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YEa but he produceth Scriptures against such toleration, and for persecuting men for the cause of conscience:
Christ (saith he) had something against the Angel of the Church of Pergamus for tolerating them that held the doctrine of Balaam,
and against the Church of Thiatira for tolerating Iesabel to teach and seduce, Rev. 2. 14. 20.
I may answer with some admiration and astonishment how it pleased the Father of lights, and most jealous God to darken and vaile the eye of so pretious a man, as not to seek out and pro∣pose some Scriptures (in the proofe of so weighty an assertion) as at least might have some colour for an influence of the Civill Ma∣gistrate in such cases: for
First, he saith not that Christ had ought against the City Per∣gamus, (where Sathan had his throne Rev. 2.) but against the Church at Pergamus, in which was set up the Throne of Christ.
Secondly, Christs Charge is not against the Civill Magistrate of Pergamus, but the Messenger or Ministry of the Church in Per∣gamus.
Thirdly, I confesse so far as Balaams or Iesabels doctrine main∣tained a liberty of corporall fornication, it concerned the City of Pergamus and Thiatira, and the Angel or Officers of those Cities to suppresse not only such practices, but such Doctrines also, as the Ro∣man Emperour justly punished Ovid the Poet, for teaching the wan∣ton Art of Love, leading to and ushering on laciviousnesse and un∣cleannesse.
4. Yet so far as Balaams teachers or Iesabel did seduce the mem∣bers of the Church in Pergamus or Thiatira, to the worship of the Idolaters in Pergamus or Thiatira (which will appeare to be the case) I say so far I may well and properly answer, as himselfe an∣swered before those Scriptures, brought from Luc. 9. & 2 Tim. 2. to prove patience and permission to men opposite, viz.
These Scriptures (saith he) are directions to Ministers of the Gospel, and in the end of that passage he addes, Much lesse doe they speake at all to Civill Magistrates.
Fifthly, Either these Churches and the Angels thereof had power to suppresse these doctrines of Balaam, and to suppresse Iesabel from teaching, or they had not:
That they had not cannot be affirmed, for Christs Authority is in the hands of his Ministers and Churches, Matth. 16. & 18. & 1 Cor. 5.
If they had power, as must be granted, then I conclude sufficient power to suppresse such persons, who ever they were that maintai∣ned Balaams doctrine in the Church at Pergamus, although the ve∣ry
Magistrates themselves of the City of Pergamus, (if Christians) and to have suppressed Iesabel from teaching and seducing in the Church had she been Lady, Queen, or Empresse, if there were no more but teaching without hostility: And if so, all power and autho∣rity of Magistrates and Governours of Pergamus and Thiatira, and all submitting or appealing to them, in such cases, must needs fall as none of Christs appointment.
Lastly, From this perverse wresting of what is writ to the Church and the Officers thereof, as if it were written to the Civill State and Officers thereof; all may see how since the Apostacie of Antichrist, the Christian World (so called) hath swallowed up Christianity, how the Church and civill State, that is the Church and the World are now become one flocke of Iesus Christ; Christs sheepe, and the Pastors or Shepherds of them, all one with the severall un∣converted, wilde or tame Beasts and Cattell of the World and the civill and earthly governours of them: The Christian Church or Kingdome of the Saints, that stone cut out of the mountaine without hands, Daniel 2. now made all one with the mountaine or Civill State, the Roman Empire, from whence it is cut or taken: Christs lilies, garden and love, all one with the thornes, the daughers and wildernesse of the World, out of which the Spouse or Church of Christ is called, and amongst whom in civill things for a while here below, she must necessarily be mingled and have converse, unlesse she will goe out of the World (before Christ Iesus her Lord and Husband send for her home into the Heavens, 1 Cor. 5. 10.)
Toleration. Rev. 2. 14. 20. examined.
Christ Mini∣sters & Chur∣ches have po∣wer sufficient from Christ to suppresse Bala∣am and Iesabel seducing to false worship.
The Christian world hath swallowed up Christianity.