The Bloody Tenant of Persecution for the Cause of Conscience, Part 4 · Chapter 89 – Chapter 91
CHAP. LXXXIX.
Peace.
YOu remember (deare Truth) that Constantin…, Theodos…us, Constantine, Theodosius. &c. mis…formed.and others were made to beleeve that they were the Antitypes of the Kings of Iudah, the Church of God; and Henry the 8. was told that that Title Defensor Fidei, Defendour of the Faith (though sent him by the Pope for writing against Luther) was his owne Diadem due unto him from Heaven. So likewise since, the Kings and Q…eens of England have been instructed.
Truth.
But it was not so from the beginning, as that very difference between that Nationall state of the Church of God then, and other Kings and Magistrates of the World (not so charged) doth clearly evince and leadeth us to the Spirituall King of the Church, Christ Iesus the King of Israel, and his Spirituall Government and Governours therein.
Fifthly, I aske whether had the Roman Caesars more charge to see all their Subjects observe and submit to the worship of God in their dominion of the World, then a master, Masters of families under the Gospel not charged to force all under him from their owne consciences to his.father or husband now under the Gospel in his Familie?
Families are the foundations of government, for what is a Commonweale, but a Commonweale of Families agreeing to live together for common good?
Now in families, suppose a beleeving Christian Husband hath an unbeleeving Antichristian wife, what other charge in this respect is given to an husband, 1 Cor. 7. but to dwell with her as an husband if she be pleased to dwell with him: but, to bee so farre from forcing her from her conscience unto his, as that if for his conscience sake she would depart, he was not to force her to tarry with him, 1 Cor. 7. Consequently the Father or Husband of the State differing from the Commonweale in Religion, ought not to force the Commonweale, nor to be forced by it: yet is he to continue a civill husbands care, if the Commonweale will live with him, and abide in civill covenant.
Now as a husband by his love to the truth and holy conversation in it, and seasonable exhortations, ought to indeavour to save his wife, yet abhorring to use corporall compulsion (yea, in this case to childe or servant) so ought the Father, Husband, Governor of the Commonweale endeavour to win and save whom possibly he may, yet farre from the appearance of civill violence.
Sixthly,If the charge of Gods worship was left with the Romane Emperour, then was he bound to turne the whole world into the Garden, Flock, and Spouse of Christ. Millions put to death. if the Romane Emperours were charged by Christ with his Worship in their dominion, and their dominion was over the world (as was the dominion of the Grecian, Persian, and Babylonian Monarchy before them) who sees not if the whole world bee forced to turne Christian (as afterward and since it hath pretended to doe) who sees not then that the world (for whom Christ Jesus would not pray) and the God of it, are reconciled to Iesus Christ, and the whole field of the world become his inclosed garden?
Seventhly, if the Romane Emperors ought to have been by Christs appointment Keepers of both Tables, Antitypes of Israel and Iudahs Kings, how many millions of Idolaters and Blasphemers against Christ Iesus and his worship ought they to have put to death according to Israels patterne?
Lastly, I aske (if the Lord Iesus had delivered his Sheepe and Children to these Wolves, his Wife and Spouse to such Adulterers, his precious Iewels to such great Theeves and Robbers of the world as the Romane Emperours were, what is the reason that he was never pleased to send any of his servants to their gates to crave their helpe & assistance in this his worke,Christ never sent any of his Ministers or Servants to the Civil Magistrate for help in spirituall matters. to put them in minde of their office, to chalenge and claime such a service from them according to their office, as it pleased God alwayes to send to the Kings of Israel and Judah in the like case?
Peace.
Some will here object Pauls appealing to Caesar.
Truth.
And I must refer them to what I formerly answered to that Objection. Paul never appealed to Caesar as a Judge appointed by Christ Jesus to give definitive sentence in any spirituall or Church controversie, but against that civill violence and murther which the Iewes intended against him, Paul justly appealed: For otherwise if in a spirituall cause he should have appealed, he should have overthrowne his owne Apostleship and Power given him by Christ Iesus in spirituall things, above the highest Kings or Emperors of the world beside.
CHAP. XC.
Peace.
BLessed Truth, I shall now remember you of the fourth Quaerie upon this place of Timothy, to wit, whether a Church of Christ Iesus may not live in Gods worship and comelinesse, notwithstanding that the civill Magistrate professe not the same but a contrary Religion and Worship in his owne person and the Country with him.
