Chapter 20: Of Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience

Question 1.

Is God alone Lord of the conscience, and has he left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men, which are in anything contrary to his Word, or beside it, in matters of faith, or worship?

Yes. (James 4:12; Acts 4:19; Acts 5:29; Matthew 23:8-10; 2 Corinthians 1:24; Matthew 15:9)

Well then, do not the Papists err, who contradict this, both in doctrine (because they teach that the Pope of Rome, and bishops in their own dioceses, may by their own authority, beside the Word, make laws which oblige and bind the conscience under the pain of everlasting death) and in practice (because they have obtruded, and do obtrude, many ecclesiastical rites and ceremonies as necessary in worship, without any foundation in Scripture)?

Yes.

By what reasons are they confuted?

(1) Because there is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy (James 4:12); therefore no Pope, no prelate, nor any mere man can be a lawgiver. (2) Because Christ rejects the commandments of men from the worship of God (Matthew 15:9). (3) Because the Apostles refused to obey the orders of the council, since they were contrary to the commands of God (Acts 4:19; Acts 5:29). (4) Because the Lord threatens to do a marvelous work among his people, because they drew near to him with their mouth (as the most part of the ceremonial service is but a drawing near to God with the mouth) but had their hearts removed far from him (Isaiah 29:13-14). (5) Because Christ expressly forbids such subjection and obedience to the commands of men (Matthew 23:9-10; 1 Corinthians 7:23). (6) Because the Apostles themselves forbid all will-worship, such as the Popish ceremonies are (Colossians 2:18, 21-23). (8) Because the Apostle Paul withstood these false brothers, unawares brought in, who came in secretly to spy out his liberty which he had in Christ Jesus, that they might bring him into bondage — to whom he gave place by subjection, no not for an hour — that the truth of the Gospel might continue; where he lays so much weight upon Christian liberty that, if that were taken away, the truth of the Gospel would perish likewise (Galatians 2:4-5). (9) Because the Apostle commands believers to stand fast in their liberty, with which Christ has made them free, and not to be entangled again with the yoke of bondage (Galatians 5:1). (10) Because ceremonies are superstitious, being a vice opposite to religion in the excess, commanding more in the worship of God than he requires in his worship.

Question 2.

Is not the requiring of an implicit faith, and an absolute and blind obedience to the church or any man, a destroying of liberty of conscience and reason also?

Yes. (Romans 10:17; Romans 14:23; Isaiah 8:20; Acts 17:11; John 4:22; Hosea 5:11; Revelation 13:12, 16-17; Jeremiah 8:9)

Well then, do not the Papists err, who require an implicit faith to all the decrees and ordinances of their church and Pope, and a blind obedience to their commands without a previous judgment of discretion?

Yes.

By what reasons are they confuted?

(1) Because no man performing any duty out of blind obedience can be persuaded in his mind of the will of God therein, and so he that doubts is condemned, because it is not of faith (Romans 14:23). (2) Because all things must be examined and proven by the rule of the Word (Isaiah 8:20; 1 John 4:1-2). (3) Because the Apostle says, prove all things and hold fast that which is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21). (4) Because blind obedience makes us the servants of men, which is contrary to 1 Corinthians 7:23, and against the command of Christ, forbidding us to call any man father on earth (Matthew 23:9). (5) Because absolute obedience is only due to God, whose commands are all most just — himself being the alone lawgiver (James 4:12). (6) Because every man ought to be ready to render a reason of the hope which is in him (1 Peter 3:15); this no man can do who receives the commands of superiors with an implicit faith.

Question 3.

Do they, who upon pretense of Christian liberty practice any sin or cherish any lust, thereby destroy the end of Christian liberty?

Yes. (Galatians 5:13; 1 Peter 2:16; 2 Peter 2:19; John 8:34; Luke 1:74-75)

Well then, do not the Libertines err, who maintain that the true Christian liberty which we ought to follow and use is to take away all difference between good and evil, to esteem nothing of sin, nor to be touched with any conscience or sense of it, and that every man ought to follow the swing of his own lust?

Yes.

Do not likewise the Antinomians err, who maintain almost the same very tenet and opinion?

Yes.

By what reasons are they confuted?

(1) Because, we being called to liberty, ought not to use our liberty for an occasion of the flesh (Galatians 5:13), and that with well doing we ought to put to silence the ignorance of foolish men (1 Peter 2:15). (2) Because they that follow the liberty of sinning, and promise liberty to others, are truly the servants of corruption; for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage (2 Peter 2:19). (3) Because the end of that liberty which is purchased by Christ is that, being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, we might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness, all the days of our life (Luke 1:74-75). (4) Because whoever commits sin is the servant of sin (John 8:34). (5) Because the moral law obliges believers to perform obedience out of gratitude and thankfulness; for Christ came not to destroy the law but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17). (6) Because whoever shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:19).

Question 4.

May such men be lawfully called to an account, and proceeded against by the censures of the church and by the power of the civil magistrate, who publish such opinions or maintain such practices as are contrary to the light of nature, or to the known principles of Christianity, whether concerning faith, worship, or conversation, or to the power of godliness — or such erroneous opinions and practices as either in their own nature, or in the manner of publishing or maintaining them, are destructive to the external peace and order which Christ has established in his church?

Yes. (1 Corinthians 5:1, 5, 11, 13; 2 John verse 10-11; 1 Timothy 6:3-4; Titus 1:10-11, 13; Titus 3:10; 1 Timothy 1:19-20; Matthew 18:15-17; Revelation 2:2, 14-15, 20; Revelation 3:9)

Well then, do not the Anabaptists err, who maintain, there should be no ecclesiastical censures?

