The Casting Down of the Last and Strongest Hold of Satan, Table of contents
The TABLE containing ſome of the principall Heads of this Book.
A Ʋniverſall Toleration is againſt the whole current, ſcope and ſenſe of all Scripture, and ſets up the polluted defiled conſciences of men above the Scriptures. p. 4, 5
What God commands Perſons for themſelves and their own Practiſe, he commands to them being in Power and Authoritie for all under them. p. 6, 7
There can be no reaſon given why all other perſons in Authoritie, as Fathers Maſters, &c ſhould be bound to have a care in matters of Religion over children, Servants, and Magiſtrates ſhould have none. p. 7, 8
The godly Magiſtrates ſpoken of in Scripture did de facto make uſe of their Power to ſuppreſſe falſe Doctrine, Seducers. &c 8, 9, 10, 11
They did not only doe it de facto, but de jure, were approved of and rewarded by God for ſo doing. p. 11, 12
Thoſe Magiſtrates who were good that out of any carnall reſpects, forbore to uſe their power, were ſharply reproved and puniſhed by God for it. p. 12, 13
Magiſtrates and Judges before Moſes time, before the Judiciall Lawes or Levitical Prieſthood, did puniſh for matters of Religion, and command men under their power to worſhip God. p. 13, 14
Other Kings beſides thoſe of Iſrael and Iudah uſed their Power for the worſhip of God againſt Idolaters, Blaſphemers, &c p. 14, 15, 16
That objection againſt the Kings of Iſrael and Iudahs power in matters of Religion that they were tipes of Chriſt, and that Land typical anſwered at large in eight diſtinct Anſwers, where divers things are opened concerning Types, and of thoſe Kings being Types and how actions may be Typical, and yet morall, from p. 16, to 27
Idolatry and Idolaters not the adaequate object of the Magiſtrates coercive power under the old Teſtament, but the whole worſhip and truth of God. from p. 27, to 34
The 17. of Deut. 18. 19. opened and proved to give Magiſtrates the care of Religion. p. 34, 35, 36, 37
Ʋnder the Father in the fourth commandement, and under ſanctifying the Sabbath, the Magiſtrates dutie to ſee the publick worſhip of God obſerved by his ſubjects, proved, p. 34, 40. 41
The Magiſtrates dutie qua Magiſtrate in matters of Religion proved, and yet with a difference of the Chriſtian and Heathen Magiſtrates power in ſuch matters. p. 42, 43, 44
The commands in the Old Teſtament for Magiſtrates puniſhing in matters of the firſt Table, as Exod. 22. 13. Deut. 13. 1, 2, 5. Deut. 17. 1. 2, 3, 4, 5. Levit. 24. 16. Deut, 18, 20. 22. with divers others laid down, p. 44, 45, 46
Reaſons laid down to prove theſe commands for puniſhing Idolaters falſe Prophets &c. Morall, of common reaſon and equity given to all Nations, and for all Ages, from p. 46. to 53.
Of Judiciall lawes under the Old Teſtament being in force under the New, how far and in what reſpects, with the reaſons thereof, from p. 53. to 58.
The Magiſtrates puniſhing of ſinnes immediately againſt God, as Blaſphemy, Apoſtaſie, &c. is of the light of nature, p. 58, 59, 60, 61, 72, 73
The Magiſtrates coercive power in matters of Religion, as neceſſary under the Goſpel for the glory of God, ſalvation of mens ſoules, peace of Church and State, as under the Old; yea more reaſons for it under the Goſpel then under the Law, p. 62, 63, 64
The Magiſtrates puniſhing falſe Prophets, &c. is an act of our love to God and our Brethren, p. 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71
The reaſons of thoſe commands in 13. and 17. chap. of Deut. concerning putting to death falſe Prophets, Apoſtates have been, were, and are ſtil the ſame, of a like nature and force both before the commands given by Moſes, in Moſes time, and now under the Goſpel p. 76 77, 78
An Anſwer to that objection, that if Moſes laws bind now, then Moſes is alive under the new Teſtament. p. 79, 80
A full Anſwer to that objection, If the Law in Deut. 13. be in force now, tis in force in all the particulars for the manner of the puniſhment for a whole City not only al the Inhabitants, but the cattell alſo &c. in which anſwer many things are opened and cleared, what's morall in that Deut. 13. and what ceremoniall; and that the law concerning the deſtroying of a city, cattell &c. is no part of the command ſpoken of in the firſt part of the 13. chap, of Deut. p. 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87. 173, 174, 175. 195, 196
An anſwer to that obiection, If Moſes lawes bind under the New Teſtament, then every perſon in an idolatrous State is bound to ſeek the death one of another, yea the Magiſtrate bound to ſentence to death all his ſubiects practiſing idolatry without exception, p. 90, 91, 92, 93
