An Apology for the True Christian Divinity / Being an explanation and vindication of the principles and doctrines of the people called Quakers

by Robert Barclay

§. II.

Secondly, This pretended Power of the Magistrate is both contrary unto, and inconsistent with the Nature of the Gospel, which is a Thing altogether extrinsick to the Rule and Government of political States, as Christ expresly signified, saying, His Kingdom was not of this World; and if the propagating of the Gospel had had any necessary Relation thereunto, then Christ had not said so. But he abundantly hath shewn by his Example, whom we are chiefly to imitate in Matters of that Nature, that it is by Persuasion and the Power of God, not by Whips, Imprisonments, Banishments, and Murderings, that the Gospel is to be propagated; and that those that are the Propagators of it are often to suffer by the Wicked, but never to cause the Wicked to suffer. When he sends forth his Disciples, he tells them, he sends them forth as [138]Lambs among Wolves, to be willing to be devoured, not to devour: He tells them of their being whipped, imprisoned, and killed for their Conscience; but never that they shall either whip, imprison, or kill: And indeed if Christians must be as Lambs, it is not the Nature of Lambs to destroy or devour any. It serves nothing to allege, that in Christ’s and his Apostles Times the Magistrates were Heathens, and therefore Christ and his Apostles, nor yet any of the Believers, being no Magistrates, could not exercise the Power; because it cannot be denied but Christ, being the Son of God, had a true Right to all Kingdoms, and was righteous Heir of the Earth. [139]Next, as to his Power, it cannot be denied but he could, if he had seen meet, have called for Legions of Angels to defend him, and have forced the Princes and Potentates of the Earth to be subject unto him, Matt. xxvi. 53. So that it was only because it was contrary to the Nature of Christ’s Gospel and Ministry to use any Force or Violence in the gathering of Souls to him. This he abundantly expressed in his Reproof to the two Sons of Zebedee, who would have been calling for Fire from Heaven to burn those that refused to receive Christ: It is not to be doubted but this was as great a Crime as now to be in an Error concerning the Faith and Doctrine of Christ. That there was not Power wanting to have punished those Refusers of Christ cannot be doubted; for they that could do other Miracles, might have done this also. And moreover, they wanted not the Precedent of a holy Man under the Law, as did Elias; yet we see what Christ saith to them, Ye know not what Spirit ye are of, Luke ix. 55. For the Son of Man is not come to destroy Men’s Lives, but to save them. Here Christ shews that such Kind of Zeal was no Ways approved of him; and such as think to make Way for Christ or his Gospel by this Means, do not understand what Spirit they are of. But if it was not lawful to call for Fire from Heaven to destroy such as refuse to receive Christ, it is far less lawful to kindle Fire upon Earth to destroy those that believe in Christ, because they will not believe, nor can believe, as the Magistrates do, for Conscience Sake. And if it was not lawful for the Apostles, who had so large a Measure of the Spirit, and were so little liable to Mistake, to force others to their Judgment, it can be far less lawful now for Men, who as Experience declareth, and many of themselves confess, are fallible, and often mistaken, to kill and destroy all such as cannot, because otherwise persuaded in their Minds, judge and believe in Matters of Conscience just as they do. And if it was not according to the Wisdom of Christ, who was and is King of Kings, by outward Force to constrain others to believe him or receive him, as being a Thing inconsistent with the Nature of his Ministry and spiritual Government, do not they grosly offend him, who will needs be wiser than he, and think to force Men against their Persuasion to conform to their Doctrine and Worship? The Word of the Lord said, Not by Power and by Might, but by the Spirit of the Lord, Zech. iv. 6. But these say, Not by the Spirit of the Lord, but by Might and carnal Power. The Apostle saith plainly, [140]We wrestle not with Flesh and Blood; and the Weapons of our Warfare are not carnal, but spiritual: But these Men will needs wrestle with Flesh and Blood, when they cannot prevail with the Spirit and the Understanding; and not having spiritual Weapons, go about with carnal Weapons to establish Christ’s Kingdom, which they can never do: And therefore when the Matter is well sifted, it is found to be more out of Love to Self, and from a Principle of Pride in Man to have all others to bow to him, than from the Love of God. [141]Christ indeed takes another Method; for he saith, He will make his People a willing People in the Day of his Power; but these Men labour against Men’s Wills and Consciences, not by Christ’s Power, but by the outward Sword, to make Men the People of Christ, which they never can do, as shall hereafter be shewn.

[138] Matt. 10. 16.

[139] Matt. 28. 18.

[140] 2 Cor. 10. 4.

[141] Psal. 110. 3.

But Thirdly, Christ fully and plainly declareth to us his Sense in this Matter in the Parable of the Tares, Matt. xiii. of which we have himself the Interpreter, Ver. 38, 39, 40, 41. where he expounds them to be the Children of the Wicked One, and yet he will not have the Servants to meddle with them, lest they pull up the Wheat therewith. Now it cannot be denied but Hereticks are here included; and although these Servants saw the Tares, and had a certain Discerning of them; yet Christ would not they should meddle, lest they should hurt the Wheat: Thereby intimating, That that Capacity in Man to be mistaken, ought to be a Bridle upon him, to make him wary in such Matters; and therefore, to prevent this Hurt, he gives a positive Prohibition, But he said, Nay, Ver. 29. So that they who will notwithstanding be pulling up that which they judge is Tares, do openly declare, That they make no Scruple to break the Commands of Christ. Miserable is that Evasion which some of our Adversaries use here, in alleging these Tares are meant of Hypocrites, and not of Hereticks! But how to evince that, seeing Hereticks, as well as Hypocrites, are Children of the Wicked One, they have not any Thing but their own bare Affirmation, which is therefore justly rejected.

Object.If they say, Because Hypocrites cannot be discerned, but so may Hereticks;

Answ.This is both false and a begging of the Question. For those that have a spiritual Discerning, can discern both Hypocrites and Hereticks; and those that want it, cannot certainly discern either. Seeing the Question will arise, Whether that is a Heresy which the Magistrate saith is so? And seeing it is both possible, and confessed by all to have often fallen out, that some Magistrates have judged that Heresy which was not, punishing Men accordingly for Truth, instead of Error; there can be no Argument drawn from the Obviousness or Evidence of Heresy, unless we should conclude Heresy could never be mistaken for Truth, nor Truth for Heresy; whereof Experience shews daily the contrary, even among Christians. But neither is this Shift applicable to this Place; for the Servants did discern the Tares, and yet were liable to hurt the Wheat, if they had offered to pull them up.