A Confutation of Errors Maintained by the Anabaptists, Chapter 5
CHAP. V.
This Chapter contains a Diſputation with the Anabaptiſts, about the Magiſtrates power, in commanding thoſe of a contrary judgment to conforme with us in our publike worſhip, or to puniſh them in caſe of refuſall.
THey ſay, if a Magiſtrate command thoſe of a contrary judgment to conforme with them this would make them ſin againſt their conſcience as Hypocrites, I anſwered, that to come to the publike Aſſemblies is from the Magiſtrate, but to be Hypocrites is from themſelves, as when a man ſpurs his horſe, if he go it is from the man, but if he halt it is from himſelfe, then the cauſe of hypocriſie is in your ſelves, and not in our godly Magiſtrates for commanding you to come to our publike Aſſemblies. Again, they command, but the outward man as his words and actions, and his bodily preſence there, but they have no law can reach their conſcience to command it, nor to inflict any puniſhment upon it, in caſe of refuſall, it is God that requires truth in the inward parts, Pſal. 51.6. and to obey from the heart, Rom. 6.17. For he ſees not as man ſees, he looks on the heart, 1 Sam. 16.7. if they be hypocrites, it is for want of ſyncere obedience to God from the heart, but if they bring thoſe excuſes to the Aſſembly, they have done all that the Magiſtrate commands them, then they do not make ſome Hypocrites, but ſuppoſe, they commanding theſe of a contrary judgment ſhould accidentally make them hypocrites; yet ſo far as they obey, they ſhall loſe nothing by it: if they obey outwardly, they may by that receiv bleſſings, as Ahab did, 1 King. 21.29. The judgment was removed from his days, and the Phariſees had a reward, Mat. 6, 5. But thoſe that obey from the heart ſhall receive ſpirituall and eternall bleſſings, For every one ſhall receive according to his works, Pſal. 62.12. Job 34.11. though not meritorious for it, yet according to it, whether it be done in hypocriſie or in truth; then is it not better to conforme in outward obedience to obtain outward bleſſings, then to be both miſerable here and hereafter: and ſhall we blame them that ſeek to pull us out of any danger, and to procure for us, although but outward bleſſings. Again, it is better to ſin in uſing the meanes tending to ſalvation, then to ſin in that way that takes Lold on hell, Prov. 7. For if you caſt off Magiſtrates authority, you will in time kill the Saints of God, and thinke in your conſcience that you doe God good ſervice, John 16.2. then bring your conſcienc to the word, and not the word to your conſcience, leſt you exalt your conſcience above the word. Again, when all are brought to the means of ſalvation, it may pleaſe God to make thoſe means effectuall comming to the poſts of wiſdomes doores they ſhall be bleſſed, and to the poole they ſhall be cured.
Now I ſhall prove that Magiſtrates have power to command thoſe of a contrary judgment to conforme with us in publike worſhip; or to puniſh in … refuſe to obey ſuch lawes as ſhall be made for the preſerving of peace both in Church and State, this they have good warrant from Scripture, for King Aſs. comanded Judah to ſeek the Lord God of their Pathers & to doe the Law and Co… mandement, and Jehoſhaphat ſent Princes, and with them Levits to teach in Judah, & reformed government in matiers of the Lord, 2 Chron. 14.4.17.7, 8 9. & 19.11. And Manaſſes commanded Judah to ſerve the Lord, and they kept the Paſſeover according to the comandement of King Joſias, Chap. 31.4.35.16. Here then it is plain that Magiſtrates have power to command obedience to the publike worſhip of God in relation to the Church, now we ſhall ſee their power to puniſh thoſe that are diſobedient the Lord ſaid to Moſes, Take the heads of the people and hang them up before the Sun, that bowed down to the gods of Moab, Numb. 25.2, 3.4. And Ioaſh ordained, that if any man did plead for Ba…, he ſhould be put to death, Iudg. 6.31, And Aſa puniſhed his own mother for having an Idoll in a Grove, 1 Kings 1… 13. And when Iehu deſtroyed Baal out of Iſrael, with all his prieſts and worſhippers, the Lord ſaid, Thou heſt done well in executing that which was right in … own eyes, 2 Kings 10.28, 30. And Ioſiaſh put down the Idol …, yea, bee ſlue all the prieſts of the high places, and burnt their bones upon their …, 2 Kings 23.5, 20. Thus they may ſee that Magiſtrates had this power to command obedience to the publike worſhip of God, and to puniſh the diſobedient, and if they have loſt this power, let them prove when and how they come to loſe it.
