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

§. III.

Answ.The Case no Way holds parallel; those particular Commands to the Jews, and Practices following upon them, are not a Rule for Christians; else we might by the same Rule say, It were lawful for us to borrow of our Neighbours their Goods, and so carry them away, because the Jews did so by God’s Command; or that it is lawful for Christians to invade their Neighbours Kingdoms, and cut them all off without Mercy, because the Jews did so to the Canaanites, by the Command of God.

Object.If they urge, That these Commands ought to stand, except they be repealed in the Gospel;

Answ.I say, The Precepts and Practices of Christ and his Apostles mentioned are a sufficient Repeal: For if we should plead, That every Command given to the Jews is binding upon us, except there be a particular Repeal; then would it follow, That because it was lawful for the Jews, if any Man killed one, for the nearest Kindred presently to kill the Murderer, without any Order of Law, it were lawful for us to do so likewise. And doth not this Command of Deut. xiii. 9. openly order him who is enticed by another to forsake the Lord, though it were his Brother, his Son, his Daughter, or his Wife, presently to kill him or her? Thou shalt surely kill him, thy Hand shall be first upon him, to put him to Death. If this Command were to be followed there needed neither Inquisition nor Magistrate to do the Business; and yet there is no Reason why they should shuffle by this Part, and not the other; yea, to argue this Way from the Practice among the Jews, were to overturn the very Gospel, and to set up again the carnal Ordinances among the Jews, to pull down the spiritual Ones of the Gospel. Indeed we can far better argue from the Analogy betwixt the figurative and carnal State of the Jews, and the real and spiritual One under the Gospel; that as Moses delivered the Jews out of outward Egypt, by an outward Force, and established them in an outward Kingdom, by destroying their outward Enemies for them; so Christ, not by overcoming outwardly, and killing others, but by suffering and being killed, doth deliver his chosen ones, the inward Jews, out of mystical Egypt, destroying their spiritual Enemies before them, and establishing among them his spiritual Kingdom, which is not of this World. And as such as departed from the Fellowship of outward Israel were to be cut off by the outward Sword, so those that depart from the inward Israel are to be cut off by the Sword of the Spirit: For it answers very well, That as the Jews were to cut off their Enemies outwardly, in order to establish their Kingdom and outward Worship, so they were to uphold it the same Way: But as the Kingdom and Gospel of Christ was not to be established or propagated by cutting off or destroying the Gentiles, but by persuading them, so neither is it to be upheld otherwise.

Object.But Secondly, they urge, Rom. xiii. where the Magistrate is said, Not to bear the Sword in vain, because he is the Minister of God, to execute Wrath upon such as do Evil. But Heresy, say they, is Evil. Ergo.

Answ.But so is Hypocrisy also; yet they confess he ought not to punish that. Therefore this must be understood of moral Evils, relative to Affairs betwixt Man and Man, not of Matters of Judgment or Worship; or else what great Absurdities would follow, considering that Paul wrote here to the Church of Rome, which was under the Government of Nero, an impious Heathen, and Persecutor of the Church? Now if a Power to punish in Point of Heresy be here included, it will necessarily follow, That Nero had this Power; yea, and that he had it of God; for because the Power was of God, therefore the Apostle urges their Obedience. But can there be any Thing more absurd, than to say that Nero had Power to judge in such Cases? Surely if Christian Magistrates be not to punish for Hypocrisy, because they cannot outwardly discern it; far less could Nero punish any Body for Heresy, which he was uncapable to discern. And if Nero had not Power to judge or punish in Point of Heresy, then nothing can be urged from this Place; since all that is said here, is spoken as applicable to Nero, with a particular Relation to whom it was written. And if Nero had such a Power, surely he was to exercise it according to his Judgment and Conscience, and in doing thereof he was not to be blamed; which is enough to justify him in his persecuting of the Apostles, and murdering the Christians.

Object.Thirdly, They object that Saying of the Apostle to the Galatians, v. 12. I would they were even cut off which trouble you.

Answ.But how this imports any more than a Cutting off from the Church, is not, nor can be shewn. Beza upon the Place saith, We cannot understand that otherwise than of Excommunication, such as was that of the incestuous Corinthian. And indeed it is Madness to suppose it otherwise; for Paul would not have these cut off otherwise than he did Hymenæus and Philetus, who were Blasphemers; which was by giving them over to Satan, not by cutting of their Heads.

The same Way may be answered that other Argument, drawn from Rev. ii. 20. where the Church of Thyatira is reproved for suffering the Woman Jezabel: Which can be no other Ways understood, than that they did not excommunicate her, or cut her off by a Church Censure. For as to Corporal Punishment, it is known that at that Time the Christians had not Power to punish Hereticks so, if they had had a Mind to it.

Object.Fourthly, They allege, That Heresies are numbered among the Works of the Flesh, Gal. v. 20. Ergo, &c.

Answ.That Magistrates have Power to punish all the Works of the Flesh, is denied, and not yet proved. Every Evil is a Work of the Flesh, but every Evil comes not under the Magistrate’s Cognizance. Is not Hypocrisy a Work of the Flesh, which our Adversaries confess the Magistrates ought not to punish? Yea, are not Hatred and Envy there mentioned as Works of the Flesh? And yet the Magistrate cannot punish them, as they are in themselves, until they exert themselves in other Acts which come under his Power. But so long as Heresy doth not exert itself in any Act destructive to human Society, or such like Things, but is kept within the Sphere of those Duties of Doctrine or Worship which stand betwixt a Man and God, they no Ways come under the Magistrate’s Power.