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. XCVIII.

Peace.

DEare Truth, these are the poysoned daggers stabbing at my tender heart! Oh when shall the Prince of peace appeare and reconcile the bloudy sons of men? but let me now propose their 7 head: viz.

In what order may the Magistrate execute punishment on a Church or Church-member that offendeth his Lawes.

First, grosse and publicke notorious sinnes which are against the light of conscience as Heresie, &c. there the Magistrate kee∣ping him under safe ward should send the offendour first to the Church to heale his conscience, still provided that the Church be both able and willing thereunto: By which meanes the Ma∣gistrate shall convince such an ones conscience that he seeketh his healing, rather then his hurt.

The censure also against him shall proceed with more power and blessing, and none shall have cause to say that the Magi∣strate persecutes men for their consciences, but that he justly punisheth such an one for sinning rather against his conscience, Tit. 3. 0.

Secondly, in private offences how the Magistrate may proceed, see Chap. 12. It is not materiall whether the Church or Magi∣strates take it first in hand. Only with this caution, that if the State take it first in hand, they are not to proceed to death or banish∣ment, untill the Church hath taken their course with him, to bring him to Repentance, provided that the Church be willing and ready thereunto.

Secondly, in such sinnes wherein men plead Conscience, as Heresie, &c.

Truth.

Here I have many just exceptions and considerations to present.

First, they propose a distinction of some sinnes: some are against the light of conscience, &c. and they instance in Heresie.

Ans. I have before discust this point of an Heretick sinning a∣gainst light of conscience: And I shall adde that howsoever they lay this down as an infallible conclusion that all Heresie is against light of Conscience; yet (to passe by the discussion of the nature of Heresie, in which respect it may so be that even themselves may be found hereticall,* 1.1 yea and that in fundamentalls) how doe all I∣dolaters after light presented, and exhortations powerfully pressed, either Turkes or Pagans, Jewes or Antichristians, strongly even to the death hold fast (or rather are held fast by) their delusions.

Yea Gods people themselves, being deluded and captivated are strongly confident even against some fundamentalls,* 1.2 especially of worship, and yet not against the light, but according to the light or eye of a deceived conscience.

Now all these consciences walke on confidently and constant∣ly even to the suffering of death and torments, and are more strong∣ly confirmed in their beleefe and conscience, because ••uch bloudy and cruell courses of persecution are used toward them.

Secondly, speakes not the Scripture expresly of the Jew, Isa. 6. Mat. 13. Acts 28. that God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, &c•• all which must be spoken of the very conscience, which he that hath the golden key of David can

only shut and open, and all the Picklocks or•• Swords in all the Smiths shops in the World can neither by force or fraud prevent his time.

Is it not said of Antichristians,* 1.3 2•• Thessal. 2. that God hath sent them strong delusions, so strong and efficacious, that they beleeve a Lie and that so Confidently, and some so Conscientiously, that Death it selfe cannot part betweene the Delusion and their Con∣science.

Againe, the Magistrate (say they) keeping him in safe ward: that is, the Heretick, the Blasphemer, Idolater, &c.

Peace.

I here aske all men that love even the Civill Peace, where the Lord Jesus hath spoken a tittle of a Prison or safe ward to this purpose.

Truth.

We find indeed a prison threatned by God to his irre∣conciled enemies, neglecting to account with him, Matth. 5.

We finde a prison into which persecuters cast the Saints: So Iohn,* 1.4 so Paul, and the Apostles, Matth. 14. 10. &c. were cast, and the great Commander of, and caster into prison, is the Devill, Revel. 2.

Wee finde a Spirituall prison indeed, a prison for Spirits, 1 P. ••. 3. 19. the Spirits formerly rebellious against Christ Jesus speaking by Noah unto them, now kept in safe ward against the judgement of the great day.

In Excommunication, a Soule obstinate in sinne is delivered to Sathan his Jaylour, and he keeps him in safe ward, untill it pleaseth God to release him.

There is a prison for the Devill himselfe a thousand yeares, Rev. 20.* 1.5 And a Lake of eternall fire and brimstone, into which the Beast and False Prophet, and all not written in the Lambes booke, and the Devill that deceived them, shall eternally be there secured and tormented.

But neither amongst these, nor in any other passage of the New Testament, doe we finde a prison appointed by Christ Jesus for the Heretick, Blasphemer, Idolater, &c. being not otherwise guilty against the Civill State.

'Tis true, Antichrist (by the helpe of Civill Powers) hath his prisons, to keep Christ Iesus and his members fast: such prisons may well be called the Bishops prisons,* 1.6 the Popes, the Devils pri∣sons: These inquisition houses have ever been more terrible then the Magistrates.

At first, persecuting Bishops borrowed prisons of the Civill Ma∣gistrate (as now their successors doe still in the world) but after∣ward they wr••ng the keyes out of the Magistrates hands, and hung them at their own Girdles, and would have prisons of their owne, as doubtlesse will that Generation still doe, if God prevent them not.

Notes

• * 1.1

  E••lour is con∣fident as well as Truth.
• * 1.2

  Gods people as well as o∣thers will be found obsti∣nate in funda∣mentall errors in which suffe∣rings and per∣secution doth harden.
• * 1.3

  Strong delusi∣ons.
• * 1.4

  Spirituall prisons.
• * 1.5

  Christ Jesus appointed no materiall pri∣sons for Blas∣phemers of him, &c.
• * 1.6

  The Bishops prisons.