they need no Illustration to explain their Sense: For it is as easy
to reconcile the greatest Contradictions, as these Laws of our Lord
Jesus Christ with the wicked Practices of _Wars_; for they are plainly
inconsistent. Whoever can reconcile this, _Resist not Evil_, with
_resist Violence by Force_: again, _Give also thy other Cheek_, with
_strike again_; also _Love thine Enemies_, with _spoil them, make a
Prey of them, pursue them with Fire and Sword_; or, _Pray for those
that persecute you, and those that calumniate you_, with _persecute
them by Fines, Imprisonments, and Death itself_; and not only such
as do not _persecute you_, but _who heartily seek and desire your
eternal and temporal Welfare_: Whoever, I say, can find a Means to
reconcile these Things, may be supposed also to have found a Way to
reconcile _God_ with the _Devil_, _Christ_ with _Antichrist_, _Light_
with _Darkness_, and _Good_ with _Evil_. But if this be impossible,
as indeed it is, so will also the other be impossible; and Men do but
deceive themselves and others, while they boldly adventure to establish
such absurd and impossible Things.
§. XIV. Nevertheless because some, perhaps through _Inadvertency_, and
by the Force of _Custom_ and _Tradition_, do transgress this _Command
of Christ_, I shall briefly shew how much _War_ doth contradict this
Precept, and how much they are inconsistent with one another; and
consequently, that _War is no Ways lawful to such as will be the
Disciples of Christ_. For,
_First_, Christ commands, That [159]_we should love our Enemies_; but
War, on the contrary, teacheth us to hate and destroy them.
[159] Matt. 5. 43.
_Secondly_, The Apostle saith, That [160]_we war not after the Flesh_,
and that _we fight not with Flesh and Blood_; but outward War is
according to the Flesh, and against Flesh and Blood; for the shedding
of the one, and destroying of the other.
[160] Eph. 6. 12.
_Thirdly_, The Apostle saith, That [161]_the Weapons of our Warfare
are not carnal, but spiritual_; but the Weapons of outward Warfare are
carnal, such as Cannon, Muskets, Spears, Swords, _&c._ of which there
is no Mention in the Armour described by _Paul_.
[161] 2 Cor. 10. 4.
_Fourthly_, Because _James_ testifies, That [162]_Wars and Strifes
come from the Lusts, which war in the Members of carnal Men_; but
Christians, that is, those that are truly Saints, _have crucified the
Flesh, with its Affections and Lusts_; therefore they cannot indulge
them by waging War.
[162] Jam. 4. 1. Gal. 5. 24.
_Fifthly_, Because the Prophets _Isaiah_ and _Micah_ have expresly
prophesied, That [163]_in the Mountain of the House of the Lord, Christ
shall judge the Nations, _and then_ they shall beat their Swords into
Plowshares_, &c. [Sidenote: _Primitive Christians most averse from
War._] And the _ancient Fathers_ of the first three hundred Years after
Christ did affirm these Prophecies to be fulfilled in the Christians
of their Times, who were most averse from _War_; concerning which
_Justin Martyr_, _Tertullian_, and others may be seen: Which need not
seem strange to any, since _Philo Judæus_ abundantly testifies of
the _Essenes_, That _there was none found among them that would make
Instruments of War_. But how much more did Jesus come, _that he might
keep his Followers from fighting, and might bring them to Patience and
Charity_?
[163] Isa. 2. 4. Mic. 4. 3.
_Sixthly_, Because the Prophet foretold, That [164]_there should none
hurt nor kill in all the Holy Mountain of the Lord_; but outward War is
appointed for killing and destroying.
[164] Isa. 11. 9.
_Seventhly_, Because Christ said, That [165]_his Kingdom is not of this
World_, and therefore that _his Servants shall not fight_; therefore
those that fight _are not his Disciples nor Servants_.
[165] John 18. 36.
_Eighthly_, Because he reproved _Peter_ for the Use of the Sword,
saying, [166]_Put up again thy Sword into his Place: For all they
that take the Sword, shall perish with the Sword_. Concerning which
_Tertullian_ speaks well, Lib. de Idol. “How shall he fight in Peace
without a Sword, which the Lord did take away? For although Soldiers
came to _John_, and received a Form of Observation; if also the
Centurion believed afterwards, he disarmed every Soldier in disarming
of _Peter_.” Idem. de _Coron. Mil._ asketh, “Shall it be lawful to use
the Sword, the Lord saying, That he that useth the Sword, shall perish
by the Sword?”
[166] Mat. 26. 52.
