The Bloody Tenant Washed and Made White in the Blood of the Lamb, Part 1 · Chapter 12
CHAP. 12. A Reply to his twelueth Chapter Entring upon the Diſcuſsion of the unlawfulnes to Perſecute an Erroneous and blinde Conſcience.
Diſcuſſer.
The ſecond Concluſion lay'd downe by the Anſwerer, is: It is not lawfull to perſecute an Erroneous and blinde Conſcience, Even in Fundamentall, and weighty Points, till after Admonition once, or twice Tit. 3.10, 11. And then ſuch Conſciences may be perſecuted; becauſe the Word of God is ſo cleare, in Fundamentall and weighty Points, that ſuch a perſon cannot but ſinne againſt his Conſcience, and ſo being condemned of himſelfe, that is of his Conſcience, he may be perſecuted for ſinning againſt his own Conſcience.
Defender.
They are the words of the Diſcuſſer, not mine, That ſuch as erre in Fundamentall and weighty Points, after once or twice Admonition, ſuch Conſciences are then to be perſecuted.
No, my words will cleare themſelves if they be truly related, even as himſelfe hath printed them. Thus they ſtand.
Secondly, For an erroneous and blinde Conſcience, even in Fundamentall and weighty Points, It is not lawfull to perſecute any, till after Admonition once or twice. And ſo the Apoſtle directeth Tit. 3.10. and giveth the reaſon, That in Fundamentall & principall Points of Doctrine and worſhip, The Word of God in ſuch things is ſo cleare, that he cannot but be convinced in conſcience of the dangerous Error of his way, after once or twice Admonition, wiſely and faithfully diſpenced. And then if any one perſiſt, It is not out of Conſcience, but againſt his Conſcience, as the Apoſtle ſaith, ver. 11. He is ſubverted and ſinneth being condemned of himſelfe, that is, of his owne Conſcience, ſo that if ſuch a man after ſuch Admonition, ſhall ſtill perſiſt in the Error of his way, and be therefore puniſhed, He is not perſecuted for cauſe of Conſcience, but for ſinning againſt his Conſcience.
Where though I ſay, That it is not lawfull to perſecute any, though erring in Fundamental and weighty Points, till after once or twice admonition: I doe not therefore ſay, (as the Diſcuſſer reporteth me) that after once or twice admonition, then ſuch Conſciences may be perſecuted: But that if ſuch a man after ſuch Admonition ſhall ſtill perſiſt in the Error of his way, and be therefore puniſhed, He is not perſecuted for cauſe of Conſcience, but for ſinning againſt his own Conſcience.
Object. But he that ſayeth, It is not lawfull to perſecute any Heretick till after once or twice admonition, He doth as much as ſay, that after once or twice admonition, It is then lawfull to perſecute any Heretick.
Anſ. Not ſo neither, neither every Heretick, nor in every Court. Not in every Court or Judicature. But the ſame Church that followed an Heretick, with once or twice admonition, was further to purſue him, if he remaine obſtinate, with excommunication; my words doe expreſſe two things:
1. That an Heretick till after once or twice admonition, may not be purſued, no not with the Church-cenſure of Excommunication: but after once or twice admonition, It was then lawfull for the Church to proceed to his Excommunication.
2. My words hold forth this alſo, That if ſuch an Heretick ſo convinced and admoniſhed, be afterwards puniſhed by any Cenſure, whether of Church or Court, It cannot be ſaid, he is puniſhed for his Conſcience, but for ſinning againſt his Conſcience.
But it was no part of my words or meaning, to ſay, that every Heretick, though erring in ſome Fundamentall and weighty Points; and for the ſame excommunicated, ſhall forth with be puniſhed by the Civill Magiſtrate: unleſſe it doe afterwards appeare, that he breake forth further, either into Blaſphemy, or Idolatry, or ſeducement of others to his Hereticall pernicious wayes.
Diſcuſſer.
This third of Titus, which through fearefull Prophanations hath ſo many hundred yeares bin the pretended Bulwarke of all the bloudy wolues, Dens of Lyons, Mountaines of Leopards hunting and devouring the witneſſes of Jeſus. He that can but ſee men as Trees, may eaſily diſcerne, It ſhall now be the Refuge and Defence (as I hope) of the Lamb's and little ones of Jeſus.
Defender.
It is out of doubt, That this Text is, (as all the Texts in Scripture be) the juſt Refuge and ſafe defence of the Lambes, and little ones of Jeſus. But all the wit and skill of the Diſcuſſer, can never ſo farre wreſt it, or darken it, as to make it a Refuge and defence for Heretickes, which is the Point in hand.