counted gods on earth. That place seems to have much force in
it to this purpose, Heb. x. 28, 29: "He that despised Moses' law, died
without mercy under two or three witnesses. Of how much sorer
punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy who hath trodden
under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant,
wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto
the Spirit of grace?" Yea, what deserve such as deny the Spirit to be of
God? Papists exempt their clergy from the judgment of the civil power,
though they be delinquents against it; and their states, both civil
and spiritual, from civil taxes, tributes, and penalties, both which we
deny to ours: for, 1st, This is repugnant to the law of nature, that
church officers and members, as parts and members of the commonwealth,
should not be subject to the government of that commonwealth whereof
they are parts. 2d, Repugnant to the laws and practices of the Old
Testament, under which we read of no such exemptions. Yea, we have
instance of Abiathar the high-priest, who, for his partnership with
Adonijah in his rebellion, was exiled by king Solomon, and so
consequently deprived of the exercise of his office, 1 Kings ii. 26, 27.
3d, Inconsistent with our Saviour's example, who, as subject to the law,
held himself obliged to pay tribute to avoid offence, (Matt. xvii. 26,)
which was an active scandal; and he confesses Pilate's power to condemn
or release him was _given him from above_, John xix. 11. 4th, And
finally, contrary to the apostolical precepts, _enjoining all to be
subject to superior powers_, Rom. xiii. 1-4; 1 Pet. ii. 13-15.

Now, all the former power that is granted, or may be granted to the
magistrate about religion, is only cumulative and objective, as divines
used to express it; thus understand them:--

Cumulative, not privative; adding to, not detracting from any liberties
or privileges granted her from Christ. The heathen magistrate may be a
_nurse-father_, Isa. xlix. 23; 1 Tim. ii. 2, may not be a _step-father_:
may protect the Church, religion, &c., and order many things in a
political way about religion; may not extirpate or persecute the Church;
may help her in reformation; may not hinder her in reforming herself,
convening synods in herself, as in Acts xv., &c., if he will not help
her therein; otherwise her condition were better without than with a
magistrate. The Christian magistrate much less ought to hinder