Now, being in my family, in my j^rivate house, the assistance of those in authority is due, — -
(1 .s^.) In respect of them without.
{'2dhj.) In respect of them within.
{1st.) For them without, if any one will, against my consent, in- trude himself upon my family enjoyments, to share with me, or vio- lently come to take away that is mine, or disturb me in the quiet possession of it, the magistrate takes cognizance of such disturbances, and punisheth them according to equity. Suitably, if any person or persons whatsoever shall with violence put themselves upon the en- joyment of such ordinances as those enjoying the rights of the gos- pel have obtained to themselves, or shall come in their celebration of them to cause disturbance, certainly that magistrate protects not every one in liis undoubted rights, who doth not accommodate the
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A\Tonged parties witli the assistance of his power to the punishment of the transgressors.
{2dly.) For house dwellers, servants, or any others, who may break out into such offences and incorrigibleness as the amendment thereof may be beyond what I am intrusted to do to any by law of God or man, shall not the magistrate here also interpose? is not his assist- ance here abundantly required and alwaj^s granted ?
From parity of reason, is it not as due for their protection who, in the enjoyment of their public religious rights, may receive disturbance, and be under force from some incorrigible by any rule among them- selves? For instance, — suppose a person justly excommunicated and ejected any society of Christians, as to any spiritual communion, yet will with outward force and violence put himself upon them in their closest acts of communion; doubtless their rights are here to be by power preserved.
odly. That whereas the preachers of the gospel are now to be maintained in an ordinary way, and to expect their supportment in a usual course of providence ; and seeing that many to whom we have proved that the gospel is to be declared by the care of the magistrate, will not or cannot make such provisions for them as is needful in these last evil days of the world; it is incumbent on those nursing- fathers to provide for them, who, because of their continual labours in the work of the Lord, are disenabled to make provision for them- selves. Where churches are settled according to the rule of the gos- pel, and not too much straitened by reason of want, there may be an alteration as to this proposal. Tliat this engagement lies first upon the churches, VN'as seen of old. Hence that caution or canon of the Council of Chalcedon, cap. vi., Myjdslg y^siporovilffh} dvoXiXv/j/svog, " Let none be ordained at large." " Ne dicatur, mendicat in palaestra in- felix clericus," says the scholiast, — " lest he should be driven to beg for want of maintenance."
This being the sum of what, as to this head, I have to assert, I shall give in the proofs of it, and then draw some farther positions.
Reason 1. The bottom of the whole ariseth from that right which the gospel hath to be preached to all nations and people ; and that right, paramount to all civil sanctions and constitutions, which every soul hath to receive it in the profession thereof And all this flows from the donation of the Father unto Jesus Christ, whereby he is made " heir of all things," Heb. i. 2, having the " nations given him for his inheritance, the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession," Ps. ii. 8; — being also " King of kings, and Lord of lords," acting no- thing in taking possession of his own but what his sovereigiity bears him out in.
Reason 2. All tlii;? tends to the apparent good of these committed
192 OF TOLERATION.
to his charge, that they may lead their lives in godliness and honesty; which is the very chief end of magistracy committed unto men. This is directly intended ; all other things come in by accident, and upon suppositions.
Reason 3. No person living can pretend to the least injury by this, — none is deprived, none wronged.
Reason 4. The precepts given unto them, and the promises made concerning them, do abundantly confirm all that hath been asserted. Ps. ii. 10, 11, they are commanded as kings and judges to sei've the Lord, in promoting the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ. And it is promised, Isa. xlix. 23, that " they shall be nm-sLng-fathers and nursing-mothers to the church" of Christ, even then when she shall " suck the breasts of kings " (earthly things are the milk of kingly breasts), " when her officers shall be peace, and her exactors righ- teousness," Isa. Ix. 16, 17. This, at least, reacheth to all we have ascribed to them. All is but bowing the knee of magistracy at the name of Jesus.
Hence are these positions : —
III. The providing or granting of places requisite for the perform- ance of that worship which in the gospel is instituted, is the duty of the Christian magistrate.
IV. Protection, as to peace and quietness in the use of the ordi- nances of the Lord Jesus Christ, from violent disturbers, either from without or within, is also incumbent on him.