Secondly, the Iews had the ſame Law of God contained in the ten Commandements as we have, and they had the ſame Goſpel as we, for ſaith Paul, the Goſpell was preached to Abraham, Gal. 3.8. and Peter ſaith, For this cauſe war the Goſpell peached to them that are dead, 1 Pet. 4.6. onelyonly it was to them in … types and ſhadows, and to us more clcerly manifeſted, yet they were … by the ſame Chriſt as we, for there is but one way to heaven. Ier. 32.39. Then why … not our Magiſtrates have the ſame authority in relation to the Church as they had, but this man denied that the Iews had the Goſpel, or that faith was of abſolute neceſſity for ſalvation, flat againſt the Scripture, Ioh. 3.16 19, 36. Heb. 11.6. but they having found out ſome new way contrary to the old and good way, in which our fathers walked and were not confounded, Pſal. 22. They muſt … have new Magiſtrates, with leſſe authority in relation to the Church, to command obedience to the publike worſhip of God, or to puniſh the oppoſers of it.
Thirdly, if Magiſtrates under the olde Teſtament had this power, then much more now under the New, becauſe now they have greater obligation to command obedience, and to puniſh the oppoſers of it then they had, becauſe The Covenant of grace is now more manifeſt then it was to the Jews, and if our Magiſtrates had not that power, which the Magiſtrates in the old Teſtament had, our church would not be in ſo ſafe a condition now, as it was under the Old Teſtament.
Fourthly. Kings and Queens muſt be as nurſing fathers and mothers to the Church, Eſay 49.22. but ſhall Kings and Queens have no authority about the Church when they lend their power to aſſiſt it, and ſhall fathers and mothers have no command in relation to the Church? and ſhall nurſes have no power to feed their children? Jehoſhophat ſent Miniſters to teach in Judah, and ſayth the Lord, Cyrus is my ſheepherd, then ſhall not he defend the Church as a ſheepherd doth his flock? David fed them according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them by the skilfulneſſe of his hands, Pſal. 78.72. but while the Lord looks for a man to make up the hedge, Ezek. 22.30. and ſaith, he ſhall be called the repairer of the breach, Eſay 58.12. In the meane time, theſe men throw open the gap to the ravening lyon, which ſhews how inſufferable they are in any Chriſtian Church, yea, they be but like vipers, both to Church and State.
Fifthly, Princes in Scripture are called Saviours to Sion, and ſuch are foretold to be in our dayes, Obad. 21. But how can they be Saviours to our Church, when they muſt neither command obedience, nor puniſh thoſe that oppoſe it, but God commands to puniſh thoſe that intiſe others to Idolatry, Deut. 13.6. if they doe not, they are guilty of other mens ſins, 1 Tim. 5.22. and they carry the Sword in vain, Rom. 13.4. and God will have ſomthing againſt them for ſuffering Jezabel to ſeduce the ſervants of God, and for ſuffering the doctrine of Baalam, and the doctrine of the Nicolaitans which God hates, Revel. 2.14, 15, 20. The very Heathens will puniſh thoſe that oppoſe their Religion, and ſhall not Chriſtian Magiſtrates doe as much for the true Religion as they doe for a falſe Religion.
Sixthly, We are commanded to pray for Kings, and all thoſe in authority, that we may leade a quiet and a peaceable life in all godlineſſe, 1 Tim. 2.3. But if they have no power in relation to the Church, to command obedience, and to puniſh the oppoſers of it, then what a vain prayer would this be? but hee that rules over men muſt bee juſt, and not onelyonly ſo, but ruling in the feare of God, 2 Sam. 23.3. I know, ſayth the Lord, that Abraham my friend, will command his houſhold to doe judgment and juſtice, Gen. 18. And we muſt obey for conſcience ſake, Rom. 13.7. but not bringing the conſcience in obedience to mans precepts, but we muſt obey men in conſcience of obedience unto God that commands it. Tit. 3.1. Then let them take heed how they deſpiſe government.
But then becauſe the Magiſtrates power is a burthen to this man, and he would fain eaſe himſelfe of it, therefore he propounded ſome Queries.
