(1.) As to privileges and liberties of this life. Their liberties and estates are not as other men's, but more exactly measured for their good, and sanctified to them in the blood of Christ. If in these things God hath called you to the defence and protection of his, he mil expect a real account. You had better give away a kingdom that belongs to others, than the least of that which God hath made for ' Vid. Tertul. ad Scapulam, de persecutione.
96 A MEMORIAL OF THE DELIVERAKCE
.liis saints. Think not any thing small which God accounts worthy to bestow on his. If he hath meted out liberty for them, and you give them slavery, you will have a sad reckoning.
(2.) In point of ordinances, and Christ-purchased privileges. Here -it is dangerous encroaching indeed.^ God exactly measured Canaan, because it was to be the seat of a national church. If you love your lives, if you love your souls, be tender on this point. Here if you meddle with that which belongs not unto you, were you kings, all your glory would be laid in the dust, 2 Chron. xxvi. 18. Woe to them who cut short the saints of God in the least jot of what he hath allotted to them in spirituals ! Is it for any of you, O ye sons ■ of men ! to measure out God's children's portion, long since bequeathed them by Christ? Let them alone with what is given them. If God call Israel out of Egypt to serve him, shall Pharaoh assign who, and how they shaU go, — first men only, then all, without then: cattle? " Nay," says Moses, "we will go as God calls," Exod. x. 26.
Was not one main end of the late tumults to rob God's people of their privileges, — to brmg them again under the yoke of superstition? What God brake in war, do not think he will prosper in peace. If you desire to thrive, do not the same, nor any thing like it. Take they any thing of yours that belongs to Caesar, the civil magistrate, restrain them, keep them within bi mds ; but if they take only what Christ hath given them, — 0 to ?h them not, harm them not ! The heap is provided for them, let them take for themselves. Think it not strange that every one should gather his, owoi manna. The .Lord forbid that I should ever see the magistrates of Endand takincf away liberties, privileges, ordinances, or ways of worship, from them to whom the Almighty hath made a free grant of them !
(3.) If in taking what God hath measured out for them, they should not all comply with you in the manner and measure of what they take, do them no harm, impoverish not then- families, banish them not, slay them not. Alas!^ your judgments, were you kings and emperors, is not a rule to them. They must be tried by their own faith. Ai-e their souls, think you, more precious to you than themselves? You say they take amiss; — they say. No, and appeal to the Word.^ Should you now smite them ? Speak, blood; is that the way of Jesus Christ? Shoidd it be as you affirm, you would be puzzled for your warrant. To run when you are not sent, surely in
' " Nero primus in Cinistiaiios ferociit, tali dedicatore daniiiationis iiostrtc etiam ploiiiiimir, (jui oniin scit illiiin, intellif^ere potest, non nisi aliqucd bonuin grande a Nerone daninatum." — Tortiil. Apol.
'. " ■^.V^''' ®* iiiaudita est ista prsedicatio, qiirc vcrboribus exigit fideiii." — Greg., I^pist. Hi.
' Magistriim iioiiiiiipjii luibenius nisi solum Deum; liic ante to est, ncc abscond! potest, sed cui nihil facore poss's.
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this case is not safe. But what if it should prove, in the close, that they have followed divine directions? Do you not then fight against God, wound Jesus Christ, and prosecute him as an evil-doer? I know tlie usual colours, the common pleas, that are used for the in- stigation of authority to the contrary. They are the very same, and no other, that have slain the saints of God this twelve hundred years. Arguments for persecution are dyed in the blood of Christians for a long season ; — ever since the dragon gave his power to the false pro- phet, they have all died as heretics and schismatics. Suppose you saw in one view all the blood of the witnesses of Christ, which had been let out of their veins by vain pretences,— that you heard in one noise the doleful cry of all pastorless churches, dying martyrs, harbourless children of parents inheriting the promise, wilderness- wandering saints, dungeoned believers, wrested out by pretended zeal to peace and truth; — and perhaps it may make your spirits tender as to this point.
Use 2. See the warrantableness of our contests for God's people's rights. It was Jephthah's only argument against the encroaching Ammonites, Judg. xi. By God's assistance they would possess what the Lord their God should give them. If a grant from heaven will not make a firm title, I know not what will. Being called by lawful authority, certainly there is not a more glorious employment than to serve the Lord in helj)ing to uphold the j)ortion he hath given his people. If your hearts be upright, and it is the liberties, the pri- vileges of God's saints, conveyed from the Father, purchased by Christ, you contend for, — go on and prosper, the Lord is with you.