Rome ruin'd by VVhite Hall, or, The papall crown demolisht

SECT. 10.

1. BY whose Authority it is commanded; 2. Upon what oc∣casion;* 1.1 and 3. In what manner Warre must be taken in hand.

1. Warre must not be attempted without the authority of the Magistrate, for he beareth the Sword, Rom. 13. 4. if the exam∣ple of Sampson and Abraham be objected, this answer is made; for the first, he was moved by the Spirit of the Lord, which is said to be upon him; for the second, he was no private man, or subject to any other, but free, and at his owne command; be∣side, he was not without direction of the Spirit of God, and further if a true man shall defend himselfe against a Thiefe by the Sword, or a City being suddenly besiedged, or invaded by an enemy, the Magistrate being absent, in these cases it may be law∣full to use the Sword, because albeit in particular they have not the expresse consent of the Magistrate, yet in generall, the Laws permitteth, that it shal be lawful for every one in such a despe∣rate case to defend himselfe.

2. The causes of Warre are these three; 1. When any Battell is undertaken, or enterprised by the speciall command of God, as Saul was sent against Amaleck. 2. To rescue and recover such things as are unlawfully taken away, as David pursued the A∣malakites that had burned Ziklag, and carried away 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Goods, and their Wives, and redeemed them againe, 1 Sam 〈…〉〈…〉 To deliver the oppressed, and to bridle the insolency, pride, and cruelty of the wicked, as Abraham pursued the foure Kings that had taken Lot prisoner, and delivered him out of their hands, Gen. 14.

3. The manner also is to be considered, that although the cause of warre be just, yet it is not rashly to be set upon, but all other meanes must be tryed; as the Israelites before they assaulted their Brethren by open warre, (moved by the Benjamites in the rape of the Levites Wife) first, required the wicked men, which being refused; they resolved to set upon them, Judg. 20. 13.

There are also many other Tenents, which are attributed to them under the notion of Annabaptists, as that originall sin is not derived from Adam to his posterity, and that a man hath free-will in Spirituall things; which Tenents (if they hold) they are already sufficiently confuted by what hath been formerly delivered; but I finde the enemies of Christ so various in their description of Hereticks, that they seeme rather to doe it more out of malice then any waies to convince their judgements, making three or foure Sects and Heresies of one and the same. Tenent, as may appeare by their printed papers to that purpose, instance in the Socinians, Arians, Familists, Anti-scripturians; all which opinions might well be confined to one of the notions afore named, but that such delight to shew themselves forward in reproving of others, that so they might be thought innocent themselves.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Three things required to make a just warre.