Truth.
I answer the Churches of Christ under the Roman Emperours did live in all godlinesse and christian gravity,Christ Jesus hath left power in his Church to preserve her selfe pure, though in an idolatrous Countrey. as appeares by all their holy and glorious practices, which the Scripture abundantly testifies.
Secondly, this …lowes from an institution or appointment of such a power and authority, left by the Lord Iesus to his Apostles and Churches, that no ungodlinesse or dishonesty in the first appearance of it was to be suffered, but supprest and cast out from the Churches of Christ, even the little Leaven of doctrine or practice, 1 Corinth. 5. Gal. 5.
Lastly, I adde, that although sometimes it pleaseth the Lord to vouchsafe his servants peace and quietnesse, and to command them here in Timothy to pray for it, for those good ends and purposes for which God hath appointed civill Magistracy in the world, to keepe the world in peace and quietnesse. Yet Gods people have used most to abound with godlinesse and honesty, Gods people have used to shine in brightest godlinesse when they have enjoyed least quietnes.when they have enjoyed least peace and quietnesse. Then like those spices, Cant. 4. Myrrhe, Frankincense, Saffron, Calamus, &c. they have yeelded the sweetest favour to God and man, when they were pounded and burnt in cruell persecution of the Romane Censors: then are they (as Gods Venison) most sweet when most hunted: Gods Stars shining brightest in the darkest night: more heavenly in conversation, more mortified: more abounding in love each to other, more longing to be with God: when the inhospitable and salvage World hath used them like strangers, and forced them to hasten home to another Country which they professe to seeke.
CHAP. XCI.
Peace.
DEare Truth, it seemes not to be unseasonable to close up this passage with a short descant upon that Assertion, viz. A subject without godlinesse will not be bonus vir, a good man, nor a Magistrate except he see godlinesse preserved, will not be bonus Magistratus.
Truth.
I confesse that without godlinesse or a true w…rshipping of God with an upright heart according to Gods Ordinances, neither Subjects nor Magistrates can please God in Christ Iesus, and so be spiritually or christianly good, Few M…gistrates, few men spiritually and christianly good.which few Magistrates and few men either come to, or are ordained unto: God having chosen a little …lock out of the world, and those generally poore and meane, 1 Cor. 1. Iam. 2. Yet this I must remember you of, that when the most High God created all things of nothing, he saw and acknowledged divers sorts of goodnesse, Yet divers sorts of goodnesse n…turall, artificiall, ci…vill, &c.which must still be acknowledged in their distinct kindes: a good Ayre, a good Ground, a good Tree, a good Sheepe, &c.
I say the same in Artificialls, a good Garment, a good House, a good Sword, a good Ship.
I also adde a good City, a good Company or Corporation, a good Husband, Father, Master.
Hence also we say, a good Physitian, a good Lawyer, a good Sea-man, a good Merchant, a good Pilot, for such or such … shoare or Harbour, that is, Morally, Civilly good in their severall Civill respects and imployments.
Hence (Psal. 133.) the Church or Citie of God is compared to a Citie compact within it selfe; which compactnes may be found in many Townes and Cities of the World, where yet hath not shined any spirituall or supernaturall goodnesse. Hence the Lord Iesus (Matth. 12.) describes an ill state of an house or kingdome, viz. to be divided against it selfe, which cannot stand.
These I observe to prove, that a Subject, a Magistrate, The Civill Goodnes of Cine…, Kingdomes, Subj…cts, M…gistrates, must be owned, although Spirituall goodnes (proper to the Christian State or Church) be wanting.may be a good Subject, a good Magistrate, in respect of civill or morall goodnes, which thousands want, and where it is, it is commendable and beautifull, though Godlines which is infinitely more beautifull, be wanting, and which is onelyonly proper to the Christian state, the Commonweale of Israel, the true Church, the holy Nation, Ephes. 2. 1 Pet. 2.
Lastly, however the Authors deny that there can be Bonus Magistratus, a good Magistrate, except the see all Godlines preserved; yet themselves confesse that civill honesty is sufficient to make a good Subject, in these words, viz. He must see that Honestie be preserved within his jurisdiction, else the Subject will not be Bonus civ…s, a good citizen: and doubtlesse (if the Law of Relations hold true) that civill honestie which makes a good citizen, must also (together with qualifications sit for a Commander) make also a good Magistrate.