_Ninthly_, Because the Apostle admonisheth Christians, [167]_That they
defend not themselves, neither revenge by rendering Evil for Evil; but
give Place unto Wrath, because Vengeance is the Lord’s. Be not overcome
of Evil, but overcome Evil with Good. If thine Enemy hunger, feed
him; If he thirst, give him Drink._ But War throughout teacheth and
enjoineth the quite contrary.
[167] Rom. 12. 19.
_Tenthly_, Because [168]_Christ calls his Children to bear his Cross,
not to crucify or kill others_; to _Patience_, not to _Revenge_; to
_Truth and Simplicity_, not to _fraudulent Stratagems of War_, or to
_play the Sycophant_, which _John_ himself forbids; to _flee the Glory
of this World_, not _to acquire it by warlike Endeavours_; therefore
War is altogether contrary unto the Law and Spirit of Christ.
[168] Mark 8. 54.
§. XV. [Sidenote: Obj. 4.] But they object, _That it is lawful to
War, because _Abraham_ did war before the giving of the Law, and the
_Israelites_ after the giving of the Law_.
[Sidenote: _Answ._] I _answer_ as before, 1. That _Abraham_ offered
Sacrifices at that Time, and circumcised the Males; which nevertheless
are not lawful for us under the Gospel.
[Sidenote: _Israelites going to War enquired of the Oracle of God._] 2.
That neither defensive nor offensive War was lawful to the _Israelites_
of their own Will, or by their own Counsel or Conduct; but they were
obliged at all Times, if they would be successful, first to enquire of
the _Oracle of God_.
3. That their Wars against the wicked Nations were a Figure of the
Inward War of the true Christians against their Spiritual Enemies, in
which we overcome the Devil, the World, and the Flesh.
4. Something is expresly forbidden by Christ, _Mat._ v. 38, _&c._ which
was granted to the _Jews_ in their Time, because of their Hardness;
[Sidenote: _Some Things permitted in the Old Testament, because of
Hardness of Heart._] and on the Contrary, we are commanded that
singular Patience and Exercise of Love, which _Moses_ commanded not
to his Disciples. From whence _Tertullian_ saith well against _Marc._
“Christ truly teacheth a new Patience, even forbidding the Revenge of
an Injury, which was permitted by the Creator.” And _Lib. de Patien._
“The Law finds more than it lost, by Christ saying,” _Love your
Enemies_. And in the Time of _Clem. Alex._ Christians were so far from
Wars, that he testified that they had no Marks or Signs of Violence
among them, saying, “Neither are the Faces of Idols to be painted, to
which so much as to regard is forbidden: Neither Sword nor Bow to them
that follow Peace; nor Cups to them who are moderate and temperate,” as
_Sylvius Disc. de Rev. Belg._
[Sidenote: Object.] _Secondly_, They object, _That Defence is of
natural Right, and that Religion destroys not Nature_.
[Sidenote: _Answ._] I _answer_, Be it so; but to obey God, and commend
ourselves to him in Faith and Patience, is not to destroy Nature, but
to exalt and perfect it; to wit, to elevate it from the natural to the
supernatural Life, by Christ living therein, and comforting it, that it
may do all Things, and be rendered more than Conqueror.
[Sidenote: Object.] _Thirdly_, They object, _That _John_ did not
abrogate or condemn _War_, when the Soldiers came unto him_.
[Sidenote: _Answ._] I _answer_, What then? The Question is not
concerning _John_’s Doctrine, but _Christ_’s, whose Disciples we are,
not _John_’s: For _Christ_, and not _John_, is that Prophet, whom we
ought all to hear. And although Christ said, [169]_That a greater than
_John_ the Baptist was not among Men born of Women_; yet he adds, _That
the least in the Kingdom of God is greater than he_. But what was
_John_’s Answer, that we may see if it can justify the Soldiers of
this Time? For if it be narrowly observed, it will appear, that what he
proposeth to Soldiers doth manifestly forbid them that Employment; for
he commands them [170]_not to do Violence to any Man, nor to defraud
any Man_; but that they _be content with their Wages_. Consider then
what he dischargeth to Soldiers, _viz._ Not to use Violence or Deceit
against any; which being removed, let any tell how Soldiers can war?
For is not _Craft_, _Violence_, and _Injustice_, three Properties of
_War_, and the natural Consequences of _Battles_?
[169] Luke 7. 23.
[170] Luke 3. 14.
[Sidenote: Object.] _Fourthly_, They object, _That _Cornelius_, and
that Centurion, of whom there is Mention made, _Mat. viii. 5._ were
Soldiers; and there is no Mention that they laid down their military
Employments_.
