Chap. 3 t. An Expaftioss upon the Booke cf J O E. Verf. 28. S85 Thirdly , The more pernicious any falfe doctrine or practice in religion is,the more earneft.y it ought to becontended againft. Thus farre every error in opinion and 'tinfoil practice in worfhip, fktould be fudged by all men, Further, as to the Magiftrate, I 1tsall lay downe thefe loure Conclufions. Firft , All thole evill opinions, and herefies , which tend in their owne nature to thediflurbance of the civil! peace and good government of mankind, ought re, be fuppreffed by the Magi Irate, and the owners ofthem to be punifhed by all inch meanes as are fineable to the confervation of the publick fafety. Secondly All fuch opinions and erroneous doctrines as are accompaniedwith any notorious fins in praftice, (which finsare alto adually pracîiced by the followers and abetters of chore o- pinions, like that of the Nicolaitana ofold,or the Ranter, among us) tending to or teachinguncleanenes, and opening a doore for loft, and removing the ancient Landmarkes of good and evil!, , and fo letting in a flood ofwickednefs. Thefe,doubdcffe,the Ma- giftrate ought to take notice of, and to fuppreffe. Thirdly, All profeffad Atheilme andopen blaiphemy againft God,ought to be punifhed by the Magiftrate ; I doe not fay that every opinion which bath blafphcmy in it bydeduftion or re- mote confcquences, but that which is bare-faced and profeffed b,lafphemy againfl God,the Magiftrate ought to punifh. The rea- fon is,becaufe fuch cannot fay that the Magiftrate punifheth them for their confcience, Peeing they cannot fo much as pretend con- fcience for what they lay or hold ; confcience being that power ofthe foule, which bath immediate communion or convene with God and therefore fuppo`eth God to be, and to be fuch a one as he bath ( according to their apprehenfionof hirn,though not alwas es according to the truth of his beeing) reveal; d huntelfe to be and therefore they who deny God to be, or blalpheme Lim in his beeing, can never pretend any thing of confcience for it. confcience is a tenderneffe to offendGod , now for a man to blalpheme.God, and toprofeffeatheiflicall principles , this takes away all colour ofconfcience in tendernes to offend God ; and how can he complaine that he Puffers for his confcience, who bath no confcience to fuller for.? Fourthly That Idolatry i+ ro be punilhed b'j the Magifirate; F f f f ï
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