Part 46

_Secondly_, This pretended Power of the _Magistrate_ is both contrary unto, and inconsistent with the Nature of the _Gospel_, which is a Thing altogether extrinsick to the Rule and Government of _political States_, as Christ expresly signified, saying, His _Kingdom_ was _not of this World_; and if the propagating of the _Gospel_ had had any necessary Relation thereunto, then Christ had not said so. But he abundantly hath shewn by his Example, whom we are chiefly to imitate in Matters of that Nature, that it is by _Persuasion_ and the _Power of God_, not by _Whips_, _Imprisonments_, _Banishments_, and _Murderings_, that the Gospel is to be propagated; and that those that are the Propagators of it are often to suffer by the Wicked, but never to cause the Wicked to suffer. When he sends forth his Disciples, he tells them, he sends them forth as [138]_Lambs among Wolves_, to be willing to be _devoured_, not to _devour_: He tells them of their being _whipped_, _imprisoned_, and _killed_ for their Conscience; but never that they shall either _whip_, _imprison_, or _kill_: And indeed if _Christians_ must be as _Lambs_, it is not the Nature of _Lambs_ to destroy or devour any. It serves nothing to allege, that in Christ’s and his Apostles Times the _Magistrates_ were _Heathens_, and therefore Christ and his Apostles, nor yet any of the Believers, being no _Magistrates_, could not exercise the Power; because it cannot be denied but Christ, being the _Son of God_, had a true Right to all _Kingdoms_, and was _righteous Heir_ of the _Earth_. [139]_Next_, as to his _Power_, it cannot be denied but he could, if he had seen meet, have called for _Legions of Angels_ to defend him, and have forced the _Princes_ and _Potentates_ of the Earth to be subject unto him, _Matt._ xxvi. 53. So that it was only because it was contrary to the Nature of _Christ_’s Gospel and Ministry to use any Force or Violence in the gathering of Souls to him. This he abundantly expressed in his Reproof to the two Sons of _Zebedee_, who would have been calling for _Fire from Heaven_ to burn those that refused to receive Christ: It is not to be doubted but this was as great a Crime as now to be in an Error concerning the Faith and Doctrine of Christ. That there was not Power wanting to have punished those Refusers of _Christ_ cannot be doubted; for they that could do other Miracles, might have done this also. And moreover, they wanted not the Precedent of a holy Man under the Law, as did _Elias_; yet we see what _Christ_ saith to them, _Ye know not what Spirit ye are of_, Luke ix. 55. _For the Son of Man is not come to destroy Men’s Lives, but to save them_. Here Christ shews that such Kind of _Zeal_ was no Ways approved of him; and such as think to make Way for _Christ_ or his _Gospel_ by this Means, do not understand what _Spirit they are of_. But if it was not lawful to call for _Fire from Heaven_ to destroy such as refuse to receive Christ, it is far less lawful to kindle _Fire upon Earth_ to destroy those that believe in Christ, because they will not believe, nor can believe, as the Magistrates do, for Conscience Sake. And if it was not lawful for the Apostles, who had so large a Measure of the Spirit, and were so little liable to Mistake, to force others to their Judgment, it can be far less lawful now for Men, who as Experience declareth, and many of themselves confess, are fallible, and often mistaken, to kill and destroy all such as cannot, because otherwise persuaded in their Minds, judge and believe in Matters of Conscience just as they do. And if it was not according to the Wisdom of _Christ_, who was and is _King of Kings_, by outward Force to constrain others to believe him or receive him, as being a Thing inconsistent with the Nature of his _Ministry_ and _spiritual Government_, do not they grosly offend him, who will needs be wiser than he, and think to force Men against their Persuasion to conform to their Doctrine and Worship? The Word of the Lord said, _Not by Power and by Might, but by the Spirit of the Lord_, Zech. iv. 6. But these say, _Not by the Spirit of the Lord, but by Might and carnal Power_. The Apostle saith plainly, [140]_We wrestle not with Flesh and Blood_; and _the Weapons of our Warfare are not carnal, but spiritual_: But these Men will needs wrestle with Flesh and Blood, when they cannot prevail with the Spirit and the Understanding; and not having spiritual Weapons, go about with carnal Weapons to establish _Christ’s Kingdom_, which they can never do: And therefore when the Matter is well sifted, it is found to be more out of _Love to Self_, and from a Principle of _Pride_ in Man to have all others to bow to him, than from the _Love of God_. [141]Christ indeed takes another Method; for he saith, _He will make his People a willing People in the Day of his Power_; but these Men labour against Men’s Wills and Consciences, not by _Christ’s Power_, but by the _outward Sword_, to make Men _the People of Christ_, which they never can do, as shall hereafter be shewn.

