to force Men in Things religious to do contrary to their Conscience;
and if they will not, to punish them in their Goods, Liberties, and
Lives?_ This we hold in the Negative. But _Secondly_, As we would
have the _Magistrate_ to avoid this Extreme of incroaching upon Men’s
Consciences, so on the other Hand we are far from joining with or
strengthening such _Libertines_ as would stretch the Liberty of their
Consciences to the Prejudice of their _Neighbours_, or to the Ruin of
_Human Society_. We understand therefore by _Matters of Conscience_
such as _immediately_ relate betwixt _God_ and _Man_, or _Men_ and
_Men_, that are under the same _Persuasion_, as to meet together and
worship God in that Way which they judge is most acceptable unto him,
and not to incroach upon, or seek to force their Neighbours, otherwise
than by Reason, or such other Means as Christ and his Apostles used,
_viz._ Preaching and instructing such as will hear and receive it; but
not at all for Men, under the Notion of Conscience, to do any Thing
contrary to the moral and perpetual Statutes generally acknowledged by
all _Christians_; in which Case the _Magistrate_ may very lawfully use
his Authority; as on those, who, under a Pretence of _Conscience_,
make it a Principle to kill and destroy all the Wicked, _id est_, all
that differ from them, that they, to wit, the _Saints_, may rule,
and who therefore seek to make all Things _common_, and would force
their Neighbours to share their Estates with them, and many such wild
Notions, as is reported of the _Anabaptists_ of _Munster_; which
evidently appears to proceed from Pride and Covetousness, and not
from Purity or Conscience; and therefore I have sufficiently guarded
against that in the latter Part of the _Proposition_. But the _Liberty_
we lay claim to is such as the _Primitive Church_ justly fought under
the _Heathen Emperors_, to wit, for Men of Sobriety, Honesty, and a
peaceable Conversation, to enjoy the Liberty and Exercise of their
_Conscience_ towards God and among themselves, and to admit among them
such as by their Persuasion and Influence come to be convinced of the
same _Truth_ with them, without being therefore molested by the Civil
Magistrate. _Thirdly_, Though we would not have Men hurt in their
Temporals, nor robbed of their Privileges as Men and Members of the
_Commonwealth_, because of their inward Persuasion; yet we are far
from judging that in the _Church of God_ there should not be Censures
exercised against such as fall into Error, as well as such as commit
open Evils; and therefore we believe it may be very lawful for a
_Christian Church_, if she find any of her Members fall into any Error,
after due Admonitions and Instructions according to _Gospel Order_, if
she find them pertinacious, to _cut them off_ from her Fellowship by
the _Sword of the Spirit_, and deprive them of those Privileges which
they had as Fellow-members; but not to cut them off from the World by
the _temporal Sword_, or rob them of their common Privileges as Men,
seeing they enjoy not these as Christians, or under such a Fellowship,
but as Men, and Members of the Creation. Hence _Chrysostom_ saith
well, (_de Anath._) _We must condemn and reprove the evil Doctrines
that proceed from _Hereticks_; but spare the Men, and pray for their
Salvation_.
§. II. But that no Man, by Virtue of any Power or Principality he hath
in the Government of this World, hath Power over the _Consciences of
Men_, is apparent, [Sidenote: _Conscience the Throne of God._] because
_the Conscience of Man is the Seat and Throne of God in him_, of which
God is the alone _proper_ and _infallible Judge_, who by his Power and
Spirit can alone rectify the Mistakes of _Conscience_, and therefore
hath reserved to himself the Power of punishing the Errors thereof as
he seeth meet. Now for the _Magistrate_ to assume this, is to take upon
him to meddle with Things not within the Compass of his Jurisdiction;
for if this were within the Compass of his Jurisdiction, he should be
the proper Judge in these Things; and also it were needful to him, as
an essential Qualification of his being a _Magistrate_, to be capable
to judge in them. But that the _Magistrate_, as a _Magistrate_, is
neither proper Judge in these Cases, nor yet that the Capacity so to
be is requisite in him as a _Magistrate_, our Adversaries cannot deny;
or else they must say, That all the _Heathen Magistrates_ were either
no _lawful Magistrates_, as wanting something essential to Magistracy,
and this were contrary to the express Doctrine of the Apostle, _Rom._
xiii. or else (which is more absurd) that those _Heathen Magistrates_
were proper Judges in Matters of _Conscience_ among Christians. As for
that Evasion that the _Magistrate_ ought to punish according to the
Church Censure and Determination, which is indeed no less than to make
the _Magistrate_ the _Church’s Hangman_, we shall have Occasion to
speak of it hereafter. But if the chief Members of the _Church_, though
ordained to inform, instruct, and reprove, are not to have Dominion
over the _Faith_ nor _Consciences_ of the Faithful, as the Apostle
expresly affirms, 2 _Cor._ i. 24. then far less ought they to usurp
this Dominion, or stir up the Magistrate to persecute and murder those
who cannot yield to them therein.
_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?