The Reviler Rebuked, Treatise · Part 2 · Head 16
16. Head of their Self-contradiction. Concerning Conſcience and Laws.
Section 32.
HEre I noted what they determine; There muſt be no Law concerning Religion, and yet thus admoniſh Rulers; See that your Laws be according to the Conſcience of every man. By this, I ſaid, it ſeems there is no Religion in the Conſcience; or elſe, why ſhould there not be Laws concerning Religion? according to Religion, as well as according to the conſcience. At this R. F. opens his mouth, gives liberty to his Pen, as followeth, *Page 30.Thou deceitful ſpirit, how haſt thou wreſted the words ſet down about the Law of God which anſwers his Juſtice, and the light in the conſcience which anſwers the Law of God, which is perfect according to that in the conſcience? And then he deſires the wiſe-hearted may read the Book which I have wreſted, The glory of the Lord, ariſing, ſhaking terribly the earth &c. and the ſimple-hearted may take notice of my deceits, herein made manifeſt, &c.
Rep. That the wiſe-hearted may not believe every thing, as the ſimple-hearted will, if not helped with true information, Firſt, I ſhall clear my ſelf of a deceitful ſpirit in this allegation, as in all that paſt before; Secondly, I ſhall diſcover the deceit of R. F. his words and anſwer, as 'tis jumbled here together. Firſt, that I wreſted not their words deceitfully, will appear if I give them forth, as they are in that Pamphlet, *The glory of the Lord, &c. p. 14.more fully. Therefore be awarned how you make Laws, for all muſt be cut down with the ſword of the Lord which is contrary to that in the conſcience: And that no Law be laid upon Religion; for the Law is for ſinners, and tranſgreſſors, &c. Now, if no Law be laid upon Religion, becauſe the Law is for ſinners, &c. then, either ſinners have no conſcience at all, and then they contradict themſelves who ſpeak of a conſcience in every man, and that Laws muſt be according to that in the conſcience, (as it follows in that page) or elſe ſinners have no Religion, i. e. of no kinde, and nothing to binde them from within; which if they ſay, they contradict the light of every mans conſcience (and conſequently their own) which teacheth ſomething of a God, and of a Religion alſo, that that God, which they own, is to be worſhipped &c. Let us hear them again with patience, See that your Laws be according to that in every mans conſcience; for the light in every mans conſcience is of God, That that in every mans conſcience may witneſs your Laws, elſe that in every mans conſcience will witneſs againſt your Laws not to be of God.
Rep. 1. It is a truth, the light (which is light indeed, and not thought only to be light) in every mans conſcience is of God; but you ſhall have many men tell you, my light gives me to judge thus, and I think thus, when 'tis not light but darkneſs; for which end (to avoid this deceit) Chriſt gives the caution, Luke 11. 35. Take heed therefore, that the light which is in thee, i. e. which thou thinkeſt is light, be not darkneſs.
2. Granting that every man hath ſome light in the conſcience which is of God, ſo far as Magiſtrates Laws are according to that light, that light will accord with the Laws, & witneſs for them (at one time or other) But what if the Magiſtrates Law be above the light that every man hath (as is the Law of true Religion, Chriſtian and ſaving Religion?) ſuppoſe every ſuch man (who hath but an inferior common light, beneath and below, the light of the Magiſtrates Law) doth witneſs againſt it not to be of God, is it not therefore of God? becauſe a blind erring conſcience who cannot ſee above his candle-natural light doth ſo judge of it, not to be of God, is it, I ſay, therefore not of God? or muſt the Magiſtrate repeal thoſe laws, which accord with Gods ſupernatural light given him, becauſe the natural man cannot reach the underſtanding of them? Such laws indeed as have perſecuted, priſoned, crucified them who have ſuffered for the teſtimony of a good conſcience (if Rulers repealed them not) God hath hewed down in all ages, becauſe contrary to the Law of God, and to that which was, and is in a ſanctified conſcience; but the conſcience of every man is not a ſanctified conſcience; and therefore it may ſooner oppoſe what is good in the Magiſtrates Laws, then the Magiſtrates good Laws ſhall oppoſe any thing good in the conſcience: And hereupon it follows, that the Magiſtrate is not to level his Laws with every mans conſcience, and light, but he is to provide and encourage able Teachers, who may by Gods bleſſing on their labors, be inſtrumental to elevate the mindes and conſciences of people to the underſtanding of that which is ſupernatural in the Law of God, and of man conſonant to that of God. But what ſay theſe men further? *Glory of the Lord &c. pag. 15.Becauſe there have been perſecuting Laws, Therefore be awarned of making Laws, and that you have no Law concerning Religion, but let Religion defend it ſelf; for whatſoever is not of God, will not ſtand, but will wither away▪ but ſee that your Law be according to that in the conſcience, and then it will be againſt ſtrikers &c.