[138] Matt. 10. 16.

[139] Matt. 28. 18.

[140] 2 Cor. 10. 4.

[141] Psal. 110. 3.

But _Thirdly_, Christ fully and plainly declareth to us his Sense in this Matter in the Parable of the _Tares_, Matt. xiii. of which we have himself the Interpreter, _Ver._ 38, 39, 40, 41. where he expounds them to be the _Children of the Wicked One_, and yet he will not have the Servants to meddle with them, lest they pull up the _Wheat_ therewith. Now it cannot be denied but _Hereticks_ are here included; and although these Servants saw the _Tares_, and had a certain Discerning of them; yet Christ would not they should meddle, lest they should hurt the _Wheat_: Thereby intimating, That that Capacity in Man _to be mistaken_, ought to be a Bridle upon him, to make him wary in such Matters; and therefore, to prevent this Hurt, he gives a positive Prohibition, _But he said, Nay_, Ver. 29. So that they who will notwithstanding be pulling up that which they judge is _Tares_, do openly declare, That they make no Scruple to break the _Commands of Christ_. Miserable is that Evasion which some of our Adversaries use here, in alleging these _Tares_ are meant of _Hypocrites_, and not of _Hereticks_! But how to evince that, seeing _Hereticks_, as well as _Hypocrites_, are _Children of the Wicked One_, they have not any Thing but their own bare Affirmation, which is therefore justly rejected.

[Sidenote: Object.] If they say, _Because Hypocrites cannot be discerned, but so may Hereticks_;

[Sidenote: _Answ._] This is both false and a begging of the Question. For those that have a _spiritual Discerning_, can discern both _Hypocrites_ and _Hereticks_; and those that want it, cannot certainly discern either. Seeing the Question will arise, _Whether that is a Heresy which the Magistrate saith is so_? And seeing it is both possible, and confessed by all to have often fallen out, that some _Magistrates_ have judged that _Heresy_ which was not, punishing Men accordingly for _Truth_, instead of _Error_; there can be no Argument drawn from the Obviousness or Evidence of _Heresy_, unless we should conclude _Heresy_ could never be mistaken for _Truth_, nor _Truth_ for _Heresy_; whereof Experience shews daily the contrary, even among Christians. But neither is this Shift applicable to this Place; for the Servants did discern the _Tares_, and yet were liable to hurt the _Wheat_, if they had offered to pull them up.

§. III. [Sidenote: Object.] But they object against this _Liberty of Conscience_, Deut. xiii. 5. _Where false Prophets are appointed to be put to Death; and accordingly they give Example thereof._

[Sidenote: _Answ._] The Case no Way holds parallel; those particular Commands to the _Jews_, and Practices following upon them, are not a Rule for _Christians_; else we might by the same Rule say, It were lawful for us to borrow of our Neighbours their Goods, and so carry them away, because the _Jews_ did so by _God’s Command_; or that it is lawful for _Christians_ to invade their Neighbours Kingdoms, and cut them all off without Mercy, because the _Jews_ did so to the _Canaanites_, by the Command of God.

[Sidenote: Object.] If they urge, _That these Commands ought to stand, except they be repealed in the Gospel_;

