights to discover this to all that fear his name I then would they not sin to save a Kingdome, nor run into the lamentable breach of civill peace and order in the world, nor be guilty of forcing thousands to Hypocrisie, in a State worship, nor of prophaning the holy name of God and Christ, by putting their Names and Ordinances upon uncleane and unholy persons: nor of shedding the blood of such Hereticks, &c. whom Christ would have enjoy longer patience and permission untill the Harvest: nor of the blood of the Lord Iesus himselfe, in his faithfull Witnesses of Truth: nor lastly, of the blood of so many hundred thousands slaughtred men, women, and children, by such uncivill and unchristian wars and combustions about the Christian faith and Religion.
Peace.
Deare Truth: before we part, I aske your faithfull helpe once more, to 2 or 3 Scriptures, which many alleadge, and yet we have not spoken of.
Truth.
Speake on; here is some sand left in this our houre glasse of mercifull opportunitie: One graine of Times inestimable sand is worth a golden mountaine; let's not lose it.
Peace.
The first is that of the Ninevites fast,The Ninevites Fast examined commanded by the King of Ninevie and his Nobles, upon the preaching of Ionah; succeeded by Gods mercifull answer in sparing of the Citie; and quoted with honorable approbation by the Lord Iesus Christ, Jonah 3. & Math. 12.
Truth.
I have before proved, that even Iehosaphats fast (he being King of that Nationall Church and people of Israel) could not possibly be a type or warrant for every King or Magistrate in the World (whose Nations, Countries or Cities cannot be Churches of God, now in the Gospel, according to Christ Iesus:
Much lesse can this patterne of the King of Ninevie and his Nobles, be a ground for Kings and Magistrates now, to force all their Subjects under them in the matters of Worship.
Peace.
It will be said, why did God thus answer them?
Truth.
Gods mercy in hearing doth not prove an action right and according to rule.
It pleased God to heare the Israelites cry for Flesh, and afterward for a King, given both in anger to them.
It pleased God to heare A…abs prayer, yea and the prayer of the Devils (Luc. 8.) although their persons and prayers in themselves abominable.
If it be said, why did Christ approve this example?Object.
I answer, the Lord Iesus Christ did not approve the King of Ninevies compelling all to Worship,Answ. but the men of Ninevies repentance at the preaching of Ionah.
Peace.
It will be said, what shall Kings and Magistrates now doe in the plagues of sword, famine, pestilence?
Truth.
Kings and Magistrates must be considered (as formerly) invested with no more power then the people betrust them with.
But no People can betrust them with any spirituall power in matters of worship, but with a Civill power belonging to their goods and bodies.
2. Kings and Magistrates must be considered as either godly or ungodly.
If ungodly, his own and peoples duty is Repentance, and reconciling of their persons unto God, before their sacrifice can be accepted. Without Repentance what have any to doe with the covenant or promise of God? Psal. 50.
Againe, if Godly, they are to humble themselves, and beg mercles for themselves and people.
Secondly, upon this advantage & occasion, they are stir up their people (as possibly they may) to Repentance: but not to force the consciences of people to worship.
If it be said,Object. What must be attended to in this example?
Two things are most eminent in this example.Answ.
First, the great worke of Repentance, which God calls all men unto, upon the true preaching of his Word.
Secondly,How England and London may yet be spared. the nature of that true repentance whether Legall or Evangelicall: The people of Ninevie turned from the violence that was in their hands: And confident I am, if this Nation shall turne (though but with a Legall repentance) from that violent persecuting or hunting each of other for Religion sake, (the greatest violence and hunting in the wildernesse of the whole World) even as Sodome and Gomorrah upon a Legall repentance, had continued untill Christs day; so consequently might England, London, &c. continue free from a generall destruction (upon such a turning from their violence) untill the Heavens and the whole World be with fire consumed.
Peace.
The second Scripture is that speech of the Lord Christ, Luc. 22. 36. He that hath not a sword, let him fell his coat, and buy one.
