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Obj. IF his blood must be shed, who sheedeth mans blood, then the Saints ought to be used accordingly.
Ans. The Command of Christ, as I have formerly shewed you,* 1.1 maketh that lawfull, which otherwise in it selfe is unlawfull, as instance in the Israelites robbing the Aegyptians, the slaughte∣ring of the Cananites, man, woman and child. The Prophet Hosea taking A Strumpet to wife, &c. which being commanded by God was lawfull, yea, and was to be accomplished, and that up∣on paine of punishment. Instance in Sauls ••p••ring of Agag, &c. Therefore this being a Command of Christ, ought also to be ac∣complished.
Obj. They ought first to be called out of Babilon as in the fourth verse before they are to be punished, as in the sixt verse, as also to shew them the heinousnes of their abomination, that they may bee thereby the easier drawne out of her.
Ans. To that purpose I have writ this Treatise, which I am* 1.2 confident will perswade many of her Customers to renounce her, which indeed ought to be dispersed even to Rome it selfe, to the end the Pope himselfe may be put in minde of his pre∣sumptuous Blasphemies; as also (being acquainted with Christs present designe) may be altogether found inexcusable, when the Armies of the Saints shall face him in his owne Palace, and de∣stroy both him and it, with all that appertaine unto them, which withour doubt will shortly come to passe. Let them beware of* 1.3 Nol Crumwels Army, lest Hugh Peter come to preach in Peter's Chaire; if he doe—
Obj. Would you have all the Antichristian Clergy so destroyed; that will not come out of Babilon, by their relinquishing their call, which originally came from him; as the Prelates, Pr••s∣biters, &c.
Ans. We are only to punish according to the Fact, but their Fact is not so great, they being but Merchants, at the second, and third hand; and therefore for them to lose the benefits of their present Trading, and to Confiscate their Wares, will be punishment sufficient, their persons being kept under a sharpe Authority, as in Chapter nineteene, vers. 5.
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