Rep. Here is that which is wreathed and croſs-ſhakled; no law muſt be concerning Religion, yet all according to that in the conſcience; I ask theſe men again, Is Religion within, as well as without? if they ſay without, then why condemn they us who are for the outward part of worſhip inſtituted by God? if they ſay within, then where is it ſeated? every where but in the conſcience? if it be ſeated in the conſcience as in other faculties, then the Laws cannot reach the conſcience, but they will reach Religion alſo; And again if Religion be ſeated in the conſcience, why ſhould not laws be concerning Religion, and according thereunto, as according to the conſcience? ſeeing the conſcience bindeth us to the obſervation of Gods Law; and if the Magiſtrates Law, concerning Religion, be according to Gods Law, the Law of the Magiſtrate and the Law of the Conſcience will agree very well together; for he is not a terror to them that do well, but to evill doers; yet his Law is for the defence of them that do well, as for the offence of them that do ill; & it is the evil doer onelyonly that is afraid of a good, a righteous, and a religious Law. Secondly, for the diſcovery of R. F. his deceitful anſwer conſiſting of truth and error jumbled together; The Law of God (ſaith he) anſwers his juſtice, and the light in the conſcience, which anſwers the Law of God, which is perfect, according to that in the conſcience.
Rep. Here are two truths, The Law of God anſwers his Juſtice, and the Law of God is perfect; but here are two errors couched withal.
1. As if the Law of God had no more perfection of light and holineſs then is in every mans conſcience; And,
2. As if the perfection of the Law was regulated by that in the conſcience; whereas the Law of God is above the conſcienceGods Law above the Conſcience. of man both in its light, and holineſs, and in its authority; it being a Rule to the conſcience, from its ſuperiority of light and perfection of holineſs; and hence I conclude,
1. That if the Magiſtrates Law be according to the Law of God, although it be above the preſent light of conſcience, it is neither againſt the holineſs, nor true liberty of conſcience.
2. It is one thing for the Magiſtrate to declare, and ratifie (by his civil ſanction) Laws made, by God and Chriſt, concerning Religion, which are above the conſciences of natural men, and above the actual preſent light of ſome trueMagiſtrates Laws not to be againſt, yet may …e above the light of every man. Saints; And another thing to enact Laws againſt the true light and principle of the loweſt Saint, or the meaneſt ſon of Adam; this latter is unlawful, the former, warrantable; and that which ſtands with Religion and a good conſcience alſo, their own and others. But,
3. What if his Laws concerning Religion be above the preſent actual, or habitual degree of light that is in the Saints? This may be ſuppoſed; becauſe ſometimes the Light of the Magiſtrate may be elevated higher then the light of ſome real Saints; diſcerning further into the minde of Chriſt, and underſtanding his Laws better then many of Chriſts ſubjects, in as much as he may be more eminently ſubject to Chriſts Laws then inferior perſons; doth the Magiſtrate ſin in holding forth light, ſo agreeable to the Laws of Chriſt? I trow not. What then? may he compel all within the Nation or Commonwealth to come up in practiſe to his own light? no, neither: Here the Rule of Equity muſt take place to forbear, as he would and ought to be forborn in the like caſe; forbear, whom? ſuch as tenderly andMagiſtrates forbearance of whom, and how. peaceably diſſent for want of higher light; forbear, how?
Firſt, in love to the Saints, and to all men: to the Saints, thereby to draw them up to higher attainments and actings, who are to make that uſe of ſuch forbearance; to all men, thereby to gain them in, who are of the Lords number, to Jeſus Chriſt, and to maintain a lawful civil peace with all.
Secondly, not without reſtrictions over thoſe who deny the common principles of humane ſociety, diſturb the outward peace of the Saints ſocieties, & would have Magiſtrates make Laws onelyonly to binde and manacle themſelves from ſtriking at offenders, Blaſphemers, Goſpel and Church-diſturbers; that ſo the ſtrong man armed, ſtill keeping poſſeſſion, and holding men aſleep in a carnal and ſinful ſecurity, may have his liberty, by naughty and pernicious inſtruments, to vent what he can againſt the Truth, without the leaſt outward check and controlment; but however, our hope and aſſurance is, that his kingdom divided againſt it ſelf cannot, ſhall not ſtand.
Glory to the moſt Wiſe and Holy God. Amen.