A treatise of miscellany questions wherein many useful questions and cases of conscience are…A treatise of miscellany questions wherein many usefull questions and cases of conscience are…

instanceth in the Anabaptists, who would not admit proofs from examples of the old Testament, yet many of them justified the Bowrs bloody war, by the example of the Israelites rising against Pharaoh.

instanceth in the Anabaptists, who would not admit proofs from examples of the old Testament, yet many of them justified the Bowrs bloudy warre, by the example of the Israelits rising against Pharaoh.

3. That if Sectaries and Heretics make a breach of peace, disturb the State, or do evil against the Common-wealth in civil things, then the Magistrate may punish and suppress them. But Sectaries and Heretics, who are otherwise peaceable in the State, and subject to the Laws, and lawful power of the civil Magistrate, ought to be tolerated and forborne. This is their Kodesh hakkodashim, their holy of holies: indeed their [Greek or Hebrew]. See the compassionate Samaritan, pag: 10▪ John the Baptist, pag: 57▪ The bloody Tenet, Chap: 52. M. S▪ to A. S. pag▪ 53. 54. The ancient bounds, Chap: 1. See now how far this principle will reach. A man may deny, and cry down the word of God, Sacraments, Ordinances, all the Fundamentals of faith, all Religious Worship. One ⟨p. 163⟩may have leave to plead no Church, no Minister, no Ordinances; yea, to blaspheme Jesus Christ, and God himself, and yet to escape the hand of the Magistrate, as being no troubler of the State. This I gather from Mr. Williams himself in his bloody Tenet, Chap. 6. where he distinguisheth between the spiritual and the civill peace, and clears in the instance of Ephesus: N•w suppose (saith he) that God remove the candlestick from Ephesus: yea, though the whole worship of the city of Ephesus should be altered. Yet (if men be true and honestly ingenuous to city Covenants, Combinations, and principles) all this might be without the least impeachment or infringement of the peace of the city of Ephesus. So that by their principles, if the city of London were turning peaceably to Mahumetanisme, or Paganism, the Parliament ought not to apply their power for reducing them. If this be not to care for mens own things, not for the things of Christ, what is? And must the Magistrate purchase, or hold them quiet of the state at so dear a rate, as the lose of many souls? What saith Mr. Williams himself Bloody Tenet, chap. 33. It is a truth, the mischief of a blind Pharisee, blind guidance, is greater then if he acted treasons, murderers, &c. And the lose of one soul by his seduction, is a greater mischief, then if he blew up Parliaments, and cut the throats of Kings or Emperors, so precious is that invaluable Jewel of Soul.