6. Observ. Contrary religions not to be suffered in one Kingdome.
Vers. 12. HE that is borne in thy house, and bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised. Mercerus well collecteth hereupon, that neither Kings in their kingdomes, nor fathers in their fami∣lies, should tollerate any contrary religion, but bring all (under their charge) to the obedience of faith: first, this is agreeable to the precept and commandement of God in Scripture. 1. For the charge of kee∣ping holy the Lords day, is laid upon the father of the house, both for himselfe and all that are within his gate, Exod. 20.10. but Idolaters and superstitious persons, cannot sanctifie or keepe holy the Sabbath to the Lord. 2. The Lord commandeth, that if any person shall entice to Idolatry, or any City shall set up a new worship, the one should be killed, the other destroyed, Deut. 13.9.13. 3. To this belongeth that pre∣cept of the Lord: To seperate the precious from the vile, Ier. 15.19. true worshippers must be severed & discer∣ned from false. 4. This is the meaning of the Law, Levit. 19 19. Not to sow the field with divers seeds, nor to weare a garment of divers things: so divers religions and professions in one Kingdome are not to be admitted or suffered: likewise Moses saith, Deut. 12.10. Thou shalt not plow with an Oxe and an Asse together: which Saint Paul thus expoundeth, 2 Cor. 6.14. Be not unequally yoaked with Infidels, &c. what communion be∣tweene light and darknesse, &c.
Secondly, this hath beene the practice of the Church in all ages, to cast out the leaven of contrary doctrine and profession: In the time of Enos before the floud, the servants of God and true worshippers, beganne to call upon the name of God, that is to serve the Lord apart in their holy assemblies, and to se∣parate and divide themselves from the prophane generations of Cain: Ismael is cast out of Abrahams house, because he was a scorner of Isaack, as all Idolaters are of true worshippers: Iacob reformeth his house, and putteth away the strange gods, Gen. 35.2. Iosua maketh the Gibeonites hewers of wood, and drawers of waters for the house of God, Iosua 9.13. David expelleth the Idolatrous Jebusites out of Je∣rusalem, 2 Sam. 5.8. Asa put Maacah his mother from her regiment, because she was an Idolatresse, and brake downe her Idoll, 2 Chron. 15.16. Iosias put downe the Chemarims, a sect of Idolatrous Priests, 2 King. 23.5. Zerubbabel would not suffer the adversaries of Iudah to build the Temple with them, but refused their service which they offered, Ezra. 4.3.
According to the patterne of these worthy examples, we doubt not, but that our Christian Soveraigne is resolved to take away all mixture of religion: not to admit any toleration of contrary worship, but with Iosias to expell all Idolatrous Chemarims, and Masse-Priests, with Asa to put all such from places of government, and with Zerubbabel, to reject their service and imployment, either in Church or common wealth: And we assuredly trust, that the presence of Gods Arke among us, shall cause that Dagon of Rome to lose both his hands and head for ever in this our famous and thrice renowned Countrey of Britaine.
