only the power of the Word and Spirit? But these men think, if the Church be to be fet in order by the word and Spirit only (which were fufficient in Pauls time) it's like to be out of order for them. Mr. LOVE.

To cry down all kind of Government under heart-government, and all Reformation as carnal, because you have the Civil Magistrates hand to it, is against that place of Paul, 1 Tim. 2. 2. Pray for Kings, and all that are in Authority, that we may lead a quiet and a paceable life in all godliness and honefty.

Reply.

Well argu'd now indeed. Babes and Sucklings, you fhall come forth and answer this Mafter in Ifrael. The fenfe of this place is evidently this: That Chriftians fhould pray for Kings and Governors, that God would fo incline their hearts, that whilst we live in godlinefs under them, they would fuffer us to live in peace; and not make us fare the worfe in the world, for our intereft in the Kingdom of God. And what one drop can Mr. Love fqueeze out of this Scripture, to cool the tip of his tongue? For the meaning is not, That the Magiftrate fhould enforce godliness, but protect us in godliness. Mr. LOVE.

To juftle out the Magiftrates power, is to justle out the first Article of the Covenant; (What again?) and they that juftle out that, will justle out you shortly.

Reply.

Good Sir, afcribe not your own work to our hands. The juftling out the Magiftrate, have you not made it the chief part of your business now for a long while together? and are you not ftill fo diligently acting it every day, that now you think your work is in fome forwardness, and you are pretty well able to deal with him? And now because you would not be miftrufted your felves, you publickly flander us with it. We fee clearly thorow all your flender difguizes.

Mr.

Mr. LOVE.

Ezra was of another mind, Ezra 7. 26. Whosoever will not do the Law of thy God, and the Law of thy King, let Judgment be executed speedily upon him,whether it be unto death, or unto banishment, or to confifcation of goods, or to imprisonment.

Reply.

Well, Sir, will you ftand to this place, and fhall this end the Controverfie? Pray mark then ; this was part of the Decree of Artaxerxes, a King of the Nations, touching the Jews, for the rebuild ing of the material Temple; that they should have liberty to do it, and not be molefted in the doing of it, but fhould have what affistance the State could afford. The Decree was this: Ezra 7, 13. I make a Decree, That all they of the People of Ifrael, and of the Priests and Levites in any Realm, which are minded of their own free will, to go up to Jerufalem, go with thee; Forafmuch as thou art fent of the King and his feven Councellors, to enquire concerning Judah and Jerufalem, according to the Law of thy God that is in thy hand, &c. And ver. 21. I Artaxerxes the King do make a Decree to all the Treasurers beyond the River, That whatsoever Ezra the Priest fhall defire of you, it be done fpeedily unto two hundred Talents of filver. And then, ver. 26 follows; Whoever will not do the Law of thy God, and the law of thy King, Let him be fo and fo punished, as you have heard.

1. Here then you fee, that Artaxerxes made no Decree to enforce all the Jews to go build; but as the Text faith, Thofe that were minded of their own free will. See you not here, that even a King of the Nations thought it unreasonable to force any man to go build Gods material House, against his will?

2. And fecondly, you fee, how he gave them no Laws how to build, but permitted them to do it, according to the law of their God that was in their bands.

3. And

3. And thirdly, you fee, how he deterred any from hindring them from this work, upon pain of death, banishment, &c.

Do you not perceive now by this time, how you then deceived the People, by giving them the letter of the Word, without the true fenfe of it, as Satan dealt with Chrift in his temptations? Such Sermons bring an Hour of Temptation upon the People.

This then is the force of the Place:

1. First, That the Magiftrate may make a Decree, for all that are minded of their own free will, to build the Spiritual Temple of Jefus Chrift, and to gather up into a Communion of Saints.

2. Secondly, That he ought to permit this to be done, according to the law of our God that is in our hands, or rather according to the law of the Spirit of life that is in our Hearts; and not to enforce upon us any Clergy Conftitutions.

3 And thirdly, That he may deter you, and the rest of the Kingdom that are of the like mind with you, from refifting and hindring this work, which hath its Authority from Heaven. That fo the Saints (the Kingdom of Chrift) may pray for the Magiftrate; and Chrift (the King of Saints) may bless the Magiftrate, and make him profperous, And pray now what is all this to your purpofe? Mr. LOVE.

If it was good in your Hearts to think to Reform, its much better to do it.

Reply.

Does not God fay, It was well, that David thought to build a Temple; and yet for all that, he should not build it? And do you now dare to blame this very thing? Cannot the Scripture it felf be quict for you? Mr. LOVE.

You need not fear lofing a Party.

Reply.

Reply.

Yea, but how if God be in that Party? What then, Sir? Is it not better keeping a little, poor defpifed Party, that hath God in it; than a great and numerous Party, without God?

Again, Did you Preach before the Parliament, to make or caft off Parties? Doth this appertain to the Mystery of Chrift and the Father? Reader, thefe men are so over-busie in making and marring Parties, that I much fear, they will, in the end, throw the Kingdom into more mifery and blood, than their Predeceffors have done.

Mr. LOVE.

Reformation is no forcing Confcience, it meddles not with Confcience, it restrains Practice: If a Jefuire come from Rome to kill a great Perfon, he does it in Confcience, but I meddle not with his Confcience, I restrain his Practice. Reply.

Does not your Reformation meddle with Confcience, Mr. LOVE? Did you fpeak this of your felf, at random, as the reft, or is this the fence of your Brethren? And doth your Reformation only restrain outward practice? Then to tie up mad Dogs, and Bears, and Tygers, is your most exellent Reformation. You that will not meddle with the Confciences of men, it is no wonder you are making fo many Iron yoaks for their necks, and fo many Snares and fetters to hamper the outward man, the proper fubject (it seems) of your Reformation. And thus taking upon your felves the Reformation of the outward man, you do indeed put the Magiftrates work to an end; And then the Affembly may ferve, in the place of the House of Commons; and Sion-Colledge in the place of the Lord mayor, Aldermen, and CommonCouncel. See you not yet, Oye powers of the world, how the Ecclefiaftical powers would eat you out?

And

And for your Jefuite, Did you ever hear me fay or hint, That the Magiftrate fhould not reftrain and punish outward wickedness? I wifh therefore you would unriddle your felves, and tell truly, if you dare, how far you would limit the Magistrate, and enlarge your felves upon the outward man.

But certainly, if the Magiftrates power hath under it the whole outward man, as indeed it hath: And if Chrifts power have under it, the whole inward man, as indeed it hath; what place then (I pray) is there left for your Ecclefiaftical power, when the outward and the inward man are difpofed of before? Sure, when the Magiftrate takes his own proper power to himself, and Christ his own proper power to himself, your power will be found to have no place, either in the worlds Kingdom, or GODS; but you must find out fome third place for it; for I will affign you none, left you prove too angry.

Mr. LOVE.

The Church of Thyatira might think she had New light, and yet God faith, I have a few things against thee, because thou fuffereft the woman Jezabel, &c.

Reply.

Truly Sir, when God fhall make you a new Creature, you will be glad of New Light; for behold (faith God) I make all things New, even the light as well as the creature: the Old Light will ferve the Old man well enough.

And for the Spirits reproving the Angel of the Church, for fuffering falfe and erroneous Teachers; doth this prove as you undertake, that the Angel of the Church had or exercifed, Civil and Secular power in the Church of Chrift? You err, not understanding the Scripture; for then any thing is fuffered in the Church, when it is not reproved and condemned by the word; the word

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