'Sdly. Sundry other arguments, taken from the nature of faitli, heresy, liberty of conscience, the way of illumination, means of com- munication of truth, nature of spiritual things, pravitious tendence of the doctrine opposed, if it sliould be actually embraced by all enjoy- ing authority, and the like, I thought at present to have added ; but I am gone already beyoid my purposed resting-place.
(2.) Come we, in a few words, to the last tiling proposed (wherein I shall be very brief, the main of Avhat I intended being ah-eady set dovm), — the power of the magistrate to compel others to the embrac- ing of that religion and way of worship Avhich he shall estabhsh and set up ; which, for the greater advantage, we shall suppose to be the very same, both for the things pro])osed to be believed and also prac- tised, which God himself hath revealed, and requireth all men eveiy- where to embrace. Wliat is to be done for the settling and establisli- ing of the profession of the gospel, and the right apprehension of the mind of God therein, contradistinct from all tliosc folse and erroneous persuasions which, in these or former days, [are] or have been held iorth in opposition thereunto, was before declared ; — how it is to be sup- ported, maintained, protected, defended, safe-guarded from all oppo- sitions, distmbancos, blaspliemings, was then and tlicre set down.
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Now, svipposing that sundry persons, living under the power, and owning civil obedience to the magistrate, will not consent to sound doctrine, nor receive in some things (fewer or more, less or greater) that form of wholesome words which he holds forth and owris as the mind of Christ in the gospel, nor communicate with him in the worship which, by the authority of those words or that truth, he hath as before established, it is inquired. What is the duty of the magis- trate in reference to the bringing of them into that subjection which is due unto, and an acknowledgment of, the truth ?
And to this I shall briefly give in my answer in these following positions : —
[1.] In reference unto us in this nation, the gxeatest difficulty in giving a full return to this question ariseth from the great disorder of the churches of God amongst us. Were the precious distinguished from the vile, churches rightly established, and church discipline [so] exercised that Christians were under some orderly view, and men might be considered in their several capacities wherein they stand, an easy finger would untie the knot of this query. But being in that con- fusion wherein we are, gathering into any order being the great work in hand, I suppose, under favour, that the time is scarce come for the proposal of this question ; but yet something may be given in unto it, though not so clear as the former supposal, being effected, would cause it to be.
[2.] The constant practice of the churches in former ages, in all their meetings for advice and counsel, to consent imto some form of whole- some words, that might be a discriminating " tessera" [symbol] of their communion in doctrine, being used in prime antiquity, — as is manifest in that ancient symbol commonly esteemed apostolical (of the chief heads whereof mention in the like summary is made in the very first writers among them), — having also warrant from the word of God, and being of singular use to hold out unto all other churches of the world our apprehensions of the mind of God in the chief heads of religion, may be considered. If this be done by the authority of the magistrate, — I mean, if such a declaration of the truth Avherein the churches by him owned and protected do consent be held out as the confes- sion of that truth which he embraceth, — it will be of singular use unto, yea, indeed, must necessarily precede, any determination of the former question. Of the nature and use of confessions, &c., so much hath of late been learnedly disputed, that I shall not pour out any of mine own conceptions for the present about them in that hasty, tumultuary manner wherein I am enforced to expose this essay.
[3.] Those who dissent from the truth so owned, so established, so decreed, do so either in less matters of small consequence, and about things generally confessed not fundamental; or in great and
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more weighty heads of doctrine, acts of worship, and the hke; — ■ both agreeing in this, that they will not hold communion, either as to all or some parts and duties thereof, with those churches and per- sons who do embrace the truth so owned, as before, and act accordingly.
1st, For the first of these, or such as dissent about things of no great concernment, in comparison of those other things wherein they do agree with them from whom they do dissent, I am bold positively to assert, that, saving and reserving the rules and qualifications set down under the second head, the magistrate hath no warrant from the word of God, nor command, rule, or precept, to enable him to force such persons to submit unto the tnith as by him established, in those things wherein they express a conscientious dissent, or to molest them with any civil penalty in case of refusal or non-submis- sion; nor yet did I ever in my life meet with any thing in the shape of reason to prove it, although the great present clamour of this nation is punctually as to this head : — whatever be pretended, this is the Helena about which is the great contest.