Confutation of the Anabaptists and Defense of Civil Government, Title page – To the reader
A Confutation of the ANABAPTISTS, AND All others who affect not Civill Government; Proving the lawfulneſſe of it: and a full Anſwer to all their Cavills, that are, or can be made againſt it.
WITH A Nut-cracker for an unnaturall Nut, whoſe Shell is as hard as the Scales of Leviathan, and the kernell of his heart as hard as a piece of the nether Mill-ſtone, Iob 41.15.24. yet the hammer of Gods Word that breaketh in pieces the Rocks, Ier. 23.29. will break this Nut, that all may ſee the devilliſh kernell that is in it.
Alſo Arguments againſt the Anabaptiſts, proving that Infants borne of Chriſtian Parents ought to be Baptized: With a full Anſwer to all their Cavills that are (or can be) made againſt it.
Imprimatur Ja. Cranford.
And thou Ezra, after the wiſedome of thy God, that is in thine hand, ſet Magiſtrates and Iudges, which may Iudge all the people that are beyond the River, and whoſoever will not doe the Law of thy God, and the Law of the King, let Iudgement be executed ſpeedily upon him, whether, it bee unto death, or unto baniſhment, or confiſcation of goods, or to impriſonment,
Ezra 7.25, 26.
Put them in mind to be ſubject to Principalities and powers, to obey Magiſtrates, to be ready to every good work,
Titus 3.1.
They ſent them Peter and John, who when they were come, prayed for them that they might receive the holy Ghoſt, for as yet he was faln upon none of them onelyonly they were baptized in the Name of the Lord Ieſus,
Acts 8.15, 16.
Then Peter ſaid unto them repent and be baptized every one of you, and ye ſhall receive the gift of the holy Ghoſt, for the promiſe is unto you, and to your children,
Acts 2.38, 39.
LONDON, Printed by M. O. for T. Bankes, and are to be ſold in Black Friars …
To the Reader.
Chriſtian Reader,
THE maine cauſe that moved me to undertake this Worke is this; many faithfull Chriſtians, and loyall Subjects are blamed to be enemies to Civill government, as alſo my ſelfe bearing a part of that reproach with them: now to cleare both my ſelfe and others in theſe divided and diſtracted times, J thought it not amiſſe to diſcover them, and to make them knowne who they be that deſpiſe dominion, and ſpeake evill of dignities, Jude 8. that faithfull Chriſtians and loyall ſubjects may not be blamed, who are ſubject to Principalities and Powers, and willing to obey Magiſtrates, and ready to every good work, Titus 3.1, 2. Who every day that paſſeth over their heads put up prayers and ſupplications, interceſſions and giving of thanks at the Throne of grace for Kings, and all in authority, that we may live a quiet and peaceable life, in all godlineſſe and honeſtie 1 Tim. 2.12. And as for mee, God forbid that I ſhould ſinne againſt the Lord in ceaſing to pray for them, 1 Samuel 12.23. Tet Gods people were alwayes blamed to be enemies to civill authoritie. Ahab ſaid to Elijah, Art not thou he that troubleth Iſrael? 1 Kings 18.17. And ſaith Haman that great Courtier, There is a certaine people ſcattered and diſperced among thy people in all the Provinces of thy Kingdome, and their Lawes are divers from all people, neither keep they the Kings Laws, Eſther 3.8. Nay further, this Court-flatterer ſo prevailed with the King to get Letters ſealed with the Kings ſeale, to deſtroy, to kill, and cauſe to periſh all Jewes, both young and old, little children and women in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth MonethMonth (which is the MonethMonth Adar) and to take the ſpoyle of them for a prey, Verſe 13. And it was told the King ſaying, Daniel, one of the captivity of the children of Judah, regardeth not thee, O King, nor the decree that thou haſt ſigned, and ſo was caſt into the Denne of Lions: but in the morning the King comes to the mouth of the Donne, and calls Daniel; to which hee anſwered, O King, live for ever, my God hath ſent his Angel, and hath ſhut the Lions mouths, that they have not hurt me, for as much as before him Innocencie was found in me; and againſt thee, O King, have I done no hurt, Daniel 6.13.20.21.22. And Paul was accuſed to be a peſtilent fellow, and a mover of ſedition: but when the tryall came, neither againſt the Law of the Iewes, nor against the Temple, nor againſt Caeſar had he offended any thing at all, Acts 24.