A survey of the spiritual antichrist opening the secrets of familism and antinomianism in…A survey of the spirituall antichrist opening the secrets of familisme and antinomianisme in…

3. I know not any, that ever I read, or heard, said, the sword of men can compel the mind, or compel men in things of the mind; for let the persecuting Emperors, and all the Tyrants on earth, armed with the fury and power of the Prince of the bottomless pit, torture, torment, or kill, they cannot reach soul, mind, will, conscience and affections,¹ we never said that the sword is a means of converting souls to Christ, or that Religion is, or can be compelled: but we hold that the sword is an external, though not simply necessary means to hinder wolves and grievous foxes to destroy the souls of others, by bringing out of their corrupt minds in word, writing, teaching, professing another Gospel, such as fleshly and abominable familism; now the not perverting of the souls of others, the only object of the Magistrates sword, is not the conversion, nor any sign that the false teacher thus hindered to hurt the flock, is converted to the faith. The Magistrate then defendeth only, and guardeth the Law of God and Church from pestilent heresy, but neither he, nor his sword is hereby made a means, way, or cause of conversion of souls, or propagating the Gospel: who ever usurp the sword to defend ravening wolves, that, with such doctrine destroys the flock of Christ, they give their power to the beast, and their horns and strength to the false Prophet, and I writ it, God shall ⟨p. 262⟩deliver souls out of their captivity; (for the elect cannot finally be seduced, Matth. 24.24.) and shall make their carcasses fall as dung upon the open field, and as the handful after the harvest man, and none shall gather them, and make them as a wheel and as stubble before the wind, and fill their faces with shame.

3. I know not any, that ever I read, or heard, said, the sword of men can compell the minde, or compell men in things of the minde; for let the persecuting Emperors, and all the Tyrants on earth, armed with the fury and power of the Prince of the bottomlesse pit, torture, torment, or kill, they cannot reach soule, minde, will, conscience and affections,¹ we never said that the sword is a meanes of converting soules to Christ, or that Religion is, or can be compelled: but wee hold that the sword is an externall, though not simply necessary meanes to hinder wolves and grievous foxes to destroy the soules of others, by bringing out of their corrupt mindes in word, writing, teaching, professing another Gospel, such as fleshly and abominable familisme; now the not perverting of the soules of others, the only object of the Magistrates sword, is not the conversion, nor any signe that the false teacher thus hindered to hurt the flocke, is converted to the faith. The Magistrate then defendeth only, and guardeth the Law of God and Church from pestilent heresie, but neither he, nor his sword is hereby made a means, way, or cause of conversion of soules, or propagating the Gospel: who ever usurpe the sword to defend ravening wolves, that, with such doctrine destroyes the flocke of Christ, they give their power to the beast, and their hornes and strength to the false Prophet, and I writ it, God shall