...
"Fourthly, the punishments executed upon false prophets and seducing
teachers, doe bring downe showers of God's blessings upon the civill
state....
"Fifthly, it is an honour to God's Justice that such judgments are
executed...." [Footnote: _Bloody Tenent Washed_, pp. 137, 138.]
All motives combined to drive them headlong into cruelty; for in the
breasts of the larger number, even the passion of bigotry was cool beside
the malignant hate they felt for those whose opinions menaced their
earthly power and dominion; and they never wearied of exhorting the
magistrates to destroy the enemies of the church. "Men's lusts are sweet
to them, and they would not be disturbed or disquieted in their sin. Hence
there be so many such as cry up tolleration boundless and libertinism so
as (if it were in their power) to order a total and perpetual confinement
of the sword of the civil magistrate unto its scabbard; (a notion that is
evidently distructive to this people, and to the publick liberty, peace,
and prosperity of any instituted churches under heaven.)" [Footnote:
_Eye Salve_, Election Sermon, by Mr. Shepard of Charlestown, p. 21.]
"Let the magistrates coercive power in matters of religion (therefore) be
still asserted, seing he is one who is bound to God more than any other
men to cherish his true religion; .
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