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. XCIII.

Truth.

AGaine, whereas they say that outward Civill peace cannot stand where Religion is corrupted; and quote for it, 2 Chron. 15. 3. 5. 6 & Iudges 8.

I answer with aam••ration how such excellent spirits (as these Authors are furnished with, not only in heavenly but earthly affaires) should so forget, and be so fast asleep in things so palpably evident, as to say that outward civill peace cannot stand, where Religion is corrupt. When so many stately Kingdomes and Govern∣ments in the world have long and long enjoyed civill peace and quiet,* 1.1 notwithstanding their Religion is so corrupt, as that there is not the very Name of Iesus Christ amongst them: And this every Historian, Merchant, Traveller, in Europe•• Asia, Africa, America, can testifie: for so spake the Lord Iesus himselfe, Ioh. 16. The world shall sing and rejoyce.

Secondly, for that Scripture 2 Chron. 15. 3 &c relating the mise∣ries of Israel and Iudah, and Gods pla••es upon the people for corruption of their Religion, it must still have refere••ce 〈◊〉〈◊〉 pe∣culiar state unto which God called the seed of one man, Abraham, in a figure, dealing so with them as he dealt not with any Nation in the World, Psal. 1. ••6 Rom. 9.

The Antitype to this State I have proved to be the Christian Church, which consequently hath been and is ••fflict••d 〈◊〉〈◊〉 spiri∣tuall plagues, desolations and captiviti••s, for cor••upting of that Reli∣gion which hath been revealed unto them. This appeares by the 7 Churches, and the people of God, now so many ••u••dre•• yeares in wofull bondage and slaverte to the mysticall Babel, untill the time of their joyfull deliverance.

Peace.

Yea but they say that such Lawes as are conversant about Religion, may still be account••d Civill Lawes, as on the contrary an Oath doth still remaine Religious, though conversant about Ci∣vill matters.

Truth.

Lawes respecting Religion are two-fold:* 1.2

First, such as concerne the acts of Worship and the Worship it self, the Ministers of it, their fitnes or unfitnes, to be suppressed or esta∣blished:

and for such Lawes we find no footing in the New Te∣stament of Jesus Christ.

Secondly, Lawes respecting Religion may be such as meerly con∣cerne the Civill State,* 1.3 Bodies and Goods of such and such persons, professing these and these Religions, viz•• that such and such per∣sons, notorious for Mutinies, Treasons•• Rebellions, Massacres, be dis∣armed:* 1.4 Againe, that no persons Papists, Iewes, Turkes, or Indians be disturbed at their worship, (a thing which the very Indians abhor to practice toward any.) Also that imanitie and freedome from Tax and Toll may be granted unto the people of such or such a Religion, as the Magistrate pleaseth, Ezra 7.

These and such as are of this nature, concerning only the bodies and goods of such and such Religious persons, I confesse are meerely Ci••ill.

But now on the other hand, that Lawes restraining persons from such and such a Worship, because the Civill state judgeth it to be false:

That Laws constraining to such & such a worship, because the Ci∣vill State judgeth this to be the only ••rue way of worshipping God:

That such and such a Reformation of Worship be submitted unto by all Subjects in such a Iurisdiction:* 1.5

That such and such Churches, Ministers, Ministries be pull•• downe, and such and such Churches, Ministries, and Ministrations set up:

That such Lawes properly concerning Religion•• God, the Soules of men, should be Civill Lawes and Constitutions; is as far from Reason, as that the Commandements of Paul, which he gave the Churches concerning Christs worship (1 Cor. 11. & 1 Cor. 14.) were Civill and Earthly constitutions: Or that the Canon and Constitutions of either oecum••nicall or Nationall synods concerning Religion, should be Civill and State-conclusions and agreements.

To that instance of an Oath remaining rel••gious though conver∣sant about civill things; I answer and acknowledge, an Oath may be spirituall,* 1.6 though taken about earthly businesse, and accordingly it will prove, and onely prove what before I have said, that a Law may be civill though it concerne persons of this and of that religion, that is as the persons professing it are concerned in civill respects of b••dies or goods, as I have opened; whereas if it concerne the soules and religions of men simply so considered in reference to God, it

must of necessity put on the nature of a religious or spirituall ordinance or constitution.

Besides, it is a most improper and fallacious instance for an oath, being an invocation of a true or false God to judge in a case, is an action of a spirituall and religious nature, what ever the subject mat∣ter be about which it is taken, whether civill or religious: but a law or constitution may be civill or religious, as the subject about which it is conversant is, either civill (meerly concerning bodies or goods) or religious concerning soule and worship.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Many Civill States in flou¦rishing peace and quiet, where ••he Lord Jesus is not ••ounded.
• * 1.2

  Lawes concer∣ning Religion, either Religi∣ous,
• * 1.3

  o•• Civill.
• * 1.4

  The very In∣dians abhor to disturbe any Conscience at Worship.
• * 1.5

  Canons and Constitutions p••etended Civill, but in∣deed Ecclesi∣asticall.
• * 1.6

  Laws meerely concerning spirituall things, must needs be spi∣rituall.