….25.8. Nay further, they ſaid of Christ himſelfe to Pilate, If thou let this man goe, thou art not Caeſars friend, for he ſpeaketh againſt Caeſar: Iohn. 19.12. Yet Chriſt, although he was a true heire to the Crown and Kingdome of the Iewes, ſhewed himſelfe loyall to Civill Government, ſaying, Render to Caeſar the things that are Caeſars, and to God the things that are Gods, Matthew 22.21. And hee payed tribute to avoyd offence. Matthew 17.26, 27. although an heire to the Crowne, and free from Tribute; Thus in all ages, both all the faithfull, and Chriſt himſelfe was blamed to bee enemies to civill government: And now I come to our own age, witneſſe thoſe three Worthies, and faithfull ſervants of Ieſus Chriſt, who pleading for God and the King, and declaring how thoſe Traiterous Prelates did intrench upon the Kings prerogative in many particulars; theſe men venturing lives and ſtates, and all outward comforts, through a tender affection they had to their Prince, as not being able to indure to ſee the wrong done to him, and be ſilent; and yet for ſpeaking, and declaring thoſe Traytors, they were puniſhed altogether, although they did expreſſe ſuch Loyalty that I think their examples are not to be parallel'd; witneſſe that renowned Doctor Baſtwick, who laboured to maintaine the honour, and dignity, and prerogative Royall of our Soveraigne Lord the King; ſaying, Let the King live for ever: Had I a thouſand lives, I ſhould think them all too little to ſpen… for his Majeſties Royall Prerogative: and had I as much bloud in my veines as would ſwell the Thames, I would ſhed it every drop in this cauſe: And then wiſhing the people not to bee diſcouraged, nor daunted at the Prelates power, but bid them labour to preſerve innocencie, and keep peace within, and goe on in the ſtrength of your God, and hee will never faile you in ſuch a day as this: Then ſaith he, as I ſaid before, ſo I ſay again, had I as many lives as I have haire… upon my head, or drops of bloud in my veines I would give them up all for this Cauſe. Yet all this could not free them from ſufferings, although Mordecai had ſaved the Kings life from the hands of Traytors, yet no honour is done to Mordecai: But the Lord hath all theſe things upon the File, and in his due time he will cauſe the King to read the the Chronicles, to finde out that which Mordecai hath done, and requite it, Eſther 6.1. For behold thy ſervants are ready to doe whatſoever my Lord the King ſhall appoint, 2 Samuel 15.15. Not as men-pleaſers, but as the ſervants of Chriſt, doing the will of God from the heart, with good will doing ſervice, as to the Lord and not to men, Epheſians 6.6.7. For we muſt be ſubject, not onelyonly for wrath, but for conſcience ſake, Romans 13.6. Yet not as bringing the conſcience under any humane power, but as in obedience to Gods command, who is the onelyonly Lord of Conſcience, he ſaith, Let every ſoule be ſubject to the higher powers, Verſe 1. Submit your ſelves to every Ordinance of man for the Lords ſake, whether it bee to the King, as ſupreame, and to Governours ſent by him, 1 Peter 2.14.15. And we honour and reverence them as the Deputies of God: for the powers that be are ordained of God, & their place is Gods Ordinance, Verſ 2. He ſaith, By me Kings reigne, and Princes decree juſtice; by me Princes rule, and Nobles, and all the Judges of the earth, Proverb; 8.15, 16. All Princes Iudges, and Magiſtrates beare the name of God, as being cloathed with his authority: GOD ſtandeth in the Congregation of the mightie, and judgeth among the Gods, I have ſaid yee are Gods; Pſal. 82.16. Alſo we reverence them from Gods command, which ſaith, Feare God and honour the King, 1 Peter 2.17. Yea we must feare God and the King, not with a ſlaviſh, but with a filiall feare, My ſonne feare thou the Lord, and the King, Prov. 24.21. Thus we are highly to eſteem of civill government; for as the breath of our noſtrills is the Lords anoynted. Lam. 3.20. And when David would goe forth to war himſelfe, the people anſwered, Thou ſhalt not goe forth, for if we flie away, they w ll not care for us, neither if halfe of us dye, will they care for us; but now thou art worth ten thouſand of us, 2 Samuel 18.2.3. So then our lives and ſtates, and all wee have is not too deare to doe him ſervice. Now ſuch a one is a faithfull Chriſtian, and a loyall Subject: but becauſe ſome are like the unjuſt Iudge, who neither feared God, nor regarded man, Luke 18.4. Yet they would bee thought to be faithfull Christians and loyall ſubjects: therefore to make them manifeſt, I ſhall firſt ſhew negatively who they are not, and then I will endeavour affirmatively to ſhew unto you who they are.