1 Hee would know, whether the whole ground of the Jews worſhip, for matter and forme, was not in plain precepts and commandements, and taught them by the Prophets, as they had immediately received it of the Lord, to this I grant affirmatively that it was ſo, but then hee would know, whether any Ruler, Governour, or King of Judah either did, or lawfully might ſet up, alter, or change either matter or forme of that worſhip, and to compel the people to obey it, or to inflict a penalty upon any in caſe of diſobedience: I anſwer negatively, that no King of Judah did or ought to ſet up, alter, or change, either matter or forme of Gods publike worſhip, yet the Kings of Judah both did and ought to command obedience to that matter, and to that forme of publike worſhip, that was ſet up and received from the Prophets, as they received it from the Lord, and alſo they both did and ought to puniſh thoſe that were diſobedient to that forme that was ſet up by the Lord, as all thoſe Scriptures before quoted witneſſe, and ſo our Magiſtrates may and ought to compell obedience to the outward forme of the worſhip of God in relation to the Church, although their power be not in the Church or over the Church, but onelyonly aſſiſtant to the Church, then they may command obedience to it, and puniſh thoſe that deſpiſe or abuſe it, yet I grant they never had nor ſhall have power to alter the forme or matter, or to add any new matter to it, nor take any matter from it, this belongs to Chriſt alone, the head and King of the Church, but I ſay again, that Magiſtrates have power to command outward obedience to that forme that Chriſt hath ſet up, neither may the matter of any ordinance be taken away or changed, or new inventions of our own added to them, and ſo for the matter of the Sacraments, wee muſt neither take away the bread nor the wine, nor add any thing elſe, and ſo likewiſe for the perſons, the ſubject matter of the Church, they muſt be the ſeed of Abraham, neither may a Turke be admitted, unleſſe hee will leave his Turkiſh Religion, he is not fit matter for it, yet all this hinders not, but Chriſtian Magiſtrates may command Chriſtians being already in the Church to obedience, and to puniſh thoſe that are diſobedient to the Church.
2 He would know whether the Jews government now under the Goſpel pertain to Gentiles any more then the matter and forme of the worſhip, and if their government, why not all, both the Church and State, and if all, whether the neglect of any be not under the curſe, eſpecially ſo much as is under the letter of the Law. I anſwer, the Jews Government both in Church and State, as it was the Judiciall Law, it ought to be obeyed of none but Jews onelyonly, and as much as their Law was but ceremoniall, the matter was calves and lambs, and the Altar and Temple, and the forme was ſacrifices, and divers waſhings, &c.
But now Chriſt the King of the Church is come, hee …ath taken away much of the matter and forme of their publike worſhip, and now all Kings and Rulers being his deputies, …ſt give their power to the Church, to defend that matter and forme that Chriſt the King of it hath ſet up, and appointed to be thematter and forme of it, but while hee pleads for the Jews matter and forme hee ſmells rank of Judaiſme, yet it is like the Jews when they are called may have their own poſitive Laws for their own Common-wealth, as our poſitive Law is the Law of England, But wee are no more bound to the Jews poſitive laws, then they are bound to our poſitive Laws, although thoſe are written in the Word, and ours are not, but beſides the ceremoniall law that ended by Chriſt, and the Judiciall law that was made particularly for Jews, they had alſo the eternall morall law, and what their Magiſtrates did in obedience to that, our Kings and Magiſtrates are bound to the ſame as well as they, and it was in obedience to that law, that they commanded uniformity in publike worſhip, and puniſhed the diſobedient, and further I ſay, that our poſitive laws binde our Magiſtrates and people as ſtrongly being grounded on the morall law, being the law of nature, as the Jews poſitive laws bound them, although theirs was written in the Word, and ours are not.
Thirdly, He would know whether the matter and forme of the worſhip of God under the Goſpel, lies not in as plain precepts and commandements as the matter and forme of the Jews worſhip, and whether to urge and compell men to any other be not ſin.
Here I ſhall firſt grant, that the matter and forme now, is in as plain precepts and commandements as the Jewes was, and to compell men to any other is ſin. But here lies not our controverſie, for our Magiſtrates neither command other things then CHRIST hath appointed to bee the ſubject matter of the Church, although themſelves, moſt abominably, brought a Cat to the Sacrament. Neither doe wee admit Infidels or Turks unleſſe they leave their Religion, and become Chriſtians, neither doe wee take away the bread or the wine, or change them, or add any thing elſe to them, not doe we take away or change any other ordinance, but themſelves have caſt away much of the ſubject matter of the Church being eſteemed of them but as reprobates, although many of them be the deare children of GOD, unleſſe they pleaſe then humours, and they have caſt away the Ordinance of ſinging of Pſalmes, and all family inſtructions, admonitions, prayers, watchings over one another in love, and building up one another in faith. Thus they have almoſt caſt a…y both matter and forme of the true viſible Church, when as they cannot ta…e us as wanting any Ordinance, nor of having any ſuperſluous of our own deviſing.
