[277] The passage referred to is 1 Samuel 21:6. The reader will bear in mind that formerly the two books of Samuel were called respectively the first and second book of the Kings.--TRANSLATOR.
_Inq._ “O I can soon prove that heretics may be put to death; for it is written that if any heretics or false prophets should arise, they shall be put to death.”
_Jac._ “Yes, I have read the 13th chapter of Deuteronomy, where it is written that if a false prophet, or other person among them, should arise and teach them to go after other gods, which they had not known, that false prophet should be put to death, and stoned with stones.” _Inq._ “Well then, see here a testimony that heretics may be put to death.” _Jac._ “My lord, we are no more under the law, but under the gospel; and even if we were under the law, we would not teach you to go after other gods, but after him who created heaven and earth, and his Son Jesus Christ.” _Inq._ “You certainly do it by your ordinances.” _Jac._ “The Israelites were not all allowed to put any one to death because of difference in the use of the ordinances, since they believed in the same God: but all this does not answer our purpose; for what was commanded in the law is not commanded in the gospel of Christ.” _Inq._ “Not, how so?” _Jac._ “Because, my lord, in the law it was commanded, Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, and to love one’s neighbor, and to hate one’s enemy; but through Christ we are commanded quite the contrary, not to resist evil, and to love our enemies.” Matt. 5:38; Lev. 24:20; 19:18. _Inq._ “True, but he did not command that heretics should not be put to death.” _Jac._ “What does Christ mean then, when he says that we must not root up the tares which are among the good grain, fearing that in rooting up the tares, we might also pull up the wheat; wherefore he commands, to let both grow until harvest; but the harvest is not come yet.” Mat. 13:29, etc. _Inq._ “You do not understand this very well; for it is easy to see whether they are tares or wheat.” _Jac_ “Yes, for him that knows the seed.” _Inq._ “Yes, that is true.” _Jac._ “My lord, it is written that carnal men know only carnal things; but the things that are spiritual knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.” 1 Cor. 2:11, etc. _Inq._ “This is very true.” _Jac._ “For this reason, my lord, I should like to ask you something.” _Inq._ “What is it?” _Jac._ “Have you the Spirit of God, or has the council received the Spirit of God?” _Inq._ “No, I will not answer this.” _Jac._ “How then shall you or those of the council be able to judge spiritual things? for the matter of which we speak is spiritual, and must be judged by the Spirit of God.” _Inq._ “You are judged only because you have transgressed the decree of the prince.” _Jac._ “If his command had not been contrary to God’s command, I should not have transgressed it.” _Inq._ “It is not contrary to the command of God.” _Jac._ “I wish you would prove to me by the Scriptures that the decree of the Emperor or King is upright and just?”
_Inq._ “I believe you think that all our fathers were deceived, and that your sect is saved. What will you say? it is full twelve or thirteen hundred years since Emperor Theodosius caused the proclamation of an edict or mandate, to put to death the heretics, namely, those who were then rebaptized, like your sect.”