2. The Samaritans were yet in their Idolatry and utterly ignorant of the Gospel: now we had never a question with Libertines, whether the first thing to be done to such as will not admit Christ or his messengers within their houses; & for the first act of refusing to hear the Gospel, before they be instructed, we are to call for the Magistrates sword to kill them, or for fire from heaven to destroy them? we think no: we should think this no way of God to convert them (we plainly say) It is not lawful to us to go with fire and sword, to force the Indians, Samaritans, or any heathen to embrace ⟨p. 250⟩the Christian faith,1 the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, if they be within our power, we may restrain them, 1. From spreading their blasphemies to hurt and seduce the souls of the people of God. 2. We may hinder them from reproaching God or his son Christ in the hearing of the people of God▪ as David fought against Goliath, who blasphemed the […] God. 3. If they do National injuries, and acts of hostility, we may raise arms against them, and in these wars in case of subduing, we may intend the propagating of the Gospel to them, as the Master is to command and teach his servants, Gen. 18. 18. Deut. 6. 6, 7. so the victors having made the subdued people their servants, do now acquire some masterly power over them to see them instructed in the knowledge of the true God. Nor is the intention of overcoming in a lawful war, the more unlawful, but rather more spiritualized by the accession of a spiritual intention to do good to their souls, whether we may by force take their children from them, and train them up in the Christian Religion, is disputable, since their condition of being subdued denudes them not of the natural relation of fathers to sons, or because in so robbing them of their children, we should but spoil them of the actual abuse of that paternal right, which is now conveyed to run in a right channel, to train up young ones in a right way, whereas their parents would employ it to a wrong end, it would seem no violence to the souls of young ones, since nothing is done, but by gracious education and instruction. 4. If they join with us in one Religious Covenant, and we swear with our lives and goods to defend one another, we may cause them stand to the oath of God they were under.
2. The Samaritans were yet in their Idolatry and utterly ignorant of the Gospel: now we had never a question with Libertines, whether the first thing to be done to such as will not admit Christ or his messengers within their houses; & for the first act of refusing to hear the Gospel, before they be instructed, we are to call for the Magistrates sword to kill them, or for fire from heaven to destroy them? we think no: we should thinke this no way of God to convert them (wee plainly say) It is not lawfull to us to goe with fire and sword, to force the Indians, Samaritans, or any heathen to embrace ⟨p. 250⟩the Christian faith,1 the weapons of our warfare are not carnall, if they be within our power, we may restraine them, 1. From spreading their blaspemies to hurt and seduce the soules of the people of God. 2. We may hinder them from reproaching God or his son Christ in the hearing of the people of God▪ as David fought against Goliah, who blasph•med the 〈…〉 God. 3. If they do Nationall injuries, and acts of hostility, we may raise armes against them, and in these warres in case of subduing, we may intend the propagating of the Gospel to them, as the Master is to command and teach his servants, Gen. 18. 18. Deut. 6. 6, 7. so the victors having made the subdued people their servants, doe now acquire some masterly power over them to see them instructed in the knowledge of the true God. Nor is the intention of overcomming in a lawfull warre, the more unlawfull, but rather more spirituallized by the accession of a spirituall intention to doe good to their soules, whether wee may by force take their children from them, and train them up in the Christian Religion, is disputable, since their condition of being subdued denudes them not of the naturall relation of fathers to sonnes, or because in so robbing them of their children, we should but spoyle them of the actuall abuse of that paternall right, which is now conveyed to runne in a right channell, to traine up young ones in a right way, whereas their parents would imploy it to a wrong end, it would seeme no violence to the soules of young ones, since nothing is done, but by gracious education and instruction. 4. If they joyne with us in one Religious Covenant, and we sweare with our lives and goods to defend one another, we may cause them stand to the oath of God they were under.
- 1How s•re we may compel other Nations or heathen to embrace the true faith.How s•re wee may compell other Nations or •eathen to imbrace the true faith.