Truth.
For the cleering of this Scripture, Luc. 22, the felling of the Coat, to buy a Sword, discussed.I must propose and reconcile that seeming contrary command of the Lord Iesus to Peter (Mat. 26.) Put up thy sword into his place, for all that take the sword, shall perish by it.
In the former Scripture (Luc. 22.) it pleased the Lord Iesus, speaking of his present trouble, to compare his former sending forth of his Disciples. without scrip, &c. with that present condition and triall comming upon them, wherein they should provide both scrip and sword, &c.
Yet now, first, when they tell him of two swords, he answers, It is enough: which shewes his former meaning was not literall, but figurative, foreshewing his present danger above his former.
Secondly, in the same case at the same time (Mat. 26) commanding Peter to put on his sword, he gives a threefold Reason thereof.
1 (vers. 52.) from the event of it: for all that take the sword, shall perish by it.
2 The needlesnes of it: for with a word to his Father, he could have 12 legions of Angels.
3 The councell of God to be fulfilled in the Scripture: Thus it ought to be.
Peace.
It is much questioned by some, what should be the meaning of Christ Iesus in that speech, All that take the sword, shall perish by the sword.
Truth.
There is a threefold taking of the sword: First,A threefold taking of the Sword. by murtherous crueltie, either of private persons, or secondly, publike States or Societies, in wrath or revenge each against other.
Secondly, a just and righteous taking of the sword in punishing offenders against the Civill peace, either more personall, private and ordinary; or more publike, Oppressors, Tyrants, Ships, Navies, &c. Neither of these can it be imagined that Christ Iesus intended to Peter.
Thirdly, There is therefore a 3. taking of the sword, forbidden to Peter, that is, for Christ and the Gospels cause, when Christ is in danger: which made Peter strike, &c.
Peace.
It seemes to some most contrary to all true Reason, that Christ Iesus, … it selfe, should not be defended.
Truth.
The foolishnes of God is wiser then the wisedome of Man.
It is not the purpose of God, that the Spirituall battailes of his Son shall be fought by carnall weapons and persons.
It is not his pleasure that the World shall flame on fire with civill combustions, for his Sons sake. It is directly contrary to the nature of Christ Iesus, his Saints and Truths, that throats of men (which is the highest contrarietie to civill converse) should be torne out for his sake, who most delighted to converse with the greatest sinners.
It is the councell of God, that his servants shall overcome by 3 weapons, of a spirituall nature, Revel. 12. 11. And that all that take the sword of steele, shall perish.
Lastly, it is the Councell of God, that Christ Iesus shall shortly appeare a most glorious Iudge and Revenger against all his Enemies, when the Heavens and the Earth shall … before his most glorious presence.
Peace.
I shall propose the last Scripture much insisted on by many,Revel. 17. 16. the Kings having of the Whore, discussed. for carnall weapons in spirituall cases, Revel. 17. 16. The 10 hornes which thou fawest upon the Beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and shall burne her with fire.
Truth.
Not to controvert with some, whether or no the Beast be yet risen and extant.
Nor secondly, whether either the Beast, or the Hornes, or the Whore may be taken literally for any corporall Beast or Whore.
Or thirdly, whether these 10 Hornes be punctually and exactly 10 Kings.
Or fourthly, whether those 10 Hornes signifie those many Kings, Kingdomes, and Governments, who have bowed down to the Popes yoake, and have committed fornication with that great Whore the Church of Rome.
Let this last be admitted (which yet will cost some work to cleer against all opposites:) Yet,
First, can the Time be now cleerly demonstrated to be come, &c?
Secondly, how will it be proved, that this …atred of this Wh…re shall be a true, chaste, Christian hatred against Antichristian whorish practices, &c?
Thirdly, or rather that this hating and desolating and making naked and burning shall arise, not by way of an ordinance waranted by the institution of Christ Iesus, but by way of providence when (as it useth to be with all whores and their lovers) the Church of Rome and her great lovers shall fall out, and by the righteous vengeance of God upon her, drunke with the blood of Saints or holy Ones, these mighty fornicators shall turne their love into hatred, which hatred shall make her a poore desolate naked Whore, torne and consumed, &c.