A full anſwer to that Evaſion of Hagiomaſtix againſt the Old Teſtament lawes, that the reaſon why the Magiſtrates did then puniſh falſe Prophets, Blaſphemers &c. was becauſe the Jewes to whom theſe laws were given, in all difficult caſes about matters of Religion had the opportunity of immediate conſultation with God, who did infallibly declare his mind to them; in which anſwer many queſtions are diſcuſſed and cleared, ſeverall texts opened, as whether God gave anſwers by Ʋrim and Thummim in difficulties ariſing about morall tranſgreſſion… againſt the firſt Table, or rather whether thoſe anſwers were not concerning the events of future things, as about the ſucceſſe of war &c. as whether Infallibility or Fallibility be the proper grounds and reaſons of puniſhing or not puniſhing in matters of faith and morall tranſgreſſions; as whether there be not, and how far, and by what means an infallibility and certainty in matters of Religion now as well as under the Law? as whether that Deut. 17. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. be any proof for God giving anſwers by Ʋrim and Thummim, or only a ground in difficult caſes to go from lower Courts to higher, and the higheſt of all, who by reaſon of their number and abilities were more able from the law of God to reſolve difficult caſes then the inferior Courts? with divers other particulars uſefull to be known in theſe times, from p. 95, to 165
A full anſwer to that Evaſion brought by Hagiomaſtix and other Patrons of Toleration, that the puniſhments under the Law were more bodily and afflictive to the outward man then under the Goſpel, and conſequently were typicall, Cutting off, of Caſting out, now; and typicall of eternall damnation, and therefore by the comming of Chriſt ceaſed. p. 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170
A full anſwer to that objection, That ſuppoſing all thoſe lawes in Deut. 13. &c. were morall and in force, yet they could not reach to Hereticks and falſe Teachers among us, as not being thoſe falſe Prophets, Idolaters, Blaſphemers ſpoken of in thoſe lawes, from p. 171, to 190
An anſwer to that objection, That the Sadduces, Herodians, Phariſes were tolerated by the Jewes, and that Chriſt did never charge that Church and State with ſin for not puniſhing them, p. 29, 30, compared with 190, 191, 192, 193, 194
Severall Reaſons laid down to prove, that if there were no commands nor examples in the New Teſtament to prove the Magiſtrates power of puniſhing Hereticks, falſe Teachers, yet the proofs of the Old Teſtament were binding, p. 199, to 211
Beſides all the Old Teſtament proofs, ſome places of Scripture ſpeaking of the dayes under the New Teſtament brought for Magiſtrates power in Religion and puniſhing falſe Teachers, p. 212, 213, 214, 215
Seven grounds from places of Scripture recorded in the New Teſtament, proving Magiſtrates coercive power againſt falſe Teachers annd Hereticks, laid down and cleared, p 215, 216, 217, 218.
Publiſhed by Authority.
A TREATISE againſt the Magiſtrates Toleration And Permiſſion of a Promiſcuous uſe and Profeſſion of all Religions, Sects and Hereſies, and a partiall limited Toleration of ſome few Sects, or of any one Sect, way of Worſhip, Church Government different from the true Religion eſtabliſhed and ſetled.
HAving in my Preface and Prolegomena both ſtated the queſtion of Toleration and Liberty of Conſcience, and laid down many, Particulars uſefull and neceſſary to bee known, as giving underſtanding and light into the nature of this Controverſie: I now come as to the proving of a Toleration in it ſelf, of Blaſphemies, Hereſies, Errors, Schiſms unlawfull; ſo of ſhowing the Chriſtian Magiſtrates Power and Warrant, yea neceſſity that is laid upon him of hindring and ſuppreſſing all falſe wayes and worſhips, and of promoting and commanding by his Authority with all his ſubjects the true Religion and Faith; and this I ſhall do by laying down divers Theſes and Poſitions one following upon another, and each going further and riſing higher then the other; and the method I propound to follow in this Tractate ſhall be that of the Title page of this Book: Firſt, by Scripture: Secondly, by ſound Reaſons: Thirdly, by Fathers: Fourthly, Councels; and ſo as it there followes, ſetting down upon all thoſe Heads by way of Theſes, the proofs of the points in hand, though upon ſome more, ſome fewer, as the nature of the things may require, and I ſhall judge needfull and convenient.