[Sidenote: _Answ._] I _answer_; Neither read we that they continued in
them. But it is most probable that if they continued in the Doctrine of
Christ (and we read not any where of their Falling from the Faith) that
they did not continue in them; especially if we consider, that two or
three Ages afterwards _Christians_ altogether rejected War, or at least
a long While after that Time, if the Emperor _Marc. Aurel. Anton._ be
to be credited, who writes thus:----“I prayed to my Country Gods; but
when I was neglected by them, and observed myself pressed by the Enemy;
considering the Fewness of my Forces, I called to one, and intreated
those, who with us are called _Christians_, and I found a great Number
of them: [Sidenote: _Christians instanced, that did not War_.] And
I forced them with Threats, which ought not to have been, because
afterwards I knew their Strength and Force:” Therefore they betook
themselves neither to the Use of Darts nor Trumpets, “for they use
not so to do, for the Cause and Name of their God, which they bear in
their Consciences:” And this was done about an hundred and sixty Years
after Christ. To this add those Words, which in _Justin Martyr_ the
Christians answer, [Greek: ou polemoumen tois echthrois: ου πολεμουμεν
τοις εχθροις], that is, _We fight not with our Enemies_. And moreover
the Answer of _Martin_ to _Julian_ the Apostate, related by _Sulpitius
Severus_: “I am a Soldier of Christ, therefore I cannot fight;” which
was three hundred Years after _Christ_. It is not therefore probable
that they continued in warlike Employments. How then are _Vincentius
Lyrinensis_ and the _Papists_ consistent with their Maxim, “That which
always, every where, and by all was received,” _&c._ And what becomes
of the _Priests_, with their Oath, “That they neither ought nor will
interpret the Scripture, but according to the universal Consent of the
Fathers,” so called? “For it is as easy to obscure the Sun at Mid-day,
as to deny that the _Primitive Christians_ renounced all Revenge and
War.”
And although this Thing be so much known; yet it is as well known that
almost all the modern Sects live in the Neglect and Contempt of this
Law of Christ, and likewise oppress others, who in this agree not with
them for Conscience Sake towards God: [Sidenote: _Persecution for not
bearing Arms, and not Fasting and Praying for Victory._] Even as we
have suffered much in our Country, because _we neither could ourselves
bear Arms, nor send others in our Place, nor give our Money for the
buying of Drums, Standards, and other Military Attire_. And lastly,
_Because we could not hold our Doors, Windows, and Shops close, for
Conscience Sake, upon such Days as Fasts and Prayers were appointed,
to desire a Blessing upon, and Success for the Arms of the Kingdom
or Commonwealth under which we live; neither give Thanks for the
Victories acquired by the Effusion of much Blood_. By which forcing
of the Conscience, they would have constrained our Brethren, living
in divers Kingdoms, at War together, to have implored our God for
contrary and contradictory Things, and consequently impossible; for it
is impossible, that two Parties fighting together, should both obtain
the Victory. And because we cannot concur with them in this Confusion,
therefore we are subject to _Persecution_. Yea, and others, who with
us do witness that the Use of Arms is unlawful to _Christians_, do
look asquint upon us: But which of us two do most faithfully observe
this Testimony against Arms? Either they, who at certain Times, at the
Magistrate’s Order, do close up their Shops and Houses, and meet in
their Assembly, praying for the Prosperity of their Arms, or giving
Thanks for some Victory or other, whereby they make themselves like
to those that approve Wars and Fighting; or we, who cannot do these
Things for the same Cause of Conscience, lest we should destroy, by our
Works, what we establish in Words; we shall leave to the Judgment of
all prudent Men.
[Sidenote: Object.] _Fifthly_, They object, _That Christ, _Luke xxii.
36._ speaking to his Disciples, commands them, That he that then had
not a Sword, should sell his Coat, and by a Sword: Therefore, _say
they_, Arms are lawful_.
[Sidenote: _Answ._] I _answer_; Some indeed understand this of the
_outward Sword_, nevertheless regarding only that Occasion; otherwise
judging, that Christians are prohibited Wars under the Gospel. Among
which is _Ambrose_, who upon this Place speaks thus: “O Lord! Why
commandest thou me to buy a Sword, who forbiddest me to smite with it?
Why commandest thou me to have it, whom thou prohibitest to draw it?
