Answ. I will not go about to say that Tertullian thought it lawful to raise Arms against the Emperor; I ingeniously confess Tertullian was in that error. But, 1. something of the man. 2. Of1 the Christians. Of the man. Tertullian after this turned a Montanist. 2. Pamelius saith of him, in vit. Tertul. inter Apocrypha numeratur—excommunicatus. 3. It was Tertullians error in a fact, not in a question, that he believed Christians were so numerous, as that they might have fought with the Emperors. 4. M. Pryn doth judiciously observe, 3. part. sovereign power of Parl. pag. 139, 140. He not only thought it unlawful to resist, but also to flee, and therefore wrote a book de fuga, and therefore as some men are excessive in doing for Christ, so also in suffering for Christ; Hence I infer, that Tertullian is neither ours, nor theirs in this point; and we can cite Tertullian against them also, I am sumus ergo pares. Yea Fox in his Monum. saith, Christians ran to the stakes to be burnt, when they were neither condemned, nor cited. 4. What if we cite Theodoret, fol. 98. De provid. Who about that time say that evil men reign, [Greek or Hebrew] through the cowardliness of the subjects; ⟨p. 372⟩as the Prelate saith of Tertullian, I turn it, If Theodoret were2 now living, he would go for a Rebel. About that time Christians sought help from Constantine the Great, against Lycinius their Emperor, and overthrew him in battle. And the Christians being oppressed by the King of Persia their own King, sent to Theodosius to help them against him. 2. For the man. Tertullian in the place cited, saith, The Christians were strangers under the Emperor. Externi sumus, and therefore they had no Laws of their own, but were under the Civill Laws of Heathen, till Constantine's time; and they had sworn to Julian as his soldiers, and therefore might have, and no doubt had, scruples of conscience to resist the Emperor. 2. It is known Julian had huge numbers of Heathen in his Army, and to resist had been great danger. 3. Wanting Leaders and Commanders, (many prime men doubting of the lawfulness thereof) though they had been equal in number, yet number is not all in war, skill in valorous Commanders is required. 4. What if all Christians were not of Tertullians mind. 5.
Answ. I will not goe about to say that Tertullian thought it lawfull to raise Armes against the Emperour; I ingeniously confesse Tertullian was in that errour. But, 1. something of the man. 2. Of1 the Christians. Of the man. Tertullian after this turned a Montanist. 2. Pamelius saith of him, in vit. Tertul. inter Apocrypha numeratur—excommunicatus. 3. It was Tertullians error in a fact, not in a question, that he believed Christians were so numerous, as that they might have fought with the Emperours. 4. M. Pryn doth judiciously observe, 3. part. soveraigne power of Parl. pag. 139, 140. He not onely thought it unlawfull to resist, but also to flee, and therefore wrote a booke de fuga, and therefore as some men are excessive in doing for Christ, so also in suffering for Christ; Hence I inferre, that Tertullian is neither ours, nor theirs in this point; and we can cite Tertullian against them also, I am sumus ergo pares. Yea Fox in his Monum. saith, Christians ranne to the stakes to be burnt, when they were neither condemned, nor cited. 4. What if wee cite Theodoret, fol. 98. De provid. Who about that time say that evill men reigne, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 through the cowardlinesse of the subjects; ⟨p. 372⟩as the Prelate saith of Tertullian, I turne it, If Theodoret were2 now living, he would goe for a Rebell. About that time Christians sought help from Constantine the Great, against Lycinius their Emperour, and overthrew him in battaile. And the Christians being oppressed by the King of Persia their owne King, sent to Theodosius to help them against him. 2. For the man. Tertullian in the place cited, saith, The Christians were strangers under the Emperour. Externi sumus, and therefore they had no Laws of their owne, but were under the Civill Laws of Heathen, till Constantines time; and they had sworne to Iulian as his souldiers, and therefore might have, and no doubt had, scruples of conscience to resist the Emperour. 2. It is knowne Iulian had huge numbers of Heathen in his Armie, and to resist had beene great danger. 3. Wanting Leaders and Commanders, (many prime men doubting of the lawfulnesse thereof) though they had beene equall in number, yet number is not all in warre, skill in valorous Commanders is required. 4. What if all Christians were not of Tertullians minde. 5.
- 1Tertullian in an error.Tertullian in an errour.
- 2The ancient Christians did rise in Arms against persecuting Emperors.The ancient Christians did rise in Armes against persecuting Emperours.
