The Bloody Tenant Washed and Made White in the Blood of the Lamb, Part 1 · Chapter 45 – Chapter 46
CHAP. 45. A Reply to his 45. Chap.
Diſcuſſer.
TO Batter and take a ſtrong Hold, or Fort, men bring not a firſt and ſecond Admonition, and after obſtinacy, Excommunication: But they bring Canons, Culverings, Sakers, Bullets, Powder, Muſquets, Swords, Pikes, weapons ſuitable and proportionable. On the other ſide, to batter downe Idolatry, falſe worſhip, Hereſy out of the ſoule and ſpirit, It is vaine, Improper, unſuitable to bring the uſuall weapons of perſecutors, Stocks, Whips, Priſons, Swords, Gibbtts, Stakes: But againſt theſe ſpirituall ſirong holds in the ſoules of men, ſpirituall Artillery, and weapons are proper, and mighty through God to ſubdue every thought to obedience.
Defender.
Let this ſtand (as it ſhall for me:) It nothing toucheth the Queſtion in hand. It is farre from me to allow the Civill Magiſtrate to make uſe of his Civill weapons to batter downe Idolatry, and Hereſy in the ſoules of men: but for this end, he is to uſe ſpirituall weapons, and all Lenity and wiſdome in the improvement thereof: But if the Idolater or Heretick grow obſtinate & as the Apoſtle ſaith, waxe worſe and worſe deceiving himſelfe and others, to the deſtroying or corrupting and diſturbing of others, now the Magiſtrate maketh uſe, not of Stocks, and Whipps (for theſe doe not remove, but exaſperate the malady:) but of Death, or Baniſhment, that may cut him off from opportunity of ſpreading the leaven, and Gangerne of his pernicious wayes, whether in Doctrine, or practiſe. It is one thing to ſpeake o… Hereſie and Idolatry in the Abſtract: another in the Concrete. Hereſie, Idolatry and all ſpirituall wickedneſſe, cannot be rooted out of the hearts of the ſonnes of men, but by ſpirituall weapons. But Hereticks, and Idolaters may be reſtrained from the open practiſe, and profeſſion of their wickedneſſe by the Sword of Juſtice, and ſuch weapons of Righteouſneſſe.
Diſcuſſer.
But though theſe weapons were proper: yet they are unneceſſary. For if ſpirituall weapons in the hand of Church Officers, be able, & mighty, and ſufficient, and ready for the Lords worke, either to ſave, or to kill the ſoule &c. How doth the Magiſtrate come in to help, but as if the Lord had no power?
Defender.
This is a meere pretence in the mouth & pen of the Diſcuſſer: For he having cut off all the Churches of Chriſt, and all Church Ordinances, and Church-weapons from off the face of the earth for theſe many ages paſt, and I know not for how many yeares yet to come: If Civill weapons be debarred from defending Religion, upon pretence, that Church-weapons are ſufficient, and and then no Churches nor Church weapons to be found upon the face of the earth, then let all Seducers to Apoſtacy, Idolaters, & Hereticks, let them all rejoyce in an open doote of liberty, & ſafety, which the Diſcuſſer hath ſet wide open before them. If Civill States muſt not, and Churches cannot, come in to helpe the Lord, ſhall the curſe of Meroz be ſo avoided, becauſe the Lord wanteth not power to help himſelfe? But I might reply further, that though ſpiritual weapons are mighty through God, and ſufficient to thoſe ends, for which the Lord appointed them: which are to purge out leaven from their holy communion, and to mortify the fleſh of offendors: yet that is not ſuperſedeas to Civill Magiſtrates, to neglect to puniſh thoſe ſins, which the Church hath cenſured, if the perſons cenſured do proceed to ſubvert the truth of the Goſpel, or the peace of the Church, or the ſalvation of the people. The reſt of the Diſcuſſers diſcourſe in this chapter are (as Jude ſpeaketh) clouds without water, words without matter.
CHAP. 46. A Reply to his Chap. 46. Diſcuſſing Rom. 13.
Diſcuſſer.
This Scripture Rom. 13. which it pleaſeth the Anſwerer to quote, how hath both himſelfe, and many excellent ſervants of God, wreſted (not as Peter writeth of the wicked to their eternall, yet) to their owne and others tempor all deſtruction by civill warres, and combuſtions in the world?
Defender.
This charge is a greivous crime, if it be truly proved: a greivous ſlaunder, if it be not proved.
The reſt of the Chapter proveth it not, but that onelyonly which I willingly graunt, that this 13th Chapter to the Romans exhorteth unto ſubjection to Magiſtrates, & unto love to all men: which are duties partaining to the ſecond Table. Howbeit though ſubjection to Magiſtrates, and love to all men be duties which concerne the ſecond Table (a point which needed no proofe:) yet this inference will not here follow, That therefore Magiſtrates have nothing to doe to puniſh any violation, no not of the weightieſt duties of the firſt Table. It is a cleare caſe, amongſt the duties of the ſecond Table, people may be exhorted to honor their Miniſters, and children may be exhorted to honor their Parents. But will it thence follow, that therefore Miniſters have nothing to doe with matters of Religion in the Church, or parents in the Family?