2. I speak to the Argument, the only preaching of the word,1 it alone without the Spirit, can no more make an hair white or black, or draw us to the Son, or work repentance in sin••rs, then the sword of the Magistrate can work repentance: What can man do (saith the Bounder) Is it not God that must give repentance to the acknowledgement of the truth? So say I, what can preaching of man or angel do without God, is it not God and God only who can open the heart? therefore this is no argument against the use of the sword against false teachers, because it hath no strength against soul obstinacy to work repentance, for neither hath preaching; but the sword hath strength and more strength against the outward man, the tongue, the pen, the profession of seducing preachers to coerce it, and to guard the flock from grievous Wolves, (for these being test••ined, the flock is in no more danger from ⟨p. 352⟩the conscience of the Heretic, then peaceable men are in danger of the bloody mans thoughts, hatred, heart-malice, if the Magistrate tie his hands from murder and violence by the sword of God which he beareth, Rom. 13.) it hath (I say) more force in its way, then the preaching of the word hath, in regard Heretics, men of corrupt minds, fear• men, and the sword of the Magistrate, more then God; and the threatenings of the word; as murderers and adulterers abstain from disturbing the peace of humane society, more for fear of the laws of men, then for God. I grant the excessive fear is from the corruption of nature, for oderunt peccare mali formidine poenae, yet this argues that the sword is ordained of God to order the outward man in a peaceable way, both in state and Church; for lay down this ground which Libertines do; that God hath appointed no law nor rule to men of corrupt minds, to those that subvert whole Houses, but their own erroneous consciences, grievous Wolves may do in the flock to waste, destroy, and pervert the flock as they please. But they are (say Libertines) no wolves, but the lambs of Christ, the anointed ones, whom Presbyterians so call, and the Presbyterians are the wolves, who so domineer over the consciences.
2. I speak to the Argument, the only preaching of the word,1 it alone without the Spirit, can no more make an hair white or black, or draw us to the Son, or work repentance in sin••rs, then the sword of the Magistrate can work repentance: What can man doe (saith the Bounder) Is it not God that must give repentance to the acknowledgement of the truth? So say I, what can preaching of man or angel doe without God, is it not God and God only who can open the heart? therefore this is no argument against the use of the sword against false teachers, because it hath no strength against soule obstinacie to work repentance, for neither hath preaching; but the sword hath strength and more strength against the outward man, the tongue, the pen, the profession of seducing preachers to coerce it, and to guard the flock from grievous Wolves, (for these being test••ined, the flock is in no more danger from ⟨p. 352⟩the conscience of the Heretick, then peaceable men are in danger of the bloodie mans thoughts, hatred, heart-malice, if the Magistrate tie his hands from murther and violence by the sword of God which hee beareth, Rom. 13.) it hath (I say) more force in its way, then the preaching of the word hath, in regard Hereticks, men of corrupt minds, fear• men, and the sword of the Magistrate, more then God; and the threatnings of the word; as murtherers and adulterers abstain from disturbing the peace of humane societie, more for fear of the laws of men, then for God. I grant the excessive fear is from the corruption of nature, for oderunt peccare mali formidine poenae, yet this argues that the sword is ordained of God to order the outward man in a peaceable way, both in state and Church; for lay down this ground which Libertines do; that God hath appointed no law nor rule to men of corrupt minds, to those that subvert whole Houses, but their own erroneous consciences, grievous Wolves may doe in the flock to waste, destroy, and pervert the flock as they please. But they are (say Libertines) no wolves, but the lambs of Christ, the anointed ones, whom Presbyterians so call, and the Presbiterians are the wolves, who so domineer over the consciences.
- 1The sword hath strength against only the outward m•n to cause him to abstain from seducing of souls, not against the Conscience.
