Is it lawfull for the Magistrate to put hereticks to the sworde?
Surely it is, especially those that are obstinate seducers of o∣thers, and wickedly seeke the euersion of Church, and common wealth, if once, beeing conuinced by the Scriptures, they doe still remaine incorrigible. The reason is.
1. The Lawe of God commaundeth the same to bee done to blaspheamers, and false Prophetsa 1.1. And Iosias did it very commen∣dably. 2. King. 23.20.
2. Because, if Nebuchadnezer a heathen King would not endure them that were blaspheamers against the God of Israelb 1.2, much lesse ought a Christian Magistrate to tolerate them.
Bu•• the seduced hereticks, if they refuse to bee instructed, he shall in wisdome constraine either by banishment, or imprison∣ment, vntill they come vnto themselues, and repent, and re∣nounce their heresie, least the scabbed sheepe infect the rest of the flocke, and least a little leuen corrupt the whole lumpe. 1. Cor. 5.6. Gal. 5.9.
Neither must wee thinke that the Gospell detracteth any thing from the ciuill gouernment or iurisdiction, in matters concerning the conseruation of religion. For Peter vsing an extraordinary authoritie, put Ananias to death for his hypocrisie, and shame∣lesse lyingc 1.3.
And Paul strooke Elimas the sorcerer with blindnessed 1.4, be∣cause hee peruerted the straight waies of the Lord.
And the aduise of that moderate man Gamaliel, Act. 5.38. for bearing with the Apostles, doth not proue that the magi∣strate hath no power ouer hereticks, and perturbers of the Church; onely seeing the Iudges readie to slay the Apostles, hee laboureth to recall them from that wickednesse.
No more doth that speach of Saint Paul 2, Cor. 10.4. disarme the Magistrate of the sword, where he saith, The weapons of our warrefare are not carnall.
And wheras Paul Tit. 3.10. warneth vs to reiect an here∣tick after once or twice admonition, hee doth not there prescribe the duety of the magistrate, but this speach in that place is to bee