Certain disputations of right to sacraments, and the true nature of visible Christianity defending…

Yet I must desire that none here mistake me, as if I would free the Israelites from any charge that God layeth on them by his Prophets: I speak not now of their times of greatest Apostasy and Rebellion: And I know that afterward, when the Princes and Rulers were evil or negligent, then the Church must needs be defiled, and the Laws of God unexecuted. ⟨p. 306⟩And perhaps I may mis-interpret some texts of Scripture to a more gentle sense then others do, or then is meet: Of this let every man judge as he please: its no time now to call all such texts to account. If any be offended at my charitable thoughts of the body of the Jews (Gods only peculiar people on earth) let them blot out these fore going considerations, or take them as non dicta; for I lay not the stress of my Cause upon them. But the Principal thing which I would have observed is this. That by Gods Political Law of this Commonwealth, all Notorious ungodly persons were to be put to death; yea, and many far short of that degree. I know it is a controversy among Divines, what is meant by all those places, that speak of [Cutting off from his people.] Mr. Gilespie with others think it is meant of Excommunication. Others think it is meant of the Magistrates punishing them with death, or Gods doing it extraordinarily if the Magistrate should be negligent. The main reason brought against this Exposition, is, that it seems too bloody. But it must be considered how terrible the Law was, and how God designed in it the manifestation of his Jealousy, Holiness and hatred of sin. If every man that did ought presumptuously might be cut off from the Church, why not from the Living? The Apostle in Acts 3.23. reciting that of Moses, saith, [He that will not hear that Prophet shall be destroyed from the People.] However let that phrase mean what it will, we have proof enough beside, that not only all notorious Ungodly ones, but also many Godly ones that fell into gross sin, were all to be put to death. From whence I argue thus:

Yet I must desire that none here mistake me, as if I would free the Israelites from any charge that God layeth on them by his Prophets: I speak not now of their times of greatest Apostacy and Rebellion: And I know that afterward, when the Princes and Rulers were evil or negligent, then the Church must needs be defiled, and the Laws of God unexecuted. ⟨p. 306⟩