[Sidenote: _Answ._] I say, The Precepts and Practices of Christ and his Apostles mentioned are a sufficient Repeal: For if we should plead, That every Command given to the _Jews_ is binding upon us, except there be a particular Repeal; then would it follow, That because it was lawful for the _Jews_, if any Man killed one, for the nearest Kindred presently to kill the Murderer, without any Order of Law, it were lawful for us to do so likewise. And doth not this Command of _Deut._ xiii. 9. openly order him who is enticed by another to forsake the Lord, though it were his _Brother_, his _Son_, his _Daughter_, or his _Wife_, presently to kill him or her? _Thou shalt surely kill him, thy Hand shall be first upon him, to put him to Death._ If this Command were to be followed there needed neither _Inquisition_ nor _Magistrate_ to do the Business; and yet there is no Reason why they should shuffle by this Part, and not the other; yea, to argue this Way from the Practice among the _Jews_, were to overturn the very Gospel, and to set up again the carnal Ordinances among the _Jews_, to pull down the spiritual Ones of the _Gospel_. Indeed we can far better argue from the _Analogy_ betwixt the _figurative_ and _carnal_ State of the _Jews_, and the _real_ and _spiritual_ One under the Gospel; that _as _Moses_ delivered the _Jews_ out of outward _Egypt_, by an outward Force, and established them in an outward Kingdom, by destroying their outward Enemies for them; so Christ, not by overcoming outwardly, and killing others, but by suffering and being killed, doth deliver his chosen ones, the inward _Jews_, out of mystical _Egypt_, destroying their spiritual Enemies before them, and establishing among them his spiritual Kingdom, which is not of this World. _And as_ such as departed from the Fellowship of outward _Israel_ were to be cut off by the outward Sword, so those that depart from the inward _Israel_ are to be cut off by the Sword of the Spirit: _For it answers very well_, That as the _Jews_ were to cut off their Enemies outwardly, in order to establish their Kingdom and outward Worship, so they were to uphold it the same Way: _But_ as the Kingdom and Gospel of Christ was not to be established or propagated by cutting off or destroying the _Gentiles_, but by persuading them, so neither is it to be upheld otherwise._

[Sidenote: Object.] But _Secondly_, they urge, _Rom._ xiii. where the _Magistrate_ is said, _Not to bear the Sword in vain, because he is the Minister of God, to execute Wrath upon such as do Evil_. _But Heresy_, say they, _is Evil_. Ergo.

[Sidenote: _Answ._] But so is _Hypocrisy_ also; yet they confess he ought not to punish that. Therefore this must be understood of _moral Evils_, relative to Affairs betwixt Man and Man, not of Matters of _Judgment_ or _Worship_; or else what great Absurdities would follow, considering that _Paul_ wrote here to the _Church_ of _Rome_, which was under the Government of _Nero_, an impious _Heathen_, and _Persecutor_ of the _Church_? Now if a Power to punish in Point of _Heresy_ be here included, it will necessarily follow, That _Nero_ had this Power; yea, and that he had it of God; for because the _Power_ was of God, therefore the Apostle urges their Obedience. But can there be any Thing more absurd, than to say that _Nero_ had Power to judge in such Cases? Surely if _Christian Magistrates_ be not to punish for _Hypocrisy_, because they cannot outwardly discern it; far less could _Nero_ punish any Body for _Heresy_, which he was uncapable to discern. And if _Nero_ had not Power to judge or punish in Point of _Heresy_, then nothing can be urged from this Place; since all that is said here, is spoken as applicable to _Nero_, with a particular Relation to whom it was written. And if _Nero_ had such a Power, surely he was to exercise it according to his Judgment and Conscience, and in doing thereof he was not to be blamed; which is enough to justify him in his persecuting of the Apostles, and murdering the Christians.

[Sidenote: Object.] _Thirdly_, They object that Saying of the Apostle to the _Galatians_, v. 12. _I would they were even cut off which trouble you_.

[Sidenote: _Answ._] But how this imports any more than a _Cutting off from the Church_, is not, nor can be shewn. _Beza_ upon the Place saith, _We cannot understand that otherwise than of Excommunication, such as was that of the incestuous _Corinthian_. And indeed it is Madness to suppose it otherwise; for _Paul_ would not have these cut off otherwise than he did _Hymenæus_ and _Philetus_, who were Blasphemers; which was by giving them over to Satan, not by cutting of their Heads._

The same Way may be answered that other Argument, drawn from _Rev._ ii. 20. where the _Church of_ Thyatira _is reproved for suffering the Woman_ Jezabel: Which can be no other Ways understood, than that they did not _excommunicate_ her, or cut her off by a _Church Censure_. For as to Corporal Punishment, it is known that at that Time the _Christians_ had not Power to punish _Hereticks_ so, if they had had a Mind to it.

[Sidenote: Object.] _Fourthly_, They allege, That _Heresies are numbered among the Works of the Flesh_, Gal. v. 20. _Ergo_, &c.

