A free disputation against pretended liberty of conscience tending to resolve doubts moved

3. The uncapability, of Magistrates and most men to judge here, is the want of infallibility, such as the immediately inspired Prophets had, then its against the wisdom of God, that we try the spirits and doctrines, and believe them, ⟨p. 220⟩for if the generality of men, let alone Christian Magistrates▪ be uncapable of fundamental truths, they cannot judge them to be truths, nor heresies, except they be infallibly, and immediately inspired by this argument; it is then against the wisdom of God to bid any believe the Gospel, but the Prophets and Apostles. 4. The Magistrate being a Christian, should see with his own eyes, and judge the Presbytery worthy of his politic sanction, and though Synods, divide, or err, the error and uncertainties of men, that are accidental to all Ordinances, are no rule to Magistrates on earth; and by this reason, which hath as much force against preaching the Gospel as against the Christian Magistrates political judging, when Ministers are divided, and the equal half or the major part preach Arianism, Socinianism, Famil•••e, &c. and the lesser number sound doctrine, the Objecter needs not ask, under which of their shadows shall the Magistrate repose for peace and safety? I enlarge the question, and let the Objecter answer, under which of their shadows shall all their hearers repose for faith and establishment in the truth? And I answer, call no man Rabbi, let Magistrates and others receive the truth in love, and let him answer, when four hundred Prophets say to Ahab, go to Ramath Gilead▪ fight and prosper, and one Michajah saith, go not left thou be killed, under which shall Ahab repose? shall then Ahab hear the voice of the Lord in no Prophet, because four hundred speak lies? or shall not four hundred Michajahs declare the mind of God to the Prince, because so many false Prophets speak the contrary?

3. The uncapability, of Magistrates and most men to judge here, is the want of infallibility, such as the immediately inspired Prophets had, then its against the wisdome of God, that we try the spirits and doctrines, and beleeve them, ⟨p. 220⟩for if the generality of men, let alone Christian Magistrates▪ be uncapable of fundamentall truths, they cannot judge them to be truths, nor heresies, except they be infalibly, and immediately inspired by this argument; it is then against the wisdome of God to bid any beleeve the Gospel, but the Prophets and Apostles. 4. The Magistrate being a Christian, should see with his owne eyes, and judge the Presbytery worthy of his politicke sanction, and though Synods, divide, or erre, the error and uncertainties of men, that are accidentall to all Ordinances, are no rule to Magistrates on earth; and by this reason, which hath as much force against preaching the Gospell as against the Christian Magistrates politicall judging, when Ministers are divided, and the equall halfe or the major part preach Arrianisme, Socinianisme, Famile, &c. and the lesser number sound doctrine, the Objecter needs not aske, under which of their shadows shall the Magistrate repose for peace and safety? I inlarge the question, and let the Objecter answer, under which of their shadows shall all their hearers repose for faith and establishment in the truth? And I answer, call no man Rabbi, let Magistrates and others receive the truth in love, and let him answer, when foure hundred Prophets say to Achab, goe to Ramath Gilead fight and prosper, and one Michajah saith, goe not left thou be killed, under which shall Achab repose? shall then Achab heare the voice of the Lord in no Prophet, because foure hundred speake lyes? or shall not foure hundred Michajahs declare the minde of God to the Prince, because so many false Prophets speake the contrary?