The arraignment of errorThe arraignment of errour

And first let us examine that, Ro. 13.4. If thou do that which is evil, be afraid, for he beareth not the sword in vain, for he is the minister of God, a revenger, to execute wrath upon him that doth evil. Where the Apostle doth not speak of Magistracy in the use, or rather abuse of it, but as it is in Gods ordination. And, 1. He calls him the Minister of God, by which be declares he is not to judge for man, but for God; and not only to look to the things which belong to man, but to those things also which appertain to God. 2. The object of this power he makes evil doers, without any limitation, or exception. And we use to say, Non distinguendum ubi Scriptura non distinguit; we are not to distinguish, when the Scripture doth not distinguish, and therefore the Scripture not distinguishing of evil doers, such persons may well fall under the Category of evil doers. And should we restrain this unto evil doers only in a civil sense, then the state of the Church, in regard of the civil Magistrate, should be worse under the new Testament, then under the old; for if then he was to maintain it by his civil power, and now he neither do, nor can, then it must needs follow, the condition of the Church, in respect of the civil Magistrate, is worse now under the new Testament, then under the old. Besides, it would be strange, that it is the duty of the Magistrate to punish injuries done to the state, but not injuries done to God: that he is to punish those who destroy mens bod•es, bu• not those who destroy mens souls; that who ever draws away the people from the obedience of the Magistrate, and the laws of the Land must be punished, but they who will draw away a people from the truth of the Gospel, and from the ways of God (as Hymenaeus and Philetus, who ov•rthew the faith of some, 2 Tim. 2.17, 18.) they must not be censured.

And first let us examine that, Ro. 13.4. If thou do that which is evil, be afraid, for he beareth not the sword in vain, for he is the minister of God, a revenger, to execute wrath upon him that doth evil. Where the Apostle doth not speak of Magistracie in the use, or rather abuse of it, but as it is in Gods ordination. And, 1. He calls him the Minister of God, by which be declares he is not to judge for man, but for God; and not only to look to the things which belong to man, but to those things also which appertain to God. 2. The object of this power he makes evil doers, without any limitation, or exception. And we use to say, Non distinguendum ubi Scriptura non distinguit; we are not to distinguish, when the Scripture doth not distinguish, and therefore the Scripture not distinguishing of evil doers, such persons may well fall under the Category of evil doers. And should we restrain this unto evil doers only in a civil sense, then the state of the Church, in regard of the civil Magstrate, should be worse under the new Testament, then under the old; for if then he was to maintain it by his civil power, and now he neither doe, nor can, then it must needs follow, the condition of the Church, in respct of the civil Magistrate, is worse now under the new Testament, then under the old. Besides, it would be strange, that it is the duty of the Magistrate to punish injuries done to the state, but not injuries done to God: that he is to punish those who destroy mens bodes, bu not those who destroy mens soules; that who ever draws away the people from the obedience of the Magistrate, and the laws of the Land must be punished, but they who will draw away a people from the truth of the Gospel, and from the waies of God (as Hymenaeus and Philetus, who ovrthew the faith of some,