Unless perhaps a Defence be prepared, not a necessary Revenge; and that
I may seem to have been able to revenge, but that I would not. For
the Law forbids me to smite again; and therefore perhaps he said to
_Peter_, offering two Swords, [It is enough] as if it had been lawful,
until the Gospel-times, that in the Law there might be a Learning
of Equity, but in the Gospel a Perfection of Goodness.” [Sidenote:
Peter _offered two Swords._] Others judge Christ to have spoken here
mystically, and not according to the Letter; as _Origen_ upon _Mat._
xix. saying, _If any looking to the Letter, and not understanding the
Will of the Words, shall sell his bodily Garment, and buy a Sword,
taking the Words of Christ contrary to his Will, he shall perish; but
concerning which Sword he speaks, is not proper here to mention_. And
truly when we consider the Answer of the Disciples, _Master, behold,
here are two Swords_; understanding it of outward Swords; and again
Christ’s Answer, _It is enough_; it seems that Christ would not that
the Rest, who had not Swords (for they had only two Swords) should sell
their Coats, and buy an outward Sword. Who can think that, Matters
standing thus, he should have said, _Two was enough_? But however it is
sufficient that the Use of Arms is unlawful under the Gospel.
[Sidenote: Object.] _Sixthly_, They object, _That the Scriptures and
old Fathers_, so called, _did only prohibit private Revenge, not the
Use of Arms for the Defence of our Country, Body, Wives, Children and
Goods, when the Magistrate commands it, seeing the Magistrate ought to
be obeyed; therefore although it be not lawful for private Men to do it
of themselves, nevertheless they are bound to do it by the Command of
the Magistrate_.
[Sidenote: _Answ._] [Sidenote: _Christian Magistrates ought to obey
the Command of their Master _Christ.] I _Answer_; If the Magistrate
be truly a Christian, or desires to be so, he ought himself, in the
first Place, to obey the Command of his Master, saying, _Love your
Enemies_, &c. and then he could not command us to kill them; but if he
be not a true Christian, then ought we to obey our _Lord_ and _King_,
_Jesus Christ_, whom he ought also to obey: For in the Kingdom of
Christ all ought to submit to his Laws, from the highest to the lowest,
that is, from the _King_ to the _Beggar_, and from _Cæsar_ to the
_Clown_. But alas! Where shall we find such an Obedience? [Sidenote:
Lud. Vives _against Arms_.] O desperate Fall! Concerning which _Ludov.
Viv._ writes well, _Lib. de Con. Vit. Christ. sub Turc._ by Relation
of _Fredericus Sylvius_, Disc. de Revol. _Belg._ P. 85. “The Prince
entered into the Church, not as a true and plain Christian, which
had indeed been most happy and desirable; but he brought in with him
his Nobility, his Honours, his ARMS, his Ensigns, his Triumphs, his
Haughtiness, his Pride, his Superciliousness; _that is_, He came into
the House of Christ, accompanied with the Devil; and which could no
ways be done, he would have joined two Houses and two Cities together,
God’s and the Devil’s, which could not more be done, than _Rome_ and
_Constantinople_, which are distant by so long a Tract both of Sea
and Land. (What Communion, saith _Paul_, is there betwixt Christ and
_Belial_?) Their Zeal cooled by degrees, their Faith decreased, their
whole Piety degenerated; instead _whereof_ we make now use of Shadows
and Images, and (as he saith) I would we could but retain these.” Thus
far _Vives_. But _Lastly_, as to what relates to this Thing, since
nothing seems more contrary to Man’s Nature, and seeing of all Things
the Defence of one’s self seems most tolerable, as it is most hard to
Men, so it is the most perfect Part of the Christian Religion, as that
wherein the _denial of Self_ and _entire Confidence in God_ doth most
appear; and therefore Christ and his Apostles left us hereof a most
perfect Example. [Sidenote: _Concerning the present Magistrates of the
Christian World._] As to what relates to the present Magistrates of
the _Christian World_, albeit we deny them not altogether the Name of
_Christians_, because of the publick Profession they make of _Christ’s
Name_, yet we may boldly affirm, that they are far from the Perfection
of the _Christian Religion_; because in the State in which they are (as
in many Places before I have largely observed) they have not come to
the pure Dispensation of the Gospel. And therefore, while they are in
that Condition, we shall not say, That _War_, undertaken upon a just
Occasion, is altogether unlawful to them. For even as Circumcision
and the other Ceremonies were for a Season permitted to the _Jews_,
not because they were either necessary of themselves, or lawful at
that Time, after the Resurrection of Christ, but because that Spirit
was not yet raised up in them, whereby they could be delivered from
such Rudiments; so the present Confessors of the _Christian Name_, who
are yet in the Mixture, and not in the patient suffering Spirit, are
not yet fitted for this Form of Christianity, and therefore cannot be
undefending themselves, until they attain that Perfection. But for such
whom Christ has brought hither, it is not lawful to defend themselves
by _Arms_, but they ought overall to trust to the Lord.