Yes.

Do not others also err, who maintain, that church censures, should not be inflicted upon heretics?

Yes.

Do not lastly the Lutherans, Anabaptists, Arminians, Quakers, and all sort of heretics, and sectaries err, who maintain, (under the pretext of Christian liberty) that the civil magistrate, is not obliged in duty, to punish any man with the sword, for errors in doctrine, but that they ought to be tolerated, and suffered, providing such persons as own them, do not trouble, or molest the commonwealth!

Yes:

By what reasons are they confuted?

(1) Because, the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, are for this end delivered to the ministers of the Church, that with censures, they may pursue scandalous, and offending persons, who will not obey admonition; (Matthew 18:15, 17, 18). But such also are heretics; (Galatians 5:20; Titus 1:10, 12). (2) Because an heretic after the first and second admonition, is to be rejected, avoided, or shunned. That is, let him not remain in the external communion, of the Church; (Titus 3:10). (3) Because, Paul did excommunicate Hymenaeus, and Alexander, who had made shipwreck of the faith; (1 Timothy 1:19, 20). (4) Because, if any man obey not our word, by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed; (2 Thessalonians 3:14; 1 Timothy 6:4, 5; Titus 1:11). (5) Because, Christ approves, and commends the pastors of the Church of Ephesus, because they could not suffer them, that are evil, but had tried them, which say they are apostles, and were not, and had found them liars; (Revelation 2:2). And Christ in that same chapter, accuses the pastors of the Church of Pergamum, and Thyatira, and threatens them, because they had suffered heretics to be in the Church.

The Lutherans, Anabaptists, Arminians, and other sectaries are confuted?

(1) Because, it is evident, from many examples of godly magistrates, who did extirpate idolatry, and inflict punishment upon idolaters, as did Jacob the patriarch, who at least purged his family of strange gods; (Genesis 35:2, 3, 4). Moses likewise took punishment with the sword, upon those, who did worship the golden calf; (Exodus 32:26, 27, 28). We have (2) the examples of Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:4), of Josiah (2 Kings 23), of Asa, who decreed that whoever would not seek the Lord God of Israel (according to the law of God; Deuteronomy 13:9) should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man, or woman (2 Chronicles 15:13), of Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 17:6), of Nehemiah (13:15, 17). (3) Were not good kings reproved, and was it not imputed to them, as a fault, that they did not take away the high places? (2 Kings 12:3; 2 Kings 14:4; 2 Kings 15:4; 2 Chronicles 15:17). Far more is it a fault to suffer heretics. (4) It is evident from the office of the magistrate, who is the minister of God against them, that do evil, and bears not the sword in vain: (Romans 13:3, 4). (5) Because, it is expressly commanded in Scripture, that punishment be inflicted upon idolaters, even by the nearest relations. If then, the father may kill the son, may kill the daughter, the husband the wife of his bosom: and if one brother may stone another brother with stones, that he die, for being idolaters; much more may the civil magistrate do this; (Deuteronomy 13:6 to the 13th verse; Deuteronomy 17:2 to the 7th verse; Leviticus 24:16). (6) Because, it is foretold, that under the New Testament, kings shall be nursing fathers to the Church, and queens nursing mothers, and that heretics, that were about to be hurtful, to the Church, shall be removed, and taken away; (Isaiah 49:23; Zechariah 13:2, 3). And it shall come to pass, in that day, says the Lord of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols, out of the land (that is, all idolatry whatever, so that the same shall not be so much as named, any more among you) and they shall no more be remembered. And I will also cause the prophets, (the false prophets) and the unclean spirit, to pass out of the land: that is, the false teachers who teach impure doctrines, through the inspiration of the unclean spirit the devil. Compare with this (1 John 4:1, 2, 3). For confirmation, consider what is foretold by John; (Revelation 17:12, 16, 17), that the kings of the earth, shall eat the flesh of the whore, and burn her with fire. All which are foretold, as blessings to be conferred upon the Church. (7) It is evident from the epithets, whereby the pernicious, and destructive nature of heretics, is set forth in Scripture. They are called wolves, not sparing the flock, thieves, robbers, troublers of the Church, and seducers, or beguilers of poor souls. They are like a gangrene, or canker in the body. They are as leaven, or sour dough, which leavens the whole lump; (Acts 20:29; John 10:8; Acts 15:24; Galatians 5:12; 2 Timothy 2:17; Galatians 5:9). (8) Because, Ezra did esteem it, a great favor and blessing of God, conferred upon the Church; for which he thanked God, that had inclined the heart of Artaxerxes, to publish a decree, for the punishment of those, that did not observe the law, whether it be, (says the text) to death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment; (Ezra 7:23, 25, 28). (9) Because, we ought to pray for kings, and all in authority, that under them, we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, in all godliness, and in honesty, which end cannot be attained, unless the civil magistrate bridles and ties up heretics; (1 Timothy 2:12). These words, in all godliness, concerns religion, or the first table of the moral law, as the following word honesty, or civility, has a respect to the commands of the second table, and the duties which we owe to our neighbor, and to one another. For true magistrates, are keepers and defenders of both tables of the ten commandments. (10) Because, the toleration of heretics, as we may read of the Anabaptists in Germany, Thomas Muntzer, John of Leiden, and their followers, first by railing against the ministry, as the Quakers do, and raging against magistracy, brought both Church and state into confusion, put the country into burning flames, wherein themselves at length were consumed to ashes.