CHAP. I.
The Theſes grounded on expreſſe Scriptures, proving the ſinfulneſſe and wickedneſſe of Tolerations, and the Magiſtrates duty with… his Territories to ſuppreſſe Blaſphemies, Errors, Hereſies, Schiſms.
1. THESIS.
AS there is but one God, one Lord Chriſt, one Spirit, one Heaven, ſo there is but one Faith, and that once delivered to the Saints, one Truth, one Goſpel, and one Way; the Scripture every where ſpeaking of theſe in the …ingular number as of one, not as of many, never calling them Faiths, Truths, Goſpels, Wayes, but the Faith, ſhe Goſpel, the Truth, the way of Truth, the good old way, one way, the right way, the way of righteouſneſſe, and ſuch like; whereas falſhood and error is manifold, the Scripture ſpeaking of falſe wayes …, of Antichriſts as many; Falſum eſt multiplex, verum autem … & ſibi per … conforme eſt.
2. THESIS.
The Scriptures of the Old and New Teſtament in many placeth old forth and command to aske for, follow after, walke in that one good way, to ſtrive and contend earneſtly for that one Faith, to hold faſt the truth, to ſerve God only; and on the contrary reproves, prohibits, condemns turning afide to the right hand or to the left, or halting between two or more Religions and Worſhips; hence thoſe complaints, 1 Kin. 18. 21. of the people halting between two opinions, between God and Baal, of fearing the Lord, and ſerving their owne Gods after the manner of the Nations, 2 King. 17. verſ. 33. 41. of worſhipping and ſwearing by the Lord and by Malcham, Zeph. 1. 5. and thoſe prohibitions of not letting cattell gender with a diverſe kind, of not ſowing fields with mingled ſeed, of not wearing garments mingled of linned and wollen, of not ſowing of Vineyards of divers ſeeds, and of not ploughing with an Oxe and an Aſſe together. Levit. 19. 19. Deut. 22. 9, 10.
3. THESIS.
God both foretels and promiſes in his word, and that more particularly of the dayes of the Goſpel, to give one heart and one way to his people; and as there ſhall be one Lord, ſo his name ſhall be one, and that they ſhall all call upon the name of the Lord, to ſerve him with one conſent, Jer. 32. 39. Ezek. 11. 19. Zeph. 3. 9. Zach. 14. 9. Chriſt praies earneſtly to his Father for beleevers that they all may be one and that they may be perfect in one, John 17: 21, 22, 23. and there are many exhortations to Chriſtians to be of one mind, and of the ſame mind in the Lord, to be of one accord, of one mind, all to ſpeak the ſame thing, that there be no Schiſms among them, but that they be perfectly joyned together in the ſame mind and in the ſame judgement, and that they keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, 2 Cor. 13. 11. Philip. 2. 2. Philip. 4. 2. 1 Cor. 1. 10. Epheſ. 4. 3. Now what God hath promiſed and foretold, what Chriſt hath prayed for in a ſpeciall manner, what the Apoſtles in their Epiſtles have ſo pathetically intreated and exhorted to, that Chriſtians ſhould eſpecially labour after, and all the meane tending thereunto; which the deſiring and granting of a Toleration of all wayes, or many wayes, muſt needs be contrary unto.
4. THESIS.
A Toleration and ſufferance but of any one or two falſe ways and worſhips fights directly againſt theſe and many ſuch like places of Scripture, For we can do nothing againſt the truth but for the truth, 2 Cor. 13. 8. Buy the truth and ſell it not, Prov. 23. 23. be valiant for the truth, ſtrive for the faith of the Goſpel, Be zealous, beware of falſe Prophets, beware of dogs beware of evill workers, beware of the Couciſion, A man that is an Heretick after the firſt and ſecond admonition reject. They that keep the Law contend with the wicked, Pauls not giving place to falſe brethren, no not for an houre that the truth of the Goſpel might continue. Paul and Barnabas having no ſmall diſſention and diſputation with thoſe who taught Circumciſion, If there come any unto you and bring not this Doctrine, receive him not into your houſe, neither bid him God ſpeed, the Angel of Epheſus his commendation for that he could not beare them which are evill, and which ſay they are Apoſtles, and are not, and for hating the deeds of the Nicolaitans, the Angels of the Churches of Pergamus and Thyatira being threatned by Chriſt for ſuffering them that held the Doctrine of Balaam, the Doctrine of the Nicolaitans, and that woman Jez abel which called her ſelfe a Propheteſſe, to teach and to ſeduce his ſervants.