Fathers, Masters, Magistrates, to punish evill doers, that is, such
of whose actions Fathers, Masters, Magistrates are to judge, and accor∣dingly
to punish such sinners as transgresse against the good and peace
of their Civill state, Families, Townes, Cities, Kingdomes: their States,
Governments, Governours, Lawes, Punishments and Weapons being all of
a Civill nature: and therefore neither disobedience to parents or magi∣strates,
nor murther nor quarrelling, uncleannesse nor lasciviousnesse, stea∣ling
nor extortion, neither ought of that kinde ought to be let alone, ei∣ther
in lesser or greater families, townes, cities, kingdomes, Rom. 13. but
seasonably to be supprest, as may best conduce to the publike
safetie.
Againe secondly, in the Kingdome of Christ Iesus, whose kingdoms,
officers, lawes, punishments, weapons, are spirituall and of a Soule-nature,
he will not have Antichristian idolaters, extortioners, covetous, &c. to be
let alone, but the uncleane and lepers to be thrust forth, the old leaven
purged out, the obstinate in sinne spiritually stoned to death, and put away
from Israel; and this by many degrees of gentle admonition in private
and publique, as the case requires.
Therefore if neither offenders against the civill Lawes, State and peace
ought to be let alone; nor the Spirituall estate, the Church of Iesus Christ
ought to beare with them that are evill, Revel. 2. I conclude, that these
are sinners of another nature, Idolaters, False-worshippers, Antichristians,
who without discouragement to true Christians must be let alone and
permitted in the world to grow and fill up the measure of their sinnes,
after the image of him that hath sowen them, untill the great Harvest
shall make the difference.