[Sidenote: _Answ._] That _Magistrates_ have Power to punish all the Works of the Flesh, is denied, and not yet proved. Every _Evil_ is a Work of the Flesh, but every _Evil_ comes not under the Magistrate’s Cognizance. Is not _Hypocrisy_ a Work of the Flesh, which our Adversaries confess the Magistrates ought not to punish? Yea, are not _Hatred_ and _Envy_ there mentioned as Works of the _Flesh_? And yet the Magistrate cannot punish them, as they are in themselves, until they exert themselves in other Acts which come under his Power. But so long as _Heresy_ doth not exert itself in any Act destructive to _human Society_, or such like Things, but is kept within the Sphere of those Duties of _Doctrine_ or _Worship_ which stand betwixt a Man and God, they no Ways come under the Magistrate’s Power.

§. IV. But _Secondly_, This Forcing of Men’s Consciences is contrary to _sound Reason_, and the very _Law of Nature_. For Man’s Understanding cannot be forced by all the Bodily Sufferings another Man can inflict upon him, especially in Matters spiritual and supernatural: _It is Argument, and evident Demonstration of Reason, together with the Power of God reaching the Heart, that can change a Man’s Mind from one Opinion to another, and not Knocks and Blows, and such like Things, which may indeed destroy the Body, but never can inform the Soul, which is a free Agent, and must either accept or reject Matters of Opinion as they are borne in upon it by something proportioned to its own Nature_. To seek to force Minds in any other Manner, is to deal with Men as if they were Brutes, void of Understanding; and at last is but to lose one’s Labour, and as the Proverb is, _To seek to wash the Black-moor white_. By that Course indeed Men may be made _Hypocrites_, but can never be made _Christians_; and surely the Products of such _Compulsion_ (even where the End is obtained, to wit, an outward Assent or Conformity, whether in _Doctrine_ or _Worship_) can be no Ways acceptable to God, who desireth not any Sacrifice, except that which cometh throughly from the Heart, and will have no constrained ones: So that Men, by constraining Force, are so far from being Members of the _Church_, that they are made ten Times more the Servants of Satan than before; in that to their _Error_ is added _Hypocrisy_, the worst of _Evils_ in Matters of Religion, and that which above all Things the Lord’s Soul most abhors.

[Sidenote: Object.] But if it be said, _Their Error notwithstanding is thereby suppressed, and the Scandal removed_;

[Sidenote: _Answ._] I _answer_, Besides that this is a Method no Ways allowed by Christ, as is above proved, surely the Church can be no Ways bettered by the Accession of _Hypocrites_, but greatly corrupted and endangered; for open _Heresies_ Men may be aware of, and shun such as profess them, when they are separated from the Church by her Censures: But secret _Hypocrites_ may putrefy the Body, and leaven it, ere Men be aware. And if the Dissenters prove resolute, and suffer boldly for the Opinions they esteem right, Experience sheweth that such Sufferings often tend to the Commendation of the Sufferers, but never of the Persecutors. For such Suffering ordinarily breeds Compassion, and begets a Curiosity in others to enquire the more diligently into the Things for which they see Men _suffer_ such great _Losses_ so boldly; and is also able to beget an Opinion, that it is for some Good they do so suffer: It being no Ways probable that Men will venture all merely to acquire Fame; which may as well be urged to detract from the Reputation of all the _Martyrs_, unless some better Arguments be brought against it than a _Halter_ or a _Faggot_. But supposing this Principle, _That the Magistrate hath Power to force the Consciences of his Subjects, and to punish them if they will not comply_, very great Inconveniences and Absurdities will follow, and even such as are inconsistent with the Nature of the _Christian Religion_.

For _First_, It will naturally follow, That the Magistrate ought to do it, and sinneth by Omission of his Duty, if he do it not. Will it not then hence be inferred that Christ was defective to his Church, who having Power to force Men, and to call for _Legions of Angels_ so to do, did notwithstanding not exert that Power, but left his Church to the Mercy of the Wicked, without so necessary a Bulwark?

