The blovdy tenent, of persecution, for cause of conscience, discussed, in a conference betweene trvth and peace vvho, in all tender affection, present to the high court of Parliament, as the result of their discourse, these, amongst other passages, of highest consideration.

CHAP. XLII.

Peace.

BVt for the clearer opening of this mystery, I pray expli∣cate that Scripture where the Spirit of God is pleased to use this similitude of Wolves, Acts 20. 29. out of which (keeping to the Allegory) I shall propose these Quaeries.

First, what Wolves were these Paul warnes of?

Truth.

Answ. Wolves literally he will not say: Nor secondly, persecutors of the Flock, such as the Romane Emperours were, Magi∣strates under him.

Therefore (thirdly) such as brought other Religions and Worships, as the Spirit of God opens it, vers. 30. Such as amongst themselves should speake perverse things, as many Antichrists did, and especial∣ly The Antichrist. And I aske whether or no such as may hold forth other Worships or Religions, (Iewes, Turkes, or Antichristians) may not be peaceable and quiet Subjects, loving and helpfull neighbours, faire and just dealers, true and loyall to the civill government? It is cleare they may from all Reason and Experience in many flourishing Cities and Kingdomes of the World, and so offend not against the civill State and Peace; nor incurre the punishment of the civill sword, notwithstanding that in spirituall and mysticall account they are rave∣nous and greedy Wolves.

Peace.

2. I quaere to whom Paul gave this charge to watch a∣gainst them, vers. 31.

Truth.

They were not the Magistrates of the City of Ephesus, but the Elders or Ministers of the Church of Christ (his mysticall flock of sheepe) at Ephesus: Vnto them was this charge of watching given, and so consequently of driving away these Wolves.

And however that many of these charges and exhortations given by that One Shepherd Christ Iesus to the Shepherds or Ministers of Churches, be commonly attributed and directed (by the Answerer in this discourse) to the civill Magistrate; yet I desire in the feare and holy presence of God it may bee inquired into, whether in all the Will or Testament of Christ there bee any such word of Christ by way of command, promise, or example, countenancing the Governors of the civill State to meddle with these Wolves, if in civill things peaceable and obedient.

Peace.

Truly if this charge were given to the Magistrates at E∣phesus, or any Magistrate in the World, doubtlesse they must bee able to discerne and determine (out of their owne officiall abilities in these spirituall Law questions) who are spirituall Sheep, what is their food, what their poison, what their properties, who their Keepers, &c. So on the contrary who are Wolves, what their properties, their haunts, their assaults, the manner of taking, &c. spiritually: (and this beside the care and study of the Civill Lawes, and the discern∣ing of his owne proper Civill Sheep, obedient Sheepe, &c. as also wolvish oppressors, &c. whom he is bound to punish and suppresse)

Truth.

I know that Civill Magistrates (in some places) have de∣clined the name of Head of the Church, and Ecclesiasticall Judge, yet can they not with good conscience decline the name, if they doe the worke, and performe the office of determining and punishing a meerly spirituall Wolfe.

They must be sufficiently also able to judge in all spirituall causes, and that with their owne, and not with other mens eyes, (no more then they doe in civill causes) contrary to the common practice of the Governours and Rulers of Civill States, who often set up that for a Religion or Worship to God, which the Clergie or Churchmen (as men speake) shall in their Consciences agree upon.

And if this be not so, to wit, that Magistrates must not be Spiri∣tuall Iudges (as some decline it in the title, Supreme Head and Go∣vernour) why is Gallio wont to be exclaimed against for refusing to be a Iudge in such matters as concerned the Iewish Worship and Reli∣gion? How is he censured for a Prophane person, without conscience,

&c. in that he would bee no Iudge or Head? (for that is all one in point of Government.)

Peace.

In the third place I quaerie whether the Father who gave, and the Sonne who keepes the Sheepe, bee not greater then all? Who can pluck these Sheepe the Elect out of his hand, which an∣swers that common objection of that danger of devouring, al∣though there were no other weapons in the world appointed by the Lord Jesus. But

Notes

• Act. 20. 29. opened.
• What those Wolves were Act. 20. 29.
• Charges dire∣cted to Mini∣sters of the spiritual king∣dome, fasly applyed to the Magistrates of the civill.
• No word of Christ to the civill Magi∣strate to feed his flock, but to his Mini∣sters, who (if true) have spi∣rituall power sufficient a∣gainst spiritu∣all Wolves.
• Magistrates decline the name of Head of the Church, and yet pra∣ctise the head∣ship or go∣vernment.
• The Elect shall not be devou∣red.