Wholesome severity reconciled with Christian liberty. Or, the true resolution of a present controversy…VVholesome severity reconciled with Christian liberty. Or, the true resolution of a present controversie…

Thirdly, we must distinguish betwixt the coercive power of the Magistrate in matters of religion, and the abuse of that power; when we justify the power, we justify not the abuse of it; and when we condemn the abuse, we must not therefore condemn the power. Acontius Stratag. Stat. li. 3. pag. 147. buildeth much upon this notion, let a man imagine that his lot is fallen in those times when the truth is persecuted by authority, when the Magistrate justifieth the wicked and condemneth the godly, (which hath been the more ordinary condition of the Church) and then let him accordingly shape the resolution of the question concerning the Magistrates punishing of Heretics. Will not a man think (saith he) it had been better that Heretics had not been punished, then that upon pretence of coercive power against Heretics, the edge of the Civill sword be turned towards the Preachers and Professors of the truth? But notwithstanding of all this, truth must be truth, and justice must be justice, abuse it who will. Parliaments and Synods have been many times enemies to the truth, and have abused their power in matters of religion: must we therefore deny the power of Parliaments and Synods? or must we cast off any ordinance of God because of the abuse of it? If the thing were indifferent, the abuse might take away the use: not so, when the thing is necessary. I add (which is well observed by Calvin) when Jeremiah was ⟨p. 34⟩accused and arraigned as worthy to die, his defence is not this, You ought not to vindicate religion with the sword, nor put any man to death for the cause of conscience, but this is it, Know ye for a certain, that if ye put me to death, ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon your selves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof: for of a truth the Lord hath sent me unto you to speak all these words in your ears, Jer. 26. 15. Neither did ever the Apostles (though often persecuted) plead the unlawfulness of persecuting men for heresy, but they pleaded the goodness of their cause, and that they were no Heretics.

Thirdly, we must distinguish betwixt the coercive power of the Magistrare in matters of religion, and the abuse of that power; when we justifie the power, we justifie not the abuse of it; and when we condemn the abuse, we must not therefore condemn the power. Acontius Stratag. Stat. li. 3. pag. 147. buildeth much upon this notion, let a man imagine that his lot is fallen in those times when the truth is persecuted by authority, when the Magistrate justifieth the wicked and condemneth the godly, (which hath been the more ordinary condition of the Church) and then let him accordingly shape the resolution of the question concerning the Magistrates punishing of Hereticks. Will not a man think (saith he) it had been better that Hereticks had not been punished, then that upon pretence of coercive power against Hereticks, the edge of the Civill sword be turned towards the Preachers and Professors of the truth? But notwithstanding of all this, truth must be truth, and justice must be justice, abuse it who will. Parliaments and Synods have been many times enemies to the truth, and have abused their power in matters of religion: must we therefore deny the power of Parliaments and Synods? or must we cast off any ordinance of God because of the abuse of it? If the thing were indifferent, the abuse might take away the use: not so, when the thing is necessary. I adde (which is well observed by Calvin) when Jeremiah was