Theses Sabbaticæ, or, The doctrine of the Sabbath wherein the Sabbaths I. Morality, II.…

and therefore according to this moral Rule of the Commandment, they were bound not only to keep it themselves, but to see that all others did so also. 'Tis true, civill Magistrates may abuse their power, judge, amiss, and think that to be the command of God, which is not; but we must not therefore take away their power from them, because they may pervert it and abuse it; we must not deny that power they have for God, because they may pervert it and turn the edge of it against God: for if upon this ground the Magistrate hath no power over his Subjects in matters of the first Table, he may have also all his feathers pulled from him, and all his power taken from him in matters of the second Table; for we know that he may work strange changes there and pervert Justice, and Judgement exceedingly: we must not deny their power because they may turn it awry and hurt Gods Church and people by it, but (as the Apostle exhorts, 1 Tim •.1.2.) to pray for them the more, that under them we may live a peaceable life in all Godliness and Honesty: its a thousand times better to suffer persecution for Righteousness sake and for a good Conscience, then to desire and plead for toleration of all Consciences, that so (by this cowardly device and lukewarm principle) our own may be untouched: it was never heard of until now of late that any of Gods Prophets, Apostles, Martyrs, faithful Witnesses, &c. that they ever pleaded for liberty in error, but only for the Truth, which they preached and prayed for, and suffered for unto the death; and their sufferings for the truth with Zeal, Patience, Faith, Constancy, have done more good, then the way of universal toleration is like to do, which is purposely invented to avoid trouble. Truth hath ever spread by opposition and persecution; but error being a Child of Satan hath fled▪ by a zealous resisting of it.

and therefore according to this morall Rule of the Commandement, they were bound not onely to keepe it themselves, but to see that all others did so also. 'Tis true, civill Magistrates may abuse their power, judge, amisse, and thinke that to be the command of God, which is not; but we must not therefore take away their power from them, because they may pervert it and abuse it; we must not deny that power they have for God, because they may pervert it and turne the edge of it against God: for if upon this ground the Magistrate hath no power over his Subjects in matters of the first Table, he may have also all his feathers pul'd from him, and all his power taken from him in matters of the second Table; for we know that he may work strange changes there and pervet Justice, and Judgement exceedingly: we must not deny their power because they may turne it awry and hurt Gods Church and people by it, but (as the Apostle exhorts, 1 Tim .1.2.) to pray for them the more, that under them we may live a peaceable life in all Godlinesse and Honesty: its a thousand times better to suffer persecution for Righteousnesse sake and for a good Conscience, then to desire and plead for toleration of all Consciences, that so (by this cowardly device and lukewarme principle) our owne may be untoucht: it was never heard of untill now of late that any of Gods Prophets, Apostles, Martyrs, faithfull Witnesses, &c. that they ever pleaded for liberty in errour, but onely for the Truth, which they preacht and prayd for, and suffered for unto the death; and their sufferings for the truth with Zeale, Patience, Faith, Constancy, have done more good, then the way of universall toleration is like to doe, which is purposely invented to avoyd trouble. Truth hath ever spread by opposition and persecution; but errour being a Child of Satan hath fled by a zealous resisting of it.