§. XVI. [Sidenote: _The Conclusion._] But _Lastly_, to conclude, If to
give and receive flattering Titles, which are not used because of the
Virtues inherent in the Persons, but are for the most Part bestowed
by wicked Men upon such as themselves; if to bow, scrape, and cringe
to one another; if at every Time to call themselves other’s _Humble
Servants_, and that most frequently without any design of real Service;
if this be the Honour that comes from God, and not the Honour that is
from below, then indeed our Adversaries may be said to be Believers,
and we condemned as proud and stubborn, in denying all these Things.
[171]But if with _Mordecai_, to refuse to bow to proud _Haman_, and
with _Elihu_ not to give _flattering Titles to Men, lest we should be
reproved of our Maker_; and if, according to _Peter_’s Example and the
Angel’s Advice, to bow only to God, and not to our Fellow-servants;
and if to call no Man _Lord_ nor _Master_, except under particular
Relations, according to Christ’s Command; I say, if these Things are
not to be reproved, then are we not blameworthy in so doing.
[171] Esther 3. 5. Job 32. 21, 22.
If to be vain and gaudy in Apparel; if to paint the Face and plait
the Hair; if to be clothed with Gold and Silver, and precious Stones;
and if to be filled with Ribbands and Lace be to be clothed in modest
Apparel; and if these be the Ornaments of Christians; and if that
be to be humble, meek, and mortified, then are our Adversaries good
Christians indeed, and we proud, singular, and conceited, in contenting
ourselves with what Need and Conveniency calls for, and condemning what
is more as superfluous; but not otherwise.
If to use Games, Sports, Plays; if to card, dice, and dance; if to
sing, fiddle, and pipe; if to use Stage-plays and Comedies, and to lye,
counterfeit, and dissemble, be to fear always; and if that be to do
all Things to the Glory of God; and if that be to pass our Sojourning
here in fear; and if that be to use this World as if we did not use it;
and if that be not to fashion ourselves according to our former Lusts;
to be not conformable to the Spirit and vain Conversation of this
World; then are our Adversaries, notwithstanding they use these Things,
and plead for them, very good, sober, mortified, and self-denying
Christians, and we justly to be blamed for judging them; but not
otherwise.
If the Profanation of the holy Name of God; if to exact Oaths one from
another upon every light Occasion; if to call God to witness in Things
of such a Nature, in which no earthly King would think himself lawfully
and honourably to be a Witness, be the Duties of a Christian Man, I
shall confess that our Adversaries are excellent good Christians, and
we wanting in our Duty: But if the contrary be true, of Necessity our
Obedience to God in this Thing must be acceptable.
If to revenge ourselves, or to render Injury, Evil for Evil, Wound
for Wound, to take Eye for Eye, Tooth for Tooth; if to fight for
outward and perishing Things, to go a Warring one against another,
whom we never saw, nor with whom we never had any Contest, nor any
Thing to do; being moreover altogether ignorant of the Cause of the
War, but only that the Magistrates of the Nations foment Quarrels one
against another, the Causes whereof are for the most Part unknown
to the Soldiers that fight, as well as upon whose Side the right or
wrong is; and yet to be so furious, and rage one against another, to
destroy and spoil all, that this or the other Worship may be received
or abolished; if to do this, and much more of this Kind, be to fulfil
the Law of Christ, then are our Adversaries indeed true _Christians_,
and we miserable _Hereticks_, that suffer ourselves to be spoiled,
taken, imprisoned, banished, beaten, and evilly entreated, without any
Resistance, _placing our Trust only in GOD_, that he may defend us,
and lead us by the Way of the _Cross_ unto his _Kingdom_. But if it be
otherways, we shall certainly receive the _Reward_ which the Lord hath
promised to those that _cleave to him_, and, in denying themselves,
_confide in him_.
And to sum up all, if to use all these Things, and many more that might
be instanced; be to _walk in the strait Way that leads to Life_, be to
_take up the Cross of Christ_, be to _die with him to the Lusts and
perishing Vanities of this World_, and to _arise with him in Newness
of Life_, and _sit down with him in the heavenly Places_, then our
Adversaries may be accounted such, and they need not fear they are in
the _broad Way that leads to Destruction_, and we are greatly mistaken,
that have laid aside all these Things, for Christ’s Sake, to the
crucifying of our own Lusts, and to the procuring to ourselves Shame,
Reproach, Hatred, and Ill-will from the Men of this World: Not as if by
so doing we judged to merit Heaven, but as knowing they are contrary to
the Will of Him who redeems his Children from the Love of this World,
and its Lusts, and leads them in the Ways of _Truth_ and _Holiness_, in
which they take delight to walk.
THE CONCLUSION.