Firſt, they are not that prophane blaspheming …rout that cling about his Majeſtie, who in their common talke dare Jehovah to his face to damne and ſinke them to the pit of Hell: but can theſe that are enemies to GOD and to themſelves bee either faithfull Chriſtians or loyall Subjects? it is impoſſible. Such as theſe, ſaith the Prophet, being in any ſtraight, as when they are hungrie, they will curſe their King and their God, and looke upward, Iſaiah 8.21. And did not thoſe many of them at the fight at Newburie breath out their laſt breath, blaſpheming GOD and curſing their King? but as they love curſing ſo let it come unto them: as they cloath themſelves with curſing like as with a garment, ſo let it it come into their bowells like water, and like oyl… into their bones, Pſal. 109.17, 18. But although theſe men ſweare, yet faithfull Chriſtians and loyall ſubjects feare an Oath, Eccleſiaſtes 9.2, They know that becauſe of ſwearing the Land mourneth, Jeremiah 23.10. They tremble at that flying rout that is ſent into the houſe of the thiefe, and into the houſe of the ſwearer to cut them off, Zechariah 5.3. Neither dare they curſe the King, no not in their thought; for a Bird of the ayre ſhall carry the voyce, and that which hath wings ſhall tell the matter, Eccleſiaſt. 10.20. It is written, that thou ſhalt not ſpeake evill of the Ruler of thy people, Acts 23.5. Then thoſe that cannot keep their tongues from ſwearing and their hands from ſtealing, declare plainely how they deſpiſe civill government, and thoſe Lawes that ſhould restraine thoſe curſed practiſes, theſe licentious ſonnes of Belial, who ſeek to overthrow civill government by violence. But I ſhall bee more brief in the reſt, becauſe J am but in the Preface.
Secondly, the Romiſh Clergy or the Prelacy are enemies to civill government, who exempt themſelves from under their power, and not onelyonly ſo, but they ſeek to take the power from the Magiſtrates to themſelves, and ſo to make them their vaſſalls: their cavills I have anſwered diſtinctly in this Booke.
Thirdly, the Antinomians and Familiſts are enemies to civill government, who ſeek to overthrow the eternall Law of God, on which the civill Law is built: now if theſe men take away the foundation whereon all our Lawes are built, what doe they elſe in this, but ſeeke to overthrow all civill government, that they may more freely ſatisfie their licentious affections?
