Row fig' may fuffer in matters of Religion. But may we go no further? Yes furely, In other things that are of an inferiour nature, though it's not the light of nature that will convince men, yet fuch things as are against the common light of chrittianity,that are fo clearly reveal'd, that even thole that are in place and power, and the community of the people may rake it upon them, that thefe men if they be ignorant,are wilfully ignorant, fuch things likewife are not to be fuf£ered,for thereis the fame reafon why they fhouldbe punished bychritlians,as why thofc that have only the light of nature fhould punish thofe things that are againfl the light of nature. Yea fo farre a Magiftrate may goe, that through the evill carriage of men in their turbulency, an their pride, manifel mg apparently a ftubborne fpirit, carriage ; If either through the nature of the thing,or through their wicked carriage, they naay take upon them as they would anfver it ro Jefus Chrilt at the Taft day, that they doe evidently fee meere wantonneffe and flubbornneffe, and not'iveakne(fe and infirmity ; fo ferre as may be futable to help againft wantonnefs and ftubbornnefs, the Lord hath appointed otttivard means , even outward pi- -nil-lament to be anOrdinance of his; for it hath an efficacy put into it by nature : Externill things have by the God of nature an efficacy put into them to help againit that that cloth appear outwardly to be flubbornneile, wantonneffe, or ítoutnei e. Thus farre there may be fufering in matters of Religion, and thofe that will go farther then this, they had need make it ve- ry cleere fuch as would have every kind of errour as they think in matters controverfall though men fhouid behave themfelves never io meekly and humbly before others, yet if they think that God path appointed the civili fword to put an end to the Controverfaes in Religion, I fay, if they take nor heed, when they think to doe cod good fervice,they will run upon the danger ofbein; guilty of bringing the people of God under perfecution. But the other two that I have fpoken of , are enough to cleere many from that great errour that is cryed out of a- mongfl us, That men would have no.kind.of Government, 535
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