Then if Magiſtrates ſhould command any other matter or forme, they would ſinne in to doing, yet it will not follow that when Magiſtrates command the ſame that CHRIST hath ſet up that then they ſhould ſinne. The Lord ſaid to Moſes', The Magiſtrate gather the people together, both men, women, and children, and the ſtranger that is within the gates, that they may heare, and that they may learne, and feare the LORD thy GOD, and obſerve to doe all the words of this Law, Deut. 31.12. and ſaith Chriſt compell them to come in, that my houſe may be filled, Luke 14.23. then I hope it will not trouble your conſciences to be compelled to heare the word, which is the onelyonly way to know the Covenant between God and Chriſt in our nature, and when it is known, it will bereceived, They that know thy name will truſt in thee, Pſal. 9.10. yet the Magiſtrates will not command you to believe they are not Lords of your faith, but they may be helpers of your joy, but ſaith is the gift of GOD, the Magiſtrate onelyonly commands to come to the paths of wiſdoms doors that we may be bleſſed, Prov. 8.33. this is the way to come in to the Covenant of Chriſt, the Lord of the Church, and when this is done, we need not make another Covenant with the members, as they d…e at New England, and if they were in Covenant with Chriſt, as they pretend the members neede not make ſuch ſoldering, for a Chriſtian hath right to all Churches, as well as to one Church, and needs not way… for the members ad…mttance, although their Lordly pride beſuch, while they pretend humility, that they will not allow of it.
Laſtly, he would know whether any people under heaven have power to frame the outward government of the Church ſo perfectly, that it ſhall neither have ſin nor failing in it, i… not then ſaith he where is there power to command obedience to that which is ſinful. I anſwer, It is true, none have power to frame ſuch a government that hath neither ſin nor failings in it, therefore the Parliament doth not take upon them to frame any government for the Church, becauſe as I ſaid before, their power is not in the Church, nor over the Church, but in relation to the Church, as lending their power to aſſiſt it, therefore they have called the aſſembly of Divines to ſearch the Scripture, to ſee what government Chriſt hath appointed for his Church, who is the Lord and King of it then there buſineſſe is onelyonly to ſearch this our and then the Parlinment by a poſitive Law of the Land will command that this government ſhall be obſerved, and no other but when all the Aſſembly, or the greateſt part ſhall conclude upon one way of government and the Parliament hath eſtabliſhed that Government by a Law of the Kingdom then I ſay, although there ſhall be ſome failings in it, yet it being as neer the rule as all our Divines upon diligent ſearch can finde out, and the Parlian…ent hath made it a Statute to bee obſerved, it muſt bee obeyed, and all thoſe Scriptures and Reaſons before alledged ſerve to confirme it, and thoſe that will not, doe the Law of GOD, and the Law of the King, let judgement be executed ſpeedily upon him, whether it be to death or baniſhment, confiſcation of goods, or impriſonment, Ezra. 7.25, 26. and then it will be but a weake excuſe to renounce a poſitive Law of the Land upon this ground, ſaying, It is not perfect without ſin or failing, therefore I will not obey it, by this argument they may renounce all our Laws and Magiſtrates, for no humane Ordinance nor Magiſtrate can be without ſin or failing, then, by their argument, both muſt be caſt away, and ſo live like ſons of Belial, without any government, but this ſhews how unſufferable that faction is, to be among Chriſtians.
But ſuppoſe, they ſhould have free leave to frame their own government, what they would have, upon condition it ſhould be confirmed by an act of Parliament, I am confident they would not agree to have it done, becauſe they all ſeeke to have a gap open to turne to what Hereſie they pleaſe, This alſo ſhews how unſufferable they be amongſt us. But ſuppoſe they were willing to have ſuch a government eſtabliſhed as they ſhould like of, then I would know why a whole aſſembly of faithfull, learned, wiſe, godly, and pious men ſhould be denyed that which they will grant to a few, and ſome of them factious; and others hereticall, nay, why will they not grant our Aſſembly ſo much as they grant to one ſingle man, who ſetteth up what government he pleaſeth, and they all freely obey him, when he aymes at his own ends, to gather Churches that he may vent his Hereſie and faction, which is a thing to be abhorred of all godly Chriſtians, being more enſlaved to him then ever they were to the Prelates, if they had but eyes …o ſee it. The meane time all may ſee how theſe men deſpiſe the Magiſtrates power in relation to the Church, when they command obedience to it, or puniſh the oppoſers of it.
FINIS.
End of the text · Thomas Bakewell, A Confutation of Errors Maintained by the Anabaptists (1646)