[Second Part 321}
CHAP. V.
Touching Magistracy, and Obedience thereto.
On this subject ‘tis necessary to treat, as it relates to the Magistracy and People of England, whereof the people called Quakers are a part.
- We acknowledge that we owe Obedience either Active or Passive unto this Magistracy; and that such obedience is as well grounded on the Light of Christ within, as warrantable from the Scriptures of Truth without; for when the Magistrate doth command Odedience unto any Law, which is agreeable to the Law of God (as indeed no Laws of England according to the Constitution of its Government, and those maxims which are declared for Law, ought to be contrary thereto) then we ought to yield Active Obedience; and whilst the Magistrates are in Execution of such Laws, they are (as occasion requires) Punishers of 2 those that do Evil, and a Praise unto them that do well; which is agreeable unto the testimony of the Apostle’s touching Magistracy, unto whom in such cases Active Obedience is to be given for the Lord’s sake.
Obj. You speak very well so far as you have limited your Obedience to Good Laws; but what if those in power should make such Laws, which you account bad, and not grounded on the Law of God, but directly against those whom you term God’s People; dare you then say that ‘tis agreeable unto the Light of {Second Part 31} Christ within, and Scriptures of Truth without, to yield Obedience in such Cases?
To this we answer, ‘tis agreeable to the Light within, and the Scriptures of Truth without, that a Christian yield Passive Obedience, since for Conscience sake (chusing rather to obey God than man, which was the Apostle’s Case) he cannot yield Active Obedience: For we find the Counsel of Christ to be on this wise; Resist not evil; but whosoever shall smite thee on the right cheek, turn to him the other;3 which clearly shews 'tis against the Doctrine of Christ to resist; and so consequently we ought to be Passive; and therefore, since we have not at any time pleaded for any other Light within save the Light of Christ; it is as well agreeable unto the Light of Christ within, as with the Counsel of Christ in the Scriptures of truth without, that men, under the profession of Christianity, put in practice that wholsom Counsel, which was given by Christ the Son of God, whose ways are unchangable, viz. Resist not evil.
Obj. This shews you principled against Outward Wars, and Fightings, to work your own deliverance form under oppressive Magistrates.
Ans. Yes verily; for we (the People of God, and Children of Light) are desiring to walk in the Light of the Lord, according as the Prophet said, O house of Jacob, come ye, let us walk in the Light of the Lord, and he spoke. Of the last days, touching which the same Prophet thus prophesieth, He shall judge among the Nations, and shall rebuke many people, and they shall beat their Swords into Plowshares, and the Spears into pruning hooks: Nation shall {Second Part 324} not lift up sword against Nation, neither shall they learn war any more. This being spoken Prophetically of Christ, and his reign in the hearts of men, shews that all outward force and Wars is to be denied by the Members of his Body (which is his Church) to work their own Deliverance. A farther proof whereof is manifested unto us by Christ himself, when he said to Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath; and therefore, in a sense of the Mercies of God unto us, whom as his peculiar People he hath chosen, to follow his Precepts and Examples: We can say, blessed be the Lord, many there are in this our day, who by the peaceable Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ, (that was led like a Lamb dumb before the shearer) are retired in their Spirits unto the Lord, out of all outward Warrings, and Fightings, resigned up unto him, in whom preservation is: Knowing this, that the same occasion may be given in this our day to testifie as Paul did in his day, viz. All that will live godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution;5 and so on this score are led by the Light of Christ, not to resist evil, lest they should be found Opposers of that, which the Lord hath thought good to suffer to come upon his Heritage, for the Tryal of their Faith and Patience, which is much more precious than Gold. That now also our perswasion touching Government in general might be fully known, we refer to the 3d part of the Christian=Quaker, being a Treatise on that Subject.
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