Fourthly, the Browniſts, who call themſelves Independent; there bee many Sects of them, ſince Browne firſt breached that Schiſme: ſome follow Smith, ſome Iohnſon, ſome Robinſon, ſome Ainſworth, but they all daſh one againſt another, and all excommunicate themſelves from the Church of Chriſt: and, ſuith Pager, three or four hundred Browniſts have brought forth more Apoſtate Anabaptists and Arrians ſometimes in one yeare than ten thouſand members of the Reformed Dutch Church in Amſterdam hath done in ten years, though tempted by ſeducers as much as any others: of this he was an eyewitneſſe, being then and there a member of the Claſſicall Aſſemblies; ſee his Epiſtle to the Arrow againſt the Browniſts. They deny that Magistrates ſhould have any hand in Religion, or the worke of Reformation: they affirme that Christian Princes and Magiſtrates have no more to doe in or about the Church than Heathen Princes: but here they intrench upon civill government, denying Caeſar his due: thus they would have civill government leſſened, or limited. The Popiſh Clergy, they would have civill power removed from the Magiſtrate to themſelves: prophane people would have it connived at, in reſpect of themſelves; and Antinomians ſeek the violation of it by accident, in ſeeking to make voyd the Morall Law of God. Yet my purpoſe in writing this book was not to meddle with any of theſe; but as they ſet upon me in the purſuit of thoſe grand enemies of civill government, which are that wicked generation of the Anabaptiſts; theſe are they to whom I chiefely bend the whole drift of my diſputation, as being abſolute enemies to the eſſentiall being of civill government. It is neither conniving, nor limiting, nor removing that will ſerve their turnes, unleſſe they have an utter extirpation of it: ſo then all the rest doe ſome way or other daſh againſt civill government: but theſe are profeſſed enemies to it. Hence I conclude that none of theſe are the men whom I intend, when, J ſay, they are faithfull Chriſtians, and loyall ſubjects.
Now J anſwer affirmatively, that thoſe faithfull Chriſtians and loyall ſubjects are thoſe people that are faithfull to Luthers Proteſtation, and to Calvins Jnſtitution: the firſt of theſe was the originall cauſe from whence the name of Proteſtants did firſt ariſe: for when Luther did firſt renounce that ſtrumpet of Rome, he cauſed them all that were with him to enter into a Proteſtation againſt all Popery, and popiſh Innovations; and all that took it were ever afters wards called Proteſtants: and we in this Kingdome have taken the very ſame Proteſtation againſt all Popery and popiſh Innovations; and I doubt not but we have many amongſt us who will hazzard lives and ſtates and all they have, to maintaine that Protestation, and through Gods mercy will prove themſelves good Proteſtants. Now for Calvins Inſtitution, I doe not call it ſo, as if he had made it of his owne head, but as a faithfull ſervant of Ieſus Chriſt, he hath faithfully declared all the counſell of God, as Paul did, Acts 20.27. that all may ſee what a Church Chriſt hath inſtituted in his word, and the great bleſſing of God upon this mans labours, and upon all that walked in the ſame ſteps.
Dear Chriſtian and loyal ſubject, thou that endevoureſt to have a conſcience voyd of offence both towards God and towards men, Acts 24.16. Thou that rendereſt to God his due, and to Caeſar his due; thou that obeyeſt both the firſt and ſecond table of the Law, thou that feareſt God, and ho…oureſt the King, and ſubmitteſt thy ſelf to every ordinance of man for the Lords ſake, I ſay to thee, Be faithful to the death, and thou ſhalt have the Crown of life, Rev. 2.10. Ye ſhall be hated of all men (ſaith Christ) for my names ſake, but he that holdeth out to the end, the ſame ſhall be ſaved, Matth. 10.22. And for thoſe that do in any caſe daſh againſt Gods Law, or mans Law, I would entreat them to read this Book with an impartiall eye, and it may be they may ſee their errour; and if ſo, then I would entreat them to imitate the faithfull Christian and loyall Subject; and ſo as they grow in ſtrength and wiſedome, they ſhall grow in favour with God and men, as our perfect patterne did, Ieſus Chriſt, who ſaid, learne of me who am meek and lowly in heart, and you ſhall find reſt for your ſoules, Matth. 11.29. And ſo I commend thee to God, and the word of his grace, which is able to build thee up, and to give thee an inheritance among all them that are ſanctified, Acts 20.32. Now the God of pe…ce, that brought againe from the dead our Lord Ieſus that great Shepheard of the ſheep, through the bloud of the everlaſting Covenant, make thee perfect in every good work, to doe his will, working in thee that which is well pleaſing in his ſight, through Ieſus Chriſt, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen Hebr. 13.20, 21.
Thine in the Lord Jeſus, THOMAS BAKEWELL.