Peace.
You know it is a great controversie how the Kings of the Earth shall thus deale with the Whore in the 17 Chap. and yet so bewaile her in the 18 Chapter.
Truth.
If we take it that these Kings of the Earth shall first hate, and plunder, and teare, and burne this Whore, and yet afterward shall relent and bewaile their cruell dealing toward her: Or else, that as some Kings deale so terribly with her, yet others of those Kings shall bewaile her.
If either of these two answers stand, or a better be given, yet none of them can prove it lawfull for people to give power to their Kings and Magistrates thus to deale with them their subjects for their conscience; nor for Magistrates to assume a title more then the people betrust them with; nor for one people out of conscience to God, and for Christ his sake, thus to kill and slaughter and burne each other: However it may please the Righteous Judge, according to the famous types of Gideous and Iehosaphats battells, to permit in Iustice, and to order in Wisdome these mighty and mutuall slaughters each of other.
Peace.
We have now (deare Truth) through the gracious hand of God clambered up to the top of this our tedious Discourse.
Truth.
O 'tis mercy unexpressible that either Thou or I have had so long a breathing time, and that together!
Peace.
If English ground must yet be drunk with English blood, O where shall Peace repose her wearied head and heavy heart?
Truth.
Deare Peace, if thou finde welcome, and the God of peace miraculously please to quench these all-devouring flames, yet where shall Truth finde rest from cruell persecutions?
Peace.
Oh, will not the Authority of holy Scriptures, the Commands and Declarations of the Sonne of God, therein produced by thee, together with all the lamentable experiences of former and, present slaughters prevaile with the Sons of Men (especially with the Sons of Peace) to depart from the dens of Lyons, and mountaines of Leopards, and to put on the bowels (if not of Christianitie, yet) of Humanitie each to other!
Truth.
Deare Peace, Habacacks Fishes keep their constant bloody game of Persecutions in the Worlds mighty Ocean; the greater taking, plundring, swallowing up the lesser: O happy he whose portion is the God of Iacob! who hath nothing to lose under the Sun, but hath a State, a House, an Inheritance, a Name, a Crowne, a Life, past all the Plunderers, Ravishers, Murtherers reach and furie!
Peace.
But loe! Who's here?
Truth.
Our Sister Patience, whose desired company is as needfull as delightfull: 'Tis like the Wolfe will send the scattered Sheep in one: the common Pirate gathers up the loose and scattered Navie: the slaughter of the Witnesses by that bloody Beast unite the Independents and Presbyterians. The God of Peace, the God of Truth will shortly seale this Truth, and confirme this Witnes, and make it evident to the whole World,
That the Doctrine of Persecution for cause of Conscience, is most evidently and lamentably contrary to the doctrine of Christ Iesus the Prince of Peace. Amen.
FINIS.
Errata.
PAge 23. line 28. for this, re…d that. p. 31. l. ult. his soule. p. 32. l. 12. read month, …bid. r. person. p. 35. l. 16. r. turned off, or loosed from. p. 37. l. 8. for to, read doc. p. 38. l. 2. dele affirme. p. 41. l. 22. his perilous soule. p. 43. l. 20. r. or l. ult. Answeres. p. 44. l. 2…. b… closer. p. 49. l. 1. last p 57. l. 22. cut. l. 24. l …rme that Justice. p. 58. l. 5. the lying. p 98. l. 6. road, or doe these p. 114. l. 29. r, the 31 question. p. 119 l. 10. remembers. p. 139. l. 9. immunitie. p. 161. l. 28. or Christ. p. 214. l. 36. delt shall. p. 225. l. 19. the Churches of God. 225. l. 25. not might not.
End of the text · Roger Williams, The Bloody Tenant of Persecution for the Cause of Conscience (1644)