_Secondly_, Seeing every Magistrate is to exercise his Power according to the best Understanding he hath, being obliged so to do, for the Promoting of what he in Conscience is persuaded to be Truth, will not this justify all the _Heathen Emperors_ in their Persecutions against _Christians_? Will not this justify the _Spanish Inquisition_, which yet is odious, not only to _Protestants_, but to many moderate _Papists_? How can _Protestants_ in Reason condemn the _Papists_ for persecuting them, seeing they do but exercise a _lawful Power_ according to their _Conscience_ and best Understanding, and do no more to them than the Sufferers profess they would do to them, if they were in the like Capacity? Which takes away all Ground of Commiseration from the Sufferers: Whereas that was the Ground which of old gained Reputation to the _Christians_, that they being innocent, _suffered_, who neither had, nor by Principle could, hurt any. But there is little Reason to pity one that is but dealt by according as he would deal with others. For to say, _They have no Reason to persecute us, because they are in the Wrong, and we in the Right_, is but miserably to beg the Question. Doth not this Doctrine strengthen the Hands of Persecutors every where, and that rationally, from a Principle of Self-preservation? For who can blame me for destroying him that I know waits but for an Occasion to destroy me, if he could? Yea, this makes all Suffering for _Religion_, which of old was the Glory of _Christians_, to be but of pure Necessity; whereby they are not led as _Lambs to the Slaughter_, as was the _Captain of their Salvation_; but rather as _Wolves_ catched in the Snare, who only bite not again because they are not able; but could they get Force, would be as ready to lead those the same Way that led them. Where is the Faith and Patience of the Saints? For indeed it is but a small Glory to make a Virtue of Necessity, and suffer because I cannot help it. Every Thief and Murderer would be a _Martyr_ at that Rate: Experience hath abundantly proved this in these last _Centuries_; for however each Party talk of _positively_ obeying the _Magistrate_ in such Cases, and that the Power resides in him, yet it is apparent, that from this Principle it naturally follows, That any Party, supposing themselves right, should, so soon as they are able, endeavour at any Rate to get uppermost, that they might bring under those of another Opinion, and force the _Magistrate_ to uphold their Way, to the Ruin of all others. What Engine the _Pope_ of _Rome_ used to make of his pretended Power in this Thing, upon any Pretence of Dislike to any Prince or State, even for very small Heresies in their own Account, to depose Princes, and set up their Subjects against them, and give their Dominions to other Princes to serve his Interest, they cannot be ignorant who have read the Life of _Hildebrand_; and how _Protestants_ have vindicated the Liberty of their Consciences after this same Manner is apparent. They suffered much in _France_, to the great Increase and Advantage of their Party; but as soon as they found themselves considerable, and had gotten some Princes upon their Side, they began to let the King know, That they must either have the Liberty of their Consciences, or else they would purchase it; not by suffering, but by fighting. And the Experience of other _Protestant States_ shews, That if _Henry_ the 4th, to please the _Papists_, had not quitted his Religion, to get the Crown the more peaceably, and so the _Protestants_ had prevailed with the Sword, they would as well have taught the _Papists_ with the Faggot, and led them to the Stake: So that this Principle of _Persecution_ on all Hands is the Ground of all those Miseries and Contentions. For so long as any Party is persuaded that it is both lawful for them, and their Duty, if in Power, to destroy those that differ from them, it naturally follows they ought to use all Means possible to get that Power, whereby they may secure themselves in the Ruin of their Adversaries. And that _Papists_ judge it not unlawful to compel the Magistrate, if they be strong enough to do it, to effect this. Experience shews it to be a known _Popish_ Principle, That _the Pope may depose an Heretick Prince, and absolve the People from the Oath of Fidelity_: And the _Pope_, as is above said, hath done so to divers Princes; and this Doctrine is defended by _Bellarmine_ against _Barclay_. The _French_ refused _Henry_ the Fourth till he quitted his Religion. And as for _Protestants_, many of them scruple not to affirm, _That wicked Kings and Magistrates may be deposed, and killed_: Yea, our _Scotch Presbyterians_ are as positive in it as any _Jesuits_, who would not admit King _Charles_ the Second, though otherwise a _Protestant Prince_, unless he would swear to renounce _Episcopacy_; a Matter of no great Difference, though contrary to his Conscience. Now how little Proportion these Things bear with the Primitive Christians, and the Religion propagated by Christ and his Apostles, needs no great Demonstration; and it is observable, that notwithstanding many other Superstitions crept into the Church very early, yet this of _Persecution_ was so inconsistent with the Nature of the Gospel, and Liberty of Conscience, as we have asserted it, such an innate and natural Part of the Christian Religion, that almost all the _Christian Writers_, for the first three hundred Years, earnestly contended for it, condemning the contrary Opinion.